There was one among the guards of the prison, a young man, who was always kinder in his deportment to us than any of the others. The food he brought us was better, and the water always pure and in a clean vessel. He used to cheer us too sometimes with the hope that our imprisonment would not last so long as had been decreed; and he instanced the cases of several criminals who had been sentenced like us, but who had been released when the memory of their crimes had ceased to occupy the minds of the officers in charge of the prison. He had our clothes washed for us, and did a thousand kind acts—trifles perhaps, but still more than we experienced from any other of his companions.
It was with him, therefore, that I proposed to my fellow-captive to try our long-brooded and cherished scheme of deliverance. The next time it was his turn to attend us, I begged he would come to the cell at night or in the evening, when he would be secure from observation, for that I had something particular to communicate to him. He came in the evening of that day, and seated himself, muffled in a dark-coloured blanket, close to the bars of our cell.
"You have something to say I think," said he in a low tone, "and I have done your bidding; I am here."
"I have, good Meer Sahib," said I, (for he was also a Syud;) "listen, for what I would communicate to you will be for your benefit, if you will enter into my plans."
"Say on," replied the youth; "you may command my utmost exertions."
"To be brief then," I continued, "you must endeavour to effect our escape."
"It is impossible," he said.
"Not so," cried I; "nothing is impossible to willing hands and stout hearts. You can manage everything if you will but listen to me. When we were apprehended, we had saved a round sum of money, which is concealed in a spot I can tell you of, if you will be faithful to us. Half of it shall be yours, if you will only aid us."
"How much is it?" he asked.
"Upwards of five hundred rupees," said I; "it was securely hidden, and no one can have discovered it. I repeat, half of it shall be yours if you will assist us."