The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-02-05


hold upon in any part of it; nothing
but the uncertain lines, smooth, rugged
and irregular, which mark the oblique
clearage OF the rocks. In word, it is
an abyss which attracts, fassinates and
never gives back anything that drops
into it.
Above the abyss rises one Of the side
walls of the donion, pierced with few
windows giving light to the cells on the
different floors. Were prisoner to lean
out of one of these openings he would
recoil with terror, lest vertigo drag him
into the void below. And if he fell
what would be his fate? His body
would be dashed to pieces on the rocks
at the bottom, or it would be carried
away by the torrent whose current dur
ing flood is irresistible.
The abyss is the Brico, as it is called
in the district. Through it runs river
known as the Foiba. This river finds
its only outlet in cavern which it has
gradually cut out of the rocks, and into
which it falls with the impetuousity of a
tide-race or whirlpool. Where does it
go as 1t passes under the town. No one
knows. Where does 1t reappear? Not
one knows OF this cavern, or rather this
canal, bored in the schlsts and clays--
no one knows the length, the height or
the direction. Who can say what thous-
ands OF angles, what forests OF pillars
supporting the enormous substructure
of the fortress and entire city its waters
are dashed against III their course !?
Many bold explorers, when the water
level has been neither too high nor too
low, have taken light boat and
endeavored to descend the Foiba through
the gloomy tunnel, but the arches have
been too low and have soon interposed
an impractlcable obstacle. In fact,
nothing is known of this subterrancon
river. Perhaps it is lost III some still
deeper cavern and enters the Adriatic
below the tide mark.
Such, then, was the Brico, OF which
Count Sandorf did not even know the
existence and as the only escape was
by the window OF his cell, which opened
above the Brico, he would be almost as
in front of the firing party on the morn
ing of his execution,
Zathmar and Bathory waited but for
the time to act, ready to remain behind,
if necessary, and sacrifice themselves to
help Count Sandorf, or ready to follow
him If their flight would not hamper
his.
"Weu all three go, said Sandorf.
swat till we get out before we
separated"
Eight o'clock then struck from the
clock in the town. The prisoners had
only twelve hours to live.
Night began to close in-a night
which promised to be very dark Thick,
almost motionless clouds unrolled them
selves cumbrously across the sky. The
atmosphere was heavy, almost unhreath-
able, and saturated with electricity. A
violent storm was coming on. Light
ning had not yet passed between these
masses OF Vapor' heaped around IKE SO
many accumulators, but distant growl-
inss Mei1 near" ",on6 '.io suiniii's VI
'''G iiiiiS 'ii'' eiiciicle isiiio' i,
A. Unuoa @ suoil @ btiouiissanoes 81 oiiereu 's
rlJ-u ma' So is naI ~ o. VI SUI suoS's'' Sa u a.
thn foot e H. tuoit; . $50 +. I'.i.
-, IL w . 90 - f A n
naisu n;nLt ia n,;rht W ~ ~ H." - :"
' nenV my s'u' No' 10 iio"ie'
s;1h. 40 'ii I'M iinu install lstdoiy iooohiAeu, .n
insn1 was Dniy PoSSIoie m Ihroueh tne
VIM" ~ lio oen' ~ ioioe tiio aool,
" ouv lnVo io9 ssions PianAs Vi oah' al,
~ % pa;1n "ilu - eu a. ""1 n'' oo 10 " .;, eauo1
", ss ' 1io SUop y.
80 Iii''ou ~ oii' u"ee VI ',io o'iiiuoi'
,nara thnr 70 al III "aS ,o,, .b.aTnh AZ" .Io
teh,-r;ntb % ~ fort,.as. IL, 80
tboy to noaa tha rartoDI,;s and ~ 49,
h,i3ooa ~ ,h;ah r. LIS ~ - 49," w
rnan1 roan on a,,ands ~ a. ~ % .,
tbo Rrino thora s. NJ sant;naI hnt ~ M
pr;oo n,o, hot."s aasoraata ta ~ sasa '. 20
tba Jo";o,, H. -, 80 -
SanIIss - - ,. =" w. w. -. A., " So,
apl;.ol - - .iion ~. "ens " 'iio ",1uo" anu
ttn e :" " 'eo - 'iioy 'oa'' sq"ooAo
r1t'" acn ~
ms wiheow was eAac'iy tnree ana q
I"ii ~. wv "it' '"o ioo' tisn' INC
s"P 81 "lou VII 'u: 40 ~ i"i' 1u'W"ius 'iirouSh
so'Ir faot 49, t,;ai, ieno.a ei;1 aas Mas ieaiiy :.
.,nandoI ~ T !. +. Soiau e'l oo?ooai >; VI n1n n:1u
0eor tba intor;or onoa;nn M So $50
nora of tbooa wopda, oorls whiab
allow tbe Iioht only 10 anter from ohaSa
Cor tbav wo,,Id bono haan ,s,Iass :,
to the position of the oneninp, If then
tbe crosshor could Iva rooovod or dis.