The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-01-28


interior of the room. and by the light in
the doorway, which was now very dim, L
could see She made some sort Of sign
with her head and hands. The other
people were not very far away, and dld
not dare to speak.
When all was quiet. and was sure that
the fort had been closed for the night, l
lighted couple of candles, which stuck
in little mound of sand upon the
ground, ate some luncheon had brought,
and then, it being quite dark outside, L
lighted myself through the rooms into
the courtyard, went up on the barbette,
and drew up my tools, made my way to
the chamber, where Ihad left one candle
burning, took off my coat, and speedily
set to work.
My theory was that beyond the inner
wall of this chamber, distant only few
feet, was the wall of the dungeon in the
southeast bastion which was looking
for. The space between the walls was
probably filled with sand in order to mis-
lead and deter any one who should at
tempt to penetrate through the wall OF
the room was in, and this had stopped
the work of the prisoners who had TIED
to escape. 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; shovel
ed and hoed vast mass of sand from
the hole into the room in which | stood,
but still it came down from above. /
knew, however, that there must be a
limit to this continual caving in, and that
if shovelled and hoed long enough,
must eventually make passage through
the sand. ~.
Although strong, was unused to such
labor as this, and before long became
very tired. lay down to rest upon a
small rubber blanket had brought, and
in a few minutes was fast asleep did
not awake until the next morning. 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.
l did not dare to go out of the room I'M
til heard the sound of voices and visitors,
for it would not be prudent for me to
make my appearance before any one had
entered the fort.
/ had waited about an hourAperhaps /
had taken another little doze-when l
heard some one approaching, In few
moments | saw Miss Mallette at the open
door. Before could speak she had called
to me in low tone, which had some
thing of anxiety in it.. | instantly an
swered and went to her. As soon as |
entered the other room she cordially
shook me by the hand and said, laughing,
II really am glad to find you alive; did
not know what might have happened to
you in this dreadful place"
Nothing happened" l answered,
"and | did not find the place at all dread
full" ...H
''Well. hope you got through with
your work. she said. "What did you
discover?" t....... ....... .t..
II have discovered nothing yet, and ]
have only begun my work. ~
'You are mistaken there" she said
very decidedly. "Your work in that
dark hole is finished. If you did not dc
last night all that you wanted to, you will
have to leave the rest undone. l have
made up my mind that you shall not pass
another night in that place. Icould hard
ly sleep last night for thinking of it; and
when came here this morning did moi
know but that l should have to go back
for people to dig you out from pile o.
fallen sand. "
"But must 90 on with the work."
said. "You don't know how l long tc
get into the outer chamber which know
is in this bastion.'
"All that does not matter at ALL" she
said. "If you stay in here tonight an
going to tell the sergeant" .a
She said this with laugh, but knew
she meant it. That is pretty hard or
me-" l remarked.
"Not hard at ALL" she said, Ii ghtly
touching my arm with the point of hel
parasol. You can get somebody to dc
the work for you; some one who is better
able to dig and to stay in place like this
than you are; some one who will come il
here at night and work just as you in
tended to, and who can easily be per
suaded to keep the thing quiet till tn,
work is done. After you have made tn,
discovery, of course you will want every
body to know. And now let me driv,
you home.' ..cf4
We went out together, met nobody
and she drove me to my lodgings. Tha
afternoon, when called upon Miss Nal
lette, / found her filled with an idea.
''You know Madame Tonnin, the little
French teacher?" said she.
l knew Madame Tonnin very well. Sh,
came every day to give French lessons t.
my landlady's little boy.
''If anybody can tell who will be +;
good person to do your work for you, sh,
cam said Miss Mallette. ''She know
all about the Minorcans and other white
people of the place-of course you dom
want a laundering negro-and she her
self is the very person to keep secret
Let us walk around to her house anC
tell her about it. You know you have
got to tell somebody, or the thing cam
be done"
l did not wish to give up my origina
idea, but at last | consented. / had be
come convinced | could not do the neces
sary digging, and if the matter was to b.
carried on at all, | must get somebody t.
help me. '.'''T
We put on our hat. and started for thu
house of Madame Tonnin. Before we haC
gone half way we met her. In st. Angus
tine you meet everybody every time yor
go out, We took the little lady to re
| t;,.aJ coat -, A. IOlo,o ool +bo,o I ,+ol,