Further enquiries were made, however, before any decided steps were taken, and it was ascertained beyond doubt that Señor Galdez was no longer a prisoner, that General Contreras had come back from banishment, that the house in the Calle de la Abada was a notorious haunt of malefactors and den of thieves, and the whole scheme was another instance of the criminal ingenuity of the Spanish swindler. CHAPTER VIII LIFE IN CEUTA Dangerous weapons manufactured within the prison walls--Frequent quarrels--Murderous assaults on warders of constant occurrence--Disorders and lack of discipline owing to the employment of prisoners as warders--The "_cabos de vara_"--These posts sold to the highest bidder--Salillas' description of these convict warders--Worst criminals often promoted to exercise authority over their fellows--Terrible evils arising from such a state of affairs--Description of Ceuta--Life at Ceuta no deterrent to crime by reason of the pleasant conditions under which the convicts lived--Popularity of the theatre in Spanish prisons--Escapes from Ceuta--The case of El Niño de Brenes--The different characteristics of the Andalusians and Aragonese--Foreigners from Spanish colonies imprisoned at Ceuta--Chinamen and negroes--Dolores, the negro convict--His assassination by two fellow convicts--Political prisoners--Carlists--Different types of murderers. Life is held cheap in Ceuta and indeed in all Spanish presidios and gaols. The saying "a word and a blow," may be expanded into "a word and a knife thrust." The possession of a lethal weapon is common to all prisoners and prevails despite prohibiting regulations. Fatal affrays are of constant occurrence. At Valladolid five men were wounded in a fight over cards, which were openly permitted. An official enquiry followed, with the result that on a search instituted through the prison, numbers of large knives were discovered and many smaller daggers. It is pretended by the authorities that the introduction of such weapons as well as of spirits and packs of cards cannot be prevented. The gate keepers however exercise no vigilance or are readily bribed to shut their eyes. The ruinous condition of many gaols with their numerous cracks and openings and holes in the walls is partially responsible. As a natural consequence blood flowed freely when rage and unbridled passion were so easily inflamed and the means of seeking murderous satisfaction were always ready to hand. Quarrels grew at once into fierce fights which could not be prevented and must be fought out then and there even to the death. Chains and stone walls and iron bars were ineffective in imposing order. There could be no semblance of discipline where the two essentials were absolutely wanting, supervision and honest service in the keepers.