om speculating upon what would happen if he suddenly appeared before
them.

It was nearly sunset before the door of his room was opened, and then
the short man entered, bringing several slices of raw bacon, half a
loaf of bread, and a bottle of water.

"I don't count on havin' you starve to death," he said, as he placed
the articles on the floor; "but you won't get enough to injure your
health, I reckon."

"Why don't you let me go to New York? I haven't done anything to harm
you."

"That is because you haven't had much of a chance as yet, except to
talk with the inspector, my boy, and we don't intend to give you one.
There isn't--"

"Here, Bob! What's the use of chinnin' with that cub when the grub is
ready. Come down, or I won't answer that your share will be left."

This threat had the desired effect, for Bob went out of the room very
quickly, taking good care, however, to lock and bolt the door behind
him.

The night came; Jet could no longer distinguish objects from the
window, and the room was so dark that it was impossible to see his way
around.

Crouching close by the window Jet heard the heavy tramp as the men came
upstairs, and by the noises he knew they had entered the apartment
adjoining his prison.

The hum of conversation came through the rough partition quite
distinctly, and in a short time this was followed by a heavy thumping
sound at regular intervals.

It was as if the men were pounding with a wooden mallet, except that
the blows were fully thirty seconds apart.

Jet tried to guess what they were doing; but the effort was in vain.

"What's the use bothering about them," he said, finally, to himself.
"So long as they stay where they are, and don't trouble me, I haven't
much right to complain, though a fellow would find it mighty hard work
to sleep in such a racket."

It was time to make his explorations if he proposed doing so before
morning, and he arose to his feet.

By the aid of the window bars it was not a difficult matter for one as
agile as he to clamber to the rafters above, and once there the
remainder of the task was comparatively simple.

Hanging by one arm to the beams, with his disengaged hand he pulled
away the loose timbers and boards from above until a passage was made
for his body.

Then raising himself by both hands he was soon standing where he could
touch the roof of the building; but unable to see his surroundings
because of the intense darkness.

"I don'