From the cell, Hampton and Craigg stared through the broken iron bars at the jetty which stretched two hundred metres away, out to sea. The cell was dark and desolate. The rope was in its place; tightly fastened to the iron rings inside the cell. It was about half an hour after midnight and time to move. They knew that the guards in the corridors were resting. Hampton climbed out first and lowered himself hastily down the wall to a ledge twenty feet below. Craigg followed minutes after. They waited there until the prison light had shifted to the west and their path was dark again. Then there was a splash. Both struck the icy sea water from forty feet above, and began their long journey to the jetty.
They had planned to swim the complete journey but the strong current was unfriendly, and they were never great sea dogs. Nevertheless, they fought bravely together. They knew also that the sea was shark-infested and hardly had any escapees survived that journey. There were other immediate dangers as well, for the breakers, huge waves, followed each other in close succession. These helped to wash them off their intended course and onto the rocks or small islands. Craigg and Hampton rested there for a short while and then were forced to look directly at a bright, stunning light that focused on them. The prison guards on the patrol boats had witnessed their every movement. The guards handcuffed them, returned them to prison and confined them to another cell under maximum security.
Where were Hampton and Craigg at first?
Describe the cell.
To what was the rope tied?
What were the guards doing in the prison?
What do you think was the purpose of the rope?
Which words or phrase in paragraph 1 indicate that the prisoners had planned a special time to escape?
On leaving the cell where did the prisoners first stop?
How did they plan to reach the jetty?
What is meant by “the strong current was unfriendly”?
Explain “they were never great sea dogs”.
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