vered. They carried him away.

Col. S. Great God! and he had papers! Did they find any?

Fair. No, we burned the paper, but he knows all the plans of
Winthrop's army.

Col. S. What did he say? Ah, if we only could have met him in time!

Char. He told us very little, only the position of the camp. But
he knows all the plans and orders off by heart. He stole the plans from
Winthrop's tent. But they have taken him--a spy! I tell you, they have
taken him.

Gordon. We must not stay here a moment. A party will come and
search the place.

Fair. Where will they take him?

Gordon. Where? (thinking). That's it. Where will they take him.
His release. He had no papers on him. He'll not be shot down as a spy.
Columbus; the prison there (slowly). Morgan's got to have that news.
Escape; what is there else. Colonel, I must have a word with you in
private (he turns to the others). You'll leave us for a moment. Here,
Bev, have the best horse saddled for Col. Stuart. Take him to the far
end of the orchard, fasten him to the big sycamore tree. You know the
place.

Bev. Yes.

Gordon. Go, quick! Send Cupid with the horse and come back here.

[Exit Bev.

Col. S. What is your plan?

Gordon. You'll see. Mrs. Stuart, you Charlotte and Fair keep
watch, and if you see the enemy, come back to us.

Char. Here, mother, Fair; we must not lose a moment.

[They exit.

Col. S. Now, what your plan?

Gordon. Carter has the plans of Winthrop's army. These plans he
must give Morgan.

Col. S. But he is taken. How boy; how can he get the plans to
Morgan?

Gordon. Carter will be taken to Columbus; the prison is not a
long trip from here. They'll send him with a guard on the first train.
There's nothing else (he comes nearer, speaking very intently). The
prison at Columbus; we must tunnel it!

Col. S. Ah, I see. But how; how will we get the word to him?

Gordon. Leave that to me. For God's sake let me have my way in
this! I tell you there's not one other chance; we've got to put this
through. You have been to the prison there. Now, under the long room
where all the boys are kept, there is a big drain pipe; it's opening is
two hundred yards down the river (slowly measuring his words). Ten days
from now--that will be the 22nd--employ a man to crawl up the pipe until
he is exactly underneath the prison; this at mi