The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-09-15


now quite certain that Cornelius De Witte
was no longer in the prison.
Cornelius and John, after driving along
the pond, had taken the large street
which leads to the Tol-Hek, giving di-
rections 10 the coachman to slacken his
pace, in order not to excite any suspi>
cion.
But when, on having proceeded halt
way down the street, the man felt that
he had left the prison and death behind,
and before him there was life and liber-
ty, he neglected every precaution, and set
his horse off at gallop.
All at once he stopped,
"What is the matter?" asked John,
putting his head out of the coach>win>
dow.
ooh! my masters" cried the COACH
man, lit is"
Terror choked the voice of the honest
fellow.
well, say what you have to say!''
urged the Grand Pensionary.
THE gate is closed, that's what it is"
"How is this? 1t is not usual to close
the gate by day."
Just look"
John De White leaned out of the win
dow, and indeed saw that the man was
right.
Never mind, but drive on" said John;
81 have with me the order for the COM
mutation of the punishment. the gate,
keeper will let us through"
The carriage moved along, but it was
evident that the driver was no longer
urging his horses with the same degree
Of confidence.
Moreover, as John De Witte put his
head out of the carriage-window, he was
seen and recognized by a brewer, who,
being behind his companions, was just
shutting his door in all haste to join them
at the Buitenhof He uttered a cry of
surprise, aud ran after two other men be-
fore him, whom he overlook about a
hundred yards farther on, and told them
what he had seen. The three men then
stopped, looking after the carriage, being.
however, not yet quite sure as to whom
it contained.
The carriage, in the meanwhile, ar
rived at the Tol-Hek.
"Openl" cried the coachman.
Open" echoed the gatekeeper, from
the threshold of his lodge; "it's all very
well to say, open, but then what am to
do it WITH"
"with the key, to be sure!' said the
coachman.
with the key! Oh, yesl but if you
have not got it,"
"How is that? Have not you got the
key?" asked the coachman.
mo, havn't"
"What has become of it?"
"Well, they have taken it from me-"
"Who?"
"Some one, 1 dare say, who had a
mind that no one should leave the town."
my good man." said the Grand PEN
sionary, putting out his head from the
window, and risking all for gaining all;
my good man, it is for me, John De
White, and for my brother Cornelius,
whom | am taking away into exile.
"Oh! Mynheer De White, l am in-
deed very much grieved," said the gate
keeper, rushing towards the carriage;
"but upon my sacred word, the key has
been taken from me-"
"When?"
"This morning"
by whom?"
"By pale and thin young man, of
about twenty-five"
"Aud wherefore did you give it up to
himY'
Because he showed me an order,
signed and sealed"
"By whom?"
"By the gentlemen of the Town-hall."
swell, them said Cornelius, calmly,
''our doom seems to be fixed"
"Do you know whether the same pre-
caution. has been taken at the other
gates?"
81 do not"
Nov, them" said John the coach
man, GOD commands man to do all in
his power to preserve his life; go, and
drive to another gate"
And whilst the servant was turning
round the vehicle, the Grand Pensionary
said to the gatekeeper,-
Take our thanks for your good in
tentions; the will must count for the
deed; YOU had the will to save us, and,
in the eyes of the Lord. it is as if you had
succeeded in doing co."
ALAS - said the gatekeeper, "do you
see down there?'
Drive at gallop through that group
John called out to the coachman, "and
take the street on the left, it is our only
chance"
The group which John alluded to had
Cor its nucleus, those three men we lef
looking after the carriage, and who, il
the meanwhile, had been Joined by sever
or eight others.