The important moment had now arrived.  Certain it was, that if this chance were suffered to pass unimproved, a second would hardly present itself.  For early, doubtless, on the following morning, if not some way prevented, the two soldiers would convey Israel back to his floating prison, where he would thenceforth remain confined until the close of the war; years and years, perhaps.  When he thought of that horrible old hulk, his nerves were restrung for flight.  But intrepid as he must be to compass it, wariness too was needed.  His keepers had gone to bed pretty well under the influence of the liquor.  This was favorable.  But still, they were full-grown, strong men; and Israel was handcuffed.  So Israel resolved upon strategy first; and if that failed, force afterwards.  He eagerly listened.  One of the drunken soldiers muttered in his sleep, at first lowly, then louder and louder,—­“Catch ’em!  Grapple ’em!  Have at ’em!  Ha—­long cutlasses!  Take that, runaway!”

“What’s the matter with ye, Phil?” hiccoughed the other, who was not yet asleep.  “Keep quiet, will ye?  Ye ain’t at Fontenoy now.”

“He’s a runaway prisoner, I say.  Catch him, catch him!”

“Oh, stush with your drunken dreaming,” again hiccoughed his comrade, violently nudging him.  “This comes o’ carousing.”

Shortly after, the dreamer with loud snores fell back into dead sleep.  But by something in the sound of the breathing of the other soldier, Israel knew that this man remained uneasily awake.  He deliberated a moment what was best to do.  At length he determined upon trying his old plea.  Calling upon the two soldiers, he informed them that urgent necessity required his immediate presence somewhere in the rear of the house.

“Come, wake up here, Phil,” roared the soldier who was awake; “the fellow here says he must step out; cuss these Yankees; no better edication than to be gettin’ up on nateral necessities at this time o’night.  It ain’t nateral; its unnateral.  D—–­n ye, Yankee, don’t ye know no better?”

With many more denunciations, the two now staggered to their feet, and clutching hold of Israel, escorted him down stairs, and through a long, narrow, dark entry; rearward, till they came to a door.  No sooner was this unbolted by the foremost guard, than, quick as a flash, manacled Israel, shaking off the grasp of the one behind him, butts him sprawling back into the entry; when, dashing in the opposite direction, he bounces the other head over heels into the garden, never using a hand; and then, leaping over the latter’s head, darts blindly out into the midnight.  Next moment he was at the garden wall.  No outlet was discoverable in the gloom.  But a fruit-tree grew close to the wall.  Springing into it desperately, handcuffed as he was, Israel leaps atop of the barrier, and without pausing to see where he is, drops himself to the ground on the other side, and once more lets grow all his wings.  Meantime, with loud outcries, the two baffled drunkards grope deliriously about in the garden.