"Whist!" said Dennis. "I'm tellin' ye, lad, we must get out o' this place." "That's very easy to say." "Faith, and it's almost as aisy to do." "Don't talk so loud, Dennis." "'T is only whispering I am." "Yes, but you're whispering like a steam-engine letting off steam." In the dim light the actions of the young soldiers were not clearly seen by the good-natured guard. In spite of the easy-going manner of the Confederate in charge of them, Noel was aware that the utmost care must be used. The man himself had said that he was one of the sharpshooters, and that he would quickly act if an attempt to break away was made, he had no doubt. "'T is silent entirely I am," said Dennis, for a moment dropping his voice lower. "But have you noticed what there is in the wall above us?" "No," replied Noel. "What is it?" As he spoke he looked quickly in the direction indicated by his companion, but his action was abruptly ended when Dennis roughly seized him by the shoulder and said almost savagely, "What are you doin', lad? Don't look there, whatever else you do! Kape your eyes on the floor. Now, listen to what I am sayin' to ye. In the ceilin' there's a small slide, leastwise I think it's a slide, though I'm not sure. It may be a trapdoor that will lift up or somethin' of that kind." "Yes! Yes! Go on," said Noel eagerly, as his companion stopped a moment. "Me own thought," continued Dennis, after he was satisfied that the two prisoners were not observed by their guard, "is that it won't be long before we'll have a chance to go up into that loft. We'll push back the door, or the slide, or whatever it is, and if we can do that without makin' any disturbance, we'll drop it back into place and hold it so that nobody can get up there. Probably they won't think we have gone up above, anyway." Dennis laughed lightly as he spoke. "Just where is that door, Dennis?" inquired Noel. "Shure, and it's right above your head." "How are we going to get through it? I mean how will you open it?" "That remains to be seen," answered Dennis, "but it's shure I am that it will be aisy." "But how will you do it?" demanded Noel once more. "When the time comes," said Dennis, "I'll inform you, but for a spell we'll have to be careful not to wake the suspicions of the guard." Walking abruptly from his companion, Dennis approached the soldier and said lightly, "Aren't you goin' to feed your prisoners pretty soon? Why, 't is night comin' on and we haven't had a bite of any kind since mornin'." "I'll see what can be done when I'm relieved," said the soldier. "Now don't talk to me any more and be on your good behavior, too. I don't think it will be wise for you and the other Yank to do much whispering, either. I'm always afraid of Yanks when they get off in a corner, especially if it's in the dark." "All right," laughed Dennis. "I'll put the lad over in the other corner of the room and I'll stay right here by you."