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

emergencies encountered in d, We fe.
-
down to them. vee
"Never mind the daylight, e a Toza:
''let us push on and reach the t
81 can 60 no further" moa1u Naulo.
| 81 am exhausted"
Nonsense" cried Toza; sit INT a
short distance"
THE distance is greater than 70 nix
besides we are in full view of the lie,
| Would you risk everything now tht ne
| game is nearly won? You must ne r
! get that the stake is your head, and re-
Der what day this is. - VI
What day is ito asked the brlgh
turning on his guide
1T is the 18th of January, the daJ N
which you were TO be executed"
Toza caught his breath sharply. DangI
and want had made a coward of him. an
he shuddered now, which he had not done
when he was on his ttial and condemned
TO death
asked.
Paulo held up his stick notched after the
method of Robinson Crusoe
Il am not so strong as you are. and if
you will let me rest here until the after
noon / am willing TO make last effort.
and try to reach the entrance to the tun-
| mel.
Very well, said Toza shortly.
As they lay there that forenoon neither
conld sleep. The noise OF the waterfall
was music to the ears of both: their long
toilsome journey was almost over
"What did you do with the gold that
n 40 aira T.,
"a, suddenly
Paulo was taken unawares, and answer
ed without thinking, Il left it where it
was. / will get it later
The brigand said nothing, but that re-
mark condemned Paulo to death. Toza re-
solved TO murder him as soon as they were
well out of the tunnel, and get the gold
himself
They left their hiding place shortly aft
er y O'Clock, but their progress was so
slow, crawling as they had to do up the
steep side of the mountain under cover of
bushes and trees, that it was well after 3
O'Clock when they came 70 the waterfall.
which they crossed as best they could on
stones and logs.
There said Toza, shaking himself,
THAT is our last wetting. Now for the
tunnelr'
The rocky sides of the waterfall hid
them from view of the castle, but Paulo
called the brigand's attention To the fact
that they could be easily seen from the 9th
er side of the valley.
at doesn't matter now" said Toza
lead the way quickly to the mouth of the
cavern"
Paulo scrambled on until he reached a
shelf about half way up the cataract: he
threw aside bushes, brambles, and logs,
speedily disclosing a hole large enough
10 admit man.
You go first" said Paulo, standing
aside.
NO" answered Toza; ''you know the
way and must go first. You cannot think
that | wish TO harm you; / am completely
unarmed."
Nevertheless, said Paulo 81 shall not
go first Edid not like the way YOU look
ed at me when told you the gold was still
in the hills l admit that distrust YOU"
"Oh, very we'll" laughed Toza. ait
doesn't really matter" And he crawled
into the hole in the rock. Paulo following
him.
Before long the tunnel enlarged so that
a man could stand upright.
stop said Paulo, 1.-THE door is near
here"
yes" said the robber, II remember
that you spoke of door" adding. how
ever, "what is it for and why is it locked?"
at is bolted on this side" answered
Paulo, land we shall have no difficulty in
opening it,"
"What is it for?' repeated the brigand.
1T Is to prevent the current of air run.
ming through the tunnel and blowing away
the obstruction at this end" said the
guide.
Here it is" said Toza, as he felt down
its edge for the bolt
The bolt drew back easily and the door
opened. The next instant the brigand was
pushed rudely into a room, and he heard
the bolt thrust back into its place almost
simultaneously with the noise of the clos
ing door For moment his eyes We're
dazzled by the light. He was in room
blazing with torches held by dozen men
standing about.
In the centre of the room was a bleck
covered with black cloth, and beside il
stood masked eXecutioner, resting the
corner of cleaning axe on the black
draped block, with his hands crossed over
the end of the axes handle.
The prince stood there surrounded by his
ministers. Above his head was a clock,
with the minute hand pointed to the hour
of four.
"You are just in time said the prince,
grimly. ave are waiting for you. Rob
art Barr.