Part 88 (1/2)

”I will get over,” said Jem, almost fiercely ”Wait a little while, Mas' Don”

”I can't wait, Jem,” he whispered ”I feel now as if Ithese poor creatures in their helplessness”

”More do I; but what can we do? They won't stir to help theet away, and try and find soht us here”

Don's heart sank, but he knew that his companion's words were those of truth, and after a little hesitation he touched Jean to crawl slowly across the open space toward the fence

He looked back to , but the darkness was so thick now, that even at that short distance he could not see him

Just then a touch on his foot set hi to the lowwhether he could find the rough part of the fence to which Jean to wonder next whether the prisoners wouldto call the attention of the guard; but all re one of the his crawling movement, he rose to his hands and feet, and crept on all fours to the fence, where he rose now to an erect position, and began to feel about for the rough post

Jem was up and by him directly after Don placed his lips to his ear

”Whereabouts was it?”

”Somewhere 'bout here You try one way, and I'll try the other,”

whispered Je, for a faint rustling sound seemed to come from outside

The noise was not repeated; but for quite half an hour they ree fro froan to follow Je post after post, and soh But every one of the stout pales he touched was s that perhaps he had an tohis ears the while to catch any sound made by his companion

But all was perfectly still, and every pale he touched was sular, set, too, so close to the next that there was not the slightest chance of even a child creeping through

All at once there was a rustling sound on his left

”Jeht; and he pressed forward tohere he had parted fro the pales, the other extended so as to touch his coain close at hand; but he dare not speak, only creep on in the dense blackness, straining his eyes to see; and his ears to catch his coh of satisfaction, for it was painful to be alone at such a ti sturdy arripped hi for the danger which , or else Jem would have spoken; but at last the silence becarasp Jeer and stouter; and quick as thought Don ran his hand along the arm to force back the holder of his arm, when to his horror, he found that the lis of the fence, and he was a prisoner to son to escape, held in so strong a grip, that had he dared to struggle to free hi the fettered arm away

”Jem! Help!” was on his lips, but he uttered no cry, only breathlessly listened to a deep panting from the outer side of the _pah_

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR

AFTER SUSPENSE