Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-11-21

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combined strength and weight to force i
open; 1T however, resisted all my efforts,
and thus bafaed in my appeal to mere an
imal power, exhausted and disheartened
| threw myself on the ground. 1t was
noti my nature, however, long to submit
to the apathy of despair, and in few mo-
ments L was on my feet again. With pa
tient security | endeayored to ascertain
the nature of the fastenings which secured
the door. The planks fortunately having
been nailed together fresh, had shrunk
considerably. so as to leave wide chinks
between each and its neighbor. BY means
Of these apertures, | saw that nay dungeon
was secured. not by lock as had feared
but by a strong wooden bar, running hor-
izontally across the door, about midway
upon the outside.
tContnving to make an opening, he
reaches the door of the apartment in
which he had been seized, aud overhears
an order given by Oliver for his execu-
ton, which he declared should take place
in the evening ere the moon arose.
There was kind of glee in divers
manner and expression which chilled my
very heart. He shall first be shot like
dog, and then hanged like a dog, shot
tonight and hung Tomorrow, hung at the
bridge head, hung until his bones drop as
sunder p
1t is impossible to describe the exulta-
ton with which he seemed to dwell upon.
and to particularize, the fate which he in
tended for me. A chill, sick horror crept
over me as they retired, and | felt for the
moment, upon the brink of swooning.-
This feeling, however, soon gave place to
a sensation still more terrible, state of
excitement, SO intense and tremendous as
to border on literal madness. supervened:
my brain ree.ed and tbrobbed as if it
would burst; thoughts the widest and
most hideous, flashed through my. mind
with spontaneous rapidity that scared
my very soul; while, all the time, felt
strange, frightful impulse to burst into
laughter. | kneeled and
prayed fervently, and felt cumforted and
assured; but still could not view the slow
approaches to certain death without an
agitation little short of agony.
] returned again to the closet in which
had found myself upon recovering from
the swoon.
The evening snnshine and twilight we're
fast melting into darkness, when | heard
the outer door, that which communicated
with the guard room in which the officers
had been amusing themselves, opened and
locked again on the inside A measured
step then approached, and the door of the
wretched cell in which l lay being rudely
Cushed open, a soldier entered, who car
ried something in his hand, but, owing to
The obscurity of the place. | could not see
what.
cart thou awake, fellow" sad he in
gruff voice. Stir thyself, get upon thy
EGGS" His orders were enforced by no
gentle application of his military boot.
Friend" said |. rising with difficulty, |
you need not insult dying man. You
have been sent hither to conduct me to |
death. Lead on! Ny trust is in God.
that he will forgive me my sins, and re-
,elve my soul, redeemed by the blood off
his son."
Here interviewed a pause of some length |
1T the end of which the soldier said, in
the same gruff voice, but in a lower kew.
Look We, CONRAD, it will be your own
ault if you die this night. On one con
iltion promise to get you out of this
lobble with whole skin; but if you go to
my of your CANNON, before two hours
you will have as many holes in your car
,ass as target.
Name your conditions" said I: and i'll
hey consist with honor, will never baulk
It the offer''
Here they are: you ore to le shot to-
hight, by Capt. divers orders. The
,arbines are cleared for the job, and the
cartridges served out to the men. tell
you the truth"
OF this | needed not much persuasion,
Ind intimated to the man my conviction
that he spoke the truth
"Well Them he continued, NOW for
The means of avoiding this business
Capt Oliver rides this night to head
quarters, with the papers which YOU car
led. Before he starts he will pay you a
visit, to fish what he can out of you, with
Ill the fine promises he can make. HUI
nor him little. when you find an oppor-
unity, stab him in the throat above the
,uriass."
"a feasible plan, surely" said I, raising
ny shackled hands, for man thus com,
oletely crippled. and withouta weapon
{ | will manage that all presently for
Foa," said the other. g When YOU have
thus dealt with him, take his cloak and
lat, and SO forth, and put them on-the
papers you will find in the pocket Of his
vest in a red leather case; walk boldly
out-I am appointed to ride with Captain
Oliver, and you will find me holding his
horse and my own at the door; mount
quickly, and / will do the same, and then
we will ride for our lives across the bridge.
You wifi find the holster pistols loaded in
case of pursuit. and with the devils help
we shall reach limerick without a hair
hurt. Ny only condition is, that when
you strike Oliver. yon strike home, and
again. and again, until be is 6nished--and