It was Jeremy who forced me to get to my feet that we might go to the other end of the cellar, where was the aperture through which we had crept when making ready for the attack upon Skinny, and once there we were able to breathe the comparatively fresh air, giving the greatest relief, I think, I ever experienced in all my life. The cellar was not large. Already were the timbers aflame and the heat was growing exceeding painful, yet we gave little or no heed to it, owing to the pleasure of filling our lungs with that sweet night air. I noted that the gag had been taken from Skinny’s mouth, and young Chris, the last member of the party whom I would have credited with kindly feelings toward the Tory cur, explained, when he saw I noticed the fact, that he had removed it with threats to kill the lad if he made an outcry, because of wanting to save him from the pain of suffocation such as we had all experienced. During an instant I believed such a move to be unwise in the extreme, for Skinny had but to raise his voice in order to give the lobster-backs to understand that someone remained in the cellar; but Jeremy whispered: “Have no fear he will try to give an alarm. He knows full well what will be the result, for I have promised to kill him in cold blood if he makes the slightest noise, and, besides, he is so nearly suffocated that I question if he could do very much more than squeak.” Well, we stood there breathing in the sweet air, and feeling uncomfortably warm, while one might have counted twenty, and then I was so far recovered from the effects of the smoke as to realize that now was come the time when we must run some risks if we would save ourselves from a most painful death. Therefore it was I said to the lads, not fearing to speak in an ordinary tone because the crackling of the flames would drown my voice from any who might be outside: “I count on venturing forth now. If so be you hear an outcry, then look about you for some other means of escape, even though I question if there be any, for you will know that I have been taken prisoner. If peradventure the coast be clear, you shall hear of it at once, and must follow without loss of time, for if we are to make our escape this night, it is to be done in short order, before the flames have gotten sufficient headway to light up the village.” No one made any attempt at staying me as I crept out through the aperture. All knew that this was the only course to be pursued, and perhaps he who might be taken prisoner by the Britishers would suffer even less than those who remained behind too long. So eager was I to learn what we might expect on the outside, that I gave but little heed to caution, forcing myself out through the narrow opening as rapidly as possible, and once beyond the wall of the cellar, I stood up, regardless of whoever might see me, in order to have a better view of the surroundings.