Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-19
might as well try to recover his arrow, as his
chance Of a supper depended much upon it.
He accordingly clambered up the rock, and

chance OF a supper depended much upon ii.
He accordingly clambered up the rock, and
got at the arrow; but when he attempted to
pull it out he felt strong resistance. Plung.
ing in his arm to loosen the point, to his hor-
ror, he felt damp hand grasp his own, and
place between his fingers the head of his arrow,
along with a soft substancel The lad, terror
ror-struck, pulled out his hand with its con-
tents, and found that he had got piece of
linen, marked with bloody characters For a
moment he sat motionless; but at length start
ing up, he fled home as fast as his feet could
carry him, to tell his adventure to his parents,
and shew them the rag. Fortunately, the boys
father was so far scholar as to make out the
words: aTo the Countess Chimay.n The re
collection Of his lord burst on old Basler's mind
at once, and he off with all speed to the castle.
The countess was ever accessible to her vassals,
and virtue was in this case its own reward.
She got the piece Of linen, and no sooner saw
it than she screamed aloud. But she composed
herself, and read these words: " If thou art
still true and faithful to me, arm thy vassals,
| and release me from the dungeons Of Couvin."
"It is my husbands writing and signature
cried the delighted yet agitated and anxious
countess. Without moments delay, she
summoned all her vassals around her, and
would have led them on the instant to the res
cue of her lord but the wiser Of them advised
her to make success secure by calling in the
assistance fher neighbors, who would necessa
rily be indignant at the conduct of Couyin
The countess saw the propriety Of acceding to
this suggestion, and as many friends as could
be summoned were assembled during the night
Beyond the morning, the noble lady would not
delay her adventure. Fortunately, a force was
by that time gathered, sufficient for the accom-
plshment Of the enterprise.
The castle of Couvin was attacked by sur
prise, and taken. It's villainons lord was
brought on his knees before the countess, but
he snllenly denied all knowledge of the fate of
the lord of Chimay. Nevertheless, his ser
wants, afraid for their lives, were less obstinate
under question. One Of them offered TO lead
the way to the cell in which the captive was
kept, and thither he went followed by the anxi
Gus countess. The poor prisoner was found
in melancholy state of weakness. His life,
spared to lengthen out his torments, would
soon have come to an end but for the timely
relief afforded. Indeed when the count found
himself in the arms of his beloved wife, whom
he had long lost all hope of seeing again, the ex
cess of fhis Joy had nearly overpowered his wenk
frame. But he was now in the hands of q kind
nurse. Before he left his dungeon he suddenly
turned round II had nearly forgotten my old
friend my deliverer," said he and he pointed
out to his friends a little rabbit, the same
which young Basler had shot at The creature
was taken up by Basler himself, and carried
away from the dungeon.
The Count de Chimay was conveyed home
wards in triumph accompanied by his nnmer-.
GUS attendants. He told his friends his simple
story. On the day Of the hunt he had been
seized by Couvin, and party lying In watch
1 for him, and cast into the dungeon. A NOR
sci Of food was daily thrown to him, and he had
never seen living thing for seven years, with
the exception of the young rabbit, which crept
in through the creyice that yielded the cell its
i only light, and had become the tame companion
of the captive. The scrap Of writing which
had been given to young Basler had been long
1 prepared for such o purpose, though with little
hope that it would ever be put to use.
/ The Basler family were not among the least
happy of the friends and vassals of Chimay on
this occasion. In consideration of the service
rendered by the youth, the father was made
ranger of the woods Of Chimay. One grant
more was made to the family, and it was by
this that the event was kept longtin remenl-
brance the count decreed that a dish should
besent daily to the Baslers and their descendants
in time coming, from the table Of the Lord of
Chimay, and during many centuries this priyi
lege was kept in use.
If the story which is true one, has no other
merit, it may at least serve rs an illustration of
the manners Of period which we are too apt,
by the influence Of imagination, to dignity by
the appellation of the "good old times"