Many were the wild tales he had heard of the sufferings in the mines by the poor creatures condemned to toil there.
His heart sank within him as he recalled these stories.
Yet in the midst of all his misery the fairy-like form of Lena Vanhoosen would come before him.
She seemed to be ever bidding him hope on, and telling him that it is always darkest before dawn.
When the half hour was up the jailer, relentless as fate itself, appeared, and fastened a chain around his ankle.
In the court-yard of the prison twenty unfortunates, similarly situated, were assembled.
They were all chained together, and at the word "March," the gate was thrown open and they slowly filed out.
Part of the journey was performed by railway, the convicts having a special car, but a considerable distance had to be traversed on foot, and this was painful and toilsome.
Every week the ranks of the miners, depleted by sickness and death, were reinforced by fresh batches of criminals.
It was seldom that a mine slave lasted longer than five years.