you
again, and I would advise you to take care that you tell him only the
truth, and confess your object in coming to the country."

Bill made no answer; and the colonel, after again surveying the room,
took his departure, locking the door behind him.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

THE ESCAPE.

Jack and Bill heard Colonel O'Toole descending the stairs, and,
listening, were convinced that he had gone away without leaving a sentry
at the door.

"We are in luck," said Bill, as he looked round the room. "This is a
better place than the old tower, and I don't see that it will be much
more difficult to escape from."

They went to the window. It was long and narrow, but there was ample
space for them to creep out of it. It was, however, a great height from
the ground; three or four storeys up they calculated; and should they
attempt to drop down, they would break every bone in their bodies.

"It cannot be done, I fear," said Jack.

"It can be done, and we'll do it before to-morrow morning, too,"
answered Bill. "When the general ordered us to be shut up here, he was
thinking that we were just like a couple of French boys, without a
notion of going aloft, or of finding their way down again."

"But I don't see how we can manage to get down here," said Jack, peeping
through the window, cautiously though, for fear of being seen. "There
is nothing to lay hold of, and the door is locked and bolted. I heard
that traitor Irishman shoot a bolt before he went away."

"Look here," replied Bill, pointing towards the bed.

"Why, that's a bed," said Jack. "It was very good-natured in the
mounseers to give it us to sleep on."

"What do you think it's made of?" asked Bill. "Why, sheets and blankets
and ticking," replied Jack. "Yes," said Bill, "you are right; and with
those selfsame sheets and blankets, and maybe a fathom or two of rope
besides, underneath, I intend that we shall try to lower ourselves down
to the ground; and when we are once outside, it will be our own fault if
we do not get back to the harbour, and when there, that we do not get on
board our raft again. The French captain said it was to be left just as
it was for the general to see it to-morrow morning. Before that time
comes, I hope that we shall be out of sight of land, if we get a fair
breeze, or, at all events, out of sight of the people on shore."

"I'm always ready for anything you propose, Bill," said Jack. "I see
now well enough how we are to get