The night was dark, with heavy, ominous looking clouds hanging low in
the sky; but yet we could have distinguished the form of a man on the
top of the building.

We were half hidden by the clump of bushes in the garden of the
dwelling where I had been screened from view of Elias Macomber, when
we saw a man approaching leisurely, and looking from side to side in
search of some one.

I recognized Captain Hanaford, and stepped out to meet him, asking how
he and father had managed to get along.

"He pulled through all right, lad, an' was lyin' in my bunk happy as a
cricket when I left."

"But you've forgotten the rope!" I exclaimed, and the captain opened
his coat to show me the line wound around his waist in such a fashion
that one might have come close upon him without suspecting that he
carried anything.

He stepped behind the bush to unwind it, and while he was thus engaged
I distinctly saw the form of a man emerge from the scuttle-hatch on
the roof of the jail.

"They're coming out!" I whispered excitedly, and then glanced
hurriedly around to learn where the sentries were stationed.

To my surprise I could not see a single person, save the soldier who
appeared at the corner once in every two or three minutes as he paced
his beat at the end of the building. It seemed extraordinary that
there should be no others in sight; but such was the fact, and surely
we had no reason to complain because the enemy was careless.

A few hours later I understood the reason for this seeming neglect of
the prisoners.

My comrades were ready for the work on hand immediately I gave the
alarm, and swiftly the three of us crossed over, I wondering if it
would be possible for us to throw the rope to the roof where the
sailors could catch it.

[Illustration: As soon as the line was made fast a man slipped down
quickly followed by another.]

As we neared the building I saw that Darius had already made
arrangements for getting one end of the rope into his possession.

A bit of cloth was swinging to and fro at the corner of the jail when
I arrived, and taking hold of it curiously, I saw that it was made
fast to a string formed of two or three strands of yarn.

The old sailor had unraveled their socks in order to procure that
which would enable them to haul up the rope.

There was no need of word or signal. Captain Hanaford made fast one
end of the half-inch manilla, gave the yarn-twine a jerk in token that
all was ready, and