Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-02-02
" Shall | proceed ? "

| - NOG WIN your d-----u law, saiu Aluer-
to in rage. :" If you should. 'sdeath, wont
answer for the consequences
Shouldn' t expect you to, Cap'n. Fact is,
you are getting little excited. Perhaps we
better adjourn till you cool"
Why didn't yOu teHme? repeated Alberto.
"There you are getting rational again
I'm glad it's blowed over, and nobody killed.
Shall procecd?"
PROCEED
" Let me see, SAID Antonio; sc it was a
week ago that commanded the Losing expe.
dition, and that morning saw Jimmy at Fords'
crossing. Itto6k two days to finish that job,
and when returned you was gone to Rartords.
The next night, without 80 much as seeing you,
| went to st. Penelope, according to previous
arrangement, and didn't get back till last
night, when went to sleep and slept till this
morning. Is that satisfactory evidence that it
was impossible?"
6" But you might at least have told me this
morning." said Alberto, unwilling to admit
that he had been anyways hasty.
The truth was, Alberto felt annoyed that
Manellia should have made arrangements for a
lift without first consulting him. He had
a vague apprehension, also, that notwithstand-
ing his professions and abilities, he needed
watching. To him it was quite evident that
Manelli would consult his own interest first,
and, perhaps, last
No; couldn't do that even," replied Ma
nelli, for the very good reason that had no
opportunity. When you called me you pro-
posed business Immediately, which we attended
to, and have been busy ever since"
" Plausible, very--quite an excuse but my
mind is that there was time enough. Howev-
er, let that pass and go on"
Well, Black Jimmy thought he could give
us good sight, and agreed if he could, to de
posit the plan in the ledge, where | found it
this morning. Here =
Manelli handed him a crumpled piece Of pa
per, written in pencil, which Alberto read with
seeming pleasure, for he had no sooner finished
its perusal than he turned to Manelli and
said,
=" Good hang me if it aint, though. But
you must be ofF-the sooner the better. Take
the Pine, and keep the eastern shore for few
miles, and no trouble, l think"
g 'None whatever" replied Manell.
"Wait till see."
The Captain went out, and in few minutes
returned with the intelligence that the coast
was clear-only one craft in sight, and that a
little skiF almost out of sight, going north
So the lookout reported.
"Now, Antonio, be cautious. You have,
think, about an equal chance of success, and if
you succeed we are in funds again
81 will make the attempt" said Manelli,
I" though have but little expectation of sue
cess In either case, shall return before day
light"
The whole plan was base fabrication of
Manelli's in order to get away from the Island,
for purpose OF his own.
The Pine canoe was lowered from its tasten-
ings, and Antonio Maneli glided out of the
narrow entrance and rowed rapidly up the
lake. He took the course suggested by the
Captain, and hugged the eastern shore till he
reached the broad lake, and then struck direct
for st. Aubin. 1t was ten o'clock in the eve.
ming when he pulled up his canoe in little bay
and proceeded up narrow cove, and through a
back field, into the valley below Slocum's tav-
ern.
In the upper end of this valley, on the road
running north, stood small, rough building,
covered with slabs, and only lighted by a SINGLE
window. 1t was originally built for Potash
but which Slocum now used for store-house
Under the very centre of the building, he had
excavated cellar, about six feet square, which
he planked up, and entered through nicely
fitting trap-door, over which stood a large
bench. This cellar was not within four feet O
the outside Of the building on either side an(
was planked tight up to the hoor so that not
ray of light could by any means enter it, or, be
ing within, he seen from without 1t was
Dark Hole and was SO termed by Slocuu
) and Manelli, the only two men who knew o
its existence.
As have said, Manelli's pretended commu
nieation from Black Jimmy was all forgery
, and devised for the sole purpose of furnishing
pretext for Manelli to leave at night. Th
communication which he actually did receive
was from SlOcum, and ran as follows
s "ANToNIo Re in the Dark Hole at eleven to-nigh