The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-08-01
with my life I"
your hand I"

ton before going to work. An hour be
fore noon the first salute from tho har
Dor reached our ears. The dull report
went through mo like an electric spark
(iasparo whispered to me:
when the first shot Is fired from the
barracks, strike with your pickar on
the first ring Of my chain close 20 The
ankle"
A sudden suspicion came over me.
and if ! should DO it, how can 7 be
sure that you will then free me No,
Gasparo you must strike the irst
blow
"As vou say" be answered, smilingly,
but with mutterod cure.
AZ that moment q fash came from IN,
barracks, and then a report that Ieycr.
heratcd hundred times from the rocks
As the echo rolled over our heads.
saw him get ready to strike, and felt my
chaiu iall. Hardly had the thunder Of
the first shot died away before the second
came. Now was TO free Gaspnro.
WA less dextrous than he so It took
several strokes 10 free his chains. At
the third shot We threw away Onr caps.
climbed mp the rock, and struck for a
path that led into the valley. Suddenly.
at sharp bend in the road. We stood
Drlutc HttIc Butfd mouse, ~ fOgt on
which were two soldiers, They pointed
their guns nt us, and ordered us TO sur.
render. Gasparo turned toward me
sirick me heavily and said.
''Tbere, stay, and let them capture
yOn Fon always were thorn in nv
path.
As fell saw Gaspro throw down
one soldier and rush toward the other
Then shot, and all WAS dark and still
around me.
When | opened my eyes ] found my.
self lying on the floor Of little uniur.
nishcd room, but fairly lighted by .
small window ] arose with pain, and,
leaning against the wall tried 10 think.
The recollection Of my last adventure
soon cnine 10 me. Probably | Wa in
one 81 the upper rooms OF the guard
honsc. crcpi to the door and found il
locked. The little window WIS about
four feet over my head, succeeded in
reaching il, nud looked out. The rock
rose about forty feet from the house, aud
u brook ran between me aud the cliff
70 stay there would be ruin, whereas in
daring further lay possibility Of escape.
! forced myself through the small win.
dow, dropped down, and crcpt toward
the brpuS. The water in the stream
came 10 my waist; but rs both banks
were high could walk along III It with
out my head showing. ! soon heard
distant voices, and raising my head care,
lUlly over The bank ~ the stream, | saw
larls figures moving toward me. Sud
drnl y u dark lantern Wat turned on the
water clu-c 10y my hilmg-placo I
Owed under the water and held my
breath until il seemed that the veins in
my head would burst. When could
bear 1t no longer, | rose again, took
breath, and listened. Allwns sin. Ny
pur.ucrs had gone. then climbed the
bank on to the stony path. Wind and
rain in my face, ! rtrodu rapidly ON. with
no other leader than the storm.
About five o'clock in the morning, IA
day began 10 dawn, heard bells ring.
ing, md saw large city in front oi me-.
Not daring 10 20 any farther, sought
shelter in some thick Bhrubhrry near the
road. When night came ON continued
ny Journey; but hunger soon drove me
into a gmnll village ON the road. | crcpl
uItly between the cottages, aud
| tuockcd ON the minister's door He
opened it himself, md told him my
story. He gave me something 10 eat
aud 10 drink, an old coat in exchange
lor mine, aud II few francs.
On the fifth day after my flight from
| lurlon rcnchcd Italian ground. ]
legged my way from plncc 10 place I'm.
! MI | arrived in Rome, whore ! hoprd to
ind occupation il not friends. hired
q small room, rested few days. and
then eagerly sought work. Evening
after evening returned disappointed
Tho little money that begged melted
away. At last could not pay my land
lord, aud lac turned mo out into the
street. Mechanically ! followed the
stream of passcrs-hy, which led me to
st. Peters. ! crcpt in YEARLY, and
sank down in the shadow of the large
doors. Two men stoobnear me reading
a poster that WINS hanging on one oi the
columns,
"Mcrciiul Hcaycnsr said one: chow
can man risk his life for few lirc?"
"And with the certain knowledge that
ont of eighty men eight or ten fail and
brcnk their necks?"
Horrible work p
They passed on and were lost ia tho
crowd.
sprung up eagerly and rcad the no.
tee. II was headed ILLUMINATION of
81. Peters," and made known that
eighty men were wanted TO light the
lamps on the dome and three hundred to
light those on the columns. went to
the manager, had my name put on the
list, received hall my money down, and
was to present myself there ut eleven
o'clock the next morning. was there
promptly, amid II crowd of miserable
looking men. The doors of the bureau
were soon open, ana We crowded into
the hall. My eyes seemed to DO drawn
toward ono corner Of the room. Nv
heart stood still--it was no mistnkc-I
had recognized Gaspmo. | went over
toward, and touching him, said.
"daspmo, don't you know mc?"
He raised himself up la2ily and said,
"Ah, Francois thought you were
in Toulon."
"I cant thank you that Tn not There,
Listen to me; if we both outlive this
night, You shall give mo satisfaction for
your periidy."
He looked indiilcrently at mo, and lay
down TO sleep. AT seven o'clock We
were called mp, aud climbed the stairs
that led to the dome. My place was
about halfway mp, aud / saw Gasparo
go up still higher. When We were all
ready, We crept through the windows
Up to small boards hanging by ropes.
Zach one was given n lighted torch, with
which ne was TO light the lamps that he
passed as the ropes were let down. Az
or had lit all my lamps, | looked
round at the scene. Suddenly ! felt
ny rope shake, and looking up, saw