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

tremendous flash seemed TO enysi
ope them in flame IL seemed MS though
the electricity coursing the cable had
penetrated their nerves. They thought
they had been struck.
! Matthias Matthias I" exclaimed
Bathory, under an impression of terror
that he could not master.
" BE cool am going down Yop
will followl" was Sandorf's reply.
And already lie had seized the cable
with the intention of slipping to the
hrst staple below, where he intended to
wait for his companions.
Suddenly there were shouts from
above. They seemed to come from the
window of the cell. Then these words
rang out
Save yourselves ~
1t was Zathmars voice.
Immediately bright light shot from
the wall, followed by sharp report.
This time it was not the cable broken bv
q lightning fash which lit up the gloom |;
1t was not the roar of the thunder which
r@ounded in the air. A gun had been
fired chance shot probably from ono
OF the embrasures of the donjon. Itwas
Just us much signal to the guard MS II
bullet had been aimed at the fugitiveA
The escape had been discovered.
The sentry had heard some noise. He
had called five or six of the warders and
entered the cell. The absence of two
of the prisoners had been Immediately
discovered, the state of the window
showed how they had escaped. And
Eathmar rushing to the window had
given the alarm.
Poor fellow !" exclaimed Bathory.
"To desert him Matthias To desert
him p
A second time there came the discharge
of 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 T.
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
warders 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
last time.
And he slid down the iron cable which
Bathory grasped Immediately after him.
Then they saw that the rope hung
loosely over the abyss. Resting places,
staples, there were none They were
swinging wildly at the end of the rope.
which cut their hands as it slipped
through them. Down they went with
their knees chatting and bleeding, without
the power to stop themselves as the bull.
cts whistled past.
For minute, for eighty feet and more,
they glided downtown asking them
selves if the abyss in which they were
engulfed were really bottomless Already
the roar of the raging waters below thgfa
could be heard. Then they understood
that the lightning conductor led down
into the torrent What was to be dones
To climb back to the base of the donion
they could not their strength was un-
equal to the task, And death, for death
was better to chance that which waited
for them in the depths below.
Suddenly there came an fearful clap Of
thunder and an intense electric glare.
Although the conductor was not struck.
yet the tension ofthe electricity was such
that the iron rope grew white as plati.
mum thread beneath the discharge of a
battery or pile
Bathory uttered a cry of despair-snd
let go.
Sanror saw him pass him, almost
touching him with his arms wide open.
Andthen he let go the iron rope which
glowed in his hands; ana he fell more
than forty feet into the torrent of Foiba
which foamed along at tile foot of the
unknown Brico.