Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-04-12

I'm a thinkin but then, thar may be NIGH
ty sight cusseder We've gained leetle time
ennyhow, and eff we ken only find some way
eout, or somethin' to live on till the red devils
git sick O. diggin' on that iron door, we're in
town agin."
"Tt'sa confounded ugly business" said The
Odore Doke " and move we adjourn to better
quarters"
move we retire, said another.
Not bad idee sartin,' said old Nate,
but move that in the fust place we look a lee
tie thorougher for somethin tu eat Thar may
be somethn in the bottom O. some O them bar
rils or boxes what'l Il feel kinder good on mans
stumack, eff it don't taste quite SO delekit."
The provision room was visited again, and
thorough overhauling brought to light as Ma
than expected, something that would sustain
life, though far enough from being palatable to
anything but the keenest hunger.
Meow" said Nathan, after they had parta-
ken of the food,'' e" I've good deal ov mind
myself, to git a bit O. rest eff we can. lisa
mighty good plan in sich times, to keep the ma
teral wants all spilled. and's longs there's
nothin' portickerler to du to forrard business,
we'd better set watch and 60 tu bed."
" All but the bed," replied Theodore, at
might be a little hard to 60 to what we haint
got-here."
" Exackly, but we can bunk down somewhar
an git bit O. rest I'm thin in it's mighty
near mornin', but whatsumever the time o.
night is, it's bed time for sartin."
ave could bunk" said Leon, " but I'm not
SO certain that we could sleep. We have got
too much to think Of.
O, that's nothin' agin sleepin', my boy, when
q body gifts the mack. It's jest's easy sloepin'
in nest o. the cuss'd injuns as ennywhar in
the world, when man gets ust tu it, an I'm
a thinkin' that's most O. this crowd us't to
most ennything in that line. Howsumever eff
thar's sum what can't sleep, it a'int no use O.
keepin' the rest up on thar count, ca se we
want sum to keep thar eyes peeled sos't we
needn't be skeery."
"I'l watch for one, - said Leon
" I for another" said Harry.
for another" said light-eyed bald
t headed individual
And |, too, if it is necessary" said anoth-
er.
AS these four were all who expressed their
willingness to stand sentinels over their sleeping
: comrades, the post of observation for each was
soon selected, and the rest Of the party, who
were mostly men who had learned to take all
such matters cool, were soon slowed away, and
buried in the deep sleep of exhaustion.
Leon was posted at the extreme north end Of
the hall, at considerable distance from the
, seepi ng party, and at too great distance from
the nearest sentinel for conversation. The
light was extinguished, and the whole party
! were buried in the most profound darkness
and the deepest silence. Even tho work o.
their enemies though actually carried on with
unabated vigor by pounding heavily upon the
iron door, and on other parts of the floor, wal
only evidence by dull sound, like the beat
;, ing of heavy bodies upon the solid EARTH
4 By previous examination with the light, il
u had been ascerlained that both ends of the hal
l. were built OF solid mason work, of q species Of
d slate stone, and in loug narrow slabs, standing
J. perpendicular, and fitting nicely together,
:. For a whole hour Leon leaned his bach
Is against the wall, and indulged in reverie O.
g the probable condition Of affairs at St. Aubin
3, But as time wore on, he tired of his position
d and commenced pacing slow and measured
j. tread across the hall. Then came thoughts O.
+ his present situation, and faster and faster Of
!, he felt the terrible reality of his condition. anC
D. became nervously excited, he walked back anC
r forth across the dark narrow hall He clench
ed his rifle with frmer grasp. drew his Ions
|, sheathed hunting knife from its scabbard, anC
l. felt nervously of its keen cutting edge, anC
S. buckled the leathcrn belt that held his treasure
" a hole tighter around his body But in time
20 this mood wore away too, and his passion sub
Of sided to calm determination to meet his fat
re with fortitude, whatever that fate might be.
es Again he leaned his back against the wall
Il and this time it was not the WALL but THU
pt stone door, fitted to exactly resemble the wal
Q, in appearance, and which offered SO little resis
k tance, that in hastily stepping back to main
r tain his equilibrium, he went quite through
Up and the door closed silently between him an
his friends
of lie reached forward his hand to open tn