Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/240

214 can listen to much that goes on below. We may hear something worth while if we listen hard enough! But that is only one thing I intend to do with this valuable weapon. Let me show thee to what other use it may be put!” He went to the window, reconnoitered long and carefully to see that no one  was near, and then commenced to file away at  one of the iron bars, digging carefully into  the wood in which it was imbedded, and using  every effort to dislodge it from the socket in  which it was set.

“This will be a long and tedious piece of work,” he remarked. “There are three thick bars, each set stoutly in woodwork  nearly as hard as iron itself, and we want to  do this work so carefully that it will not be  noticeable should anyone enter the room. Each bar will have to be loosened both top and bottom, and I know not how long it will  take us. We will work as constantly as we can, and I doubt not in time we shall be free  as the birds, as far as this window is