The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-02-04


tools with me and dig out the sand from the
! hole, and in the morning slip out unobserved
| would do this every night until had pene-
trated into the chamber beyond.
} ~ think that is dreadful" said Miss Mallette
I"You will take your death of cold in that
damp place; the sand will cave III on you and
bury you, and you'll have to sleep all day,
which will give you no time for riding or any
, thing else. Besides, how are you going to get
shovel and such things into the fort without
their seeing your
II shall want but few tools, and | have
thought of way 10 get them in. Late this
afternoon | am going to lower rope from
some northern point on the barbette, where
few people ever go, down to the moat IL
won't be noticed; and then tomorrow III
! bring some tools in boat tie them TO the low
, cr end OF the rope, and cover them over with
prushwoOd Then after have been shut up
tomorrow night I'll haul them up"
Tomorrow night" she exclaimed. 80
soon rs that?'
"les; ii the thing is to be done 1t might as
well be done AZ once
The next day, despite good deal OF dlScour.
agement from Miss Mallette, | carried out my
plan. Late in the afternoon she went with me
to the fort. There were a good many visitors
about, and it was some time before | had an
opportunity to slip INTO the dark chamber |
took leave of her at the door
ITS perfectly horrId place." said she,
looking IN, land wish you would give up
the whole thing this minute"
II wish you took more interest in it, SAID.
But must not keep you here any longer.
Good night"
Thus virtually dismissed, Miss Mallette
walked quietly away, while slowly CROPPED
inch by inch to the interior of the sombre
cavern, where feeling for corner, deposited
/ the candles and other necessary articles | had
brought IN my pockets. | had not been there
long before heard the sound Of approaching
voices, and IN few moments group OF tour
list visitors made their appearance at the open
ldoor. To my amaZement Miss Malette was
one of them. At first thought she had be-
traved me, and had brought these people to
laugh at me. But soon perceived that my
suspicious were unworthy ones The ladies
and gentlemen peered through the door, eX-
claiming at the dreariness OF the place Then
one of them lighted paper, as many visitor
had done before, and tried to peer INTO the in
terror. The flame lighted up their faces, and
| could see that of Miss Mallette was filled
with a painful anxiety lest | should be discov-
cred But | knew this could not be, and 1t
amused me to stand there and look at them,
feeling certain they could not see me.
! "What perfectly horrible hOle!' SAID one
of the ladies Not a window or place for any
light to come in, And this outer room is so
am there is no spare light to go in at the
ldOor."
What could 1t have been used for ?" asked
one of them.
ut must have been prison." gentleman
answered.
impossible" said another. NO one could
live IN it Il day. The very darkness would
drive person crazy"
The anxiety on Miss Mallets face now grew
deeper, and | wished could assure her that
the darkness would not drive HE crazy. The
burning papers soon went out, and | wished
the people would 90 away, for was obliged
to remain perfectly mouonless and still If L
had groaned or spoken, | believe | should
have frightened some of them INTO COnvHl-
) slons. Miss Mallette was the last to leave.
Evidently she did not know the party, and had
only Joined them when she saw them APP
preaching the dark room. She turned her
face toward the interior OF the room, and by
the light in the doorway, which was now very
dim, could see she made some sort OF sign
r with her head and hands. The other people
) were not very far away, and did not dare to
speak.
: " hen all was quiet, and | was sure the fort
, had been closed for the night, lighted a cou-
pie of candles which stuck in a little mound
of sand upon the ground, ate some luncheon
! had brought, and then 1t being quite dark out
side lighted myself through the rooms into
the courtyard, went up on the barbette, drew
up my tools, made my way to the chamber,
; where had left one candle burning, took Off
my coat, and speedily set to work.
My theory was that beyond the inner door
of this chamber distant only few feet, was
the wall OF the dungeon in the southeast bas-
ltlon which was looking for. The space be-
tween the walls was probably filled with sand
in order to mislead and deter any one who
should attempt to penetrate through the wall
of the room | was in, and this had stopped
the work of the prisoners who had tried to es-
cape. 1t was certainly ridiculous To suppose
that the whole interior of the great bastion was
either solid stone or filled with sand.
l dug and dug, and dug | shoveled and
hoed vast mass of sand from the hole into
the room in which | stood, hut still it came
down from above. knew, however, that there
must be q limit To this continual cavlng In,
and that if | shoveed and hoed long enough
| must eventually make a passage through the
sand.
i Although strong, was unused to such labor
As this and before long became very tired. |
lay down to rest upon ii small rubber blanket
! had brought, and in "A few minutes was fast
asleep. did not awake until the next morn
ing. My candles had burned out, and | could
see the distant daylight through the door OF
the room. | found myself no worse for my
sleep, for the air of the place was dry. did
not dare to go out of the room until heard
the sound of voices and visitors, for 1t would
not be prudent for me to make my appearance
before any one had entered the fort.
Il had waited about an hour-perhaps had
taken another little doze-when heard some
one approaching la "a few moments | saw
, Miss Malete at the open door Before | could
: speak she had called To me IN IA low tone,
which had something of anxiety III it. IN
stantly answered and went to her. On enter
ing the other room she cordially shook me by
; the hand and sald, laughing:
81 really am glad TO find you alive; did
not know what might have happened to you
: in this dreadful place"
4 al nd 7 II fin