“It must be that Gabriel has succeeded in his purpose, else would we have heard some token, and certain I am that not a voice has been raised or a shot fired since he left this room.” In this last statement I could fully agree with him; but as to whether Gabriel had succeeded in escaping was quite another matter. I felt convinced, even while hoping it might be so, that he could not make his way undetected down through the house, and then past all the sentinels which must be stationed between the building and the highway. Each instant I expected to hear an alarm sounded, believing that during all this while he had been crouching in some hiding-place near the attic chamber. As the time went by, however, and we knew that not less than an hour had passed, I began to breathe more freely, for now was it certain the dear lad had given the enemy the slip, even though it seemed impossible anything larger than a mouse could have gone out from there undetected. My fears, allayed in one direction, sprang up in another, and I began to ask myself whether it would be possible for one on foot, in the night, to come upon either party of our friends? It was beyond the range of possibility that Gabriel had been able to get a horse without attracting attention, therefore must his travelling be done on foot, and without boots to his feet. Now it was that my companions, seeing some slight thread of hope in this escape of Gabriel’s, were eager to discuss the situation with one another, and all unconsciously we made our way across the room to the window, where, crouched upon the floor, we spoke in softest whispers of what might be done if fortune aided our comrades in every possible way. Once, while we were thus talking without being able to see each other’s faces, I fancied I heard a cautious footstep near at hand, and warned the lads to remain silent while we listened; but when nothing could be distinguished save the sound of our own breathing, I said to myself that it was only a rat in the wall--that I was growing overly nervous, and to indulge in such fancies might result in my finally becoming timorous. That which we said to each other was of little or no importance; we simply discussed all the known possibilities of the future, and, when tired of this fruitless occupation, my companions one and all relapsed into silence. I turned to find Archie Gordon, believing he had taken station directly behind me, but when I spoke it was to learn that Jacob Breen stood thus near. Then I called the lad softly by name, but there was no response, and Jacob whispered sufficiently loud for all to hear: “Is Archie lying asleep near any of you? I have not heard him speak this past hour.”