Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1855-12-08


fire, the females chafed my hands and
legs; and after | had swallowed a little
mulled ale, which the landlady strongly
as most suited to my con-
dition | was conducted to a miserable
upper room, where bed, without cur
tains, and altogether of the meanest de-
scription, had been hastily prepared for
me. | was not, however, in condition
to quarrel with my accommodations; and
therefore, resolving to make the best of
the matter, l closed the rickety door,
placed dilapidated chair 0he only one
the room contained) against, threw my
self upon my hard bed, and was presently
asleep.
I had not lain long before I was reused
by the sound of footsteps advancing up
the creaking staircase towards my apart
ment. / listened; the noise approached
nearer and nearer; it ceased; an attempt
was mrde to open the door, but this, the
chair l had placed against it, prevented.
l started up and listened with breath
less anxiety. The darkness in which
my room was shrouded increased my ter
ror-a cold sweat believed my forehead
the blood rushed back tony heart, the
.pulsations of which became audible
dreadful faintness came over me-my
frame was almost paralyzcd with horror
and sunk back upon my pillow, over
come with the painful intensity of con-
hicting emotions Again / raised myself
up and listened. | could now distinctly
hear voices engaged in whispering con-
versation, which, however, presently
ceased, and | heard the sound of foot
steps descending the staircase and grad
ually dying away in the distance, and
once more all was dark, deep, dreadful
silence. | had now moment for refec-
tion-oh, how horrid was that moment
| thought of the lonely situation Of the
house in which | was lodged, and
doubted not it was rendezvous for rob-
bers and murderers, that the landlord
and the two men | had mistaken for ped
lars, were part of the gang, and it was
their intention to add me to the number
of their victims.
Appalling as was my situation on the
mountain, exeruciating as we're the suf.
ferings / there endured, | would gladly
have braved both again to have been re-
leased from this den of horrors.
While lay thus in delerious terror,
suddenly felt the bed move under me-
In an instant leaped from it, and ere
could turn round, it had disappeared
through a trap-door, which Immediately
again closed Sumlnoning, by frantic
effort, my last expiring energies, / rusheo
to the window in the hope of being abb
to effect my escape; but to my utter dis
may, found it secured by strong iron
grating (which Knocked all my puny at
tempts toremoye il. Again heard foot
steps approaching my apartment; tn
door was forced open; slowly and stealth
lily, without any light, some one entered
, and, cautiously passing his hand alonl
the wall, came gradually round the room
towards the spot where stood. move
on as well as | was able, in the opposit
direction, and endeavored to clude hi
! search. Every step that he advance
increased my terror; my legs bent unde
me and refused TO perform their Office =
Already he was so near me that ! coul
: hear him breathe-his hand touched m
-he grasped my shoulder made
E sudden leap, and, falling upon the ira
door, it sank with me, and ! was prccip
itated with my head upon a hard, cold
damp pavement. A loud peal Of laugh
! ter instantly broke upon my ear; | 60
upon my feet, and, looking round, per
ceiyed by the light of lamp which wa
! burning upon low bench, that was j
! spacious vault, the floor of which wa
nearly covered with human limbs, an
beside me lay the headless trunk Of
! man who appeared to have been but re
Gently inundated, as the blood sti
flowed from hissmangled remains.
/. ] had scarcely time to look on the aT
@ palling spectacle, ere a door in one col
@ ner of the vault was opened, and th
@ landlord and his two associates, eac
armed with cutlas, entered. Withou
b uttering a word, they Immediately seize
: me, forced a gag into my mouth, tied m
G legs and arms with cord, and threw m
Y across the bench.
9 My neck was then barred, one of tn
! ruifiaus knelt upon my body, anothe
, held back my head, while the thir
, raised his cutlass to infict the fatal blow
. Already had his raised arm begun t
descend, the glare Of his polished weapo
f flashed upon my eyes; ] felt it cleayin
= the air as it came nearer-when suddenly
s piercing shrek echoed through tn
arched dungeon--the murderers startc
a from their purpose, quilted their hold {
] my body, and / rolled upon the floor !
Immediately the vault was filled Wit
G soldiers, but they were too late to secur
, the assassins, who, on the FIRST sound @
| danger, had made their escape by som
0 secret outlet
The object Of their Search however
] lay before them in the manglcd remain
b have before mentioned which was re
] cognised as being the body Of their com
G rade, who, it appeared, had deserte
] from his regiment, and been tracke
i thithcr.
z The shrek which alarmed the wan
a derers and saved my life, proceeded fror
e the landlady, who, in attempting to PIC
) vent the entrance Of the soldiers into tn
vault, had been slightly wounded by
p bavOuet.