The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-06-29

near on to o'cicclS, the time of his
visit One&of the party returned to-
ward the Gave of Death to see whether
Fall wasAsafe,. and. it was agreed to sus-
pend their labors till his return.
When the scout returned he said that
on his arrival at the Cave of Death he
shuddered with horror to find the turn
key there already. The man, however,
who had been left as a sentinel had en-
gagged him to drink with him and the
scout joining the party, they had piled
him so we'll that he at last reeled off
without examining the cave much, and
was in all probability laid fast asleep
for the rest of the night. This was
very consolatory news.
Quitting the door at which they had
heard the dog barking, they applied
themselves to the other. They found
here folding doors, one of which they
opened and found themselves in long,
dark passage. At the end they per-
ceived still another door but, listening
very intently, they heard the sound of
voices it, in fact, led to the guard
house, where several soldiers in their
national uniform were assembled. This
was, indeed, terrible stroke. Had
they then gone SO far only to meet with
q worse obstacle than any they had yet
encountered q? Must all their labors
prove, then, at length fruitless?
Only one resource then remained,
and this was door which they had
passed on the side of the passage, and
which they conceived must lead to the
great court of the Hotel de Vile.
In fact, having forced the door, it APP
peared that they were not mistaken;
that they were at the bottom of the
staircase which led into the court. 1t
was now half-past o'clock; the morn
ing was dark and cold, while rain and
snow were falling in abundance. The
associates embraced each other with
transport, and were preparing to mount
the staircase when Porral cried out:
What are you about? If we "a
tempt to go out at present all is over
with us. The gate is now shut, and if
any one should be perceived in the
court the alarm would instantly be given,
and all would be discovered. After hay
ing had the courage to penetrate thus
far let us have resolution to wait awhile
At s o'clock the gate will be opened and
We can then steal out by degrees, and
mingling with the numbers, we can go
away without being perceived. 1t is
not till 10 o'clock the prisoners are sum-
moned to execution; between 8 and 10
there will be time enough for all of us
to get away. We will return to the
cave, and when the time of departure
arrives each of us five will inform two
others of the means of escape offered.
We shall then be fifteen, and going out
three ut time, we shall pass unob.
served. Let the last three as they sci
off inform fifteen others, and thus in
succession we may all make our escape.
This plan appeared iudicious and safe;
it was unanimously agreed to, and the
associates returning to the cave, made
choice of those who should first be in
formed of what they had done.
Montellier, notary, and Baron dc
Chaffoy, to whom the means of escape
were offered, refused to avail themselves
of them, the former from confidence of
his brother; and the latter, though in
the flower of his age, declared that all
his ties to this world were broken, and
that life had nothing now to offer which
could make him desirous of prolonging
it. They We're both guillotined in the
morning.
The fate of the fifteen who fled was
very dissimilar, and the escape of the
rest was prevented by the imprudence of
one of them. The last of the fifteen
who, in quitting the cave, was according
to the plan arranged, privately to apprise
fifteen Others, instead of doing so, cried
aloud:
"The passage is open; let every one
that can, escape"
This excited great movement among
the prisoners. They arose in an in
stant, doubling whetherwhat they heard
could be true, or whether he who ut
tered these words was not mad. The
noise they made alarmed the sentinel
without; he called to the turnkey; they
hastened Immediately to the cave, per-
ceived what had been done, and closing
up the doors by which the prisoners
had escaped, placed a strong guard
before it. Nesple, who had excited this
movement, was, with three others, taken
and executed. Another of the fugitives
took refuge in the house of friend, in
an obscure street; but he was discoY-
cred, brought back and guillotined.
1t was not thus with Porral, the orig
inal author of the plan. He was the
first that came forth from the cave. As
he passed the sentinel in the court, he
said:
"My good friend, it rains and SHOWS
very hard; were in your place would
not remain out of doors such weather,
but would go to the fire in the guard.
room"
The sentinel thanked him, and, fol-
lowing his advice, the coast was left
more clear for the prisoners. Porral
took refuge in the house of one who
was considered a good patriot, and es-
capped the observation of a party of
commissioners who entered the house.
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