e friend! God reward you. Let me be last."

"No, in with you, man! not an instant to spare;" and with kindly force he
half lifted his friend into the well, and guided him to the mouth of the
tunnel.

Allison crept through it as fast as his feeble strength would permit,
Duncan close behind him.

They emerged in safety, as the others had done before them; at once
scattering in different directions.

These two moved on together, for several minutes, plunging deeper and
deeper into the woods, but presently paused to take breath and consider
their bearings.

"Oh, the air of liberty is sweet!" exclaimed Duncan, in low, exultant
tones; "but we mustn't delay here."

"No; we are far from safe yet," panted Allison, "but--'prayer and
provender hinder no man's journey'; Duncan, let us spend one moment in
silent prayer for success in reaching the Union lines."

They did so, kneeling on the ground; then rose and pressed forward with
confidence. God, whose servants they were and whose help they had asked,
would guide them in the right direction.

"What a providence!" exclaimed Duncan, grasping Harold's arm, as they came
out upon an opening in the wood. "See!" and he pointed upward, "the
clouds have broken away a little, and there shines the North Star: we can
steer by that."

"Thank God! and, so far, we have been traveling in the right direction."

"Amen! and we must press on with all speed; for daylight will soon be upon
us, and with it, in all probability, our escape will be discovered and
pursuit begun."

No more breath could be spared for talk, and they pushed on in silence,
now scrambling through a thicket of underbrush, tearing their clothes and
not seldom lacerating their flesh also; now leaping over a fallen tree,
anon climbing a hill, and again fording or swimming a stream.

At length Harold, sinking down upon a log, said, "I am utterly exhausted!
Can go no farther. Go on, and leave me to follow as I can after a little
rest."

"Not a step without you, Allison," returned Duncan, determinedly. "Rest a
bit, and then try it again with the help of my arm. Courage, old fellow,
we must have put at least six or eight miles between us and our late
quarters. Ah, ha! yonder are some blackberry bushes, well laden with ripe
fruit. Sit or lie still while I gather our breakfast."

Hastily snatching a handful of oak leaves, and forming a rude basket by
pinning them together with thorns, he quickly made his way to the bushes,