Part 16 (1/2)
That was a tedious job and a distasteful one Foron a bone It was considerably later that I discovered what those cords were norant of it at the time! All I kneas that they were, to use one of Harry's phrases, ”tough as rats”
I did not dare pull with my wrists, for fear they would fly suddenly apart and betray me to the unseen watchers It was necessary to cut clear through withit up There was a nauseating, rancid taste to the stuff, but I dared not even raise my head to expectorate
Finally my teeth met; the cords were severed I felt carefully about with ue toree, carefully raised ht, but a thinning out of the darkness It was, of course, merely the adjustment of my eyes to the new conditions I coulddown, I could clearly distinguish the outline of ain looking up, I fancied that I could see, soain became suddenly dense and impenetrable
”Thatmy eyes toward it
”What's that?” asked Harry sharply
Obedient to my instructions, the lad had lain perfectly motionless and silent for over an hour, for it h the cords
”I said that ht Doesn't it appear to you that way?”
”By Jove,” he exclaiht!
Look!”
I explained that, instead of ”it's getting light,” his eyes wereaccustomed to the darkness
”But what do you think of that? Is it a wall?”
After a moment's silence he answered: ”Ye-es,” and then ood does that do us?”
”That's what I am about to tell you Listen! I've cut the cords on et e that?” Harry interrupted
”With et my knife--cautiously, so they won't suspect if they are watching us Weeach other, so I can cut the thongs on your wrists without being seen Then you are to get your knife--carefully Do you understand?”
”Yes”
For the first tiht in Harry's voice; the curious, barely perceptible treht Go easy”
We went about the thing slowly, turning but an inch at a tiht prove fatal We heard no sound of any kind, and tenflat on our backs side by side, keeping our hands hidden between our bodies, that the absence of the thongs ht hand the hilt of a six inch knife Cold steel is by no means the favorite weapon of an Aot your knife, Harry?”
”Yes”
”Good! Now listen close and act quick When I give the word reach down and grasp the cords round your ankles in your left hand, then cut therasp ether to the wall--that's for our backs And then--let 'eht, old man”
”Don't waste any time; they'll probably start for us the instant we sit up Be sure you get your feet free at the first stroke; feel them ith your left hand first Are you ready?”
”Yes” And his voice was now calo!”