Smithkin looked glum, and no wonder; for after the work he had done, it was very hard to be obliged to perform guard duty and to have nothing to eat. Harry guessed his thoughts, and made up his mind to profit by his discontent.
“Smithkin,” he whispered, “it’s rather mean not to give you anything to eat. I would treat you better than that if you were working for me.”
Smithkin scowled, and said nothing.
“Is any one in the room looking this way?” asked Harry.
The soldier glanced over the Hall, and shook his head slowly.
“Then,” continued Harry, “slip your hand in my left coat-pocket, and take what you find there.”
With a quick movement Smithkin did so, and drew forth the three jewels. He gave one glance at them, and then thrust them into the bosom of his jacket, and standing erect again, whispered, “What do you want me to do?”
“Simply keep your eye turned away from me for a minute,” said Harry; “and don’t listen very hard.”
With some little effort the boy managed to get his right hand loose enough to slip it into his coat-pocket, where he had placed the paper-cutter. Drawing it out, he inserted its point under the cords that bound his hands, and after a deal of sawing was able to cut one or two of the bonds, and free his hands. It was then an easy matter to get out his penknife, cut the bonds of Kitey, who was lying close beside him, and quietly reach down and sever the cords about his own ankles.
All this while, Smithkin was staring stolidly at the opposite side of the Hall, with his back turned to the two prisoners.