The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-08-30
WESTMINSTER MD. SATURDAY, AUGUST go 1873.

II from the outside. Then | sat down up
on the side of the bed to await in silence
and solitude the termination of my dismal
watch.
Charles blue eyes were wide open as
soon as l laid my hand upon his shoulder
to announce that his hour Of rest was end
ed, and, starting up as fresh as If he had
slept ten hours instead Of one, he turned a
deaf ear to my whispered entreaties that
he would let me watch with him, and
pushed me down with gentle violence upon
the bed.
For the first fifteen minutes | lay wide
awake, watching Charlie as he looked care
fully to the printing 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 awoke me,
and at gesture from Charlie, who wis
still sitting where had last seen him on
the side Of the bed, checked the excla-
nation that was rising to my lips, and
turned my eyes upon the antique secretary
which formed our only fortress and defence
against our enemies.
"Look sharp" said my friend, in a
breathless whisper; "and you will sec i
move"
At first | thought it was an hallucinatidh
of Charles always vivid Imagination, but
a steadier gaze convinced me that he was
right. The moon was now well down TO-
ward the hills, and its almost horizontal
beams fell straight across the room. Yes,
there could be no doubt Of it; the huge
thing was moving toward us--almost inn
impcrceptibly-without the slightest noise,
but steadily and surely it was advancing
into the room. | glanced towards the top,
and could distinctly 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 an open space there of more than an
inch in width. | looked at Charlie, and
his honest blue eyes returned the gaze ;
both felt that an hour Of mortal peril was
at hand; and as we grasped our pistols,
and stood side by side ready for the first
shot, | think prayer for mercy aud for
giyeness went up from both of our hearts
Our movements up to this point had
been as stealthy as those of our assailants,
and there was probably very little doubt in
their minds that We were wrapped in the
deep and motionless slumber which exces-
siye 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 moment, when low note,
which might have been uttered by bird
or insect, struck the ear of both at the
same time.
Motioning to Charlie not to relax his
vigilance, | turned toward the window, and
glaneing out, perceived ladder resting
against the sill, the other end of which
was firmly held by the hands of the gypsy
girl below. Without an instant's delay |
snatched his pistol from Charles hand,
and motioned him to descend. He hest
tated moment, as 10th to leave me alone,
but l was so peremptory in my entreaty
''to go instantly, and there would be time
for both, that he clutched the ladder with
one hand, swung himself lightly from the
window, and disappeared, just as the body
ola man, crawling on his hands and knees,
became visible from behind the shelter of
Tue bureau u
AS soon as she Nillai,i saw .lia1 we were
up anu reauy ior nm, ne sp,anse 70 ms ieet
anu u"ercu = iloarse cry ior he,p. h1,ne
I l"ni9 nlJ 1s po":eu my P,e'o. ~ ms
n ~ anu n'ou anu ~ .no 'o ~ u'ioi anu
opscuri.y 'ha' ensueu from 'ie rush OF
osners ln,o .nc ro y anu from Tue SMOKE
u seveia Pis.o's u,Scisa ECU s,1i'li'aiieous-
w sei1cu Tue emu Q. 'ne iaouer anu was
On terra hrii'a aIu hyihs uown 'ie narrow
raSine between ohariie ana the hmsara,
Dcioie .ne inmates Vi '"e Po'auo we're
aware Ir Vi my escape
nc S'li w's as swns-ioO'eu Us deer'
anu sPeu rapiuiy oh peio,e us uhul we
plunged 'h'o wna' seemed 70 me PRIME
val forest, anu III whose ifiendiy shades
we knew that we were sare' :,
tneh Tue gi,i opened ner hPs ana told
US that sne had heard OF the plot to muir.
ger the TWO young English travellers
'nree Gays peiore that gu, guide was one
OF the gang OF humans, ana was pledged to
Drlng US TO that posada' instead OF the one
lew leagues further on where respecta-
Die travellers always stopped, and to which
she was guiding us now The placing the
piece oil furniture as barrlcade against
the door had been anticipated and provi-
ded Tor BY ioosening the panels OF the door,
which had been removed so nolselessly that
even Charlie, wide awake as he was at the
time, had not heard III and then, when
the secretary had been pushed sufficiently
forward, the hve rufflans hoped to crawl
IN on their hands and knees and murder
us in our sleep.
And l could not come sooner to your
rescue, Seniors, continued she, because l
was suspected and so closely watched; but
the instant saw them all at the top Of the
ladder which led to your room, rushed
round to the window to give you the
chance OF escape. And You are safe, the