The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-04-26

grasped her arm, and her power over her
own destiny was gone7 "Oh God, deliv-
er me !" she cried but the stranger an
swered with laugh. 81
"Coms, come, fair maiden !" he said |;
God never delivers from the Landschaden;
bat l thank you for bringing me here. That
idiot wardour has left the gates open, and
there is no one in the court. I will nail his
ears to the door-post. What if the troops
of the Palatine were to know of such care
less guard"
As he spoke, there came the sound of
trumpet from the woods above, and it was
echoed from the forest path below. A
stronger passion now was reused in the
breast of Gertrude's prosecutor; and, for
the moment, forgetting her existence, he
darted away, and his steps changed quickly
through the hall. "Oh God deliver me -
cried Gertrude again; but she now cried
so with better hope, and, for single instant,
she strained her eyes upon the part of the
wood whence the sound of the trumpet had
seemed to come. She caught the sight of
arms cleaning through the trees, and she
heard from the court below, the shouts OF
many voices giving loud commands for
manning the walls and defending the cas-
sle. She could not catch the words, but
she guessed their import, and the next mo-
mcnt loud explosion from the battlements
beneath her feet, followed by another and
another, told her that the Landschaden had
anticipated attack by firing upon the ap-
preaching parties. The tower on which
she stood seemed to rock with the concus-
sion Of the artillery, aud, in moment after,
nn answering flash blazed through the OPP
poste wood, and, with n rushing sound, n
cannon-bnl passed through the air, tip
ping an angle of the tower as it rushed by
aud scattering the masonry far and near
Running round the tower, she now thought
only of escape, and gazing into every win
dow which opened on the platform, she al
length, perceived one that led to flight OF
stnirs- 1t opened readily to her hand, and
she passed through; aud then, running
down with Il quick step, she only paused
when her head became gddy with The inces-
SAINT turning of the narrow staircase and the
deaiening roar of the artillery. Once, as
she descenJed, a bright fash burst through,
one of the narrow loop-holes, and she saw
the forms and fierce faces of armed men
hnrryIng about upon one of the batllements
hard by. She feared almost to move lest
they should see her /; but as the roar of the
guns was again heard, she hurried on with
beating heart, till the staircase termin-
nted with door on either hand. On the
one side she heard multitude of voices as
# IN eager debate, and, through the lSeyhole
OF the other, was pouringa stream of golden
sunshine. She tried it and found ii locked
but the heavy key was in, and turning, il
cautiously round, she drew the door back
and took step out into the air. She found
herself in n long paved way, leading from
the castle to which she had been carried, tc
another which stood beyond. perched hal
way up tremendous rock, like the nest o
"A swallow, from which ii derives its name
with the peasantry TO this day. The way
was raised upon high causeway, partly
artificial, partly natural, and bsltlements
and embrasures on each side, showed it
well calculated for defence, But, though
the cannon were still there, the soldiers, all
drawn to the side on which the attack be-
gan, had left it vacant, and Gertrude hur-
rled on seeking for some way to escape.
She could find none; the walls were too
high for her to attempt to drop from them,
aud, though the low sinking sun showed
her that but little time yet remained for her
TO secure her flight, she found herself foiled
wherever she turned. She hurried on,
however, towards the other castle, gazing
up to sec if there too were any of those she
had to fear, but it seemed, for the time,
utterly deserted. No soldiers appeared gaz-
iag from the b,i,cmeu,s at The distant & ght /;
no head, protruded from the window, an-
nounced that any human being was within.
Hesilating, trembling, listening, Gertrude
entered through the open door, and found
the hall vacant, though the remains of a
half finished meal showed that it had no,
long been so. She then, with better cour-
age, searched round The courts and walls
for some means of cgress, bu: every gate
was closed with heavy locks, and all the
keys were gone. In disappointment, al
most in despair, she paused and looked to-
wnrtls the other castle. The batllemcnt,
were crowded, the roar of war was going
on; but suddenly came louder shouts, and
she saw some groups upon the very pa,
she just followed. Where could she ily for
,concealment. Tl,eregwas flight of steps
led down from one Of the remote halls, ap-
parcnily cut through the rock on which the
castle stood. and, not without hope that il
might conduct her 10 some sally-port, Ger.
trude took her way down. lighted by an
occasional loop-hole, though the sim, sink
;ng fast behind the mountains, gave bat
scanty beams. IL led but to II vault, from
which there was door indeed, but it too
was locked and Gertrude sat herself down
and wrung her hands in the bitterness OF
despair. There ; window but it was
too small for human being to pass, aud was
grated besides with iron bars aud all that
it enabled the nnhappy'girl to do, was to
gaze out in the growing twilight, and watch