Why does "\024" mean `C-t'? (in bindkey example in man page)

[Aleksey Tsalolikhin]

Hello,

The GNU screen man page states:

    bindkey "\024" mapdefault

     This keybinding makes `C-t' an escape character for keybindings.

My 'ascii' man page shows that octal 024 is Device Control 4:

       Oct   Dec   Hex   Char                        
       024   20    14    DC4 (device control 4)      

And that "T" is octal 124:

       Oct   Dec   Hex   Char

       124   84    54     T

I tried binding something to \024 and when I press Control-T I get that something.  

Why is \024 control-T rather than \124, please?

Best,

Aleksey