The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-08-04

be seen. Perhaps this body had been covered
with splendid garments; perhaps the ribbons OF
the most noble orders had once crossed his pan
ting chest. At present he was only living
skeleton, that had lost rank, dignity, evenn name,
and was called No. IL. He rose, and wrap
ped himself in the fragments of his ragged pc
lissc, without uttering complaint; hls body
was bowed down, conquered by prison damp,
time, it might be hunger.-His eye was haugh-
ty almost menacing.
sit IS good" said the Governor. ''Come. "
Ee was the first to go out.
The prisoner threw q parting glance on his
CELL bis stone bench, his water jug, and rotten
straw He uttered a sigh, yet it was impossi-
BILE that he could regret anything of this. He
followed the Governor and passed before me.
I shall never forget the glance he turned up
on me in passing, and the reproach that was
concentrated in it.
so young" it seemed to say, "and already
obeying tyranny"
! turned away; that glance had pierced my
heart like dagger He passed the door of the
dungeon. How long. was t since he entered it :?
Perhaps be did not know himself. He must
have ceased for long time counting days and
nights On reaching the Governors door we
found two sledges waiting The prisoner was
ordered into the one that brought US, and we
followed him, the Governor by his side, | in
front The other sledge was occupied by four
soldiers.
Where were we going knew not. What
were we going to do | was equally ignorant.
had only to see-the action itself did not con-
Germ me-
We started.
Through my position the old mans knees
were between mine. felt them trembIe The
Governor was wrapped in his furs. was but
toned up in my military frock, ard yet the cold
reached US. The prisoner was almost naked
but the Governor had offered him no coverings.
For a moment thought Of taking off my coat
and offering it to him. The Governor guessed
my intention.
.It is not worth while" he said.
Soon we reached the Neva again, and our
sledee took the direction of Cronstadt. The
wind came off the Baltic and blew iuriously;
tine slect cut our faces. Though our eyes had
become accustomed to the darkness We could not
sec ten var1s before 10.
at last we stopped IN the midst OF furious
storm. We must have been about league
and a half from ST. Petersburg. The Cover
7cr got off the sledge and went up to the other
The soldiers had already got off. holding the
tool they had been ordered to bring
"Cut a hole in the lee" the Governor SAID
to them.
could not refrain cry Of terror. be-
gan to apprehend.
"Ab!" the old man uttered, with an accent
resembling the laugh Of skeleton, then the
-,;II rou,ar, f,as- mo 2''
Of what Empress was he talking Three
had passed away in succession-Anne' Eliza
beth and Catharine. 1t was evident he still
believed he was living under one OF them' and
he did not know even the name OF 1he man
who ordered his death.
What was the obscurlty Of the night compa-
red with that of the tomb!
The four soldiers then set to work. They
broke the ice with their hammers, cut it with
their axes, and raised the blocks with the lever.
All at once they started back; the ice was bro
ken; the water was rising,
"Come down." the Governor said to the old
man. The order was useless, for he had al
ready done So Kneelng on the ice he was
praying fervently.
The Governor gave an order in low tone
to the soldiers, then he came back to my side;
for had not left the sedge. In minute the
prisoner rose.
The four soldiers rushed upon him.
turned my eyes away, but though did
not see, heard the noise of body hurled IN
to the abyss. In spite of myself, 1 turned a
round The old man had disappeared for
cot that | had no right to give orders, but
shouted to the driver, "Away away"
s'Stop !" cried the Governor. Tie sledge
which had already moved forward, stopped a.
gain.
"All is not finished" the Governor said to
me in French.
"What have we to do :" | asked.
"Wait !" he replied.
We waited half an hour.
ssThe ice has set" said one of the soldiers.
cart thou sure?"
| He struck the spot where the hole had so
| lately yawned; the water had become solid a.
gain.
eve can co." said the Governor.
The horses started at a full gallop, and in less
| than ten minutes we reached the fortress.