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


from the inquisition. cay heard of
him, we have all heard of him after
sending off so many expresses, and so
that he may be safe, and keep out of
their hands !" Bower said that he was
the very person. The peasant, in q
transport of Joy, clasped him in his
arms, kissed him, and ran to call his
wife, who came with every expression
of delight in her face and making one
of her best curtsies, kissed his hand.
Her husband spoke italian, but she
could not; and Bower not understand
ing Swiss, she was obliged to make her
congratulations in pantomime, or by
her husband as her interpreter. Both
expressed much concern that they had
no better accommodation for him If
they had had a bed for themselves, he
should have had it; but he should have
some clean straw and what covering
they possessed"
The good man hastened to get off
Bowers wet clothing, and wrap some
thing about him till they were dry !;
the wife busted herself in getting
ready what victuals they had, which
they regretted were no better than a
little sour-kraut and some new-laid
eggs. Three of these were served up
with kraut, and he made comfortable
meal after which he enjoyed what
might properly be called repose, for he
was quiet and secure.
AS soon as he rose in the morning,
the honest Swiss and his wife came to
know how he had rested The good
dame was dressed inner holiday clothes.
After breakfast, the husband set out
with him to direct him on the road to
Bern, which was at no great distance,
but first insisted on returning with him
little way, to show him the road he
had taken on the previous night. He
now became aware of another great
danger which he had escaped. He saw
that he and his horse had passed fear
full precipice, where the breadth of the
path would scarcely admit a horse, the
sight of which made him shudder His
host went with him for several miles
along the road to Bern, and then left
him with thousand good wishes.
At Bern, Bower inquired for the min
lister, to whom he made himself known,
and received from him as hearty a well
come as from the Swiss, with the addi-
ton of a more elegant entertainment.
He was advised to go forward the next
morning to Basel for, though protect
ed from open violence, he was unsafe
from secret treachery. From Basel a
boat sailed at stated times to Holland,
and was usually crowded with desperate
characters, fugitives from their respec-
tive countries for all manner of crimes
and offences. This conveyance seemed
to afford the most expeditions mode of
getting to England. Bower was re-
ceived kindly by the minister at Basel,
to whom he was recommended by his
friend at Bern. During the two days
preceding the sailing OF the boat for
Holland, Bower kept close quarters,
and equipped himself in manner suit
able to the company with which he was
about to associate, putting his proper
clothes into his portmanteau, of which,
as he was instructed to be particularly
careful, he made his seat by day, and
his pillow by night. Being obliged to
leave his horse, which was endeared to
him by the hardships it had shared with
him, he was determined to place it in
the hands of kind master, who prom
ised that it should be ridden by no
one but himself; and that, when it be-
came old or infirm, it should be CON-
fortably maintained.
Disgusting as he found the company
on board, he was compelled to regret
the necessity of leaving it, in conse.
quence of the vessel having sprung
a-leak, which obliged the master to put
in at Strasbourg for repairs, which
might detain him fortnight. To stay
there was impossible. Bower, there.
fore, took off his shabby dress, in which
he was disguised, at the first inn he
saw, and concealing it beneath the bed
stole out with his portmanteau to g
tavern, from whence he sent out to en-.
gage place in the stage to Calais. Fol
the first two or three days of his jour.
ney he heard nothing concerning him
self, which induced him to hope that
the news of his escape had not reached
France; but he was soon undeceived
For the last two or three stages every
body was full of it. When he came tc
the inn at Calais, the first persons he
saw were two Jesuites, with the badge
OF the inquisition-a red cross-upor
them, in a road with several Other
officials, appointed to take care of the
highroads, and to apprehend any Grim
inal who was making his escape. This
was an unpleasant prospect, and Bower
Immediately fastened to the waterside
to ask when the next boat sailed fol
England. He was told not till the
Monday following; it was then Friday
He turned to waterman, and asked
him if he would carp him across in al
open boat, Offering a liberal reward
but the man, and others to whom the
same request was made, declined. He
soon became aware that he had made
false step, as every one about began tt
take notice of him, feeling sure that ht
was q person of great consequence
bearing most important dispatches, OIL
else criminal eager to allude justice
When he reached the inn, finding the
room where the Jesuits had been unoc,
cupied, he inquired of the woman whC
kept the house what had become of tn,
good company he had left there.
"Oh, sir !" said she, 81 am sorry Il
tell you, but they are up stairs search
ing your portmanteau.
What course to pursue, he could no
determine. By water, he knew he coult
not escape; and in order to get through
the gates, he must pass the guards
who, most probably, were prepared t.
intercept him. If it were practicable t,
secrete himself till it was dark, and at
tempt to scale the walls, he was unac
quainted with their height; and if de
tected, he was ruined The dangers b.
had surmounted now aggravated tn
terror of his situation. After weather
ing the storm so LONG to nerish within