The San Francisco call., 1908-09-13
CHAPTER XVI
A Breath of Freedom

n IT more important things were
X on hand than Dicky Falconer's
lescapade. AS he had reported. it
was found that the iron bars were
so rusted by the sea air that they could
readily be broken out. 1t was deter
mined 10 wait until the new moon had
gone down before making the desperate
attempt at escape, and May %. at 2
o'clock in the morning. was the ap-
pointed time. The same number Of
officers and sailors were to engage in
this enterprise as in the former at
tempt. A number OF gun vessels were
usually in the hsrbor. and on this night
in particular a small Moorish vessel
lay al anchor within a hundred yards OF
the rampant from which the Americans
were to descend.
At o'clock in the morning of May
25 when the night sky was dark and
! starless. the - sailors of the crew and
10 officers. headed by Mr. Porter. as
sembled in the officers quarters The
two stones were already removed from
the wall. and they could see into the
nigh. narrow dungeon. which was not
wholly dark. owing TO the greats hole
in the roof A couple OF rope ladders.
made Of the blankets Of the prisoners
were fastened to the window, thus en-
abling them to pass up rapidly.
Captain cambridge stood by the
opening and shook hands with each
an as he passed through the aperture.
The officers went up first, headed by
Mr. Porter with Dicky Falconer and
Roger Thorne bringing up the rear
one stout wrench Of the iron. bars
broke them out. and they were laid
carefully outside to be replaced as the
last man came UP. In 20 minutes all
had passed out and the bars had been
replaced by Bulge. Then the Ameri-
cans. living at on their stomachs ana
CARRYING with them the rope LADDERS.
crawled 10 the edge OF the rampant.
There. where a few nights before
had been an unguarded space close by
the water side. were now couple of
sentries armed with the long Turkish
guns and curved scimiters. Not only
were there sentries. but water gate.
which had been closed. was evidently
open. and there were guards passing
back and forth under the archway,
which led directly TO the courtyard.
Usually al this hour the courtyard was
quiet. except for the regular tread Of
the sentries, but on this night there
was an unusual disturbance Some
communication was being held with
the small vessel close in shore, which
the Americans had determined to seize.
This could not of itself have daunted
the brave souls Of the Americans, who
werS perfectly willing TO risk the
chance of dropping down on them and
overpowering them by sheer numbers:
but. oh. grief and dismay, the Moorish
vessel hoisted her sail, and under the
very eyes Of the eager souls upon the
rampant took advantage of a fair wind
and slipped down the harbor.
Meanwhile the clouds were scurrying
of: the stars shone itfully. and by the
ghostly half light, FIVE minutes exam
ination convinced Mr.. Potter that any
attempt TO descend would be useless. He
turned and waved his hand three times.
which was the signal that descent was
impossible at that time and to return
as quickly as possible TO their quarters.
This was done with the greatest rapid
ity. the men slipping back and disap-
pearing with the agility of sailors
through the window.
One person, however, remained on the
rampant: this was Dicky Falconer. The
breath OF freedom was in the air and
intoxicated him He deliberately stood
back in the shadow of the wall and
made no effort to enter the window. not
even when Bulge. who brought up the
rear entered without seeing him and
replaced the bars. When this was done
Dicky Falconer stood crouching against
the wall. neither prisoner nor free:
alone and bewildered, but with a
strange sense Of exhilaration in his
Aeart and a spirit of adventure rioting
within him.
lie did not know why he had dis
obeyed Mr.. Porter's order; something
Involuntary thirst for freedom
which he could not control. had taken
possession Of him. He knew that it
was folly to suppose that what so dar-
ing a man as Mr.. Porter thought i'm
possible should be within the reach of
any midshipman. But TO this his in
domitable courage made answer that
what was impossible for S5 might well
be possibls for one.
AT all events thought Dicky. pull