Part 17 (1/2)
who report everything to the officers Wingie is familiar with the history of every keeper Most of them are ”rotten,” he assures ht watch is ”fierce an' an ex-fly”[16]
Only three ”screws” are on night duty in each block, but there are a hundred overseers to ”run th' duie promises to be my friend, and to furnish ”more pointers bymby”
[16] Fly or fly-cop, a detective
CHAPTER V
THE SHOP
I
I stand in line with a dozen prisoners, in the anteroom of the Deputy's office Humiliation overcoht of day, upon raded to a beast! My first impression of a prisoner in stripes is painfully vivid: he reseerous brute Soress,--and I, too, s open, adure of the Deputy Warden
”Hands up!”
The Deputy slowly passes along the line, exaroups; then, pointing to the one in which I am included, he says in his feminine accents:
”None crippled Officers, take them, hm, hm, to Number Seven Turn them over to Mr Hoods”
”Fall in! Forward, march!”
My resenter expectation At last I aned to work! I speculate on the character of ”Number Seven,” and on the possibilities of escape frouards, we cross the prison yard in close lockstep The sentinels on the wall, their rifles resting loosely on crooked arh the open space The yard is spacious and clean, the laell kept and inviting The first breath of fresh air in teeks violently sti for liberty
Perhaps the shop will offer an opportunity to escape The thought quickens my observation Bounded north, east, and south by the stone wall, the two blocks of the cell-house for the shops, kitchen, hospital, and, on the extreme south, the women's quarters
”Break ranks!”
We enter Nuuish the objects in the dark, low-ceilinged room, with its small, barred s
The air is heavy with dust; the rattling of the looloons me to a machine occupied by a lanky prisoner in stripes ”Jim, show him what to do”
Considerable ti the least notice of me
Bent low over the machine, he see the shuttle, his foot on the treadle Presently he whispers, hoarsely:
”Fresh fish?”
”What did you say?”
”You bloke, long here?”
”Teeks”