Frightened and bewildered , Blair quitted the city at once , leaving Dan to pass the night in the lock-up , and a few days later to stand in court charged with manslaughter ; for the man was dead . Dan had no friends , and having once briefly told the story , held his peace , anxious to keep all knowledge of this sad affair from those at home . He even concealed his name -- giving that of David Kent , as he had done several times before in emergencies . It was all over very soon ; but as there were extenuating circumstances his sentence was a year in prison , with hard labour . Dazed by the rapidity with which this horrible change in his life came upon him , Dan did not fully realize it till the iron door clanged behind him and he sat alone in a cell as narrow , cold , and silent as a tomb . He knew that a word would bring Mr Laurie to help and comfort him ; but he could not bear to tell of this disgrace , or see the sorrow and the shame it would cause the friends who hoped so much for him . ` No , ' he said , clenching his fist , ` I 'll let them think me dead first . I shall be if I am kept here long ' ; and he sprang up to pace the stone floor like a caged lion , with a turmoil of wrath and grief , rebellion and remorse , seething in heart and brain , till he felt as if he should go mad and beat upon the walls that shut him away from the liberty which was his life . For days he suffered terribly , then worn out , sank into a black melancholy sadder to see than his excitement . The warden of this prison was a rough man who had won the ill will of all by unnecessary harshness , but the chaplain was full of sympathy , and did his hard duty faithfully and tenderly . He laboured with poor Dan , but seemed to make no impression , and was forced to wait till work had soothed the excited nerves and captivity tamed the proud spirit that would suffer but not complain . Dan was put in the brush-shop , and feeling that activity was his only salvation , worked with a feverish energy that soon won the approval of the master and the envy of less skilful mates . Day after day he sat in his place , watched by an armed overseer , forbidden any but necessary words , no intercourse with the men beside him , no change but from cell to shop , no exercise but the dreary marches to and fro , each man 's hand on the other 's shoulder keeping step with the dreary tramp so different from the ringing tread of soldiers . Silent , gaunt , and grim , Dan did his daily task , ate his bitter bread , and obeyed commands with a rebellious flash of the eye , that made the warden say : ` That 's a dangerous man . Watch him . He 'll break out some day . ' There were others more dangerous than he , because older in crime and ready for any desperate outbreak to change the monotony of long sentences . These men soon divined Dan 's mood , and in the mysterious way convicts invent , managed to convey to him before a month was over that plans were being made for a mutiny at the first opportunity . Thanksgiving Day was one of the few chances for them to speak together as they enjoyed an hour of freedom in the prison yard . Then all would be settled and the rash attempt made if possible , probably to end in bloodshed and defeat for most , but liberty for a few .
Dan had already planned his own escape and bided his time , growing more and more moody , fierce , and rebellious , as loss of liberty wore upon soul and body ; for this sudden change from his free , healthy life to such a narrow , gloomy , and miserable one , could not but have a terrible effect upon one of XXXXX 's temperament and age .
Blair Dan Laurie daily day first fro hour labour night