The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-09-04

before he was clear OF the pope 40
minions he knew the road for barely
half the distance. When he had travel
ed about ten miles without meeting a
soul, he reached place where two
roads met, one leading to Loretto, the
other the way he proposed to go. "Here
he STOOD" to quote his own words,
"some minutes in the most profound
perplexity. The dreadful alternative
appeared now in the strongest view
and he was even tempted to quit his
darling project as impracticable, and so
turn to Loretto. But at last collecting
all the force of his staggering resolu-
ton, he boldly pushed his horse into
the country road, and at that instant
left all his fears behind him." 1t was
in the month of April that he set out.
In the first seventeen days he did not
go one hundred miles, so terrible were
the ways he was obliged to take among
mountains, thick woods, rocks and
precipices; generally no better path
than a sheep track, and sometimes not
that. Whenever Bower met any one,
which was but seldom, he pretended he
had lost his way, and inquired for the
high road, to avoid suspicion. For he
well knew that as soon as they missed
the papers he had carried away with
him, or had any other reason to suspect
his flight, expresses would be dispatch
ed in ever direction where it might be
expected to gain tidings of him.
Every possible method would be used
to effect his capture. As appeared in
the sequel, the expresses were actu-
ally hundred miles in advance of him
in very short time. During these
seventeen days he supported himself
with little goats milk, got from
shepherd, besides some coarse victuals
he was able to purchase from people
whom he met on the road, principally
wood cutters. His horse was fed with
what grass could be found, his sleeping
| place being always chosen where there
was most shelter for himself, and a
liberal supply of grass for the poor
beast AT the expiration of this time,
having tasted hardly anything for the
last three days of it, he was compelled
to strike into the high road, and enter
the first house he came to, which hap
pened to be post-house, with only one
small room, where gentlemen staid till
their horses were changed.
He begged the landlady to give him
some victuals but looking about, he
saw paper posted up over the door,
which contained the most minute de-
scription of his own person, and offered
a reward of eight hundred crowns to
any one bringing him aliveto the inqui-
sition, or of six hundred crowns for his
head. This was terrifying enough, as
there were two countrymen in the house.
He tried to hide his face by rubbing it
| with his hon6 Of opI 1,1nu-i,,fY hio
nose !; and when he got into the room,
by looking out of the window. But one
of the fellows presently observing /:
" This gentleman does not care to be
| 6nUwn," Bower thought there was uotll-
ing for it but to brave it out so, turn
ing to the speaker, he put his handker-
chief in his pocket, and said, boldly:
"You rascal what do you mean What
have L done that need fear to be
| known? Look at me, you villain -
The man made no reply, but got up,
nodded his head, and winking signffi-
together. Bower watched them from
the window, but corner obst{ucted his
view for few minutes. In aShort time
he espied them with two or three others
in close conference. This forboded no
good. Not moment was to be lost.
He drew out his pistols, put one in his
sleeve, and with the other cooked in his
hand, marched to the stable, mounted
his horse, and rode off without saying a
| word
Fortunately, the men wanted either
presence of mind or courage to attack
him, for they certainly recognized him
by the description given in the adver-
tisement. He was now again obliged to
seek refuge in the woods, where he must
soon have been famished, had not for
tune once more stood his friend. At
night, when he was almost fainting, he
met with some wood cutters, who sup
piled him with excellent provisions. He
wandered for some time through paths
in which he rendered his horse more as
sistance than he received, being obliged
to clear the roads and lead him.
AS night advanced, he laid himself
down, in disconsolate condition, hav-
ing no idea where he was or which way
he should turn. When the day began
to break, he found he,was on a small
eminence, where he discovered town
at distance, which seemed of consid-
erable extent, from the number Of stee-
pies and spires which could be counted.
Though this was some satisfaction to
him, yet it was not unaccompanied with
fear, as he knew not what place it was,
and he might incur much risk by going
into the high-roadto to inquire. However,
he advanced as fast as he could, and
asking the first person he met, was in
formed that it was Lucerne, the resi-
dence of the pope's nuncio, to and from
whom all the expresses concerning the
fugitive must have been dispatched.
This road, therefore, not suiting his
views, he left it the moment his infor-
mer was out of sight, and once more
betook himself into the woods, where
he wandered for some time longer, op-
pressed by hunger and cold, and per
picked with uncertainty whittier he
should go.
One dismal, dark, and wet night, he
could neither find shelter nor ascertain
where he was, nor what course he could
pursue; but after some time perceiving
a light long distance off, he attempted
| to proceed towards it. With some diff
Guilty he discovered a track, but so
narrow and uneven, that he was forced
to put one foot before the other in the
most cautious manner. With much
labor he reached the place from which
he had seen the light-it was misera-
BILE cottage. He knocked and called
until some one looked out, and de-
manded who he;was, and what brought
him there. Beer replied that he was
a stranger, and7ost his way.
| "Way p cried the man "there is