"I've something big--" He paused and glanced about the room. "Go on!" "There's a plot on foot inside to escape--" "Of course. They're always plotting to escape--we've no real prison system--no discipline. Hundreds have escaped already. It's nothing new--" "This _is_ new," the spy went on eagerly, "They let me into their councils last night. There's going to be a big raid on Richmond--the men inside are going to fight their way out, arm themselves and burn the city. When they get the signal from the outside they'll batter down the walls and rush through--" "Batter down the walls?" "Yes, sir--" "How?" "They've loosed two big rafters and have them ready to use as battering rams--" "You're sure of this?" "Sure's God's in heaven. Go in and see for yourself--" Captain Welford gave a low whistle. "This is big news. There are enough prisoners in Richmond to make an army corps--eleven hundred in here--twenty-five hundred at Crew and Pemberton's--at Belle Isle and the other stockades at least fifteen thousand in all. They are guarded by a handful of men. If they realize their power, they can batter their way out in five minutes and sweep the city with blood and fire--" He stopped suddenly, drew a deep breath and turned again to the man. "That'll do for you here. Take a little rest. You'd as well go back into a lion's den when they find out that I know. They'd spot you sure and tear you limb from limb." The spy saluted. "Report to me a week from to-day at the office. You've earned a vacation." The man saluted again and passed quickly out. Captain Welford asked the Superintendent to call his prisoners together. "I have something to say to them." A thousand silent men in blue were gathered in the assembly room of the old warehouse. Captain Welford boldly entered the place carrying a box in his hand. He placed it on the floor, sprang on it and lifted his hand over the crowd: "I've an announcement to make, gentlemen," he began quietly amid a silence that was death like. "The Department which I represent has learned that you are planning to batter down the walls and join a force of raiders who are on the way to capture Richmond--" He paused and a murmur of smothered despair, inarticulate, bitter, crept through the crowd. "To forestall this little scheme, I have planted a thousand pounds of powder under this building. I have mined every other prison. The first one of you that lifts his finger to escape gives the signal that will blow you into Eternity--" Dick stepped from the box and made his way out without another word. He could feel the wild heart beat of baffled hope as they followed him to the door with despairing eyes. A murmur of sickening rage swept the prison. An ominous silence fell where hope had beat high.