The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-01-08

brave IT, lie Slppeu uOWn Slowly,
cautiously through TIE electric emana-
tions which enveloped him as in mist.
His foot ought each staple down the
wall, and for al instant he paused. and
a II binding flash illumined The abyss
beneath him he tried, but in vain, to
disc aver it's depth.
When Matthias had descended about
sixty feet from the window he found
firm resting place. 1t WAS q sort OF
ledge few inches wide which marked
the beginning Of the base of the wall
The lightning conductor did not end
here; it went down lower nnd-unknown
to the fugitive from this point down.
ward it was unfastened nd foated free.
sometimes skirting the rocky WALL
sometimes swinging in mid-air. some
times scraping against the rocks that
overhung the abyss
Count Sandosf stopped to recover his
breath. His feet rested on the ledge.
his hands grasped the iron cable. He
saw that he had reached the first course
of the masonry Of the donjon. But how
fur he was above the valley he could not
estimate.
THAT must be very deep" he
thought.
In fact a few 'arge birds, dazed with
the binding brillancy of the lightning,
were flying round him with heavily
tapping wings, and instead of rising
sank out of sight beneath his frnt. Hence
he must be on the brink of precipice
which fell away, deep down below him.
AS the birds disappeared he heard
noise above and by the light of vivid
flash he saw confused mass detach
itself from the wall
1t was Stephen Bathory escaping from
the window. He had grasped the con-
ductor and was slowly slipping down to
join Count Sandorf. Matthias waited
for him, his feet firmly planted on the
narrow ledge. There Stephen could
wait while he continued to descend.
In few minutes both were standing
on the narrow stone work.
AS soon as the thunder ceased for
an instant they could speak and hear
each other.
IAN Ladislas ?" asked Sandorf.
HE will be here in minute"
Nothing wrong aloft 2"
Nothing"
"Good I will make room for Ladis-
las, and you, Stephen, wait till he reaches
you.
agreed"
A tremendous fash seemed to envel-
ope them in flame. It seemed as though
the electricity coursIng the cable had
penetrated their nerves. They thought
they had been struck.
Matthias Matthias !" exclaimed
Bathory, under an impression of terror
that he could not master.
"Be cool am going down! You
will foliow!" was Sandorf's reply.
And already he had seized the cable
with the intention of slipping to the
first staple below, where he intended to
wait for his companions.
Suddenly there We're shouts from
above. They seemed to come from the
window of the cell. Then these words
rang out:
"Save yourselves !"
1t was Zathmar's voice
Immediately bright light shot from
the wall, followed by sharp report.
This time it was not the cable broken by
a lightning fash which lit up the gloom;
it was not the roar of the thunder which
resounded in the air. A gun had been
fired; chance shot probably from one
of the embrasures of the donjon. It was
just rs much q signal to the guard as if
i. uMlle5 hei ueeu ;linIrst at the tugIul>es.
The escape had been discovered.
Tho ua,, f,.y, Ia, ! l,,,r.l ~ -, ,,r>;co NJ
had called five o' six OF the warslers and
entered the cell The absence of two
of the prisoners Ii: been Immediately
discovered, the state of the window
showed how thy had escaped. And
Zathmar rushil to the window had
given the alarm.
Poor fellow ~ exclaimed Bathory.
"To desert him ! Matthias i! To desert
him !"
a second time there came the discharge
of Il gun. The report mingled with the
roll of thunder.
Heaven have pity on him! said
Sandorf. But We must escape-we
must avenge him Come Stephen,
come p
1t was time. Other windows in the
lower story of the donjon were being
opened. New discharges lighted them
up. Shouts were heard. Perhaps the
wartlers could run round the base of the
wall and cut off the retreat of the fugi-
tives Perhaps they might be shot!
"Come = exclaimed Sandorf for the