When the boys were put into the jail in the morning, the whole affair of their arrest and imprisonment had been so hasty and so bewildering that they had not taken note of the fact that the jail was situated against the mountain-side. Above the jail other buildings ran up the steep slope, and the roofs of the lower lines of buildings formed front yards for the next line of buildings above, and so on to the top. So the roof of the jail no doubt was occupied, possibly as a stable for the horse that belonged to the family above. On that plan are built many of the mountain villages of Daghestan, very like the villages of our own Pueblo Indians. Toward night the English-speaking policeman opened the door and brought in water and black bread, closing the door after him. The drink, though in a repulsive-looking receptacle, was most welcome to the boys. “You like it here?” asked the man, with a twinkle in his eyes. “No, it’s filthy,” replied Raymond. “Yes, pretty dirty, not like New York jail.” “Do you know a New York jail?” “Yes, I know New York jail.” “What is your name?” asked Sidney. “Aleskandir,” replied the man. “Is there another village near here?” “No, long way next village.” “Then,” said Sidney, “I guess we’ll have to go back to Timour Khan Shoura.” “You want me let you out?” asked the man. “You give me twenty rubles, I let you out after dark.” “How can I give you twenty rubles?” asked Sidney. “You took our money away, the chief of police has it.” “I think you got more money,” said the man with a cunning look. “You have lump under clothes.” And he tapped his breast significantly. The boys were very much startled by the revelation that the policeman knew they had more money. Raymond, though excited by the prospect of an easy release, fortunately had presence of mind to remain quiet and leave the matter in Sidney’s hands, realizing that one could manage it better than two. Sidney could not be sure that the man before them was the only one who knew that all of their money had not been taken away. It was possible that the chief of police was just as well informed, and there was a prearranged plan to get the boys to try to escape. Perhaps, Sidney thought, there was a custom among the Lesghians similar to the Mexican “Ley de fuga,” in plain English, law of flight, which encouraged a prisoner to escape and then shot him in the act. Possibly any money taken from a prisoner who was killed in that way would not be reported by the chief of police, and that would be an inducement for the official to encourage such attempted escapes.