Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-09-08

| long pull at inc CCnCeDIS anu uauQeu
it back. Maurice mechanically restored
it to his pocket, and when he looked up
the lieutenant was half way up the cor
ridor. A moment later and he vanished
around the angle.
Overjoyed at his marvellous good for
tune and hardly able to believe it true,
| Maurice waited until the sentry in the
next corridor had passed through his
interview, and then hurried to the cell
door. He drew the bolt noiselessly and
gave slight rap on the panel. A mo-
ment later it opened from within, and
Platoff's head appeared at the crack.
He shook with excitement when Mau-
rice related what had happened.
eve are saved" he exclaimed, my
noble lad. You have effected our saliva
tion. I shall never forgeti it. The officer
of the guard will not make another
round for all hour and half or two
hours. In that interval we should reach
the cave unless some unforeseen COM
plication oco 1rs. But come in and close
the door. All is in readiness for the
start
Maurice entered, to receive warm
welcome from Phil, while Platoff, aft
er waiting moment in the doorway to
assure himself that the coast was clear,
joined his companions.
"Iwas only waiting for your signal"
he said. 81 have just renewed the chic
roform on those fellows. and on the Co.'S
sack too" And he pointed to the SOL
dier's motionless figure stretched on the
platform.
Il put your garments Oh him." he
added. "When he wakes up, he'll know
how it feels to wear convict clothes. J."
"And shall I keep the uniform onp"
demanded Maurice with surprise.
Eyes," said Platoff. 1T may be of
some aid to you; who knows? And now
we must be off. Look! This is what I
have done while you were Oh guard du-
ty in the corridor.
He pointed to hole in the floor close
to the platform, from which two planks
had been ripped up.
"Now,' he continued, II will go
first, and you must follow at once"
He glanced again through the cell to
assure himself that 10 precaution had
been overlooked, and then dropping to
the floor he slipped through the hole
and disappeared. Phil went after him,
and Maurice brought up the rear.
"Just moment now," said Platoff.
And drawing his head and shoulders
back into the cell he lifted the two
planks into position and let them drop
behind him into their places. "Not that;
it matters much" he observed, "for.
they will soon discover how we escaped.
but it may give US more time" {
The situation in which the boys
now found themselves was anything but
agreeable. The space between the
ground and the flooring was not more
than three feet, and from the unpless.
ant odor that saluted their nostrils 1t
appeared to have been used as recep.
tacle for all sorts of refuse, no doubt
dropped. through holes in the floor.
"This is the critical time" said Pla-
toff. Don't make any noise, but stick
close to me. Tie first thing is to gain
the v est flank of the priscn."
Crawling on bauds and knees, the
boys followed their guide through the
intense darkness. A faint glimmer Of
light was presently seen, and moment
later Platof halted.
I "Where are we?" asked Maurice.
"Wait little," was the reply, sun
til I can pick crack through these
logs"
He worked industriously with his,
knife, making the dried mortar fly at
every stroke, and then applied his eye
to the orifco thus produced.
"Ah," he muttered, "this is the
front Of the prison. 1t is showing fast
outside, and the guards are standing
around the fires. Everything is in our
favor if only we are permitted to have
time enough"
II supposed this space opened on tbs
courtyard, said Maurice. ''Instead of
that it seems to be hemmed in with
logs"
Don't let that annoy you," replied
Platoff. "The building is old, and we
will have no trouble to break through.
can loosen any one of the logs in five
minutes. It is an easy matter now to
get our bearings.
They started off again, guided by the
wall of logs, and in a short time the
angle was reached and turned. Platoff
led on for a dozen yards or more be-
fore be came to stop. "This is the
place." he said. Don't be impatient,
but sit quietly down.
He drew his knife and commenced
work on the logs. AS soon as crack
had been excavated large enough to see
through he stopped.
"This is the critical time" he OBJ
served, after taking peep. 1.-THE stock
ade is only six feet distant, and at
certain interval, no doubt, sentry pass
cs through this narrow avenue Noth-
ing can safely be done until he has gole
his round of inspection. We may be de-
layed half an hour, and perhaps not
five minutes.
Platoff became silent, keeping his
eyes glued to the crack, and the boys
waited in an anxious state Of suspense
that was almost uncomfortable. They
knew that in less than two hours at the
very furthest their escape must be dis
covered. and unless they were clear of
the prison at that time rccaptnre was
certain-and death by rife volley.
The least noise overheard came to their
ears with alarming distinctness, and
with every passing footstcp or clank of