his position with absolutely no sign of a struggle to bear him out?
It was hardly plausible that a big, strong fellow could be so easily
overpowered single-handed; there was something wretchedly incongruous
about the--but there came a startling and effective end to all
criticism.

The guard, bound as he was, suddenly turned and lunged head-foremost
against the sharp bedpost. His head struck with a thud, and he rolled
to the floor as if dead. Uttering an exclamation of horror, Lorry ran to
his side. Blood was gushing from a long gash across his head, and he was
already unconscious. Sickened by the brave sacrifice, he picked the man
up and placed him on the bed.

A hasty examination proved that it was no more than a scalp wound, and
that death was too remote to be feared. The guard had done his part
nobly, and it was now the prisoner's turn to act as resolutely and as
unflinchingly. Sorry to leave the poor fellow in what seemed an inhuman
manner, he strode into the corridor, closed and locked the doors
clumsily, and began the descent of the stairs. He had been instructed to
act unhesitatingly, as the slightest show of nervousness would result in
discovery.

With the helmet well down over his face and the cape well up, he
steadily, even noisily made his way to the next floor below. There were
prisoners on this floor, while he had been the only occupant of the
floor above. Straight ahead he went, flashing his lantern here and
there, passing down another stairway and into the main corridor. Here he
met a guard who had just come in from the outside. The man addressed him
in the language of the country, and his heart almost stopped beating.
How was he to answer? Mumbling something almost inaudible, he hurried on
to the ground floor, trembling with fear lest the man should call to him
to halt. He was relieved to find, in the end, that his progress was not
to be impeded. In another moment he was boldly unlocking the door that
led to the visitors' hall. Then came the door to the warden's office.
Here he found three sleepy guards, none of whom paid any attention to
him as he passed through and entered Captain Dangloss' private room. The
gruff old Captain sat at a desk, writing. The escaping man half paused
as if to speak to him. A sharp cough from the Captain and a significant
jerk of the head told him that there must be no delay, no words.
Opening the door he stepped out into a storm so fierce and wild that he
shuddered appre