The Red Room.
The ward into which Jack was endeavouring to break was called the Red
Room, from the circumstance of its walls having once been painted in
that colour; all traces of which had, however, long since disappeared.
Like the Castle, which it resembled in all respects except that it was
destitute even of a barrack-bedstead, the Red Room was reserved for
state-prisoners, and had not been occupied since the year 1716, when the
jail, as has before been mentioned, was crowded by the Preston rebels.
Having made a hole in the wall sufficiently large to pass through, Jack
first tossed the bar into the room and then crept after it. As soon as
he had gained his feet, he glanced round the bare blank walls of the
cell, and, oppressed by the musty, close atmosphere, exclaimed, "I'll
let a little fresh air into this dungeon. They say it hasn't been opened
for eight years--but I won't be eight years in getting out of it."
In stepping across the room, some sharp point in the floor pierced his
foot, and stooping to examine it, he found that the wound had been
inflicted by a long rusty nail, which projected from the boards. Totally
disregarding the pain, he picked up the nail, and reserved it for future
use. Nor was he long in making it available.
On examining the door, he found it secured by a large rusty lock, which
he endeavoured to pick with the nail he had just acquired; but all his
efforts proving ineffectual, he removed the plate that covered it with
the bar, and with his fingers contrived to draw back the bolt.
Opening the door he then stepped into a dark narrow passage leading, as
he was well aware, to the chapel. On the left there were doors
communicating with the King's Bench Ward and the Stone Ward, two large
holds on the Master Debtors' side. But Jack was too well versed in the
geography of the place to attempt either of them. Indeed, if he had been
ignorant of it, the sound of voices which he could faintly distinguish,
would have served as a caution to him.
Hurrying on, his progress was soon checked by a strong door, several
inches in thickness, and nearly as wide as the passage. Running his hand
carefully over it in search of the lock, he perceived to his dismay that
it was fastened on the other side. After several vain attempts to burst
it open, he resolved, as a last alternative, to break through the wall
in the part nearest to the lock. This was a much more serious task than
he anticipated. The wall was of considerable thickness, and built
altogether of stone; and the noise he was compelled to make in using the
heavy bar, which brought sparks with every splinter he struck off, was
so great, that he feared it must be heard by the prisoners on the
Debtors' side. Heedless, however, of the consequences, he pursued his
task.
Half an hour's labour, during which he was obliged more than once to
pause to regain breath, sufficed to make a hole wide enough to allow a
passage for his arm up to the elbow. In this way he was able to force
back a ponderous bolt from its socket; and to his unspeakable joy, found
that the door instantly yielded.
Once more cheered by daylight, he hastened forward, and entered the
chapel.