a loophole, and they
were widening this.

"Quick, here, sentry," says the captain.

The next minute the sentry hurried up, and we had a man posted as nearly
over the window as we could guess, and then I had my orders in a minute:
"Take two men and the sentry at their door, rush in, and secure them at
once. But if they have got out, join Sergeant Williams, and follow me
to act as reserve, for I am going to make a sally by the gate to stop
them from the outside."

I roused Harry Lant and Measles, and they were with me in an instant.
We passed a couple of sentries, and gave the countersign, and then
mounted to the long stone passage which led to where the prisoners had
been placed.

As we three privates neared the door, the sentry there challenged; but
when we came up to him and listened, there was not a sound to be heard,
neither had he heard anything, he said. The next minute the door was
thrown open, and we found an empty room; but a hole in the wall shewed
us which way the prisoners had gone.

We none of us much liked the idea of going through that hole to be taken
at a disadvantage, but duty was duty, and running forward, I made a
sharp thrust through with my piece in two or three directions; then I
crept through, followed by Harry Lant, and found that room empty too;
but they had not gone by the doorway which led into the women's part,
but enlarged the window, and dropped down, leaving a large opening--one
that, if we had not detected it then, would no doubt have done nicely
for the entrance of a strong party of enemies.

"Sentry here," I said; and leaving the man at the window, followed by
Harry Lant and Measles, I ran back, got down to the court-yard, crossed
to where Sergeant Williams with half-a-dozen men waited our coming, and
then we were passed through the gate, and went along at the double to
where we could hear noise and shouting.

We had the narrow alley to go through--the one I have before mentioned
as being between the place we had strengthened and the next building;
and no sooner were we at the end, than we found we were none too soon,
for there, in the dim starlight, we could see Captain Dyer and four men
surrounded by a good score, howling and cutting at them like so many
demons, and plainly to be seen by their white calico things.

"By your left, my lads, shoulder to shoulder--double," says the
sergeant.

Then we gave a cheer, and with hearts bounding with excitement down we
rushed upon