Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-10-07
CHAPTER VII.
~ HEN all at once sounded sever
al times the screams Of WON

were more than one Of them.
and Immediately imagined, Of course,
that Ippolita and her attendant, open
ing the door to pass out. had been con-
fronted by the malefactors who had
done my business. Then | heard the
gate slammed to with great noise as
If the damosels had succeeded in put
ting 1t between them and their enemies
and after that the tramp Of swiftly de-
parting footsteps. and all was still
again. hoped and believed that no
harm had come to my beautiful mis-.
tresS or her attendant
Had had with me the ingenious con
trivance with which l had scaled the
enchanted mesa Of New Mexico, could
quickly have got out Of the well. AS,
however, l had it not and as the great
round cylinder in which found myself
was built Of very smoothly dressed
stone on which no foothold was obtain
able. l was forced to the conclusion
that l would have to remain in my
present position until daylight should
bring some one to the well for water.
1t was only question Of hanging on
where was or Of swimming around
the wall for four or FIVE hours like a
cat in barrel This last undertaking
appeared to me as the merest trifle. for
the reason that am most expert and
powerful swimmer and am never so
much at home as when | am battling
with the crystal element. ! was get
ting rather chilly. too. and needed ex-
ercise to warm me up. therefore start.
ed out. keeping close to the walls. and
when had gone around ten times in
one direction turned and went ten
times around in the other. In making
the circle swan about thirty feet. 1t
was a quarter past II when | com.
menced and o'clock In the morning
when ! ended.
The reason stopped was that 1t was
already daylight and that an old cur
mudgeon had just looked over the cop
ing and hailed me.
Say there" be shouted. thou pro
fame and unwashed knave. knowest
thou not that tits forbid to bathe with.
in the public wells? Sirrah. come out
of there at once and 60 with me
straishtaway before the magistrate"
would that could" said I.
He looked ut me for some moments
before it dawned upon him that he had
commanded an impossibility. He then
spoke to some persons who were with
him. and they let down bucket by
means of q great beam or lever hung
pivotwise upon post which stood not
far from the coping. | stepped into the
bucket and was at once and without
much eYertion on their part lifted TO
the surface Of the earth. shook the
water from my beforetime gorgeous
raiment. aud as took In It's soddcn
and bedraggled state Il seemed TO the
ma, | looked like nothing so much as a
drowned rat.
When landed upon terra TRINA. i
found myself surrounded by half a doz-
en- stout fellows cUrsletCd and bearing
bills and pixies. So that escape was out
Of the question. II was Il company OF
the watch. aud the old duffer Sho had
acoDsted he was the captain OF II. Two
Of them presently took me by the arms
as though | were most dangerous
criminal. and NJ the command OF their
officer we Immediately set out for the
bargello, which. a. | afterward found.
was the prison OF the city and also the
palace of the pOdesta or chief masis
trate. I went alsng with them willing
Is enough for the reason that ! took
the offense with which was charged
TO be a light one and imagined that
would lie let of by the magistrate upon
the payment OF triiiing fine. When
we were come TO the bargello, 1t was q
O'Clock Ia the morning, and | was I'M
mediately conducted into the donjon.
II was not until 10 o'clock that was
summoned before the magistrate in the
hall Of justice Of the bargello.
What is the charge against this
knavey' beloved the magistrate. re-
garding me WITH a tremendous scowl.
Most worshipful podesta," answered
the captain. "he is charged with hav-
ing feloniously robbed the palace OF
the noble Duke Castruccio during the
banquet Of yesterday Of five golden
ewers. six silver platters and eight
golden goblets. When the rogue was
comprehended, he had them not with
him. but. by our Lady, l think that he
knoweth right well where to come by
them"
Have We searched him." demanded
the magistrate.
The idea of this old wiseacre having
a suspicion that l might carry con-
cealed about my person such n quantity
of tableware was so ridiculous that
burst into roar Of laughter.
"Gadzooksw shouted he. Shall we
be bearded thus within our very
court? Away with the scoffing repro
bate to the donjon! will myself ac-
quaint the duke of the affair, and what
with the rack and the thumbscrews 1t
will 20 hard, but we will get his con.
fession and have bin burned by even-
tide"
When I was once more in my dark
and narrow cell l began to think that
the matter was much more serious
than l had at first supposed. In about
half an hour my reveries were inter
rupted by the turning Of the key in
the lock. l expected to see at least a
turnkey with a cup Of cold poison, but
instead, the door revolving upon its
hinges. I beheld friar standing upon
the threshold. He handed me volu-
minous black robe and square, pyra-
midal hood, such as he himself wore
He then spoke In sepulchral voice: