in that horrid cell, from which I scarcely
escaped alive?"

"Pooh, pooh, girl! No," he answered lightly, "I shall be at hand. It
is nothing. What is one night's captivity? The soldiers will have
orders to find you some comfortable room in the fort. I will see about
your accommodation myself."

With this promise on his lips he disappeared, and returned no more.

CHAPTER XI

_THE BLACK HOLE_

I have now to tell how we passed through that night, the memory of
which to this day moves me to tremble and sicken like a man in strong
fear.

At sunset the Moorish soldiers who had charge of the prisoners marched
us all together into a covered gallery or verandah that ran along one
side of the courtyard, from which it was screened off by a row of
arches. While we waited here a part of the soldiers ran to and fro,
as if looking for accommodation for us. Surajah Dowlah's promises,
reported to us by Mr. Holwell, had so far raised our spirits that some
of the prisoners made merry at the difficulty the guard seemed to be
in. One man asked if we were to pass the night in that gallery.
Another, who stood near me, observed in jest--

"They don't seem to know of the Black Hole."

"I'm afraid we shouldn't all go into that," replied another, laughing.

"What place do you mean?" I asked out of curiosity.

"It is the cell where they confine the soldiers of the garrison,"
explained the person next me. "It won't hold more than one or two
persons."

Hardly had he given me this information before the officer in charge
of our guard came hurrying up. He gave some directions to his men, who
commenced pushing and urging us along the gallery to a small door in
the wall at our back. This they threw open, and beckoned to the
prisoners to enter.

"By heaven, it is the Black Hole!" exclaimed some one in the throng.

There was a murmur of disbelief, followed by one of indignation, as
those who were in front looked in. The room was barely seven paces
across each way, and very low. The only openings it contained, beside
the doorway, were two small windows giving, not on to the open air,
but merely on to the covered passage in which we had been standing.

"But this is absurd!" cried Mr. Holwell, remonstrating with the
soldiers. "There is not even standing-room for a hundred and fifty
persons in there."

"They cannot intend that we are all to go in. We should be
suffocated," said another.

The soldiers beginning to show anger, some