'
We shuffled by turn, next to the pan, and leaned back so that our
wrists were fairly in the water. The water relieved the pain, and I
could feel the thongs give a little, but it was only a little; they
had been tied too carefully and well to render it possible to
unloose them. We came to this conclusion after an hour's straining,
and at the cost of no little pain. We agreed it was no use, and sat
thinking over what was the next thing to do, and taking it by turns
to cool our wrists. We did not altogether give up hope, as we
agreed that we must try, in the short intervals between the visits
of the Mexicans, to untie the knots of each other's cords with
our teeth. It was possible, anyhow, for the knots would draw pretty
easy now that the leather was wet. Suddenly an idea struck me. I
squeezed myself back to the wall, and leaned against it.
'It's all right, Rube,' said I; 'our cords are as good as off.'
'How's that?' said Rube. 'This wall is made of rough stones, Rube,
and there are plenty of sharp edges sticking out through the mud.
They will cut through these wet thongs like knives.'
'Hoorah!' shouted Rube at the top of his voice, with a yell that
startled the Mexicans from their seats again, and then he commenced
thundering out one of the songs the soldiers used to sing on the
march.
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