into the stone, and may resist our
attempts to get them out."

"There's nothing like trying, however," observed Oliver. "We must get
away to-night, for if the mayor decides on sending us either to Leogane
or Le Trou we shall have a very poor chance afterwards."

They tried the bars, but all of them were deeply imbedded in the stone.

"Where there's a will there's a way," observed Jack. "We may dig out
the lead with our knives, and if we can get one bar loose we shall soon
wrench off the ends of the others, or bend them back enough to let us
creep through. Brown wouldn't make much of bending one of these iron
bars, would you, Sam?"

"I'll try what I can do," said the seaman, "especially if it's to get us
our liberty."

"Then, not to lose time, I'll make a beginning, if you'll let me, sir,"
said Jack; and he got out his knife, but just as he had commenced
operations, steps were heard ascending the stairs. The door opened, and
one of the gendarmes appeared, followed by a negro carrying a basket of
provisions.

"Monsieur le Maire does not want to starve you, and so from his
bountiful kindness has sent you some supper," said the former.

"We are much obliged to Monsieur the Mayor, but we should be still more
so if he would set us at liberty," said Rayner.

Meanwhile the black boy was spreading the table with the contents of the
basket.

The gendarme laughed. "No, no, we are not apt to let our caged birds
fly," he answered. "I hope, messieurs, you will enjoy your suppers, and
I would advise you then to take some sleep to be ready to start early in
the morning, as soon as it is decided in what direction you are to go."

Rayner thanked the gendarme, who, followed by the black boy, went out of
the room, bolting and barring the door behind him.

The men now drew their benches to the table, and Rayner and Oliver,
taking their places, fell to with the rest, there being no necessity,
under such circumstances, for keeping up official ceremony.

Supper was quickly got through, and each man stowed away the remainder
of the provisions in his pockets. While they went to work with their
knives at the bars, Rayner and Oliver examined the beds. They were
thankful to find that the canvas at the bottom was lashed by pieces of
tolerably stout rope. These, with the aid of the ticking cut into
strips, would form a line of sufficient length and strength to enable
them to descend, should they succeed in getting out the bars.