ide of the
house, thus showing that he had made a complete circuit of the place,
and the expression on his face told as clearly as words could have done
that we might set about our task without delay, for there were none near
at hand to stay us.

Without waiting for him to speak I struck my axe into the structure of
sticks and clay with such force that it was buried to the head, and I
could not release the tool until little Frenchie had aided by tearing
away some of the fabric with his pick.

"Haste is like to make waste," Pierre reminded me in a half whisper.
"Unless we get about this work with somewhat of system we shall make but
little headway, and no one can say how soon the sentries may remember
that it is their duty to stay here on guard instead of watching the
advance of the rebels."

I would have been a dull lad indeed had I not come by this time to
understand that it was Pierre Laurens who should take the lead when he
and I were working together, therefore I stood back, leaving him to
begin the task, and striking with my axe when he directed me so to do.

Before we had succeeded in cutting a hole as large as a man's hand, I
heard a voice from the inside which I believed to be Saul's crying
excitedly:

"Who are you that are striving to enter? There should be a sentinel just
outside the door, and unless you take due care he will give an alarm."

"Saul! Saul! It's Pierre and Fitz!" I cried, no longer able to restrain
myself, and little Frenchie clapped his hand over my mouth on the
instant, saying angrily:

"Is it not enough that you have opportunity to work your will even here
in the midst of the enemy's encampment, but that you must raise your
voice to give notice of what you would do? It matters little whether
Saul knows it is us who are here, or that he waits until we have
effected an entrance."

While he spoke Pierre was working industriously, having taken his hand
from my mouth after leaving it there sufficiently long to give token
that he intended it for a reproof, and from that moment until sounds
from the inside told that whoever was held prisoner had been on his part
aiding in the work, I held my peace, watching little Frenchie's every
movement, determining never again until we were out of this village,
would I raise my voice until he had given permission.

Whether we worked there at tearing a hole through the chimney five
minutes, or thirty, I have no idea. Around us yet roared the cannon,
t