kle, for it's so loose now that I think you
could do it."

"Ah! I'll try, Punch," whispered Pen.

"Then if you try," said the boy, "you'll do it. I know what you are."

"Don't talk, then," replied Pen excitedly, "but turn over at once. Why
didn't you think of this before? We might have tried at once, and had a
better chance, for it will be light before long."

"Didn't think of it. My arms hurt so that they made me stupid."

Giving himself a wrench, the boy managed to move forward a little,
turned over, and then worked himself so that he placed his bandaged
wrists close to his comrade's mouth, and then lay perfectly still, for
the sentry turned suddenly as if he had heard the movement.

Apparently satisfied, though, that all was well, he changed his position
again, and then, to the great satisfaction of the two prisoners, he
shouldered his musket and began to pace up and down, coming and going,
and halting at last at the far end of his beat.

Then, full of doubt but eager to make an effort, Pen set to work, felt
for the buckle, and after several tries got hold of the strap in his
teeth, tugging at it fiercely and with his heart sinking more and more
at every effort, for he seemed to make no progress.

Twice over, after tremendous efforts that he half-fancied loosened his
teeth, he gave up what seemed to be an impossibility; but he was roused
upon each occasion by an impatient movement on the part of Punch.

"It's of no use," he thought. "I am only punishing myself more and
more;" and, fixing his teeth firmly once more in the leather, he gave
one shake and tug such as a wild beast might have done in worrying an
enemy. With one final drag he jerked his head back and lay still with
his jaws throbbing and the sensation upon him that he had injured
himself so that several of his teeth had given way.

"It's no good. It's of no use, Punch," he said to himself; for the boy
shook his wrists sharply as if to urge him to begin again. "I can't do
it, and I won't try;" when to his astonishment he felt that his comrade
was moving and had forced himself back with a low, dull, rustling sound
so that he could place his lips to his ear again; and to Pen's surprise
the boy whispered, "That last did it, and I got the strap quite loose.
My! How my wrists do ache! Just wait a bit, and then I will pull you
over on to your face and have a turn at yours."

Pen felt too much confused to believe that his companion had succeed