to get away from the prison as soon as
possible, for Elias Macomber might return at any moment, and I backed
into the street while gazing at the top of the building, looking, most
likely, the greenest lad that ever visited a city.

While thus acting the simple I was making ready for whatsoever plan
Darius wanted to carry into effect, for I studied the outside of the
jail until I could tell within a foot of how much rope would be
needed.

The "stone house" was three stories in height, with an ordinary
pitched roof from which projected four chimneys--two at each end. From
the eaves to the ground I judged it was not less than thirty feet, and
from the eaves to the nearest chimney, measuring at whichsoever
corner you chose, was ten feet. To that length add three feet for a
turn around the chimney and two half-hitches, and one had the length
of rope Darius wanted--say forty-three or four feet.

I noticed that on the side of the roof nearest the street was a
trap-door or scuttle very nearly in the middle, well up toward the
ridge-pole, and it must be that our comrades would come through that,
since I saw no other way by which they could get outside.

Without doubt those two old shell-backs had made a careful survey of
the place within ten minutes after being imprisoned, and had a plan
for escape mapped out ready to be carried into execution, providing
any aid could be had from the outside.

By the time I had backed entirely across the street I had a picture of
the jail in my mind which could be recalled at any moment, and as I
turned to saunter away I came face to face with Jerry.

"Have you been over there?" he asked, motioning toward the "stone
house."

"Yes, and have the same as talked with Darius and Bill Jepson. Let us
get out of sight where we shan't be watched. I was afraid you would
run into Macomber; he started off some time ago, and I got it into my
head that he was going to the British encampment."

"I reckon that's where he was bound for. I kept my eyes open mighty
wide both goin' an' comin', therefore saw the cur while he was a long
distance away, otherwise we might have run into each other as you an'
I did."

"All right at the smoke-house?"

"Snug as bugs, an' your father is as chipper as a sparrow."

Then I led the way up what appeared to be a lane in the rear of some
dwelling, until we were where we could talk without danger of being
seen or heard.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE ESCAPE.

Jerr