Gordon.  We’ll not fail!

Winth.  Where’s Hillary?  I must see him.

Gordon (going to the door).  No, no; not that.  I tell you, he is ill—­asleep.  Surely, I can answer you.  Speak; say all you have to me.  I’ll answer you, but not to him.

[The bell strikes the half hour.

What’s that—­the bell again?

Winth. 12:30.  Hopkins, we must see the man. (To Gordon)—­I tell you, sir, we must.

[Enter Bill.

Bill.  Are ye all right, sir?

Hop.  Here, take the light and go in softly, and see if Mr.
Hillary is awake.

Bill.  What’s wrong with him?

Hop.  You ought to know; he’s very ill.

Bill.  Ill!  He?  Not a healthier man than him in here.

Hop.  What!

Gordon (at the door).  I tell you, don’t disturb him.

Winth.  It is essential. (To Bill)—­Call Mr. Hillary.

[Exit Bill:  pushes past Gordon with lantern.  He is heard
shouting, “Here, git up!  Whar’s Hillary?  You thar! 
Get up!” A confused sound of voices:  then Bill says
loudly, “Here, whar is he?  None of your damned jokes!”
The voices grow louder.

[Enter Bill, hurriedly.

Bill (excited).  He’s not in thar!  Look ’round the room.  Ain’t he in here!

[Goes hurriedly to the straw, then to mattress, then dashes
into the other room.

Hop.  Escaped!  Impossible!  Why not you?

[Re-enter Bill, runs to door on left, then into hall, crying,
“Escaped prisoner!  Guard!” The prison bell begins to ring.

[Enter Bill, followed by four men with rifles, carrying lanterns.

Bill (rushes to Gordon in a rage).  Whar’s that fellow gone?  Tell me, or I’ll—­

[Starts to strike him.

Winth.  You’ll be kicked out of this prison—­(To guards) Search the rooms.  He may be hiding (to Gordon).  For God’s sake man, where has he gone?

[Gordon has come to the mattress, where he half kneels, watching
the others.

Gordon (in a low voice).  No.

[Re-enter the guard, followed by the rest of the prisoners,
much excited.  They talk in low voices to one another.

Hop. (coming forward with the lantern).  Hello!  What’s this?  Fresh earth on the floor.  Here, men.  Quick!

[They snatch away the mattress, disclosing the round hole in the
floor.

Winth.  He’s gone.

Hop. (bending down).  Where does this lead?

Winth.  The drain pipe underneath the prison.  Here, men, to the entrance on the river bank.  Two of you wait to watch in here.

[Exit two of the guard and Bill.

Hop.  What do you think it means?

Winth.  That their plan has been successful.

Hop. (in an agony).  Hillary had important news, but what—­what can he have found out?

Winth. (turns to Gordon, almost pleading).  Have you nothing for us to hear?