The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 387: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

310 REYNOLDS’ WORKS as he and his leader carefully surveyed the rear of the build- ings. ‘‘ There isn’t never a light in none of the rooms, and not so much as a mouse a-stirring.”’ ‘““ Let’s try this door, then,’’ said the Cannibal. ‘“ Or that there windy, eh?” suggested Tony. ‘“ No, the door,’ was Chiffin’s prompt answer, for his ex- perienced eye at once showed him, by the aid of the moon- light, that the door presented the readiest and easiest means of effecting an entry. From a capacious pocket in the lining of his shaggy coat, he drew forth a small saw, thin as a watch-spring, keen as an array of shark’s teeth, and flexible as a Castilian stiletto blade. With a gimlet he speedily made a hole in the lower part of the door, near where he calculated the bolt must be, and, thrusting the saw into the hole, he cut out a circular piece, leaving an aperture large enough to introduce his hand. He was thus enabled to feel for the bolt and draw it back, — a process which was instantaneously accomplished. The door was high, and there was nothing for Chiffin to stand on to reach the upper part of it. He accordingly made Tony Wilkins go down upon all fours, and, standing on his back, he went to work again. Another gimlet-hole was made in the higher portion of the door, the little saw, well moistened with oil, was assiduously plied again, and another circular piece of wood, large enough to afford an opening for the hand and wrist, was soon cut out. The upper bolt was thus felt for, and drawn back, and Chiffin descended from his human footstool, — such a purpose Tony Wilkins having served, but not without experiencing some degree of pain in his back, as Mr. Chiffin was by no means the lightest person in the world. The reader will now understand that the two bolts of the door were drawn back, but the door itself was locked. It was a stout door, and Chiffin dared not attempt to break it open with a crowbar, on account of the noise that would be made by such an operation. There was no keyhole visible on the exterior side, and thus he had no immediate indica- tion of the position of the lock inside. But this difficulty was speedily overcome. Again ordering Tony Wilkins to go down upon all fours and make himself into a foot-stool, the Cannibal mounted on his back once more, and then, with a piece of string and a leaden bullet at one end he proceeded CONNIE NO KS (E(0)