The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-01-15
pass throneh tba nnaoa AL, mad.

lew me, comrades; as best you can. Here
is no time for CEREMONY"
With that be crept out Of the opening,
and holding to the stone sill by his hands
lowered himself as far as possible; then
let go his hold and fell upon the tiles with
a thud that Was heard by his companions
IN the prison. a silence followed.
81 fear be hath taken some hurt" SAID
Long. He was ever over-bold. Climb
thou up the window, Elliott, and ses if he
be dead or alive"
Helped by the others, Elliott did SO. In
the the darkness he could barely distin-
gulsh q shadow from the window.
Hist, Dudley" he cried. "Art thou
hurt man 2" -
may Safe and well SO far, and but
waiting for thee and the rest" 'Tis no
great fall. Come on, and leave to the
Roundhead ours their empty room |"
Major Elliot turned back and held coun-
cil with has comrades. They unIted In
urging him to make the attempt to escape,
although they, for various reasons, could
prosecute is no further. Thus encouraged,
the soldier followed Dudlay's example, and
In q few moments stood beside him.
The city was altogether quiet. A few
lights might be seen tWinkiing from win
dows here and there, and the steeple oil q
great church was illuminated for some
reason otherwise all was dark.
These houses continue IN q direct line
to the city wall, !" remarked Dudley. elf
We can but reach that undiscovered, /
make little doubt we can get away"
''Heave with you" replied Elliot. ''Tis
but bold push, and If we fail, our case
can be but little worse"
Creeping carefully along the roofs, they
Hat a 4 m far -
the wall on the southern side of the CITY.
not far from the river front. The street
was closed by a gate, whereat double SEN
tries We're stationed. The adventurers
heard their step, the rattle of their match
locks, even their voices as the spoke to
each other IN subdued tones. When they
were hushed they heard the Severn 6ow-
ing through the night There was a sense
OF freedom IN the sound that made them
more rssolute than ever to obtain their
own liberty.
The only possible way of escape was
over the wall, and that was extremely
high. To drop from it involved great risk
of life or limb. Even if that peril were
escaped, the noise would certainly attract
the attention o. the vigilsnt guard, and
swift pursuit, # not death from their
match locks, was inevitable.
For moment they were brought to a
pause; but Dudley's fertile mind con-
celved an expedIent. He went to a win
dow IN the roof, on the slope more distant
from the guards. There was no light in
the room nor any sign of occupation
He shook the easement gently there was
no token that any one heard. The win
dow seemed to be securely fastened, but
Dudley had his steel buckle, and with it
he rrrf h. -
dlamond-shaped panes in its place. He
then removed the glass, thrust his hand
through the opening and drew the bolt.
He stepped seftly into the chamber. The
moon was struggling with the clouds, and
sometimes overcoming them, SO that it
was not so absolutely dark. With eau
tlous movements the royalist advanced
untl-hl hsud rested upon bed. If it
we're occupied. and the sleeper, baing
awakened, should give the alarm But 1t
was empty.
Dudley stripped Of its sheets and blank
cts and carried them to the window Ell
lott answered his whispered cali and took
them from his arms. Ensconcing them
selves behind chimney, the two soldiers
applied themselves to tearing the articles
INTO strips and knotting them firmly to-
gether. Soon they had long and strong
rope. .--
'If they be Roundheads we have rob-
bed, tits lawful spoil Of war;" whispered
Elliott, "and if they be on the Kings
side they will count 1t no loss if it have
helped his poor servants IN their need"
z One end of the rope was fastened Sc
-curely around the chimney, the other was
thrown over the wall. ::Go You down
fFst Elliott" urged Dudley. Make no
stay for me, but hasten directly to London.
There are etherBhere We shall surely
meetn if we both get safe away =. ~. p.
The soldier went to the edge of the wall.
running his hand along the rope. He
-tesIea Its strength by two or three pulls
-aRd then cemRitted himself to it for the
descent. Hand-oYer-hand he went down.
bracihg his feet against the wall. The
cOrd swung loose, and Dudley watching
above knew that his friend was safe on SOL
id ground. A. great clock In the city
struck 'tWoP, A sentinel cried "All's
wall 4" The call was repeated from gate
't6gate around the circuit of the walls.
Dudley swung off from the parapet. A
-n1n1te and he was free, standing in the
open country with his face toward Lon
don.
notwithstanding mis- counsel to the con-
-lSrys ElAlOJL nau waited Tor him Ihey
set out together. But Dadley did not
fancy journey Of a hundred miles on
foot ~
- He proposed visit to the stables OF
some of the near-lyiDg farms. Passing
through the fields with that intent, they
found one horse grazing, already ssddled
and bridled no unusual thing in thVse
troubled times, when no man knew at
what moment he might need to ride for
his own life, or for the good of the cause
he espoused. This animal Elliott took,
Dudley going on to the stable, where he.
soon provided himself with q spirited
steed
He rode down to the Severn, where a
bend in the river brought him in full view
of the sleeping city. he turned on his.
saddle to look. The moon came out from
behind dark bang of cloud. The image
Of walls, and roefs, and spires was family
reflected IN the swift current. The light
IN the illuminated steeple shone through
two round windows that had grotesqus
resemblance to glowing eyes. But they
did not discern the escaping royalist. No
outery rose on the silence :. no sound that
indicated discovery or threatened pursuit
With q sigh foI the friends left in captiyi-
~, Dudley shook his bride, struck his
horse with the whip. SD gaIloped swiftly
towards London and liberty.