am going to cut your cords," Alex went on softly. "Be careful not
to let your arms seem to be free."

The foreman nodded.

"There," announced Alex as the twine dropped from the prisoner's wrists.

"Now, what shall we do? There is a door behind you into the cow-stable--the
one I came in by. Suppose you work back towards it as far as you dare, then
make a dash for it?"

"Good," whispered the foreman over his shoulder. "But you get out first."

"All right," responded Alex, and immediately began moving backwards, feet
first, as he had come.

Their escape was to be made more easy, however. At the moment from the
house came a call. The man in the doorway stepped out to reply, and in an
instant seeing the opportunity both Alex and the foreman were on their
feet, and had darted out into the stable.

"Now for a sprint!" said the foreman.

"Or, say, suppose I hide here in the stable," suggested Alex. "They don't
know of my being here. Then as soon as the way is clear I can get off in
the opposite direction, and one of us would be sure to get away."

"Good idea," agreed the foreman. "All right, you--"

There came a loud cry from the barn, and instantly he was off, and Alex,
darting back, crept low under a stall-box. As he did so the Italian
dashed by and out, and uttered a second cry as he discovered the fleeing
foreman. From the house came an answer, then a chorus of shouts that told
the rest of the gang had joined in the chase.

Alex lay still until the last sound of pursuit had died away, then
slipped forth, glanced sharply about, and dashed off for the woods in the
direction of the river and the railroad bridge.

[Illustration: HELD IT OVER THE BULL'S-EYE, ALTERNATELY COVERING AND
UNCOVERING THE STREAM OF LIGHT.]

The adventure was not yet over, however. Alex had almost reached the
shelter of the trees, and was already congratulating himself on his
safety, when suddenly from the opposite side of the clearing rose a shout
of "De boy! De boy!" Glancing back in alarm he saw several of the Poles
cutting across in an endeavor to head him off.

Onward he dashed with redoubled speed. With a final rush he reached the
trees ahead of them, and plunging into the friendly gloom, darted on
recklessly, diving between trunks, and over logs and bushes like a young
hare.

A quarter of a mile Alex ran desperately, then halted, panting, to
listen. Not a sound save his own breathing broke the stillness. Surely,
thought Alex, I