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；bI
wasthedogthathadbeengivenabadname:cforhisframe-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。