第1章

AllmylifeIhavehadanawarenessofothertimesandplaces。I

havebeenawareofotherpersonsinme——Oh，andtrustme，sohaveyou，myreaderthatistobe。Readbackintoyourchildhood，andthissenseofawarenessIspeakofwillberememberedasanexperienceofyourchildhood。Youwerethennotfixed，notcrystallized。Youwereplastic，asoulinflux，aconsciousnessandanidentityintheprocessofforming——ay，offormingandforgetting。

Youhaveforgottenmuch，myreader，andyet，asyoureadtheselines，yourememberdimlythehazyvistasofothertimesandplacesintowhichyourchildeyespeered。Theyseemdreamstoyouto-day。

Yet，iftheyweredreams，dreamedthen，whencethesubstanceofthem？Ourdreamsaregrotesquelycompoundedofthethingsweknow。

Thestuffofoursheerestdreamsisthestuffofourexperience。Asachild，aweechild，youdreamedyoufellgreatheights；youdreamedyouflewthroughtheairasthingsoftheairfly；youwerevexedbycrawlingspidersandmany-leggedcreaturesoftheslime；

youheardothervoices，sawotherfacesnightmarishlyfamiliar，andgazeduponsunrisesandsunsetsotherthanyouknownow，lookingback，youeverlookedupon。

Verywell。Thesechildglimpsesareofother-worldness，ofother-

lifeness，ofthingsthatyouhadneverseeninthisparticularworldofyourparticularlife。Thenwhence？Otherlives？Otherworlds？

Perhaps，whenyouhavereadallthatIshallwrite，youwillhavereceivedanswerstotheperplexitiesIhavepropoundedtoyou，andthatyouyourself，ereyoucametoreadme，propoundedtoyourself。

Wordsworthknew。Hewasneitherseernorprophet，butjustordinarymanlikeyouoranyman。Whatheknew，youknow，anymanknows。

Buthemostaptlystateditinhispassagethatbegins"Notinutternakedness，notinentireforgetfulness……"

Ah，truly，shadesoftheprison-housecloseaboutus，thenew-bornthings，andalltoosoondoweforget。Andyet，whenwewerenew-

bornwedidrememberothertimesandplaces。We，helplessinfantsinarmsorcreepingquadruped-likeonthefloor，dreamedourdreamsofair-flight。Yes；andweenduredthetormentandtortureofnightmarefearsofdimandmonstrousthings。Wenew-borninfants，withoutexperience，werebornwithfear，withmemoryoffear；andMEMORYISEXPERIENCE。

Asformyself，atthebeginningsofmyvocabulary，atsotenderaperiodthatIstillmadehungernoisesandsleepnoises，yeteventhendidIknowthatIhadbeenastar-rover。Yes，I，whoselipshadneverlispedtheword"king，"rememberedthatIhadoncebeenthesonofaking。More——IrememberedthatonceIhadbeenaslaveandasonofaslave，andwornanironcollarroundmyneck。

Stillmore。WhenIwasthree，andfour，andfiveyearsofage，I

wasnotyetI。Iwasamerebecoming，afluxofspiritnotyetcooledsolidinthemouldofmyparticularfleshandtimeandplace。

InthatperiodallthatIhadeverbeenintenthousandlivesbeforestroveinme，andtroubledthefluxofme，intheefforttoincorporateitselfinmeandbecomeme。

Silly，isn’tit？Butremember，myreader，whomIhopetohavetravelfarwithmethroughtimeandspace——remember，please，myreader，thatIhavethoughtmuchonthesematters，thatthroughbloodynightsandsweatsofdarkthatlastedyears-long，Ihavebeenalonewithmymanyselvestoconsultandcontemplatemymanyselves。

Ihavegonethroughthehellsofallexistencestobringyounewswhichyouwillsharewithmeinacasualcomfortablehourovermyprintedpage。

So，toreturn，Isay，duringtheagesofthreeandfourandfive，I

wasnotyetI。IwasmerelybecomingasItookforminthemouldofmybody，andallthemighty，indestructiblepastwroughtinthemixtureofmetodeterminewhattheformofthatbecomingwouldbe。

Itwasnotmyvoicethatcriedoutinthenightinfearofthingsknown，whichI，forsooth，didnotandcouldnotknow。Thesamewithmychildishangers，myloves，andmylaughters。Othervoicesscreamedthroughmyvoice，thevoicesofmenandwomenaforetime，ofallshadowyhostsofprogenitors。Andthesnarlofmyangerwasblendedwiththesnarlsofbeastsmoreancientthanthemountains，andthevocalmadnessofmychildhysteria，withalltheredofitswrath，waschordedwiththeinsensate，stupidcriesofbeastspre-

Adamicandprogeologicintime。

Andtherethesecretisout。Theredwrath！Ithasundonemeinthis，mypresentlife。Becauseofit，afewshortweekshence，I

shallbeledfromthiscelltoahighplacewithunstableflooring，gracedabovebyawell-stretchedrope；andtheretheywillhangmebytheneckuntilIamdead。Theredwrathalwayshasundonemeinallmylives；fortheredwrathismydisastrouscatastrophicheritagefromthetimeoftheslimythingseretheworldwasprime。

ItistimethatIintroducemyself。Iamneitherfoolnorlunatic。

Iwantyoutoknowthat，inorderthatyouwillbelievethethingsI

shalltellyou。IamDarrellStanding。Somefewofyouwhoreadthiswillknowmeimmediately。Buttothemajority，whoareboundtobestrangers，letmeexpositmyself。EightyearsagoIwasProfessorofAgronomicsintheCollegeofAgricultureoftheUniversityofCalifornia。EightyearsagothesleepylittleuniversitytownofBerkeleywasshockedbythemurderofProfessorHaskellinoneofthelaboratoriesoftheMiningBuilding。DarrellStandingwasthemurderer。

IamDarrellStanding。Iwascaughtred-handed。NowtherightandthewrongofthisaffairwithProfessorHaskellIshallnotdiscuss。

Itwaspurelyaprivatematter。Thepointis，thatinasurgeofanger，obsessedbythatcatastrophicredwraththathascursedmedowntheages，Ikilledmyfellowprofessor。ThecourtrecordsshowthatIdid；and，foronce，Iagreewiththecourtrecords。

No；Iamnottobehangedforhismurder。Ireceivedalife-

sentenceformypunishment。Iwasthirty-sixyearsofageatthetime。Iamnowforty-fouryearsold。IhavespenttheeightinterveningyearsintheCaliforniaStatePrisonofSanQuentin。

FiveoftheseyearsIspentinthedark。Solitaryconfinement，theycallit。Menwhoendureit，callitlivingdeath。Butthroughthesefiveyearsofdeath-in-lifeImanagedtoattainfreedomsuchasfewmenhaveeverknown。Closest-confinedofprisoners，notonlydidIrangetheworld，butIrangedtime。Theywhoimmuredmeforpettyyearsgavetome，allunwittingly，thelargessofcenturies。

Truly，thankstoEdMorrell，Ihavehadfiveyearsofstar-roving。

ButEdMorrellisanotherstory。Ishalltellyouabouthimalittlelater。IhavesomuchtotellIscarceknowhowtobegin。

Well，abeginning。Iwasbornonaquarter-sectioninMinnesota。

MymotherwasthedaughterofanimmigrantSwede。HernamewasHildaTonnesson。MyfatherwasChaunceyStanding，ofoldAmericanstock。HetracedbacktoAlfredStanding，anindenturedservant，orslaveifyouplease，whowastransportedfromEnglandtotheVirginiaplantationsinthedaysthatwereevenoldwhentheyouthfulWashingtonwenta-surveyinginthePennsylvaniawilderness。

AsonofAlfredStandingfoughtintheWaroftheRevolution；agrandson，intheWarof1812。TherehavebeennowarssinceinwhichtheStandingshavenotbeenrepresented。I，thelastoftheStandings，dyingsoonwithoutissue，foughtasacommonsoldierinthePhilippines，inourlatestwar，andtodosoIresigned，inthefullearlyripenessofcareer，myprofessorshipintheUniversityofNebraska。Goodheavens，whenIsoresignedIwasheadedfortheDeanshipoftheCollegeofAgricultureinthatuniversity——I，thestar-rover，thered-bloodedadventurer，thevagabondishCainofthecenturies，themilitantpriestofremotesttimes，themoon-dreamingpoetofagesforgottenandto-dayunrecordedinman’shistoryofman！

AndhereIam，myhandsdyedredinMurderers’Row，intheStatePrisonofFolsom，awaitingthedaydecreedbythemachineryofstatewhentheservantsofthestatewillleadmeawayintowhattheyfondlybelieveisthedark——thedarktheyfear；thedarkthatgivesthemfearsomeandsuperstitiousfancies；thedarkthatdrivesthem，drivellingandyammering，tothealtarsoftheirfear-created，anthropomorphicgods。

No；IshallneverbeDeanofanycollegeofagriculture。AndyetI

knewagriculture。Itwasmyprofession。Iwasborntoit，rearedtoit，trainedtoit；andIwasamasterofit。Itwasmygenius。

Icanpickthehigh-percentagebutter-fatcowwithmyeyeandlettheBabcockTesterprovethewisdomofmyeye。Icanlook，notatland，butatlandscape，andpronouncethevirtuesandtheshortcomingsofthesoil。LitmuspaperisnotnecessarywhenI

determineasoiltobeacidoralkali。Irepeat，farm-husbandry，initshighestscientificterms，wasmygenius，andismygenius。Andyetthestate，whichincludesallthecitizensofthestate，believesthatitcanblotoutthiswisdomofmineinthefinaldarkbymeansofaropeaboutmyneckandtheabruptivejerkofgravitation——thiswisdomofminethatwasincubatedthroughthemillenniums，andthatwaswell-hatchederethefarmedfieldsofTroywereeverpasturedbytheflocksofnomadshepherds！

Corn？Whoelseknowscorn？ThereismydemonstrationatWistar，wherebyIincreasedtheannualcorn-yieldofeverycountyinIowabyhalfamilliondollars。Thisishistory。Manyafarmer，ridinginhismotor-carto-day，knowswhomadepossiblethatmotor-car。Manyasweet-bosomedgirlandbright-browedboy，poringoverhigh-schooltext-books，littledreamsthatImadethathighereducationpossiblebymycorndemonstrationatWistar。

Andfarmmanagement！Iknowthewasteofsuperfluousmotionwithoutstudyingamovingpicturerecordofit，whetheritbefarmorfarm-

hand，thelayoutofbuildingsorthelayoutofthefarm-hands’

labour。Thereismyhandbookandtablesonthesubject。Beyondtheshadowofanydoubt，atthispresentmoment，ahundredthousandfarmersareknottingtheirbrowsoveritsspreadpageseretheytapouttheirfinalpipeandgotobed。Andyet，sofarwasIbeyondmytables，thatallIneededwasamerelookatamantoknowhispredispositions，hisco-ordinations，andtheindexfractionofhismotion-wastage。

AndhereImustclosethisfirstchapterofmynarrative。Itisnineo’clock，andinMurderers’Rowthatmeanslightsout。Evennow，Ihearthesofttreadofthegum-shoedguardashecomestocensuremeformycoal-oillampstillburning。Asifthemerelivingcouldcensurethedoomedtodie！

CHAPTERII

IamDarrellStanding。Theyaregoingtotakemeoutandhangmeprettysoon。InthemeantimeIsaymysay，andwriteinthesepagesoftheothertimesandplaces。

Aftermysentence，Icametospendtherestofmy"naturallife"intheprisonofSanQuentin。Iprovedincorrigible。Anincorrigibleisaterriblehumanbeing——atleastsuchistheconnotationof"incorrigible"inprisonpsychology。IbecameanincorrigiblebecauseIabhorredwastemotion。Theprison，likeallprisons，wasascandalandanaffrontofwastemotion。Theyputmeinthejute-

mill。Thecriminalityofwastefulnessirritatedme。Whyshoulditnot？Eliminationofwastemotionwasmyspeciality。Beforetheinventionofsteamorsteam-drivenloomsthreethousandyearsbefore，IhadrottedinprisoninoldBabylon；and，trustme，I

speakthetruthwhenIsaythatinthatancientdayweprisonerswovemoreefficientlyonhand-loomsthandidtheprisonersinthesteam-poweredloom-roomsofSanQuentin。

Thecrimeofwastewasabhorrent。Irebelled。Itriedtoshowtheguardsascoreorsoofmoreefficientways。Iwasreported。Iwasgiventhedungeonandthestarvationoflightandfood。Iemergedandtriedtoworkinthechaosofinefficiencyoftheloom-rooms。I

rebelled。Iwasgiventhedungeon，plusthestrait-jacket。Iwasspread-eagled，andthumbed-up，andprivilybeatenbythestupidguardswhosetotalityofintelligencewasonlyjustsufficienttoshowthemthatIwasdifferentfromthemandnotsostupid。

TwoyearsofthiswitlesspersecutionIendured。Itisterribleforamantobetieddownandgnawedbyrats。Thestupidbrutesofguardswererats，andtheygnawedtheintelligenceofme，gnawedallthefinenervesofthequickofmeandoftheconsciousnessofme。

AndI，whoinmypasthavebeenamostvaliantfighter，inthispresentlifewasnofighteratall。Iwasafarmer，anagriculturist，adesk-tiedprofessor，alaboratoryslave，interestedonlyinthesoilandtheincreaseoftheproductivenessofthesoil。

IfoughtinthePhilippinesbecauseitwasthetraditionoftheStandingstofight。Ihadnoaptitudeforfighting。Itwasalltooridiculous，theintroducingofdisruptiveforeignsubstancesintothebodiesoflittleblackmen-folk。ItwaslaughabletobeholdScienceprostitutingallthemightofitsachievementandthewitofitsinventorstotheviolentintroducingofforeignsubstancesintothebodiesofblackfolk。

AsIsay，inobediencetothetraditionoftheStandingsIwenttowarandfoundthatIhadnoaptitudeforwar。Sodidmyofficersfindmeout，becausetheymademeaquartermaster’sclerk，andasaclerk，atadesk，IfoughtthroughtheSpanish-AmericanWar。

SoitwasnotbecauseIwasafighter，butbecauseIwasathinker，thatIwasenragedbythemotion-wastageoftheloom-roomsandwaspersecutedbytheguardsintobecomingan"incorrigible。"One’sbrainworkedandIwaspunishedforitsworking。AsItoldWardenAtherton，whenmyincorrigibilityhadbecomesonotoriousthathehadmeinonthecarpetinhisprivateofficetopleadwithme；asI

toldhimthen:

"Itissoabsurd，mydearWarden，tothinkthatyourrat-throttlersofguardscanshakeoutofmybrainthethingsthatareclearanddefiniteinmybrain。Thewholeorganizationofthisprisonisstupid。Youareapolitician。YoucanweavethepoliticalpullofSanFranciscosaloon-menandwardheelersintoapositionofgraftsuchasthisoneyouoccupy；butyoucan’tweavejute。Yourloom-

roomsarefiftyyearsbehindthetimes……"

Butwhycontinuethetirade？——fortiradeitwas。Ishowedhimwhatafoolhewas，andasaresulthedecidedthatIwasahopelessincorrigible。

Giveadogabadname——youknowthesaw。Verywell。WardenAthertongavethefinalsanctiontothebadnessofmyname。Iwasfairgame。Morethanoneconvict’sderelictionwasshuntedoffonme，andwaspaidforbymeinthedungeononbreadandwater，orinbeingtricedupbythethumbsonmytip-toesforlonghours，eachhourofwhichwaslongerthananylifeIhaveeverlived。

Intelligentmenarecruel。Stupidmenaremonstrouslycruel。Theguardsandthemenoverme，fromtheWardendown，werestupidmonsters。Listen，andyoushalllearnwhattheydidtome。Therewasapoetintheprison，aconvict，aweak-chinned，broad-browed，degeneratepoet。Hewasaforger。Hewasacoward。Hewasasnitcher。Hewasastool——strangewordsforaprofessorofagronomicstouseinwriting，butaprofessorofagronomicsmaywelllearnstrangewordswhenpentinprisonforthetermofhisnaturallife。

Thispoet-forger’snamewasCecilWinwood。Hehadhadpriorconvictions，andyet，becausehewasasnivellingcurofayellowdog，hislastsentencehadbeenonlyforsevenyears。Goodcreditswouldmateriallyreducethistime。Mytimewaslife。Yetthismiserabledegenerate，inordertogainseveralshortyearsoflibertyforhimself，succeededinaddingafairportionofeternitytomyownlife-timeterm。

Ishalltellwhathappenedtheotherwayaround，foritwasonlyafterawearyperiodthatIlearned。ThisCecilWinwood，inordertocurryfavourwiththeCaptainoftheYard，andthencetheWarden，thePrisonDirectors，theBoardofPardons，andtheGovernorofCalifornia，framedupaprison-break。Nownotethreethings:(a)

CecilWinwoodwassodetestedbyhisfellow-convictsthattheywouldnothavepermittedhimtobetanounceofBullDurhamonabed-bugrace——andbed-bugracingwasagreatsportwiththeconvicts；(b)I

wasthedogthathadbeengivenabadname:(c)forhisframe-up，CecilWinwoodneededthedogswithbadnames，thelifetimers，thedesperateones，theincorrigibles。

ButthelifersdetestedCecilWinwood，and，whenheapproachedthemwithhisplanofawholesaleprison-break，theylaughedathimandturnedawaywithcursesforthestoolthathewas。Buthefooledthemintheend，fortyofthebitterest-wiseonesinthepen。Heapproachedthemagainandagain。HetoldofhispowerintheprisonbyvirtueofhisbeingtrustyintheWarden’soffice，andbecauseofthefactthathehadtherunofthedispensary。

"Showme，"saidLongBillHodge，amountaineerdoinglifefortrainrobbery，andwhosewholesoulforyearshadbeenbentonescapinginordertokillthecompanioninrobberywhohadturnedstate’sevidenceonhim。

CecilWinwoodacceptedthetest。Heclaimedthathecoulddopetheguardsthenightofthebreak。

"Talkischeap，"saidLongBillHodge。"Whatwewantisthegoods。

Dopeoneoftheguardsto-night。There’sBarnum。He’snogood。HebeatupthatcrazyChinkyesterdayinBughouseAlley——whenhewasoffduty，too。He’sonthenightwatch。Dopehimto-nightan’makehimlosehisjob。Showme，andwe’lltalkbusinesswithyou。"

AllthisLongBilltoldmeinthedungeonsafterward。CecilWinwooddemurredagainsttheimmediacyofthedemonstration。Heclaimedthathemusthavetimeinwhichtostealthedopefromthedispensary。Theygavehimthetime，andaweeklaterheannouncedthathewasready。Fortyhard-bittenliferswaitedfortheguardBarnumtogotosleeponhisshift。AndBarnumdid。Hewasfoundasleep，andhewasdischargedforsleepingonduty。

Ofcourse，thatconvincedthelifers。ButtherewastheCaptainoftheYardtoconvince。Tohim，daily，CecilWinwoodwasreportingtheprogressofthebreak——allfanciedandfabricatedinhisownimagination。TheCaptainoftheYarddemandedtobeshown。Winwoodshowedhim，andthefulldetailsoftheshowingIdidnotlearnuntilayearafterward，soslowlydothesecretsofprisonintrigueleakout。

Winwoodsaidthatthefortymeninthebreak，inwhoseconfidencehewas，hadalreadysuchpowerinthePrisonthattheywereabouttobeginsmugglinginautomaticpistolsbymeansoftheguardstheyhadboughtup。

"Showme，"theCaptainoftheYardmusthavedemanded。

Andtheforger-poetshowedhim。IntheBakery，nightworkwasaregularthing。Oneoftheconvicts，abaker，wasonthefirstnight-shift。HewasastooloftheCaptainoftheYard，andWinwoodknewit。

"To-night，"hetoldtheCaptain，"Summerfacewillbringinadozen’44automatics。Onhisnexttimeoffhe’llbringintheammunition。

Butto-nighthe’llturntheautomaticsovertomeinthebakery。

You’vegotagoodstoolthere。He’llmakeyouhisreportto-

morrow。"

NowSummerfacewasastrappingfigureofabucolicguardwhohailedfromHumboldtCounty。Hewasasimple-minded，good-natureddoltandnotaboveearninganhonestdollarbysmugglingintobaccofortheconvicts。Onthatnight，returningfromatriptoSanFrancisco，hebroughtinwithhimfifteenpoundsofprimecigarettetobacco。Hehaddonethisbefore，anddeliveredthestufftoCecilWinwood。So，onthatparticularnight，he，allunwitting，turnedthestuffovertoWinwoodinthebakery。Itwasabig，solid，paper-wrappedbundleofinnocenttobacco。Thestoolbaker，fromconcealment，sawthepackagedeliveredtoWinwoodandsoreportedtotheCaptainoftheYardnextmorning。

Butinthemeantimethepoet-forger’stoo-livelyimaginationranawaywithhim。HewasguiltyofaslipthatgavemefiveyearsofsolitaryconfinementandthatplacedmeinthiscondemnedcellinwhichInowwrite。AndallthetimeIknewnothingaboutit。Ididnotevenknowofthebreakhehadinveigledthefortylifersintoplanning。Iknewnothing，absolutelynothing。Andtherestknewlittle。Thelifersdidnotknowhewasgivingthemthecross。TheCaptainoftheYarddidnotknowthatthecrossknowwasbeingworkedonhim。Summerfacewasthemostinnocentofall。Attheworst，hisconsciencecouldhaveaccusedhimonlyofsmugglinginsomeharmlesstobacco。

Andnowtothestupid，silly，melodramaticslipofCecilWinwood。

Nextmorning，whenheencounteredtheCaptainoftheYard，hewastriumphant。Hisimaginationtookthebitinitsteeth。

"Well，thestuffcameinallrightasyousaid，"thecaptainoftheYardremarked。

"Andenoughofittoblowhalftheprisonsky-high，"Winwoodcorroborated。

"Enoughofwhat？"theCaptaindemanded。

"Dynamiteanddetonators，"thefoolrattledon。"Thirty-fivepoundsofit。YourstoolsawSummerfacepassitovertome。"

AndrighttheretheCaptainoftheYardmusthavenearlydied。I

canactuallysympathizewithhim——thirty-fivepoundsofdynamitelooseintheprison。

TheysaythatCaptainJamie——thatwashisnickname——satdownandheldhisheadinhishands。

"Whereisitnow？"hecried。"Iwantit。Takemetoitatonce。"

AndrightthereCecilWinwoodsawhismistake。

"Iplantedit，"helied——forhewascompelledtoliebecause，beingmerelytobaccoinsmallpackages，itwaslongsincedistributedamongtheconvictsalongthecustomarychannels。

"Verywell，"saidCaptainJamie，gettinghimselfinhand。"Leadmetoitatonce。"

Buttherewasnoplantofhighexplosivestoleadhimto。Thethingdidnotexist，hadneverexistedsaveintheimaginationofthewretchedWinwood。

InalargeprisonlikeSanQuentintherearealwayshiding-placesforthings。AndasCecilWinwoodledCaptainJamiehemusthavedonesomerapidthinking。

AsCaptainJamietestifiedbeforetheBoardofDirectors，andasWinwoodalsosotestified，onthewaytothehiding-placeWinwoodsaidthatheandIhadplantedthepowdertogether。

AndI，justreleasedfromfivedaysinthedungeonsandeightyhoursinthejacket；I，whomeventhestupidguardscouldseewastooweaktoworkintheloom-room；I，whohadbeengiventhedayofftorecuperate——fromtooterriblepunishment——Iwasnamedastheonewhohadhelpedhidethenon-existentthirty-fivepoundsofhighexplosive！

WinwoodledCaptainJamietotheallegedhiding-place。Ofcoursetheyfoundnodynamiteinit。

"MyGod！"Winwoodlied。"Standinghasgivenmethecross。He’sliftedtheplantandstoweditsomewhereelse。"

TheCaptainoftheYardsaidmoreemphaticthingsthan"MyGod！"

Also，onthespurofthemomentbutcold-bloodedly，hetookWinwoodintohisownprivateoffice，lookedthedoors，andbeathimupfrightfully——allofwhichcameoutbeforetheBoardofDirectors。

Butthatwasafterward。Inthemeantime，evenwhilehetookhisbeating，Winwoodsworebythetruthofwhathehadtold。

WhatwasCaptainJamietodo？Hewasconvincedthatthirty-fivepoundsofdynamitewerelooseintheprisonandthatfortydesperateliferswerereadyforabreak。Oh，hehadSummerfaceinonthecarpet，and，althoughSummerfaceinsistedthepackagecontainedtobacco，Winwoodsworeitwasdynamiteandwasbelieved。

AtthisstageIenteror，rather，Idepart，fortheytookmeawayoutofthesunshineandthelightofdaytothedungeons，andinthedungeonsandinthesolitarycells，outofthesunshineandthelightofday，Irottedforfiveyears。

Iwaspuzzled。Ihadonlyjustbeenreleasedfromthedungeons，andwaslyingpain-rackedinmycustomarycell，whentheytookmebacktothedungeon。

"Now，"saidWinwoodtoCaptainJamie，"thoughwedon’tknowwhereitis，thedynamiteissafe。Standingistheonlymanwhodoesknow，andhecan’tpassthewordoutfromthedungeon。Themenarereadytomakethebreak。Wecancatchthemred-handed。Itisuptometosetthetime。I’lltellthemtwoo’clockto-nightandtellthemthat，withtheguardsdoped，I’llunlocktheircellsandgivethemtheirautomatics。If，attwoo’clockto-night，youdon’tcatchthefortyIshallnamewiththeirclothesonandwideawake，then，Captain，youcangivemesolitaryfortherestofmysentence。AndwithStandingandthefortytightinthedungeons，we’llhaveallthetimeintheworldtolocatethedynamite。"

"Ifwehavetoteartheprisondownstonebystone，"CaptainJamieaddedvaliantly。

Thatwassixyearsago。Inalltheinterveningtimetheyhaveneverfoundthatnon-existentexplosive，andtheyhaveturnedtheprisonupside-downathousandtimesinsearchingforit。Nevertheless，tohislastdayinofficeWardenAthertonbelievedintheexistenceofthatdynamite。CaptainJamie，whoisstillCaptainoftheYard，believestothisdaythatthedynamiteissomewhereintheprison。

Onlyyesterday，hecameallthewayupfromSanQuentintoFolsomtomakeonemoreefforttogetmetorevealthehiding-place。Iknowhewillneverbreatheeasyuntiltheyswingmeoff。

CHAPTERIII

AllthatdayIlayinthedungeoncudgellingmybrainsforthereasonofthisnewandinexplicablepunishment。AllIcouldconcludewasthatsomestoolhadliedaninfractionoftherulesonmeinordertocurryfavourwiththeguards。

MeanwhileCaptainJamiefrettedhisheadoffandpreparedforthenight，whileWinwoodpassedthewordalongtothefortyliferstobereadyforthebreak。Andtwohoursaftermidnighteveryguardintheprisonwasunderorders。Thisincludedtheday-shiftwhichshouldhavebeenasleep。Whentwoo’clockcame，theyrushedthecellsoccupiedbytheforty。Therushwassimultaneous。Thecellswereopenedatthesamemoment，andwithoutexceptionthemennamedbyWinwoodwerefoundoutoftheirbunks，fullydressed，andcrouchingjustinsidetheirdoors。Ofcourse，thiswasverificationabsoluteofallthefabricofliesthatthepoet-forgerhadspunforCaptainJamie。Thefortyliferswerecaughtinred-handedreadinessforthebreak。Whatiftheydidunite，afterward，inaverringthatthebreakhadbeenplannedbyWinwood？ThePrisonBoardofDirectorsbelieved，toaman，thatthefortyliedinanefforttosavethemselves。TheBoardofPardonslikewisebelieved，for，erethreemonthswereup，CecilWinwood，forgerandpoet，mostdespicableofmen，waspardonedout。

Oh，well，thestir，orthepen，astheycallitinconvictargot，isatrainingschoolforphilosophy。Noinmatecansurviveyearsofitwithouthavinghadburstforhimhisfondestillusionsandfairestmetaphysicalbubbles。Truthlives，wearetaught；murderwillout。

Well，thisisademonstrationthatmurderdoesnotalwayscomeout。

TheCaptainoftheYard，thelateWardenAtherton，thePrisonBoardofDirectorstoaman——allbelieve，rightnow，intheexistenceofthatdynamitethatneverexistedsaveintheslippery-gearedandalltoo-acceleratedbrainofthedegenerateforgerandpoet，CecilWinwood。AndCecilWinwoodstilllives，whileI，ofallmenconcerned，theutterest，absolutist，innocentest，gotothescaffoldinafewshortweeks。

AndnowImusttellhowenteredthefortylifersuponmydungeonstillness。Iwasasleepwhentheouterdoortothecorridorofdungeonsclangedopenandarousedme。"Somepoordevil，"wasmythought；andmynextthoughtwasthathewassurelygettinghis，asIlistenedtothescufflingoffeet，thedullimpactofblowsonflesh，thesuddencriesofpain，thefilthofcurses，andthesoundsofdraggingbodies。For，yousee，everymanwasman-handledallthelengthoftheway。

Dungeon-doorafterdungeon-doorclangedopen，andbodyafterbodywasthrustin，flungin，ordraggedin。Andcontinuallymoregroupsofguardsarrivedwithmorebeatenconvictswhostillwerebeingbeaten，andmoredungeon-doorswereopenedtoreceivethebleedingframesofmenwhowereguiltyofyearningafterfreedom。

Yes，asIlookbackuponit，amanmustbegreatlyaphilosophertosurvivethecontinualimpactofsuchbrutishexperiencesthroughtheyearsandyears。Iamsuchaphilosopher。Ihaveenduredeightyearsoftheirtorment，andnow，intheend，failingtogetridofmeinallotherways，theyhaveinvokedthemachineryofstatetoputaropearoundmyneckandshutoffmybreathbytheweightofmybody。Oh，Iknowhowtheexpertsgiveexpertjudgmentthatthefallthroughthetrapbreaksthevictim’sneck。Andthevictims，likeShakespeare’straveller，neverreturntotestifytothecontrary。

Butwewhohavelivedinthestirknowofthecasesthatarehushedintheprisoncrypts，wherethevictim’snecksarenotbroken。

Itisafunnything，thishangingofaman。Ihaveneverseenahanging，butIhavebeentoldbyeye-witnessesthedetailsofadozenhangingssothatIknowwhatwillhappentome。Standingonthetrap，leg-manacledandarm-manacled，theknotagainsttheneck，theblackcapdrawn，theywilldropmedownuntilthemomentumofmydescendingweightisfetchedupabruptlyshortbythetauteningoftherope。Thenthedoctorswillgrouparoundme，andonewillrelieveanotherinsuccessiveturnsinstandingonastool，hisarmspassedaroundmetokeepmefromswinginglikeapendulum，hisearpressedclosetomychest，whilehecountsmyfadingheart-beats。

Sometimestwentyminuteselapseafterthetrapissprungeretheheartstopsbeating。Oh，trustme，theymakemostscientificallysurethatamanisdeadoncetheygethimonarope。

Istillwanderasidefrommynarrativetoaskaquestionortwoofsociety。Ihavearightsotowanderandsotoquestion，forinalittlewhiletheyaregoingtotakemeoutanddothisthingtome。

Iftheneckofthevictimbebrokenbytheallegedshrewdarrangementofknotandnoose，andbytheallegedshrewdcalculationoftheweightofthevictimandthelengthofslack，thenwhydotheymanaclethearmsofthevictim？Society，asawhole，isunabletoanswerthisquestion。ButIknowwhy；sodoesanyamateurwhoeverengagedinalynchingbeeandsawthevictimthrowuphishands，clutchtherope，andeasethethrottleofthenooseabouthisnecksothathemightbreathe。

AnotherquestionIwillaskofthesmug，cotton-wooledmemberofsociety，whosesoulhasneverstrayedtotheredhells。Whydotheyputtheblackcapovertheheadandthefaceofthevictimeretheydrophimthroughthetrap？Pleaserememberthatinashortwhiletheywillputthatblackcapovermyhead。SoIhavearighttoask。Dothey，yourhang-dogs，Osmugcitizen，dotheseyourhang-

dogsfeartogazeuponthefacialhorrorofthehorrortheyperpetrateforyouandoursandatyourbehest？

PleaserememberthatIamnotaskingthisquestioninthetwelve-

hundredthyearafterChrist，norinthetimeofChrist，norinthetwelve-hundredthyearbeforeChrist。I，whoamtobehangedthisyear，thenineteen-hundred-and-thirteenthafterChrist，askthesequestionsofyouwhoareassumablyChrist’sfollowers，ofyouwhosehang-dogsaregoingtotakemeoutandhidemyfaceunderablackclothbecausetheydarenotlookuponthehorrortheydotomewhileIyetlive。

Andnowbacktothesituationinthedungeons。Whenthelastguarddepartedandtheouterdoorclangedshut，allthefortybeaten，disappointedmenbegantotalkandaskquestions。But，almostimmediately，roaringlikeabullinordertobeheard，SkysailJack，agiantsailorofalifer，orderedsilencewhileacensuscouldbetaken。Thedungeonswerefull，anddungeonbydungeon，inorderofdungeons，shoutedoutitsquotatotheroll-call。Thus，everydungeonwasaccountedforasoccupiedbytrustedconvicts，sothattherewasnoopportunityforastooltobehiddenawayandlistening。

Ofme，only，weretheconvictsdubious，forIwastheonemanwhohadnotbeenintheplot。Theyputmethroughasearchingexamination。IcouldbuttellthemhowIhadjustemergedfromdungeonandjacketinthemorning，andwithoutrhymeorreason，sofarasIcoulddiscover，hadbeenputbackinthedungeonafterbeingoutonlyseveralhours。Myrecordasanincorrigiblewasinmyfavour，andsoontheybegantotalk。

AsIlaythereandlistened，forthefirsttimeIlearnedofthebreakthathadbeena-hatching。"Whohadsquealed？"wastheironequest，andthroughoutthenightthequestwaspursued。ThequestforCecilWinwoodwasvain，andthesuspicionagainsthimwasgeneral。

"There’sonlyonething，lads，"SkysailJackfinallysaid。"It’llsoonbemorning，andthenthey’lltakeusoutandgiveusbloodyhell。Wewerecaughtdeadtorightswithourclotheson。Winwoodcrossedusandsquealed。They’regoingtogetusoutonebyoneandmessusup。There’sfortyofus。Anylyin’sboundtobefoundout。

Soeachlad，whentheysweathim，justtellsthetruth，thewholetruth，sohelphimGod。"

Andthere，inthatdarkholeofman’sinhumanity，fromdungeoncelltodungeoncell，theirmouthsagainstthegratings，thetwo-scoreliferssolemnlypledgedthemselvesbeforeGodtotellthetruth。

Littlegooddidtheirtruth-tellingdothem。Atnineo’clocktheguards，paidbravoesofthesmugcitizenswhoconstitutethestate，fullofmeatandsleep，wereuponus。Notonlyhadwehadnobreakfast，butwehadhadnowater。Andbeatenmenarepronetofeverishness。Iwonder，myreader，ifyoucanglimpseorguessthefaintestconnotationofamanbeaten——"beatup，"weprisonerscallit。Butno，Ishallnottellyou。Letitsufficetoknowthatthesebeaten，feverishmenlaysevenhourswithoutwater。

Atninetheguardsarrived。Therewerenotmanyofthem。Therewasnoneedformany，becausetheyunlockedonlyonedungeonatatime。

Theywereequippedwithpick-handles——ahandytoolforthe"disciplining"ofahelplessman。Onedungeonatatime，anddungeonbydungeon，theymessedandpulpedthelifers。Theywereimpartial。Ireceivedthesamepulpingastherest。Andthiswasmerelythebeginning，thepreliminarytotheexaminationeachmanwastoundergoaloneinthepresenceofthepaidbrutesofthestate。Itwastheforecasttoeachmanofwhateachmanmightexpectininquisitionhall。

Ihavebeenthroughmostoftheredhellsofprisonlife，but，worstofall，farworsethanwhattheyintendtodowithmeinashortwhile，wastheparticularhellofthedungeonsinthedaysthatfollowed。

LongBillHodge，thehard-bittenmountaineer，wasthefirstmaninterrogated。Hecamebacktwohourslater——or，rather，theyconveyedhimback，andthrewhimonthestoneofhisdungeonfloor。

TheythentookawayLuigiPolazzo，aSanFranciscohoodlum，thefirstnativegenerationofItalianparentage，whojeeredandsneeredatthemandchallengedthemtowreaktheirworstuponhim。

ItwassometimebeforeLongBillHodgemasteredhispainsufficientlytobecoherent。

"Whataboutthisdynamite？"hedemanded。"Whoknowsanythingaboutdynamite？"

Andofcoursenobodyknew，althoughithadbeentheburdenoftheinterrogationputtohim。

LuigiPolazzocamebackinalittlelessthantwohours，andhecamebackawreckthatbabbledindeliriumandcouldgivenoanswertothequestionsshowereduponhimalongtheechoingcorridorofdungeonsbythemenwhowereyettogetwhathehadgot，andwhodesiredgreatlytoknowwhatthingshadbeendonetohimandwhatinterrogationshadbeenputtohim。

Twiceagaininthenextforty-eighthoursLuigiwastakenoutandinterrogated。Afterthat，agibberingimbecile，hewenttoliveinBughouseAlley。Hehasastrongconstitution。Hisshouldersarebroad，hisnostrilswide，hischestisdeep，hisbloodispure；hewillcontinuetogibberinBughouseAlleylongafterIhaveswungoffandescapedthetormentofthepenitentiariesofCalifornia。

Manaftermanwastakenaway，oneatatime，andthewrecksofmenwerebroughtback，onebyone，toraveandhowlinthedarkness。

AndasIlaythereandlistenedtothemoaningandthegroaning，andalltheidlechatteringofpain-addledwits，somehow，vaguelyreminiscent，itseemedtomethatsomewhere，sometime，Ihadsatinahighplace，callousandproud，andlistenedtoasimilarchorusofmoaningandgroaning。Afterwards，asyoushalllearn，Iidentifiedthisreminiscenceandknewthatthemoaningandthegroaningwasofthesweep-slavesmanacledtotheirbenches，whichIheardfromabove，onthepoop，asoldierpassengeronagalleyofoldRome。

ThatwaswhenIsailedforAlexandria，acaptainofmen，onmywaytoJerusalem……butthatisastoryIshalltellyoulater。Inthemeanwhile……

CHAPTERIV

Inthemeanwhileobtainedthehorrorofthedungeons，afterthediscoveryoftheplottobreakprison。Andnever，duringthoseeternalhoursofwaiting，wasitabsentfrommyconsciousnessthatI

shouldfollowtheseotherconvictsout，endurethehellsofinquisitiontheyendured，andbebroughtbackawreckandflungonthestonefloorofmystone-walled，iron-dooreddungeon。

Theycameforme。Ungraciouslyandungently，withblowandcurse，theyhaledmeforth，andIfacedCaptainJamieandWardenAtherton，themselvesarrayedwiththestrengthofhalfadozenstate-bought，tax-paidbrutesofguardswholingeredintheroomtodoanybidding。Buttheywerenotneeded。

"Sitdown，"saidWardenAtherton，indicatingastoutarm-chair。

I，beatenandsore，withoutwaterforanightlongandadaylong，faintwithhunger，weakfromabeatingthathadbeenaddedtofivedaysinthedungeonandeightyhoursinthejacket，oppressedbythecalamityofhumanfate，apprehensiveofwhatwastohappentomefromwhatIhadseenhappentotheothers——I，awaveringwaifofahumanmanandanerstwhileprofessorofagronomyinaquietcollegetown，Ihesitatedtoaccepttheinvitationtositdown。

WardenAthertonwasalargemanandaverypowerfulman。Hishandsflashedouttoagriponmyshoulders。Iwasastrawinhisstrength。Heliftedmeclearofthefloorandcrashedmedowninthechair。

"Now，"hesaid，whileIgaspedandswallowedmypain，"tellmeallaboutit，Standing。Spititout——allofit，ifyouknowwhat’shealthyforyou。"

"Idon’tknowanythingaboutwhathashappened……"，Ibegan。

ThatwasasfarasIgot。Withagrowlandaleaphewasuponme。

Againheliftedmeintheairandcrashedmedownintothechair。

"Nononsense，Standing，"hewarned。"Makeacleanbreastofit。

Whereisthedynamite？"

"Idon’tknowanythingofanydynamite，"Iprotested。

OnceagainIwasliftedandsmashedbackintothechair。

Ihaveenduredtorturesofvarioussorts，butwhenIreflectupontheminthequietnessofthesemylastdays，Iamconfidentthatnoothertorturewasquitetheequalofthatchairtorture。Bymybodythatstoutchairwasbatteredoutofanysemblanceofachair。

Anotherchairwasbrought，andintimethatchairwasdemolished。

Butmorechairswerebrought，andtheeternalquestioningaboutthedynamitewenton。

WhenWardenAthertongrewtired，CaptainJamierelievedhim；andthentheguardMonohantookCaptainJamie’splaceinsmashingmedownintothechair。Andalwaysitwasdynamite，dynamite，"Whereisthedynamite？"andtherewasnodynamite。Why，towardthelastI

wouldhavegivenalargeportionofmyimmortalsoulforafewpoundsofdynamitetowhichIcouldconfess。

Idonotknowhowmanychairswerebrokenbymybody。Ifaintedtimeswithoutnumber，andtowardthelastthewholethingbecamenightmarish。Iwashalf-carried，half-shovedanddraggedbacktothedark。There，whenIbecameconscious，Ifoundastoolinmydungeon。Hewasapallid-faced，littledope-fiendofashort-timerwhowoulddoanythingtoobtainthedrug。AssoonasIrecognizedhimIcrawledtothegratingandshoutedoutalongthecorridor:

"Thereisastoolinwithme，fellows！He’sIgnatiusIrvine！Watchoutwhatyousay！"

TheoutburstofimprecationsthatwentupwouldhaveshakenthefortitudeofabravermanthanIgnatiusIrvine。Hewaspitifulinhisterror，whileallabouthim，roaringlikebeasts，thepain-

rackedliferstoldhimwhatawfulthingstheywoulddotohimintheyearsthatweretocome。

Hadtherebeensecrets，thepresenceofastoolinthedungeonswouldhavekeptthemenquiet，Asitwas，havingallsworntotellthetruth，theytalkedopenlybeforeIgnatiusIrvine。Theonegreatpuzzlewasthedynamite，ofwhichtheywereasmuchinthedarkaswasI。Theyappealedtome。IfIknewanythingaboutthedynamitetheybeggedmetoconfessitandsavethemallfromfurthermisery。

AndIcouldtellthemonlythetruth，thatIknewofnodynamite。

Onethingthestooltoldme，beforetheguardsremovedhim，showedhowseriouswasthismatterofthedynamite。Ofcourse，Ipassedthewordalong，whichwasthatnotawheelhadturnedintheprisonallday。Thethousandsofconvict-workershadremainedlockedintheircells，andtheoutlookwasthatnotoneofthevariousprison-

factorieswouldbeoperatedagainuntilafterthediscoveryofsomedynamitethatsomebodyhadhiddensomewhereintheprison。

Andevertheexaminationwenton。Ever，oneatatime，convictsweredraggedawayanddraggedorcarriedbackagain。TheyreportedthatWardenAthertonandCaptainJamie，exhaustedbytheirefforts，relievedeachothereverytwohours。Whileoneslept，theotherexamined。Andtheysleptintheirclothesintheveryroominwhichstrongmanafterstrongmanwasbeingbroken。

Andhourbyhour，inthedarkdungeons，ourmadnessoftormentgrew。

Oh，trustmeasonewhoknows，hangingisaneasythingcomparedwiththewaylivemenmaybehurtinallthelifeofthemandstilllive。I，too，sufferedequallywiththemfrompainandthirst；butaddedtomysufferingwasthefactthatIremainedconscioustothesufferingsoftheothers。Ihadbeenanincorrigiblefortwoyears，andmynervesandbrainwerehardenedtosuffering。Itisafrightfulthingtoseeastrongmanbroken。Aboutme，attheonetime，werefortystrongmenbeingbroken。Everthecryforwaterwentup，andtheplacebecamelunaticwiththecrying，sobbing，babblingandravingofmenindelirium。

Don’tyousee？Ourtruth，theverytruthwetold，wasourdamnation。Whenfortymentoldthesamethingswithsuchunanimity，WardenAthertonandCaptainJamiecouldonlyconcludethatthetestimonywasamemorizedliewhicheachofthefortyrattledoffparrot-like。

Fromthestandpointoftheauthorities，theirsituationwasasdesperateasours。AsIlearnedafterward，theBoardofPrisonDirectorshadbeensummonedbytelegraph，andtwocompaniesofstatemilitiawerebeingrushedtotheprison。

Itwaswinterweather，andthefrostissometimesshrewdeveninaCaliforniawinter。Wehadnoblanketsinthedungeons。Pleaseknowthatitisverycoldtostretchbruisedhumanfleshonfrostystone。

Intheendtheydidgiveuswater。Jeeringandcursingus，theguardsraninthefire-hosesandplayedthefiercestreamsonus，dungeonbydungeon，hourafterhour，untilourbruisedfleshwasbatteredallanewbytheviolencewithwhichthewatersmoteus，untilwestoodknee-deepinthewaterwhichwehadravedforandforwhichnowweravedtocease。

Ishallskiptherestofwhathappenedinthedungeons。InpassingIshallmerelystatethatnooneofthosefortyliferswaseverthesameagain。LuigiPolazzoneverrecoveredhisreason。LongBillHodgeslowlylosthissanity，sothatayearlater，he，too，wenttoliveinBughouseAlley。Oh，andothersfollowedHodgeandPolazzo；

andothers，whosephysicalstaminahadbeenimpaired，fellvictimstoprison-tuberculosis。Fully25percent。ofthefortyhavediedinthesucceedingsixyears。

Aftermyfiveyearsinsolitary，whentheytookmeawayfromSanQuentinformytrial，IsawSkysailJack。Icouldseelittle，forI

wasblinkinginthesunshinelikeabat，afterfiveyearsofdarkness；yetIsawenoughofSkysailJacktopainmyheart。ItwasincrossingthePrisonYardthatIsawhim。Hishairhadturnedwhite。Hewasprematurelyold。Hischesthadcavedin。Hischeeksweresunken。Hishandsshookaswithpalsy。Hetotteredashewalked。Andhiseyesblurredwithtearsasherecognizedme，forI，too，wasasadwreckofwhathadoncebeenaman。Iweighedeighty-

sevenpounds。Myhair，streakedwithgray，wasafive-years’

growth，asweremybeardandmoustache。AndI，too，totteredasI

walked，sothattheguardshelpedtoleadmeacrossthatsun-

blindingpatchofyard。AndSkysailJackandIpeeredandkneweachotherunderthewreckage。

Mensuchasheareprivileged，eveninaprison，sothathedaredaninfractionoftherulesbyspeakingtomeinacrackedandquaveringvoice。

"You’reagoodone，Standing，"hecackled。"Youneversquealed。"

"ButIneverknew，Jack，"Iwhisperedback——Iwascompelledtowhisper，forfiveyearsofdisusehadwell-nighlostmemyvoice。

"Idon’tthinkthereeverwasanydynamite。"

"That’sright，"hecackled，noddinghisheadchildishly。"Stickwithit。Don’teverlet’mknow。You’reagoodone。Itakemyhatofftoyou，Standing。Youneversquealed。"

Andtheguardsledmeon，andthatwasthelastIsawofSkysailJack。Itwasplainthatevenhehadbecomeabelieverinthedynamitemyth。

TwicetheyhadmebeforethefullBoardofDirectors。Iwasalternatelybulliedandcajoled。Theirattituderesolveditselfintotwopropositions。IfIdeliveredupthedynamite，theywouldgivemeanominalpunishmentofthirtydaysinthedungeonandthenmakemeatrustyintheprisonlibrary。IfIpersistedinmystubbornnessanddidnotyieldupthedynamite，thentheywouldputmeinsolitaryfortherestofmysentence。Inmycase，beingalifeprisoner，thiswastantamounttocondemningmetosolitaryconfinementforlife。

Oh，no；Californiaiscivilized。Thereisnosuchlawonthestatutebooks。Itisacruelandunusualpunishment，andnomodernstatewouldbeguiltyofsuchalaw。Nevertheless，inthehistoryofCaliforniaIamthethirdmanwhohasbeencondemnedforlifetosolitaryconfinement。TheothertwowereJakeOppenheimerandEdMorrell。Ishalltellyouaboutthemsoon，forIrottedwiththemforyearsinthecellsofsilence。

Oh，anotherthing。Theyaregoingtotakemeoutandhangmeinalittlewhile——no，notforkillingProfessorHaskell。Igotlife-

imprisonmentforthat。TheyaregoingtotakemeoutandhangmebecauseIwasfoundguiltyofassaultandbattery。Andthisisnotprisondiscipline。Itislaw，andaslawitwillbefoundinthecriminalstatutes。

IbelieveImadeaman’snosebleed。Ineversawitbleed，butthatwastheevidence。Thurston，hisnamewas。HewasaguardatSanQuentin。Heweighedonehundredandseventypoundsandwasingoodhealth。Iweighedunderninetypounds，wasblindasabatfromthelongdarkness，andhadbeensolongpentinnarrowwallsthatIwasmadedizzybylargeopenspaces。Really，mimewasawell-definedcaseofincipientagoraphobia，asIquicklylearnedthatdayI

escapedfromsolitaryandpunchedtheguardThurstononthenose。

Istruckhimonthenoseandmadeitbleedwhenhegotinmywayandtriedtocatchholdofme。Andsotheyaregoingtohangme。ItisthewrittenlawoftheStateofCaliforniathatalife-timerlikemeisguiltyofacapitalcrimewhenhestrikesaprisonguardlikeThurston。Surely，hecouldnothavebeeninconveniencedmorethanhalfanhourbythatbleedingnose；andyettheyaregoingtohangmeforit。

And，see！Thislaw，inmycase，isEXPOSTFACTO。ItwasnotalawatthetimeIkilledProfessorHaskell。ItwasnotpasseduntilafterIreceivedmylife-sentence。Andthisistheverypoint:mylife-sentencegavememystatusunderthislawwhichhadnotyetbeenwrittenonthebooks。Anditisbecauseofmystatusoflife-

timerthatIamtobehangedforbatterycommittedontheguardThurston。ItisclearlyEXPOSTFACTO，and，therefore，unconstitutional。

ButwhatbearinghastheConstitutiononconstitutionallawyerswhentheywanttoputthenotoriousProfessorDarrellStandingoutoftheway？NordoIevenestablishtheprecedentwithmyexecution。A

yearago，aseverybodywhoreadsthenewspapersknows，theyhangedJakeOppenheimer，righthereinFolsom，forapreciselysimilaroffence……only，inhiscaseofbattery，hewasnotguiltyofmakingaguard’snosebleed。Hecutaconvictunintentionallywithabread-knife。

Itisstrange——lifeandmen’swaysandlawsandtangledpaths。IamwritingtheselinesintheverycellinMurderers’RowthatJakeOppenheimeroccupiederetheytookhimoutanddidtohimwhattheyaregoingtodotome。

IwarnedyouIhadmanythingstowriteabout。Ishallnowreturntomynarrative。TheBoardofPrisonDirectorsgavememychoice:

aprisontrustyshipandsurceasefromthejute-loomsifIgaveupthenon-existentdynamite；lifeimprisonmentinsolitaryifI

refusedtogiveupthenon-existentdynamite。

Theygavemetwenty-fourhoursinthejackettothinkitover。ThenIwasbroughtbeforetheBoardasecondtime。WhatcouldIdo？I

couldnotleadthemtothedynamitethatwasnot。Itoldthemso，andtheytoldmeIwasaliar。TheytoldmeIwasahardcase，adangerousman，amoraldegenerate，thecriminalofthecentury。

Theytoldmemanyotherthings，andthentheycarriedmeawaytothesolitarycells。IwasputintoNumberOnecell。InNumberFivelayEdMorrell。InNumberTwelvelayJakeOppenheimer。Andhehadbeentherefortenyears。EdMorrellhadbeeninhiscellonlyoneyear。

Hewasservingafifty-years’sentence。JakeOppenheimerwasalifer。AndsowasIalifer。Whereforetheoutlookwasthatthethreeofuswouldremainthereforalongtime。Andyet，sixyearsonlyarepast，andnotoneofusisinsolitary。JakeOppenheimerwasswungoff。EdMorrellwasmadeheadtrustyofSanQuentinandthenpardonedoutonlytheotherday。AndhereIaminFolsomwaitingthedaydulysetbyJudgeMorgan，whichwillbemylastday。

Thefools！Asiftheycouldthrottlemyimmortalitywiththeirclumsydeviceofropeandscaffold！Ishallwalk，andwalkagain，oh，countlesstimes，thisfairearth。AndIshallwalkintheflesh，beprinceandpeasant，savantandfool，sitinthehighplaceandgroanunderthewheel。

CHAPTERV

Itwasverylonely，atfirst，insolitary，andthehourswerelong。

Timewasmarkedbytheregularchangingoftheguards，andbythealternationofdayandnight。Daywasonlyalittlelight，butitwasbetterthantheall-darkofthenight。Insolitarythedaywasanooze，aslimyseepageoflightfromthebrightouterworld。

Neverwasthelightstrongenoughtoreadby。Besides，therewasnothingtoread。Onecouldonlylieandthinkandthink。AndIwasalifer，anditseemedcertain，ifIdidnotdoamiracle，makethirty-fivepoundsofdynamiteoutofnothing，thatalltheyearsofmylifewouldbespentinthesilentdark。

Mybedwasathinandrottentickofstrawspreadonthecellfloor。

Onethinandfilthyblanketconstitutedthecovering。Therewasnochair，notable——nothingbutthetickofstrawandthethin，agedblanket。Iwaseverashortsleeperandeverabusy-brainedman。

Insolitaryonegrowssickofoneselfinhisthoughts，andtheonlywaytoescapeoneselfistosleep。ForyearsIhadaveragedfivehours’sleepanight。Inowcultivatedsleep。Imadeascienceofit。Ibecameabletosleeptenhours，thentwelvehours，and，atlast，ashighasfourteenandfifteenhoursoutofthetwenty-four。

ButbeyondthatIcouldnotgo，and，perforce，wascompelledtolieawakeandthinkandthink。Andthatway，foranactive-brainedman，laymadness。

Isoughtdevicestoenablememechanicallytoabidemywakinghours。

Isquaredandcubedlongseriesofnumbers，andbyconcentrationandwillcarriedonmostastonishinggeometricprogressions。Ievendalliedwiththesquaringofthecircle……untilIfoundmyselfbeginningtobelievethatthatpossibilitycouldbeaccomplished。

Whereupon，realizingthatthere，too，laymadness，Iforwentthesquaringofthecircle，althoughIassureyouitrequiredaconsiderablesacrificeonmypart，forthementalexerciseinvolvedwasasplendidtime-killer。

BysheervisualizationundermyeyelidsIconstructedchess-boardsandplayedbothsidesoflonggamesthroughtocheckmate。ButwhenIhadbecomeexpertatthisvisualizedgameofmemorytheexercisepalledonme。Exerciseitwas，fortherecouldbenorealcontestwhenthesameplayerplayedbothsides。Itried，andtriedvainly，tosplitmypersonalityintotwopersonalitiesandtopitoneagainsttheother。ButeverIremainedtheoneplayer，withnoplannedruseorstrategyononesidethattheothersidedidnotimmediatelyapprehend。

Andtimewasveryheavyandverylong。Iplayedgameswithflies，withordinaryhousefliesthatoozedintosolitaryasdidthedimgraylight；andlearnedthattheypossessedasenseofplay。Forinstance，lyingonthecellfloor，Iestablishedanarbitraryandimaginarylinealongthewallsomethreefeetabovethefloor。Whentheyrestedonthewallabovethislinetheywereleftinpeace。

TheinstanttheylightedonthewallbelowthelineItriedtocatchthem。Iwascarefulnevertohurtthem，and，intime，theyknewaspreciselyasdidIwhererantheimaginaryline。Whentheydesiredtoplay，theylightedbelowtheline，andoftenforanhouratatimeasingleflywouldengageinthesport。Whenitgrewtired，itwouldcometorestonthesafeterritoryabove。

Ofthedozenormorefliesthatlivedwithme，therewasonlyonewhodidnotcareforthegame。Herefusedsteadfastlytoplay，and，havinglearnedthepenaltyofalightingbelowtheline，verycarefullyavoidedtheunsafeterritory。Thatflywasasullen，disgruntledcreature。Astheconvictswouldsay，ithada"grouch"

againsttheworld。Heneverplayedwiththeotherflieseither。Hewasstrongandhealthy，too；forIstudiedhimlongtofindout。

Hisindispositionforplaywastemperamental，notphysical。

Believeme，Iknewallmyflies。ItwassurprisingtomethemultitudeofdifferencesIdistinguishedbetweenthem。Oh，eachwasdistinctlyanindividual——notmerelyinsizeandmarkings，strength，andspeedofflight，andinthemannerandfancyofflightandplay，ofdodgeanddart，ofwheelandswiftlyrepeatorwheelandreverse，oftouchandgoonthedangerwall，oroffeintthetouchandalightelsewherewithinthezone。Theywerelikewisesharplydifferentiatedintheminutestshadesofmentalityandtemperament。

Iknewthenervousones，thephlegmaticones。Therewasalittleundersizedonethatwouldflyintorealrages，sometimeswithme，sometimeswithitsfellows。Haveyoueverseenacoltoracalfthrowupitsheelsanddashmadlyaboutthepasturefromsheerexcessofvitalityandspirits？Well，therewasonefly——thekeenestplayerofthemall，bytheway——who，whenithadalightedthreeorfourtimesinrapidsuccessiononmytaboowallandsucceededeachtimeineludingthevelvet-carefulswoopofmyhand，wouldgrowsoexcitedandjubilantthatitwoulddartaroundandaroundmyheadattopspeed，wheeling，veering，reversing，andalwayskeepingwithinthelimitsofthenarrowcircleinwhichitcelebrateditstriumphoverme。

Why，Icouldtellwellinadvancewhenanyparticularflywasmakingupitsmindtobegintoplay。ThereareathousanddetailsinthisonematteralonethatIshallnotboreyouwith，althoughthesedetailsdidservetokeepmefrombeingboredtooutterlyduringthatfirstperiodinsolitary。ButonethingImusttellyou。Tomeitismostmemorable——thetimewhentheonewithagrouch，whoneverplayed，alightedinamomentofabsent-mindednesswithinthetabooprecinctandwasimmediatelycapturedinmyhand。Doyouknow，hesulkedforanhourafterward。

Andthehourswereverylonginsolitary；norcouldIsleepthemallaway；norcouldIwhilethemawaywithhouse-flies，nomatterhowintelligent。Forhouse-fliesarehouse-flies，andIwasaman，withaman’sbrain；andmybrainwastrainedandactive，stuffedwithcultureandscience，andalwaysgearedtoahightensionofeagernesstodo。Andtherewasnothingtodo，andmythoughtsranabominablyoninvainspeculations。Therewasmypentoseandmethyl-pentosedeterminationingrapesandwinestowhichIhaddevotedmylastsummervacationattheAstiVineyards。Ihadallbutcompletedtheseriesofexperiments。Wasanybodyelsegoingonwithit，Iwondered；andifso，withwhatsuccess？

Yousee，theworldwasdeadtome。Nonewsofitfilteredin。Thehistoryofsciencewasmakingfast，andIwasinterestedinathousandsubjects。Why，therewasmytheoryofthehydrolysisofcaseinbytrypsin，whichProfessorWaltershadbeencarryingoutinhislaboratory。Also，ProfessorSchleimerhadsimilarlybeencollaboratingwithmeinthedetectionofphytosterolinmixturesofanimalandvegetablefats。Theworksurelywasgoingon，butwithwhatresults？TheverythoughtofallthisactivityjustbeyondtheprisonwallsandinwhichIcouldtakenopart，ofwhichIwasnevereventohear，wasmaddening。AndinthemeantimeIlaythereonmycellfloorandplayedgameswithhouse-flies。

Andyetallwasnotsilenceinsolitary。EarlyinmyconfinementI

usedtohear，atirregularintervals，faint，lowtappings。FromfartherawayIalsoheardfainterandlowertappings。Continuallythesetappingswereinterruptedbythesnarlingoftheguard。Onoccasion，whenthetappingwentontoopersistently，extraguardsweresummoned，andIknewbythesoundsthatmenwerebeingstrait-

jacketed。

Thematterwaseasyofexplanation。Ihadknown，aseveryprisonerinSanQuentinknew，thatthetwomeninsolitarywereEdMorrellandJakeOppenheimer。AndIknewthatthesewerethetwomenwhotappedknuckle-talktoeachotherandwerepunishedforsodoing。

ThatthecodetheyusedwassimpleIhadnottheslightestdoubt，yetIdevotedmanyhourstoavainefforttoworkitout。Heavenknows——ithadtobesimple，yetIcouldnotmakeheadnortailofit。Andsimpleitprovedtobe，whenIlearnedit；andsimplestofallprovedthetricktheyemployedwhichhadsobaffledme。Notonlyeachdaydidtheychangethepointinthealphabetwherethecodeinitialled，buttheychangediteveryconversation，and，often，inthemidstofaconversation。

Thus，therecameadaywhenIcaughtthecodeattherightinitial，listenedtotwoclearsentencesofconversation，and，thenexttimetheytalked，failedtounderstandaword。Butthatfirsttime！

"Say——Ed——what——would——you——give——right——now——for——brown——papers——

and——a——sack——of——Bull——Durham！"askedtheonewhotappedfromfartheraway。

Inearlycriedoutinmyjoy。Herewascommunication！Herewascompanionship！Ilistenedeagerly，andthenearertapping，whichI

guessedmustbeEdMorrell’s，replied:

"I——would——do——twenty——hours——strait——in——the——jacket——for——a——five——

cent——sack——"

Thencamethesnarlinginterruptionoftheguard:"Cutthatout，Morrell！"

Itmaybethoughtbythelaymanthattheworsthasbeendonetomensentencedtosolitaryforlife，andthereforethatamereguardhasnowayofcompellingobediencetohisordertoceasetapping。

Butthejacketremains。Starvationremains。Thirstremains。Man-

handlingremains。Truly，amanpentinanarrowcellisveryhelpless。

Sothetappingceased，andthatnight，whenitwasnextresumed，I

wasallatseaagain。Bypre-arrangementtheyhadchangedtheinitialletterofthecode。ButIhadcaughttheclue，and，inthematterofseveraldays，occurredagainthesameinitialmentIhadunderstood。Ididnotwaitoncourtesy。

"Hello，"Itapped"Hello，stranger，"Morrelltappedback；and，fromOppenheimer，"Welcometoourcity。"

TheywerecurioustoknowwhoIwas，howlongIwascondemnedtosolitary，andwhyIhadbeensocondemned。ButallthisIputtothesideinorderfirsttolearntheirsystemofchangingthecodeinitial。AfterIhadthisclear，wetalked。Itwasagreatday，forthetwolifershadbecomethree，althoughtheyacceptedmeonlyonprobation。Astheytoldmelongafter，theyfearedImightbeastoolplacedtheretoworkaframe-uponthem。Ithadbeendonebefore，toOppenheimer，andhehadpaiddearlyfortheconfidencehereposedinWardenAtherton’stool。