At this they trembled greatly, and I think that Christian fell into a swoon:  but coming a little to himself again, they renewed their discourse about the giant’s counsel, and whether yet they had best take it or no.

Now night being come again, and the giant and his wife being in bed, she asked him concerning the prisoners, and if they had taken his counsel; to which he replied.  They are sturdy rogues; they choose rather to bear all hardships than to make away with themselves.  Then said she, Take them into the castle-yard to-morrow, and show them the bones and skulls of those that thou hast already despatched, and make them believe, ere a week comes to an end, thou wilt tear them in pieces, as thou hast done their fellows before them.

So when the morning was come, the giant goes to them again, and takes them into the castle-yard, and shows them as his wife had bidden him.  These, said he, were pilgrims as you are once, and they trespassed on my grounds as you have done; and when I thought fit, I tore them in pieces; and so within ten days I will do you.  Go get you down to your den again.  And with that he beat them all the way thither.  They lay therefore all day on Saturday in lamentable case as before.  Now when night was come, and when Mrs. Diffidence and her husband the giant were got to bed, they began to renew their discourse of the prisoners; and withal the old giant wondered that he could neither by his blows nor counsel bring them to an end.  And with that his wife replied, I fear, said she, that they live in hopes that some will come to relieve them, or that they have picklocks about them, by the means of which they hope to escape.  And sayest thou so, my dear? said the giant; I will therefore search them in the morning.

Well, on Saturday about midnight, they began to pray, and continued in prayer till almost break of day.

Now, a little before it was day, good Christian, as one half amazed, broke out into this passionate speech:  What a fool, quoth he, am I, to lie in a dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty!  I have a key in my bosom called Promise, that will, I am persuaded, open any lock in Doubtful Castle.  Then said Hopeful, That’s good news; good brother, pluck it out of thy bosom and try.

Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom, and began to try at the dungeon-door, whose bolt, as he turned the key, gave back, and the door flew open with ease, and Christian and Hopeful both came out.  Then he went to the outward door that leads into the castle-yard, and with his key opened that door also.  After that he went to the iron gate, for that must be opened too, but that lock went desperately hard, yet the key did open it.  Then they thrust open the gate to make their escape with speed; but that gate, as it opened, made such a creaking, that it waked Giant Despair, who, hastily rising to pursue his prisoners, felt his limbs to fail; for his fits took him again, so that he could by no means go after them.  Then, they went on, and came to the king’s highway again, and so were safe, because they were out of his jurisdiction.