oner conceived than executed. With
incredible labour, and by the aid of both spike and nail, he succeeded
in getting the point of the bar beneath the fillet. Exerting all his
energies, and using the bar as a lever, he forced off the iron band,
which was full seven feet high, seven inches wide, and two thick, and
which brought with it in its fall the box of the lock and the socket of
the bolt, leaving no further hinderance.

Overjoyed beyond measure at having vanquished this
apparently-insurmountable obstacle, Jack darted through the door.

CHAPTER XX.

The Leads.

Ascending a short flight of steps, Jack found at the summit a door,
which being bolted in the inside he speedily opened.

The fresh air, which blew in his face, greatly revived him. He had now
reached what was called the Lower Leads,--a flat, covering a part of the
prison contiguous to the gateway, and surrounded on all sides by walls
about fourteen feet high. On the north stood the battlements of one of
the towers of the gate. On this side a flight of wooden steps, protected
by a hand-rail, led to a door opening upon the summit of the prison.
This door was crested with spikes, and guarded on the right by a
bristling semicircle of spikes. Hastily ascending these steps, Jack
found the door, as he anticipated, locked. He could have easily forced
it, but preferred a more expeditious mode of reaching the roof which
suggested itself to him. Mounting the door he had last opened, he placed
his hands on the wall above, and quickly drew himself up.

Just as he got on the roof of the prison, St. Sepulchre's clock struck
eight. It was instantly answered by the deep note of St. Paul's; and the
concert was prolonged by other neighbouring churches. Jack had thus been
six hours in accomplishing his arduous task.

Though nearly dark, there was still light enough left to enable him to
discern surrounding objects. Through the gloom he distinctly perceived
the dome of St. Paul's, hanging like a black cloud in the air; and
nearer to him he remarked the golden ball on the summit of the College
of Physicians, compared by Garth to a "gilded pill." Other towers and
spires--St. Martin's on Ludgate-hill, and Christchurch in Newgate
Street, were also distinguishable. As he gazed down into the courts of
the prison, he could not help shuddering, lest a false step might
precipitate him below.

To prevent the recurrence of any such escape as that just described, it
was dee