Ho-ho——answermethat!\"
Theshockthatwentthroughmewasdistressing.Inowbegantoreasonthatmysituationwasinthelastdegreeserious,dreamornodream;forIknewbypastexperienceofthelifelikeintensityofdreams,thattobeburnedtodeath,eveninadream,wouldbeveryfarfrombeingajest,andwasathingtobeavoided,byanymeans,fairorfoul,thatIcouldcontrive.SoIsaidbeseechingly:
\"Ah,Clarence,goodboy,onlyfriendI\'vegot,——foryouAREmyfriend,aren\'tyou?——don\'tfailme;helpmetodevisesomewayofescapingfromthisplace!\"
\"Nowdobuthearthyself!Escape?Why,man,thecorridorsareinguardandkeepofmen-at-arms.\"
\"Nodoubt,nodoubt.Buthowmany,Clarence?Notmany,Ihope?\"