The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-14
Prize Noveiettes-No. 4.
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until journeyed myself from Oporto to
Plymouth, when / laid for seven days
upon my back, and could not have
stirred had / seen the eagle of the regi-
ment carried before my eyes. 1t was in
pertidious weather like this that Nelson
took advantage of us
/ had no sooner got into Dartmoor
than / began To plan TO get out again,
and you can readily believe that with
wits sharpened by twelve years OF war
fare, II was not very long before l saw
my way
You must know, in the first place, that
i had very great advantage in having
some knowledge of the English language.
/ learned it during the months that !
spent before Danzig, from Adjutant
Obriant, of the Regiment Irlandais, who
was sprung from the ancient kings of the
country. i was quickly able TO speak IL
with some facility, for / do not take long
to master any thing to which | set my
mind. In three months | could not only
express my meaning, but could use the
idioms OF the people. 1t was Obriant who
taught me TO say 'Be jabers," Just as we
might say Ma foi'; and also ''The curse
of Crummle!' which means "Nentre
Blue!" Many a time / have seen the En-
glish smile with pleasure when they heard
me speak so much like themselves. We
officers were put two in a cell, which was
very little to my taste, for my roommate
was tall, silent man named Beaumont,
OF the Flying Artillery, who had been
taken by the English cavalry at Astorga.
IL is seldom ! meet man OF whom |
cannot make friend, for my disposition
and manners areas you know them. But
this fellow had never a smile for my jests,
nor an ear for my SORROWS, but would sit
looking at me with his sullen eyes, until
sometimes / thought that his two years
OF captivity had driven him crazy. All,
how | longed that old Bouvet, or any of
my comrades of the hussars, was there
instead of this mummy of man. But
such as he was / had TO make the best
of him. and it was very evident that no
escape could be made unless he were my
partner in it, for what could i possibly do
without his observing me? hinted at it,
therefore, and then by degrees / spoke
more plainly, until it seemed TO me that
i had prevailed upon him TO share my lot
i tried the walls and / tried the floor
l tried the ceiling, but though | tapped
and probed, they all appeared to be very
thick and solid. The door was OF iron,
shutting with n spring lock, and provided
with small grating, through which
warder looked twice in every night.
Within there were two beds, two stools,
two notwithstanding more. 1t was
enough for my wants, for when had /
as much during those twelve years spent
in camps But how was / to get out?
Night after night i thought OF my five
hundred hussars, and had dreadful night
mares, in which j fancied that the whole
regiment needed shoeing, or that my
horses were all bloated with green fodder,
or that they were foundered from bog
land, or that six squadrons were dubbed
in the presence of the Emperor. Then /
would awake in cold sweat, and set to
work picking and tapping at the walls
gay once more; for / knew very well that
there is no difficulty which cannot be
overcome by'a ready brain and pair of
cunning hands.
There was single window i'm cur cell,
which was too small TO admit a child.
II was further defended by thick iron
bar in the center. 1t was not a very prom
Using point OF escape, as you will allow,
but / became more and more convinced
{ hat our efforts must be directed toward il.
TO make matters worse, 1t only led out
into the exercise yard, which was sur
by two high walls. Still, as said
to my sullen comrade, 1t is time TO talk
OF the Vistula when you are over the
Rhine. / got small piece of iron, there
fore, from the fittings of my bed, and set
to work to loosen the plaster at the top
and bottom OF the bar. Three hours
] would work, and then leap into my bed
upon the sound of the warder's step.
Then another three hours, and then very
often another yet, for i found
that Beaumont was so slow and clumsy
at it that it was on myself only that
] could rely. l pictured to myself my
Third OF Hussars waiting just outside that
with kettledrums and stand
ards and leopardskin shabraques all com
plete. Then | would work and work like
4 madman, until my iron was crusted
with my blood, as IL with rust. And
SO, night by night, / loosened that stone
plaster, and hid it away in the stufiing
of my pillow, until the hour came when
the iron shook; and then with one good
wrench 1t came of in my hand, and my
first step had been made toward freedom.
You will ask me what better off i was,
since as l have said, child could not
have fitted through the opening. l will
tell you. / had gained two things-a
tool and a weapon. With the one / might
loosen the sinne which Hnnked the win