midday
When morning broke , I was conscious of a great agitation of mind , which I schooled myself to hide from the eyes of my guards , forcing myself to eat the breakfast for which I had no appetite . It would have eased me to pace up and down my room , but I forbore even from this , so that no restlessness might provoke their curiosity or suspicion . I sat for hours on my bed , awaiting the time for our attempt . The men brought me my midday meal : one of them made a brutal remark on my pallor ; and then the door was shut , and they settled themselves to their usual siesta . 'T was about an hour later when I heard the tube pushed up through the hole in the floor . Uncle Moses was below . The critical moment for which I had been longing was come , and my limbs trembled uncontrollably , as they had not done since the time when I saw my first sea fight on the deck of the Dolphin .