River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-03-29

10 me. Probably / was in one of the upper
rooms Of the guard-house. / crept 10 the
door and found it locked. The little win
dow was about four feet over my head.
succeeded in reaching it, and looking out.
The rock rose about forty feet from the
house, and a brook ran between me and
the cliff To stay here would be ruin, where
as in daring further lay a possibility of es-
cape. forced myself through the small
window, dropped down, and crept toward
the brook The water in the stream came
to my waist; but as both banks were high,
| could walk along in it without my head
showing. l soon heard distant voices, and
raising my head carefully over the bank of
the stream, / saw dark figures moving to-
ward me. Suddenly a dark lantern was
turned on the water close by my hiding-plaee.
| Owed under the water and held my breath
until it seemed that the veins in my head
would burst. When l could bear it no lon
ger I rose again, took breath, looked around
me- and listened. All was still. Ny pur-
suers had gone. thea elm bed the bank
on to the stony path Wind and rain in
my face strobe rapidly on with no other
leader than the storm.
About five o'clock in the morning, as day
began to dawn, ] heard bells ringing, and
saw large city in front OF me. Not daring
to go any farther, ! sought shelter in some
thick shrubbery near the road. When
night came on continued my journey; but
hunger soon drove me into small village
on the road. crept softly between the
cottages and knocked on the minister's
door. He opened it himself, and told
him my story. He gave me something to
eat and to drink, an old coat in exchange
for mine, and a few francs.
On the fifth day after my flight from
Toulon reached Italian ground. begged
my way from place to place until | arrived
in Rome, where hoped to find occupation,
if not friends. / hired small room, rested
a few days, and then eagerly sought work.
Evening after evening returned disappoint-
ed. The little money which ] had begged
melted away At last l could not pay my
landlord, aud he turned nae out into the
Streets. Mechanically followed the stream
OF passers.by, which led me to st. Peter $.
/ crept in YEARLY, and sank down in the
shadow of the large doors. Two men
stood near me reading poster that was
hanging on one of the columns.
"Merciful heavens!" said one; 'how can
/ man risk his life for few lire2"
''And with the certain knowledge that
out of eighty men eight or ten fall and
break their necks?" said his companion.
Horrible work.
They passed en-, and were lost IN the
crowd.
sprang up eagerly aud read the notice :.
1t was headed, illumination ofSt. Peters, !"
and made known that eighty men were
wanted TO light the lamps on the dome,
and three hundred TO light those on the col
umns. went to the manager, had my name
put on the list, received halfmy money down
and was to present myself there az eleven
o'clock the next morning. | was there
promptly, amid crowd of miserable look
ing men. The doors of the bureau were
soon opened, and we crowded into the hall.
Ny eyes seemed to be drawn toward one
corner of the room. My heart stood still
it was no mistake-I had recognized Gas
paro. | went over toward him, and touch
ing him, said
''Gasparo, don't you know me?"
He raised himself UP lazily, and said:
''Ah, FrancoisI thought you were in Tou-
lon."
can thank you that Pm not there.
Listen to me; if we both outlive this night
you shall give me satisfaction for your per-
fdy.n
He looked indifferently at me, and lay
down to sleep. At seven o'clock we were
all called up, and climbed the stairs that
led to the dome. My place was about half
way up, and l saw Gasparo so up still high
er. When we were all ready, we crept
through the windows up to small boards
hanging by ropes. Each one was given a
lighted torch, with which he was to light
the lamps that he passed as the ropes were
let down. After had lit all my lamps, /
looked around at the scene. Suddenly /
felt my rope shake and looking up, saw q
man putting his torch to it. Almighty God
II was Gasparo. With the agility of cat
climbed up the rope, put my torch ia the
williams face, and caught hold of the rope
above where it was on fire.
Gasparo, blinded and wild with pain, gave
tSIllpAe ycu ahu AoAASu uo"ii hiNS +" sum-
Through all the humming of the living
ocean beneath ! heard the dull thud as my
enemy struck the pavement. l had hardly
recovered my breath, when we were drawn
up again.
/ told the director what l had gone
through The truth of my story was proved
oy the halfburned rope, aud was given
money enough to leave aome.
Since then l have had many adventures,
but never found myself in such terrible
company as on the dome of st. Peters on
that fatal Easter-Translated from the Ger
man by Ii. Morse.