I'd like to stay and hear you cry for mercy,
but I have other work to do. However, my friend here will stay in the
house, and I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't hear you upstairs."
To this Hal made no reply.
He now turned his attention to an examination of the room in which he
was confined. The walls rose on all sides to a height of perhaps
fifteen feet. This he had perceived while the door stood open, but
inside now it was perfectly dark, except for a tiny stream of light
that filtered in from below the walls, which failed to reach the floor
by less than an inch.
The lad felt the walls carefully with his hands. They were perfectly
smooth. He placed his fingers on the floor. It was dry.
He stood silent for some moments and then, becoming conscious of a
strange sound, he again touched the floor with his fingers. They came
away wet. Water was slowly trickling into the room.
The room was very small, and Hal realized that it would not take it long
to fill. Therefore he decided on instant action.
When Duval, before leaving the lad to his fate, had mentioned revolvers,
Hal had feared for the moment that he might be searched anew; but, when
Duval had said a second search was not necessary, the lad breathed
easier.
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