Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-02-01

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 lac 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 Lndislas ?" asked Sandorf.
"He viii be here in minute"
Nothing wrong aloft p
Nothing"
Good l will make room for Iadis-
las. and you, Stephen, wait till he reaches
you
Agreed"
A tremendous hash seemed TO envel-
ope them in flame. 1t 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 L am going down You
will follow!" was Sandorf's reply.
And already he hal seized the cable
with the intention oi slipping to the
first staple below, where he intended to
wait for his companions.
Suddenly there were shouts from
above. They seemed 10 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 by
a lightning flash which lit up the gloom;
1t was not the roar of the thunder which
resounded in the air. A gun had been
fired; a chance shot probably from one
OF the embrasures of the donjon. 1t was
just as much signal TO the guard rs If
q bullet had been aimed at the fugiuveA
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
Zathmar rushing to the window had
SVEN ne alarm.
poor fellow excisimed Bathory.
ITO desert him Matthias IL desert
him r.
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 -
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 mt 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
FOra minute, for eighty feet and more,
they glided down-down-ask them
selves if the abyss in which they were
engulfed were really bottomless. Already
the roar of the raging waters below them
could be heard. Then they understood
that the lightning conductor led down
into the torrent. What was to be done ?
To climb back TO the base of the donjon
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 a plati-
mum thread beneath the discharge of a
battery or n pile
Bathory uttered cry of despair-and
let 90.
Sandorf saw him pass him, almost
touching him with his arms wide open.
Andth he let go the iron rope which
glowed in his hands and he fell more
than forty feet into the torrent of Foiba
which foamed along at the foot of the
unknown Brico