The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-11-24

Don't you want 10 escape
felt the blood rush to my face. anc
could not say a word
Can YOU keep secret ?7 he wen
on
Until death p
Well, then, listen Tomorrow Mar
shat d'Anyergue will inspect the harbor
docks, prison and stone quarry. Salufes
vii be fired from the walls and ships,
which will make il difficult to hear the
guards signal for the two escaping pris-
oners. Do you understand me p
Yes"
What then will be easier than to
knock off the feIters " th pick ak. and
escape when the oy.erseer Is not looking
our way? Win you are?7
With my life
Your hand
had never before touched hi blood
stained and hieving hand and shudder-
ed as ! clasped it. The next morning We
bad to unde 20 the Inspection before GO
ing 10 work An hour before noon the
trst salute from the harl,o reached our
ears. The dull report went through me
me like an electric spark tilslaro whis-
pered To me
When the first shot i fired from the
barracks, strike with your pick-ax on
the ring # my chain, close to the
ankle
A sudden nisgiying came over me.
And ifl should do il, how can b.
sure at you viii then free me? No,
Gasraro. you must strike the first
blow.
As YOU pl -ase.'' be answered. smiling.
bat with mutiered curse.
At that moment flash cane from the
barracks. and then report that reyer-
brited from the rocks huadreds Of time
A. the echoe rolled over our heaus
saw him get ready to trike and saw my
chain fall Hardly had the thunder of
the tir>t shot died away, before the sec
ond came, Now. was To free Gasparo !;
WAS ess dextroUs than he - il took
several strokes 10 free his chains. At the
third shot We flung our caps away. climb
Ell up the rock and struck for path that
ed into the valley Suddenly, at d bend
in the road We stood before a little
guard house, in front Of which were two
soldiers They pointed their guns at Us
and ordered u to surrender Gasparo
turned and struck me heavy blow. and
said
Let them ca ture YOU ; you were
always thorn in my pa h.
AsI fell saw G,,sparo throw down one
soldier. and rushed toward the other
Then a shot and all was dark around
me-
When | opened my eyes l found my
self living on the Fl, or Of little unfur-
sassss4 --s-ss -ss .-sSs..-s- 4a-.--s-
small window | rose painfully, and
leaning.against the wall, tried TO think.
The recollection OF nay list adventure
soon came to me | was probably in one
Of the upper rooms Of the guard-house.
| found the door locked. The window
was about four feet over my head |
succeeded in reaching II, and looked out.
The rock rose about forty feet from the
house. and brook ran between me and
the cliff To stay there would be ruin,
whereas in further daring lay the posi-
bility 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 show
ing | heard distant voices, and raising
my head carefully above the bank Of the
stream. / saw dark figures moving to-
ward me. Suddenly dark lantern was
turned on the water close to nv hiding
place. | dived under the water and held
my breath until it seemed that the veins
in my head would burst. When | could
bear il no longer ! rose. looked around
and listened All WAS still. Ny pursuers
had gone then went up the bank 10
the stony path Wind and rain in my
face. / strobe rapidly on, with no other
guide than the storm
About five o'clock int le morning. a.
day began to dawn. heard bells ring
ing and sAw q large city in front Of ne
Not daring 70 20 on. | sought refuge in
some shrubbery near the road. When
night fell continued my journey, but
hunger soon drove me into village on
the road. crept softly between the cot
tages and raped al the ministers door.
H. opened it himself, and told him my
story. tie gave me something to eat and
drink, an old eoat in exchange for mine,
and q few francs
On the fifth day after my flight from
Toulon Was on Italian ground. | beg
ged my way from place to place until
reached Rome, where l hoped to find
work. Evening after evening returned
disappointed IN my search for occupa-
ton. Ny money MAS gone and / could
not pay my landlord. and he set me adrift.
Mechanically ! followed the stream of
Islssers-by. who led me to ST Peters. |
crept wearily in and sank down near the
doors. Two men began reading poster
on one Of the columns.
~Merciful heavens = said one, how
can a man risk his life for few lire p
And with the certain knowledge that
out Of eighty men eight or ten fall and
break their necks?
Horrible work y
They passed on and we're lost in the
crowd
sprang Up eagerly and read the no.
ii e. II was beaded, = Illumination Of 81
Peters" and made known that eighty
men were wanted 10 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
nv money down, and was 10 present NV
self there at II o'clock the next morning
| was there promptly, amid crowd Of
miserable looking men. The doors ofthe
bureau were soon open, and We crowded
into the hall Ny eyes seemed 10 be
drawn toward 1ne corner of the room.
Nv heart stood still-it was no mistake !:
/ had recognized Gasparo. went
over toward him and touched him and