Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-30

that he had reached the first course of the
masonry OF the donjon. But how far he
mY.te. NV O7''-
f1at must be very deep,n he thought.
IN TACT lew large birds. dazed with the
binding brilliancy of the lightning. were
nylnK round him with heavily flappipg
wings, ana instead of rising. sank out OF
slgnt beneath his feet. Hence he must be
on me Drink OF precipice which fell
away, deep down below him.
AS the birds disappeared he heard n
noise above, and by the light OF a vivid
nasn ne saw q confused mass detach itself
from the wall.
III was stephen Bathory escaping from
tne window. He had grasped the con
ductor and was slowly Slipping down to
JOIN Count Sand0rf. Matthias waited for
MN, his feet firmly planted on the narrow
ieoge' tRere stephen could wait while
ne continued the descent.
In a few minutes both were standino on
the narrow stenewOrk,
AS soon as the thunder ceased for an in
slant they could speak and hear each
other. '"0"
Aud Ladislas:" asked Sandorf.
lie will be here in minute.0
Nothing wrong aloftw
GOodl l will make room for Ladislas.
anu anu you stephen, wait till be reaches
Agreed"
A trea endous flash seemed to enyelope
them in flame. 1t seemed as thonGh tbe
eIectrlclty coursing through the cable had
penetrated their nerves. They thought
they had been struck.
Matthias! MatniasW exclaimed Ba-
thory, under an impression of terror that
ne could not master.
BE cool! l am going down! You win
ioliowP' was SsndOrf's reply.
And already he had seized the cable.
win the int OF slipping to the first
staple below, where he intended to wait
for his companion.
Suddenly there were shouts from above.
they seemed to come from the window of
the cell. Then these words rang OUT
''Save yOurseIVesu'
1t was Zathmar's voice.
Immediately bright light shot from the
wall, followed by sharp report. This
Time 1t was not the cable broken by a
lightning flash which lit up the gloom; it
was not the roar of the thunder which re-
sounded in the air. A gun had been fired
chance shot probably from one of the
embrasures Of the donjon. 1t was lust as
much signal to the guard as il bullet
had been aimed at the fugitiyes. The es-
cape had been discovered.
The sentry had heard some noise. He
had called i've or six of the warders and
entered the cell. The absence of two of
the prisoners had been Immediately dis
covered, the state of the window showed
how they had escaped, and Zathmar,
rushlng to the window, had given the
alarm.
Poor fellow!" exclaimed Bathory. ''To
desert him Matthias! TO desert himr'
A second time there came the discharge
OF gun. The report mingled with the
roll Of the thunder.
"Heaven have pity on him!1 said San
dorf. But we must escape-we must.
to avenge him! Come, st phen, comep'
1t was time. Other windows on the
lower story Of the dOnion were being
opened. New discharges lighted them
up. Shouts were heard. Perhaps the
Warders could run round the base of the
wall and cut off the retreat of the tugi-
tlyes! Perhaps they might be shot!
Gomez exclaimed SandOrf for the last
time.
And he slid down the iron cable which
Bathory grasped Immediately after hum.
Then they saw that the rope hung loosely
over the abyss. Resting places, staples,
there we're none. They were swinging
wildly at the end OF the rope which cut
their hands rs it slipped through them.
Down they went, with their knees chafing
and bleeding, without the power TO stop
themselves as the bullets whistled past.
For minute, for so feet and more, they
glided down-dOwn-asking themselves If
the abyss in which they were engulfed
were really bottOriless. Already the roar
of the raging waters below them could be
heard. Then they understood that the
lightning conductor led down into the
torrent. What WAS to be done? To climb
back to the base OF the donjon they could
not; their strength was unequal to the
task. And death for death, it was better
10 chance that which waited for them in
the depths below.
Suddenly there came a fearful clap OF
thunder and an intense electric glare.
Although the conductor was not struck,
yet The tension OF the electricity was such
that the iron rope grew white as a plati-
mum thread beneath the discharge OF
battery or pile.
Bathory uttered cry of despair--and
let 20.
Sandorf saw him pass him. almost
touching him, with his arms wide open.
And then he let go the iron rope which
glOwed in his hands; and he fell more tnan
forty feet into the torrent of Foiba which
foamed along at the foot Of the unknown
Buco.