In addition to
the ladder we shall want a length of rope long enough to go from this
window to the ground, and another length of thin rope more than twice
the height of the wall."
"Bery well, Massa Harold, me understand exactly what's wanted; but
it'll take two or t'ree days to make de ladder, and me can only work
ob a night." being caught. We must choose a dark and windy night.
Bring two files with you, so that we can work together, and some
oil."
"All right, massa. Now me go."
"Shut the door quietly, Jake, and do not forget to lock it behind
you," Harold said, as Jake stole noiselessly from the cell.
A week passed without Jake's again visiting Harold's cell. On the
seventh night the wind had got up and whistled around the jail, and
Harold, expecting that Jake would take advantage of the opportunity,
sat down on his bed without undressing, and awaited his coming. It
was but half an hour after the door had been locked for the night
that it quietly opened again.
"Here me am, sar, wid eberyting dat's wanted; two files and some oil,
de rope-ladder, de short rope for us to slide down, and de long thin
rope and de piece ob wood six feet long and thick as de wrist."
They at once set to work with the files, and in an hour had sawn
through two bars, making a hole sufficiently wide for them to pass.
The rope was then fastened to a bar, Harold took off his shoes and
put them in his pocket and then slid down the rope into the
courtyard. With the other rope Jake lowered the ladder and pole to
him and then slid down himself.
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