The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-03-04

and passed into the vault. and Antonio
heard him talking to the dead Pescheltl
and answering questions that his own dis
ordered brain invented
That IL was full morning when Antonio
came again to the little cave by the river,
and bethouGht him what ne should do for
his own safety. And suddenly looking
across the river he bSheld a gentleman
whom he knew. Lepardo. a commissary
OF the dukes. and with him thirty of the
dukes guard. ard they were riding very
fast. for having started at midnight TO
avoid the heat Of the sun lit being high
summcr) soon as they reached the out
skirts of Baratesta they had heard that
Antonio was in the vauli. and were now
pressing on to cross the bridge ami come
upon him. And Antonio knew that l.epardo
was a man of courage and hardihood and
would be prevented 10y nothing from enter
ing the vault But on sudden bepardo
checked HIS horse. entering loud cry, Ior
GO his great amazement he had seen An
tonic as Antonio looked Forth from the cave
and he could not tell how ne came to be
there. and Antonio at once withdrew him
self into the shadow Of the cave.
Now the banks of the stream on the side
on which LepGrd0 rode We're high and pre-
cipitcus. and. although il Was summer, vet
the stream was too deep for him 10 wade.
and flowed quickly: yet. ct Le1ardo's bid
dirg. SIX Of his stoItest men prepared 10
Antonio: and Antonio discerning that they
would 10 this. and blaming himself for his
r8shneSs IN looking out 50 inc1utiously,
was greatly ut loss what 10 10; Tor now
he was hemmcd in on either side, and he
saw nothing but to sell his lie dearly,
and do som. deed that Should ornament his
death. So ne rctreated again along the
passage. and PASSED through the opening
into the vault ami he summoned the hermit
% aid him. and between them they set
not only one but a dozen OF the coiIins OF
the Pc-chuiti ,,ssgls. tb. opening, iaying
them lcnsthwise and PilinS one On the
top OF the othcr. hoping that LeIaTdo's men
would not discover tne opening. or would It
least lie delayed some time before they
could thrust away the collins and come
through. Then Antonio took his place by
the gate Of the vault again. sword II ha;'C,
saying srimly TO the hermit II you SEEK
death. sir, ne Will be hercabOul5 peLote
But the Count Antonio vas not man
whom his friends would abandon 10 death
tInaIIesi and while the synlic was watch
Eng Antonio tn four young men who were
with the count made their escape from
Cesare's house. and. having separated IRON
one another. rode ~ four different ways
toward the hills, using much T;irlness. het
thr-e OF them were caught by the duke
company that watched IN the plain anu,
having been sOundiy nog--d. We're set TO
work servants in tire camp. But the
fourth came sale 20 the hiiis and found
there TommasiIo ard Beua, ami Tomma-
snc. hearing OF Antonio's STATE. started
with EeUa and eighteen more To rescue him
or die with him. And they tell in with a
scouting party Of the dukes and slew every
man ~ them 10 the numb 81 nvc. losing
two OF their own number. but thus they es-
capped. there being none left TO carry news
by the time they came near Baratesta
they were not more than a mile behind
Let.aF4u 5 c5np2l-y- Sut i.cpAaiu, when
he had detached the six ~ TO watch an
tonic. rode in hastily 10 and the syndic
ana learn irom him the meaning If what
ne nau seen and thus f0tnfuasino. coming
opposite TO the mouth OF the hermit's cave.
saw no more than SIX horses fethcrpd on
the river bank. having the dukes escut-
cheon wrought on their saddle cloths Then
ne leape1 down, ami, running 10 the edge
OF the bank. saw a man disappearing into
the mouth OF the cave. dripping wet. and
this man was the last Of the six, who had
swCm the river and were now gropin, their
way with great caution along the narrow
track that the hermit had made. Now
TommaSinO understood no more than I.e-
pardo that there was opening from the
cave t. the vault. but ne Thought that the
dukes men did not swim the river for
thelr pleasure, and nc halc Bena take five
and watch what should happen, while lie
rode on with the rest
If they come out again immediately"
he said. you VIII have them at a disac-
vantase; but II they do not come out 20 in
after them for / know not what they are
doing unless they are seeking my cousin
or laying some trap Cor him" Then Tom
masino rode after Lepardo. and Bena haV-
fng given the dukes men but the b-iefest
space IN which 10 come out again from
the cave, prepared 70 20 after them And
the dukes men were now much alarmed;
for the last man told them Of the armed
men on the bank opposite. and that they
did not wear the dukes badge. 50 the six
retrealed up the Passage very silently, and
they could uot find any opening. for IL grew
darker at every step. and they became
much out - heart But Bena's Inen crossed
the river and entered the mouth of the
cave after them Thus there was fair like
Mhood OF good lighting both in the passage
and b. the gate OF the vault.
But the C0uat Antonio. not knowing that
any Of mis- band were near. had ceased 10
hope for his life. and be sat calm and
ready. sword in hand. while the hermit
Withdrew 10 corner OF the vault ana
crOuched there. muttering his mad answers
Sn1 questions, and ever and AGAIN halliuB
some one OF the dead Peschelu by name,
IS though me saw him. Then suddenly
coffin feil with loud crash on the top Of
the heap or the focr; for the dukes men
had found the opening. and were pushing
at Il with hand aud shoulder. Then An
tonic -prsng 10 his feet and lett the gaze
and went and stood ready by the pile OF
collins. But again ON a sudden came i
Jumult from beyond the opening, for Bena
and his five also were uBw in the passage,
and the foremost Of them-WhO indeed was
IBena hiulseif-had come upon the hincmost
Q. the duke Is men. and the six, finding an
enemy behind them. pushed Yet more Aetee-
~ and str-auoIsly against the collins. ANU
no nan IN the passage S1~ any man. -
being utterly dark. ana they could not Use
their swords Tor Lack OF space, but drew
tDrsr lNw-vrs and thrust iscrcely N4itA
t.-- see mans body near.
50 In the dark they pushed and wrestled.
Eud struggled and stabbed, and the sOdii
al their tumult filled all the vault and
Eprpus4 beyond. being heard outside. ana
many outside crossed themselves for Tear,
saying Hell is broke loose. God say
u.s. But "a that moment came i-elar0o
AMI Ms company and he having leapt
from his horse and heard from the Synoic
that Antonio was in very truth in the
vault, drew nis sword and came at the
head al his men 20 the door, and hearing
the tumUlt from within, lie cried in scorn;
s-Th.e.. are no rhostsl'' and himself with
his bo,iest. rushed NJ tie door. and they
laid hold On the handles of IL and wrcnched
81 open And Antonio. perceivinE mat the
door was wrenched open. and not yet I'M
Outstanding that any Of his friends were
near. suddenly hung himself prone on the