Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-26
CHAPTER XVIII.
Cell Number One.

Cell No l was q great Improvement on
No. 8. There was no shelf of rock, or
stone bench, but cot bed in the corner.
a table and a wooden chair The living
spring issued from the living rock In a
corner of the room. When the goaler and
his assistant had retired and showed in the
outside bolts Jack lit his candle and a
cigarette. feeling almost happy. He sur
Veyed the premises now with more care
The bed was Of iron and fastened to the
moor ON the top of it was a mattress. a
pillow and pair of blankets. At It's head
a little triangular shelf Of rock had heen
left In the corner, and on this reposed a
basin OF tin, while a coarse piece of sack
ing TOOK the place of a towel Jack threw
on MS oVercoat and flung it on the bed.
intent on a satisfactory wash He heard
something jingle in the pockets, and for
getting for the moment what 1t could
possibly be, thrust his hand in, and pulled
out g1ass-stoppered bottle of ozak He
held II out at arms length and stared at If
for some moments like a man hypnotized
Holy Saint Peter" he cried, ito think
mat should have forgotten thisn'
He filled the tin basin with water. and
placed 1t on the table. Again he dis
soived-a minute portion of the chemical.
and again filed the syringe
must leave no marks on the wall that
may arouse attention." he said and taking
the full syringe to the arch over the tor
rent, ana placing the candle on the floor
beside him, he gently pushed In the piston.
Inc Inc spray struck the rock. and the rock
alssolVed signify and perceptibly. Coming
back to the table he stood for a few min.
utes in deep thought Although the cot
bed was fixed to the floor, and although IT
was possible that the shelf In the next cell
conceded with It's position, the risk Of
discovery was too great to cut a passage
between the two cells there The obvious
spot to attack was the interior of the
tunnel through which the streamlet ran.
but Jack, testing the temperature OF the
water with his hand, doubted his physical
ability to remain In that ice-cold current
more than few minutes at time, and IL
ne worked In the tunnel he would be all
but submerged. He feared he would perish
with cold and cramp before he had made
any impression on the rock
To the edge of the stream he drew the
table, and, mounting 1t. examined the up
per orihce through which the water es-
capped when the cell was full He found he
could stand ON the table and work in COM
Tort until he had excavated sufficient rock
to allow him to Chamber into the upper tun-
mel and SO continue his operations The
water he used would flow through the tun-
mel and down to the main stream in the
next cell. All he had to do was to dissolve
semi-crcular hole in the rock that would
bend round the end of those steel bars and
enter the tunnel again on the other side
Eager to be at work, he took the full basin
showed 1t far along the tunnel until 1t
was stopped by the bars, them placing his
candle beside it. and standing on the table,
he began operations.
The limestone, under the influence of the
spray. dissolved very slowly. and by the
time the basin of water vas exhausted all
the effect visible under the light of the
candle was an exceedingly slight circular
impression which was barely visible to the
naked eye.
II must make the solution stronger. I
think" he said, grievously disappointed at
the outcome of his labors. and as he looked
at it he heard the clank of the withdrawing
bolts. Blowing out the candle he sprang
to the floor of the cell, picked up the table,
set 1t down in the center OF the room,
CROPPED for the chair. and sat down. his
heart palpitating wildly at the fear of dis
covery.
Followed as usual by the man with the
lantern, the gaoer came in. carrying bowl
of hot steaming soup. which he placed on
the table, then he took from his pocket a
spoon, small hunk or black bread and a
piece of cheese. In the light OF the lam
tern Lermontoff consulted his watch and
found 1t was o'clock. The gaoler took
the lantern from his assistant held IL high,
and looked round the room. while Lennon
tof gazed at him In anxiety, wondering
whether that brutal-looking official suspect
ed anything. apparently he did not but