“Thank you! thank you!”
And before I could interfere to prevent it, she was gone. I could hear the voice, sad and sweet in the distance, calling back, “Adios!”
I had no time for reflection, else the mystery that surrounded me would have occupied my thoughts for hours. It was time to act. Again I heard Lincoln’s voice at the loophole.
“What is it?” I inquired.
“How are yer ter get out, Cap’n?”
“We are cutting a hole through the wall.”
“If yer can give me the spot, I’ll meet yer half-ways.”
I measured the distance from the loophole, and handed the string to Lincoln. We heard no more from the hunter until the moonlight glanced through the wall upon the blade of his knife. Then he uttered a short ejaculation, such as may be heard from the “mountain men” at peculiar crises; and after that we could hear him exclaiming:
“Look out, Rowl! Hang it, man! ye’re a-cuttin’ my claws!”
In a few minutes the hole was large enough to pass our bodies; and one by one we crawled out, and were once more at liberty.