d looked even more uninviting inside
than outside. Down each side were ranged narrow platforms, which were
divided into "beds" by narrow strips of wood about three inches in
height, and all the covering allowed was a pair of very old dirty
blankets; of mattresses there was no sign, not even loose straw being
provided, and the whole interior was dirty and odoriferous beyond
description. However, considered Jim philosophically, prisoners cannot
be choosers; and having arranged his blankets as comfortably as was
possible under the circumstances, he turned in and slept the sleep of
the utterly weary.

The next morning he was awakened by a hideous clanging noise, which
proceeded from a huge gong hung in the courtyard. Everybody immediately
sprang out of bed, folded up their blankets, and streamed out into the
courtyard, where, Jim noticed, there was a narrow stream of running
water. He availed himself of this to have a good wash, a proceeding
which excited the laughter of the gaolers, many of whom looked as though
they had never touched water in any form during the whole of their
lives. This having been done, he procured his tin and his daily
allowance of meal and prepared his breakfast, for which he had an
excellent appetite. When this was over, the prisoners were told off in
groups of ten each, a soldier with loaded rifle mounting guard over each
section. These were marched away one by one, until only one group
remained, and Jim had not yet been apportioned to a party; but he soon
found that Captain Garcia-y-Garcia had represented him to the Governor
as being a most dangerous character, so that he was to have a guard all
to himself, and not to be allowed near the other prisoners. This
arrangement suited Jim admirably, for he had already made up his mind
that if he was to escape at all, it must be alone, and he would have a
much better chance of getting away while working by himself than he
would get if he were one of a gang; for it would be strange indeed if a
strong, able-bodied young Englishman could not get the better of a mere
Peruvian soldier.

He therefore accepted the situation with much satisfaction, which,
however, he took care not to show, and marched off toward the mine with
his guard. When he arrived at the place where he was to work, he saw
that the word "mine" hardly described the place, for it was not in the
least like an English mine. The so-called mines consisted of a number
of ancient Inca wor