ing their heads against the wood-work,
and listening intently, they heard a slight creaking sound, as of wood
against wood, which, to their now alert senses, indicated that the
watcher was gently pushing back the slide which concealed the spy-hole.
There was then a pause, and the lads looked across at one another and
could not forbear a smile, even in their state of misery and suspense,
at the idea of the spy's astonishment and disappointment at finding all
dark when he expected to be able to see into the cell.

Presently there ensued a slight scratching, and they knew that the spy
was attempting to remove the obstruction.

Their plug, however, answered its purpose well, and showed no signs of
budging.

Then the scratching noise began afresh, and somewhat more loudly, as the
man became impatient of the delay, and dispensed with caution. After
several ineffectual efforts on the spy's part the noise ceased, and the
stealthy footsteps were heard receding in the distance.

"Well, Roger," said Harry, when the sound of the spy's footsteps had
ceased, "we got the better of him that time; did we not?"

"Ay," responded Roger gloomily; "but we must not expect that the matter
will rest there. They will be certain to return and drill that hole out
again, or make a fresh one, and we are sure to be punished in some way
for what we have done--either by starvation or torture. I am by no
means sure that we were wise in stopping up that spy-hole, or that by
doing so we have served any good purpose."

"Oh, come now, Roger, old fellow, you must not think like that!"
answered Harry. "Now that they have seen that we know they watch us,
they may not attempt it again; and they would surely not do very much to
us for a little thing like that. Besides, it is intolerable to think
that we are being spied upon all day long, and that whatever we do or
say is known. There would be absolutely no chance whatever of our
making a successful attempt to escape at any time if we had not closed
the hole. At any rate, it is done now, and it is no good our worrying
over it; we must just wait and see what happens. If they are going to
make a fresh place of observation, or punish us for what we have done,
they will not defer it long; so to-day will, in my opinion, decide the
matter. Meanwhile we must wait; and, while we are unobserved, we had
better make the most of our time."

"You are right, Harry, old friend," said Roger; "but for my part I do