e of them. We had on our
coats, and had a few canes, and bottles, and pieces of lath, taken out
of the wall, which were to be used in the fight down stairs, if
necessary. Then came the supper. It was brought in by negroes, the
jailor standing at the door. Our preparations for leaving were not
noticed. We ate in silence, stowing part of the bread in our pockets
for future emergencies. It so happened that the old watchman, whom
everybody hated, was away. It was well for him, as he would have
received little mercy.

After the jailor had given their food to the inmates of the other
rooms, he came back to ours. We asked him to let Barlow come over and
stay with us that night. He consented, and soon Barlow was with us.
Now was the time for action.

It was a thrilling moment! On the action of the next few minutes hung
the issues, probably, of life or death. I confess that for one moment
the blood flowed to my heart with a sharp throb of pain. The others
were pale, but determined. As for Captain Fry, who was to initiate the
movement, and whom I had seen weeping a few minutes before--he was
perfectly calm, and his face wore a pleasant smile. He stepped out of
the door as if it was the most natural action in the world, and said,
very quietly:

"A pleasant evening, Mr. Turner."

"Yes, rather pleasant," responded the latter, looking as if he could
not understand what Fry was out there for.

"We feel like taking a little walk this evening," continued the
captain.

The astonishment of the jailor now knew no bounds. "_What! How!_
WHERE!" he exclaimed, in broken ejaculations.

Fry's countenance grew darker as he clasped the old man in his arms,
and said:

"We have stayed as long as we can stand it, and we now are going to
leave, and let out the other prisoners; so give up the keys, and make
no noise, or it will be the worse for you!"

Turner tightened his grasp on the keys desperately, and exclaimed,
"You can't do that!" then commenced in a loud tone, "Guar"--when my
hand closed across his mouth and stifled the incipient call for help.

It was not our intention to hurt the old man, for he had been kind to
us; but it was necessary to keep him quiet. He possessed great
strength, and struggled very hard, managing to bite my finger; but we
held him fast, and easily wrestled the keys from him. Buffum was soon
at work on the locks of the doors.

Meantime, our companions had quietly descended the stairway, and burst
out on the