CHAPTER XII

Conjectures of the Prisoners as to my Country and Crimes--Inferences from my Chains that I had committed Murder--Mr. Ashworth and Mr. Tuthill, with Mr. Baker, rejoin me--Lieutenant Essel dashed to Pieces in attempting to descend the Ramparts of Bitche--My Grief at his Death--The immense Height of the Ramparts--My Horrible Dungeon--Its revolting State of Filth--Interview with the Commandant--An Application to be allowed to take the Air granted for Two Hours a Day--Meditations upon an Escape--Our Efforts baffled--A Christmas Night in a Dungeon--Reminiscences of Home and Friends--A Sentinel firing on his Prisoners--I am removed to a Cell with Fifty Prisoners--Again removed to a higher Cell, with only Twelve--Improved Condition--Hear of a Scheme of the Prisoners below to effect their Escape--Contrive to join them--Stratagem to drown the Noise of Working-tools--Successful Undermining--Noise in Opening the Third Door--Sentinels alarmed--The Guards enter--Search and discover our Engineering--Fury of the French Officers--Mr. Brine, answering to the name of O’Brien, is captured instead of me--I escape from the Dungeon and regain my own Cell--Feign Illness, and avoid Suspicion Page 191