The distance to the ground from the window was not less than fifteen feet, rather a long drop even if I could manage to get the slats loose, which I doubted, for I had no tools at hand.

I resolved to try the door, and was about to do so when I heard the bolts shoot back and Booth appeared.

For an instant I thought to trip him up and rush past him, but he stood on the steps completely blocking the way.

“All right, Roger?” he asked.

“Yes, sir.”

“Quite com’table, boy?”

“As comfortable as any one could be in such a place,” I rejoined lightly.

" ’Tain’t exactly a parlor,” he chuckled.  “No easy chairs or sofys; but the food’s good.  I’m a-going to get it for you now.  Then after that maybe the judge will call around.  I’ll bring the dinner in a minute.”

He climbed downstairs, bolting the door after him.

In five minutes—­ or ten at the most—­ I knew he would be back.  After that there was no telling how long he would stay.

Now, therefore, was the proper time to escape, now or never!

CHAPTER XII

 A surprise

No time must be lost.  Booth lived but a short hundred feet from the jail, if such it might be called, and if his wife had dinner ready it would not take him long to bring it.

I surveyed the room in which I was incarcerated critically.  Escape by either window was, as I have intimated, out of the question.  On account of its height, the scuttle was also not to be considered.

Apparently nothing remained to try but the door.  Running down the steps, I looked it over.  It was of solid oak planking, an inch thick, and fastened at both top and bottom.

It was a hard thing to tackle, especially with no tools, and, after surveying it, I went upstairs again to search for something that might do as a pry.

I could see nothing but the empty nail keg, and I could discover no use at first in this until the idea struck me of wedging it between one of the lower steps and the door, and, by jumping upon it, forcing the bottom bolt.

With some difficulty I placed the keg in position and brought down my full weight upon it.  The first time the bolt merely creaked, but the second there was a snap, and the lower part of the door burst outward several inches.

The bottom bolt had yielded, and now only the top one remained.  But to reach this was a difficult matter, as no purchase could be had against it.

While considering the situation, I imagined I heard my jailer returning, and my heart jumped into my throat.  What if Booth should see the damage I had done?  I reckoned that things would go hard with me if it became known that I had attempted to break jail.  Judge Penfold would surely give me the full penalty of the law.

But the approach of Booth was only imaginary, and, after a brief interval of silence, I breathed freer.