deavour, as we go, to drop the parcel behind the
door, where it cannot be seen unless someone enters the cell and
deliberately looks behind the door, which is not very likely unless they
suspect us of having got hold of any tools. Now remember what I say.
No more talk now, Harry; we shall require all our breath for working."

They slaved away with file and saw, never ceasing work for a moment,
until their muscles utterly refused to allow their tired arms to make
another movement, and then they rested for a moment to recover. Harry
and Roger each worked on a separate bar of the grating, and so equal had
been their efforts that each lad's bar was cut through at the same time.

"There go two nails drawn from our coffins, Roger," said Harry, and he
attacked his second bar with the energy born of deserved success. Roger
uttered no word, but saved all his breath, and put every ounce of his
strength into his arms, cutting away with file and saw like a very
madman.

As the bars were cut out they were laid carefully on the sill in front
of them, so as to be at hand for replacement directly any suspicious
sound was heard. All night long they worked, and with such a will that
soon after daybreak next morning but two bars remained to be cut
through. As usual, an hour or two after dawn they heard the click of
the trap as their food was placed in the cell; but it startled them only
for a moment, for they had not overlooked the fact that their food was
due to arrive. Moreover, they knew that the aperture was so small that
there was but just room to pass a small platter through it, and that,
even if the jailer should attempt to spy on them, the window was beyond
his range of vision. The sound, however, recalled the fact to their
minds that they were very hungry, and that if they wished to keep up
their strength they must eat. And, as Harry said, they had done good
work during the night, so that they could spare the time. The tools
were therefore packed up and hidden away; the bars already cut were
replaced so that anybody chancing to look in should notice nothing out
of the ordinary; then the stools were removed from below the window, and
both lads sat down to their morning meal with keener appetites than they
had known for some months past. Everything in the cell presented its
usual appearance, and the twain were hastily finishing their meal when
the tramp of feet was heard in the passage. No quiet, stealthy footstep
this