nd it one complicated mass of bolts and bars. It seemed as
if all the precautions previously taken were here accumulated. Any one
less courageous than himself would have abandoned the attempt from a
conviction of its utter hopelessness; but, though it might for a moment
damp his ardour, it could not deter him.

Once again, he passed his hand over the surface and carefully noted all
the obstacles. There was a lock, apparently more than a foot wide,
strongly plated, and girded to the door with thick iron hoops. Below it
a prodigiously large bolt was shot into the socket, and, in order to
keep it there, was fastened by a hasp, and further protected by an
immense padlock. Besides this, the door was crossed and recrossed by
iron bars, clenched by broad-headed nails. An iron fillet secured the
socket of the bolt and the box of the lock to the main post of the
doorway.

Nothing disheartened by this survey, Jack set to work upon the lock,
which he attacked with all his implements;--now attempting to pick it
with the nail;--now to wrench it off with the bar: but all without
effect. He not only failed in making any impression, but seemed to
increase the difficulties, for after an hour's toil he had broken the
nail and slightly bent the iron bar.

Completely overcome by fatigue, with strained muscles, and bruised
hands; streaming with perspiration, and with lips so parched that he
would gladly have parted with a treasure if he had possessed it for a
draught of water; he sank against the wall, and while in this state was
seized with, a sudden and strange alarm. He fancied that the turnkeys
had discovered his flight and were in pursuit of him,--that they had
climbed up the chimney,--entered the Red Room,--tracked him from door to
door, and were now only detained by the gate which he had left unbroken
in the chapel. He even thought he could detect the voice of Jonathan,
urging and directing them.

So strongly was he impressed with this idea, that grasping the iron bar
with both hands, he dashed it furiously against the door, making the
passage echo with the blows.

By degrees, his fears vanished, and hearing nothing, he grew calmer. His
spirits revived, and encouraging himself with the idea that the present
impediment, though the greatest, was the last, he set himself seriously
to consider how it might best be overcome.

On reflection, it occurred to him that he might, perhaps, be able to
loosen the iron fillet; a notion no so