Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/195

 them into the prison. The Greeks, without telling any of the prisoners what was going to be done further, gave written instructions to their friends. Some weeks afterwards other Greeks came, and made a much larger present to the governor, and also sent two casks of spirits for the prisoners. The Turks were much pleased with these presents, for they had not the slightest idea that they were only given as a blind, and therefore they encouraged the Greeks to bring alms for the poor prisoners still more frequently. In both these casks were false bottoms, under which small hand-saws, files, silken cords, and all manner of instruments were stuffed; and thus for more than a year the Greeks continued to come with their alms. At last they paid a sum of money that the Turks might allow them to give all the prisoners linen for shirts. The two prisoners managed so circumspectly with their correspondence, that not only the Turkish guards, but even their fellow-prisoners found nothing out, for these Greeks were very cunning people. Thus, there was no one who had the least inkling that anybody was about to make his way and escape out of the tower. When the Greeks had everything requisite ready to their hands, last of all two more casks with schnapps were brought to them, and then first it was that these two Greeks disclosed their views to the other prisoners, informing them that, with God’s aid, they would help both the rest and themselves out of the prison. But before they put their project into execution they were all obliged to kneel down, place two fingers upon the Gospel, and swear to keep the secret, and not to betray each other should their design be found out. And then for the first time the prisoners were cheerful, and began to