Tomysurprise——yes，tomyelationbeitsaid——bothmyfellow-
prisonersknewmethroughmyrecordasanincorrigible。EvenintothelivinggraveOppenheimerhadoccupiedfortenyearshadmyfame，ornotoriety，rather，penetrated。
Ihadmuchtotellthemofprisonhappeningsandoftheoutsideworld。Theconspiracytoescapeofthefortylifers，thesearchfortheallegeddynamite，andallthetreacherousframe-upofCecilWinwoodwasnewstothem。Astheytoldme，newsdidoccasionallydribbleintosolitarybywayoftheguards，buttheyhadhadnothingforacoupleofmonths。Thepresentguardsondutyinsolitarywereaparticularlybadandvindictiveset。
Againandagainthatdaywewerecursedforourknuckletalkingbywhateverguardwason。Butwecouldnotrefrain。Thetwoofthelivingdeadhadbecomethree，andwehadsomuchtosay，whilethemannerofsayingitwasexasperatinglyslowandIwasnotsoproficientastheyattheknucklegame。
\"WaittillPie-Facecomesonto-night，\"Morrellrappedtome。\"Hesleepsmostofhiswatch，andwecantalkastreak。\"
Howwedidtalkthatnight！Sleepwasfarthestfromoureyes。Pie-
FaceJoneswasameanandbitterman，despitehisfatness；butweblessedthatfatnessbecauseitpersuadedtostolensnatchesofslumber。Neverthelessourincessanttappingbotheredhissleepandirritatedhimsothathereprimandedusrepeatedly。Andbytheothernightguardswewereroundlycursed。Inthemorningallreportedmuchtappingduringthenight，andwepaidforourlittleholiday；for，atnine，cameCaptainJamiewithseveralguardstolaceusintothetormentofthejacket。Untilninethefollowingmorning，fortwenty-fourstraighthours，lacedandhelplessonthefloor，withoutfoodorwater，wepaidthepriceforspeech。
Oh，ourguardswerebrutes！Andundertheirtreatmentwehadtohardentobrutesinordertolive。Hardworkmakescallousedhands。
Hardguardsmakehardprisoners。Wecontinuedtotalk，and，onoccasion，tobejacketedforpunishment。Nightwasthebesttime，and，whensubstituteguardschancedtobeon，weoftentalkedthroughawholeshift。
Nightanddaywereonewithuswholivedinthedark。Wecouldsleepanytime，wecouldknuckle-talkonlyonoccasion。Wetoldoneanothermuchofthehistoryofourlives，andforlonghoursMorrellandIhavelainsilently，whilesteadily，withfaint，fartaps，Oppenheimerslowlyspelledouthislife-story，fromtheearlyyearsinaSanFranciscoslum，throughhisgang-training，throughhisinitiationintoallthatwasvicious，whenasaladoffourteenheservedasnightmessengerintheredlightdistrict，throughhisfirstdetectedinfractionofthelaws，andonandonthroughtheftsandrobberiestothetreacheryofacomradeandtoredslayingsinsideprisonwalls。
TheycalledJakeOppenheimerthe\"HumanTiger。\"Somecubreportercoinedthephrasethatwilllongoutlivethemantowhomitwasapplied。AndyetIeverfoundinJakeOppenheimerallthecardinaltraitsofrighthumanness。Hewasfaithfulandloyal。Iknowofthetimeshehastakenpunishmentinpreferencetoinformingonacomrade。Hewasbrave。Hewaspatient。Hewascapableofself-
sacrifice——Icouldtellastoryofthis，butshallnottakethetime。Andjustice，withhim，wasapassion。Theprison-killingsdonebyhimweredueentirelytothisextremesenseofjustice。Andhehadasplendidmind。Alife-timeinprison，tenyearsofitinsolitary，hadnotdimmedhisbrain。
Morrell，everatruecomrade，toohadasplendidbrain。Infact，andIwhoamabouttodiehavetherighttosayitwithoutincurringthechargeofimmodesty，thethreebestmindsinSanQuentinfromtheWardendownwerethethreethatrottedtheretogetherinsolitary。Andhereattheendofmydays，reviewingallthatIhaveknownoflife，Iamcompelledtotheconclusionthatstrongmindsareneverdocile。Thestupidmen，thefearfulmen，themenungiftedwithpassionaterightnessandfearlesschampionship——thesearethemenwhomakemodelprisoners。IthankallgodsthatJakeOppenheimer，EdMorrell，andIwerenotmodelprisoners。
CHAPTERVI
Thereismorethanthegermoftruthinthingserroneousinthechild’sdefinitionofmemoryasthethingoneforgetswith。Tobeabletoforgetmeanssanity。Incessantlytoremember，meansobsession，lunacy。SotheproblemIfacedinsolitary，whereincessantrememberingstroveforpossessionofme，wastheproblemofforgetting。WhenIgamedwithflies，orplayedchesswithmyself，ortalkedwithmyknuckles，Ipartiallyforgot。WhatI
desiredwasentirelytoforget。
Thereweretheboyhoodmemoriesofothertimesandplaces——the\"trailingcloudsofglory\"ofWordsworth。Ifaboyhadhadthesememories，weretheyirretrievablylostwhenhehadgrowntomanhood？
Couldthisparticularcontentofhisboybrainbeutterlyeliminated？Orwerethesememoriesofothertimesandplacesstillresidual，asleep，immuredinsolitaryinbraincellssimilarlytothewayIwasimmuredinacellinSanQuentin？
Solitarylife-prisonershavebeenknowntoresurrectandlookuponthesunagain。Thenwhycouldnottheseother-worldmemoriesoftheboyresurrect？
Buthow？Inmyjudgment，byattainmentofcompleteforgetfulnessofpresentandofmanhoodpast。
Andagain，how？Hypnotismshoulddoit。Ifbyhypnotismtheconsciousmindwereputtosleep，andthesubconsciousmindawakened，thenwasthethingaccomplished，thenwouldallthedungeondoorsofthebrainbethrownwide，thenwouldtheprisonersemergeintothesunshine。
SoIreasoned——withwhatresultyoushalllearn。ButfirstImusttellhow，asaboy，Ihadhadtheseother-worldmemories。IhadglowedinthecloudsofgloryItrailedfromlivesaforetime。Likeanyboy，IhadbeenhauntedbytheotherbeingsIhadbeenatothertimes。Thishadbeenduringmyprocessofbecoming，erethefluxofallthatIhadeverbeenhadhardenedinthemouldoftheonepersonalitythatwastobeknownbymenforafewyearsasDarrellStanding。
Letmenarratejustoneincident。ItwasupinMinnesotaontheoldfarm。Iwasnearlysixyearsold。AmissionarytoChina，returnedtotheUnitedStatesandsentoutbytheBoardofMissionstoraisefundsfromthefarmers，spentthenightinourhouse。Itwasinthekitchenjustaftersupper，asmymotherwashelpingmeundressforbed，andthemissionarywasshowingphotographsoftheHolyLand。
AndwhatIamabouttotellyouIshouldlongsincehaveforgottenhadInotheardmyfatherreciteittowonderinglistenerssomanytimesduringmychildhood。
Icriedoutatsightofoneofthephotographsandlookedatit，firstwitheagerness，andthenwithdisappointment。Ithadseemedofasuddenmostfamiliar，inmuchthesamewaythatmyfather’sbarnwouldhavebeeninaphotograph。Thenithadseemedaltogetherstrange。ButasIcontinuedtolookthehauntingsenseoffamiliaritycameback。
\"TheTowerofDavid，\"themissionarysaidtomymother。
\"No！\"Icriedwithgreatpositiveness。
\"Youmeanthatisn’titsname？\"themissionaryasked。
Inodded。
\"Thenwhatisitsname，myboy？\"
\"It’snameis……\"Ibegan，thenconcludedlamely，\"I，forget。\"
\"Itdon’tlookthesamenow，\"Iwentonafterapause。\"They’vebenfixin’itupawful。\"
Herethemissionaryhandedtomymotheranotherphotographhehadsoughtout。
\"Iwastheremyselfsixmonthsago，Mrs。Standing。\"Hepointedwithhisfinger。\"ThatistheJaffaGatewhereIwalkedinandrightuptotheTowerofDavidinthebackofthepicturewheremyfingerisnow。Theauthoritiesareprettywellagreedonsuchmatters。ElKul’ah，asitwasknownby——\"
ButhereIbrokeinagain，pointingtorubbishpilesofruinedmasonryontheleftedgeofthephotograph\"Overtheresomewhere，\"Isaid。\"ThatnameyoujustspokewaswhattheJewscalledit。Butwecalleditsomethingelse。Wecalledit……Iforget。\"
\"Listentotheyoungster，\"myfatherchuckled。\"You’dthinkhe’dbenthere。\"
Inoddedmyhead，forinthatmomentIknewIhadbeenthere，thoughallseemedstrangelydifferent。Myfatherlaughedtheharder，butthemissionarythoughtIwasmakinggameofhim。Hehandedmeanotherphotograph。Itwasjustableakwasteofalandscape，barrenoftreesandvegetation，ashallowcanyonwitheasy-slopingwallsofrubble。Inthemiddledistancewasaclusterofwretched，flat-roofedhovels。
\"Now，myboy，whereisthat？\"themissionaryquizzed。
Andthenamecametome！
\"Samaria，\"Isaidinstantly。
Myfatherclappedhishandswithglee，mymotherwasperplexedatmyanticconduct，whilethemissionaryevincedirritation。
\"Theboyisright，\"hesaid。\"ItisavillageinSamaria。Ipassedthroughit。ThatiswhyIboughtit。Anditgoestoshowthattheboyhasseensimilarphotographsbefore。\"
Thismyfatherandmotherdenied。
\"Butit’sdifferentinthepicture，\"Ivolunteered，whileallthetimemymemorywasbusyreconstructingthephotograph。Thegeneraltrendofthelandscapeandthelineofthedistanthillswerethesame。ThedifferencesInotedaloudandpointedoutwithmyfinger。
\"Thehouseswasaboutrighthere，andtherewasmoretrees，lotsoftrees，andlotsofgrass，andlotsofgoats。Icansee’emnow，an’
twoboysdrivin’’em。An’righthereisalotofmenwalkin’behindoneman。An’overthere\"——IpointedtowhereIhadplacedmyvillage——\"isalotoftramps。Theyain’tgotnothin’onexceptin’
rags。An’they’resick。Theirfaces，an’hands，an’legsisallsores。\"
\"He’sheardthestoryinchurchorsomewhere——youremember，thehealingofthelepersinLuke，\"themissionarysaidwithasmileofsatisfaction。\"Howmanysicktrampsarethere，myboy？\"
IhadlearnedtocounttoahundredwhenIwasfiveyearsold，soI
wentoverthegroupcarefullyandannounced:
\"Tenof’em。They’reallwavin’theirarmsan’yellin’attheothermen。\"
\"Buttheydon’tcomenearthem？\"wasthequery。
Ishookmyhead。\"Theyjuststandrighttherean’keepa-yellin’
liketheywasintrouble。\"
\"Goon，\"urgedthemissionary。\"Whatnext？What’sthemandoinginthefrontoftheothercrowdyousaidwaswalkingalong？\"
\"They’veallstopped，an’he’ssayin’somethingtothesickmen。
An’theboyswiththegoats’sstoppedtolook。Everybody’slookin’。\"
\"Andthen？\"
\"That’sall。Thesickmenareheadin’forthehouses。Theyain’tyellin’anymore，an’theydon’tlooksickanymore。An’Ijustkeepsettin’onmyhorsea-lookin’on。\"
Atthisallthreeofmylistenersbrokeintolaughter。
\"An’I’mabigman！\"Icriedoutangrily。\"An’Igotabigsword！\"
\"ThetenlepersChristhealedbeforehepassedthroughJerichoonhiswaytoJerusalem，\"themissionaryexplainedtomyparents。\"Theboyhasseenslidesoffamouspaintingsinsomemagiclanternexhibition。\"
ButneitherfathernormothercouldrememberthatIhadeverseenamagiclantern。
\"Tryhimwithanotherpicture，\"fathersuggested。
\"It’salldifferent，\"IcomplainedasIstudiedthephotographthemissionaryhandedme。\"Ain’tnothin’hereexceptthathillandthemotherhills。Thisoughttobeacountryroadalonghere。An’overthereoughttobegardens，an’trees，an’housesbehindbigstonewalls。An’overthere，ontheotherside，inholesintherocksoughttobewheretheyburieddeadfolks。Youseethisplace？——theyusedtothrowstonesatpeoplethereuntiltheykilled’m。Ineverseen’mdoit。Theyjusttoldmeaboutit。\"
\"Andthehill？\"themissionaryasked，pointingtothecentralpartoftheprint，forwhichthephotographseemedtohavebeentaken。
\"Canyoutellusthenameofthehill？\"
Ishookmyhead。
\"Neverhadnoname。Theykilledfolksthere。I’veseem’mmore’nonce。\"
\"Thistimeheagreeswiththemajorityoftheauthorities，\"
announcedthemissionarywithhugesatisfaction。\"ThehillisGolgotha，thePlaceofSkulls，or，asyouplease，sonamedbecauseitresemblesaskull。Noticetheresemblance。Thatiswheretheycrucified——\"Hebrokeoffandturnedtome。\"Whomdidtheycrucifythere，youngscholar？Telluswhatelseyousee。\"
Oh，Isaw——myfatherreportedthatmyeyeswerebulging；butIshookmyheadstubbornlyandsaid:
\"Iain’ta-goin’totellyoubecauseyou’relaughin’atme。Iseenlotsan’lotsofmenkilledthere。Theynailed’emup，an’ittookalongtime。Iseen——butIain’ta-goin’totell。Idon’ttelllies。Youaskdadan’maifItelllies。He’dwhalethestuffin’
outofmeifIdid。Ask’m。\"
Andthereatnotanotherwordcouldthemissionarygetfromme，eventhoughhebaitedmewithmorephotographsthatsentmyheadwhirlingwitharushofmemory-picturesandthaturgedandtickledmytonguewithspatesofspeechwhichIsullenlyresistedandovercame。
\"HewillcertainlymakeagoodBiblescholar，\"themissionarytoldfatherandmotherafterIhadkissedthemgood-nightanddepartedforbed。\"Orelse，withthatimagination，he’llbecomeasuccessfulfiction-writer。\"
Whichshowshowprophecycangoagley。IsithereinMurderers’
Row，writingtheselinesinmylastdays，or，rather，inDarrellStanding’slastdayseretheytakehimoutandtrytothrusthimintothedarkattheendofarope，andIsmiletomyself。IbecameneitherBiblescholarnornovelist。Onthecontrary，untiltheyburiedmeinthecellsofsilenceforhalfadecade，Iwaseverythingthatthemissionaryforecastednot——anagriculturalexpert，aprofessorofagronomy，aspecialistinthescienceoftheeliminationofwastemotion，amasteroffarmefficiency，apreciselaboratoryscientistwhereprecisionandadherencetomicroscopicfactareabsoluterequirements。
AndIsithereinthewarmafternoon，inMurderers’Row，andceasefromthewritingofmymemoirstolistentothesoothingbuzzoffliesinthedrowsyair，andcatchphrasesofalow-voicedconversationbetweenJosephusJackson，thenegromurdereronmyright，andBambeccio，theItalianmurdereronmyleft，whoarediscussing，throughgrateddoortograteddoor，backandforthpastmygrateddoor，theantisepticvirtuesandexcellencesofchewingtobaccoforfleshwounds。
AndinmysuspendedhandIholdmyfountainpen，andasIrememberthatotherhandsofme，inlonggoneages，wieldedink-brush，andquill，andstylus，Ialsofindthought-spaceintimetowonderifthatmissionary，whenhewasalittlelad，evertrailedcloudsofgloryandglimpsedthebrightnessofoldstar-rovingdays。
Well，backtosolitary，afterIhadlearnedthecodeofknuckle-talkandstillfoundthehoursofconsciousnesstoolongtoendure。Byself-hypnosis，whichIbegansuccessfullytopractise，Ibecameabletoputmyconsciousmindtosleepandtoawakenandloosemysubconsciousmind。Butthelatterwasanundisciplinedandlawlessthing。Itwanderedthroughallnightmarishmadness，withoutcoherence，withoutcontinuityofscene，event，orperson。
Mymethodofmechanicalhypnosiswasthesoulofsimplicity。
Sittingwithfoldedlegsonmystraw-mattress，IgazedfixedlyatafragmentofbrightstrawwhichIhadattachedtothewallofmycellnearthedoorwherethemostlightwas。Igazedatthebrightpoint，withmyeyesclosetoit，andtiltedupwardtilltheystrainedtosee。AtthesametimeIrelaxedallthewillofmeandgavemyselftotheswayingdizzinessthatalwayseventuallycametome。AndwhenIfeltmyselfswayoutofbalancebackward，Iclosedmyeyesandpermittedmyselftofallsupineandunconsciousonthemattress。
Andthen，forhalf-an-hour，tenminutes，oraslongasanhourorso，Iwouldwandererraticallyandfoolishlythroughthestoredmemoriesofmyeternalrecurrenceonearth。Buttimesandplacesshiftedtooswiftly。Iknewafterward，whenIawoke，thatI，DarrellStanding，wasthelinkingpersonalitythatconnectedallbizarrenessandgrotesqueness。Butthatwasall。Icouldneverliveoutcompletelyonefullexperience，onepointofconsciousnessintimeandspace。Mydreams，ifdreamstheymaybecalled，wererhymelessandreasonless。
Thus，asasampleofmyrovings:inasingleintervaloffifteenminutesofsubconsciousnessIhavecrawledandbellowedintheslimeoftheprimevalworldandsatbesideHaas——furtherandcleavedthetwentiethcenturyairinagas-drivenmonoplane。Awake，I
rememberedthatI，DarrellStanding，intheflesh，duringtheyearprecedingmyincarcerationinSanQuentin，hadflownwithHaasfurtheroverthePacificatSantaMonica。Awake，Ididnotrememberthecrawlingandthebellowingintheancientslime。Nevertheless，awake，IreasonedthatsomehowIhadrememberedthatearlyadventureintheslime，andthatitwasaverityoflong-previousexperience，whenIwasnotyetDarrellStandingbutsomebodyelse，orsomethingelsethatcrawledandbellowed。Oneexperiencewasmerelymoreremotethantheother。Bothexperienceswereequallyreal——orelsehowdidIrememberthem？
Oh，whataflutteringofluminousimagesandactions！InafewshortminutesofloosedsubconsciousnessIhavesatinthehallsofkings，abovethesaltandbelowthesalt，beenfoolandjester，man-
at-arms，clerkandmonk；andIhavebeenruleraboveallattheheadofthetable——temporalpowerinmyownswordarm，inthethicknessofmycastlewalls，andthenumbersofmyfightingmen；spiritualpowerlikewiseminebytokenofthefactthatcowledpriestsandfatabbotssatbeneathmeandswiggedmywineandswinedmymeat。
Ihaveworntheironcollaroftheserfaboutmyneckincoldclimes；andIhavelovedprincessesofroyalhousesinthetropic-
warmedandsun-scentednight，whereblackslavesfannedthesultryairwithfansofpeacockplumes，whilefromafar，acrossthepalmandfountains，driftedtheroaringoflionsandthecriesofjackals。Ihavecrouchedinchilldesertplaceswarmingmyhandsatfiresbuildedofcamel’sdung；andIhavelaininthemeagreshadeofsun-parchedsagebrushbydrywater-holesandyearneddry-tonguedforwater，whileaboutme，dismemberedandscatteredinthealkali，werethebonesofmenandbeastswhohadyearnedanddied。
Ihavebeensea-cunyandbravo，scholarandrecluse。Ihaveporedoverhand-writtenpagesofhugeandmustytomesinthescholasticquietudeandtwilightofcliff-perchedmonasteries，whilebeneathonthelesserslopes，peasantsstilltoiledbeyondtheendofdayamongthevinesandolivesanddroveinfrompasturestheblattinggoatsandlowingkine；yes，andIhaveledshoutingrabblesdownthewheel-worn，chariot-ruttedpavesofancientandforgottencities；
and，solemn-voicedandgraveasdeath，Ihaveenunciatedthelaw，statedthegravityoftheinfraction，andimposedtheduedeathonmen，who，likeDarrellStandinginFolsomPrison，hadbrokenthelaw。
Aloft，atgiddymastheadsoscillatingabovethedecksofships，I
havegazedonsun-flashedwaterwherecoral-growthsiridescedfromprofoundsofturquoisedeeps，andconnedtheshipsintothesafetyofmirroredlagoonswheretheanchorsrumbleddownclosetopalm-
frondedbeachesofsea-poundedcoralrock；andIhavestrivenonforgottenbattlefieldsoftheelderdays，whenthesunwentdownonslaughterthatdidnotceaseandthatcontinuedthroughthenight-
hourswiththestarsshiningdownandwithacoolnightwindblowingfromdistantpeaksofsnowthatfailedtochillthesweatofbattle；
andagain，IhavebeenlittleDarrellStanding，bare-footedinthedew-lushgrassofspringontheMinnesotafarm，chilblainedwhenoffrostymorningsIfedthecattleintheirbreath-steamingstalls，soberedtofearandaweofthesplendourandterrorofGodwhenI
satonSundaysundertherantandpreachmentoftheNewJerusalemandtheagoniesofhell-fire。
Now，theforegoingweretheglimpsesandglimmeringsthatcametome，when，inCellOneofSolitaryinSanQuentin，Istaredmyselfunconsciousbymeansofaparticleofbright，light-radiatingstraw。
Howdidthesethingscometome？SurelyIcouldnothavemanufacturedthemoutofnothinginsidemypentwallsanymorethancouldIhavemanufacturedoutofnothingthethirty-fivepoundsofdynamitesoruthlesslydemandedofmebyCaptainJamie，WardenAtherton，andthePrisonBoardofDirectors。
IamDarrellStanding，bornandraisedonaquartersectionoflandinMinnesota，erstwhileprofessorofagronomy，aprisonerincorrigibleinSanQuentin，andatpresentadeath-sentencedmaninFolsom。Idonotknow，ofDarrellStanding’sexperience，thesethingsofwhichIwriteandwhichIhavedugfromoutmystore-
housesofsubconsciousness。I，DarrellStanding，borninMinnesotaandsoontodiebytheropeinCalifornia，surelyneverloveddaughtersofkingsinthecourtsofkings；norfoughtcutlasstocutlassontheswayingdecksofships；nordrownedinthespirit-
roomsofships，guzzlingrawliquortothewassail-shoutinganddeath-singingofseamen，whiletheshipliftedandcrashedontheblack-toothedrocksandthewaterbubbledoverhead，beneath，andallabout。
SuchthingsarenotofDarrellStanding’sexperienceintheworld。
YetI，DarrellStanding，foundthesethingswithinmyselfinsolitaryinSanQuentinbymeansofmechanicalself-hypnosis。NomoreweretheseexperiencesDarrellStanding’sthanwastheword\"Samaria\"DarrellStanding’swhenitleapttohischildlipsatsightofaphotograph。
Onecannotmakeanythingoutofnothing。InsolitaryIcouldnotsomakethirty-fivepoundsofdynamite。Norinsolitary，outofnothinginDarrellStanding’sexperience，couldImakethesewide，farvisionsoftimeandspace。Thesethingswereinthecontentofmymind，andinmymindIwasjustbeginningtolearnmywayabout。
CHAPTERVII
Soherewasmypredicament:IknewthatwithinmyselfwasaGolcondaofmemoriesofotherlives，yetIwasunabletodomorethanflitlikeamadmanthroughthosememories。IhadmyGolcondabutcouldnotmineit。
IrememberedthecaseofStaintonMoses，theclergymanwhohadbeenpossessedbythepersonalitiesofSt。Hippolytus，Plotinus，Athenodorus，andofthatfriendofErasmusnamedGrocyn。AndwhenI
consideredtheexperimentsofColoneldeRochas，whichIhadreadintyrofashioninotherandbusierdays，IwasconvincedthatStaintonMoseshad，inpreviouslives，beenthosepersonalitiesthatonoccasionseemedtopossesshim。Intruth，theywerehe，theywerethelinksofthechainofrecurrence。
ButmoreespeciallydidIdwellupontheexperimentsofColoneldeRochas。Bymeansofsuitablehypnoticsubjectsheclaimedthathehadpenetratedbackwardsthroughtimetotheancestorsofhissubjects。Thus，thecaseofJosephinewhichhedescribes。ShewaseighteenyearsoldandshelivedatVoiron，inthedepartmentoftheIsere。UnderhypnotismColoneldeRochassentheradventuringbackthroughheradolescence，hergirlhood，herchildhood，breast-
infancy，andthesilentdarkofhermother’swomb，and，stillback，throughthesilenceandthedarkofthetimewhenshe，Josephine，wasnotyetborn，tothelightandlifeofapreviousliving，whenshehadbeenachurlish，suspicious，andembitteredoldman，bynameJean-ClaudeBourdon，whohadservedhistimeintheSeventhArtilleryatBesancon，andwhodiedattheageofseventy，longbedridden。YES，anddidnotColoneldeRochasinturnhypnotizethisshadeofJean-ClaudeBourdon，sothatheadventuredfartherbackintotime，throughinfancyandbirthandthedarkoftheunborn，untilhefoundagainlightandlifewhen，asawickedoldwoman，hehadbeenPhilomeneCarteron？
ButtryasIwouldwithmybrightbitofstrawintheoozementoflightintosolitary，Ifailedtoachieveanysuchdefinitenessofpreviouspersonality。Ibecameconvinced，throughthefailureofmyexperiments，thatonlythroughdeathcouldIclearlyandcoherentlyresurrectthememoriesofmypreviousselves。
Butthetidesofliferanstronginme。I，DarrellStanding，wassostronglydisinclinedtodiethatIrefusedtoletWardenAthertonandCaptainJamiekillme。IwasalwayssoinnatelyurgedtolivethatsometimesIthinkthatiswhyIamstillhere，eatingandsleeping，thinkinganddreaming，writingthisnarrativeofmyvariousme’s，andawaitingtheincontestableropethatwillputanephemeralperiodinmylong-linkedexistence。
Andthencamedeathinlife。Ilearnedthetrick，EdMorrelltaughtitme，asyoushallsee。ItbeganthroughWardenAthertonandCaptainJamie。Theymusthaveexperiencedarecrudescenceofpanicatthoughtofthedynamitetheybelievedhidden。Theycametomeinmydarkcell，andtheytoldmeplainlythattheywouldjacketmetodeathifIdidnotconfesswherethedynamitewashidden。Andtheyassuredmethattheywoulddoitofficiallywithoutanyhurttotheirownofficialskins。Mydeathwouldappearontheprisonregisterasduetonaturalcauses。
Oh，dear，cotton-woolcitizen，pleasebelievemewhenItellyouthatmenarekilledinprisonsto-dayastheyhavealwaysbeenkilledsincethefirstprisonswerebuiltbymen。
Iwellknewtheterror，theagony，andthedangerofthejacket。
Oh，themenspirit-brokenbythejacket！Ihaveseenthem。AndI
haveseenmencrippledforlifebythejacket。Ihaveseenmen，strongmen，mensostrongthattheirphysicalstaminaresistedallattacksofprisontuberculosis，afteraprolongedboutwiththejacket，theirresistancebrokendown，fadeaway，anddieoftuberculosiswithinsixmonths。TherewasSlant-EyedWilson，withanunguessedweakheartoffear，whodiedinthejacketwithinthefirsthourwhiletheunconvincedinefficientofaprisondoctorlookedonandsmiled。AndIhaveseenamanconfess，afterhalfanhourinthejacket，truthsandfictionsthatcosthimyearsofcredits。
Ihadhadmyownexperiences。Atthepresentmomenthalfathousandscarsmarkmybody。Theygotothescaffoldwithme。DidIliveahundredyearstocomethosesamescarsintheendwouldgotothegravewithme。
Perhaps，dearcitizenwhopermitsandpayshishang-dogstolacethejacketforyou——perhapsyouareunacquaintedwiththejacket。Letmedescribe，it，sothatyouwillunderstandthemethodbywhichI
achieveddeathinlife，becameatemporarymasteroftimeandspace，andvaultedtheprisonwallstoroveamongthestars。
Haveyoueverseencanvastarpaulinsorrubberblanketswithbrasseyeletssetinalongtheedges？Thenimagineapieceofstoutcanvas，somefourandone-halffeetinlength，withlargeandheavybrasseyeletsrunningdownbothedges。Thewidthofthiscanvasisneverthefullgirthofthehumanbodyitistosurround。Thewidthisalsoirregular——broadestattheshoulders，nextbroadestatthehips，andnarrowestatthewaist。
Thejacketisspreadonthefloor。Themanwhoistobepunished，orwhoistobetorturedforconfession，istoldtolieface-
downwardontheflatcanvas。Ifherefuses，heisman-handled。
Afterthathelayshimselfdownwithawill，whichisthewillofthehang-dogs，whichisyourwill，dearcitizen，whofeedsandfeesthehang-dogsfordoingthisthingforyou。
Themanliesface-downward。Theedgesofthejacketarebroughtasnearlytogetheraspossiblealongthecentreoftheman’sback。
Thenarope，ontheprincipleofashoe-lace，isrunthroughtheeyelets，andontheprincipleofashoe-lacingthemanislacedinthecanvas。Onlyheislacedmoreseverelythananypersoneverlaceshisshoe。Theycallit\"cinching\"inprisonlingo。Onoccasion，whentheguardsarecruelandvindictive，orwhenthecommandhascomedownfromabove，inordertoinsuretheseverityofthelacingtheguardspresswiththeirfeetintotheman’sbackastheydrawthelacingtight。
Haveyoueverlacedyourshoetootightly，and，afterhalfanhour，experiencedthatexcruciatingpainacrosstheinstepoftheobstructedcirculation？Anddoyourememberthatafterafewminutesofsuchpainyousimplycouldnotwalkanotherstepandhadtountietheshoe-laceandeasethepressure？Verywell。Thentrytoimagineyourwholebodysolaced，onlymuchmoretightly，andthatthesqueeze，insteadofbeingmerelyontheinstepofonefoot，isonyourentiretrunk，compressingtotheseemingofdeathyourheart，yourlungs，andalltherestofyourvitalandessentialorgans。
Irememberthefirsttimetheygavemethejacketdowninthedungeons。Itwasatthebeginningofmyincorrigibility，shortlyaftermyentrancetoprison，whenIwasweavingmyloom-taskofahundredyardsadayinthejute-millandfinishingtwohoursaheadoftheaverageday。Yes，andmyjute-sackingwasfarabovetheaveragedemanded。Iwassenttothejacketthatfirsttime，accordingtotheprisonbooks，becauseof\"skips\"and\"breaks\"inthecloth，inshort，becausemyworkwasdefective。Ofcoursethiswasridiculous。Intruth，IwassenttothejacketbecauseI，anewconvict，amasterofefficiency，atrainedexpertintheeliminationofwastemotion，hadelectedtotellthestupidheadweaverafewthingshedidnotknowabouthisbusiness。Andtheheadweaver，withCaptainJamiepresent，hadmecalledtothetablewhereatrociousweaving，suchascouldneverhavegonethroughmyloom，wasexhibitedagainstme。ThreetimeswasIthuscalledtothetable。Thethirdcallingmeantpunishmentaccordingtotheloom-
roomrules。Mypunishmentwastwenty-fourhoursinthejacket。
Theytookmedownintothedungeons。Iwasorderedtolieface-
downwardonthecanvasspreadflatuponthefloor。Irefused。Oneoftheguards，Morrison，gullettedmewithhisthumbs。Mobins，thedungeontrusty，aconvicthimself，struckmerepeatedlywithhisfists。IntheendIlaydownasdirected。And，becauseofthestruggleIhadvexedthemwith，theylacedmeextratight。Thentheyrolledmeoverlikealoguponmyback。
Itdidnotseemsobadatfirst。Whentheyclosedmydoor，withclangandclashofleveredboltage，andleftmeintheutterdark，itwaseleveno’clockinthemorning。ForafewminutesIwasawaremerelyofanuncomfortableconstrictionwhichIfondlybelievedwouldeaseasIgrewaccustomedtoit。Onthecontrary，myheartbegantothumpandmylungsseemedunabletodrawsufficientairformyblood。Thissenseofsuffocationwasterrorizing，andeverythumpoftheheartthreatenedtoburstmyalreadyburstinglungs。
Afterwhatseemedhours，andafterwhat，outofmycountlesssucceedingexperiencesinthejacketIcannowfairlyconcludetohavebeennotmorethanhalf-an-hour，Ibegantocryout，toyell，toscream，tohowl，inaverymadnessofdying。Thetroublewasthepainthathadariseninmyheart。Itwasasharp，definitepain，similartothatofpleurisy，exceptthatitstabbedhotlythroughtheheartitself。
Todieisnotadifficultthing，buttodieinsuchslowandhorriblefashionwasmaddening。Likeatrappedbeastofthewild，I
experiencedecstasiesoffear，andyelledandhowleduntilI
realizedthatsuchvocalexercisemerelystabbedmyheartmorehotlyandatthesametimeconsumedmuchofthelittleairinmylungs。
Igaveoverandlayquietforalongtime——aneternityitseemedthen，thoughnowIamconfidentthatitcouldhavebeennolongerthanaquarterofanhour。Igrewdizzywithsemi-asphyxiation，andmyheartthumpeduntilitseemedsurelyitwouldburstthecanvasthatboundme。AgainIlostcontrolofmyselfandsetupamadhowlingforhelp。
InthemidstofthisIheardavoicefromthenextdungeon。
\"Shutup，\"itshouted，thoughonlyfaintlyitpercolatedtome。
\"Shutup。Youmakemetired。\"
\"I’mdying，\"Icriedout。
\"Poundyourearandforgetit，\"wasthereply。
\"ButIAMdying，\"Iinsisted。
\"Thenwhyworry？\"camethevoice。\"You’llbedeadprettyquickan’
outofit。Goaheadandcroak，butdon’tmakesomuchnoiseaboutit。You’reinterruptin’mybeautysleep。\"
SoangeredwasIbythiscallousindifferencethatIrecoveredself-
controlandwasguiltyofnomorethansmotheredgroans。Thisenduredanendlesstime——possiblytenminutes；andthenatinglingnumbnesssetupinallmybody。Itwaslikepinsandneedles，andforaslongasithurtlikepinsandneedlesIkeptmyhead。ButwhenthepricklingofthemultitudinousdartsceasedtohurtandonlythenumbnessremainedandcontinuedvergingintogreaternumbnessIoncemoregrewfrightened。
\"HowamIgoin’togetawinkofsleep？\"myneighbour，complained。
\"Iain’tanymorehappythanyou。Myjacket’sjustastightasyourn，an’Iwanttosleepan’forgetit。\"
\"Howlonghaveyoubeenin？\"Iasked，thinkinghimanew-comercomparedtothecenturiesIhadalreadysuffered。
\"Sincedaybeforeyesterday，\"washisanswer。
\"Imeaninthejacket，\"Iamended。
\"Sincedaybeforeyesterday，brother。\"
\"MyGod！\"Iscreamed。
\"Yes，brother，fiftystraighthours，an’youdon’thearmeraisin’aroaraboutit。Theycinchedmewiththeirfeetinmyback。Iamsometight，believeME。Youain’ttheonlyonethat’sgottroubles。
Youain’tbeninanhouryet。\"
\"I’vebeeninhoursandhours，\"Iprotested。
\"Brother，youmaythinkso，butitdon’tmakeitso。I’mjusttellin’youyouain’tbeninanhour。Iheard’mlacin’you。\"
Thethingwasincredible。Already，inlessthananhour，Ihaddiedathousanddeaths。Andyetthisneighbour，balancedandequable，calm-voicedandalmostbeneficentdespitetheharshnessofhisfirstremarks，hadbeeninthejacketfiftyhours！
\"Howmuchlongeraretheygoingtokeepyouin？\"Iasked。
\"TheLordonlyknows。CaptainJamieisrealpeevedwithme，an’hewon’tletmeoutuntilI’maboutcroakin’。Now，brother，I’mgoingtogiveyouthetip。Theonlywayisshutyourfacean’forgetit。
Yellin’an’hollerin’don’twinyounomoneyinthisjoint。An’thewaytoforgetistoforget。Justgettorememberin’everygirlyoueverknew。That’llcatuphoursforyou。Mebbeyou’llfeelyourselfgettin’woozy。Well，getwoozy。Youcan’tbeatthatforkillin’time。An’whenthegirlswon’tholdyou，gettothinkin’ofthefellowsyougotitinfor，an’whatyou’ddoto’emifyougotachance，an’whatyou’regoin’todoto’emwhenyougetthatsamechance。\"
ThatmanwasPhiladelphiaRed。BecauseofpriorconvictionhewasservingfiftyyearsforhighwayrobberycommittedonthestreetsofAlameda。Hehadalreadyservedadozenofhisyearsatthetimehetalkedtomeinthejacket，andthatwassevenyearsago。Hewasoneofthefortyliferswhoweredouble-crossedbyCecilWinwood。
ForthatoffencePhiladelphiaRedlosthiscredits。Heismiddle-
agednow，andheisstillinSanQuentin。Ifhesurviveshewillbeanoldmanwhentheylethimout。
Ilivedthroughmytwenty-fourhours，andIhaveneverbeenthesamemansince。Oh，Idon’tmeanphysically，althoughnextmorning，whentheyunlacedme，Iwassemi-paralyzedandinsuchastateofcollapsethattheguardshadtokickmeintheribstomakemecrawltomyfeet。ButIwasachangedmanmentally，morally。Thebrutephysicaltortureofitwashumiliationandaffronttomyspiritandtomysenseofjustice。Suchdisciplinedoesnotsweetenaman。I
emergedfromthatfirstjacketingfilledwithabitternessandapassionatehatredthathasonlyincreasedthroughtheyears。MyGod——whenIthinkofthethingsmenhavedonetome！Twenty-fourhoursinthejacket！LittleIthoughtthatmorningwhentheykickedmetomyfeetthatthetimewouldcomewhentwenty-fourhoursinthejacketmeantnothing；whenahundredhoursinthejacketfoundmesmilingwhentheyreleasedme；whentwohundredandfortyhoursinthejacketfoundthesamesmileonmylips。
Yes，twohundredandfortyhours。Dearcotton-woollycitizen，doyouknowwhatthatmeans？Itmeanstendaysandtennightsinthejacket。Ofcourse，suchthingsarenotdoneanywhereintheChristianworldnineteenhundredyearsafterChrist。Idon’taskyoutobelieveme。Idon’tbelieveitmyself。ImerelyknowthatitwasdonetomeinSanQuentin，andthatIlivedtolaughatthemandtocompelthemtogetridofmebyswingingmeoffbecauseI
bloodiedaguard’snose。
Iwritetheselinesto-dayintheYearofOurLord1913，andto-day，intheYearofOurLord1913，menarelyinginthejacketinthedungeonsofSanQuentin。
Ishallneverforget，aslongasfurtherlivingandfurtherlivesbevouchsafedme，mypartingfromPhiladelphiaRedthatmorning。Hehadthenbeenseventy-fourhoursinthejacket。
\"Well，brother，you’restillalivean’kickin’，\"hecalledtome，asIwastotteringlydraggedfrommycellintothecorridorofdungeons。
\"Shutup，you，Red，\"thesergeantsnarledathim。
\"Forgetit，\"wastheretort。
\"I’llgetyouyet，Red，\"thesergeantthreatened。
\"Thinkso？\"PhiladelphiaRedqueriedsweetly，erehistonesturnedtosavageness。\"Why，youoldstiff，youcouldn’tgetnothin’。Youcouldn’tgetafreelunch，muchlessthejobyou’vegotnow，ifitwasn’tforyourbrother’spull。An’Iguessweallain’tmistakenonthestinkoftheplacewhereyourbrother’spullcomesfrom。\"
Itwasadmirable——thespiritofmanrisingaboveitsextremity，fearlessofthehurtanybruteofthesystemcouldinflict。
\"Well，solong，brother，\"PhiladelphiaRednextcalledtome。\"Solong。Begood，an’lovetheWarden。An’ifyousee’em，justtell’emthatyousawmebutthatyoudidn’tseemesaw。\"
Thesergeantwasredwithrage，and，bythereceiptofvariouskicksandblows，IpaidforRed’spleasantry。
CHAPTERVIII
Insolitary，inCellOne，WardenAthertonandCaptainJamieproceededtoputmetotheinquisition。AsWardenAthertonsaidtome:
\"Standing，you’regoingtocomeacrosswiththatdynamite，orI’llkillyouinthejacket。HardercasesthanyouhavecomeacrossbeforeIgotdonewiththem。You’vegotyourchoice——dynamiteorcurtains。\"
\"ThenIguessitiscurtains，\"Ianswered，\"becauseIdon’tknowofanydynamite。\"
ThisirritatedtheWardentoimmediateaction。\"Liedown，\"hecommanded。
Iobeyed，forIhadlearnedthefollyoffightingthreeorfourstrongmen。Theylacedmetightly，andgavemeahundredhours。
Onceeachtwenty-fourhoursIwaspermittedadrinkofwater。Ihadnodesireforfood，norwasfoodofferedme。TowardtheendofthehundredhoursJackson，theprisondoctor，examinedmyphysicalconditionseveraltimes。
ButIhadgrowntoousedtothejacketduringmyincorrigibledaystoletasinglejacketinginjureme。Naturally，itweakenedme，tookthelifeoutofme；butIhadlearnedmusculartricksforstealingalittlespacewhiletheywerelacingme。Attheendofthefirsthundredhours’boutIwaswornandtired，butthatwasall。Anotherboutofthisdurationtheygaveme，afteradayandanighttorecuperate。Andthentheygaveonehundredandfiftyhours。MuchofthistimeIwasphysicallynumbandmentallydelirious。Also，byaneffortofwill，Imanagedtosleepawaylonghours。
Next，WardenAthertontriedavariation。Iwasgivenirregularintervalsofjacketandrecuperation。IneverknewwhenIwastogointothejacket。ThusIwouldhavetenhours’recuperation，anddotwentyinthejacket；orIwouldreceiveonlyfourhours’rest。Atthemostunexpectedhoursofthenightmydoorwouldclangopenandthechangingguardswouldlaceme。Sometimesrhythmswereinstituted。Thus，forthreedaysandnightsIalternatedeighthoursinthejacketandeighthoursout。Andthen，justasIwasgrowingaccustomedtothisrhythm，itwassuddenlyalteredandIwasgiventwodaysandnightsstraight。
Andevertheeternalquestionwaspropoundedtome:Wherewasthedynamite？SometimesWardenAthertonwasfuriouswithme。Onoccasion，whenIhadenduredanextraseverejacketing，healmostpleadedwithmetoconfess。Onceheevenpromisedmethreemonthsinthehospitalofabsoluterestandgoodfood，andthenthetrustyjobinthelibrary。
Dr。Jackson，aweakstickofacreaturewithasmatteringofmedicine，grewsceptical。Heinsistedthatjacketing，nomatterhowprolonged，couldneverkillme；andhisinsistencewasachallengetotheWardentocontinuetheattempt。
\"Theseleancollegeguys’dfoolthedevil，\"hegrumbled。\"They’retougher’nraw-hide。Justthesamewe’llwearhimdown。Standing，youhearme。Whatyou’vegotain’tacautiontowhatyou’regoingtoget。Youmightaswellcomeacrossnowandsavetrouble。I’mamanofmyword。You’veheardmesaydynamiteorcurtains。Well，thatstands。Takeyourchoice。\"
\"Surelyyoudon’tthinkI’mholdingoutbecauseIenjoyit？\"I
managedtogasp，foratthemomentPie-FaceJoneswasforcinghisfootintomybackinordertocinchmetighter，whileIwastryingwithmymuscletostealslack。\"Thereisnothingtoconfess。Why，I’dcutoffmyrighthandrightnowtobeabletoleadyoutoanydynamite。\"
\"Oh，I’veseenyoureducatedkindbefore，\"hesneered。\"Yougetwheelsinyourhead，someofyou，thatmakeyousticktoanyoldidea。Yougetbaulky，likehorses。Tighter，Jones；thatain’thalfacinch。Standing，ifyoudon’tcomeacrossit’scurtains。Istickbythat。\"
OnecompensationIlearned。Asonegrowsweakeroneislesssusceptibletosuffering。Thereislesshurtbecausethereislesstohurt。Andthemanalreadywellweakenedgrowsweakermoreslowly。Itisofcommonknowledgethatunusuallystrongmensuffermoreseverelyfromordinarysicknessesthandowomenorinvalids。
Asthereservesofstrengthareconsumedthereislessstrengthtolose。Afterallsuperfluousfleshisgonewhatisleftisstringyandresistant。Infact，thatwaswhatIbecame——asortofstring-
likeorganismthatpersistedinliving。
MorrellandOppenheimerweresorryforme，andrappedmesympathyandadvice。Oppenheimertoldmehehadgonethroughit，andworse，andstilllived。
\"Don’tletthembeatyouout，\"hespelledwithhisknuckles。\"Don’tletthemkillyou，forthatwouldsuitthem。Anddon’tsquealontheplant。\"
\"Butthereisn’tanyplant，\"Irappedbackwiththeedgeofthesoleofmyshoeagainstthegrating——Iwasinthejacketatthetimeandsocouldtalkonlywithmyfeet。\"Idon’tknowanythingaboutthedamneddynamite。\"
\"That’sright，\"Oppenheimerpraised。\"He’sthestuff，ain’the，Ed？\"
WhichgoestoshowwhatchanceIhadofconvincingWardenAthertonofmyignoranceofthedynamite。HisverypersistenceinthequestconvincedamanlikeJakeOppenheimer，whocouldonlyadmiremeforthefortitudewithwhichIkeptaclosemouth。
Duringthisfirstperiodofthejacket-inquisitionImanagedtosleepagreatdeal。Mydreamswereremarkable。Ofcoursetheywerevividandreal，asmostdreamsare。Whatmadethemremarkablewastheircoherenceandcontinuity。OftenIaddressedbodiesofscientistsonabstrusesubjects，readingaloudtothemcarefullypreparedpapersonmyownresearchesoronmyowndeductionsfromtheresearchesandexperimentsofothers。WhenIawakenedmyvoicewouldseemstillringinginmyears，whilemyeyesstillcouldseetypedonthewhitepaperwholesentencesandparagraphsthatIcouldreadagainandmarvelaterethevisionfaded。Inpassing，IcallattentiontothefactthatatthetimeInotedthattheprocessofreasoningemployedinthesedreamspeecheswasinvariablydeductive。
Thentherewasagreatfarmingsection，extendingnorthandsouthforhundredsofmilesinsomepartofthetemperateregions，withaclimateandfloraandfaunalargelyresemblingthoseofCalifornia。
Notonce，nortwice，butthousandsofdifferenttimesIjourneyedthroughthisdream-region。ThepointIdesiretocallattentiontowasthatitwasalwaysthesameregion。Noessentialfeatureofiteverdifferedinthedifferentdreams。Thusitwasalwaysaneight-
hourdrivebehindmountainhorsesfromthealfalfameadowswhereI
keptmanyJerseycowstothestragglyvillagebesidethebigdrycreek，whereIcaughtthelittlenarrow-gaugetrain。Everyland-
markinthateight-hourdriveinthemountainbuckboard，everytree，everymountain，everyfordandbridge，everyridgeanderodedhillsidewaseverthesame。
Inthiscoherent，rationalfarm-regionofmystrait-jacketdreamstheminordetails，accordingtoseasonandtothelabourofmen，didchange。ThusontheuplandpasturesbehindmyalfalfameadowsI
developedanewfarmwiththeaidofAngoragoats。HereImarkedthechangeswitheverydream-visit，andthechangeswereinaccordancewiththetimethatelapsedbetweenvisits。
Oh，thosebrush-coveredslopes！HowIcanseethemnowjustaswhenthegoatswerefirstintroduced。AndhowIrememberedtheconsequentchanges——thepathsbeginningtoformasthegoatsliterallyatetheirwaythroughthedensethickets；thedisappearanceoftheyounger，smallerbushesthatwerenottootallfortotalbrowsing；thevistasthatformedinalldirectionsthroughtheolder，tallerbushes，asthegoatsbrowsedashighastheycouldstandandreachontheirhindlegs；thedriftageofthepasturegrassesthatfollowedinthewakeoftheclearingbythegoats。
Yes，thecontinuityofsuchdreamingwasitscharm。Camethedaywhenthemenwithaxeschoppeddownallthetallerbrushsoastogivethegoatsaccesstotheleavesandbudsandbark。Cametheday，inwinterweather，whenthedrydenudedskeletonsofallthesebushesweregatheredintoheapsandburned。CamethedaywhenI
movedmygoatsontootherbrush-impregnablehillsides，withfollowingintheirwakemycattle，pasturingknee-deepinthesucculentgrassesthatgrewwherebeforehadbeenonlybrush。AndcamethedaywhenImovedmycattleon，andmyplough-menwentbackandforthacrosstheslopes’contour——ploughingtherichsodundertorottoliveandcrawlinghumousinwhichtobedmyseedsofcropstobe。
Yes，andinmydreams，often，Igotoffthelittlenarrow-gaugetrainwherethestragglyvillagestoodbesidethebigdrycreek，andgotintothebuck-boardbehindmymountainhorses，anddrovehourbyhourpastalltheoldfamiliarlandmarksofmyalfalfameadows，andontomyuplandpastureswheremyrotatedcropsofcornandbarleyandcloverwereripeforharvestingandwhereIwatchedmymenengagedintheharvest，whilebeyond，everclimbing，mygoatsbrowsedthehigherslopesofbrushintocleared，tilledfields。
Buttheseweredreams，frankdreams，fanciedadventuresofmydeductivesubconsciousmind。Quiteunlikethem，asyoushallsee，weremyotheradventureswhenIpassedthroughthegatesofthelivingdeathandrelivedtherealityoftheotherlivesthathadbeenmineinotherdays。
InthelonghoursofwakinginthejacketIfoundthatIdweltagreatdealonCecilWinwood，thepoet-forgerwhohadwantonlyputallthistormentonme，andwhowaseventhenatlibertyoutinthefreeworldagain。No；Ididnothatehim。Thewordistooweak。
Thereisnowordinthelanguagestrongenoughtodescribemyfeelings。IcansayonlythatIknewthegnawingofadesireforvengeanceonhimthatwasapaininitselfandthatexceededalltheboundsoflanguage。IshallnottellyouofthehoursIdevotedtoplansoftortureonhim，norofthediabolicalmeansanddevicesoftorturethatIinventedforhim。Justoneexample。Iwasenamouredoftheancienttrickwherebyanironbasin，containingarat，isfastenedtoaman’sbody。Theonlywayoutfortheratisthroughthemanhimself。AsIsay，IwasenamouredofthisuntilIrealizedthatsuchadeathwastooquick，whereuponIdweltlongandfavourablyontheMoorishtrickof——butno，Ipromisedtorelatenofurtherofthismatter。Letitsufficethatmanyofmypain-
maddeningwakinghoursweredevotedtodreamsofvengeanceonCecilWinwood。
CHAPTERIX
OnethingofgreatvalueIlearnedinthelong，pain-wearyhoursofwaking——namely，themasteryofthebodybythemind。Ilearnedtosufferpassively，as，undoubtedly，allmenhavelearnedwhohavepassedthroughthepost-graduatecoursesofstrait-jacketing。Oh，itisnoeasytricktokeepthebraininsuchserenereposethatitisquiteoblivioustothethrobbing，exquisitecomplaintofsometorturednerve。
AnditwasthisverymasteryofthefleshbythespiritwhichIsoacquiredthatenabledmeeasilytopractisethesecretEdMorrelltoldtome。
\"Thinkitiscurtains？\"EdMorrellrappedtomeonenight。
Ihadjustbeenreleasedfromonehundredhours，andIwasweakerthanIhadeverbeenbefore。SoweakwasIthatthoughmywholebodywasonemassofbruiseandmisery，neverthelessIscarcelywasawarethatIhadabody。
\"Itlookslikecurtains，\"Irappedback。\"Theywillgetmeiftheykeepitupmuchlonger。\"
\"Don’tletthem，\"headvised。\"Thereisaway。Ilearneditmyself，downinthedungeons，whenMassieandIgotoursgoodandplenty。Ipulledthrough。ButMassiecroaked。IfIhadn’tlearnedthetrick，I’dhavecroakedalongwithhim。You’vegottobeprettyweakfirst，beforeyoutryit。Ifyoutryitwhenyouarestrong，youmakeafailureofit，andthenthatqueersyouforeverafter。
ImadethemistakeoftellingJakethetrickwhenhewasstrong。Ofcourse，hecouldnotpullitoff，andinthetimessincewhenhedidneedit，itwastoolate，forhisfirstfailurehadqueeredit。Hewon’tevenbelieveitnow。HethinksIamkiddinghim。Ain’tthatright，Jake？\"
AndfromcellthirteenJakerappedback，\"Don’tswallowit，Darrell。
It’sasurefairystory。\"
\"Goonandtellme，\"IrappedtoMorrell。
\"ThatiswhyIwaitedforyoutogetrealweak，\"hecontinued。\"Nowyouneedit，andIamgoingtotellyou。It’suptoyou。Ifyouhavegotthewillyoucandoit。I’vedoneitthreetimes，andI
know。\"
\"Well，whatisit？\"Irappedeagerly。
\"Thetrickistodieinthejacket，towillyourselftodie。Iknowyoudon’tgetmeyet，butwait。Youknowhowyougetnumbinthejacket——howyourarmoryourleggoestosleep。Nowyoucan’thelpthat，butyoucantakeitfortheideaandimproveonit。Don’twaitforyourlegsoranythingtogotosleep。Youlieonyourbackascomfortableasyoucanget，andyoubegintouseyourwill。
\"Andthisistheideayoumustthinktoyourself，andthatyoumustbelieveallthetimeyou’rethinkingit。Ifyoudon’tbelieve，thenthere’snothingtoit。Thethingyoumustthinkandbelieveisthatyourbodyisonethingandyourspiritisanotherthing。Youareyou，andyourbodyissomethingelsethatdon’tamounttoshucks。
Yourbodydon’tcount。You’retheboss。Youdon’tneedanybody。
Andthinkingandbelievingallthisyouproceedtoproveitbyusingyourwill。Youmakeyourbodydie。
\"Youbeginwiththetoes，oneatatime。Youmakeyourtoesdie。
Youwillthemtodie。Andifyou’vegotthebeliefandthewillyourtoeswilldie。Thatisthebigjob——tostartthedying。Onceyou’vegotthefirsttoedead，therestiseasy，foryoudon’thavetodoanymorebelieving。Youknow。Thenyouputallyourwillintomakingtherestofthebodydie。Itellyou，Darrell，Iknow。
I’vedoneitthreetimes。
\"Onceyougetthedyingstarted，itgoesrightalong。Andthefunnythingisthatyouareallthereallthetime。Becauseyourtoesaredeaddon’tmakeyouintheleastbitdead。By-and-byyourlegsaredeadtotheknees，andthentothethighs，andyouarejustthesameasyoualwayswere。Itisyourbodythatisdroppingoutofthegameachunkatatime。Andyouarejustyou，thesameyouwerebeforeyoubegan。\"
\"Andthenwhathappens？\"Iqueried。
\"Well，whenyourbodyisalldead，andyouareallthereyet，youjustskinoutandleaveyourbody。Andwhenyouleaveyourbodyyouleavethecell。Stonewallsandirondoorsaretoholdbodiesin。
Theycan’tholdthespiritin。Yousee，youhaveprovedit。Youarespiritoutsideofyourbody。Youcanlookatyourbodyfromoutsideofit。ItellyouIknowbecauseIhavedoneitthreetimes——lookedatmybodylyingtherewithmeoutsideofit。\"
\"Ha！ha！ha！\"JakeOppenheimerrappedhislaughterthirteencellsaway。
\"Yousee，that’sJake’strouble，\"Morrellwenton。\"Hecan’tbelieve。Thatonetimehetriedithewastoostrongandfailed。
AndnowhethinksIamkidding。\"
\"Whenyoudieyouaredead，anddeadmenstaydead，\"Oppenheimerretorted。
\"ItellyouI’vebeendeadthreetimes，\"Morrellargued。
\"Andlivedtotellusaboutit，\"Oppenheimerjeered。
\"Butdon’tforgetonething，Darrell，\"Morrellrappedtome。\"Thethingisticklish。Youhaveafeelingallthetimethatyouaretakingliberties。Ican’texplainit，butIalwayshadafeelingifIwasawaywhentheycameandletmybodyoutofthejacketthatI
couldn’tgetbackintomybodyagain。Imeanthatmybodywouldbedeadforkeeps。AndIdidn’twantittobedead。Ididn’twanttogiveCaptainJamieandtherestthatsatisfaction。ButItellyou，Darrell，ifyoucanturnthetrickyoucanlaughattheWarden。
Onceyoumakeyourbodydiethatwayitdon’tmatterwhethertheykeepyouinthejacketamonthonend。Youdon’tsuffernone，andyourbodydon’tsuffer。Youknowtherearecasesofpeoplewhohavesleptawholeyearatatime。That’sthewayitwillbewithyourbody。Itjuststaysthereinthejacket，nothurtingoranything，justwaitingforyoutocomeback。
\"Youtryit。Iamgivingyouthestraightsteer。\"
\"Andifhedon’tcomeback？\"Oppenheimer，asked。
\"Thenthelaughwillbeonhim，Iguess，Jake，\"Morrellanswered。
\"Unless，maybe，itwillbeonusforstickingroundthisolddumpwhenwecouldgetawaythateasy。\"
Andheretheconversationended，forPie-FaceJones，wakingcrustilyfromstolenslumber，threatenedMorrellandOppenheimerwithareportnextmorningthatwouldmeanthejacketforthem。Mehedidnotthreaten，forheknewIwasdoomedforthejacketanyway。
Ilaylongthereinthesilence，forgettingthemiseryofmybodywhileIconsideredthispropositionMorrellhadadvanced。Already，asIhaveexplained，bymechanicalself-hypnosisIhadsoughttopenetratebackthroughtimetomypreviousselves。ThatIhadpartlysucceededIknew；butallthatIhadexperiencedwasaflutteringofapparitionsthatmergederraticallyandwerewithoutcontinuity。
ButMorrell’smethodwassopatentlythereverseofmymethodofself-hypnosisthatIwasfascinated。Bymymethod，myconsciousnesswentfirstofall。Byhismethod，consciousnesspersistedlastofall，and，whenthebodywasquitegone，passedintostagessosublimatedthatitleftthebody，lefttheprisonofSanQuentin，andjourneyedafar，andwasstillconsciousness。
Itwasworthatrial，anyway，Iconcluded。And，despitethescepticalattitudeofthescientistthatwasmine，Ibelieved。I
hadnodoubtIcoulddowhatMorrellsaidhehaddonethreetimes。
Perhapsthisfaiththatsoeasilypossessedmewasduetomyextremedebility。PerhapsIwasnotstrongenoughtobesceptical。ThiswasthehypothesisalreadysuggestedbyMorrell。Itwasaconclusionofpureempiricism，andI，too，asyoushallsee，demonstrateditempirically。
CHAPTERX
Andaboveallthings，nextmorningWardenAthertoncameintomycellonmurderintent。WithhimwereCaptainJamie，DoctorJackson，Pie-
FaceJones，andAlHutchins。AlHutchinswasservingaforty-years’
sentence，andwasinhopesofbeingpardonedout。ForfouryearshehadbeenheadtrustyofSanQuentin。ThatthiswasapositionofgreatpoweryouwillrealizewhenItellyouthatthegraftaloneoftheheadtrustywasestimatedatthreethousanddollarsayear。
WhereforeAlHutchins，inpossessionoftenortwelvethousanddollarsandofthepromiseofapardon，couldbedependedupontodotheWarden’sbiddingblind。
IhavejustsaidthatWardenAthertoncameintomycellintentonmurder。Hisfaceshowedit。Hisactionsprovedit。
\"Examinehim，\"heorderedDoctorJackson。
Thatwretchedapologyofacreaturestrippedfrommemydirt-
encrustedshirtthatIhadwornsincemyentrancetosolitary，andexposedmypoorwastedbody，theskinridgedlikebrownparchmentovertheribsandsore-infestedfromthemanyboutswiththejacket。
Theexaminationwasshamelesslyperfunctory。
\"Willhestandit？\"theWardendemanded。
\"Yes，\"DoctorJacksonanswered。
\"How’stheheart？\"
\"Splendid。\"
\"Youthinkhe’llstandtendaysofit，Doc。？\"
\"Sure。\"
\"Idon’tbelieveit，\"theWardenannouncedsavagely。\"Butwe’lltryitjustthesame——Liedown，Standing。\"
Iobeyed，stretchingmyselfface-downwardontheflat-spreadjacket。
TheWardenseemedtodebatewithhimselfforamoment。
\"Rollover，\"hecommanded。
Imadeseveralefforts，butwastooweaktosucceed，andcouldonlysprawlandsquirminmyhelplessness。
\"Puttingiton，\"wasJackson’scomment。
\"Well，hewon’thavetoputitonwhenI’mdonewithhim，\"saidtheWarden。\"Lendhimahand。Ican’twasteanymoretimeonhim。\"
Sotheyrolledmeoveronmyback，whereIstaredupintoWardenAtherton’sface。
\"Standing，\"hesaidslowly，\"I’vegivenyoualltheropeIamgoingto。Iamsickandtiredofyourstubbornness。Mypatienceisexhausted。DoctorJacksonsaysyouareinconditiontostandtendaysinthejacket。Youcanfigureyourchances。ButIamgoingtogiveyouyourlastchancenow。Comeacrosswiththedynamite。ThemomentitisinmyhandsI’lltakeyououtofhere。Youcanbatheandshaveandgetcleanclothes。I’llletyouloafforsixmonthsonhospitalgrub，andthenI’llputyoutrustyinthelibrary。Youcan’taskmetobefairerwithyouthanthat。Besides，you’renotsquealingonanybody。YouaretheonlypersoninSanQuentinwhoknowswherethedynamiteis。Youwon’thurtanybody’sfeelingsbygivingin，andyou’llbealltothegoodfromthemomentyoudogivein。Andifyoudon’t——\"
Hepausedandshruggedhisshoulderssignificantly。
\"Well，ifyoudon’t，youstartinthetendaysrightnow。\"
Theprospectwasterrifying。SoweakwasIthatIwasascertainastheWardenwasthatitmeantdeathinthejacket。AndthenI
rememberedMorrell’strick。Now，ifever，wastheneedofit；andnow，ifever，wasthetimetopractisethefaithofit。IsmiledupinthefaceofWardenAtherton。AndIputfaithinthatsmile，andfaithinthepropositionImadetohim。
\"Warden，\"Isaid，\"doyouseethewayIamsmiling？Well，if，attheendofthetendays，whenyouunlaceme，Ismileupatyouinthesameway，willyougiveasackofBullDurhamandapackageofbrownpaperstoMorrellandOppenheimer？\"
\"Ain’ttheythecrazyginks，thesecollegeguys，\"CaptainJamiesnorted。
WardenAthertonwasacholericman，andhetookmyrequestforinsultingbraggadocio。
\"Justforthatyougetanextracinching，\"heinformedme。
\"Imadeyouasportingproposition，Warden，\"Isaidquietly。\"Youcancinchmeastightasyouplease，butifIsmiletendaysfromnowwillyougivetheBullDurhamtoMorrellandOppenheimer？\"