One night they heard the sea more loudly than ever before.  It rolled heavily, just over their heads.

“There must be a great storm on the gulf,” said Obed White.  “I’ve lost count of time, but perhaps the period of gales is at hand.  If so, I’m not sorry, it’ll hide our flight across the water.  You’ll remember, Ned, that we’re a half mile from the mainland.”

Fully two weeks passed before they decided that Ned was restored to his old self.  Meanwhile they had matured their plan.

“We came in as Texans,” said Obed, “but we must go out as Mexicans.  There is no other way.  It’s all simple in the saying, but we’ve got to be mighty quick in the doing.  We must make the change right here in this cell of yours, because, you having been an invalid so long, they’re likely to be careless about you.”

Ned agreed with him fully, and they began to train their bodies and minds for a supreme effort.  They were now able to tell the difference between night and day by the temperature.  The air that came through the holes in the ceiling was a little cooler by night, enough for senses trained to preternatural acuteness by long imprisonment to tell it.  The guard always came about eight o’clock with Ned’s supper and they chose that time for the attempt.

Obed White entered Ned’s cell about six o’clock.  The boy could scarcely restrain himself and the man’s blue eyes were snapping with excitement.  But Obed patted Ned on the shoulder.

“We must both keep cool,” he said.  “The more haste the less likely the deed.  The first man comes in with the tray carrying your food.  I stand here by the door and he passes by without seeing me.  I seize the second, drag him in and slam the door.  Then the victory is to the firm of White & Fulton, if it prove to be the stronger.  But we’ll have surprise in our favor.”

They waited patiently.  Ned lay upon his pallet.  Obed flattened himself against the wall beside the door.  Their plan fully arranged, neither now spoke.  Overhead they heard the slow roll of the sea, lashed by the waves sweeping in from the gulf.  But inside the cell the silence was absolute.

Ned lay in an attitude apparently relaxed.  His face was still white.  It could not acquire color in that close cell, but he had never felt stronger.  A powerful heart pumped vigorous blood through every artery and vein.  His muscles had regained their toughness and flexibility, and above all, the intense desire for freedom had keyed him to supreme effort.

Usually he did not hear the soldier’s key turn in the lock, but soon he heard it and his heart pumped.  He glanced at White, but the gray figure, flattened against the wall, never moved.  The door swung open and the soldier, merely a shambling peon, bearing the tray, entered.  Behind him according to custom came the second man who stood in the doorway, leaning upon his musket.  But he stood there only an instant.  A pair of long, powerful arms which must have seemed to him at that moment like the antennae of a devil-fish, reached out, seized him in a fierce grip by either shoulder, and jerked him gun and all into the cell.  The door was kicked shut and the grasp of the hands shifted from his shoulders to his throat.  He could not cry out although the terrible face that bent over him made his soul start with fear.