heeded, and Jim most certainly did not
realise that he was only exchanging a sudden for a lingering death. He
was conscious only of the fact that his life had been spared; and he
walked to his cell, between the guards, like a man in a dream. It was
not until the heavy prison door banged to after him that he really awoke
once more to a sense of the reality of things; and, although he speedily
realised all that was meant by his being condemned to the silver mines
for life, hope sprang up again in his breast. While there was life
there was hope; and he would be a poor sort of man, he reflected, if he
could not somehow contrive to escape, and that soon, from the terrible
captivity to which Villavicencio had consigned him. And further than
that, he determined that, once free, he would make the brutal Peruvian
skipper pay, and that heavily, for the mental torment to which he had
put his prisoner.

To occupy his mind, Jim then began to examine his prison, so far as his
bonds would permit him to do so, with the view of ascertaining whether
there was any possibility of escape for him; and he came to the
conclusion that, though he might possibly manage to break out, if he
were given time enough, he would need a very much longer time for the
accomplishment of such a task than the few hours which were to elapse
before he was to be taken out of the cell and placed among the chain-
gang which was to march to the silver mines. No; escape, if escape was
to be compassed, would have to be effected while on the march; and
Douglas fell to wondering who his companions in misfortune would prove
to be, and whether they would be likely to be prevailed upon to join him
in a dash for liberty. At any rate, he decided, as he fell asleep,
nothing could be done, no arrangements could be made, until he saw the
men who were to be his fellow-prisoners. Then, and then only, would he
be able to judge whether an escape while on the march would be
practicable. Jim sincerely hoped that the captives would prove to be
"game" men, for once they had arrived at their destination, the silver
mines, there would be very little chance of escape. Their freedom would
have to be won while on the march, or not at all.

Thus musing, Jim, overcome by the many and varied emotions of the
morning, at length fell asleep; and he continued to slumber peacefully
and almost continuously until he was wakened, on the following morning,
by the sounds of the clashing of arm