San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-11-14

place" he said. Don't be impatient,
but sit quietly down"
He drew his knife and commenced
work on the logs. AS soon as a 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
AIDE is only six feet distant, and at
certain interval, no doubt, sentry pass
es through this narrow avenue. Moth
ing can safely be done until he has gone
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 tine recapture was
certain-and death by rifle volley.
The least noise overheard came to their
ears with alarming distinctness, and
with every passing footstep or clank Of
arms they imagined that all was discov-
cred. A sharp Histp' from Platoff turn
ed their thoughts in another direction.
The sentry is coming, he whisper
ed. Don't utter sound"
A faint tramp was audible from with
out, and then shadow passed slowly
by the chink in the logs. For nearly
five minutes Platoff neither moved nor
spoke. Then he attacked the log before
him with tremendous energy, and the
mortar few in all directions, covering
the boys with coating of powdered
lime.
It's good thing-this prison-was
built by-convict labor, ;" he muttered
at intervals as he piled his knife; "good
for us-I mean" A moment later he
tore the bayonet from the rifle which
Maurice had brought with him, and aft
er a few jabs with the farther reaching
weapon announced that the log was
loose. He pried the bayonet in one end
while Maurice used the wedge at the
other extremity. Then working in con-
cert the log was gradually drawn in,
until Platoff was able to grasp and low
er it to the ground. The hole thus made
was foot and half high by six feet.
Outside was revealed the thickly fall
ing snow and the gray outlines of the
palisade.
1.-THE coast is clear" said Platoff
after brief survey. 1.-THE glare from
the fires is visible at each end of the
passage, but don t think there is much
danger of being disturbed. / don't in
tend to run any risks, though; so you
two will remain inside till all is ready.
He nimbly crept through the aper-
ture, and with the bayonet began to
work at one Of the big boards of the
palisade.
1t was evidently harder task than |
he had anticipated. He inserted his bay
onet first on one side, then on the 9TH
err, but the board was firmly in place.
Then he put too much strength into |
the effort, and his weapon snapped |
sharply in two At this critical moment |
death and disaster stared the fugitives |
in the face. Their best weapon broken,
Of what avail would be the knife or the |
wedge? Platoff flung the fragments on
the ground and turned to the boys with |
gesture OF despair.
II fear we are lost" he said hoarse-
ly. "The stOokade is firmer than sup
posed, 1t 10 impossible to loosen any
of the planks without tools. And even
now cur time must be nearly up"
"Ah, / have plan," whispered
Maurice. 1.-The stockade cannot be more
than 10 feet high. Take this log outside
and stand it ON end. l will mount the
log, and You, Platoff, shall climb over
my back to the top. You are strong
enough to pull us both after you, are
you not?''