"He was."
"Could he have escaped from the Black Hole, think you?"
Stanton gave a great start.
"It is possible," he said. "They thought it a mighty strong place, but I didn't. A fellow with any grit could have dug his way out."
That settled it to my satisfaction.
Shadow had been the prisoner in the Black Hole. That he had got out somehow I had received ample proof by the hand thrust up through the pile of junk holding that note for me.
I pumped Stanton for all he was worth. He kept back many things, I knew; but I pretended to believe that he had made a clean breast of it.
I had seen him glance about his cell, and knew that he hoped to be able to make his escape.
"Ain't you a-goin' to take these irons off?" he inquired, holding up his wrists, just as I was about to take my departure.
"Not at all."