"Nathan Shelby and Evan McDowells."
"How is it you are here? Are you not the same who were taken prisoners this evening and confined in the Dillard house?"
"We are," Nathan replied without hesitation.
"How did you escape?"
"Ephraim Sowers was sent, or came of his own will, to make us march around the room by way of punishment."
"No such orders as that could have been given by Major Ferguson."
"I know not how that may be; but Ephraim acted the part of jailer, and commanded us to do his bidding, which was none other than that we march around the room even though we had been afoot all day."
"That doesn't explain how you escaped?"
"Ephraim was unarmed, but threatened to strike us when we refused. The result was the same as if almost any one else had been in our position. We made Ephraim a prisoner, and then, by forcing off one of the wooden bars, slipped out of the window."
"Then the boy is yet there?" the colonel said, as if in surprise that such should be the case.