The Van Buren press., 1873-10-14

w - ehS t'NN''h7 te''"N ~
front of the door, ,aNhere, by entirely
blocking up the enNanee, it seemed ia
me TO form an sd'ectaal barricade in thai
quarter, A very fet .secouds sulliced tC
threw Charlie into arisudible slunlbsr, ,anc
then silence the mos, profound settled
down over the house
walked to the vandew and looked
out upon the range oE picturesque hills
now flooded with the moons pale beams
and calculated with my eye the distance
Of the window from the ground, and th'
possibility of "a leap IN the dark " IL
ease we were attacked on the other side
Having satisfied myself that "the leap
would be certain deatl l turned back in
to the room and bean to examine th'
strength and positio M my barricade
This occupied but very short time
however, as felt perfectly convinced
from its size and weight that no human
being could move it from the outside
Then sat down upon the side of thu
bed to await in silence and solitude the
termination of my dismal watch.
Charles blue eyes were wide open as
soon as laid my hand on his shoulder
to announce that his hour Of rest was
ended, and, starting up as fresh as II he
had slept ten hours instead Of one, he
turned deaf ear to my whispered en-
treaties that he woult let me watch with
him, and pushed me down with gentle vi
olsnce upon the bed
For tho first fifteen minutes lay wide
awake, watching Charlie as he looked
carefully to the primihg Of his pistols
and placed them fully cooked by his side
Then my eyes closed, and for half An
hour | slept A touch on my arm awokc
me, and at a gesture from Charlie, who
was still sitting where ! had last seen
him on the side of the bed, checked the
exclamation that was rising TO my lips,
and turned my eyes upon the antique
secretary. which formed our only for
tress of defence against our enemies.
Look sharp" said my friend in a
.breathless whisper, and you will sec it
move.
AT first thought it was an hallucina-
ton Of Charles always vivid i'm.
agination, but steader gaze convinced
me that he was right. The moon was
now well down towards the hills, and the
almost horizontal beams fell straight
across the room. Yes, there could be no
doubt of it, the huge thing was moving
toward us-almost impcrceptibly-with
out the slightest noise, but steadily and
surely it was advancing into the room. l
glanced toward tho top, and could dis
tinctly see that, whereas we had placed it
with its back close against the door, so
that not sheet of paper could have been
introduced between, there was now All
open space there Of more than an inch in
width. | looked at Charlie, and his hon.
est blue eyes returned the gaze both
felt that an hour Of mortal terror was Of
hand; and as we sra PED our pi5tols,anG
stood side by side ready for the first shot,
think a prayer for mercy and forgive
ness went up from both of our hearts.
Our movements up to this point had
been as stealthy as those of our assall.
ants, and there was probably very little
doubt in their minds that we we're wrap
ped in the deep and motioness slumbei
which excessive fatigue engenders. On
the contrary, with eyes almost starting
from our heads, we were watching the
regular advance Of the huge secretary
and preparing for an attack at any mo
ment, when low note, which might have
been uttered by o bird or insect struck
the ear OF both at the same time.
Motioning to Charlie not to relax hi'
vigilance, turned towards the window
and glancing out, perceived ladder rest
ing against the sill, the other end ofwhicl
VAS firmly held by the hands of the gyp
sv girl below. Without an instants de
lay | snatched the pistol from Charlie
hand and motioned him to descend. Ht
hcsitated a momont. as loath to leave mt
alone but was peremptory in my en-
treaty to 90 instantly, and there woulc
be time for both, " and he clutchcd The
ladder with one hand, swung himsel
| lightly from the window, and disappear
cd, Just as the body Of a man. crawling OF
his hands and knees, became visible from
behind the shelter Of the bureau.
As soon as the villain saw that we wer'
up and ready for him, he sprang to hi
feet and uttered hoarse cry for help. A
the same moment pointed my pistol q
his head and fired and in the confusion
and obscurity that ensued from tho rusl
OF others into the room, and from th'
smoke of several pistols discharged 81
m .,taneo usly, | seized the end of the lad
IT,; was ~ terra frma and fyinl
LAW tho norro, ,a,...so between Charlie
and tho Zingara, before The hhA'es o
the posada were aware Of my escape
The girl was as swiit-foOted Gs oeer
and sped on rapidly before us, until w
plunged into what seemed to me prlm
eysl forest, and in whose friendly shade:
we knew that We were safe.
Then the girl opened her lips and tot
us that she had heard Of the plot to mur
der the 1.-TWO young English travellers
three days before; that our guide wa'
one of the gang Of ruillans, and was
pledged to bring us to that posada, in
stead of to the one few leagues iGrthe'
on, where respectable travellers always
stepped, and to which she was guiding
us now. The placing OF the piece OF iur
Hiture as a barricade against the door hao
been anticipated and provided for b,
looseninc the panels Of the door, whiel
had been removed so noiselessy tha
even Charlie, wide awake az he was a
the time. had not heard it; aud then, wheI
tho secretary had bean pushed sufficient
forward. The five ruilians hoped to eraw
IN on their hands and knees and murde