s. I would have laughed if I had dared, but I yawned over the book I
had hastily snatched up, and puffed great whiffs from my pipe. I dreaded
lest he should go to the window. He started for it, but suddenly made
for my couch, and dragged it away, as if looking to find a hole dug
beneath it. Still I did not laugh at him, but gravely watched him; and
presently he went away. At another time I was foolishly harsh with my
tools; but I knew now the time required by him to come upstairs, and I
swiftly filled the groove with bread, strewed ashes and sand over it,
rubbed all smooth, and was plunged in my copy of Montaigne when he
entered. This time he went straight to the window, looked at it, tried
the stanchions, and then, with an amused attempt at being cunning and
hiding his own vigilance, he asked me, with laborious hypocrisy, if I
had seen Captain Lancy pass the window. And so for weeks and weeks we
played hide-and-seek with each other.

At last I had nothing to do but sit and wait, for the groove was cut,
the bar had room to play. I could not bend it, for it was fast at the
top; but when my hour of adventure was come, I would tie a handkerchief
round the two bars and twist it with the piece of hickory used for
stirring the fire. Here was my engine of escape, and I waited till April
should wind to its close, when I should, in the softer weather, try my
fortune outside these walls.

So time went on until one eventful day, even the 30th of April of that
year 1758. It was raining and blowing when I waked, and it ceased not
all the day, coming to a hailstorm towards night. I felt sure that
my guards without would, on such a day, relax their vigilance. In the
evening I listened, and heard no voices nor any sound of feet, only the
pelting rain and the whistling wind. Yet I did not stir till midnight.
Then I slung the knapsack in front of me, so that I could force it
through the window first, and tying my handkerchief round the iron bars,
I screwed it up with my stick. Presently the bars came together, and my
way was open. I got my body through by dint of squeezing, and let myself
go plump into the mire below. Then I stood still a minute, and listened
again.

A light was shining not far away. Drawing near, I saw that it came from
a small hut or lean-to. Looking through the cracks, I observed my two
gentlemen drowsing in the corner. I was eager for their weapons, but I
dared not make the attempt to get them, for they were laid b