He was sent with half a dozen others to pick up stones in a neighboring field.

No officer was with them, and Bobby was struck with the apparent freedom of the institution, and he so expressed himself to his companions.
"Not so much freedom as you think for," said one, in reply.
"I should think the fellows would clear out." "Not so easy a matter.

There is a standing reward of five dollars to any one who brings back a runaway." "They must catch him first." "No fellow ever got away yet.

They always caught him before he got ten miles from the place." This was an important suggestion to Bobby, who already had a definite purpose in his mind.

Like a skilful general, he had surveyed the ground on his arrival, and was at once prepared to execute his design.
In his conversation with the boys, he obtained, the history of several who had attempted to escape, and found that even those who got a fair start were taken on some public road.