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his mind to slip across the lines and make his way as a runaway to
Alexandria； where you will； of course； be taken in the first place。
He says he's got some money of yours； but I have insisted on his
taking another fifty dollars； which you can repay me when we next
meet。 As he will not have to ask for work； he may escape the
usual lot of runaways； who are generally pounced upon and set to
work on the fortifications of Alexandria and Washington。
〃He intends to find out what prison you are taken to； and to follow
you； with some vague idea of being able to aid you to escape。 As
he cannot write； he has asked me to write this letter to you； telling
you what his idea is。 He will give it to you when he finds an
opportunity； and he wishes you to give him an answer； making any
suggestion that may occur to you as to the best way of his setting
about it。 He says that he shall make acquaintances among the
negroes North； and will find some one who will read your note to
him and write you an answer。 I have told him that if he is caught
at the game he is likely to be inside a prison a bit longer than you
are； even if worse doesn't befall him。 However； he makes light of
this； and is bent upon carrying out his plans； and I can only hope
he will succeed。
〃I have just heard that we shall fall back across the Rappahannock
to…morrow； and I imagine there will not be much hard fighting
again until spring； long before which I hope you will be in your
place among us again。 We lost twenty…three men and two officers
（Ketler and Sumner） yesterday。 Good…by； old fellow！ I need not
say keep up your spirits； for that you are pretty sure to do。
〃Yours truly；
〃JAMES SINCLAIR。〃
After the first start at seeing Dan； Vincent was scarcely surprised；
for he had often thought over what the boy would do； and had
fancied that while； if he supposed him dead； he would go straight
back to the Orangery； it was quite possible that； should he hear that
he was a prisoner； Dan might take it into his head to endeavor to
join him。 As to his making his escape； that did not appear to be a
very difficult undertaking now that he had a friend outside。 The
watch kept up was not a very vigilant one； for such numbers of
prisoners were taken on both sides that they were not regarded as
of very great importance； and； indeed； the difficulty lay rather in
making across the country to the Southern border than in escaping
from prison； for with a friend outside； with a disguise in readiness；
that matter was comparatively easy。 All that was required for the
adventure was a long rope； a sharp file； and a dark night。
The chief difficulty that occurred to Vincent arose from the fact
that there were some twenty other prisoners in the same ward。 He
could hardly file through the bars of the window unnoticed by
them； and they would naturally wish to share in his flight； but
where one person might succeed in evading the vigilance of the
guard； it was unlikely in the extreme that twenty would do so； and
the alarm once given all would be recaptured。 He was spared the
trouble of making up his mind as to his plans； for by the time he
had finished his letter the hour that the hucksters were allowed to
sell their goods was passed； and the gates were shut and all was
quiet。
After some thought he came to the conclusion that the only plan
would be to conceal himself somewhere in the prison just before
the hour at which they were locked up in their wards。 The alarm
would be given； for the list of names was called over before
lock…up； and a search would of course be made。 Still； if lie could
find a good place for concealment； it might succeed； since the
search after dark would not be so close and minute as that which
would he made next morning。 The only disadvantage would be
that the sentries would be especially on the alert； as； unless the
fugitive had succeeded in some way in passing out of the gates in
disguise； he must still be within the walls； and might attempt to
scale them through the night。 This certainty largely increased the
danger； and Vincent went to bed that night without finally
determining what had better be done。
The next morning while walking in the grounds he quite
determined as to the place he would choose for his concealment if
he adopted the plan he had thought of the evening before。 The
lower rooms upon one side of the building were inhabited by the
governor and officers of the prison； and if he were to spring
through an open window unnoticed just as it became dusk； and
hide himself in a cupboard or under a bed there he would be safe
for a time； as； however close the search might be in other parts of
the building； it would be scarcely suspected； at any rate on the first
alarm； that he had concealed himself in the officers' quarters。
There would； of course； be the chance of his being detected as he
got out of the window again at night； but this would not be a great
risk。 It was the vigilance of the sentries that he most feared； and
the possibility that； as soon us the fact of his being missing was
known； a cordon of guards might be stationed outside the wall in
addition to those in the yard。 The danger appeared to him to be so
great that he was half inclined to abandon the enterprise。 It would
certainly be weary work to be shut up there for perhaps a year
while his friends were fighting the battles of his country； but it
would be better after ell to put up with that than to run any
extreme risk of being shot。
When he had arrived at this conclusion be went upstairs to his
room to write a line to Dan。 The day was a fine one； and he found
that the whole of the occupants of the room had gone below。 This
was an unexpected bit of good fortune； and he at once went to the
window and examined the bars。 They were thick and of new iron；
but had been hastily put up。 The building had originally been a
large warehouse； and when it had been converted into a prison for
the Confederate prisoners the bars had been added to the windows。
Instead； therefore； of being built into solid stone and fastened in by
lead； they were merely screwed on to the wooden framework of
the windows； and by a strong turn…screw a bar could be removed in
five minutes。 This altogether altered the position。 He had only to
wait until the rest of the occupants of the room were asleep and
then to remove the bar and let himself down。
He at once wrote：
〃I want twenty yards of strong string； and the same length of rope
that will bear my weight； also a strong turn…screw。 When I have
got this I will let you know night and hour。 Shall want disguise
ready to put on。〃
He folded the note up into a small compass； and at the hour at
which Dan would be about to enter he sauntered down to the gate。
In a short time the venders entered； and were soon busy selling
their wares。 Dan had； as before； a basket of melons。 Vincent
made his way up to him。
〃I want another melon；〃 he said； 〃as good as that you me last
night。〃
〃Dey all de same； sah。 First…rate melyons dose； just melt away in
your mouf like honey。〃
He held up one of the melons； and Vincent placed in his hands the
coppers in payment。 Between two of them he bad placed the little
note。 Dan's bands closed quickly on the coins； and dropping them
into his pocket he addressed the next customer； while Vincent
sauntered away again。 This time the melon was a whole one； and
Vincent divided it with a couple of other prisoners for the fruit was
too large for one person to consume； being quite as large as a
man's head。
The next day another melon was bought； but this time Vincent did
not open it in public。 Examining it closely； he perceived that it
had been cut through the middle； and no doubt contained a portion
of the rope。 He hesitated as to his next step。 If he took the melon
up to his room he would be sure to find some men there； and
would be naturally called upon to divide the fruit； and yet there
was nowhere else he could hide it。 For a long time he sat with his
back to the wall and the melon beside him； abusing himself for his
folly in not having told Dan to send the rope in small lengths that
he could hide about him。 The place where he had sat down was
one of the quietest in the yard； but men were constantly strolling
up and down。 He determined at last that the only possible plan
was in the first place to throw his coat over his melon； to tuck it up
underneath it； then to get hold of one end of the ball of rope that it
doubtless contained and to endeavor to wind it round his body
without being observed。 It was a risky business； and he would
gladly have tossed the melon over the wall had he dared to do so；
for if he were detected； not only would he be punished with much
more severe imprisonment； but Dan might be arrested and
punished most severely。
Unfortunately the weather was by no m