o twist his
legs so as to rub the rivet against the wall, and he gave up the
attempt as impossible.

It was clear, then, that he must have a bit of the stone to rub with.
He at once began to dig with the dagger in the earth at the foot of the
wall, to see if he could find any such pieces. For a long time he came
across no chips, even of the smallest size. As he worked, he was most
careful to stamp down the earth which he had moved, scattering over it
the sand, of which there was an abundance in the corners of the room,
to obliterate all traces of his work.

When breakfast time approached he ceased for a while, but after the
meal had been taken, he recommenced the task. He met with little
success till he reached the door, but here he was more fortunate. A
short distance below the surface were a number of pieces of stone of
various sizes, which, he had no doubt, had been cut from the blocks to
allow for the fixing of the lintel and doorpost. He chose half a dozen
pieces of the handiest sizes, each having a flat surface. Then
replacing the earth carefully, he took one of the pieces in his hand,
and moistening it with water, set to work.

He made little progress. Still the stone did wear the iron, and he felt
sure that, by perseverance, he should succeed in wearing off the burrs.
All day he worked without intermission, holding a rag wrapped round the
stone to deaden the sound. He worked till his fingers ached so that he
could no longer hold it, then rested for an hour or two, and resumed
his work. When his guard brought his dinner he asked him when the
galley was to sail again.

"It was to have gone today," the man said, "but the captain has been
laid up with fever. He has a leech from Tunis attending him, and, weak
as he is, he is so bent on going that he would have had himself carried
on board the ship, had not the leech said that, in that case, he would
not answer for his life, as in the state his blood is in, his wounds
would assuredly mortify did he not remain perfectly quiet. So he has
agreed to delay for three days."

Francis was unable to work with the stone at night, for in the
stillness the sound might be heard; but for some hours he hacked away
with the dagger at the rivets on his manacles. The next morning he was
at work as soon as the chirrup of the cicadas began, as these, he knew,
would completely deaden any sound he might make. By nighttime the rivet
ends on the irons round his ankles were worn so thin