The Van Buren press., 1874-01-20

y,
for their safe detention.
Let double guards be stationed at the
prison doors, to be relieved every four
hours. Double guards likewise at every
gate at the city, and strict watch at every
outlet, that no knaves and traitors may
escape" Such we're the orders given Ia
the presence Of Dudley and bis scompany,
who were then pushed into the court.
yard of the prison. aud presently locked
in y large upper room. There they were
left to such meditations as the place ana
circumstan might suggest
Immediate escape is what thoy sug
gested to Dudley. He looked carefully
for means to that end
The window was barred with iron
Dudley, helped by his comrades climbed
up aud locked out. Far below ley the
roofs OF the adjacent houses which, as al
ways in the crowded, old walled cities,
stood close together, and were even built
against the very wall Of the Jail
IF had but knife or dagger and
you would bear me up" said Dudley,
/" i would soon dig these bars out OF their
bed, and risk the leap to the tiles below
But neither knife nor dagger was in
the company. They had been too thor
oughly searched and completely plum
dered Wherefore, Dudley came down
again, and sat among his fellow prisoners,
helpless but not hopeless. Revolving
many things in bis mind, and looking all
about, he spied steel knee buckle worn
by Cornet Hodgetts, a young man who
had fought beside him for the King In
more than one contest.
THE very thing" he exclaimed,
Hodgetts, giveme but that buckle and
| will make such hole in this dcn as
shall give us all our freedom.
The buckle was quickly tom of ana
put into his hand. Now Elliott, man !;
lend me your broad shoulders for u
standing place, and III begin my opera.
tons. F"
Nay" iutcrposed Major Long, wise
old soldier you surely will not work
at the window in open daylight. You
will be seen from the street below, and
so your hopes will be defeated
"You say well, Major, was the reply ;
" but III @ en- mount up aud try which Is
the soitest stone in the easement. y
This he did The sharp corner OF the
buckle soon made impressions upon tue
old stone in which the bars were set.
Dudley was satisfied that two hours
work would suffice to open passage
tie made a careful survey Of the neigh
borhood, and noticed in what direction
the open country lay nearest at hand.
when he was contented to wait for night
The long summer twilight came and
waned AS the shadows grew thick, the
royalist climbed up again and began his
task. BY aud by the moon looked in.
You will be discovered, bodcd the
old major. But friendly clouds rolled
up and covered the moon save for few
occasional glimpses.
How goes it now p inquired Elliott,
after what seemed long interval in
which gentle showers of dust and lime
had been falling steadily upon his head
." Have little patience, good Elliott, !"
was the response, " this bar is almost
unseated
Presently the bar was entirely detached
from its setting. and u man could easily
pass through the space thus made.
lis q long leap to the housetops, but
III venture it. I" said the sturdy Dudley.
" Follow me, comrades, asyou best can,
Here is no time for ceremony"
With that he crept out Of the opening
aud holding to the stone sill 10y his hands,
lowered himself as far as possible then
let 90 his hold and fell upon the tiles
with thud that was heard by his com
panions in the prison. A silence tol
lowed
:" fear he hath taken some hurt. "
said Long He was over over. bold.
Climb thou up the window, Elliott, and
see il he be dead or alive
Helped by the others, Elliott did so.
In the darkness he could barely distin-
guish shadow from the window.
"Hist, Dudley" he cried. Art
hurt, man 7"
may! Safe and well SO far, and but
waiting for thee and the rest. 'Tis no
great fall Come on. quickly, and leave
to the Roundhead ours their empty
room"
Major Elliott turned back and held
council with his comrades. They united
in urging him to make the attempt to
escape. although they. for various reas
ons, could prosecute it no further. Thus
encouraged, the soldier followed Dnd-
ley's example, and in few moments
stood beside him.
The city was altogether quiet. A few
lights might he seen twinkling from win.
dows here and there, and the steeple OF
great church was illuminated for seme
reason; otherwise all was dark.
These houses continue IN direct
line to the city wall, " remarked Dudley.
!" II we can but reach that, undiscovered,
| make little doubt we can get away
"Heave with you. replied Elliott
IT'S but bold push, and il VIC fail, our
case can be but little worse F"
Creeping carefully along the roofs,
they set forward. and in few minutes
reached the wall on the southern side OF
the city, not far from the river front
The street was closed by II gate, whoreat
double sentries were stationed The ad
ventures heard their step, the rattle of
their match locks, even their voices as
they spoke to each other in subduetl
tones When these were hushed. they
heard the severn flowing through the
night There was u sense OF freedom in
the sound that made them more resolute