Though the film is presumed lost , a synopsis survives in The Moving Picture World from September 24 , 1910 . It state : " The convict is discovered stealing along a country road , glancing about for signs of danger . His stripes are discernible on that portion of his breast and on that portion of his trousers ' leg not covered by the long coat he wear - which cannot conceal the stripes that tell all ; hence his keen watch for passersby . Still , he do not spy a nearby farmer until too late ; the cry ' prisoner loose ' is raised , and a dozen rustics make after the unfortunate . Convict meet accomplice who is waiting with carriage ; jump in the carriage and the pair drive off . Baffled pursuers come up , sight a wagon , all pile within and resume pursuit . Convict jump from carriage and drop behind boulder , accomplice driving straight on with the wagon hot after him ; when the wagon have passed him by , convict come from behind boulder , crosses road and disappear on other side - but have been seen crossing the road by a small girl who kept out of sight until the convict had disappeared , but who now rush off to tell of her discovery . Put back on the trail by the little girl , pursuers follow their quarry to the waterside , where a second accomplice await the convict with a rowboat , and into which he jump and pulls for the other side . Another rowboat set out in pursuit . One of the pursuers telephone constables on the other side of the water to catch convict when he try to land . "