“J-A-C-K I-F Y-O-U A-R-E H-E-R-E, C-O-U-G-H.”
“C-O-U-G-H O-N-C-E I-F Y-O-U A-R-E T-I-E-D.”
“O-N-C-E F-O-R Y-E-S; T-W-I-C-E, N-O. C-A-N Y-O-U G-E-T F-R-E-E?”
“I-S D-O-O-R L-O-C-K-E-D W-I-T-H A B-O-L-T?”
It seemed to the boy that it was several hours before he heard the tapping again but in reality it was probably not much more than a half hour.
“N-O W-A-Y T-O G-E-T I-N B-U-T D-O-O-R? C-A-N YO-U S-L-I-P B-O-L-T?” Jack coughed twice.
It was a long wait for the door was made of inch boards and Bob had nothing but a jack knife with which to work, and as he could only guess at the location of the bolt it was necessary that he cut a hole large enough to admit his hand. Jack could hear him as he cut into the wood bit by bit and his heart beat with hope for he knew that Bob would do it if it could be done.
Then the tapping began again after fully two hours had passed.
“M-O-S-T T-H-R-O-U-G-H. C-O-U-G-H I-F A-N-Y-O-N-E M-O-V-E-S.”
Another long wait and then, when it seemed as though he must be nearly done he heard a movement in one of the bunks. Instantly Jack gave a loud cough.
The noise at the door stopped at once and he could hear one of the men getting out of his bunk. Jack’s heart almost stopped beating. What if Bob had the door cut through and the man should see it? The thought sent a shiver down his back. Then a match flared up and an instant later the light of a candle showed him that it was the little man who had awakened.
The man made a thorough examination of his bonds.
“I guess you’re all right,” he announced in a low tone.
“All right, but I hope I get a chance to tie you up sometime.”
“Can’t you tell me what you are intending to do with me?”
“You’ll find that out soon enough. What’s the matter with that cough of yours?”
“Nothing so far as I know. I thought it was working pretty well,” Jack grinned.
“Well, I wish you’d put a muffler on it. I sleep very lightly and the slightest sound disturbs me.”
“I’ll bet you are,” the man sneered as he blew out the candle and went back to his bunk.
For some time Jack could hear him moving about as if he were restless and could not get to sleep. He in a cold sweat for fear Bob would begin operations again while he was still awake and thus be discovered. He coughed two or three times hoping that Bob would hear and understand. But after what seemed a long time the man quieted down and soon after he could hear Bob at work.