Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-03-21
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CHAPTER XVII.


s.Biast the mani" said the Emperor, in a
iov, quailing voice.
Yalens stood before him, bold, fearless, and
untimidateG. But what shocking, horIid
spectacle His ears are cut of, and his thumbs
are severed from his hands. There, however,
lie stands-Plle, it is true but with his dark
eyes spieraingIy fixed on The bloody tyrant,
whose torturcs and batteries have all proved
OF no avail.
The next day after the rescue of his daugh-
ter, Valens had been brought into the hall of
the court FOX trial. Never before had there
been such an august assemb!sgo' present
Aany Of the nobility, senators, and officers of
the army crowded the Forum. The rank of
Falens, in connection with the exalted virtues
OF his ancestors, will account for this.
Nor did ever the Emperor feel himself in
quite sach critical situation before. With
all the obtuseness of his senses, he had not
failed to observe slight change in public
feeling. The masses were no longer SO lavish
of their praises upon him, in his zeal to exter-
minato tac :.cursed sect.'2 His ears were no
Iohger. greeted with the same long, loud
-sa0uts Of applause from the great square !;
wllile tle looks of. not Few in the crowd be-
fore him, horelevidence of a deep, thoughtful
'serrow.s Why was this He could not be
mistaken. There vas leayen of dissatisfac-
ton AZ work; and although his thurst for blood
remained unsuiated, yet he must proceed in
the work of death little more cautiously.
Then, SO long as it was only the poorer
CLASSES that were sent to the flames, and burnt
with as little ceremony stick of wood,
there was nothing to fear. They could not re-
sent their own wrongs and no one cared much
whether they were dead or alive. But, now
that he was about to ascend the ladder, and
strike blosg among the higher classes,-to
consgn to the flames men OF rank and influ-
.enee,-he mast needs be a-littlc more circUm-
spect. There must be something like little
.fairs.ess shown, lest he should rouse the indig-
nation Of the people against him.
we cheerlully accord to our Emperor that
much sagacity. And for these reasons, per
fhaps, he had not sent Yalen5 at once to the
flames. as he would most gladly have done,
and as he had sent thousands OF others. He
must civ him hearing; and, at least, feign
an EFFORT to induce him to renounce the faith.
and save his life.
Therefore it is, that we find Valens before
him a second time, and in this MANNED, suf
fering state.
'.Are you iNszarene ~ Inquired the En-
peror.
s'I am :, was the cool, bold reply. -t
"You deserve to be burnt"
ssf;m not afraid to die." 5 -
ss5,.S.You may save your 1ife.''
I've no wish TO liTe.''
5E..s Your rank entities you TO mercy ;-bos to
the Gods before you. said the Emperor, point
ing, as nsual, at the images.
81 shall not bow and claim no mercy on
the ground of my rank. I'm no more than
my poor brethren, thousands of whom you
have put to death. and for crime of which
yoa are the guilty perpetrator. have some
what against your majesty, and I shall not die,
heaven willing, till [ have. exposed you and
your acts before this august Assem- blage of the
Roman people" .se sss 49,
Falens said this in clear, firm voice /; and
while the Emperor shrunk before the keen,
searching glance of his eyes, there was an
anxious, breathless silence throughout the
hall, that seemed to say,-sswe wish to hear
90, on
The quaking, trembling Emperor, however,
sprung 70 his feet ordered hie soldiers to car