"I want to talk to you," he replied, making a motion of his hand to
indicate that he wished to converse in secret.

The sentinel, looking carefully around to be certain that no one was
near at hand who could perceive him, beckoned to Harry to approach.
The young man went forward cautiously, as the numerous sentinels
around the wall were likely to perceive him, and would not hesitate to
fire if they imagined he was about to attempt an escape. As soon as he
reached the sentinel, he made known his wishes, and ended by offering
the man his watch and forty dollars in gold if he would permit himself
and his friend to pass the gate at night. At the same time he promised
the man he would take all the responsibility in the event of detection
or re-capture.

The sentinel listened attentively, and at first appeared unwilling to
receive the bribe, but upon Harry representing to him that there was
no chance of his agency in the escape being discovered, he finally
consented to receive it. It was, therefore, arranged between them,
that at twelve o'clock that night the two prisoners should start. The
signal was to be a faint whistle, which would ultimate to the guard
that they were there, if it was answered they should advance, but if
not they should return, as his silence would either indicate that he
was not alone, or that he was not on his post. Everything having been
amicably arranged between them, Harry promised to pay the bribe as
soon as they had reached the gate. This the fellow demurred to at
first, but as Harry was determined, not to pay over the watch and
forty dollars, until the hour of their departure, he was compelled to
assent.

On Harry's return to his tent, he found Alfred reading a Yankee