separable companions for the time being, with a
chance of being hanged. Not knowing but that the officers or guards
might enter our room during the night to look at the hostages, it was
deemed advisable to leave the tunnel alone. The handcuffs and shackles
were of the old style, shutting together by a spring bolt. To open them
the key was inserted, and turning it a number of times would screw the
bolt back. The key and spindle had threads cut like a common bolt and
nut. Sailors understood the mechanism perfectly. By taking a piece of
soft wood the size of the keyhole and boring a hole in the centre
slightly smaller than the spindle, and twisting it around in the
keyhole, threads would be cut in it, and the handcuffs opened. Another
plan was to make a slip-noose of fine twine, and by slipping it over the
spindle, the bolt could also be drawn back. During business hours our
two unfortunate companions were fettered together, but the remainder of
the time they could meander around separately. We had plenty of
amusement in drilling them to get into proper position for being
shackled as soon as there was any indication of the door being opened.

Supplementary orders soon arrived that Porter and Williams should be
confined by themselves in a separate room. A small room next to that of
the army officers was selected. Being on the first floor, it was an easy
matter for us to release them when we were ready to escape. Work was at
once resumed. Our greatest difficulty was in getting candles enough to
supply us with light. Finally, the last night's work was finished. The
tunnel was twenty-two feet in length. According to our diagram we were
six inches from the surface of the ground under Crane's house. We were
afraid to make a small hole to the surface to make sure that our
measurements were correct, for if there should be any depression in the
ground, the first rainstorm would let the water into our excavation. We
divided ourselves into parties of two or three, each to select our own
route to the Federal lines. A small school atlas was borrowed, and maps
made of the different routes we intended to take. Lieutenant Brower,
Arrants, and myself decided to go south twenty-five miles, and follow
the Santee River east to the sea-coast, then taking our chances of
reaching a Federal gunboat. Corn-meal was baked brown, and with a
little salt added, by mixing it with water it would be ready for eating.
Matches were put into bottles to preven