MILITARY ADVENTURES. 115 



pect of again escaping out of their cruel 

 hands. 



It still wanted some hours to dark, so I 

 tried to go to sleep, and at length I 

 succeeded in dozing ; but I was con- 

 tinually starting up, thinking I heard 

 tapping, though I knew it could not yet 

 be near midnight. At last it grew near 

 the time appointed, and every one had re- 

 tired to bed, if I might judge by the ex- 

 treme quiet that reigned throughout the 

 village. Then I began to be dreadfully 

 anxious as I listened to the steady tread 

 of the sentinel passing round and round 

 the hut. I heard a key turn in the lock 

 just after he had passed my door, and it 

 was gently pushed open ; I was through 

 in a second, when the door was again 

 pulled to quietly, and locked. My new 

 companion had just time to run with me 



