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When all were out the bar was carefully lifted from its place and
laid upon the floor。
The rope was then put round one of the other bars and drawn
through it until the two ends came together。 These were then
dropped to the ground below。 Geary went first； Jackson followed；
and Vincent was soon standing beside them。 Taking one end of
the rope； he pulled it until the other passed round the bar and fell
at their feet。 All three were barefooted； and they stole noiselessly
across the yard to the seat； which was nearly opposite their
window。 Vincent had already fastened his clasp…knife to the end
of the string； and he now threw it over the wall； which was about
twenty feet high。
He had tied a knot at forty feet from the end； and； standing close to
the wall； he drew in the string until the knot was in his hand。
Another two yards； and he knew that the knife was hanging a yard
from the ground against the wall。 He now drew it up and down；
hoping that the slight noise the knife made against the wall might
aid Dan in finding it。 In two or three minutes he felt a jerk； and
knew that Dan had got it。 He fastened the end of the string to the
rope and waited。 The rope was gradually drawn up； when it
neared the end he fastened it to the stone seat。
〃Now；〃 he said； 〃up you go； Geary。〃
The order in which they were to ascend had been settled by lot； as
Geary insisted that Vincent； who had contrived the whole affair；
should be the first to escape； but Vincent declined to accept the
advantage； and the three had accordingly tossed up for precedence。
Geary was quickly over； and lowered himself on the opposite side。
The others followed safely； but not without a good deal of scraping
against the wall； for the smallness of the rope added to the
difficulty of climbing it。 However； the noise was so slight that they
had little fear of attracting attention； especially as the sentries
would be standing in their boxes； for the rain was now coming
down pretty briskly。 As soon as they were down Vincent seized
Dan by the hand。
〃My brave lad；〃 he said； 〃I owe you my freedom； and I sha'n't
forget it。 Now； where are the clothes？〃
〃Here day are； sah。 One is a rough suit； like a workingman's；
another is a black…and…white sort of suit…a check…suit； de oder one
is for you…a clargy's suit； sir。 You make very nice young minister；
for sure。〃
〃All right； Dan！〃 Vincent said laughing； 〃give me the minister's
suit。〃
〃Then I will be the countryman；〃 Geary said。
There was a litte suppressed laughter as they changed their clothes
in the dark； and then； leaving their uniforms by the wall； they
shook hands and started at once in different directions； lest they
might come across some one who would； when the escape was
known； remember four men having passed him in the dark。
〃Now； Dan； what is the next move？〃 Vincent asked as they walked
off。 〃Have you fixed upon any plan？〃
〃No special plan； sah； but I have brought a bag； you see I have him
in my hand。〃
〃I suppose that's what you carried the clothes in？〃
〃No； sir； I carried dam in a bundle。 Dis bag has got linen； and
boots； and oder tings for you； sah。 What I tink am de best way is
dis。 Dar am a train pass tron here at two o'clock and stop at dis
station。 Some people always get out。 Dar is an hotel just opposite
the station； and some of de passengers most always go there。 I
thought the best way for you would be to go outside the station。
Just when the train come in we walk across de road wid the others
and go to hotel。 You say you want bedroom for yo'self； and that
your sarvant can sleep in do ball。 Den in de morning you get up
and breakfast； and go off by do fust train。〃
〃But then they may send down to look at the passengers starting；
and I should be taken at once。〃
〃De train go out at seven o'clock； sah。 I don't expect day find dat
you have got away before dat。〃
〃No； Dan。 We all turn out at seven； and I shall be missed then； but
it will be some little time before the alarm is given； and they find
out how we got away； and send out search…parties。 If the train is
anything like punctual we shall be off long before they get to the
station。〃
〃Besides； sab； dar are not many people knows your face； and it not
likely de bery man dat know you come to the station。 Lots of oder
places to search； and day most sure to tink you go right away…not
tink you venture to stop in town till the morning。〃
〃That is so； Dan； and I think your plan is a capital one。〃
Dan's suggestion was carried out； and at seven o'clock next
morning they ware standing on the platform among a number of
other parsons waiting for the train。 Just as the locomotive's whistle
was heard the sound of a cannon boomed out from the direction of
the prison。
〃That means some of the prisoners have escaped；〃 one of the
porters on the platform said。 〃There have been five or six of them
got away in the last two months； but most of them have been
caught again before they have gone far。 You see； to have a chance
at all； they have got to get rid of their uniforms； and as we are all
Unionists about here that ain't an easy job for 'am to manage。〃
Every one on the platform joined in the conversation； asking which
way the fugitive would be likely to go； whether there ware any
cavalry to send after him； what would be done to him if he were
captured； and other questions of the same kind； Vincent joining in
the talk。 It was a relief to him when the train drew up； and he and
Dan took their place in it； traveling； however； in different cars。
Once fairly away； Vincent had no fear whatever of being detected；
and could travel where he liked； for outside the prison there were
not ten people who knew his face throughout the Northern States。
It would be difficult for him to mako his way down into Virginia
from the North as the whole line of frontier there was occupied by
troops； and patrols were on the watch night and day to prevent
persons from going through the lines。 He therefore determined to
go west to St。 Louis； and from there work his way down through
Missouri。 After two days' railway traveling they reached St。 Louis；
a city having a large trade with the South； and containing many
sympathizers with the Confederate cause。 Vincent； having now no
fear of detection； went at once to an hotel； and taking up the
newspaper； one of the first paragraphs that mat his eye was
headed：
〃Escape of three Confederate officers from Elmira。 Great
excitement was caused on Wednesday at Elmira by the discovery
that three Confederate officers had； during the night； effected their
escape from prison。 One of the bars of the window of the ward on
the first floor in which they were； with fifteen other Confederate
officers； confined； had been removed； the screws having been
taken out by a large screw…driver which they left behind them。
They had lowered themselves to t