Directly Tony got back to his regiment he strolled over to the shed where Vincent was confined.Two sentinels were on duty, the sergeant and the two other men were lying at full length en the ground some twenty yards away.Their muskets were beside them, and it was evident to Tony by the vigilant watch that they kept up en the shed that their responsibility weighed heavily upon them and that Captain Pearce had impressed upon them that if the pnsoner escaped they would certainly be shot.
"Well, Sergeant John Newson," Tony began, "I hab just walked ober to see how you getting on.It am a mighty 'sponsible business dis.I had six hours of him, and it make de perspiration run down my back to tink what a job it would be for me if dat fellow was to run away.""Dat's just what dis chile feel, Sergeant Tony Morris; I am zactly like dat, and dat's what dese men feel too.We am all on guard.De captain say, put two on guard at de shed and let do odors relieb dem ebery hour.So dey shall; but dose off duty must watch just the same.When it gets dark we get close up, so as to be ready to jump in directly we hear a stir.Dis fellow no fool us.""Dat's the way, Sergeant Newson, dat am do way.Nober close your eye, but keep a sharp look on dem.It's a pity dat you not in camp to-night.""How am dat, bow am dat?" the sergeant asked.
"To tell you do truf, sergeant, tree or four ob us hab smuggled in some spirits, and you are one of dose who would hab come in for a share of it if you had been dere.""Golly!" the sergeant exclaimed; "but dat is bery unfortunate.
Can't you manage to bring me a little here?""Well, you know, it's difficult to get out ob camp.
"Oh, you could get through.Dere is no fear about you being caught.""I don't know," Tony replied with an air of reluctance."Well, I will see about it.Ef I can crawl troo de sentries, and bring some for you and de oders, I will.It will help keep you awake and keep out de damp.
"Dat's right down good ob you," the other said cordially."You good man, Tony Morris; and if I can do as much for you anoder time, I do it."Having settled this, Tony went round to the hospital tent in rear of the regiment, having tied up his face with a handkerchief.
"Well, what is it, sergeant?" the negro, who acted as an orderly and sometimes helped the surgeon mix his drugs, asked."De doctor am gone away, and I don't 'spect he come back again to-night.""Dat am bery bad ting," Tony said dolefully."Can't you do something for me, Sam Smith? I tink you know quite as much about do medicines as do doctor himself.""Not quite so much, sergeant, not quite so much; but I'se no fool, and my old mother she 'used to make medicine for de plantation and knew a heap about herbs, so it am natural dat I should take to it.What can I gib you?""Well, Sam, you see sometimes I'se 'flicted dre'fful wid do faceache him just go jump, jump, jump, as ef he bust right up.
Mose times I find de best ting am to put a little laudabun in my mouf, and a little on bit of rag and put him outside.De best ting would be for you to gib me little bottle of him; den when de pain come on I could jess take him, and not be troubling you ebery day.
And Sam, jus you whisper-I got hold of a little good stuff.You gib me tin mug; me share what I hab got wid you."The negro grinned with delight, and going into the tent brought out a tin mug.
"Dat's all right, Sam; but you hab no brought de bottle of laudabun too.You just fetch dat, and I gib you do spirit."The negro went in again, and in two minutes returned with a small bottle of laudanum.
"Dat's a fair exchange," Tony said, taking it, and handing to the man his mug half full of spirit.
"Dat am someting like," the black said, looking with delight at the liberal allowance."Me drink him do last ting at night, don me go to sloop and no one 'spect nuffin'.Whereber you get dat spirit?""Never you mind, Sam," Tony said with a grin."Dar's more where dat comes from, and maybe you will get anoder taste ob it."Then after leaving the hospital tent he poured half the spirits away, for he had not now to depend upon the effect of that alone; and it wore bettor not to give it too strong, for that might arouse the suspicion of the guard.Then ho uncorked the bottle of laudanum.
"I don't know how much to gib," he said to himself."No good to kill dem.Me don't 'spect die stuff bery strong.Dose rogues sell all sorts of stuff to do government.Anyting good enough for do soldier.Dey gib him rotten boots, and rotten cloth, and bad powder, and all sorts of tings.I spect dey gib him bad drugs too.
However, me must risk it.Dis bottle not bery big, anyhow-won't hold more dan two or three teaspoon.Must risk him."So saying ho poured the contents of the vial into the canteen, and then going to a water-cart filled it up.Ho waited until the camp was quiet, and then, taking off his boots and fastening in his bolt his own bayonet and that of one of the men sleeping near, he quietly and cautiously made his way out of camp.There were no sentries placed here, for there was no fear whatever of an attack, and ho had little difficulty in making his way round to the back of the village to the spot where Vincent was confined.Ho moved so quietly that ho was not perceived until he was within a few yards of the shed.
"Sergeant Newson, am you dere?"
"Bress me, what a start you hab given me, for suah!" the sergeant said."I did not hear you coming.
