The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1868-02-20

some IlH1e lancnIln8, like a trutil,
the bright visions that had vanish
ed; and recoiling from the present,
which clung to him as poisoned
garment. ga;at.s-.-l
When he grew more calm, he
surveyed his gloomy dungeon. Alas !!
the strong light of day only served
to confirm what the gloomy indis-
tinctness of the preceding evening
had partially disclosed, the utter
impossibilitJ of escape. AS, how
ever, his eyes wandered round and
round, and from place to place, he
noticed two circumstances which
excited his surprise and curiosity.
The one, he thought, might be fan
cy; but the other, was positive
His pitcher of water, and the dish
which contained his food, had been
removed from his side while he
slept, and now stood near the door.
Were he even inclined to doubt this,
by supposing he had mistaken the
spot where he saw them over night,
| he could not, as the pitcher now. in
his dungeon was neither ofthe same
form or color, as the other, while
the food was changed for, some other
of better quality. He had been Wis
lifted therefore during the night. But
4 how had the person obtained en-
trance?. Could he have slept sound
ly, that the unlocking and opening
of those ponderous portals were cf
fected without waking him? He
( would have said this was not
possible, but that in doing so, he
must admit a greater difficulty, an
entrance by other means, Of which
he was convinced there existed
none. It was not intended, then,
that he should be left to perish from
hunger. But the secret and myste-
rious mode Of supplying him with
food, seemed to indicate he was to
have no opportunity of communica-
ting with human being. i
The other circumstance which
had attracted his notice, was the
| disappearance, as he believed, OF
one Of the seven grated windows
that ran along the top of his prison
He felt confident that he had OBJ
served and counted them; for he
was rather surprised at their mum
ber, and there was something pecu
liar in their form, as well as in the
manner Of their arrangement, at un
equal distances. 1t was so much
easier, however, to suppose he was
mistaken, than that a portion Of the
solid iron, which formed the walls
could have escaped from its posi-
ton, that he soon dismissed the
thought from his mind. ......-
The day passed wearily and gloom
\ lily; though not without a fainf
hope that, by keeping watch a
night, he might observe when th'
person came again to bring hin
food, which he supposed he woult
do in the Same way as before. Th
mere thought Of being approached
by q living creature, and the oppor
tunity it might present of learning
the doom prepared, or preparing
for him, impaired some comfort
Besides, if lie came alone, might h
not in a furious onset oyerpowe
him Or he might be accessible t.
pity, or the influence of such mu
nificent rewards as he could bestow
if. once more at liberty and master o
himself Say he we're armed. Th
: worst that could befall, if no bribe
nor prayers, nor force prevailed
was faithful blow, which thougl
dealt in damned cause, Nigh
work a desired end. There was NJ
chance so desperate, but it locke
lovely, in Vivenzio's eyes compare
with the idea of being totally aban
: doned. -1i-.a s-'e1-l 'Arr
The night came, Vivenzio watch
ed; morning came, Vivenzio wa
confounded He must have slum
bered without knowing it. Slee
must have stolen over him when eS
hausted by fatigue, and in that il
terval of feverish repose he ha'
: been baffied; for there stood his re
plenished pitcher of water, an
: there his days meal! Nor was thi
ALL Casting his looks toward tn
5 windows he counted but FIVE
Here was no deception: and as h
2 was now convinced there had bee
: none the day before. But wha
l did all this portend? Into wha
t strange and mysterious den had h
been cast? He gazed till his eye
t ached; he could discover nothin
+ to explain the mystery, That
! was so,z he knew. Why it was sc
: he racked his Imagination n val
to conjecture, He examined tn
doors. A single circumstance cor
: vinced him that they had not bee
opened - r ..........--...
, A wisp of straw, which he ha
i carelessly thrown against them tn
. preceding day, as he passed to an
A fro, remained where he had cast i
!, though it must have been displace
e by the slightest motion Of either {
the doors. This was evidence ths
t could not be disputed; and it 70
!; lowed there must be some seer,
e machinery in the walls by which
Il person could enter. He inspecte
: them closely, They appeared t
|. him one solid and compact mass Q
e iron; or joined, if joined they wer
S with such nice art, that no mark {
+ division was perceptible. Agai
f and again he surveyed them, an
d the tioor-and the roof-and tha
b range of visionary windows, as h
/, was now almost tempted to consid'
e them; he could discover nothin!
e absolutely nothing, to relieve b
| dOl1hts or satisfy hic oI1riositv :