Chapter 4

           Inthemeanwhileobtainedthehorrorofthedungeons,afterthediscoveryoftheplottobreakprison.Andnever,duringthoseeternalhoursofwaiting,wasitabsentfrommyconsciousnessthatIshouldfollowtheseotherconvictsout,endurethehellsofinquisitiontheyendured,andbebroughtbackawreckandflungonthestonefloorofmystone-walled,iron-dooreddungeon.

           Theycameforme.Ungraciouslyandungently,withblowandcurse,theyhaledmeforth,andIfacedCaptainJamieandWardenAtherton,themselvesarrayedwiththestrengthofhalfadozenstate-bought,tax-paidbrutesofguardswholingeredintheroomtodoanybidding.Buttheywerenotneeded.

           “Sitdown,”saidWardenAtherton,indicatingastoutarm-chair.

           I,beatenandsore,withoutwaterforanightlongandadaylong,faintwithhunger,weakfromabeatingthathadbeenaddedtofivedaysinthedungeonandeightyhoursinthejacket,oppressedbythecalamityofhumanfate,apprehensiveofwhatwastohappentomefromwhatIhadseenhappentotheothers—I,awaveringwaifofahumanmanandanerstwhileprofessorofagronomyinaquietcollegetown,Ihesitatedtoaccepttheinvitationtositdown.

           WardenAthertonwasalargemanandaverypowerfulman.Hishandsflashedouttoagriponmyshoulders.Iwasastrawinhisstrength.Heliftedmeclearofthefloorandcrashedmedowninthechair.