The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-12-05
THRILLING Stretch.

best:
| We left the room with a turnkey be-
hind US, and walked on till we found our
selves opposite the prison. The jailor
opened it, went in, and lighted lantern.
! We went down ten steps, passed row OF
dungeons, then down ten more, but did
not stop. We went down FIVE more and
then stopped at one marked No. IL. He
gave a silent signal; it seemed IN this
abode of the dead as if lie had lost the
power of speech. There was at this time
a frost Of at least twenty degrees outside.
At the depth where We found ourself, 1t
was mingled with damp which Penetra-
ted to the bone my marrow was frozen,
and yet wiped the perspiration from my
brow. The door opened, we went down
damp and slippry steps, and fonnd our
selves in a Dungeon fisk square feet. |
fancied by the light of the lantern that |
saw a human form moving in 1t;
Rise and dress yourself"
l had a curiosity to know to whom
this order was addressed.
Turn on the light said I to the jail
or with me.
then saw a thin and palIid old man
rise up. He bad evidently been immur-
ed in this dungeon in the same clothes
be had on when arrested, but they had
fallen off By peace-ueal,an he wore only
a ragged pelisse. Through the rags his
naked, bony shi7ering body could be seen
Perhaps this body had been covered
with splendid garments; perhaps the rib
bons of the most no.able orders had once
crossed his paDtng chest. At present lie
was only living skeleton, that had lost
rank, dignity, even name, and was called
Ne. II. He rose, and wrapped himself
in the fragments Of his ragged pelisse,
without uttering a complaint; his body
was bowed down, conquered By prison
damp, time, and it might be hunger His
eye was naughty, almost menaciDg.
"Itis good, said the Governor, Come" P"
He was the first to 60 out.
The prisoner threw a parting glance on
his cell, his stone bench, his water jug,
and straw. He uttered sigh, yet was
impossible that be could regret anything
of this He followed the Governor and
passed before me.
I shall never forget the glance he
turned upon me in passing, and the re-
proach that was concentrated in it.
$50 young" it seemed to say, "and al
ready ObeyiOg tyranny"
turned away: the glance had pierced
my heart like a dagger. He passed the
door of the dungeon. How long was it
since he entered it? Perhaps he did not
know himself. He must have ceased for
long time counting days and nights.
/ On reaching 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, l in front. The other siedge was
occupied by four soldiers.
! Where were we going? l knew not.
I What were We going to do? was equal.
/ II ignorant. l had only to see-the ac-
tion itself did not concern me.
We started.
Through my posi;ian the old mans
/ knees were between mine. | felt them
tremble. The Governor was wrapped in
/ his furs. I was bustoned up il my mil
itary frock, and yet the cold reached US
The prisoner was almost naked but the
Governor had offered him DO coverings.
For moment I thought of taking off
my coat and Offering it to him. The Gov
/ o-ror r,r.-zoI M :, LoD.IcD
f'It is not worth while" be said.
Soon we reached the Neya again, and
our sledge took the direction Of Cornstadt
The wind came of the Baltic and blew
/ furiously; the sleet cut our faces. Tho
( our eyes had become accustomed to the
/ darkness yet We could not see ten yards
before US.
At last We stopped in the midst of a
furious storm. We must have been about
league and half from St. Petersburg
The Governor got off the sledge and went
up to the other. The soldiers had already
got of holding the tools they had been
ordered to bring.
"Cut hole in the ice" the Governor
said to them.
/ l could not restrain CRY of terror. l
began to apprehend.
"Ah p the old man uttered, with an
notwithstanding the laugh of a skeleton,
"then the Empress does still remember
me, does she ?"
| Of what Empress was he talking !?
Three had passed away in succession
Anne, Elizabeth and Catharino. 1t was
evident he still believed he was living
under one of them, and be did not even
know the name Of the man who ordered
his death.
/ What was the obscarity of the night
compared with that of the tomb
! The four soldiers then set to work