his feet, I think; they
always seem to know where to put theirselves. He wouldn't tumble down
any holes."

"Keep a sharp lookout for him, and when you see him send him to me
directly."

"Yes, sir," replied the man. "I dessay he'll turn up in the course o'
the morning. He's always hiding himself and coming again when you don't
expect it."

"I say, Val," cried Denham as soon as we were alone, "we didn't reckon
on this. Why, if he doesn't turn up our plan's done."

"Not at all," I said.

"Eh? What do you mean? We couldn't go without him."

"Indeed, but we could; and what's more, we will," I said firmly. "I
would rather have had him with us; but we're going to-night--if we can."

Denham seized my hand and wrung it warmly.

"I like that," he said; "but you shouldn't have put in that `if we
can.'"

"Obliged to," I replied. "We may be stopped."

"Oh, but I shall give the password."

"We may find even that will not be enough. The orders are very strict
now. Besides, if we did not come back the guard would report us
missing, and then there'd be great excitement at once."

"What would you do, then?" he asked.

"Take a lesson out of that Irishman's book."

"Knock two or three sentries on the head with a stone?"

"No, no," I cried, laughing. "Get a couple of reins, tie them together,
and then slide down from the wall."

"Good!" exclaimed Denham; and, after a pause: "Better! Yes, that will
do. Start from the far corner?"

"No, from just up here where Joeboy arranged the stones. We can tie up
to one of those big ones that you stand on to look over. You feel
strong enough to slide down?--it isn't far."

"Oh yes."

"Then, once on the ground, we can crawl away. That's how I mean to go
all along."

"What about the tethering-ropes?"

"We'll go and have a look at our horses towards evening, slip the coils
over our shoulders, and bring them away. No one will interfere."

"Val," he cried, "you ought to be a commissioned officer."

"I don't want to be," I said, laughing. "I want the war to be over, and
to be able to find my people, and settle down again in peace. This
fighting goes against the grain with me."

"But you always seem to like it, and fight like a fury when we're in for
it."

"I suppose it's my nature," I said; "but I don't like it any the
better."

We said no more, but waited anxiously in the hope that Joeboy would
return, and waited in vain, the time gliding by, some hours b