"I wouldn't give her any." This idea was scouted, and it was resolved that all the prisoners should have a sufficient, though, at the same time, a limited amount of provisions.

That being arranged, the next question was, when should we begin?
We had to take a good many things into account in fixing the important date.

To-day was Friday.

The butcher, some one said, always brought the meat for the week on Monday; but the baker never came till the Wednesday.

So if we began operations on Monday we should have a good supply of meat but very little bread to start with; and it was possible, of course, the baker might smell a rat, and get up a rescue.
It would be better, on that account, to defer action till after the baker's visit on Wednesday.