The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-10-09

refuge there. Leave the door open.
/ will bring your mistress and the Bar
on here, to DO in readiness to escape.
/, Should the bandit succeed in forcing thci
, wav in, come here Immediately, and d'
, not wait for me, but descend at once ant
pull the door after you. ] will take car
t that the rascals are put on the wrong
, scent 80 -. =,
Martin now stationed himself at th'
door to keep watch, while Walter hasten
cd Madeleine and her father into the Gel
lar, and showed them how to close thu
trap door, in case they were obliged te
escape alone. May" said he, as shc look
, cd up with eyes that said, anevcr withou,
thee r. athink Of your old father, and thai
you can do no good by waiting, ! may
be driven to escape some other way
But good bye" -
1t was u hard parting there in the dim
old cellar. Madeleine was fearful and
trembling, yet for her lovers sake en-
dcayoring TO control her sorrow with true
won,anly will, and Walter, brave though
he was, felt his heart beat hard against
his side; for the parting might be for
ever. God give us strength and victory
said he at length, impressing n kiss on
her brow. God be with you, Walter,
said Madeleine, trying to speak firmly
And so ihcy parted. She watched her
lover disappearing up the dark stairway
and then sat down beside her father
anxious and watchful, but quiet as the
very stone that supported her.
Walters first act on leaving the cellar
was to take nm old piece Of rope ladder,
which Martin had found for him, and
hang it from the window Of an upper
chamber, where a projecting tower would
conceal it from the bcsiegcrs, who were
not likely to approach in numbers on that
side. This chamber was so situated that
lantern placed there would cast light
down the main stairway. Weshall pres
emily sec the use OF this.
And now all was ready, and Walter
took his station with Martin, behind the
barricadcl door. Each held a muskct,
with another at hand, ready for use.
| should have mentioned before, that
there was another servant, who now stood
behind them, to load the muskcts as fast
as they should fire. Their lantern was
placed within the inner passage, 80 that
It's light should not expose them.
"Thcy are coming" whispered Martin,
touching Walters arm-"thcrc in the
shadow ofthc pines"
.Hush ~ said Walter; "look to your
arms, and as soon Us you can see to take
aim, let them know that We arc here and
ready"
They advanced stcalthily, for their
object was not merely to plundcr-and
no alarm was to be given. Walter and
Martin fired together, and instantly pass.
| ING back their muskcts, fired second
time. The effect asindescribablc. Five
or six of the robbers fell, and among them
was their leader. Thrown into confusion
by this unexpected reception, they re-.
4 treated to hold council of war; but in
few moments came up again, not, how
ever, in the same manner rs before
They now divided, and crcpt up close TO
the walls, keeping entirely ont Of the
each of tic defenders, who could only
nit impatiently for what was to comc.--
The robbers fnally decided to cut away
the door, in preference to burning it, rs
wa $ first proposed. The first man in
ca utiously stepping forward with his axe,
wa shot by Walter; the secondwas more
cunning, and kept in the shelter OF the
wall, while he piled his implement with
enc rgctic strokes. 1t was slow but sure
work. Piece by piece the old door was
cut, and shivcrcd, and knocked in, while
not II shot could be fired with any effect.
| 1t was at last demolished.
.Now be ready" said Walter. "Thcy
I will have to climb the barricadc before
Preaching us. Put in good shot as they
1 rush in, and then spring tor the hail.
So said, so done. Their fire must have
done good execution, tor the robbers re-
eoiled an instance, and returned to find q
! bsricadc and another door. Some time
W rs lost in'forcing these, and then thu
70, cmost of them springing in, found th'
prey flown. Seeing lite streaming dowr
! the stairway, he called his men to follow
and rushing up, found a lantern, and
rope-laddcr suspended from an open win
dow. 'frT. I.' .'.
Escaped! he exclaimed with tremen
dous oath. After them for your lives
/, He tlnng himself upon the ladder, fol
Madeleine was his object. twas fata
leap. The old stands gave under hi
weight and fiery Will lay dead upon
| hear of stones! His fall was known t
, but few of his meu. Some of them wer'
rushing after the fngitiyes and Others bu
sled themselves in plundering, and oh
, tanning very little satisfaction for thei
, pains. To end with, the castle was fired
II The fugitiyes, meanwhile, were max
, ing the best OF their way through tn
. grim, low archway. 1t was toilsome
, and often they grew faint from the aon
b fined air. The passage ended in q thick
4 ct near a river, and its mouth was $
: overgrown with roots and vines that
+ cost an hours hard labor to work thei
G way through. They were obliged to re
main there till morning. ~ 7
Walter and Madeline were soon aftel
Q wards married; and here ends oil th
e romunce, and of course my story. ;,
d must add that the death Of two leader
t and nearly dozen Of the band on til
T. same night, coupled with, more yigol
N Gus measures on the part Of the go'
d crnmcnt, gave an effective check to th
n bandits. They were occasionally hear
o Of for five or six years after as doin
\. petty mischief among the farmers bs
l. .hey made no armed attacks as bcion
T, and atlcngth the order became c.t'nc
N .r.aIl sir1. b. - ..L--1l --,tl ..