Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-07-30

was to be done !? gave myself up for
lost. If I cried out, none were likely 10
hear me save the fiends who had com
passed my destruction, which any alarm
on my part would only goad them to
complete. I had not relinquished the
iron bar, but still elutched it mechanical !
ly, and now I began cropping with ii in
the darkness, to ascertain, if possible, in
what direction to proceed to escape, if it
might be from the rufian's power. /
found that I stood in the centre OF a
channel, in which slow current ran in
one direction, as l judged toward the riv-
er. The water Swallowed toward the
sides. eTept involuntarily to the side
farthest from the trap above my head,
where the flood reached scarcely to my
knees. A deadly shiver came over me,
and I felt about with my hands for a
place of rest, as I fancied my senses
were leaving me. Thank Heaven, that
did not take place! A rough sort of but
tress of old brickwork projected from
the bank, and in the angle of that
oFouched half in the water, and tried to
collect my wandering faculties. 1 was
hardly ensconced in this position, when
dull gleam shimmered family on the
surface Of the filthy water. I knew it
must come from the trap-door overhead,
and waited in horror for what it might
portend-half-expecting to see the ruffian
masquerader descend, knife in hand, to
make sure of his work. | held my
breath, for knew that the Williams were
listening, and that the slightest sound
from me would seal my doom. Then l
heard a rumbling noise above, and the
next moment down came a shower Of
the monster paving-stones which would
have crushed the life out of an OK had
they fallen upon him. Then the trar
closed once more, and again all was
stiffness.
How low crouched there, devoured
with terror and apprehension, l cannot
say. To me it appeared an age it may
hot have been dozen minutes. [ haC
come to the conclusion that there l should
tdir- and rot Llier==raSz,,l. aud Gl6yer lisszuY
cred and there I should have died, it il
my opinion, if new cause of apprehen
, sion had not reused me. While [ WIS
, in the lowest state of dependency a re,
: gleam shot along the dark water, from
: the distance Of some thirty feet up tn
stream. I looked, and there, through
: hole in the overhanging arch, caused b
! knocking out a few bricks, appeared tn
: face Of the Jew still bleeding from tn
compliment l had administered, an
e wild with mingled rage, pain, an
Y anxiety. The wretch held horse pistt
: in one hand, and in the other lanter
n furnished with bulls eye, which thre,
: its searching rays to whatever point b
e turned it. I was sure now that my hou
= had come; but 10 when the fash VIZ
b turned in my direction, its full force fe
o on the enterVening buttress, and by l.
If ing still as was could remain efec
= ually concealed.
d Through small crevice I watched Il
l face Of the Jew as he turned his piercir
le eyes in every direction, and 1 thought
" read in II at length his conviction that
y had perished-a conclusion to which
2 may have been helped by the sight
ie my hat cast up in the shadows on OIL
E. side. In this case, l asked myself, VIII
p would he do? Would he not descel
a with his comrade to find and plund
my body? had no doubt Of it-al
ne my only chance lay in making my
of cape before they executed their purpo.
On The light which had shown me the Jey
IS. face had shown me also something Of t
ct bearings of my prison. 1 saw that
r. could not proceed down the stream wi
It's out getting into deeper water, but Il
at upward the depth was notbing-the fl
Is ripping over stones and offal that lay
nd its course. Therefore, as soon as I
hd Jew had disappeared, 1 rose caution
from my position, and groped my "
ay through the rayless gloom against
ed oo,,rso of the currant st;U rata;r
Of my weapon, and it stood me in good st'
as l held it above my head, by warn
De me when to stoop and save my b
-he scalp from the impending brickwork
D a When once fairly out of hearing I
lch sight-range Of my prosecutors, fac
er- which / was aware from the angu
e l course I followed, my spirits began to
bod viye within me, and something like h
the once more dawned upon my mind.
me To my great relief, I found as I I
y L ceeded that the horrible gloom grew