“Patient!” echoed Alexis; “how can a man be patient cooped up in a place like this?”
“Well, it can’t be helped now,” said Chester. “Come on to bed.”
But Alexis was in no mood to turn in. For perhaps another half-hour he sat brooding; then he arose and made a tour of the room. He put his hand on the doorknob and tried it. It was securely locked, and the Cossack had no doubt that it was also bolted on the far side. He rattled the knob angrily, but there was no answer from the outside.
Alexis continued his tour of inspection. He eyed the table speculatively. It was made of oak and while not of great bulk was very heavy–as much as two ordinary men could lift. Alexis picked it up and tested its weight. Then he growled something to himself.
He also tested the chairs and even the bed on which he was to sleep, all the time growling to himself like a dog. Then, his tour of the room completed, he sat down in his chair again. Hal and Chester had been watching him from beneath lowered lids.
Hal raised himself up.
“Find anything?” he asked.
Alexis vouchsafed no reply.
“Great Scott!” cried Chester, sitting up. “Are you going to mope around all night? Come to bed and get a little rest, that you may be fit to meet any emergency should it arise.”
“A good idea,” growled Alexis to himself, and extinguishing the light, threw himself upon his bed.