When we are ready, we will show a handkerchief at window.  Bring with you, at nine that evening, rope strong enough to bear us, and have disguises for three ready for us at foot of wall.  Herewith are ten louis to purchase three disguises.

The cord brought up a small packet, which contained two very fine small steel saws, two files, and the oil.  They did not lose a moment in setting to work, and, oiling the saws, one began to cut through the central bar, just above the point where the lowest cross bars went through it, as they determined to leave these to fasten the rope to.  There was not room for two of them to work together, and they agreed to take it by turns, changing every quarter of an hour.

To their great satisfaction, they found that the saw did its work much more quickly than they had expected, and by the time each had had a turn the bar was cut through; and by morning the side bars had also all been cut.  They did not attempt to cut the main bar higher up, as, had they done so, it would have been difficult to keep the portion cut out in its place.

When it was light, they filled up all the cuts with bread, which they had managed to secrete in the palms of their hands at dinner.  This they kneaded into a sort of putty, rolled it in the dust of the floor until black, and then squeezed it into the interstices.

“There is no fear of their noticing it,” O’Neil said, when they had finished.  “I cannot see the cuts myself from the floor, though I know where they are; and unless they were to climb up there, and examine the place very closely, they would not see anything wrong.”

“Shall we hang out the flag today, Kennedy?”

“I think we had better wait till tomorrow.  He will be hardly expecting to see it, today, and may not be ready with the rope and disguises.”

The next morning the signal was hung out.  They saw nothing of Mike, but as he would be able to make out the handkerchief from a considerable distance, they had no doubt whatever that he had observed it, but thought it prudent not to show himself near the prison again.  As soon as it was dark they recommenced work, and had cut through the main bar, and cautiously lowered the grating to the ground, before the clock struck nine.  Then, on hearing Mike’s signal, they lowered the cord, and soon brought up a rope which, although small, was more than strong enough to support them.

“We had better tie some knots in it,” Desmond said.  “They will help us to avoid sliding down too rapidly.  If it was a thick rope, I think we could manage without them; but, not being sailors, I do not think that we could grasp this tightly enough.”

“How close shall we put them, Kennedy?”

“About two feet apart.  Then we can come down hand over hand, helping our arms by twisting our legs round it.

“Now,” he went on, when they had finished the knots, “who will go down first?”

“You had better do so,” O’Sullivan said.  “You are the lightest of us, and, I fancy, the strongest, too.”