The prisoner waited his chance for three years he had schemed for this opportunity now that escape seemed so near at hand those three years lost some of their monotony but he would never forget rhe lashes the close confinement low diet and worse still the mental strain of those black days suddenly the warden did what he had hoped he stopped to unlock the lower padlock with a dull thud he slumped forward with keys in his hands swifitly the prisoner seized his keys unlocked the cell and run into the courtyard