Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1871-09-15

bearing some resemblance to groan, is
sued from the monsters chest. He
writhed and struggled with renewed en-
ergy in my grasp, and dragged me about
the room as if were child. 1t struck
me at the time that he wanted to bring
me over some particular spot in the floor.
He soon accomplished his purpose, when
to my horror, l felt the floor give way,
and / began to sink down, down into an
unfathomable abyss. The creature had
relaxed his hold, and l knew that | was
sinking alone.
do not know how long this descent
continued for / became unconscious
When | regaincd my senses, found
myself on the damp ground. | rose to
my feet, and gazed round me. found
| was in sort of stone cavern, which
was lighted by lamp hanging from the
ceiling At one end Of this cell was
placed fight of steps, which led up to
an iron door. | assembled these steps,
and tried the door it was fastened, and
firm as rock. The lamp suspended
from the ceiling allowed sufficient light
to illuminate the cell, so that could
trace the form of the stones of which it
was built They were built. They
were large and rough, bearing in some
places the marks of inscriptions, but too
much obliterated to be read. There was
one thing particularly struck me, and that
was the dampness of the place; it chilled
my very blood. Not only was the floor
damp, but the walls were reeking with
moisture, large drops of unwholcsome
exhalations coursing each other down the
discolorcd blocks of stone.
l sat down on the only chair the cell
contained and unused upon my condition.
What was to become of me Was to
perish there, or was to be kept in per-
petual confinement? What motive could
there be for taking my life How had |
offended Such were the questions |
asked myself over and over again as |
sat in that dark, dismal prison A feel
ing of some great, unknown terror was
fast settling in my breast, which surpass-
ed that lately had undergone. At last
| rose up, and began to pace up and
down the Shiny bricks of which my dun
geon floor was composed.
1t was strange anomaly, that with
some unknown fate hanging over my
head, should begin to feel drowsy but
such was the fact. | threw myself in
the chair again, leaned back, and actual
ly slept. In the black solitude of that
dungeon, a delightful dream visited my
troubled mind. ] was with my wife, and
we were gazing on beautiful expanse
of water together, the waves ripping to
our very feet. The rays of the morning
sun illumined the placid surface of the
lake, and the air was musical with the
songs of birds. | could see her loving
face turned towards me, every feature
beaming with joy, happiness and aflec-
ton. | thought we advanced closer to
the lake-nay, so close that our feet ac
tually touched the water; while the rip
pies grew more and more distinct. 1t
was no drcam-my feet did touch the
water; | felt it distinctly, and could
hear the rushing sound made by the
waves; chill seized me, and | awokc
But, strange to say, the rushing sound
still continued. The lamp had gone out,
and ] was in the most complete darkness.
| rose to my scat, and my feet went
splash, splash, into water. i stopped
down, and found that the floor Of my cell
was covered to the depth of something
like eight or ten inches with water.
The drip, drip Of the water still con-
tinued. What could it mean? Even
suspicion of the truth did not enter my
mind. 1t was some water-pipe that had
burst, and the fact would soon be dis
covered by the inmates of the house, and
remedied Such was my first thought at
that dread moment.
The dripping had changed into arush-
: ing sound the water was evidently
pouring in faster. l. had already reach
ed above my knees, and l felt it ascend
ing still higher and higher. Now it had
reached my waist, and / had great diff
Guilty in wading it. Suddenly the truth
burst on my mind aoas 10 be drowned.
Yes, that was to be my fate. ! uttered
one cry of despair, and struggled to and
fro in the mass Of fluid, which still kept
rising.
The water had already reached my
chest when thought of the steps, and
endeavored to reach them. / struggled
about some time without success, the wa
ter all the time gaining upon me- grew
chilled and cold, but at last reached the
steps, and, ascending them, was for the
time being removed from aboye the sur
face of the water But it was only pro-
longing my fate for the rushing sound
of the water became so loud as TO drown
everything else, and / felt the cold fluid
again invading my limbs as stood on
the top step. l beat against the door,
then cried out at the top of my voice
but still the water rose higher again
had it reached my waist ! renewed my
cries; but they only echoed back to me
from my prisonhousc.
The water reached my neck. | grew
dizzy; strange sounds rushed through
nv head, felt that [ was suifocating;
SHARKS Of fire danced before my eyes.
commended my soul to my Maker, and
breathed a last prayer for my wife. The
water beat against my mouth. | fell
heavily against the door. This fall saved
me from drowning; for, strange to say,
my hand came in contact with some Sc
cret spring, and the door few open, re-
vealing a short fight Of stone steps. |
was about ascending these, when Ireceiv-
ed blow over the head from some unseen
i L 4 e rdsa11