Smyrna times., 1874-08-19

10 the WarderS tace-thereby winning golden
opinions Of that official, very weary of the
downcast, sidelong glances to which he is ac
customed No. SO, he thinks, must intend to
earn, by good behavior, certain authorized in
dulgences-a certain increase of liberty during
his Imprisonment; for, as there are gradatlOns
of temperature in the Turkish bath, and, if we
believe the poets, in a hotter place still, so
there are degrees of confinement even in the
captivity of Jail,
But it is noteworthy that the governor, a
grim old veteran, who for many years of his
life has been gaining experience of humanity
IN its very worst types-a man without fancy
or prejudice, on whom it is hopeless to i'm
pOse-has placed private mark of his own,
in the prisoners books against the entry that
records the admission and verifes the identity
of No. 49,
The squad of prisoners nearly complete a
circle as they pass around the warder standing
In the CENTRE His back is therefore turned to
each in rotation. 1t is also turned to the cook
ing house and the scaffolding, consisting of two
upright poles and one transverse bar, that have
not yet been taken down. No. SO glances
stealthily upward each time he passes the
woodwork, and his eye grows brighter with
every glance. Now and again he moistens his
palms furtively with his tOnguc-Opcnng his
shoulders and loosening his joints like an aero.
bat preparing for feat.
There is wild beast show, to-day, in Mid.
dleton. Four footed convlcts whose imprson,
ment is lightcned by the admiration of man
kind, are rubbing against the bars of their
! cages in the market place, to the deep bass
notes of a gong, sounded by red-faced man
in velveteen, and confidently accepted by the
towspeople for the lion roar. Every now aud
then the flourish of trumpetS and the roll OF a
drum deaden all other noises, penetrating
even to the prison court. One Of these burst'
arrested the warder's attention. He puts his
hand to his ear, and listens with his head
aslant. The man was soldier long ago. As
the music swells louder and louder he is a sol
der again, marching down into the trenches tC
defy the Russian guns Before him lies Sc
bastopOl, with its calm sea, its stone quays, 1T
white buildings, it's ships at anchor, and th'
blue Crimean sky above all, for one moment
and no more.
In that moment No. 90 has sprung at tn,
scaffOlding like a wildcat, climbed up th
nearest pole, and reached the roof of the cook
ing house. His figure, running along tn
states, comes out clear and sharp against tn
/ gray sky.
The cOnvicts themselves seem helpless 70
amazement. The spirit of inSubordinatio
would catch like wild fire; but there is no on
to assume the lead, and they look blankly i
each other faces, none daring to set the eX
f ample or propose mobbing the warder to dealt
where he stands. InStinctivly, however, the
help their comrade all they can by crowding
coughing, scuffling with their feet, and group
ing themselves about the spot from whence h
: took bis spring.
f. The warder is the first to break the rule q
a silence. Hold on, man! BY the Lord
s you'll be kiled!' he exclaims, as No. 9!
s running wildly down the slated roof, clears tn
e court below in one frantic leap that lands hir
a on the coping of the prison wall-hands, knees
feet and face together-doubed up like
S ball.
!. One instant he poises on the outer edge
bare smooth, and slippery-then rolls off int
IS freedom, with fail of more than twenty fee
J. The warder has already recovered from h
n astOnishment. The prisoners are prompt
1t ordered back into their cells. The alarm
/. given the escape reported to the gOvernO
IS and pursuit organized without delay. tt
IS chase, if exciting, is soon over Among Il
1t scrub and rubbish that fringe the foundation
d of the prison wall, limp and motionless lies
y bundle of convict's gray. that looks at fir
As sight to be a mere heap of cast off clothes.
a represents No 80, nevertheless, and is carrie
le off to the Jail infrmlry where it is visitt
L. forthwith by the surgeon, who prOnOunces Il
* case dangerous and likely to prove fatal, r
in cording it methodicay, on fresh ruled pag
ly in the following entry:
rs No. 99 -COmpOund fracture of arm al
d. thigh bones; fracture of clavicle; lesion
IN pectOral muscles; concussion of the spine"