o rig
up two figures which may help to do so. Fortunately, Needham has left
his red handkerchief behind him, that must serve as his night-cap. I
will make the head of straw, and cover it with my handkerchief, the body
we must form by heaping up the straw and then throwing a rug over it.
Now, Archy, your handkerchief must serve as Desmond's head, and we will
put your cap on the top of it."

Gordon, of course, agreed to the proposal. They set to work at once and
as far as the pale light of the moon, which came through tie windows,
could enable them to judge, they were well satisfied with their
performance. They then laid down to sleep with clear consciences, on
their own somewhat diminished heaps of straw.

The gaoler who brought their breakfast seldom did more than put it in at
the door, being satisfied with a glance round the room at its four
inmates. He looked in, as was his custom, the following morning, and
seeing two figures in the dark corners of the room, supposed that the
seaman and one of the midshipmen were indulging in a longer sleep than
usual. Tom and Archy put their hands to their heads, and shook them, as
much as to say that their friends were suffering from head-ache. This
seemed to satisfy the gaoler, who departed, much to the satisfaction of
the midshipmen, without making a closer inspection.

"At all events, it shows that our friends have not been caught, or we
should have had the room searched," observed Tom. "I hope that they
have found the Consulate, and if so, we shall probably be liberated
before the day is over. I wish, however, we could hear something about
the colonel, for the sake of his poor daughter."

The midshipmen naturally had got very weary at being so long shut up.
Their spirits, however, now rose at the thoughts of their speedy
liberation, and they made a hearty meal off their somewhat coarse fare.

A couple of hours or more passed, when Polly knocked at the door, and
said that Miss O'Regan would be glad to see them.

"I have been thinking more than ever about my poor father," she said,
"and I cannot help fearing from the remarks let drop by the gaoler's
wife, that he must be very ill. I have in vain begged her to let me go
and see him--can you think of any plan by which I may do so? If the old
lady would take me down into the common cell, I would gladly consent to
be shut up with him."

"Perhaps by putting our heads together we may hit upon some plan for
getting th