Others expressed the conviction that they had thrown themselves into a well.

One man, who did not love Mr.Belcher, and had heard the stories of his ill-treatment of Benedict, breathed the suspicion that both he and his boy had been foully dealt with by one who had an interest in getting them out of the way.
It was a marvel to see how quickly this suspicion took wing.

It seemed to be the most rational theory of the event.

It went from mouth to mouth and ear to ear, as the wind breathes among the leaves of a forest; but there were reasons in every man's mind, or instincts in his nature, that withheld the word "murder" from the ear of Mr.Belcher.As soon as the suspicion became general, the aspect of every incident of the flight changed.

Then they saw, apparently for the first time, that a man weakened by disease and long confinement, and never muscular at his best, could not have forced the inner door of Benedict's cell.