Chapter 8

           Insolitary,inCellOne,WardenAthertonandCaptainJamieproceededtoputmetotheinquisition.AsWardenAthertonsaidtome:

           “Standing,you’regoingtocomeacrosswiththatdynamite,orI’llkillyouinthejacket.HardercasesthanyouhavecomeacrossbeforeIgotdonewiththem.You’vegotyourchoice—dynamiteorcurtains.”

           “ThenIguessitiscurtains,”Ianswered,“becauseIdon’tknowofanydynamite.”

           ThisirritatedtheWardentoimmediateaction.“Liedown,”hecommanded.

           Iobeyed,forIhadlearnedthefollyoffightingthreeorfourstrongmen.Theylacedmetightly,andgavemeahundredhours.Onceeachtwenty-fourhoursIwaspermittedadrinkofwater.Ihadnodesireforfood,norwasfoodofferedme.TowardtheendofthehundredhoursJackson,theprisondoctor,examinedmyphysicalconditionseveraltimes.

           ButIhadgrowntoousedtothejacketduringmyincorrigibledaystoletasinglejacketinginjureme.Naturally,itweakenedme,tookthelifeoutofme;butIhadlearnedmusculartricksforstealingalittlespacewhiletheywerelacingme.Attheendofthefirsthundredhours’boutIwaswornandtired,butthatwasall.Anotherboutofthisdurationtheygaveme,afteradayandanighttorecuperate.Andthentheygaveonehundredandfiftyhours.