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


first visited it | had taken the greatest in
terest in this ancient pile, begun 300years
ago by the Spaniards, and the oldest edi-
tice of the kind in our country. was
thoroughly acquainted with its demi-
lunes, its barbican, its terre-plein, its
portcullis, its moat, its dungeons, and
everything known and seen by the gen.
eral public. But now L hoped knew
and should see something unknown and
unseen by the general public. m
The young man who assisted the old
sergeant in charge of the fort approached
me. at is time to shut up, sir,n he
said. 500 a5aH t s u....
1t was true. The sun was setting. l
walked through the great entrance hall,
casting longing look leftward as did
so, crossed the drawbridge and went
into the town. | had not walked dozen
the water front of the old city when
saw riding toward me on the road lady
on sorrel horse. She rode directly up
to the wall, and we both stopped.
Good evening"" said she, with a
pleasant smile. ''Just from San Marco,
| suppose. Have you found anything
newpn Ed 300
This seemed to me a curious question
to come at such time. l was wildly
anxious to tell some one of what | had
discovered, and why should | not tell
Miss Mallette? This young lady was
the daughter of one of our great west
ern farmers, and was my most intimate
friend in the town. We had walked to-
gether on moonlight nights on the sea-
wall, we had sailed together on the
broad waters of the Matanzas, we had
rambled over the old fort, had danced
together at the hops, and had taken
many ride along the shell road and
into the beautiful rose gardens of the
suburbs. She had told me of the TO-
000-acre fields of wheat upon her fathers
farm, and of the long gallops she took
and the strange life she led upon that
vast domain. | in turn had told her
evewthing about myself l thought she
was likely to know; and why should l
not tell her this thing, in which she
would feel more interest than in any
thing l had spoken of beforep f -.
Il believe,n said, II have found out
something new"
80, delightfulr' she cried "Just
stand where you are, and tell me all
about it. Your head is so high that l
don't have to bend down bit. What
have you foundP" .- .
You remember the dungeon in the
northeast bastionP' l said.
Where the skeletons and the iron
cages were found? o yes, of course 1
remember it; and when Ivisit Washing
ton | am going to see if one of those
skeletons really is in the Smithsonian
Institution. don't believe the people
here know anything about it."
"Wel," continued, II have always
considered that in the southeast bastion
there must be something of the same
kind, for it is not to be supposed that
the Spaniards would have builta bastion
which for more than fifty feet from its
outer corner should be of solid masonry. "
Eyes, l remember that we talked
about that. But you don't suppose they
put skeletons in every corner?'
80 no." l said, II have no reason to
suppose there are any more skeletons,
but feel sure there is q room or dun
geon within that bastion."
a 1--WE have supposed all that before, -"
said Miss Mallette, ''but what have you
found out?"
THAT is what l am going to tell
you" l replied. "You remember two
rooms which open to the right as you &c
into the entrance hall of the fort?''
Certainly" said she. Zone of them
was the kitchen of the Indian prisoners
where that horrid murderous squaw pre-
sided ...a..g mr. ....-I
"Well, them" l said, '.you remember
there is third room, completely dark,
beyond theseP" !' '.'' ~
80 yes. I've often stood at the open
door and tried to look into it with
lighted matches and papers; but could
never see more than few feet, it was
so pitchy black inside. The old sergeant
never takes anybody in there, does hep"
'No," replied; ''for some reason OIL
other he never investigates this room.
He always says there is nothing in it,
and passes on" .t.........
" II should like ever so much to 90 in
there" said Miss Mallette.
,nttIye been in,' / answered, ''and
have gone all over the room" f. ..f.
e 'fHow on earth did you do that?" she
exclaimed. 81 should have been afraid
of wells and pitfalls. Please, tell me al
abott il. But are you not tired of stand
ingP"t % ,ilHa ~ 9i~ai fr.i''"- .
q. 'fNot q Bit answered, '"I have
long wished to explore this room, be
cause beyond it lies the unknown fifty
feet of the southeast bastion. l was
afraid to take a lantern into the room
for if the old sergeant or any one else saw
me cropping about there, he would inter
tereu with my Investigations which
wished to keep to myself; so 1 deter
mined to go in and cautiously feel my
way about the place / tapped thu
groundbefore me with cane as IwalkeC
SO that should not step into any hole
After had been in there ten or fifteeI
minutes, it is astonishing how my eye
became accustomed to the darkness.
could. actually see, though very dimly
the inner walls as / approached them
And here made discovery
80! what was ,itP' cried Miss Nal
lette, greatly Interested.
1T was hole two or three feet square