He
did not propose, however, to commence operations at present. In the
daytime he would be too subject to a surprise. With evening, he
resolved to commence his work. He might be unsuccessful, and
subjected, in consequence, to a more rigorous confinement; but of
this he must run the risk. "Nothing venture, nothing have."
Jack awaited the coming of evening with impatience. The afternoon
had never seemed so long.
It came at last--a fine moonlight night. This was fortunate, for his
accommodating host, from motives of economy possibly, was not in the
habit of providing him with a candle.
Jack thought it prudent to wait till he heard the city clocks
pealing the hour of twelve. By this time, as far as he could see
from his windows, there were no lights burning, and all who occupied
the building were probably asleep.
He selected that part of the door which he judged to be directly
under the bolt, and began to cut away with his knife. The wood was
soft, and easy of excavation. In the course of half an hour Jack had
cut a hole sufficiently large to pass his hand through, but found
that, in order to reach the bolt, he must enlarge it a little. This
took him fifteen minutes longer.
His efforts were crowned with success. As the city clock struck one
Jack softly drew back the bolt, and, with a wild throb of joy, felt
that freedom was half regained.
Pages:
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136