Page 167 - Among the camps, or, Young people's stories of the war

lf That war'll't no rats," said one. “ Them boys is trying
to git out. I heai'd the window open. Go and see what

they are doing, ’ he said to his comrade.
Jack held his breath.
' Y o u go yourself," said he. “ I say it’s rats.”
" Rats t You’ve got rats," said the other, " I ’ll go, just
to show you ’tain’t rats."
He got up, and taking a torch, came to the stair, jack

felt his heart jump up in his mouth. He just had time to
stuff his hat into the hole he had made, to shut out the sky,
and to fling himself down beside Jake and roll up in the
blanket, when the bolt was pulled back and the man entered.
He held the torch high above his head and looked a/ound.

Jack felt his hair rise. He could hear his heart thumping,
and was sure the man heard it too. Jake stirred, lack
clutched him and held him. The man looked at them. The
flame flickered and died, the man went out, the bok grated in
the staple, and the man went down the shaky stair.

"W ell, you are right for once,” Jack heard him say.
" Must have been rats; they are both fast asleep on the
floor.”
Jack waited till the talk died away, and then he went to
work again. He had learned a lesson by this time> and he

worked carefully. At last he had the hole big enough to
creep through. It was right over the shoulder of the rickety
old log chimney, and by making a quick turn he could catch
hold of the " chinking" and climb down by it. He could see