Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-18

bly, during his two hours that l have drop
ped pieces of plaster from my window at
his very feet without his observing it.
By good luck this fellows watch was
due from II to upon the night which
we had fixed upon for our enterprise.
AS the last day passed l was SO filled
with nervous agitation that l could not
control myself, but ran cease;essly about
my cell, like a mouse in a cage. Every
moment l thought that the warder would
detect the looseaess of the bar or that the
sentry would observe the unmortared
stone, which 1 could not conceal outside,
as l stood within. AS for my companion,
he sat brooding upon the end of his bed,
locking at me in side.ong fashion from
time to time and biting his nails like one
who is deep in thought.
Courage, my friend" l cried, sapping
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" l answered. "All comes
right Tor a brave man. and L shall make
straight for my regiment"
You are more likely to make straight
for the underground cells CIR for the Ports
mouth hull.s," said he.
"A soldier takes his chances" l remark
ed. 1T is only the poltroon who reckons
always upon the worst"
| raised a flush in each of his saliow
checks At that, and l was glad of it, for
1t was the nrst sign of spirit which l had
ever observed in him. For a moment he
pat his hand out toward his water jug,
as though he would have hurled it at me,
but then he shrugged his shoulders and sat
in silence once more, biting his nails and
scowling down upon the floor. | could not
but think, as looked at him. that perhaps
l was doing the Flying Artillery a very
bad service by bringing him back to them.
L never IN my life have known an even
ing pass as slowly as that one. Toward
nishtfall a wind sprang up, and as the
darkness deepened it blew harder and
harder. until terrible gale was whistling
over the moor. AS 1 looked out of my
window l could not catcr q 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
spiashing and the bowling and screaming
of the wind. it was impossible for me to
hear the steps OF the seutinels. IF | can
rot hear them" thought l, then it is I'M
likely that they can hear me-" and l wait
ed with The utmost Impotence until the
II spector should have come round for his
nightly peep through grating. Then,
having peered through the darkness and
seen nothing of the sentry, who was
doubtless crouchlng in some corner out of
the rain, I felt that the moment was come
1 removed the bar, pulled out the stone
and motioned to my companion to pass
through.
After you. colonel" said he
viii you not so first ?" l asked.
Il had rather you showed me the way"
Come after me- then, but come silently,
as you value your life
teeth chattering. and wondered whether
man ever had such a partner in desperate
enterprise. l seized the bar, however, and
mounting upon my stool, l thrust my head
and shoulders into the hole l had wriggled
through as far as my waist, when my com
panioE seized me suddenly by the knees
and yelled at the top of his voice:
Help, Help! A prisoner is escaping.'
Ah my friends, what did 1 not feel at
that moment! OF course, 1 saw in an in
slant the game of this vile creature. Why
should he risk his skin in climbing walls
when he might be sure of a free pardon
from the English for having prevented the
escape of one so much more distinguished
than himself? 1 had recognized him as a
poltroCn and a sneak, but / had not un-
derstood the depth of baseness to which he
could descend. One who has spent his life
among gentlemen and men of honor does
not think of such things until they happen
The blockhead did not seem to under
stand that he was lost more certainly than
L. l writhed back into the darkness, and
Selling him by the throat, l struck him
twice with my iron bar. At the first blow