The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-16

could sleep as soundly leaning upon q
musket as If they were at home upon
a feather bed. There was one espe-
cially, a fat, heavy man, who would re-
tire into the shadow of the wall and
doze so comfortably during his two
hours, that / have dropped pieces of
plaster from my window at his very
feet, without his observing it. BY good
luck, this fellows watch was due from
twelve to two upon the night which we
had fixed upon for our enterprise.
AS the last day passed 1 was so filed
with nervous agitation that could not
control myself, but ran ceaselessly
about my cell, like a mouse in cage.
Every moment thought that the war;
der would detect the looseness of the
bar, or that the sentry would observe
the unmortared stone, which ! could
net conceal outside, as / stood within.
AS for my companion, he sat brooding
upon the end of his bed, looking at me
in sidelong fashion from time to time,
and biting his nails like one who Is
deep in thought.
Courage, my frend," I cried. slap
ping him upon the shoulder. You will
see your guns before another month be
past"
THAT Is all very WELL" said he. But
whittier will you fly when you get
free?"
ITO the coast" I answered. "All
comes right for brave man, and |
shall make straight for my regiment y
you are more likely to make straight
for the underground cells. or for the
Portsmouth hulks," said he.
"a soldier takes his chances" I re-
marked. at Is only the poltroom who
reckons always upon the worst
I raised a flush in each of his sallow
cheeks at that, and I was glad of 1t, for
1t was the first sign of spirit which I
had ever observed in him. For a mo-
ment he put his hand out toward his
water jug, as though he would have
hurled 1t at me, but then he shrugged
his shoulders and sat in silence once
more, biting his nails and scowling
down upon the floor. I could not but
think, as I looked at him. that perhaps
I was doing the Flying Artillery a very
bad service by bringing him back to
them.
/ never in my life have known an
evening pass as slowly as that one. To-
ward nightfall a wind sprang up. and
as the darkness deepened it blew
harder and harder, until a terrible gale
was whistling over the moor. AS l
looked out of my window / could not
catch glimpse of a star, and the black
clouds were flying low across the
heavens. The rain was pouring down,
and what with Its Kissing and splash
ing and the bowling and screaming Of
the wind, It was impossible for me to
hear the steps of the sentinels. IF I
cannot hear them" thought /, then It
10 unlikely that they can hear me-; and
I waited with the utmost impatlence
until the inspector should have come
round for his nightly peep through our
grating. Then, having peered through
the darkness, and seen nothing of the
sentry, who was doubtless crouching in
some corner out Of the rain. felt that
the moment was come. I removed the
bar, pulled out the stone, and motioned
to my compan nion to pass through.
After you, colonel" said he.
"Will you not go first?" asked.
II had rather you showed me the
way"
"Come after me, then, but come ST.
lently, as you value your life."
In the darkness could hear the fell
lows teeth chattering, and wondered
whether a man ever had such a partner
in desperate enterprise. seized the
bar. however, and mounting upon my
stool, thrust my head and shoulders