The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-06-11

| Ward the cave OF Death to see whether
all was safe, 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 sentinel had en-
gagged him to drink with him and the
scout joining the party, they had piled
him 30 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
a worse obstacle than any they had yet
encountered? 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 ap-
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 hav-
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
the passage through the court free.
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 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 at a time, we shall pass unob-
served. Let the last three as they set
off inform fifteen others, and thus in
succession we may all make our escape.
This plan appeared judicious 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 de
Chaffoy, to whom the means of escape
were offered, refused to avail themselves
of them, the former from confidence Of
pardon, as he had been mistaken for
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 DESTROYS of prolonging
it. They were both guillotined in the
morning.
The fate of the fifteen who fed 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 a great movement among
the prisoners. They arose in an in
slant, doubling whether what 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
fastened Immediately to the cave, per
ceived what had been done, and closing
up the doors by which the prisoners
had escaped, placed strong guard
before it. Nesple, who had excited this
movement, was, with three others, taken
and executed. Another of the fugitives
| LOOK refuge IN Inc mouse OF IflenQ, IN
an obscure street; but he was discov-
cred, brought back and guillotined.
It 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 I 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 good patriot, and es
capped the observation of party O.
commissioners who entered the house
As soon as they were gone, he begar
to think of making his way out of thu
city as fast as possible. When he ar
rived at the Palace Belle-Cou he found
parties of the gendarmerie dispersed
everywhere. Porral went into house
and, making known who he was, en-
| &Ssa1 I'll