For another quarter of an hour he passed backward and forward, his only
fear being that the sentry might take it into his head to open the tent
and look in to see if the prisoners were safe. In a quarter of an hour he
knew that the fugitives would have gained the trees, and would have time
to put on the Sepoy uniforms before he reached them; and also, by the aid
of a couple of large stones, have got rid of their handcuffs, lie might
therefore be off to join them.

Waiting till the sentry was at the other end of his beat, he slipped round
the tent, stripped off his cloak, lay down his musket and belt--for Dick
had arranged that they should carry off five muskets in their retreat--
threw off the Sepoy jacket, and in light running order, darted through the
tents. He calculated that he should have at least a couple of minutes
start before his absence was discovered, another minute or two before the
sentry was sufficiently sure of it to hail the quarter-guard and report
the circumstance. Then would follow the discovery of the escape of the
prisoners; but by that time he would be far out on the plain, and even if
seen, which was unlikely, he was confident that he could outrun any
native.

His anticipations turned out correct; he was already some distance off
when he heard the call of the sentry to the quarter-guard, followed almost
immediately by a still louder shout, that told that he had discovered the
flight of the prisoners; then came the sound of a musket shot, a drum beat
the alarm, and a babel of sounds rang on the still air. But by this time
Ned was halfway to the clump of trees, and three minutes later he was in
his father's arms. There was no time to talk then. Another coat was
hurried on to him, an ammunition belt and pouch thrown over his shoulder,
and Captain Manners carrying his musket until he should have quite
recovered breath, the five went off at a steady trot, which after a