Sometimes a hammock strap would give way, and let the man down on to the hard stones of his cell; but Peace, who was an old soldier in looking after his own comforts, if they could be so termed, took very excellent care to see that his straps were all right.
The warders never object to give a man a new strap or two if any of his old ones are worn out.
At Dartmoor the convicts had very little to complain of as far as sleeping accommodation was concerned.
Each man has a good, warm, comfortable bed, and a plentiful supply of covering, which is invariably clean indeed. This could hardly be otherwise, seeing how frequently it is changed.
It is true there is no bed in a hammock, nor is one needed, but the prisoner has two good blankets (three in the winter), an excellent rug, and two stout linen sheets, with a wool or hair pillow.
The hammock is as comfortable as need be—indeed, many of the prisoners never had such luxurious sleeping accommodation when outside the walls of a prison.
Soon after “beds down” was sounded a warder was heard coming up the stairs to see that every candle was put out.
There are gas lights along each landing-railing, so that there is more or less light in every cell.
After the warder had made the necessary inspection with regard to the candles a bell was sounded, which is the signal for the day-warders to leave the prison, as the night warders came on duty.
When this occurs every man is expected to be in bed, and if the night watch finds him up he is liable to be reported, and reporting means puishment by loss of marks or otherwise.