Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-02-14

and, descending them, found to
his dsmay that the gate was locked
CHAPTER V.
There IL almost always some small
but vitality important hitch In the best
laid human plans, and the hitch In
Balfour's arrangement was that he
forgot the nightly locking of the gate
leading on to the bastion. lie had ap-
preached the tree from the other side,
passing the sentrles, being challenged
by them, and giving the word In reply.
Eyerard knew the bastion, and had
had many pleasant stroll there In
old days when stopping with his
father when In port, and he knew
we'll that his only course was now to
climb the gate, which he could not do
without noise, and which was In no
case an easy feat, the plain boards Of
which the gate was made being high,
and the top thlckly studded with those
dreadful crooked nails, which look
like alphnbets gone wrong, and do
dreadful damage both to hands and
clothing.
Fortunately, the moon had set, the
sun was not yet risen, and the dark
ness favored nina darkness which
, every moment threatened to dissimtc.
/ He struggled up with rs little sound
ms possible, with set teeth and n beat
Ing heart, decorating his hands cruelty.
Then, having gained the top-not with
out some rents In his scanty clothing
he grasped the nall-studded "idge and
sprung down. Alas! not to the ground,
for one of the crooked nails caught
In the back part of the wide trousers,
and with n rendlng of cloth and n
knocking OF his feet against the
boards, he found himself arrested mid
way, and suspended by the waist
against the gate, like n mole on a
keepers paling.
Had he been caught in front, he
might have raised himself and some
how torn himself free; but being
hooked thus In the rear, he was almost
helpless, and his slightest effort to free
himself brought the heels of his boots
knocking loudly against the gate as
If to obtain admittancc, which was the
last thing he wanted. Meantime, the
minutes flew on. the darkness was
breaking fast; before long the sun
would rise, and disclose him hung
thus hclplcssly on his nail to the ear
licst passer-by, who would probably
be policeman.
A beautiful faint flush of rosc-rcd
suddenly shot up over the eastern sky,
and the brown shadows lcsscned
around him. He heard footsteps
ocholng through the dewy stiffness,
and struggled with blind desperation.
The rosr-red turned deep glowing
orange, objects became more and more
distinct before him. the street lamps
sickencd. n soft orange ray shot
straight from the sea across the com
mon. through the leaves OF the tree
shadowing the gate. on to the fugi-
/ lives check. At the same instant he
heard the boom of the sunrise gun: It
was day.
The footsteps approached nearer and
nearer; on the MStlou he heard the
change of watch, lie felt that all was
lost, and yet, In his mental tension,
| his chief consciousness was OF the aw.
full beauty of the dawn, the dewy
quiet and freshness brooding over the
great town, and strange contrast!
the grotesque ahsurdlty of his situa.
ton. He heard the lively twitter of
the birds waking In the trees, and al.
mired the soft radicnCe Of the ruddy
beams on the sleeping town: and then
something gave way, aud he found
himself full length on the pavement,
The echoing footsteps had as yet
brought no figure round the corner,
and Everara welcomed the hard salute
Of the paving stones aS the first greet
ing OF freedom, and quickly picking
himself up, he fcll % the slow.
sl0uching walk he Ii observed In
tramps, and moved ON, adjusting his
lisordered garments as best he might.
The footsteps proved indeed to he
those OF Policeman whose eyes wore
dazzlcd with the leve' Sunhcams which
he faced, and who gave him Il di,sat-
iShcd but not suspicious glance aud
passed on,
Evcrard drew \ deep arraau and
limpcd on, trying 10 disguise the
lameuess ot the wounded limb which
he feared might hrtray him, and thrust
his torn hands into the pockets Of the
trousers which had 81 nearly ruiucd
him Ills surprise aud joy We're great
on touching with his left hand a sub
stance which proved 10 30 bread ana
cheese which he Instantly devonrcd,
and With his right few pence and,
what moved him Is tears Of gratitude
for Ealfour'S thoughtful kindness, a