Jack North's Treasure Hunt Part 19

"'Pears to me you're mighty cool about it. Will they dare to shoot us? We are not mixed up in their war, and it might make trouble for them in in the end, if I know anything."

"They don't stop to consider that. It is my opinion they would dare to do anything but meet an equal number of the enemy. It looks bad for us, Plum."

"I wonder if we can't dig out of here somehow? These walls don't seem so awful thick."

"Of course we must try and get out of this. The first thing to do will be to free our limbs. Can you loosen your bonds any?"

For the next ten minutes the boys were busy trying to free their hands from the ligatures which had been fastened in no uncertain way.

"It's no use," acknowledged Plum at last. "I believe mine grow tighter and tighter. Hark! I should think that soldier on guard in the hall would get tired of that everlasting tramping back and forth. I've a mind to tell him to stop."

"Better not do it. I wonder if by standing on my shoulder you could look out of that window up there?"

"I have been thinking that same thing. Let's try it."

Naturally their attention had been attracted to a small window, which afforded light and ventilation for the room, but which was about ten feet from the floor.

Tied hands and feet, as they were, the boys tried many times to carry out their plan without avail, until it must have been near midnight when Plum said:

"It's mighty aggravating. There must be lights on the streets, for I've seen their flash."

"Let's try once more. If I lie down perhaps you can get on my neck, after which I believe I can raise you to the window."

This proved a most difficult feat, but after repeated attempts Plum succeeded in gaining the desired position, when Jack slowly straightened up, until he had brought his companion's head on a level with the window, where by leaning against the wall he was enabled to hold him for a hasty look over the scene without.

Plum had barely gained his unsteady perch before he exclaimed in a tone of excitement:

"Oh, Jack! the town is on fire! Everything is burning up!"

At that moment the dull boom of a cannon reached their ears.

Chapter XIX

Chilians on Both Sides

"Looks as if the old town was being raided by some enemy," declared Plum, after a short pause, during which another peal of the distant cannon awoke far and wide the dismal night.

Loud cries were now heard outside the town house, making the youths'

situation one of excitement. In the hall adjoining their prison the steady tramp of the sentry's feet had suddenly ceased.

"How about the fire?" asked Jack, bracing himself more firmly against the wall under the weight of his companion.

Boom! boom! boom! rang sullenly on the scene before Plum could reply, and then the rattle of musketry succeeded and the hoa.r.s.e shouts of men giving orders such as no one could understand in the wild confusion.

"The fire lifts higher and higher," said Plum, as soon as a lull in the tumult allowed him to be heard by his companion. "It seems to be burning on the northeast corner of the town, and the wind is driving it down this way like a race horse. The plaza is full of soldiers."

The cannonade soon became almost continual, and was fairly deafening.

"What will become of us?" asked Plum, showing his first sign of hopelessness.

"Is the window large enough to let us crawl out if our hands were free?"

asked Jack.

"It may be; but it is crossed with bars of iron no man could break with his hands."

"Take your last look and then come down."

Plum took a hurried survey of the scene which he realized he might never look upon again, but his narrow orbit allowed of nothing more than what he had described.

The cannons were still thundering forth their loud-voiced peals of war, half drowned by the incessant rattle of the smaller arms in the hands of the town's defenders.

In a moment Plum descended to the floor in a heap.

"Get on your feet if you can," said Jack a moment later.

By resting against the wall, as his companion was doing, Plum Plucky soon stood beside him.

"I should like to know what we are to do in this condition. We are sure to be killed."

"Hark! do you hear anything of the sentry now?"

"No; he went out to join the soldiers. I see him."

"Then our way is clear. Now, Plum, I want you to brace yourself as best you can, and when I give the word throw all your weight against the door with me."

"Going to try and break it down?"

"Yes; ready?"

"Ready."

"Now then, together!"

The old door shook and creaked beneath their combined efforts, but it withstood the shock.

"Again--together!"

This time the whole building trembled, and the door creaked and groaned, but still defied them.

"Still again--together!"

But the third attempt, nor yet the fourth nor fifth cleared their pathway, though when both the boys were bruised from head to feet the rusty hinges suddenly gave away and they went headlong into the narrow hallway.

Jack struck upon top, and he was the first to gain his knees, as near an erect position as he could easily gain, and he began to crawl toward the open air, saying: