They'd spot you sure and
tear you limb from limb."
The spy saluted.
"Report to me a week from to-day at the office. You've earned a
vacation."
The man saluted again and passed quickly out.
Captain Welford asked the Superintendent to call his prisoners together.
"I have something to say to them."
A thousand silent men in blue were gathered in the assembly room of the
old warehouse.
Captain Welford boldly entered the place carrying a box in his hand. He
placed it on the floor, sprang on it and lifted his hand over the crowd:
"I've an announcement to make, gentlemen," he began quietly amid a
silence that was death like. "The Department which I represent has
learned that you are planning to batter down the walls and join a force
of raiders who are on the way to capture Richmond--"
He paused and a murmur of smothered despair, inarticulate, bitter, crept
through the crowd.
"To forestall this little scheme, I have planted a thousand pounds of
powder under this building. I have mined every other prison. The first
one of you that lifts his finger to escape gives the signal that will
blow you into Eternity--"
Dick stepped from the box and made his way out without another word. He
could feel the wild heart beat of baffled hope as they followed him to
the door with despairing eyes.
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