The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-12

CHAP. XVIII.
Mark sets out.on Journey, and Completes IT.
aNo. steady enough" muttered Mark, as,
l.anipg over the slated roof of the prison, the
Laden messenger from the sentinels musket
-rbizzed mast his ear He bounded along, over
,rtters. chimneys, parapets fell, and rolled more
,ban once. but continued his perllous journey,
nevertheless, with the desperation yet with the
coolness that determined resolution gives 10 the
man who feels it is for dear life and liberty he
"a STRUGGLING. At length he was brought to
ston. Between the ledge of the outer parapet
and the spot he must gain, if he would escape,
there vawned deep chasm formed by pas
SAGE separating the main body of the building
from the houses. To leap it seemed impossi-
HE. He gasped for breath, and for moment
n. courage failed him. But mingling with
tho fierce gusts of wind came the murmur of
voices. He felt what they said, though he could
distinguish nothing but confused sounds. A
sense of imminent danger nerved him.
gl;nrse of moonlight showed him the extent of
the ca2 between present peril and temporary
safety. Twice he stopped to gather up his
strength for spring, and twice his nerves
ouailed But the voices came believing on the
wind. and with a loud shrek of agony, that rose
above those voices like the wall of an unearth-
y spirit. he sprang. He was gone. He saw
the lights dancing beneath him, and men run
ming: he felt that he was high up in the air,
and that earth was dragging him downwards,
where there we're hard stones on which he must
be broken alive. His passage across that fear
full gulf lasted but a moment or two, but they
we're to his xperence-suspended as he was
between life and death-so many hours of NOR
tal anguish. So keenly were his senses excited,
that even as his feet left the stone coping, he
became sensible that he had miscalculated his
distance and he flung out his arms and legs as
fto propel himself to the ledge on which his
e7es we're fixed. With fearful crash, his knees
struck the stone wall but his arms, nerved
nov with giants strength, firmly grasped the
parapet. The danger was passed, and hang
Ing there, he invountarily cried, "Thank God!"
Bruised and bleeding, painting for breath, he
gathered up his body, and, after more than one
unsuccessful attempt, found himself again on
firm ground. But still those voices of alarm
rose above the howlings of the wind, and from
them he must escape. Along the gutter on his
battered knees and hands he crawled stealtbly
awhile, till, reaching a friendly stack of chin
neys he rose TO his feet, all trembling with pain,
and whilst resting surveyed the field of view.
and considered what next he should do. Afar
OF he saw dim light. 1t proceeded from
garret window. After pause, he made his
way towards it He stopped as he drew near,
lest he should be seen, and, on coming opposite,
found he was separated from it by a square
courtyard common to one block of houses. A
Young girl was seated at small table, at work,
al the foot Of bed, on which lay an old woman
asleep. Mark made his way cautiously round,
and, thrusting his hand forward, tried the case
ment. 1t was fast. The moment was not one
for hesitation. Lifting up his foot, he set it
FIRMLY against the front, and, suddenly putting
forth all his strength, forced it in. In second,
and ere the afnghted girl could recover sufi-
GENTLY to scream, he had bounded across, and
placed his hand upon her throat
Not word" he gasped; " 1 will not hurt
YOU, but ! must be saved"
The poor girl lifted up her hands helplessly
tie oOsed his grasp, and she breathed freely.
But the noise had awakened the old woman.
Who half asleep and half awake, began to
'ereech, though in a feeble voice The quick
eye OF Mark had rested on the door, He saw
that 1t was locked, and the key inside. Another
moment, and he had disappeared. Cropping
ABOUT IN the dark, he felt for the balusters of
lie staircase, and, guided by them. descended
RAPIDLY bat noiselessly into the courtyard.
scarcely had he reached it, however. before the
voice OF the young girl rang piercingly the cry
o. alarm he crOuched in dark corner await
ing his chance. He took out his knife, resolv-
ed, If set upon, to sell his life dearly Present
y he heard the noise of easements opening,
and the young girls cry of alarm echoed by
o'her voices. Then the porter rushed out Just
as he had eaped from his bed, but only to en-
c0l,ler Mark on the threshold.
he oordon~the cordon,"* growled Mark,
SEEING the man by the throat
Thieves! Murder" gurgled the unfortu-
nale wretch struggling with his powerful as
satant' and stranglng in his grip
But all in vain. Mark held him as in a vice.
forcing him bodily back into his lodge. where
ueFe was an oil lamp burning, by the light of
winch ne could see the handle of the rope that
communicated with the latch of the door. To
:, ne and pull it was the work of an instant
-lH quick ear, rendered by danger more
.tISI'ely acute caught the familiar click of
S'eh With an effort almost superhuman
usShed the halfstrangled porter to the
s''uhor and bounded off. Two men barred his
5'eSS' They had rushed down stairs on the
III Deng given, clad in the scantiest man.
-. Ihey extended their arms to seize Mark
Jug leaped upon them like a tiger, telling
- rlght and left of him. In another moment
D'l disappeared. He had gained the street.
o.. ana 7. now 10 runl Oh, how he ran, thinking,
le ned, how he should avoid the night pa
~. o' lot he had no hat, his garments were torn,
ue lett that should they come across him,
tafe, would be impossible. Still he ran on,
su oy-streets and crooked turnings
ba ~ knowing whittier he was going, until
r.a5 I-lehy found himself opposise a coach
Lille and death, he cried out to the driver,
bsr3. was standing, endeavoring to warm his
h sasI ~ humping them against his sides. AS
MAJ. ,'uls' ne thrust piece of gold into the
address. '''e nin uri'e 10 cef'Ain
:. Us napoleon" said he to the man. at
49, Out am pursued. A quarrel and
n, DoD; Bon replied the driver, and, leap
and 10 us seat, he gave bis horses the whip,
Cd haoi! dashed off at full speed. Mark breath
sija3 9Toh reached the hotel where Mark re-
Inoal Ne alighted with some difficulty, and
Lorar.'u' Before he got out of the vehicle,
rieca - ne gave the coachman another gold
pasco ioT thy silence" he said. "Keep thy
tn. VI 'nree days, and shall be SAFE"
bow HSn took the money with profound
rsnon n,cr may depend upon me-" he said and,
4, mAhg his box, he was off.
cue ue Porter's lodge Mark stopped.
man. sa, Not word" he uttered, seeing the
battera%SS constituent, 1 am. as you see, sadly
God Out have no bones broken, thank
asked ~, Rbs's, Monsieur what has happened y"
killed qua auaTrel, fight, pursuit. I fear 1 have
VIA, !, answered Mark. " But never mind
l must - b. l am no longer safe in Paris, and
pOeons -eT ne without delay. Here are five ma
~ 4S. Do you understand ?"
seek,r obse De tor Monsieur's expenses this