"Here's a go!" he exclaimed. "Blest if this door ain't come open." There was a yell of jubilation all along the corridor. The prisoners seemed to be amused. The official party kept silence. Possibly their feelings were too deep for words. "Since we've got this one open," said Warder Slater, "suppose we try another?" He tried another, the next; the same result followed--the door was opened with the greatest of ease. "What's the meaning of this?" spluttered the Major. "Who's been playing this tomfoolery? I don't believe there's anything the matter with a lock in the place." There did not seem to be, just then. For when the officers tried again they found no difficulty in unlocking the doors, and setting the prisoners free. CHAPTER II. THE CHAPLAIN AS AN AUTHORITY ON WITCHCRAFT. Major Hardinge remained in the jail that night. He stayed in the governor's house as Mr. Paley's guest. He expressed himself very strongly about the events of the day. "I'll see the thing through if it takes me a week. The whole affair is incredible to me. It strikes me, Paley, that they've been making a fool of you." The governor combed his hair with his fingers. His official manner had temporarily gone. He seemed depressed. "I assure you the doors were locked." "Of course the doors were locked, and they used the wrong keys to open them! It was a got-up thing." "Not by the officers." "By whom then? I don't see how the prisoners could have lent a hand." "I know the officers, and I will answer for them, every man. As for the wrong keys being used, I know the keys as well as any one. I tried them, and not a lock would yield to me." "But they did yield. What explanation have you to give of that?" "I wish I could explain." And again the governor combed his hair. "I'll have an explanation to-morrow!--you see if I don't!" But the Major never did. On the morrow, punctually at 6 a.m., an imposing procession started to unlock. There were the inspector, governor, chief warder, second warder, and the warder who carried the keys. "I don't think we shall have much difficulty in getting the men out of their cells this time," remarked the Major. They did not. "Good--good God!" he spluttered, when they reached the corridor; "what--what on earth's the meaning of this?" He had predicted rightly. They would have no difficulty in getting the men out of their cells: they were out already--men, and bedding, and planks, and all. There was a man fast asleep in bed in front of each cell-door. "I thought I had given instructions that a special watch was to be kept all night," the Major roared. "So there has been," answered the chief warder, whose head and face and neck were purple. "Warder Slater here has only just gone off duty. Now then, Slater, what's the meaning of this?"