There were only five other passengers in the coach—a woman with a babe, an old man asleep, with his hat over his eyes, and two drunken fellows who were too stupid to attend to anything but each other’s gibberish.
Carlos obeyed the strange advice of the detective. He yawned, stretched, and sighed, and then, laying his head against the back of the seat, appeared to fall asleep. Meanwhile he put his hand in his coat pocket, and endeavored to ascertain, by feeling, what had been placed there.
There was a small bag, made of oil-silk or some similar material, inclosing some soft substance. There was a pair of iron or steel-cutting nippers, apparently of considerable strength. There was attached to the bag a slip of paper.
Carlos breathed heavily and regularly, but kept close watch of officer George Johnson. That gentleman seemed to be uneasy. One moment he would bow his head as if drowsy, and the next he would suddenly straighten up and look at his prisoner. Then he would subside into indolence again, again to rouse himself and make sure of the safety of Carlos.
“Beats the duse how sleepy I am!” he once muttered to himself.
Still Carlos feigned deep slumber.
At last Officer Johnson took a careful survey of him, examined the handcuffs cautiously, and then peered intently into his face.
Finally, either from a sense of safety, or in consequence of an uncontrollable drowsiness, he leaned his head against the casement of the car window, and went into a sound sleep.
Now was Carlos’ opportunity. With as little movement of his arm as possible, he tore the slip of paper from the bag, drew it from his pocket, and read as follows:
“In the bag is a sponge soaked in chloroform. When the officer goes to sleep, hold it to his mouth and nose. Then take the steel cutting-nippers and free yourself. Do all this when you hear the first long whistle, which will show that the train is near the watering-station. You can get off there and escape. If this plan fails, we will try another. But if you don’t get away, you will be convicted and hung, sure.