Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-10-21
CHAPTER XIII.


solid masonry Of the walls is oozing with
damp, which envelopes me, enters my
lungs, and literally permeates my being,
drowning my spirits, lowering my vi
salty and extinguishing hope in my
Breast.
A warden brings me my allowance of
nread and jug Of water. He informs
me that I can have tea if | choose to
pay for it, and shrugs his shoulders
when l tell him that / have no money.
On lighting my lamp he leaves me.
After a while l stretch myself on the
bed, where I lie staring at the light.
At times I groan aloud, l wiring my
hands, whilst the sweat of anguish pours
from my body. And thus the night wears
away-ths CHASTITY, fevered night, whose
hours seem to lengthen out more and
more as they crawl toward the pale
dawn.
To-day is little more than wretched
sepetition Of yesterday, only l feel 1t
IesE. I have become apathetic. have
lost the mental energy to think strongly.
Tor hours I sit On one spot and move
not. or I stand at the grated window
gazing vacantly at the river and the
passing craft.
About midday the sky darkens and it
Begins to rain. 1t is a straight, steady
gand-rain without wind, and the monot-
snous patter of the drops on the water
somes to me, mingled with the creaking
Of the RATS and the husky calls Of the
8oatmen.
After my midday meal they take me
30 walk for a quarter Of an hour in a
court that is partly covered in, and again
q shake off my apathy to observe the
faces of the two gendarmes who pace
at each side Of me. They are stolidity
personifed. Ny eyes dart now at an
official, now at passing warden, with
a vague hope that the Cossack may
throw himself in my way and give mo
significant glance or sign. In vain. And
we are treading again the damp CORR
dor and the gendarmes leave me in my
cell
The clock in the chapel tower Of the
prison tolls the hour Of midnight. l
sount the strokes mechanically, sitting
Oh the steel with my head against the
humid wall. The final stroke is still quiv-
erng i'll the air when I hear a faint
click.
Am I dreaming, or is there really
pair of cleaning eyes looking at me
Through the trap in the door? Is that in
very truth a hand holding something to-
ward me? 7 stagger to my feet, staring
with all my might.
The hand beckons impatiently. In two
strides | am at the opening! | grasp
cold, rough front It is a file! A face
ii advanced so that | can see a long
dropping mustache, as black as jet, and
a pair of red lips which pronounce one
word, Work" And the trap is closed.
l clutch it, | hug 1.-THE little instru-
ment that is to give me liberty! The
reaction from the deepest depths Of de-
spair to sudden, full-fedged hope, for
q moment overpowers me. L sink on the
edge of the bed and find relief in sue
eession of gasping sobs. Then L get
mastery Of my emotion, and rise with
compressed lips, burning to commence
my task. First / deliberately put out the
light, after which l mount the stool and
work Even when the dawn began to
eglimmer dare to continue it, until every
Gar is sawn through top and bottom,
Ieaving only thin, unified surface to
The inside, so that a single thrust will
cause the entire grating to give way.
| am examining my handlwork with
comparative composure, for l have grown
confident during my undisturbed labors,
when the unexpected click Of the opening
trap makes my heart stand still with
sudden dismay, whilst the sweat turns
Icy cold Oh my brow. l have, however,
the presence of mind to let the file slip
MP my sleeve l dimly descriy the points
of the Cossack's black mustache thrust
through the aperture. | noiselessly speed
toward him.
How much have you done?' he whis-
gers.
Finished" whisper in reply.
Good. Give me the file"
hand it to him and he thrusts it into
$he breast of his uniform. Again he
Bends down to me and murmurs the one
word: "To-nightn'
go over to the bed, and fling myself
On it with a sigh of supreme satisfaction.
at is done-my task is finished. With
a single thrust of my hand | can make
sor myself an outlet from this foul den
80 liberty. A few hours and l shall be
green
It is the very longest day of my life!
And when ut last the shades begin to
gather and enshroud me, | cast myself
down on my bed utterly spent with the
burden of it, and my WORKOUT system
Snds relief in sleep. When | awake
she lamp is burning once more, and my
supper stands on the table. l eat up all
the food that has been brought me, as
/ have done Systematically all day, and
take a long pull Of water. After which
seat myself opposite the door and wait
Sreathlessly, braced for the moment Of
action.
Suddenly, without the slightest warn
ing. | am startled by the grating of the
key in the rusty lock, and directly the
Cossack enters; changes the key to the
inside, and locks us in! For the first
time l see my stranger friend. A single
glance at him inspires me with conf
dence. Small, almost dwartish; meager,
solorless, his face and form are yet in
atinct with energy and nerve.
Ready" he whispers.
L