The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-03-27

q
"I'll h ack this wholp's limbs tt
pieces with my knife. and ther
bnrn the mill over your head
Twill be q merry blsze, | trow."
"1 put my trust in God" replied
the dauntlcss "nevcr shall We
sot your foot within these walls
whilst | have lie to prevent yo."
Tho rutfian laid the infant for a
moment on the sward as he sought
for cunbustibles whcrewith to exc
cnte his latter threat. In this search
he espiod, perhaps the only posi-.
| bio c.andeetine entrance to the build
ing. 1t was a large aperture in tho
wall, communicating with the great
wheel and the other machinery Of
the mill, and was q point entirely
unprotected, for the reason that the
simple occupants had never auppos.
ed it feasible for any one to seek
admission through euch danger
Gus inlet. Elated with his discov.
cry, tho ruff an returned to the i'm
liant, sud, tying the hands and feet
of tho child, threw it on the ground
even as a butcher will fling lamb
declined for the slaughter, to await
his time for staying Ilo then 81 ole
back to the aperture, by which he
hoped to effect an eutrance. All
this was unseen by The dauntless
girl within. t
In tho meantime her mind was
busied with q thousand cogtations.
She clearly perceived that no means
would be left untried to effect an
entrance, and che knew ,ha, on the
exclusion OF her foe depended her
own existence. A thought struck
her. b.. .,...., ..l o..
ut is Sunday" said she to her.
self; "the mill never works on the
Sabbath; suppofo | set the mill
a.going now3 Ii can be seen alar
of; and haply my master, or some
oi hls neighbors, wondering at the
sight, may haste hither to know the
cause. A lucky thought" she OK
claimed; "'tis God sent it to me-"
No sooner said than done. Be-
ing all her lilo accustomed to mill.
gear, it was but the work OF a mo
ment Tor her tos I the machinery in
motion. A brisk breeze which
sprang up, as it were by the special
interposition Of Providence, at once
act the sails Q nYing. The arms of
the huge engine whirlel round with
fearful rapidity; the great whoel
slowly revolvsd on its axle; the
smaller gear turned, and cresked,
and gro med, according hs they
came into ac,ion--,ho mill was in
fall operation.
1t WAS in that very instant thai,
the rnflian, Diether, had succeeded
in squeezing himself through the
aperture in the wall, and getting
.a'cly lodged in the interior of tho
great dram wheel. His dismay,
however, was indescribable when
he began to be whirled about with
! its rotation, and found that all his
efforts to put a stop to the powerful
chinery Which set it in motion,
or to 'xtricate himself from his per
lions situation, wcro iruitless. llis
cries were most appalling; hie
sIIieks were truly fearful; his curaes
aud imprecatiOns were hoTtibl1 TO
hear. Hanncilen FASTENED TO the
spot, and saw him caught, like a
reptile as he was, IN bis own trap.
1t need not be added, that she did
not liberate him. She knew that he
would be more frightened than
hurt, if he kept within his rotary
prison; and she knew, also, that un-
less he attempted TO escape, there
was no danger Of bis falling ont Of
, it, even though he were insensible
and inanimate all tho while. ln
The meantime, tue wheel went round
and ronpd with its steady, unceas.
ing motion; and round and round
went the rufiian along with it, stead
lily ard increasingly, too. In vair
did he promise tho stout. hearted
girl to work her 90 harm; in vsir
did he implore her to take pity on
his helpless condition; in vain did
he pray toall the powers Of heaven
and adjuro ell the powers OF hell tc
his all. She would not hear nol
heed him; and unhesrd and uihe d
ed ol them like wiee, muttcring cnrs
es, he ives whirled rourd and raunt
in the nntiring wheel, until, at last
feeling aud perception failed him
, and saw and heard no moro. H.
Toll, senselsss, on lhe bottom Of tho
engine, but even then his iNanims,e
body continued to he whirled round
and roupd az before; the brave girl
not daring to trust in appearance.
r in connection with such o villain
and being, therefore, afraid to sus
pend the working OF the machinery
, or stopthe mill gear and tackle from
{ running at thoir fullest speed.
A loud knocking at the door was
shortly attor heard, and she hastcued
! thithpr In was hpr rnastnr and IA &