one of the chances which must be taken, if we would
get about the work in the only manner that promised success, and I
wriggled my way upward until having come to where the earth was
seemingly solid above my head, on the alert meanwhile for a signal from
Harvey which should tell of danger in the rear.

Without delay, and yet not hastily lest by too much speed a blunder be
made, I scraped away the dirt from above my head, allowing it to fall
wheresoever it would, until I could feel the roots of the grass, and
knew I was come to the turf.

Then, feeling carefully around at the very edge, so that I might force
it upward in such a manner as to form a lid that would drop back into
place again, I pressed with all my strength.

The roots of the grass tore asunder; a draft of fresh air struck upon my
face, and, looking upward, I could see stars twinkling in the sky in a
most friendly fashion, as it seemed to me.

Within sixty seconds I was standing erect in the rear of the building
which Master Lord counted to be our prison, free to go whithersoever I
would, so that I kept myself clear from the patrol and did not blunder
upon too many Tories.

I had in the belt by my side the knife of which I have already spoken,
and it was the only weapon which I could carry while making a way
through the narrow tunnel; but this I was determined to use with deadly
intent if peradventure I should come upon only one, or mayhap two
enemies who recognized me, and I believe of a verity that, excited and
desperate as I was become, it would have been possible for me to have
fought for liberty with the energy of half a dozen lads.

It can well be fancied that I did not stand many seconds in the open
talking with myself as to what I would do in case of a pinch. It seemed
to me the most dangerous portion of my undertaking was to slip past the
building without being overheard by Master Lord, and I flattered myself
that no Indian on the war path ever moved more noiselessly than I, until
having gained Long lane.

Even while making my way through the tunnel I had mapped out the course
to be pursued, which was that I would cross the vacant land from Long
lane to the corner of Bishop's alley and Milk street, after which it
would be necessary to take my chances of coming upon the patrol. I
counted even on going as near the governor's house as Old South Church,
and from thence boldly down Corn hill, passing dangerously near the
prison until coming to Do