The Cedar County advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Iowa) 1853-1856, 1853-12-10

escaped! They mus, be spread
through the Vault
| In moment, we heard steps behind,
beside and ahead of us. There was but
one torch, however to guide them, and
they made but sligh, progress.
Run, cried voice which | immedi.
ately recognized as that of the innkeeper;
run for more ghts =
Meanwhile, we crept towards the
right side of the vault, and crcps into a
niche that was made in the wall Lean
ing back, we felt a dead weight upon our
backs and we stopped forward gently to
shake il off. The next moment, "a fall
like that of two solid bodies, fell to the
earth. The eftusion that Immediately
ai,erward saluied our nostrils, warned US
of the terrible fact that il was two cor
pses that we had so unceremoniously dis
turhed
Unable to endure the terrible stencil
before us, we stole simultaneously from
the niche, and passing to the left, drop
ped upon our knees.
Al this moment, another light appear.
led upon the s'"'rcase, together with a
form. which, despite the long robe envel.
oping j, from neck to heel, we were as
slred was that of female -,.
In Il few moments the woman passed
us, to assist her companions. Still, cree
ping through the gloom, we continued
to crawl forward towards the staircase.
'Ho! come forth, or expect no mer-
, cy !! suddenly cried the voice Of the mn
: keeper.
A short pause succeeded. Meanwhile
we continued our course, till W. had
reached the earth Immediately under the
couch.
We must smoke them out, continued
the innkeeper. 'Ho! Hans, run up and
bring the sulphur; we'il give them q
foretaste of -
A light danced in the gloom il ap,
preached, and in a few moments a young
man, bearing torch, came near us; a
moment more, and he assembled tn,
stairs.
r Herman laid his hand Significantly up
= on my arm.
: Meanwhile the voice of innkcepe
broke through the gloom commanding u
: to come forth.
o We crawled from our hiding place, an'
!. 90, under the staircase
r Before. us the vault stretched far a
way, till the light looked like star il
O the midst OF vast room, and the as
y sassins had dwindled into dwarfs. Sud
e denly we heard footsteps Oh the star
Y case Ii was one OF the assassins bring
: ing down the sulphur.
For the last time cried the inn-kee
A. per will We come forth!
5 dead silence followed.
bring i.,'her the sulphur continue
re the innkeeper we'll srangle them
he The young man apploa,..ad him wit
a pail in one hand, and torch IN til
other
II, AT this moment, we crept from III
ne ler the stairs and slowly aseended til
n steps.
They want j, and they shall have it
D. cried the innkeeper, with an oath.
And he began, slowly, TO drop II
X sulphur nj line, hacking meanwhi
: toward the stairs, followed by his con
panions, whose arms were lifted read
ior blow, and whose eyes wandered III
easily around them, IN search Of the VI
IS inns who were now beyond their reac
The parties reached the stairs, vii
~ he long sulphurous train marking Il
n, course they had pursued.
rs, For the last time again cried Il
voice OF The innkeeper, throwing dow
ed the pail and seizing a torch, will u
come forth, ere set fire to the train 2
~ No voice responded to his appeal, al
the torch fell upon the yellow track.
r The assassins sprang up tie sta.rcas,
but at that moment, the door above W
nd closed and bol,ed upon them, with a 10,
hi noise.
Trapped! snaredr fell family up'
u. our ears, aud then all was silent.
- CHAPTER ".
We listened moment at the crevIe
of the door, but save few low groan
ike those Of persons IN the last stage