Under his tuition I received my first lesson in prison bed-making.

A strip of thick canvas was stretched across the cell and fastened at each end by leather straps running through those mysterious rings.

A coarse sheet was spread on this, then a rough blanket, and finally a sieve-like counterpane; the whole forming a very fair imitation of a ship's hammock.

It had by no means an uncomfortable appearance, and being extremely fagged, I thought I would retire to rest.

But directly I essayed to do so my troubles began.