“Are you mad? You _dare_ not do it!” yelled Walker, as he foamed with rage. But the soldiers promptly obeyed the command, and Walker was taken from the tent. “This indignity shall be avenged!” but he was carried quickly forward, and the guard-room door soon closed upon him. “You will be at liberty, upon your parole of honor, until to-morrow at four o’clock, Lieutenant Wells.” The officers shook hands and separated. CHAPTER VI. _The Gunpowder Plot and the Conspirator._ _The Mystery Unfolding._ JUST as the fading twilight was yielding to darkness, and before Lieutenant Wells had been removed from his cell by request of Alibamo, a scene occurred to which we must revert. The room in which Wells was placed was in the wing of a log-house, just in the rear of the brick school-house to which we have alluded. Two doors led from this apartment, one opening into the garden, the other into the main building. This latter door had been firmly secured. Near that opening into the garden, was a small window, the only one in the apartment. As the guard was stationed at the door, escape from the room was impossible. Surrounding this garden were a number of hedges running in various directions, some of them forming the street fence, while others ornamented the winding gravel walks. As soon as it was quite dark, a person closely enveloped and disguised, emerged from among the tents, and passed cautiously along in the still intenser darkness of the hedge shadow. Ever and anon he would pause and listen. Finally he reached the further hedge, remote from the camp. He paused a moment, and then gave a low and peculiar whistle. It was immediately answered, and two men joined the first comer. “Are you ready?” “No!” was the answer. “And why not?” “Because we have not received our pay.” “Is that the _only_ reason?” “The only reason after you have given us full instructions.” “Where is your powder?” “In the upper part of the garden, under the hedge. We have secured eight twelve pound shells which we took from that battery over yonder. Powder enough to blow a mountain to the devil.” “Well, here is a hundred apiece. When the job is done, you will find as much more in the hollow log that I pointed out last night. Be careful and make sure work!” “Well, your instructions!” “You will follow the outer hedge. Creep along with great caution, and make no noise. There will be no danger, as the guard are not on the north side of the camp. When you reach the log-building in the rear of the brick school-house, you will observe a small wing, or addition, extending to the rear. At the back of this wing you will find an excavation under the house sufficiently large for your shells. Place them in it, lay your train, and then apply the torch. But you must do this with great caution, as a guard is stationed upon the opposite side.”