"Hist! I may help you," began Jack, but at this moment he heard the clamp-clamp of ammunition boots approaching from round the corner behind him. "The sentry!" he thought. "Silence! I will come back," he whispered.
He crept along the wall on tiptoe, in the direction away from the approaching footsteps. At the same time he heard from within the cell Pepito's shrill voice in song:
"Kosko gry! Romany gry! Muk man kistur tuté knaw!"
"Clever little imp!" he thought. "He didn't give me away to his companions there, and now he's trying to smother the sound of my footsteps."
He turned the corner and waited. The sentry was still approaching with measured tread, and when he arrived beneath the grating he cried angrily:
"Tais-toi, maraud! Il faut te taire, ou je vais te brûler la cervelle."
The singing ceased, and the sentry with a grunt resumed his march.
"He's going to make the round of the building," thought Jack. "So will I; but I hope to goodness no one will be passing on the other side."
He tiptoed along and turned the other corner. Not a soul was to be seen. He waited. On this face of the building was the door, over which a feeble light flickered, and Jack wondered whether it was open, and if he would be seen from within. But there was no time for hesitation. The tramping sentry was coming behind him. Taking his courage in both hands, Jack slipped along, passed the door safely, turned the farther corner, and in another half-minute was back under the grating, breathless with excitement.
For a moment he stood listening. The sentry had halted in front of the building.
"Hist! Are you there?" he whispered towards the grating.
"Now, answer quickly. How many French are in the town?"
"Here, Señor," said Pepito, pulling the Spaniard away.
"Here's a few pesetas. Buy them all a supper from the jailer. All being well, I'll have you out to-night."
Then he thought for an instant. He must make sure his escape from the town. What if the sentry were again moving round the square? Stepping softly into the road, he picked up a large loose cobble and flung it with all his force towards the corner farthest away from the road he meant to take. The stone struck the road several yards beyond the building, and made a clatter as it ricochetted along. He heard an exclamation from the sentry, who set off at a quick step in the direction of the sound. Without more delay Jack hastened in the opposite direction, hearing behind him, more and more faintly, the quaint refrain of the gipsy's wild song: