I'll watch here till Macomber goes away,
for he isn't likely to play at that game all day, and you should be
back within an hour."

Jerry started off without stopping to argue the question, and I was
left alone to keep in view the man who could do us so much mischief if
he had an inkling that we were in the vicinity.

Twice he spoke with the sentinel, as if asking some favor, and each
time the man shook his head decidedly, therefore I concluded that the
cur had tried to enter the building that he might jeer such of the
prisoners as had been friends of his in the past.

Then he peered in at the window again, never making an effort to look
through any other, and I concluded that from such position he could
see the prisoner he had most reason to hate, which, of course, must be
Darius.

I did not dare remain in one position all the while, lest some one see
that I was spying upon the prison and grow suspicious as to my
motives, while Macomber was so intent upon gazing at his enemies that
I might have brushed past him without attracting attention.

Therefore it was that I paced to and fro, never taking my eyes from
the cur, however, and making certain there was a place of concealment
near at hand into which I could dart at a moment's warning.

Not until fully half an hour had passed did he abandon his fruitless
efforts, and then he walked in the direction of the British encampment
as if with some fixed purpose in his mind, which, I had no doubt, was
to ask for a permit to visit the prisoners.

Had he gone toward any other quarter of the city it would have pleased
me to see him go; but now I was sorely distressed in mind, for his
way led the same course Jerry must pursue when returning from the
smoke-house, and it would be the irony of fate if the two should come
face to face.

However, that was an evil which I could not mend, and, therefore, I
put the matter from my mind so far as possible, while I set about
doing the only thing which seemed to promise a chance to have speech
with our comrade.

I proposed to take Macomber's place at the window, and if it was
possible to see Darius inside, there was no question in my mind but
that I could contrive to attract his attention.

There was no little danger in making the attempt, because I might thus
arouse suspicion in the mind of the sentry, or be seen by an officer
who would insist on knowing why I was there; but it was the only way
by which I could have speech with