opened his eyes.

"Hamp, are you awake?" Jerry whispered, softly, in his ear.

"Yes; what's up?" came the drowsy reply.

"Hush! don't talk so loud. I'll do the talking. Are you sure you're wide
awake and can understand me?"

"Of course I am," whispered Hamp, a little impatiently.

Then he saw that Jerry's arms were free.

"You are in luck," he added. "Are you going to escape?"

"Yes; and I want you to go with me," Jerry replied, putting his mouth
close to Hamp's ear. "I haven't time to explain now, only I found a
knife and cut my arms loose. Turn yours this way a little bit." Hamp
obeyed, and Jerry deftly severed the ropes.

"Now lie still until you see me open the door," he resumed. "That will
be the signal. Then jump and sneak out after me. I want to get our caps
and snowshoes first."

"Are you going to take Brick along?" Hamp asked.

"No; I wish we could. He is chained fast to Bogle. I wouldn't dare to
try. But if we get away all right, Brick won't be a prisoner long. That
old trapper was prowling around here to-night. We'll strike right for
his camp. The tracks will help us to find it. You understand what you
are to do now?"

"Yes; I'll be ready."

"Watch for the door to open," Jerry added. "Lie still, and don't make a
sound. Better keep your arms under you, in case Sparwick should get
awake. If he does, give a little cough."

"All right," whispered Hamp.

Having thus taken all possible precautions against failure, Jerry once
more crawled noiselessly away from the bed.

When he was half way across the room, he ventured to rise to his feet.
Then, bending low, he moved to and fro in search of what he wanted. He
found the snowshoes and the caps without any trouble. He softly opened
the cupboard and put some crackers and cold meat in his pocket.

He wanted a rifle badly, but they all rested on one pair of hooks, and
he was afraid that he could not get one down without making a racket.
So he reluctantly concluded to do without.

Jerry softly crossed to the door. He undid the fastenings and pulled it
half-way open. He stopped on the threshold and looked back into the
room. It was a moment of thrilling suspense. He saw Hamp rise slowly to
his feet and take a step forward.

Then, like a flash, Sparwick's tall figure towered over the lad. There
was a scuffle and a heavy fall. Two hoarse cries blended into one.

Jerry stood as one petrified. He heard Sparwick calling lustily for
Bogle. He saw the lat