I should be perfectly
helpless in the next room, and after the attempt they'd either drown
us, or put us into worse cells as far apart as possible."
"I don't think I should miss fire," said Drummond, confidently,
"still, I see the point, and will obey orders."
"My official position on the rock, ever since I arrived, has been that
of electrical tutor-in-chief to the Governor. I have started his
dynamo working, and have wired such portions of the place as were not
already wired before. During these lessons I have kept my eyes open.
So far as the prison is concerned, there is the Governor, a sort of
head clerk, the gaoler and his assistant; four men, and that is all.
The gaoler's assistant appears to be the cook of the place, although
the cooking done is of the most limited description. The black bread
is brought from St. Petersburg, I think, as also tinned meat and soup;
so the cuisine is on a somewhat limited scale."
"Do you mean to say that only these four men are in charge of the
prison?"
"Practically so, but there is the garrison as well. The soldiers live
in a suite of rooms directly above us, and as near as I can form an
opinion, there are fourteen men and two officers. When a steamer
arrives they draft as many soldiers as are necessary, unload the boat;
then the Tommies go upstairs again. The military section apparently
holds little intercourse with the officials, whom they look upon as
gaolers.
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