ment. The man turned the key once, and observed that he would return and secure his prisoners, when he had lighted the ladies to the street. Accordingly, they parted at the door of the building, when the gaoler retired to his dungeons, and the ladies walked, with throbbing hearts, towards the corner.
"Now the Leather-stocking refuses the money," whispered Louisa, "it can all be given to Mr. Edwards, and that added to"———
"Listen!" said Elizabeth; "I hear the rustling of the hay; they are escaping at this moment. Oh! they will be detected instantly!"
By this time they were at the corner, where Edwards and Natty were in the act of drawing the almost helpless body of Benjamin through the aperture. The oxen had started back from their hay, and were standing with their heads down the street, leaving room for the party to act in.
"Throw the hay into the cart," said Edwards, "or they will suspect how it has been done. Quick, that they may not see it."
Natty had just returned from executing this order, when the light of the keeper's candle shone through the hole, and instantly his voice was heard in the gaol, exclaiming for his prisoners.
"What is to be done now?" said Edwards—"this drunken fellow will cause our detection, and we have not a moment to spare."
"Who's drunk, ye lubber!" muttered the steward.
"A break-gaol! a break-gaol!" shouted five or six voices from within.
"We must leave him," said Edwards.
"'Twould'nt be kind, lad," returned Natty; "he took half the disgrace of the stocks on himself to-day, and 'the creater has feeling."
At this moment two or three men were heard
