, 1885-12-20

tic wall, tried TO think. The recollecti
~ my last adventure soon came to me. x
Was probably in one Of the upper roof
4 the g~uardhouse. / found the d.
iocked. The Window was about four feet
over my head. 1 succeeded In reaching
Il, and looked out. The rock rose about
forty feet from the house, and a brook
ran between me and the cliff. To stay
there would be ruin, whereas in further
daring lay n possibility Of escape. l
forced myself through the window,
dropped down, and crept to the brook.
The water IN the stream came to my
waist, but as both banks were high,
crept along it without my head
showing. l heard distant voices, and
raising my head carefully above
the bank of the stream, / saw
dnrk figures moving toward me. Sud
denly IA dark lantern was turned on the
water close To the hiding-place. | Owed
under the water and held my breath un-
til II seemed that the veins In my head
would burst. When l could hear II no
longer ! rose, looked round and listened
All was still My pursuers had gone. 1
then went up the bank to the stony path.
Wind and rain in my face, | strobe rap
idly on, with 40 other guide than tho
storm.
About 3 o'clock in the morning, AS day
began to dawn, l heard bells ringing II
saw n large city in front Of me. Not dar-
ing to go on, l sought refuge in some
%shrubbery near the road When night
fell | continued my journey, but hunger
soon drove me into n village on the road
| crept softly between the cottages and
knocked at the minister's door. He
opened 1t himself, and I told him my
story. He ave me something to eat and
drink, IN old coat in exchange for mine,
and n few francs.
On the fifth day after my flight from Tou-
lon | was on Italian ground, / begged my
WY from place to place until l reached
Rome, where / hoped to find work. Even
.ng after evening l returned disappointed
n my search for occupation. My money
was gone, l could not pay my landlord,
and he set me adrift. Mechanically l
followed the stream of passers-by, who
led me to st. Peters. l crept YEARLY In
and sank down near the doors. Two men
began reading a poster on one OF the
columns.
aMerciful heavensi' said one, show can
n man risks his life for a few liref'
And with the certain knowledge that
out of eighty men eight or ten fall and
break their necksi"
Horrible work."
They passed on and were lost in the
crowd.
II was headed, illumination Of St.
Peters, and made known that
eighty men were wanted to light
the lamps on the dome, and
800 to light those on the columns. went
to the manager, had my name put on the
list, received half my none down, INT
was to present myself there at IL o'clock
the next morning. l was there promptly,
amid a crowd or miserable locking men.
The doors of the bureau were soon open,
and we crowded into the hall. My eyes
seemed to be drawn toward one corner Of
the room. Ny heart stood still-it was
nc mistake. l had recognized Gasparo.
! went over toward, and touching him,
said:
"Gasparo, don't you know mel"
He raised himself up lazily and said:
"Ah Francoisi L thought you were In
Toulonl"
II can't thank you that I'm not there.
Listen to me; II we both outlive this night
you shall give me satisfaction for your
perfdy."
He looked indifferently at me, and lay
down to sleep. At Z O'Clock we were
called up, and climbed the stairs that led
to the dome. My place was about half
way up, and l saw Gasparo go up still
higher. 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, I looked around at the scene.
Suddenly I felt my o p shake, and, look
ing up, saw a man putting a torch to II.
Almighty God 1t was Gasparo. With
the agility OF a cat climbed up the rope
put my torch in the Villains face, and
caught hold of the rope above where 1t
was on fire.
Gasparo, blinded and wild with pain,
gave n terrible yell and rolled down like
a stone. Through all the humming of the
living ocean beneath l heard the dull thud
as my enemy struck the pavement. 1
had hardly recovered by breath when we
were drawn up again.
told the director what l had gone
through. The truth Of my story was
proved by the half burned rope, and l was
then given money enough TO leave Rome.
Since then l nave had many adventures,
but never found myself in such terrible
company Us on the dome OF 81. Peters on
that fatal Easter.