Part 23 (2/2)

”You will remain here for the present,” said the colonel, as he saw theeneral ain, and I would advise you to take care that you tell hi to the country”

Billthe roo the door behind him

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

THE ESCAPE

Jack and Bill heard Colonel O'Toole descending the stairs, and, listening, were convinced that he had gone aithout leaving a sentry at the door

”We are in luck,” said Bill, as he looked round the room ”This is a better place than the old tower, and I don't see that it will be much more difficult to escape fro and narrow, but there was ample space for theht froround; three or four storeys up they calculated; and should they attempt to drop down, they would break every bone in their bodies

”It cannot be done, I fear,” said Jack

”It can be done, and we'll do it before to-eneral ordered us to be shut up here, he was thinking that ere just like a couple of French boys, without a notion of going aloft, or of finding their way down again”

”But I don't see hoe can h the , cautiously though, for fear of being seen ”There is nothing to lay hold of, and the door is locked and bolted I heard that traitor Irishman shoot a bolt before he went away”

”Look here,” replied Bill, pointing towards the bed

”Why, that's a bed,” said Jack ”It was very good-natured in the ive it us to sleep on”

”What do you think it's ,” replied Jack ”Yes,” said Bill, ”you are right; and with those selfsame sheets and blankets, and maybe a fathom or two of rope besides, underneath, I intend that we shall try to lower ourselves down to the ground; and e are once outside, it will be our own fault if we do not get back to the harbour, and when there, that we do not get on board our raft again The French captain said it was to be left just as it was for the general to see it to- Before that tiht of land, if we get a fair breeze, or, at all events, out of sight of the people on shore”

”I' you propose, Bill,” said Jack ”I see noell enough hoe are to get away If all goes sht?--and there are a good ainst us, you'll allow”

”We can but be shut up again Even if they were to flog us, we could stand it well enough; and as to the pain, that would be nothing, and it would not be like being flogged for breaking the articles of war, or doing anything against the law I should call it an honourable flogging, and should notthe scars, if any remained,” said Bill

”I' our sheets and blankets into a rope the better,” exclaiht and punished ever so much, we must not mind it”

”Stop a bit,” said Bill ”Perhaps the red-haired colonel ht reen trick”

”I hope if they co us some supper,” said Jack ”I am pretty sharp set already; and if the rub out of our chest, we should have nothing to eat on our voyage”

”I have been thinking too ry,” said Bill ”But now you talk of it, I should like soh to last us for a day or two Now, I say, it's getting dark, and we must fix upon the best spot to lower ourselves down to You listen at the door lest any one should come up suddenly, and I'll examine the s and settle the best plan”

Bill, however, first went to the bed, examined the blankets and sheets and mattress, and found, to his satisfaction, that below all were two thick pieces of canvas, drawn together by a rope The rope, though rather thin, would, he was satisfied, bear their light weights It ht take them half an hour or so to twist the various ive theth for their purpose

This discovery greatly raised the boys' spirits and hopes of success

Bill noent to the , and found that the grass came close up to the walls of the tower underneath Even should they fall froht have the chance of not breaking their bones, and that was some satisfaction An iron bar extended from the top of theto the botto as need be It would do well for securing their rope As far as he could judge, there was nounder theht have been seen by any person within during their descent, rapidly as they ht make it Bill considered whether it would be possible to withdraw the rope after they had descended, but he doubted whether they had sufficient materials to enable them to do that

”Well, it cannot be helped,” Bill said to himself ”The Frenchmen will see hoe escaped, but they won't find it out till daylight, and it won't matter much then”