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forty men。 I was placed in a cell reserved for solitary confinement。 I
have never been a man who regarded life seriously； or feared to risk it
upon sufficient occasion； but my heart froze within me when the horror of
my situation was revealed to me。 A stone box perhaps eight feet square …
as I lay upon the floor I could touch its opposite sides with my hands and
feet … had been prepared for my entrance by cutting a slit in one of its
walls just large enough for the passage of my body。 Through this narrow
opening I was dropped into the total darkness within。 A blacksmith
followed and welded my fetters； for locks and keys are never used。 A
chain having a heavy weight pendant from it was riveted to my ankle； and
an iron band was similarly fastened to my waist。 This band was fastened
by a chain to an iron ring deeply sunk in the solid rock。 When these
horrible preparations were completed the blacksmith left me and a mason
bricked up the slit through which I had entered； leaving only a hand…
breadth of space for air and the thrusting through of such scraps of food as
were to be allowed me。 Language is powerless to describe the feelings of
a man in such a position。 He realises that his only hope is in disease …
disease bred of the darkness； the dampness； the starvation； and the horrible
filth。 He says to himself： 'How long； 0 God！ how long？' … For hours I
remained prone and inert … how long I do not know； night and day are all
one in the dungeons of Ceuta。 Then I began to think。 Could I escape？
I felt that all power of thought； all cleverness would soon desert me； and I
said to myself： 'If anything is to be done； it must be done at once。' I knew
not then what long…drawn horrors a mortal could endure。 Whenever I
attempted to walk the iron mass fastened to my leg would 'bring me up
short；' often； in my early forgetfulness of it； throwing me prone upon my
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face。 After a little I learned to move with a halting gait； striding out with
the free limb and pausing to pull my burden after me with the other。 This
habit； learned in the squalor and darkness of the dungeon hells of Ceuta； I
have never been able to unlearn。
〃It was many days before I could see how anything short of a miracle
could enable me to escape。 I tried to calmly reason it all out； and every
time came to the same horrible conclusion； viz。： I must rot there unless
help came to me from without。 This seemed impossible； and all the
horrors of a lingering death stared me in the face。 Every two or three days
one of the jailers would come to the slit in the masonry and leave there a
dish of water and a few crusts of bread。 I tried on one occasion to speak
with him； but he only laughed in my face and turned away。 Finally I hit
upon a plan which seemed to offer the only possible means of escape。 In
my college days I was well acquainted with M。 Charcot； and even assisted
in some of his earlier hypnotic experiments。 The subject interested me；
and I followed it closely till I became something of an adept myself。
There were in those days but few people I could not mesmerise； provided
sufficient opportunity were allowed me for hypnotic suggestion。 I
determined to see if any of this old power still remained with me； and； if
so； to strive to render my jailer subservient to my will。 But how should I
keep him within ear…shot long enough to work upon him？ Clearly all
appeals to pity were useless。 I must excite his greed； nothing else would
reach him。 This was not an easy thing to do without a sou in my
possession； yet I did it。 When I heard his step I crawled to the opening in
the wall and mumbled in a crazy sort of a way about a hidden treasure。
At the word 'treasure' I saw him pause and listen； but I pretended not to be
aware of his presence and rambled on； in a loose； disjointed fashion； about
piracies committed by me and the great amount of booty I had secreted。
My plan worked perfectly。 The jailer came to the aperture in the wall and
called me to him。 Muttering incoherently； I obeyed。 He asked me what
offence brought me there； and I； with a good deal of intentional
misunderstanding； told him I was a pirate and a smuggler。 He asked me
where the treasure I had been talking about was hidden。 My reply； … I
remember the exact words in which I couched it； … made him mine
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completely。 I said： 'We buried it near Fez … Treasure？ I don't know
anything about any treasure。'
〃To all the many questions he then asked me I returned only
incoherent replies； but I was careful to be again raving about buried riches
upon the next visit。 In this way I kept him by me long enough to
influence him； and in less than a month he was completely subject to my
will。 I tested my power over him in divers ways。 Any delicacy I
wished I compelled him to bring me。 In this way I was enabled to regain
a portion of my lost strength。 When I concluded the time had come for
me to make good my escape； I caused him to come to my cell at midnight
and remove the bricks from the slit while I put on the disguise he had
brought me。 Once out of my stone tomb we carefully walled it up again
and then departed to find my imaginary hidden treasure。 We made our
way without trouble to Algiers； for my companion had money； and sailed
thence via Gibraltar for England。 During the trip my companion jumped
overboard and was drowned in the Bay of Biscay。 Thus I was completely
freed from Ceuta and its terrible pest…hole。
〃From England I sailed to New York； reaching America penniless and
in ill health。 Things not going to my liking in New York； I came to
Boston and took up my old callings of gambler and detective。 It was at
this time that I saw John Darrow's curious notice in the newspaper；
offering； in the event of his murder； a most liberal reward to anyone who
would bring the assassin to justice。
〃Mon Dieu！ How I needed money。 I would have bartered my soul
for a tithe of that amount。 It was the old； old story； only new in Eden。 Ah！
but how I loved her！ She must have money； money； always money！ That
was ever her cry。 When I could not supply it she sought it of others； and
this drove me mad。 If； I said to myself； I could only get this reward！
This was something really worth working for； and if I could but get it； she
should be mine only。 I at once set to work upon the problem。
〃It was not an easy thing to solve。 I might be able to hire a man to do
the deed for me； but he would hardly be willing to hang for it without
disclosing my part in the transaction。 It was at this time that I first met M。
Latour on Decatur Street。 He at once impressed me as being just the man
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I wanted； and I began to gradually subdue his will。 In this circumstances
greatly aided me。 When I found him he was in very poor health and
without any means of sustenance。 His daughter was able to earn a little；
but not nearly enough to keep the wolf from the door。 Add to this that he
had a cancer； which several physicians had assured him would prove fatal
within a year； that he was afflicted with an almost insane fear that his
daughter would come to want after his death； and you have before you the
conditions which determined my course。 My first thought was to
influence him to do the deed himself； b