my seat, on the rivet that had been negligently closed, I effected
this also.

The chain was fastened to the run round my body by a hook, one end
of which was not inserted in the rim; therefore, by setting my foot
against the wall, I had strength enough so far to bend this hook
back, and open it, as to force out the link of the chain. The
remaining difficulty was the chain that attached my foot to the
wall: the links of this I took, doubled, twisted, and wrenched,
till at length, nature having bestowed on me great strength, I made
a desperate effort, sprang forcibly up, and two links at once flew
off.

Fortunate, indeed, did I think myself: I hastened to the door,
groped in the dark to find the clinkings of the nails by which the
lock was fastened, and discovered no very large piece of wood need
be cut. Immediately I went to work with my knife, and cut through
the oak door to find its thickness, which proved to be only one
inch, therefore it was possible to open all the four doors in four-
and-twenty hours.

Again hope revived in my heart. To prevent detection I hastened to
put on my chains; but, O God! what difficulties had I to surmount!
After much groping about, I at length found the link that had flown
off; this I hid: it being my good fortune hitherto to escape
examination, as the possibility of ridding myself of such chains was
in nowise suspected. The separated iron links I tied together with
my hair ribbon; but when I again endeavoured to force my hand into
the ring, it was so swelled that every effort was fruitless. The
whole might was employed upon the rivet, but all labour was in vain.