Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-08-26

| 81 VI tHdL manu-, 10 engage III struggle
for his life; but a mouth was placed di-
rectly at his ear, and well-known voice
whispered:
Don't make sound. Tie these bits
Of rag about your irons so as they won't
rattle"
Abel caught at the pieces of cloth and
canvas thrust into his hand. and, sitting
up in the darkness he softly bound the
links arc rings of his letters together,
hardly daring to breathe, and yet with
his heart beating unanimously in his Ink
iety to know his companions plans. As
he was tying the last knot he felt Barts
hand upor his shoulder, and his lips at
his ear.
Quiet, and creep after me. Keep
touching my foot SOS not to miss me IN
| the dark
Abers heart thumped against his ribs
as he obeyed, taking Bart's hand first in
a firm grip, and then feeling short iron
bar thrust between his fingers.
Then he became conscious from his
companions movements that he had gone
down upon his hands and knees, and was
| crawling toward the end of the long, low
! stone-walIed building that served as a
| dornitory for the white slaves whose
task was to cultivate the rough planta-
ton till they, as a rule, lay down and
| died from fever.
Just then Bart stopped short, for there
were steps outside, and CLEAN of hight
appeared beneath the heavy door. voices
were heard, and the rattle Of a soldiers
musket.
"Changing guard" said Abel to him
| self. and he found himself wondering
whether the sergeant and his men would
enter the prison.
| Then there was hoarsely uttered COM
mand; the light faded away, the steps
| died out upon the ear; there was clink
! or two Of chains, and a heavy sigh from
some restless sleeper, and once more in
the black silence and sitting heat there
was nothing to be heard but the loud
trumpeting buzz Of the mosquitoes
Softly, as some large cat, Bart resum-
cd his crawling movement, after thrust
| ing back his leg and touching Abel on the
chest with his bare foot as a signal.
The building was quite a hundred feet
long by about eighteen wide, mere gal
| lery in shape, which had been heightened
from time to time as the number Of con-
victs increased, and the men had about
two-thirds of the distance to traverse be-
fore they could reach the end, and at
their excessively slow rate OF progress
! the time seemed interminable Before, af-
ter several painful hats, caused by move
ments of their fellow prisoners and dread
of discovery, the final halt was made.
Now, then, what is it?' whispered
Abel.
Bart was slowly drawing out rough
pieces of badly cemented stone-rough
| fragments really Of coral and limestone
| from the nearest roof, of which the pris-
on barrack was built.
At last, after what seemed an age, a
] faint breath of comparatively cool air
| began to play upon Abers cheek, rs Bart
seemed to work steadily on. Then his
hand was seized and guided where it
hardly wanted guiding, for the young
mans imagination had painted ALTO a
rough opening level with the floor, a hole
| little larger than might have been made
for fowls to pass in and out of poultry
yard.
| They crept on in silence, and in the
midst of the still darkness matters seem
/ ed to be going so easily for them that
AbePs heart grew more regular in its
pulsation. and he was just asking him
self why he had not had invention enough
to contrive this evasion, when a clear and
familiar voice cried, "Shtandr' and there
was the click of musket lock.
What followed was almost momentary.
| Bart struck aside the bayonet leveled at
his breast, and leaped upon the sentry
before him. driving him backward and
| clapping his band upon his mouth as he
| knelt upon his chest; while, ably second
! ing him, his companion wrested the mus
ket from the mans hand, twisted the
| bayoret from the end of the barrel. and,
holding it daggerwise, pressed it against
tie mans throat.
Another word, and it's your last"
Kissed Abel.
Sure, and I'll be as silent as Peter
Mulloneys grave, sor," whispered the
sentry; but it's mother l have over in
the ovid country, and ye'd break her
heart If We killed me-"
Look here" whispered Bart; ''its neck
or nothing, my lad. If you give the
alarm. it will be with that bayonet struck
through YOU"
And would a Kelly give the alarm.
afther he said on his honor? Sure, you
might thrust me-"
Over with you, then, Bart" whispered
Abel; 'I'll stand over him here. Take
the gun"
Bart obeyed. and Abel stood with one
hand upon the sentry's shoulder, and the
bayonet close to his throat.
The man scaled the gate as easily as
Bart had done before hun. and tLen Abel
followed; but as he reached the top and
shuffled sideways to the wall, which he
bestrode. there was the sound of shot,
followed by another, and another, and
the fierce baying of dogs.
'Bedad. they've seen ye," said the sen
try, as Abel dropped down.
silence Kissed Abel. as there was the
loud changing of a bell with the fierce
yelping of dogs, and they dashed off. hand
joined in hand, for the coffee plantation,
away down by the cane-brake and the
swamp.
In the swamp they found men with
boat and pole ready and waiting for
them. and thus made good their escape.