The ground was moist and
slippery. I staggered onward for some time, when I stumbled and
fell. My excessive fatigue induced me to remain prostrate; and sleep
soon overtook me as I lay.
Upon awaking, and stretching forth an arm, I found beside me a
loaf and a pitcher with water. I was too much exhausted to reflect
upon this circumstance, but ate and drank with avidity. Shortly
afterward, I resumed my tour around the prison, and with much toil
came at last upon the fragment of the serge. Up to the period when I
fell I had counted fifty-two paces, and upon resuming my walk, I had
counted forty-eight more; --when I arrived at the rag. There were in
all, then, a hundred paces; and, admitting two paces to the yard, I
presumed the dungeon to be fifty yards in circuit. I had met, however,
with many angles in the wall, and thus I could form no guess at the
shape of the vault; for vault I could not help supposing it to be.
I had little object --certainly no hope these researches; but a
vague curiosity prompted me to continue them. Quitting the wall, I
resolved to cross the area of the enclosure. At first I proceeded with
extreme caution, for the floor, although seemingly of solid
material, was treacherous with slime.
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