The departure of the other three left Kit and the Captain alone in the cell.
“This is more of an adventure than we bargained for, sir,” Kit said. “I didn’t think when I was reading that story, that I should be a prisoner myself in Castle d’If. None of us will forget it in a hurry, and I think I am rather glad it has happened.”
“So am I, to tell the truth,” said the Captain. “It won’t do us any harm if the weather lets us away in the morning. I don’t go in for this sort of thing very often; but now that we are in for it, we may as well enjoy it.”
Within the next hour the big cell bore a more homelike look than it had had for many a day. With two of the boards a rough table was made between the chimney-place and the inner wall. More boards were converted into two rough benches; still others were arranged slantingly against a wall to make a springy bed; and by resting one end of the remainder on the stone seats and jumping upon them they were soon converted into a formidable heap of firewood.
“How many candles, Mr. Quartermaster?” the Captain asked.
“Eleven, sir,” Harry answered, “besides one that was partly burned when we were in Monte Cristo’s cell.”
“Very good. The fire will give us light enough most of the time. And the provisions?”
“I’ll see, sir,” Harry replied; and taking the napkin from the top of the basket he spread it upon the improvised table and began to lay the food out upon it.
“Here’s more than half of a boiled ham, sir,” he began, “and a roast chicken, and three loaves of bread and some rolls, butter, pickles, some cold roast beef, a big pot of cold coffee, pepper and salt, and a lot of dishes and knives and forks. That’s all, sir.”
“All!” the Captain laughed. “The castle is provisioned for a siege. It’s a good thing the North Cape has such a liberal-minded steward. I was afraid we might only have enough for one meal; but if we take a good sandwich apiece now, we will have plenty for supper and breakfast. Make us five big ham sandwiches, Mr. Quartermaster.”