ank near the Academy, but escaping capture and
suddenly disappearing, Jack had hoped, forever.

He felt nervous and discouraged now that the man had again come into his
life, and he sat in a corner of the room on a chest and thought deeply,
Percival presently saying to him in cheery tones:

"Brace up, Jack. It is not like you to give way to despondency. What are
we going to do? We can't stay here even if that fellow with the white
mustache has given orders that we are not to be harmed."

"I tell you what," whispered young Smith. "That window is small, but not
too small to put me through. You have done that before, you know. If you
can get that bar loose it will be easy enough to put me out, and then I
will go straight to the vessel and get the captain, old Ben Bowline, and a
lot of sailors to come and get you out."

"You know the way, do you, Jesse W., you won't get lost!" asked Percival,
catching at the idea. "You are a plucky little fellow, but I don't want
you to take any risks."

"They are nothing but what I can take easy enough," answered the other
quickly. "Don't you suppose I would do anything for Jack? And for you,
too. You have both done a lot for me, and this isn't much. You get me
through the window, and I'll do the rest."

Jack arose quietly, crossed the room, took hold of the iron bar put across
the window and tested it.

"I believe we could pull it loose, Dick," he said in a low tone, not
knowing if there were any one outside who might hear him. "It is only
driven into the frame, and I believe we could pull out frame and all."

"Let me look at it," said Percival, and, taking hold of the bar, he
suddenly swelled up his muscles, gave it a quick, sharp wrench, and had it
out with a part of the frame as well.

"H'h! great protection that was!" he laughed. "I suppose they thought the
window was too small for any one to get through, and it is for most folks,
but Jesse W. is only half size and we can put him through all right."

"And I'll put through the other part," said the younger boy. "I am glad I
can do something for you two, for you have both of you done a lot for me
at one time or another."

"But see here, J.W., do you understand that there is considerable danger
in getting away?" asked Jack in a serious tone. "These fellows may be
watching, and they would handle you roughly if they caught you. And then
it is dark going through the woods, for the moon does not rise till pretty
late, and you mig