, 1897-10-16
midst of the confusion of his mind,

was that he had seen. for one instant.
the glimmer from the lantern between
the door and the wall. A hope-a hope
evidently due to the tension OF his brain
arose within him. He dragged him.
self TO the door, and cautiously run
ming his finger toward the assure, pulled
the door toward him.
Oh, miracle G, good fortune! the ailer
had turned the k.. before the door was
completely shut.
The rabbi ventured a look outside.
His eyes. used to the darkness. had no
difficulty in distinguishing a semicircu-
lar space, inclosed by earthen walls. and
several spiral staircases leading to the
upper floor. At the end Of N, straight
in front OF him. were some steps lead
ing to a black porch opening IN what
seemed q corridor. Of which he could see
only the first few arches.
He craw.ed on hands and knees to
this porch. Yes. it was a corridor. but
an interminably long one. 1t vas but
dimiy Nghted-small oil-lamps were
hung at long intervals to the beams and
served only to make the darkness visl-
BILE. The end CT the corridor was lost
In gloom. There was not a door in the
whole length OF the wall. On the left
were small. closely barred windows.
which now let in a few rays OF reddish
Light from above. so he Judged 1t must
be evening. And what an unearthly ST.
lence reigned in that place! However.
down at the end, and hidden in the
darkness. might be a door leading to
liberty! Il was his last hope. 50 keep,
Ing under the shadow on the left, he
crept slowly at full length, courageous,
ly suppressing a grcan whenever he
struck one OF the wounds with which
his body was covered.
Suddenly a sandaled footstep echoed
through the length OF the stone corrl.
dor. He was seized with terror, his
sight failed him, and he waited,
half-dead with apprehension lest he
should be discovered.
NJ was a familiar, hurrying to some
dungeon. His cow concealed his coun.
t%enance. and he passed rapidly. with a
pair Of f1esh-pincers in his hand. The
rabbi had been SO terrified that, weak.
ened as ne was with pain and hunger, it
was nearly an hour before he had
strength TO move. The dread Of hav-
ing to undergo additional torture in casa
Of being found u made him for a mo-
ment think OF turning back, bur Hope
whispered to his soul hal divine per-
haps which comforts US in our worst
afHic;ions. A miracle had been perform
ed for his rescue! He must not doubt
it! So he went on. though exhausted
by hunger and fear. toward possible
escape. This sepulchral passage seemed
20 lengthen mys~teriously, but he kept
his eyes fixed on the darkness beyond,
where there must surely be some exit.
Again footsteps were heard. but this
time they were heavier and slower. The
black-and-white gowns and shovel hats
of two inquisitors emerged from the
darkness. They we're talking in low
tones and gesttculating, as If they were
in argument upon some important SUBJ
ject.
On seeing them. Rabbit Aser Abarba-
mel shut his eyes; his heart beat as il it
would burst and q cold sweat OF agony
burst out on him; he lay as II dead
just under me light OF a lamp. invoking
the God Of David to his aid.
The two inqulsitors stopped under
the lamp in the heat Of their discussion.
companions argument. kept his eyes
fixed On the rabbi, and he, not remark
ing the absent look in those staring orbs.
seemed already to :eel the red-hot pine
ers tearing his flesh. But lie eyes or
che inQuisitcr were those OF a man COM
p,etely absorbed In the conversation and
studying his answer to his companions
argument
In fac. in a few minutes. the two sin
lister individuals continued on their way,
slowly. and Sill conversing in low tones.
toward The semicircular court through
which the fugitive had passed. He had
not been seen! 1t was 80 extraordinary
an escape that the poor wretch. in the
confusion Of his mind. said to himself:
Am I already dead. that no one sees
me?"
He must hurry toward the place
where he hoped for deliverance, toward
the shadowy end which was now only
about 80 PAGES distant. So he crawled
on further. and o came to the darn
part Of this grewsome corridor.
He felt a blast OF cold air on his hands
1T came from under the door. Oh.
God! II only this door opened on the
outer world! He was giddy with hopo
and fear. He felt the door and could
discover no bolts nor locks-simpiy a
latch. He rose to his feet, pressed tho
latch. which yielded silently. and the
door stood open before him.
-Hallelujah!" sighed the rabbi in q
transport OF t%hankfulness at the sight
that greeted his eyes.
The door had opened on a garden. un.
der q sky bright with stars. on liberty
and life! 1t looked upon the SURROUND
ing cosntry. Toward the sierra in that
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