Part 6 (2/2)
”Wish I could, though.”
”Impossible.”
”Nothing's impossible.”
”Rubbis.h.!.+”
”If I can!”
”You can't.”
”I might get to Bolivar.”
”No good if you could.”
”They'd send help.”
”They wouldn't. Country disturbed: would have sent escort with train if could.”
”Can't we do anything?”
”No: go to sleep.”
”Can't sleep.”
”No such word as can't.”
”I can escape then.”
”Rubbish.”
”Rotten business.”
”Go to sleep.”
But Will remained awake for some hours, beating his brains for some means of breaking prison. With a brick wall behind him, a sentry at the door inside, another outside, he had to confess at length that the idea seemed hopeless, and gave it up in despair.
Next night again, after a fruitless conversation with the Chief, he lay awake still pondering the problem. All at once he thought he heard a slight scratching on the wall behind him. Before he could a.s.sure himself that he was not mistaken the sound ceased. He waited anxiously.
Yes: without doubt some person or animal was scratching on the bricks, and judging by the sound the wall must be very thin. He tapped gently with his finger-nail on the brickwork. The scratching ceased for a considerable time; then began again. Once more he tapped, wondering whether a friend outside was trying to communicate with him: once more the sound stopped; it seemed as though the scratcher had given a hint that he should discontinue tapping. He lay listening. By and by the scratching recommenced, and went on continuously. Will fell asleep with the sound in his ears, and when he was waked by the sentry opening the door, he almost believed he had heard it in a dream.
The prisoners were taken out for an airing each day, being carefully kept apart. Will looked around eagerly as he walked along by the side of the sentry, to see if there was any clue to the proceedings of the night. Pa.s.sing along the side of the stables, he glanced at the back wall, but there was nothing to indicate the presence of any one.
Tropical weeds grew in profusion behind the stables, nothing having been done to clear the ground since they had been disused. All day he kept his eye on the front of the house. There was the usual coming and going of the inmates, but never a sign that any one of them was a friend.
Shortly after nightfall, the scratching began. It was so quietly done that there was no danger of the sentry hearing it through the croaking of the frogs. Will could no longer doubt that some one was trying to get through the wall. He tapped on the part.i.tion.
”Do you hear scratching?”
”No. Mosquitoes or ants?”
<script>