Since its original construction it had undergone a complete change, as far as its interior arrangements were concerned; it was remodelled upon the plan laid down by those who are so well versed in all the requirements for the reception of convicted felons.
All the floors were taken out, and the galleries of cells were constructed one over the other in four tiers. There are about fifty cells on each landing or gallery, and five landings reached by two flights of stairs, one on each end of the hall.
These halls are called A hall and B hall, and there is only one communication between the two, this being in the middle of the ground floor. The whole of the cells and their supports are constructed of iron, the sides and doors being corrugated iron, and the floor both of cells and landings thick slab slate.
A strong iron rail runs along each landing. No prisoners happened to be there when the new batch of convicts arrived, and the newcomers were now mounted up to the top floor of all.
Over the door-cell was a proper receptacle for a small card with the prisoner’s numerical register on it.
“What is the number of your gang?” said the warder to Peace.
“I don’t know the number, sir,” answered our hero.
“Not know your number?”
“No, sir. When at Preston I worked in the tailors’ shop, but the number of the gang I don’t know—indeed, I never did know it.”
“Oh, well, that is not of any great importance. If you can’t tell me we must do without. Go in there, and the warder of the landing, Mr. Dring, will soon be here.”