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　He　came　up　gurgling　and　gasping；　and　swimming　for　his　life　in　manly　silence：　he　swam　round　and　round　the　edge　of　the　huge　tank；　trying　in　vain　to　get　a　hold　upon　its　cold　rusty　walls。　He　heard　whistles　and　voices　about：　they　came　faint　to　him　where　he　was；　but　he　knew　they　could　not　be　very　far　off。

Life　is　sweet。　It　flashed　across　him　how；　a　few　years　before；　a　university　man　of　great　promise　had　perished　miserably　in　a　tank　on　some　Swiss　mountaina　tank　placed　for　the　comfort　of　travellers。　He　lifted　his　eyes　to　Heaven　in　despair；　and　gave　one　great　sob。

Then　he　turned　upon　his　back　and　floated：　but　he　was　obliged　to　paddle　with　his　hands　a　little　to　keep　up。

A　window　opened　a　few　feet　above　him；　and　a　face　peered　out　between　the　bars。

Then　he　gave　all　up　for　lost；　and　looked　to　hear　a　voice　denounce　him；　but　no：　the　livid　face　and　staring　eyes　at　the　window　took　no　notice　of　him：　it　was　a　maniac；　whose　eyes；　bereft　of　reason；　conveyed　no　images　to　the　sentient　brain。　Only　by　some　half　vegetable　instinct　this　darkened　man　was　turning　towards　the　morning　sun；　and　staring　it　full　in　the　face。　Alfred　saw　the　rays　strike　and　sparkle　on　those　glassy　orbs；　and　fire　them；　yet　they　never　so　much　as　winked。　He　was　appalled　yet　fascinated　by　this　weird　sight：　could　not　take　his　eyes　off　it；　and　shuddered　at　it　in　the　very　water。　With　such　creatures　as　that　he　must　be　confined；　or　die　miserably　like　a　mouse　in　a　basin　of　water。

He　hesitated　between　two　horrors。

Presently　his　foot　struck　something；　and　he　found　it　was　a　large　pipe　that　entered　the　tank　to　the　distance　of　about　a　foot　This　pipe　was　not　more　than　three　feet　under　water；　and　Alfred　soon　contrived　to　get　upon　it；　and　rest　his　fingers　upon　the　iron　edge　of　the　tank。　The　position　was　painful：　yet　so　he　determined　to　remain　till　night：　and　then；　if　possible；　steal　away。　Every　faculty　of　mind　and　body　was　strung　up　to　defend　himself　against　the　wretches　who　had　entrapped　him。

He　had　not　been　long　in　this　position；　when　voices　approached；　and　next　the　shadow　of　a　ladder　moved　across　the　wall　towards　him。　The　keepers　were　going　to　search　his　pitiable　hiding…place。　They　knew；　what　he　did　not；　that　there　was　no　outlet　from　the　premises：　so　now；　having　hunted　every　other　corner　and　cranny；　they　came　by　what　is　called　the　exhaustive　process　of　reasoning　to　this　tank；　and　when　they　got　near　it；　something　in　the　appearance　of　the　tree　caught　the　gardener's　quick　eye。　Alfred　quaking　heard　him　say；　〃Look　here！　He　is　not　far　from　this。〃

Another　voice　said；　〃Then　the　Lord　have　mercy　on　him；　why　there's　seven　foot　of　water；　I　measured　it　last　night。〃

At　this　Alfred　was　conscious　of　a　movement　and　a　murmur；　that　proved　humanity　was　not　extinct；　and　the　ladder　was　fixed　close　to　the　tank；　and　feet　came　hastily　up　it。

Alfred　despaired。

But；　as　usual　with　spirits　so　quickwitted　and　resolute；　it　was　but　for　a　moment。　〃One　man　in　his　time　plays　many　animals；〃　he　caught　at　the　words　he　had　heard；　and　played　the　game　the　jackal　desperate　plays　in　India；　the　fox　in　England；　the　elephant　in　Ceylon：　he　feigned　death；　filled　his　mouth　with　water；　floated　on　his　back　paddling　imperceptibly；　and　half　closed　his　eyes。

He　was　rewarded　by　a　loud　shout　of　dismay　just　above　his　head；　and　very　soon　another　ladder　was　placed　on　the　other　side；　and　with　ropes　and　hands　he　was　drawn　out　and　carried　down　the　ladder：　he　took　this　opportunity　to　discharge　the　water　from　his　mouth；　on　which　a　coarse　voice　said；　〃Look　there！　_His_　troubles　are　at　an　end。〃

However；　they　laid　him　on　the　grass；　and　sent　for　the　doctor；　then　took　off　his　coat；　and　one　of　them　began　to　feel　his　heart　to　see　whether　there　was　any　pulsation　left：　he　found　it　thumping。　〃Look　out；〃　he　cried　in　some　alarm；　〃he's　shamming　Abraham。〃

But；　before　the　words　were　well　uttered；　Alfred；　who　was　a　practised　gymnast；　bounded　off　the　ground　without　touching　it　with　his　hands；　and　fled　like　a　deer　towards　the　front　of　the　house：　for　he　remembered　the　open　iron　gate。　The　attendants　followed　shouting；　and　whistle　answered　whistle　all　over　the　grounds。　Alfred　got　safe　to　the　iron　gate：　alas！　it　had　been　closed　at　the　first　whistle　twenty　minutes　ago。　He　turned　in　rage　and　desperation；　and　the　head…keeper；　a　powerful　man；　was　rushing　incautiously　upon　him。　Alfred　instantly　steadied　himself；　and　with　his　long　arm　caught　the　man　in　full　career　a　left…handed　blow　like　the　kick　of　a　pony；　that　laid　his　cheek　open　and　knocked　him　stupid　and　staggering。　He　followed　it　up　like　lightning　with　his　right；　and；　throwing　his　whole　weight　into　this　second　blow；　sent　the　staggering　man　to　grass；　slipped　past　another；　and　skirting　the　south　side　of　the　house　got　to　the　tank　again　well　in　advance　of　his　pursuers；　seized　the　ladder；　carried　it　to　the　garden　wall；　and　was　actually　half　way　up　it；　and　saw　the　open　country　and　liberty；　when　the　ladder　was　dragged　away　and　he　fell　heavily　to　the　ground；　and　a　keeper　threw　himself　bodily　on　him。　Alfred　half　expected　this；　and　drawing　up　his　foot　in　time；　dashed　it　furiously　in　the　coming　face；　actually　knocking　the　man　backwards。　Another　kneeled　on　his　chest：　Alfred　caught　him　by　the　throat　so　felly　that　he　lost　all　power；　and　they　rolled　over　and　over　together；　and　Alfred　got　clear　and　ran　for　it　again；　and　got　on　the　middle　of　the　lawn；　and　hallooed　to　the　house：〃Hy！　hy！　Are　there　any　more　sane　men　imprisoned　there？　Come　out；　and　fight　for　your　lives！〃　Instantly　the　open　windows　were　filled　with　white　faces；　some　grinning；　some　exulting；　all　greatly　excited；　and　a　hideous　uproar　shook　the　whole　placefor　the　poor　souls　were　all　sane　in　their　own　opinion　and　the　whole　force　of　attendants；　two　of　them　bleeding　profusely　from　his　blows；　made　a　cordon　and　approached　him。　But　he　was　too　cunning　to　wait　to　be　fairly　surrounded；　he　made　his　rush　at　an　under…keeper；　feinted　at　his　head；　caught　him　a　heavy　blow　in　the　pit　of　the　stomach；　doubled　him　up　in　a　moment；　and　off　again；　leaving　the　man　on　his　knees　vomiting　and　groaning。　Several　mild　maniacs　ran　out　in　vast　agitation；　and；　to　curry　favour；　offered　to　help　catch　him。　Vast　was　their　zeal。　But　when　it　came　to　the　point；　they　only　danced　wildly　about　and　cried；　〃Stop　him！　for　God's　sake　stop　him！　he's　ill；　dreadfully　ill；　poor　wretch！　knock　out　his　brains！〃　And；　whenever　he　came　near　them；　away　they　ran　whining　like　kicked　curs。

Mrs。　Archbold；　looking　out　at　a　window；　advised　them　all　to　let　him　alone；　and　she　would　come　out　and　persuade　him。　But　they　would　not　be　advised：　they　chased　him　about　the　lawn；　but　so　swift　of　foot　was　he；　and　so　long　in　the　reach；　that　no　one　of　them　could　stop　him；　nor　indeed　come　near　him；　without　getting　a　facer　that　came　like　a　flash　of　lightning。

At　last；　however；　they　got　so　well　round　him；　he　saw　his　chance　was　gone：　he　took　off　his　hat　to　Mrs。　Archbold　at　the　window；　and　said　quietly；　〃I　surrender　to　_you；_　madam。〃

At　these　words　they　rushed　on　him　rashly。　On　this　he　planted　two　blows　right　and　left；　swift　as　a　cat　attacked　by　dogs；　administered　two　fearful　black　eyes；　and　instantly　folded　his　arms；　saying　haughtily；　〃It　was　to　the　lady　I　yielded；　not　to　you　fellows。〃

They　seized　him；　shook　their　fists　in　his　face；　cursed　him；　and　pinned　him。　He　was　quite　passive：　they　handcuffed　him；　and　drove　him　before　them；　shoving　him　every　now　and　then　roughly　by　the　shoulders。　He　made　no　resistance；　spoke　no　word。　They　took　him　to　the　strong…room；　and　manacled　his　ankles　together　with　an　iron　hobble；　and　then　strapped　them　to　the　bed…posts；　and　fastened　his　body　down　by　broad　bands　of　ticking　with　leathern　straps　at　the　ends：　and　so　left　him　more　helpless　than　a　swaddled　infant。　The　hurry　and　excitement　of　defence　were　over；　and　a　cold　stupor　of　misery　came　down　and　sat　like　lead　on　him。　He　lay　mute　as　death　in　his　gloomy　cell；　a　tomb　within　a　living　tomb。　And；　as　he　lay；　deeper　horror　grew　and　grew　in　his　dilating　eyes：　gusts　of　rage　swept　over　him；　shook　him；　and　passed：　then　gusts　of　despairing　tenderness；　all　came　and　went；　but　his　bonds。　What　would　his　Julia　think？　If　he　could　only　let　her　know！　At　this　thought　he　called；　he　shouted；　he　begged　for　a　messenger；　there　was　no　reply。　The　cry　of　a　dangerous　lunatic　from　the　strong…room　was　less　heeded　here　than　a　bark　from　any　dog…kennel　in　Christendom。　〃This　is　my　father's　doing；〃　he　said。　〃Curse　him！　Curse　him　Curse　him！〃　and　his　brain　seemed　on　fire；　his　temples　throbbed：　he　vowed　to　God　to　be　revenged　on　his　father。

Then　he　writhed　at　his　own　meanness　in　coming　to　visit　a　servant　and　his　folly　in　being　caught　by　so　shallow　an　artifice。　He　groaned　aloud。　The　clock　in　the　hall　struck　ten。　There　was　just　time　to　get　back　if　they　would　lend　him　a　conveyance。　He　shouted；　he　screamed；　he　prayed。　He　offered　terms　humbly；　piteously；　he　would　forgive　his　father；　forgive　them　all；　he　would　say　no　more　about　the　money；　would　do　anything；　consent　to　anything；　if　they　would　only　let　him　keep　faith　with　his　Julia：　they　had　better　consent；　and　not　provoke　his　vengeance。　〃Have　mercy　on　me！〃　he　cried。　〃Don't　make　me　insult　her　I　love。　They　will　all　be　waiting　for　me。　It　is　my　wedding…day；　you　can't　have　known　it　is　my　wedding…day；　fiends；　monsters；　I　tell　you　it　is　my　wedding…