The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-01-18
his eyes about him and look out tor

his eyes about him and look out Tor
grand rounds.
AS the order came and the tramp OF
the relief died away, Evan rose eau
tiously, but nimbly, and motioned to his
nearest neighbor. As though drilled q
zouave, the man clambered on the up
per bunk. bracing himself against the
wall, the boy climbing to his shoulders
without a sound, the file saw in his
teeth. Oiling that and the bar freely,
the boy waited until the stoclkade sentry
turned; then he began to saw The
tempered steel, cooled to soundlessness
by constant drops Of oil, cut fast into
the soft iron; but the bar was thick,
and each time the sentry turned, the
worker paused TO listen. So for a long
while. Then the man below--faint, ex-
hausted, with great beads upon his
brow, spite OF the cold--whispered for
rest. "A second took his place Again
the boy, mounted his human ladder,
working on, cautious, but tireless, with
sweat pouring from him, with bhstered
hands, but heart high upheld BY hope
One side was sawed through, Sud
denly, the tramp OF men approaching
the second relief cfra4
Again the feet before the door were
still; again the sergeant and the new
sentry put in their heads, seeing four
men sleeping heavily and with stertor-
GUS breathing. Then again, with pre-
cision as though drilled to 1t, the human
ladder posed, and Evan went at the bar
| afresh.
At lastl The iron yielded, shook; and
Evan, cautiously exerting all MS
strength, twisted It round, hanging by
thin shred. Then, carefully as one
whose life hangs upon a sound, he put
forth his head.
The gibbous moon hung low In mid
western heaven, cleaning clear and
white on the snowy plain all about the
camp; but nearer in-on this side-ths
high wan cast dense shadows, blackel
by contrast, for many yards. Then, a
the wall sentry walked back, Fauntle
ROY unrolled the twine, passing 4
through his mouth TO dampen out thu
twist. With steady hand, but wildly
throbbing heart, he dropped 1t slowl!
down. The depth to ground he coul'
not even guess, ignorant Of the slop
beyond and II the wall were ditched
but, after anxious space, he felt
light touch, as o perch were feeling tn
line. Another pause and two distinc
pulls signalled him to haul up. TIL
sentry turned again; and he swift
drew up the line-taut and heavy nov
hand over hand, to avoid the noise c
friction on the sill.
| At length the end Of heavy rope wa
in; eager hands seized 1t, nimbly secul
7 ing II to a ring, used for refractor
, captives. Then the four men hstene
for the stockade sentry, scarce breatl
D ing as he approached the window. Tn
time he paused, peering mechanical
0 into the shadow, while Evans heaI
, beat loud tattoo. But the soldier turns
9 carelessly, paced slowly away, and Il
boy, forcing himself lightly throue
|, the bars, grasped the rope securel
i Down he went, hand over hand, h
feet carefully steering him from Il
l. wall.
: Halfway down, he heard the sent
s turn, and hung still, breathless, en-
II second expecting a shot But Q
II friendly shadow shielded rope and ma
and next moment his feet touched Z
y ground, a strong hand grasped I
II shoulder, and whisper came throuI
the darkness:
d, "Quickl Close to the walll II
is wayl"
10 "But the others? promised"
er "They must risk 1t. Comel Two hy
-one halter-depend on seconds no
40 Comet"
Yielding, half reluctant, TO Z
lg stronger will and his own sense OF rig
ig TO his rescuer, the boy followed
:" guide, with noiseless feet, but ey
p, glued to new sentry. silhouetted sha
no f0