That done, however, he was well aware the rest would be comparatively easy, and as he threw the brick to the ground, he exclaimed triumphantly, "The first step is taken--the main difficulty is overcome." Animated by this trifling success, he proceeded with fresh ardour, and the rapidity of his progress was proclaimed by the heap of bricks, stones, and mortar which before long covered the floor.

At the expiration of an hour, by dint of unremitting exertion, he had made so large a breach in the chimney, that he could stand upright in it.

He was now within a foot of the bar, and introducing himself into the hole, speedily worked his way to it.
Regardless of the risk he incurred from some heavy stone dropping on his head or feet,--regardless also of the noise made by the falling rubbish, and of the imminent danger which he consequently ran of being interrupted by some of the jailers, should the sound reach their ears, he continued to pull down large masses of the wall, which he flung upon the floor of the cell.
Having worked thus for another quarter of an hour without being sensible of fatigue, though he was half stifled by the clouds of dust which his exertions raised, he had made a hole about three feet wide, and six high, and uncovered the iron bar.

Grasping it firmly with both hands, he quickly wrenched if from the stones in which it was mortised, and leapt to the ground.

On examination it proved to be a flat bar of iron, nearly a yard in length, and more than an inch square.