CHAPTER III

A RESCUE

‘Pee two lads walked slowly down the hill together.
Harry had heard no more than Charlie had done of
what was going on. The messenger from his father was a
young fellow of seventeen or eighteen, with a gipsy face
and appearance; how he had managed to elude the vigi-
lance of the men on watch Harry did not know. He him-
self had only learnt his presence when, as he passed some
bushes in the garden, a sharp whisper made him stop, and
a moment later a hand was thrust through the foliage. He
took the little note held out, and caught sight of the lad’s
face through the leaves as he leant forward and said—‘ Go
on, sir, without stopping; they may be watching you.”

Harry had thrust the note into his pocket anu sauntered on
for some time, he then returned to the house and there read
the letter, with whose contents Charlie was already ac-
quainted. Jagerly they talked over what each had been
thinking of since they had parted early on the previous
day, and discussed Charlie’s idea of an attack on Lancas-
ter jail.

“JT don’t know whether I could get as many men as you
gay, Charlie. I don’t think I could. If my father were
in prison as well as yours I am sure that most of the young

fellows on the estate would gladly help to rescue him, but
49