roofs were broken, and a large brick chimney had
been shorn off like a stick struck by a sword.

The escort halted opposite it, and a door was thrown open by a jailer.

"Place these three in number five cell, and come to me when you have
done so," said Stackanoff. "I have special instructions to give you as
to their comfort," he added cynically.

He turned on his heel and was gone, while Phil and his comrades followed
the jailer down a steep flight of stone steps and entered a gallery.
They stopped opposite a door studded with big nails. It was thrown
open, and half a minute later had closed behind them with a harsh clang.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

YOU ARE SPIES.

"We are properly bottled this time," exclaimed Phil, with some concern,
closely examining the cell into which they had been thrust. "Look at
these walls, all of thick stone, and pierced by two tiny windows with
grilles. It is a regular cage, and after a first look at it I should
imagine escape will be impossible."

"We was in a worse hole before," cried Tony encouragingly. "And yer
must remember there's lots of ways of getting out besides digging holes
in the wall. For instance, we might collar that surly-faced jailer and
make a bolt for it. But it wants a bit of thinking out."

"Consider now, monsieur," chimed in Pierre in a plaintive voice. "To
make ze escape from this--ah--I do not know 'is name, mais--maison--oui,
maison--comprenez-vous, monsieur? To make ze escape will bring ze death
to us, ze bang and ze bullet. Alas, it will be for ze no good!"

"Nonsense!" said Phil shortly. "If we want to get out we must chance
that."

"Mais, monsieur, we are so happy. Why should we make ze escape? See,
ze wall is strong, and ze cannon will not reach us," Pierre answered,
with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Bah! thought you was for getting out?" cried Tony in disgust. "Look
here, little 'un, if we tries the game you're welcome to this here cell
to yourself."

Pierre subsided into silence, and commenced to make beds of the
blankets, while Phil and Tony made a thorough inspection of the cell.

"Not a loophole for escape," growled Tony. "I suppose we'll have to dig
our way out, for get away from here I will."

"And I too, Tony," Phil answered quietly. "There must be a way. What
is this?" and he pointed to an open grate, upon the hearthstone of which
were the long-cold embers of a fire. He put his head into it and looked
up the chimney, but a