"Well," replied Harry, "you saw what he wrote in that message. In five days from now, unless we can meanwhile escape, we are doomed to die an awful death. The man would, I should say, have no object in betraying us; because, if we are already sentenced to death, they do not need any excuse for executing us. And I do not see what the man has to gain by deceiving us. No, Roger, I think the man is genuine enough; and in any case, if we are to suffer death, we may as well die in the attempt to escape as wait here for death to come to us. Is it not so, my friend? "But perhaps we had better put off the further discussion of this until we have eaten the food. If, when they come to put in our next supply, they find this still uneaten, they may suspect that something is amiss, and remove us to another cell, or even separate us; either of which happenings would put an end for good and all to our chances of escape. Besides, we can talk as we are eating. Come, Roger, wake up, man, and fall to! Eat as much as you can, for we shall need all our strength to go through with what is before us." Roger saw the wisdom of Harry's argument, and, replacing the food on the table, whence it had fallen in their eagerness to read the message, they set to, and very soon demolished the whole of it, replacing the platter, as usual, when they had finished, by the side of the trap, to be removed when the next meal was put in. "Now," remarked Harry, "let us resume our discussion of this strange business, Roger. So far as I can see, the matter stands--Hullo! what's that? Did you hear that, Roger?" he suddenly interjected. "Yes," replied Roger, "I did. What can it be, I wonder?" There had come a slight sound from the direction of the grating, as of some hard substance striking against the iron bars. Both lads hurried to the grating, and glanced up at it; but they could see nothing to account for the sound. "This is most remarkable," said Harry. "I heard the sound quite plainly. It was just like two pieces of iron striking together; and it sounded in the cell itself, or just outside the grating. Jump up on my shoulders again, Roger, and see if you can see anything or anybody about." Harry bent his back, and helped Roger to climb up on his shoulders. And Roger had just drawn himself upright with his face reaching to the level of the grating, when he uttered a suppressed exclamation, and half-fell, half-slid down to the floor from his perch, and started vigorously rubbing his cheek. "Whatever is the matter with you, Roger?" ejaculated Harry somewhat crossly; "you nearly broke my back coming down like that." Then, as he saw Roger rubbing his face, his tone changed, and he enquired anxiously, "What is it, old fellow; are you hurt?"