“Can’t! Oh, horrors, it locks on the inside!”
“Merciful heavens! They are prisoners!”
“They’ll suffocate!”
“Quick, quick, man, get a crowbar! Anything! Here, give me that!”
And then came a series of poundings upon the same iron door, accompanied by shouts and exclamations of horror and despair.
“I can’t budge it. It’s a regular safe. They are locked in for good!”
CHAPTER XIX.
TORTURE OF THE YEARLINGS.
Imagine, if you can, the state of mind of the agonized four when the import of those terrible words burst upon them. They were locked in! And tied, each one of them, so that they could not move a hand to help themselves! The darkness made the whole thing yet more awful. They were entombed alive! And suffocating! Already the air seemed to grow hot, their breath to come in choking gasps. They screamed aloud, fairly shrieked in agony. They tore at their bonds, beat upon the wall with their helpless hands and feet. And all the while outside their cries were answered by the equally terrified shouts of the plebes.
“Let us out! Let us out!” shrieked Bull.