Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-07-28

footsteps, and was alone in the dark.
OF course made an immediate attempt to
find the opening covered by the blanket, through
which had come in, butsomehow missed it,
and could feel nothing but the cold damp wall
1t mnst be some where, however, and if groop-
ed round the wall I must come to it, and did.
Hilloan cried hioa!--light here, light
-.somebody show me out.
All was still. The faint echo of my own
voice was all heard ;Rna'f11'ylly began to feel
anything, cca.faStabe in hut place, which
after what the woman hsd said, there could be
no doubt at all was the secret home Of Grimm
ais, one of whom had seen die from the injury
received while pursuinghis unlawful career.
tOh | must come out into the first cellar
thought if pursue the passage. There was
no obstacle in coming and there's not like to be
ore in returning
Still, however, went on very carefully, as if
fully expected pit fallat every step, 10 the
intense darkness that surrounded, it would have
required more nerve or more recklessness than
at all possessed to have run on. kept my arms
extended, and the passage was sufficiently mar
row to allow me by so doing to feel the wall on
each side and so on went, hoping each mo.
men TO find | had reached the blanket, and
wondering that the passage appeared to be so
much longer now in going through il, than ii had
done when was guided by the bag.
suddeAly paused, for was certain heard
the sound of voices.
You will heard man say, you will. Oh,
we shall see about that I'd rather cut the brat's
throat at once, as -
flush would you murder yourself" said a
feeble voice; let her 90 for the twenty
No-not for two twenties WON'T rejoined
the male speaker
NY mamma-my mamma. Oh! where's my
own mammal? said child in a waiIing voice of
great anguish; oh my own mamma take me
to my own mamma.'
The devi seize the brat, shouted the man !;
she's worth something dead. Where is my
knife ?her teeth and hair will pay me. My
knife, say ~
The child shreked the woman cried out
something that could not hear, and grew des
perate. In vain ran my hands over the wall for
an opening. | could find none ; and as last
resource, raised my voice to as high pitch as
could, and shouted
Bewaren
The effect was instantgneous- sland
.was hushqa, aud ;t's silc lss TIL nsnssed 5as
like that of the very grave,
listened intenNy, and as I did, perceived
from short distance off, slight flash Of light
1t increased as pushed myself up as close to
the wall as could. The only weapon had
with me was penknifc, and that opened and
held in my hand, resolved, even with such insult
ficient means, to sell my life as dearly as posi-
bic.
saw man slowly advancing with a lantern
in his hand, and carrying likewise large knife
with doubled edged blade, of about II inches
in length. fled.
cont think had been seen, nor do think
he was sufficiently near to me to notice the least
sound which my footsteps made upon the damp
carherp floor of the passage-but he came on
in the same track with me ,as could find by the
slight CLEANS of light that shot scross my path.
reached, at length, the cellar in which lay the
corpse of the housebrcaker; and then, although |
could not see it, felt it, for half stumbled over
the CORY couch on which he lay.
made my way to the head of the pallet bed,
and crouched down with my pcnknife still in my
grasp; but in the few moments that | had to
myself, thought upon another plan. got up
on the bed and raised the body to a sitting pos
ture, so that had command Of those long, lank
and rapidly stifiening limbs of the corpse; and
guessed that the blood d-besmeared face was u
horrible spectacle.
| waited-but had not to wait long, for the
blanket was soon violently pulled down from the
entrance of tho cellar, and man with light
appeared. 1t was a lantern with magnlf ing
glass TO it, and the reason that in its progress
had seen but SO dim light, was that the glass
had been turned towards him. He now, how
everwlth full glare projected it into the cellar.
protruded The corpse little, and waved the
dead arms. With a shout of terror he dropped
his lanter and fed.
To spring from my uncomfortable position
and disagreeable companionship ~a7r-~ 1VosssJi a
moment; and rejoced to learn that the lanterr
had not been put ont by its fall.
The utmost cursory examination Of the place
showed me that there was another mode of exl
than the one which ie the dark had ehosen,and
which had led me down different passage alto
gether to the one in which the old woman hae
acted as my guide. With the lantern in my
hand now proceeded rapidly, and soon reached
the cellar into which had been so politely re
quested to take an OATH
There was such an amount Of hubbub AM
confusion in the cellar that my entrance was no
noticed for moment; but then man sprun
towards me, crylng:-
Who's this who's this ?-he has come to hi
DEATH
no. said my old friend, the bag it is onl.
the DOCTOR Let him go.'
went to the staircase--if staircase it coul'
be called--and ascended, still carrying with IN
the lantern, which no one appeared to take any
notice of my having; and with feeling Of sat
isiac,ion, l found myself upon the classical pave
,nent Of Monmouth street.
Il beg your pardon, SIR said young woma'
speaking in very polite accents and good Eng
lish; but you will not want that lantern.
belongs to friend Of mine, who meant no harm
10 you ~
Indeed said |, as Iquickened my pace.
Yes, sir. Perhaps il will be all the wors'