“Twenty-four,” exclaimed Jack. “Do you mean I have been unconscious all that time?”
“You must have been. And it was a blessing that you were. You saved yourself a hard walk through the snow. You were carried on a sleigh while the rest of us were forced to walk.”
“Then there is no escape?”
“A man escaped once,” returned the Russian grimly. “There was no pursuit, for there was no place he could go without food, as he had gone. He was found a month later in the snow. There wasn’t much left of him.”
Jack shuddered.
“Not for me,” he said aloud.
“No,” continued the Russian, “there is no chance of escape; and for that reason the prisoners are not even bound. No, without outside help, no man ever escapes from Siberia.”
“Then,” said Jack quietly, “we must have outside help.”
CHAPTER XVIII.
PRISON FRIENDS.
The conversation languished now; and a few moments later the deep breathing of the Russian proclaimed that he was asleep. But there was no more sleep for Jack; he had slept until he could sleep no more. For long hours he lay there in his corner thinking.