The Arkansas advocate., 1830-12-22
living grave that had been prepared for

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 He cenld not hope te escape, unless he had the power with his bare hands oi rending asundef the solid iron walls of his prison. He could not hope for lib- erty from the relenting mercies of his enemy.
 It was evening when Vivenzio enter cd his dungeon, and the approaching shades of night wrapped it in total darkness, as he paced up and down, re- volving in his mind those horrible fore bodings.
 The stronger light of day only serv- ed to confirm what the gloomy indis- tinctness of the preceding evening had partially disclosed-the utter impossi- biilty of escape. As, however, his eyes wandered round and round, and from place to place, he noticed two circum- stances which excited his surprise and curiosity. The one, he thought, might he fancy, but the other was positive.- His pitcher of water, and the dish which contained his food, had been re- moved from his side while he slept, and ! now stood near the door. He had been visited therefore during the night. But how had the person obtained entrance? Could he have slept so soundly, that the unlocking and opening of those pondrons portals were effected without waking him? He would have said this was not possible, but that in doing SO, he must admit a greater difficulty, an entrance by other means, of which he was convinced there existed none.
 The other circumstance which had attracted his notice, was the disappear ance, as lie believed of ore of the seven grated windows that ran along the top of his prison. He felt confident that he had observed and counted them; for he was rather surprised at their number, and there vas something peculiar in their form, as well as in the manner of their arrangement, at unequal distan- ees. 1t was so much easier, however. to suppose he was mistaken, than that a portion of the solid iron, which formed the walls, could have escaped from its position, that he soon dismissed the thought from his mind.
 Vivenzio partdok of the food that was before him, without apprehension. It might be poisoned; but if it were, he knew he could not escape death, should such be the design of Toifi, and the quickest death would be the speediest release.
 The day passed wearily and gloomi- ly; though not without q faint hope that, by keeping watch at night, he might observe when the person came again to bring him food. which he sup posed he would do in the same way as before. The mere thought of being ap- preached by living creature, and the opportunity it mightpresent of learning the doom prepared, or preparing, for him, imparted some comfort. Besides, if he came alone, might he not in a fu- rious onset overpower him? Or he might be accessableto pity, or tile inhu- ence of such munifcent rewards as he could bestow, if once more at liberty and master of himself. Say he were armed. The worst that could befall, if no bribe, nor prayer, nor force pre- vailed, was a faithful blow, which tho dealt in damned cause, might work a desired end. There was no chance so desperate, but it looked lovelyin Viven- zio's eyes, compared with the idea of be- ing totally abandoned.
 The night came, and Vivenzio watch ed. Morning came, and Vivenzio was confounded! He must have slumbered without knowing it. Sleep must have stolen over him when exhausted by fa- tigue, and in that interval of feverish repose, he had been baffied for there stood his replenished pitcher of water, and there his days meal! Nor was this all. Casting his looks towards the win- dows of his dungeon, he counted out fire! Here was no deception; and he was now convinced there had been none the day before. But what did all this portcnd9 Into what strange and myste- rious den had he been cast?
 1t was evident, there must be some se- cret machinery in the walls by which a person could enter. He inspected them closely. They appeared to him one solid and compact mass of iron; or joined, if joined they were, with such nice art, that no mark of division was perceptible. Again and again he sur yeyed them-and the foor-and the roof-and that range of visionary win.