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n this side of the building。 The corner ledge was but half the size； and offered no safe footing： but close to it he saw the outside leaves of a tree。 That tree； then； must grow close to the corner； could he but get round to it he might yet reach the ground whole。 Urged by that terror of a madhouse which is natural to a sane man； and in England is fed by occasional disclosures； and the general suspicion they excite； he leaped on to a piece of stone no bigger than one's hat； and then whirled himself round into the tree； all eyes to see and claws to grasp。
It was a weeping ash： he could get hold of nothing but soft yielding slivers； that went through his fingers； and so down with him like a bulrush； and souse he went with his hands full of green leaves over head and ears into the water of an enormous iron tank that fed the baths。
The heavy plunge； the sudden cold water； the instant darkness； were appalling： yet； like the fox among the hounds； the gallant young gentleman did not lose heart nor give tongue。 He came up gurgling and gasping； and swimming for his life in manly silence： he swam round and round the edge of the huge tank； trying in vain to get a hold upon its cold rusty walls。 He heard whistles and voices about： they came faint to him where he was； but he knew they could not be very far off。
Life is sweet。 It flashed across him how； a few years before； a university man of great promise had perished miserably in a tank on some Swiss mountaina tank placed for the comfort of travellers。 He lifted his eyes to Heaven in despair； and gave one great sob。
Then he turned upon his back and floated： but he was obliged to paddle with his hands a little to keep up。
A window opened a few feet above him； and a face peered out between the bars。
Then he gave all up for lost； and looked to hear a voice denounce him； but no： the livid face and staring eyes at the window took no notice of him： it was a maniac； whose eyes； bereft of reason； conveyed no images to the sentient brain。 Only by some half vegetable instinct this darkened man was turning towards the morning sun； and staring it full in the face。 Alfred saw the rays strike and sparkle on those glassy orbs； and fire them； yet they never so much as winked。 He was appalled yet fascinated by this weird sight： could not take his eyes off it； and shuddered at it in the very water。 With such creatures as that he must be confined； or die miserably like a mouse in a basin of water。
He hesitated between two horrors。
Presently his foot struck something； and he found it was a large pipe that entered the tank to the distance of about a foot This pipe was not more than three feet under water； and Alfred soon contrived to get upon it； and rest his fingers upon the iron edge of the tank。 The position was painful： yet so he determined to remain till night： and then； if possible； steal away。 Every faculty of mind and body was strung up to defend himself against the wretches who had entrapped him。
He had not been long in this position； when voices approached； and next the shadow of a ladder moved across the wall towards him。 The keepers were going to search his pitiable hiding…place。 They knew； what he did not； that there was no outlet from the premises： so now； having hunted every other corner and cranny； they came by what is called the exhaustive process of reasoning to this tank； and when they got near it； something in the appearance of the tree caught the gardener's quick eye。 Alfred quaking heard him say； 〃Look here！ He is not far from this。〃
Another voice said； 〃Then the Lord have mercy on him； why there's seven foot of water； I measured it last night。〃
At this Alfred was conscious of a movement and a murmur； that proved humanity was not extinct； and the ladder was fixed close to the tank； and feet came hastily up it。
Alfred despaired。
But； as usual with spirits so quickwitted and resolute； it was but for a moment。 〃One man in his time plays many animals；〃 he caught at the words he had heard； and played the game the jackal desperate plays in India； the fox in England； the elephant in Ceylon： he feigned death； filled his mouth with water； floated on his back paddling imperceptibly； and half closed his eyes。
He was rewarded by a loud shout of dismay just above his head； and very soon another ladder was placed on the other side； and with ropes and hands he was drawn out and carried down the ladder： he took this opportunity to discharge the water from his mouth； on which a coarse voice said； 〃Look there！ _His_ troubles are at an end。〃
However； they laid him on the grass； and sent for the doctor； then took off his coat； and one of them began to feel his heart to see whether there was any pulsation left： he found it thumping。 〃Look out；〃 he cried in some alarm； 〃he's shamming Abraham。〃
But； before the words were well uttered； Alfred； who was a practised gymnast； bounded off the ground without touching it with his hands； and fled like a deer towards the front of the house： for he remembered the open iron gate。 The attendants followed shouting； and whistle answered whistle all over the grounds。 Alfred got safe to the iron gate： alas！ it had been closed at the first whistle twenty minutes ago。 He turned in rage and desperation； and the head…keeper； a powerful man； was rushing incautiously upon him。 Alfred instantly steadied himself； and with his long arm caught the man in full career a left…handed blow like the kick of a pony； that laid his cheek open and knocked him stupid and staggering。 He followed it up like lightning with his right； and； throwing his whole weight into this second blow； sent the staggering man to grass； slipped past another； and skirting the south side of the house got to the tank again well in advance of his pursuers； seized the ladder； carried it to the garden wall； and was actually half way up it； and saw the open country and liberty； when the ladder was dragged away and he fell heavily to the ground； and a keeper threw himself bodily on him。 Alfred half expected this； and drawing up his foot in time； dashed it furiously in the coming face； actually knocking the man backwards。 Another kneeled on his chest： Alfred caught him by the throat so felly that he lost all power； and they rolled over and over together； and Alfred got clear and ran for it again； and got on the middle of the lawn； and hallooed to the house：〃Hy！ hy！ Are there any more sane men imprisoned there？ Come out； and fight for your lives！〃 Instantly the open windows were filled with white faces； some grinning； some exulting； all greatly excited； and a hideous uproar shook the whole placefor the poor souls were all sane in their own opinion and the whole force of attendants； two of them bleeding profusely from his blows； made a cordon and approached him。 But he was too cunning to wait to be fairly surrounded； he made his rush at an under…keeper； feinted at his head； caught him a heavy blow in the pit of the stomach； doubled him up in a moment； and off again； leaving the man on his knees vomiting and groaning。 Several mild maniacs ran out in vast agitation； and； to curry favour； offered to help catch him。 Vast was their zeal。 But when it came to the point； they only danced wild