The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-02-18
WASHINGTON, D. G.
From Dickens's Household Words.
THE PERILS
CERTAIN ENGLISH PRISONERS,
AND THEIR TREASURE
TN WOMEN, CHILDREN, SILVER, JEWELS.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.
CHAPTER Il-Coniinusd.
The Prison in the Woods.


CHAPTER Il-Contnusd.
The Prison in the Woods.
The difficulty was one which, think, nigh
have puzzled wiser heads than ours. How were
six and-thirty living souls (being the number o.
rs prisoners, including the children) to be got
out of the Palace safely in the face of the guard
that watched it? And, even if that Was &C
compished, when could we count on gaining
five hours all to ourselves for the business OF
making the RATS ? The composing of either Of
these two designe, absolutely necessary as they
both we're to our escape, seemed to be nothing
more or less than rank impossibility. Towards
morning, got wild notion into my head about
letting ourselves down from the back of the
Palace, in the dark, and taking our chance q
being able to seize the sentinels at that part OF
the building, unawares, and gag them before
they conld give the alarm to the Pirates in
front But Short, when mentioned my plan
to him, would not hear Of it. He said that men
BY themselves-provided they bad not got q
mailman like Drooce, and q maundering old
gentleman ike Mr.. Pordsge, among them
might, perhaps, run some such desperate risk
IS / proposed; but, that letting women and
children, to say nothing of Drooce and Pordage,
down precipice in the dark, with make-shift
ropes which might give way at a moments no.
tee, was out Of the question. 1t was impossible,
on further reflection, not to see that Shorts
view of the matter was the right one. &C
knowledged as much, and then put it to Short,
whether our wisest course would not be to let
one or two of the sharpest of fellow prisoners
into our secret, and see what they said. Short
asked me which two / had in mind when
made that proposal?
mr. Macy" says I, because he is natu-
rally quick, ard has improved his gifts by learn
ing, aud Mics Maryon -
How can q woman help us?" says Short,
breakingin on me.
"a woman with clear head and a high
courage and patient resolution-all of which
Miss Maryon has got, above all the world-may
do more to help US, in our present strait, than
any man of our company" says l.
"Well," says Short, ~ dare say you re right.
Speak to anybody you please, Gill but, what
ever you do, man, stick to it at the trees. Let's
get the timber down-thats the first thing to
be done, any ow."
Before we were mustered for work, I took an
opportunity of privately mentioning to Miss
Ma.yon and Mr.. Macy what had passed between
Short and me. They were both thunderstruck
ct the notion of the RATS. Miss Maryon, as I
had expected, made lighter of the terrible diff
culties in the way Of carrying out our scheme
than Mr.. Macy did.
"We are left here to watch and think, all
day." she whispered-and | could almost hear
the quick beating of her heart. "While you
are making the best of your time among the
trees, we will make the best of ours in the
Palace. | can say DO more, now can hardly
speak at al, EOS thinking of what you have told
me. Bless you, bless you, for making me hope
once moreI Go now-we must not risk the
consequences of being seen talking thgether.
When you come back at night, look at me. If
l close my eyes, it is sign that nothing has
been thought of yet. If l keep them open, take
the first safe opportunity of speaking secretly
to me or to Mr.. Macy"
She turned away, and / went back to my
comrades. Half an hour afterwards, we were
off for our second days work among the trees.
When we came back, / looked at Miss Ma
ryon. She closed her eyes. So, nothing had
been thought of, yet.
Six more days we worked at cutting down
the trees, always merting the same good char
scter for industry from our Pirate guard. Six
more evenings / looked at Miss Maryon, and
six times her closed eyes gave me the same dis.
heartening answer. On the ninth day of our
work. Short whispered to me, that if we piled
our axes for three days longer, he considered
we should have more than timber enough down,
l had thought of nothing, Miss Maryon and Mr..
Macy had thought of nothing. was beginning
to get low in spirits but Short was just as
cool and easy as ever. "Chop away, Davis"
was all he said. "Tbe river won't run dry yet
awhile. Chop awey!"
We knocked off earlier than usual that day,
the Pirates having q feast in prospect, off q
wild hog. 1t was still broad daylight tout of
the forest) when we came back, and when /
looked once more in Miss Maryon's face.
l saw flush in her cheeks and her eyes
me, mine brightly. My heart beat quicker at
the glance of them; for saw that the time had
come and that the difficulty was conquered.
We waited till the light was fading, and the
Pirates were in the midst of their feast. Then,
she beckoned me into the inner room, and l
sat down by her in the dimmest corner of it.
you have thought of something, at last,
Miss?"
81 have But the merit of the thought is
not all mine. Chance Providence-sug-
gested the design; and the instrument with
which its merciiul Wisdom has worked, is-a
child"
She stopped, and looked all round her anx-
lously, before she went on.
This afternoon" she says, "I was sitting
against the trunk of that tree, thinking of what
hss been the subject Of my thoughts ever since
you spoke to me. Ny sisters little girl was
willing away the tedious time, by asking Mr..
Kitten to tell her the names of the different
plants which are still left growing about the
room. You know he is q learned man in such
matiers?"
| knew that; and have, believe, formerly
given that out, for my lady to take in writing.
II was too much occupied" she went on,
ITO pay attention to them, till they came close
to the tree against which was sitting. Under
i and about it there grew plant with very
seegantly-shaped leaves, and with kind OF
berry on it. The child showed it to Mr.. Kitten;
and saying, Those berries look good to eat,
stretched out her hand towards them. Mr.
Kitten stopped her. You must never touch
that, he said. why not?' the child asked
Because, if you eat much Of it, it would poison
YOU And if l only eat little?' said the
enld, laughing. 'If you only eat little said
Mr. Kitten, 1T would throw you into deep
sleep-a sleep that none of US could wake you
ltom when it was time for Breakfast sleep
ma, would make your mamma think you were
dead Those words we're hardly spoken, when
tne thought that / have now to tell you Of
flashed across my mind. But, before / say any
Ming more, answer me one question. Am
night In supposing that our attempt at escape
must be made in the night?"
AT night, certainly" says l, "because we
can be most sure, then, that the Pirates of
guard are all in this building, and not likely tc
leave it"
Il understand. Now, Davis, hear what ]
nave observed of the habits of the men whe
Keep us imprisoned in this place. The frs,
.nange OF guard at night is at nine o'clock
al that time, seven men come in from watching
Hau nine men 1.-THE extra nightguard) go out te
AePiace them each party being ON dutv az
you know, for six hours. have observed a