As soon as he felt strong enough he began to work on the rope
which bound his hands together. But the rascals who had placed
him in the cellar had done their work well, and the cord refused
to budge.

With difficulty he managed to stand erect. The bin was not only
pitch-dark, but full of cobwebs and the latter brushed over his
face whenever he moved. Then a spider crawled on his neck,
greatly adding to his discomfort.

Hour after hour went by, and poor Dick was wondering what the end
of the adventure would be when he heard a footstep overhead and
then came the indistinct murmur of voice.

"Somebody is in the room overhead," he thought, and tried to make
himself heard. But before he could do this the footsteps moved
off and he heard the slamming of a door. Then all became as
quiet as before.

An hour more went by, and the youth began to grow desperate. He
was thirsty and his mouth and nose were filled with dust and
dirt, rendering him far from comfortable.

In moving around his foot came in contact with an empty tomato
can and this gave him an idea. He knelt down, and with the can
between his heels, tried to saw apart the rope which bound his
hands behind him.

The position was an awkward one and the job long and tiring, but