out of it. We
have exactly twenty-five minutes and a half before us now."

Jack and I now set to work in real earnest to devise some plan of
escape, or to invent some plausible secret. But we utterly failed.
Minute after minute passed; and, as the end of our time drew near, we
felt less and less able to think of any scheme, until our brains became
confused with the terror of approaching and inevitable death, aggravated
by previous torture. I trembled violently, and Jack became again
uproarious and sarcastic. Suddenly he grew quiet, and I observed that
he began to collect a quantity of straw that was scattered about the
place. Making a large pile of it, he placed it before us, and then
loosened one of the torches in its stand.

"There," said he, with a sigh of satisfaction, when all was arranged,
"we shall give our amiable friends a warm reception when they come."

"But they will escape by the door," said I, in much anxiety, "and we
only shall perish."

"Never mind that, Bob; we can only die once. Besides, they sha'n't
escape; trust me for that."

As he spoke we heard approaching footsteps. Presently the key turned in
the lock, and the door opened.

STORY TWO, CHAPTER 10.

Punctually, to a minute, our jailors returned, and once again drew up in
a row before us.

"Now, lads, wot have ye got to say?"

"My friends," began Jack, standing up and balancing himself on his one
leg as well as he could, at the same time speaking with the utmost
gravity and candour of expression, "my companion here in _temporary_
distress--for I feel that it will be but temporary--has devolved upon me
the interesting duty of making known to you the secret which has
burthened his own mind for some time, and which has had so impressive
and appropriate an effect upon yours. But first I must request you to
lock the door, and hang the key on this nail at my elbow. You hesitate.
Why? I am in chains; so is my comrade. We are two; you are four. It
is merely a precaution to prevent the possibility of any one entering by
stealth, and overhearing what I say."

The man with the battered face locked the door, and hung up the key as
directed, merely remarking, with a laugh, that we were safe enough
anyhow, and that if we were humbugging him it would be worse for us in
the long-run.

"Come, now, out with yer secret," he added, impatiently.

"Certainly," answered Jack, with increased urbanity, at the same time
taking down the key, (