CHAPTER XXVI 

TOGETHER ONCE MORE 

"Tom!" 

"Dick and Sam!" 

"How in the world did you get here?" 

"Where are the others?" 

These and a dozen other questions were asked and answered as the three Rover boys shook hands over and over again. Even though prisoners, they were delighted to be together once more, and doubly delighted to know that each was well. 

"Oh, these chaps are first-class rascals," said Dick after they had settled down a bit. "They have treated us most shamefully. At first, they gave us pretty good eating, but now they are starving us." 

"Starving you?" cried Tom. 

"Yes--they want us to tell all we know," put in Sam. "They are very suspicious." 

"Didn't you try to get away?" 

"No use of trying. The walls are too solid and so is the door," said Dick. He caught Tom by the arm and added in a faint whisper in his brother's ear: "They are listening. We have a hole." 

"Then we'll have to stay here," said Tom loudly, catching his cue instantly. 

"Yes, and it's a shame," added Sam in an equally loud voice. "I suppose the others have gone on?" 

"Certainly," said Tom calmly. "I was a chump to remain behind--only I wanted to find you. I got hold of a letter by accident." 

A moment later, they heard the guards walk away, and then Tom told the truth about the letter, and Sam and Dick led him to the hole in the wall. 

"It is not quite big enough to use, yet," whispered the eldest Rover. "But we hope to have it big enough by to-morrow. It's slow work, when you have got to be on your guard all the while."  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. How many young men are there?
2. What is the number of boys present?
3. Count the boys and tell us how many there are.
Q2:
1. Were the Rover boys free?
2. Did the Rover boys have their freedom?
3. Were the Rover boys able to move about freely?
Q3:
1. Were the Rover boys fed?
2. Did the Rover boys have any food?
3. Were the Rover boys getting enough to eat?
Q4:
1. Can the Rover boys make a run for it?
2. Are the Rover boys able to escape?
3. Is it possible for the Rover boys to escape?
Q5:
1. What was stumbled upon on accident?
2. What got found on accident?
3. What was not discovered on purpose?
Q6:
1. Who remained?
2. Who did not leave?
3. What was the name of the boy that stayed behind?
Q7:
1. Can the boys speak freely?
2. Is it possible for the boys to express themselves freely?
3. Are the Rover boys able to speak openly?
Q8:
1. Were the Rover boys planning an escape?
2. Were the Rover boys plotting to get out of where they were?
3. Were the Rover boys plotting to break free?
Q9:
1. When were the Rover boys planning on escaping?
2. When did the Rover boys plan to escape?
3. At what point did the Rover boys plan to make a run for it?
Q10:
1. Where could the hole be found?
2. What was the location of the hole?
3. Where had a hole been made?
Q11:
1. Who began making the hole?
2. Who was the hole created by?
3. Who was to thank for the hole?
