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pulled back the fingers one by one； saying； 〃Easy now；
Lieutenanteasy。〃
The ragged palms and the sea and block…house were swallowed up in
a black fog； and his body touched the canvas cot again with a
sense of home…coming and relief and rest。 He wondered how he
could have cared to escape from it。 He found it so good to be
back again that for a long time he wept quite happily； until the
fiery pillow was moist and cool。
The world outside of the iron bars was like a scene in a theatre
set for some great event； but the actors were never ready。 He
remembered confusedly a play he had once witnessed before that
same scene。 Indeed； he believed he had played some small part in
it； but he remembered it dimly； and all trace of the men who had
appeared with him in it was gone。 He had reasoned it out that
they were up there behind the range of mountains； because great
heavy wagons and ambulances and cannon were emptied from the
ships at the wharf above and were drawn away in long lines behind
the ragged palms； moving always toward the passes between the
peaks。 At times he was disturbed by the thought that he should
be up and after them； that some tradition of duty made his
presence with them imperative。 There was much to be done back of
the mountains。 Some event of momentous import was being carried
forward there； in which he held a part； but the doubt soon passed
from him； and he was content to lie and watch the iron bars
rising and falling between the block…house and the white
surf。
If they had been only humanely kind； his lot would have been
bearable； but they starved him and held him down when he wished
to rise； and they would not put out the fire in the pillow； which
they might easily have done by the simple expedient of throwing
it over the ship's side into the sea。 He himself had done this
twice； but the keeper had immediately brought a fresh pillow
already heated for the torture and forced it under his head。
His pleasures were very simple； and so few that he could not
understand why they robbed him of them so jealously。 One was to
watch a green cluster of bananas that hung above him from the
awning twirling on a string。 He could count as many of them as
five before the bunch turned and swung lazily back again； when he
could count as high as twelve； sometimes when the ship rolled
heavily he could count to twenty。 It was a most fascinating
game； and contented him for many hours。 But when they found this
out they sent for the cook to come and cut them down； and the
cook carried them away to his galley。
Then； one day； a man came out from the shore； swimming through
the blue water with great splashes。 He was a most charming man；
who spluttered and dove and twisted and lay on his back and
kicked his legs in an excess of content and delight。 It was a
real pleasure to watch him； not for days had anything so amusing
appeared on the other side of the prison…bars。 But as soon as
the keeper saw that the man in the water was amusing his
prisoner； he leaned over the ship's side and shouted； 〃Sa…ay；
you； don't you know there's sharks in there？〃
And the swimming man said； 〃The hll there is！〃 and raced back
to the shore like a porpoise with great lashing of the water； and
ran up the beach half…way to the palms before he was satisfied to
stop。 Then the prisoner wept again。 It was so disappointing。
Life was robbed of everything now。 He remembered that in a
previous existence soldiers who cried were laughed at and mocked。
But that was so far away and it was such an absurd superstition
that he had no patience with it。 For what could be more
comforting to a man when he is treated cruelly than to cry。
It was so obvious an exercise； and when one is so feeble that one
cannot vault a four…railed barrier it is something to feel that
at least one is strong enough to cry。
He escaped occasionally； traversing space with marvellous
rapidity and to great distances； but never to any successful
purpose； and his flight inevitably ended in ignominious recapture
and a sudden awakening in bed。 At these moments the familiar and
hated palms； the peaks and the block…house were more hideous in
their reality than the most terrifying of his nightmares。
These excursions afield were always predatory； he went forth
always to seek food。 With all the beautiful world from which to
elect and choose； he sought out only those places where eating
was studied and elevated to an art。 These visits were much more
vivid in their detail than any he had ever before made to these
same resorts。 They invariably began in a carriage； which carried
him swiftly over smooth asphalt。 One route brought him across a
great and beautiful square； radiating with rows and rows of
flickering lights； two fountains splashed in the centre of the
square； and six women of stone guarded its approaches。 One of
the women was hung with wreaths of mourning。 Ahead of him the
late twilight darkened behind a great arch； which seemed to rise
on the horizon of the world； a great window into the heavens
beyond。 At either side strings of white and colored globes hung
among the trees； and the sound of music came joyfully from
theatres in the open air。 He knew the restaurant under the trees
to which he was now hastening； and the fountain beside it； and
the very sparrows balancing on the fountain's edge； he knew every
waiter at each of the tables； he felt again the gravel crunching
under his feet； he saw the maitre d'hotel coming forward
smiling to receive his command； and the waiter in the green apron
bowing at his elbow； deferential and important； presenting the
list of wines。 But his adventure never passed that point； for he
was captured again and once more bound to his cot with a close
burning sheet。
Or else； he drove more sedately through the London streets in
the late evening twilight； leaning expectantly across the doors
of the hansom and pulling carefully at his white gloves。 Other
hansoms flashed past him； the occupant of each with his mind
fixed on one ideadinner。 He was one of a million of people who
were about to dine； or who had dined； or who were deep in dining。
He was so famished； so weak for food of any quality； that the
galloping horse in the hansom seemed to crawl。 The lights of the
Embankment passed like the lamps of a railroad station as seen
from the window of an express； and while his mind was still torn
between the choice of a thin or thick soup or an immediate attack
upon cold beef； he was at the door； and the chasseur touched
his cap； and the little chasseur put the wicker guard over the
hansom's wheel。 As he jumped out he said； 〃Give him half…a…
crown；〃 and the driver called after him； 〃Thank you； sir。〃
It was a beautiful world； this world outside of the iron bars。
Every one in it contributed to his pleasure and to his comfort。
In this world he was not starved nor manhandled。 He thought
of this joyfully as he leaped up the stairs； where young men with
grave faces and with their hands held negligently behind their
backs bowed to him in polite surprise at his speed。 But they had
not been starved on condensed milk。 He threw his coat