The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-04-21


such a way that they rested on my back
then inserting my fingers in tho spaces left
by the mortar, and sticking my toes in
below, / raised myself up the wall. The
two top stones we're quite smooth, and so
inclined that they resembled roof but
between these. luckily, l found crevice
large enough for me to stick my hand in.
l tried first to creep through one Of the
embrasures for the cannon but finding
this built of smooth stones. ] had to de-
eide to get over the higher part Of the
castellated battlements
with my right hand grasped firmly in
crevice, | swung out my left TO try to
lay hold Of the corner. | was successful;
my left hand fastened like vice on the
top corner, and then with the help Of my
right raised my body and-gazed into
the very inside of the fortress Opposite
me, stood house; behind that, some
trees, and right and left the sentinels, who
were pacing in my direction In mo-
ment crouched down, with my head
below the parapet, and the sentnels pa
ced back again without noticing me.
'AsI was clinging in this way, liks
shadow to the wall, holding mybclf up to
the battlements by my arms, the clock
below in the town strucl' twelve. All at
once fit of trembling seized me. We
chimney y-sweepers know to well sir, what
that means. All ones strength seems
suddenly to 60; the brain whirls, the
feet and hands are drawn up together, as
with the cramp, and the next moment
down you crash .elt it was now or
never, and giving Il tremendous spring.
dropped ever into the fortress. At the
same moment a fearful pain shot through
me- An iron spike on which | must
have jumped had penetrated the little
toes of my right foot, ard torn the half
of them off The loss Of blood put the
finishing stroke to my strength, and CONS
pletely exhausted sank On the path
In little time the sentinel noticed me-
and have no doubt my peculiar dress,
made up out of n soldiers coat, black
trousers, and n velveteen cap, appeared
suspicious to him, for he Immediately sal.
uted me with "Who goes therer 'Sebas-
ton Abratsky, from Mahlis, | replied
'How did you come up here ? 'Up there.
This seemed to amuse the soldier; but as
he observed my whole appearance. with
my wounded foot and the blood, he be,
came serious and said he must arrest me.
This was out ofmy reckoning and want
ed to climb down the rock again, but of
course ! was prevented b. my captor,
and had TO resi- gn myself to my fate -
The sentinel shouted to his comrade, tell
ing him the extraordinary event, and
then came the patrol, and by chauce also
the adjutant, and so l was marched to the
guard house, the officer in front, then |
with naked feet and my boots on my back,
and behind me the guard
Il was almost in the last stage of ex-
haustion, and so hungry that seemed to
have only one wish, and that was to get
something to eat. mistook the officer
in front of me for the comlnandant of the
fortress, ON account of his cooked hat /,
and thought he could crafty my fear
ful longing; but he gave no answer to
my entreaties We soon arrived at the
guard house, where the news of my dar-
ing adventure had preceded me, and
crowds OF soldiers were there TO stare at
the plucky chimneyswccper. Presently
the commandant appeared, and after a
preliminary report, WAS taken off TO the
prison called Moors Chamber, which s,
however, better than one would imagaine
from the name.
Meantime my prayers for something to
eat had not remained unanswered, and
need not tell you that did not leave
much of what they brought me, How.
ever, my dessert was terribly spoit, fol
the door opened, and an officer entered
accompanied by corporal and jaior
and J was chained hand and foot II
vain I assured them of my harmlessness
cried and prayed, but it was of no use
The door shut again and was alon,
with my chains and my anything bu
pleasant thoughts. What was to com,
of all this! My heart sank at the though
Of the future. ! raised my hand, the chair
ratified. On looking closer at the rings
saw they were so made that they coulC
easily be slipped off At this my prid,
was aroused. 'f am to wear fetters.
thought !, AT least they shall be sucl
that oppress me- | called to the tailor
and he soon brought ME another chain.
The next morning, driven by the ted
iousness Of my confinement, | was agaiI
examining my fetters, when | notice,
that the lock was what they called
German lock and with the help Of ,
bent nail | succeeded in forcing it open
then, to the astonishnent of the sentinel
outside, l suddenly acquainted him that
succeeded in freeing myself, in a minute
however, the sergeant Of the guard ap
peared with another chain, and | wa
bound for the third time.
in the meantime, court.martial ha,
assembled, and | was summoned to. ap
pear, before it. BY order of the preslden
my chains were at once struck of.
then had to undergo strict examination
| was very composed and told the officer
quietly all that | have told you. At frs
il was feared there was some danger
about, and no one would believe l ha,
risked my life for 90 small a purpose; b,