The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-09-18

with stupid look, that may happen never.
iheless' Veyancourt in his Joy al the pros
pect of escape. had no time TO pay attention
TO this silly sounding observation OF one who
appealed TO be a mere rustic boor he instant
ly set to work and spent the whole night in
filing through the bar.
Thinking, however, that the commander
might pay visit IN person, he took care TO
conceal the effects Of his labor by filling the
incision with the crumbs OF bread rolled in the
rust, so as to give It the color OF iron, and
then waited for night that should suit his
purpose, with concentrated impotence Of
| mind.
At length, during dark and lurid autumnal
night, he completed his operations. The bar
was sawn through, the cord firmly attached 10
| il, and Veyancourt, having with some difficulty
squeezed himself through the opening, waited,
with his feet on the masonry which projected
beneath the window, and his hands tightly
grasping the end Of the bar which remained,
for the most obscure part Of the night and that
hour which your watchful sentinel is generally
fast asleep, that l. to say, two hours before
daybreak. Being well acquainted with the
duration Of the different watches, and the
times at which the guard went his rounds, cir
cumstances which prisoners even Involuntary
chiefly occupy themselves in ascertaining, he
watched the moment, when three-quarters Of
the duty Of the sentinel was expired, and the
man himself snug in hs box TO avoid the fog,
feeling certain that he had united all the
chances most favorable for his invasion, he be-
gan to descend knot by knot, suspended be-
tween heaven and earth, but clutching his cord
with the strength Of giant.
All appeared to be going on prosperously
ne had already arrived ia safety al the last
knot but one; when, just as he was about to
let himself slide off on to the earth, he thought
It would be more prudent to feel for the
ground with his feet, but no ground was to be
felt.
This was not altogether encouraging he
was bathed in sweat, latigued perplexed, and
in situation where his life depended on a
mere toss up; he was on the point Of taking
all chances and leaping down, when gust Of
wind blew off his hat luckily he listened for
the noise he expected it to make in falling,
and hearing nothing, vague suspicion Of his
situation struck him, and he began to think il
possible that some snare had been laid for him,
though why, or wherefore, he was unable 10
conjecture
In this uncertainty he almost determined to
defer the attempt to some other night, and in
the meantime resolved ut least 10 wait for the
first uncertain glimpse Of light, which moment
might be almost rs favorable for his fight as
the present. His uncommon strength en-
abled him to climb back to his dungeon, but
he was almost exhausted as he arrived at the
projecting stone under the window, where he
remained watching like a cat at the end Of
gutter, In short time the first dim beams Of
the morning broke, and he then perceived, as
he moved the floating cord backwards and
and Fifty feet between the last kno, Of Il and
the pointed rocks Of the precipice.
Oh, no nj. le Commandant,' said the
chevalier, with the GOODNESS that characterized
him, have the honor to be your most ODE
dent, very humble servant Having reflect.
cd some minutes on this adroitly intended
plan Of revenge, he thought it best to re- enter
his cell. He placed all bis clothes on his
bed, left the cords outside attached to the bar,
to encourage the idea Of his fall, and quietly
ensconcing himself behind the door, he wait
ed for the arrival Of the treacherous ailer, with
one Of the iron bars he had sawn off in his
hand.
The turnkey appeared in due season, ra-
Their sooner than was his usual custom, impa-
tient to enter into possession Of the property
Of the defnnct, he opened the door with care
less whistle; but no sooner had he arrived at
proper distance than Veyancourt applied
tap Of the iron bar with such anatomical pre-
cision and poetical justice to his organ Of &C
quisitiyeness, that the traitor fell as if shot
dead without uttering word.
The chevaIier stripped his body with the
skill Of lamp sultler, dressed himself in the
clothes OF his victim, initiated his walk, and,
thanks TO the earliness Of the hour, and the
drowsy inattention Of the unsusPecting sentl-
nels, effected his escape.