The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-02-07
WHOLE NO. 15S.

, crcvice in the rock. With much difficulty.
and after repeated trials he succeeded in en-
tering the point of the fore lock little into
the opening. and giving it a twist, to his great
JOY he had Strengthened it considerable
With renewed vigor he continued his work.
until success crowned his labors, the forelock
was out of the bolt. and his hands were free
This he looked upon as one step accom-
plished: the freedom of his hands was a great
relief to him. and he had the use of them all
the time. save when the man brought him his
meat apd wafer; and as he always came at a !
stated time, (about half an hour after sunsetl .
he was in no danger of being caught with his J
irons off. He now began to work on the
fore lock of his feet irons. and with the aid of
the hand shackleS and bolts he at last sue
ceeded in freeing himself entirely from his
frttcrs
He had as vet no fixed plan of escape. and
he now waited, hoping and fearing-one mo-
ment adopting method hv which he thought
he might succcrd-the next abandoning il As
altogether untca>ible. Small indeed was his
chance OF eScape--it was thousand 10 one a.
gainst him. There was the man who brought
his foo'l-his especial keepcr-to he got rid
ot-and then there Were the .lar,l in the fort
To he cul..d-and after this the ro-k to be
cleared. The undertaking was desperate
so desperate tha. one might indeed quail IN
prospect oft But the desire for liberty was
strong within the hear. of the prisoner, and
to secure it he was willing 10 brave death in
lis worst form-ior without liberty he felt
that he was poor and valncless. Ncrrims his
soul for the task, hope whispered To him an
assurance of su~cr>s. He felt with the poet
"What ar" 'I';v-"-hat thousan.. slave-,
Matched - ~ >irew nj s,n.,e arm
Th4, -,ihc> tor liberty =
After adopting and rciertinG many plans.
White came 10 the conclusion at last 10 Kill
the kccI".r who brought HIM his food. rush to
the top OF the MornanI leave the resi- 10 ta:e.
He waited, aSitarci and impatient for the ap-
pointed hour. Tf1. time few swiftly by. and
at the usual hour the man entered the dun
gcon with the daily supply of fo"i-littlc
dreaming of the ,iln4er that threatened him.
is he Deposited the articles within The Iaris-
nn-r's reach. White iuokr.l 4; him >tca,iti<tly
TOR moment AMI strovc Ia steel his heart l.
th, glcrIinys OF humanity Bat no-hc could
not do it-hr could not find II in him 10 Kill
The Door crrl;ur,.-,h. ihnmglt mil,lr HIN
shu,i,icr. ahi tins time he suffered him To de-
part. "To-morrnw nirht will do it, 'thoucht
White -.-but not to night-not 10 nj .ht.'
Tomorrow night came-and again the
courage "tthe prisoner failed him-rarher the
feelings OF humanity triumphcd-hc could
not nerve his arm to strike tine blow
Would to Heaven there was any other alter
native ,"-thought he as the doomed keeper
unconscious, ot hi> peril, slowly turned and
left the tiungcon-"would that this man who
has never injured me-a"ainst whom | have
not the slightest will-n'i. .ht he saved -
His very soul recoiled at the idea of striking
him down and numbering him in cold blood
But he felt il must be done If he would escape
thraliom worse than drath-the man stood
in his way, and must be removed. although
he cursed the necessity which imposed tn,
fearful deed upon him.
Nearly all that night the prisoner paced th'
narrow limits of his cell Thought was TOO
busy for sleep. he closed his eyes for !
moment. fancy fioated in deeds of blood anr
violence. and he found no rest. AZ times h
imagined the terrible task WAS accomplished
, the fatal blow givcn-and stark and ghaStl,
, the poor keeper was stretched out before hin
=, dead immortal spirit qnenched hr hi
hand-the stony eve slaring upon HIM re
: proachfully, and the pale. blue lips whisper
inr murder in his ears. At such times h,
would start from his troubled sleep with tn,
cold sweat streaming from every pore, and ;
ronvulsive throbhins OF the heart. Thus pass
. edrhe night,
The day brought no relief. He broodrd OF
! the terrible task before him. Ii he succeed
h ed in ovcrpowerins the keeper,hut one sgh
:. obstacle was removed. lie was altogethe
=, ignorant of the difficulties To be overcome at
ter he left the dungeon; all he knew was tiia
E his chance was >mail-that a bare poS>iblh',
remained to him OF escape. We'll. be ii 50,
thought he. better death than this lingerin:
existence :"
n Torn with conflicting emotions, the thirc
lav drew to cose-thc dim light in the Gel
= grew fainter-thc sun went down.
: was the last sunset ever witnessed by I'll,
c poor keeper, As the light faded away, Whit
i relieved himself from his irons, and stoot
i tremblingIv awaiting the nightly visit of th
l. man. He heard him descending the steps
e every football smote his heart. Slowly h
e came, carele<Sly humming a Spanish air-h
death-sonc He entered the cell-Whit
d rra,ped off the foot shackles The NAL
= stopped to set down the food and water whicl
e he bore, when White sprans up and wit
/, one blow of the bolt, stretched him a corps
i on the solid floor. The fearful drama hat
4 commenced. Without stopping to look upo
n his victim. he rushed up the long flight OF
q, IN ,xr,-n;,r tho fatal bol, IT.. roar n