The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-04-06

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seemed to diminish. He allowed me
my nights rest, and seemed to be in
hurry. The next morning, short time
after we had begun work, he came
close to me and whispered in my ear:
"Do you want to escape!'
felt the blood rush to my face, and
could not say word.
"Can you keep secret? ?" he went
on.
"Until death =
"Well, then, listen; Tomorrow Mar
shal d Auvergue will inspect the harbor,
docks, prison and stone quarry. Salutes
will be fred from the walls and ships,
which will make it difficult to hear the
guards signal for two escaping prison
ers. Do you understand me?"
EYES"
"What then will be easier than to
knock off the fetters with the pick-axe,
and escape when the overseer is not
looking our way? Will you dare?'
with my life!'
"Your hand"
/ had never before touched his blood
stained hand, and could not refrain
from shuddering as | clasped it. The
next morning we had TO undergo an in
spection before going to work. An
hour before noon the first salutes from
the harbor reached our ears The dull
report went through me like an electric
spark. Gasparo whispered to me:
"Wben the first shot is fired from the
barracks, strike with your pix-axe on
the first ring of my chain, close to the
ankle"
A sudden suspicion came over me.
"And if l should do it, how can be
sure that you will then free me? No,
Gasparo, you must strike the first blow
Gas you say he answered, smiling
ly, hut with a muttered curse.
AT that moment flash from the bar
racks, and then report that reverber-
ated hundred times from the rocks.
As the echo rolled over our heads saw
him get ready to strike, and felt my
chains fall. Hardly had the thunder of
the first shot died away before the Sc
cond came. Now, | was to free Gasparo.
l was less deXterous than he, 50 it took
several strokes to free the chain AT
the third shot We threw away our caps,
! climbed up the rocks, aud struck for a
path that led into the valley. Sudden
ly, at sharp bend in the road, we
stood before little guard house, in
froGt of which were two soldiers They
pointed their guns at us, and ordered
US to surrender. Gasparo turned to-
ward me, struck me heavily, and said:
"rhere, stay, and let them capture
you. You always were thorn in my
path.
As fell saw Gasparo throw dowr
one soldier, and rush toward the other
Then a shot, and all was dark and still
around me.
When l opened my eyes, found my
self lying on the floor of little nnfurn
ished room, but family lighted by 6
small window. l arose with pain, anC
leaning against the wall, tried to think
The recollection of my last adventur,
soon came to me. Probably | was il
one of the upper rooms of the guarc
house. | crept to the door and founC
it locked. The little window was abou
four feet over my head succeeded il
reaching it and looking out. The rocl
rose about forty feet from the house
and brook ran between me and tn,
cliff. The stay here would be ruin
whereas in daring farther lay a posi-
bility of escape, | forced mysel
through the small window, dropped
down and crept towards the brook
The water in the stream came to m
waist; but as both banks were high,
could walk along in it without my hea,
showing. | soon heard distant voices
and raising my head carefully over tn
bank of the stream, saw dark figure
moving toward me. Suddenly darl
lantern was turned on the water clos
| by my hiding place. ! dived under tn
water and held my breath until it seem
ed that the veins in my head woul
burst. When l could bear it no longe
arose again, took my breath, locke,
around me and listened. All was still
My pursurers had gone. I then climb
ed the bank on to the stony earth
Wind and rain in my face, ! strod
rapidly on with no other leader thai
the storm.
| About 3 o'clock in the morning, a
day began to dawn, | heard the bell
ringing and saw large city in front o
me. Not daring to 90 any farther,
l Oh ~
near the road. When night came on
continued my journey; but hunger 500
drove me into small village on tn
road. | crept softly between the cot
tages and knocked on the minister
door He opened it himself, and | toll
him my story. He gave me somethin,
to eat and to drink, an old coat in eS
change for mine, and few francs.
| On the fifth day after my flight fror
Toulon l reached Italian ground
begged my way from place to place III
til | arrived in Rome, where / hope
to find occupation, if not friends,
hired small room, rested few DAYS
and then eagerly sought work. Ev,
ming after evening | returned disaI
pointed The little money which ha
begged melted away. At last ooul
not pay my landlord, and he turned m
out into the streets Mechanically
followed the stream of passers-b,
which led me to st. Peters. | crept
YEARLY and sank down in the sbado
of the large doors, Two men stoo
near me reading poster that ws
hanging on one of the columns.
"Merciful heavensp said one; "ho
can man risk his life for few lire
, Sand with the certain knowledg
J that out of eighty men eight or ten ia
and break their necks,' said his con
panion.
"IIorrible work y
, They passed on aud We're lost in Ii