Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-12-28

| outside. ~
"a tunnel through the mountains?
| Nonsense cried the brigand. 81 should
have known of it if one existed. The
work would be too great to accomplish"
at was made long before your day, or
mine, either. If the castle had fallen,
then those who were inside could escape
| through the tunnel. Few knew of the
entrance; it is near the waterfall up the
| valley, and is covered with brushwood
| What will you give me to place you at the
| entrance of that tunnel?'
! The brigand looked at Paulo sternly for
few moments, then he answered slowly.
| Everything l possess"
"And how much is that?" asked Paulo.
at is more than you will ever earn by
! serving the prince
"Will you tell me where it is before l
help you to escape from the castle and lead
! you to the tunnel?n
"Hes, said Toza
"Will you tell me nOw?n
mo; bring me paper tomorrow, and
| will draw you plan, showing you how
to get it,
When the jailer appeared the day after
Ioza had given the plan. the brigand ask
ed eagerly, Did you get the treasurer"
81 did, said Paulo, quietly.
And will you keep your word9 will you
get me out of the castle9r
Il will get you out of the castle and lead
you to the entrance OF the tunnel, but aft
er that you must look to yourself"
Certainly" said Toza ''tnat was the
bargain. Once out of this valley can
defy all the princes in Christendom Have
you rope9''
'We shall need none" said the iailer.
Il will come for you at midnight and take
you out of the castle by the secret passage:
then your escape will not be noticed until
morning"
AT midnight his jailer came and led Toza
| through many tOrturouS passage, the two
man pausing now and then, holding their
breaths anXiously as they came to an open
court through which a guard paced. At
last they were outside of the castle at one
hour past midnight.
The brigand drew a long breath of re-
lief when he was once more out in the
free air.
Where is your tunnel he asked in a
somewhat distrustful tone of his guide.
Hush was the low ans wer. 1T is
only a short distance from the castle. but
every inch is guarded, and we cannot 90 d.
rect: we must make for the other side of
the valley and come 20 it from the north"
What" cried Toza, amazed; traverse
the whole valley for a tunnel a few wards
away?"
1T is the only safe plan said Paulo.
'lf You wish to 60 by the direct way,
must leave you to your own devices
II am IN your hands, said the brigand
with sigh. Take me where you will. so
long as you lead me to the entrance of the
tunnel"
They passed down and down around the
heights on which the castle stood. and
crossed the purling little river by means of
stepping stones. Once Toza fell into the
water, but was rescued by his guide.
There was still no alarm from the castle as
daylight began to break. As it grew more
light they both crawled into a cave which
had low opening difficult to find. and
there Paulo gave the brigand his breakfast.
which he took from little bag slung by
strap across his shoulder.
what are we going to do for food if we
are days between here and the tunnel9"
asked Toza
"Oh, | have arranged for that. and a
quantity of food has been placed where we
are most likely to want it. l will get it
while you sleep"
But if you are captured what am to
do?' asked Toza Can you not tell me
now how TO find the tunnel, as | told Won
how to find the treasurer"
Paulo pondered over this for a moment
an J then said Eyes, l think it would be
the safer way. You must follow the stream |
until you reach the place where the torrent
from the east joins. Among the hills |
there is waterfall, and half way up the |
precipice on a shelf of rock there are sticks |
and bushes. Clear them away and YOU
will lind the entrance to the tunnel. Go |
through the tunnel until you come to a |
door, bolted on this side. When you have !
passed through you will see the end of |
your journey"
Shortly after daybreak the big bell of |
the castle began TO ring, and before noon |
the soldiers were beating the bushes all |
around them. They were so close that the !
two men could hear their voices from their /
hiding place, where they lay in their wet |
clothes, breathlessly expecting every mo. |
ment TO be discovered.
The conversation of two soldiers. who
were nearest them, nearly caused the
hearts of the hiding listeners to stop beat
ing.
us there not a cave near here?" asked
one. LET us search for it,
Nonsense" said the other. 81 tell YOU
that they could not have come this far al
ready
"Why could they not have escaped when
the guard changed" insisted the first
speaker.
because Paulo was crossing the court
yard at midnight, and they could have had
no chance of getting away until just before
1aybreak."
This answer seemed to satisfy his com
rade, and the search was given up Just as
they were about to come upon the fug-
lives. 1t was narrow escape, and, brave
as the robber was, he looked pale, while
Paulo was in a collapse.
Many times during the nights and DAYS
hat followed, the brigand and his guide al
most fell into the hands of the minions of
.he prince. Exposure, privation, semi
and, worse than all, the alter
late wrenchings of hope and fear, began
% tell upon the stalwart frame of the brig
md Some days and nights of cold win
er rain added to their misery. They dare
lot seek shelter, for every habitable place
vas watched
When daylight overlook them on their /
asst nights crawl through the valley they !
we're within a short distance of the water /
all whose low roar now came soothingly