been grief
enough. How much worse, then, to see him placed here in a position where
it might be necessary, in Grudd's opinion, to "shoot or strangle" him!
But having once exchanged glances with the boy, Penn's mind was set at
rest.

"He has kept your secret," he said to Grudd. "He is very shrewd; and if
we need help, he will help us."

But the noise Penn had heard behind the wall was troubling the captain.
They retired to that part of the cellar. They had been there but a short
time when a very distinct knock was heard on the stones. It sounded like
a signal. Grudd responded, striking the wall with his heel as he leaned
his back against it. Then followed a low whistle in the passage. The
captain's dark features lighted up.

"We are safe!" he whispered in Penn's ear. "It is Stackridge himself!"

XXIII.

_THE FLIGHT OF THE PRISONERS._

Then commenced strategy. The prisoners gathered in a group before the
closed passage, and talked loud, while Grudd established a communication
with Stackridge. In the course of an hour a single stone in the wall had
been removed. Through the aperture thus formed a bottle was introduced.
This Grudd pretended afterwards to take from his pocket; and having
(apparently) drank, he offered it to his friends. All drank, or appeared
to drink, in a manner that provoked Gad's thirst. He vowed that it was
too bad that anything good should moisten the lips of tory prisoners
while a soldier like him went thirsty.

"I never saw the time, Gad," said the captain, "when I wouldn't share a
bottle with you, and I will now."

Gad held his gun with one hand and grasped the bottle with the other.
Penn seized the moment when his eyes were directed upwards at the cobweb
festoons that adorned the cellar, and the sound of gurgling was in his
throat, to whisper in Carl's ear,--

"Appear to drink, and by and by pass the bottle up stairs."

Carl understood the game in an instant.

"Here, you fish!" he said, in the midst of Gad's potation. "Leafe a
little trop for me, vill you?"

It was some time before the torrent in Gad's throat ceased its
murmuring, and he removed his eyes from the cobwebs. Then, smacking his
lips, and remarking that it was the right sort of stuff, he passed the
bottle to Carl.

"Who's the fish this time?" said he, enviously, after Carl had made
believe swallow for a few seconds.

He snatched the bottle, and was drinking as before, when the guard
above, hearing what passed,