The Yale expositor., 1902-10-03
hQUbikeCk. The Lion TOInGT.
BY SEWARD w. HOPKINS,
Author Of lack Robbins Of America" "Ia the
China Sea" Two oentiemss "a
Hawaii" On a Falss
Charge" Etc.
osp,rish,, lsos. b, Rop1rr BossrA'. SOFA
CHAPTER TX.

the public boulevard
was known as Number l0l. My
keeper impaired the above delightful
information 10 me on the ninth day
Of my imprisonment
! say delightful because I mean IT,
and do not use the word IN an ironi.
cal sense. The news was indeed de-
lightful and gratifying. II was what
j had waited for IL was the begin.
Ming of my labor for the state. and
my hopes rose. for now. surely.
would find an opportunity to strike
for my liberty.
The officer In command lost 70
time. but put us a. once 10 work.
Most of tne prisoners had evidently
been there before. for they seemed TO
know Just what 90 DO. az u they were
resumiug work that had but recently
been laid down.
After dinner. !. IN company with
the same il!.smellinR ruiiien who was
my marcling partner. was sent some
distance away 90 bring back supply
81 cement IN "a wagon drawn By a
small horse. a rugged. s,uIt little
animal, that did not seem TO feel
fatigue.
AS We left the main force behind.
my heart began TO beat violently and
my brain 20 work quicKly for now. /
thought. the only opportunity would
Eet had come.
We Travelled perhaps three miles.
Then we came To a sort OF storchousc
or shed, wIere we stopped. Tnc guard
had the key TO the shed. and. handing
81 10 me. he ordered me 10 open the
door
did as I was told. Nothing could
exceed my humility and meckEcss at
that moment.
The stun used for these roads
proved 20 be kind OF asphalt
brought from the coast farther north.
and stored in the shed until needed.
!; was now dry and lay in piles Of
broken Jumps and blocks.
The guard stood looking ON while
my companion and ! proceeded TO
carry the stun 90 the wagon and load
up for our return trip. ] had resolved
that this return trip would never be
made-at leas; by me.
Suddenly an overwhelming inlu.
ence seized me. and struck the blow
that ! had been dreaming OF ever
since my Incarceration
had not le least cause 90 feel
murderOusly inclined toward the
guard. but IL was my liberty against
his life. and the balance fcil my way.
had reached hts side with q heavy
piece OF the asptal; in my hands.
Without giving him tine 20 raise
his rifle. lifted the lump and sent %
crashing against his skull.
with a Rroan ho fcll into a heap on
tic floor
spraug to the horse and BEGAN
RAPIDLY To loosen him from the wagon.
Bat now an enemy arose upon whom
had not counted. Ny fellow prison
a.. either from mistaken sense OF
GGty or from a desire 10 win favor
a-d perhaps pardon FOR himself
sought 10 prevent my departure lie
spraug upon me. and We had a hand
tC-hgrd tusslc. in which 70 seemed at
times as 81 ] was going 90 get the
worst OF g. Backward and forward
We swayod. now vita his hand a my
threat. now with my fist thrust square
against his jaw writing. twisting. bit.
ing and Kicking. until ! finally got
good grip on his throat and nearly
stranglod him.
Selling him with a mighty effort.
hurried him against tac body o. the
guard, ard with last pull az the
straps. freed the horse from his en-.
cuubtancc.
Gaping upon his back. banged his
sides with ms heels. and away he
We; 60 tho nortlward, carrying me
toward freedom.
Bat the Sandman prisoner was not
yet beaten. heard the crack Of the
guards rife behind me and ielt
sti-rlng sensation ia tlc back
was shot
fol; the warm blood oczlrg dowa
my back. and began TO feel weak and
dizzy. Even though had not been
hit In vital spot. ! knew that the
loss OF blood would finish rae unless !
was able soon 10 stay g. bat 90
halt now would be death anyhow. and
I kept OF. The rifle was fred again.
hut this time the distance was too
great for the sardinian's aim. and
was not touched.
on. on We went. my little horse and
l. past woods and past farms until !
raw the road across the valley. watch
] had seen from my prison window.
and which had seemed TO lead 10
places OF refuge IN the mountains.
Suddenly my horse stumbled and
fell. My weakness was now so great
that my hands refused 20 cling: my
legs were as those of a man para.
lyzed. ] rolled from the animals back
and fell with a thud by the wayslde.
Relieved OF his burden. the horse re-
covered his footing and plunged for.
ward out OF sight.
was stunned by the fall. be-
came conscious Of burning scnaa.
ton I'm my throat then an excruciat.
fnC main In my head fhen another II