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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f8c17b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #52304 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52304) diff --git a/old/52304-0.txt b/old/52304-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index fb9eddf..0000000 --- a/old/52304-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10065 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Wonderful Escapes, by Frédéric Bernard - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Wonderful Escapes - -Author: Frédéric Bernard - -Translator: Richard Whiteing - -Release Date: June 11, 2016 [EBook #52304] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WONDERFUL ESCAPES *** - - - - -Produced by deaurider, Chuck Greif and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - - WONDERFUL ESCAPES. - - [Illustration: Osmond carrying off Duke Richard.] - - - - - WONDERFUL ESCAPES - - _REVISED FROM THE FRENCH OF F. BERNARD - AND ORIGINAL CHAPTERS ADDED._ - - BY - RICHARD WHITEING. - - With Twenty-six Plates. - - NEW YORK: - CHARLES SCRIBNER & CO. - 1871. - - - - - Illustrated Library of Wonders. - - PUBLISHED BY - Messrs. Charles Scribner & Co., - 654 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. - - -Each one volume 12mo. Price per volume, $1.50. - -_Titles of Books._ _No. of Illustrations_ - -THUNDER AND LIGHTNING, 39 - -WONDERS OF OPTICS, 70 - -WONDERS OF HEAT, 90 - -INTELLIGENCE OF ANIMALS, 54 - -GREAT HUNTS, 22 - -EGYPT 3,300 YEARS AGO, 40 - -WONDERS OF POMPEII, 22 - -THE SUN, BY A. GUILLEMIN, 53 - -SUBLIME IN NATURE, 50 - -WONDERS OF GLASS MAKING, 63 - -WONDERS OF ITALIAN ART, 28 - -WONDERS OF THE HUMAN BODY, 45 - -WONDERS OF ARCHITECTURE, 50 - -LIGHTHOUSES AND LIGHTSHIPS, 60 - -BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN, 68 - -WONDERS OF BODILY STRENGTH AND SKILL, 70 - -WONDERFUL BALLOON ASCENTS, 30 - -ACOUSTICS, 114 - -WONDERS OF THE HEAVENS, 48 - -* THE MOON, BY A. GUILLEMIN, 60 - -* WONDERS OF SCULPTURE, 61 - -* WONDERS OF ENGRAVING, 32 - -* WONDERS OF VEGETATION, 45 - -* WONDERS OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD, 97 - -CELEBRATED ESCAPES, 26 - -* WATER, 77 - -* HYDRAULICS, 40 - -* ELECTRICITY, 71 - -* SUBTERRANEAN WORLD, 27 - - -* In Press for early Publication. - -_The above works sent to any address, post paid, upon receipt of the -price by the publishers._ - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - PAGE - -Aristomenes the Messenian 1 - -Hegesistratus 2 - -Demetrius Soter 4 - -Marius 6 - -Attalus 10 - -Richard, Duke of Normandy 15 - -Louis II., Count of Flanders 17 - -The Duke of Albany 19 - -James V., King of Scotland 22 - -Secundus Curion 25 - -Benvenuto Cellini 26 - -Mary, Queen of Scots 41 - -Caumont de la Force 45 - -Charles de Guise 54 - -Mary de Medicis 56 - -Grotius 60 - -Isaac Arnauld 63 - -The Duke of Beaufort 65 - -Cardinal de Retz 69 - -Quiquéran de Beaujeu 76 - -Charles II. 78 - -Blanche Gamond 90 - -Jean Bart and the Chevalier de Forbin 96 - -Duguay Trouin 99 - -The Abbé Count de Bucquoy 101 - -Jacobite Insurrectionists 108 - -Charles Edward 111 - -Stanislaus Leczinski 118 - -Baron Trenck 122 - -Cassanova de Seingalt 160 - -Latude 214 - -Beniowski 229 - -Twelve Priests saved by Geoffroy St. Hilaire 236 - -De Chateaubrun 238 - -Sydney Smith 239 - -Pichegru, Ramel, Barthelemy, etc. 241 - -Colonel de Richemont 248 - -Captain Grivel 254 - -Lavalette 255 - -Giovanni Arrivabene, Ugoni, and Scalvini 262 - -Political Prisoners, 1834 265 - -Monsieur Rufin Piotrowski 267 - -Prince Louis Napoleon 284 - -James Stephens 298 - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. - - - PAGE - -I. They came at last to an opening, 2 - -II. Marius sent away from Minturnæ, 10 - -III. I then tore them up into long bands, 29 - -IV. Cellini attacked by the dogs, 36 - -V. Escape of Mary, Queen of Scots, from Loch Leven -Castle, 44 - -VI. “Hush!” said the man, “keep quiet, they are -still there,” 48 - -VII. She lifted the lid of the chest, and her master -leaped out safe and sound, 62 - -VIII. He let himself drop into the sea, 78 - -IX. They grew very angry at my rudeness, 88 - -X. I was obliged to support myself with one arm, 92 - -XI. My foot got stuck, and the sentinel seized it, 127 - -XII. Trenck escaping with Lieutenant Schell, 138 - -XIII. The first grenadier I knocked down, 155 - -XIV. I heard the sound of a door being unbolted, 174 - -XV. I told him to be very careful not to spill the sauce, 186 - -XVI. Balbi rolled down into my arms, 197 - -XVII. The monk clung to my waistband, 202 - -XVIII. I told him I was going to bury him, 213 - -XIX. I saw on the parapet the soldiers of the grand round, 224 - -XX. Stop, thief! 228 - -XXI. The woodman pulled out a knife and did so, 239 - -XXII. He affected great surprise, 241 - -XXIII. I held my handkerchief to my eyes, 258 - -XXIV. They fell exhausted to the ground, 264 - -XXV. The sight of the seal was sufficient, 278 - -XXVI. Osmond carrying off Duke Richard, _Frontispiece_. - - - - -WONDERFUL ESCAPES. - - - - -_ARISTOMENES THE MESSENIAN._ - -ABOUT 684 B.C. - - -Aristomenes, the Messenian general, fighting at the head of his troops -against very superior numbers of the Lacedemonians, commanded by the two -kings of Sparta, received a severe blow on the head from a stone, and -fell insensible and to all appearance dead. He was taken prisoner, with -fifty of his soldiers, and dragged to Sparta, where the Lacedemonians -condemned them all to be thrown into the Cœada, a hideous gulf formed -by a fissure in the earth, in whose depths already lay the bones of -hundreds of criminals who had been put to death. The barbarous sentence -was actually carried out; and Aristomenes, with all his surviving -soldiers, was hurled into the gulf. The latter perished to a man in the -fall; but their general, on this as on so many other occasions, was -saved--as the historian Pausanias has it, by the favour of a god. The -most enthusiastic chroniclers of his exploits say that an eagle flying -towards him sustained his body on its extended wings, and thus bore him -unharmed to the bottom of the ravine. A happy chance revealed to him a -means of egress from this dismal prison. When he reached the bottom, he -lay for some time on the ground, wrapped in his mantle, and in momentary -expectation of death. He scarcely stirred from this position for two -days; on the third day of his entombment, however, he heard a noise, and -uncovering his face, saw a fox creeping along in the gloom towards a -heap of corpses. Judging from this that there must be an opening in the -ravine, he waited until the animal approached him, and then seized its -leg with one hand, thrust his mantle into its mouth with the other when -it turned to bite, and suffered himself to be dragged through the -passages of his subterranean prison. They came at last to an opening -just large enough to give a passage to the fox and to admit a feeble ray -of light into the cavern. The animal bounded forward into the daylight, -and disappeared as soon as Aristomenes let go his hold, leaving the -captive general to follow after he had enlarged the opening with his -hands. This escape of Aristomenes was considered a manifest proof of the -favour and protection of the gods. (_Pausanias: Description of Greece_, -bk. iv., ch. xviii.) - - - - -_HEGESISTRATUS._ - -ABOUT 475 B.C. - - -Mardonias had for an augur, according to the Greek rites, Hegesistratus -of Elea. This man, at one time, was in the power of the Spartans, to -whom he had wrought very great harm, and he lay heavily ironed in -prison, and condemned to death. In this extremity, knowing that he had -to expect, not only to lose his life, but to suffer the most frightful -tortures before his execution, he performed an incredible exploit. He -was fastened to a heavy wooden fetter bound with iron, and by the aid of -a scrap of the same metal which he found by accident in his prison, he -accomplished the - -[Illustration: They came at last to an opening.] - -most courageous action ever recorded; for, having carefully measured off -as much of his foot as he could manage to drag out of the fetters, he -cut it away from the rest by the tarsal bone. He then contrived, -although the prison was strictly guarded, to pick a hole in the wall of -his dungeon, and escape to Tegea, walking, or rather hobbling along, by -night, and hiding during the day. He arrived at Tegea on the third -night, after eluding all the vigilance of the Lacedemonians, who had, -indeed, been struck with almost ludicrous astonishment when they found -only the half of the man’s foot in their safe keeping and the owner -gone. As soon as Hegesistratus was cured, he provided himself with a -wooden foot, and became the declared enemy of the Lacedemonians. His -hatred of them was about equalled by his love of gain; and he was -enabled to gratify both passions by sacrificing, and by drawing -divinations for the Persians at the battle of Platea, for which he was -most liberally paid by Mardonius. But his enmity to the Spartans brought -him to a bad end, for he was captured by them at Zacynthus, where he was -following his trade of divination, and put to death. (_Herodotus_, bk. -ix., § xxxvii.) - -In the time of Herodotus, the term “tarsus” was applied, not only to -that part of the foot so designated by modern anatomists, but also to -that immediately above the toes. It would even seem to follow, from a -passage in Hippocrates, that the term tarsus was employed specially to -designate those portions now called metatarsal, and to the second row of -the bones of the tarsus, from which he distinguishes those in direct -communication with the leg. From the text of Herodotus, however, it is -sufficiently clear that Hegesistratus cut off his foot at the part where -the tarsus and metatarsus join. - -It would at first seem incredible that a man could have the resolution -to mutilate himself in this way, and, above all, to do subsequently what -is here recorded by the Greek author; but facts certainly as -extraordinary have been observed among the North American Indians. It is -but rarely, however, that among stories of the kind we have collected, -even though they may be taken from the gravest historians, some details -are not found open to at least the suspicion of exaggeration. We give -the name of our authority: the reader must take the story for what it is -worth. - - - - -_DEMETRIUS SOTER._ - -162 B.C. - - -Demetrius had been sent to Rome as a hostage by his father, Seleucus -Philopater. Antiochus having afterwards assassinated Seleucus, and made -himself King of Syria, Demetrius asked the Senate to restore him his -liberty and his throne. But, according to Polybius, although the -senators were touched by the words of the young prince, they thought it -more to the interest of the Republic to detain him in Rome, and to -recognise the son of Antiochus. - -Some time after, Demetrius wished to renew his appeal to the Senate, and -he consulted Polybius, who tried to dissuade him from it: “Do not,” said -the historian, “bruise yourself a second time against the same stone. -Believe in yourself and in yourself alone, and prove by your own -boldness that you deserve to be king.” - -The prince, expecting no doubt advice more in harmony with his -intentions, did not follow the counsel of Polybius till he was taught -the value of it by a second refusal from the Senate; and then he -prepared for flight. Diodorus, who had educated him, arrived very -opportunely at that moment from Syria, and assured him that if he were -to present himself to his people with but one attendant at his back he -would be immediately proclaimed king. - -Polybius, Diodorus, and some other friends of the young prince, devoted -themselves to his service. They bought a Carthaginian ship lying at the -mouth of the Tiber, without much hindrance it would seem from the -vigilance of the authorities; for the sale and all the arrangements, -including the settlement of the very hour of departure, were effected -with the utmost publicity. When the time came Demetrius assembled his -friends around him, a limited number of them only being in the secret, -and standing pledged to embark with their slaves at a given signal. -Polybius was ill, and could not leave his house, but he became -apprehensive lest the young man should abandon himself to the pleasures -of the table, and forget the hour fixed for his setting out. He -therefore sent a slave to him towards nightfall, with orders to approach -him as though on business of importance, and to place a letter in his -hand reminding him of his duty. Demetrius read the letter, invented a -pretext for withdrawing from the table, and returned with his confidants -to his own house, whence he sent away his servants to Anagnia with -orders to get everything in readiness for a boar hunt on the next day -but one--this being his favourite sport, and the one which had first -brought him into contact with Polybius. His friends also gave the same -orders to their slaves, and in due time all the confederates assembled -at Ostia. Demetrius still pretended that he meant to stay at Rome, and -that he was merely sending out some trusted friends of his own age with -instructions to his brother. The captain of the ship, for his part, was -not disposed to be too particular in his inquiries about anything except -the money for the voyage; and towards night Demetrius and his companions -quietly embarked. At daybreak the anchors were raised, the vessel stood -out to sea, and the fugitives were free. (_Polybius_, bk. xxxi., frag. -xii.) - - - - -MARIUS. - -85 B.C. - - -When Marius felt himself menaced by Sylla’s march on Rome he tried to -raise the slaves in his favour, but on the failure of the attempt, he -took to flight, knowing that he had no mercy to expect from his rival, -whose friends he had so remorselessly slain. He had hardly left the city -when his attendants dispersed, and he was obliged to seek refuge alone -at Solonium, one of his country retreats. From this place he sent his -son to collect food in the grounds of his father-in-law, Mucius, which -were not far off. The hunted man at the same time hurried away to Ostia, -and without waiting for his son’s return, embarked with his son-in-law, -Granius, in a vessel kept in readiness for him by Numerius, one of his -friends. The young Marius had meanwhile got a store of provisions; but -at daybreak he was alarmed by the approach of the horsemen of Sylla, -whose suspicions had led them to the place. They were seen, however, at -a distance by Mucius’s faithful steward, who hid the youth in a cart -laden with beans, and harnessing his oxen to it, pushed boldly on before -the horsemen into the city. The fugitive was then conveyed to his wife’s -house, where he waited till nightfall, and then took ship, and reached -Africa in safety. - -The elder Marius had weighed anchor, and was carried along the coasts -of Italy by a favourable wind; but he ordered the sailors to stand off -from Terracina, because he feared his enemy Geminius, one of the -principal inhabitants of that place. They were in the act of obeying him -when a gale began to blow, which soon swelled to such a furious tempest -that it seemed impossible for the boat to live. This, joined to the -illness of Marius, who was prostrated by sea-sickness, obliged them to -make for the coast of Circæi, where they landed with great difficulty. - -They were scarcely a league from Minturnæ when they saw a troop of -horsemen approaching, and quite by chance perceived a couple of barks -afloat. They at once turned in terror from the horsemen, and plunged -into the sea to swim to the barks. Granius easily reached one of the -boats and made for the island of Enaria, situated opposite to this point -of the coast; but Marius, who was then seventy years of age, was dragged -with great difficulty towards the other by two slaves, and had hardly -been placed in it when his pursuers reached the bank and ordered the -sailors to row him ashore, or else to throw him overboard and go -wherever they pleased without him. Marius had recourse to supplications -and to tears, and his companions, after hesitating a little while, -refused to abandon him. But his enraged pursuers had hardly left the -shore when the sailors again changed their minds and steered towards the -land. They cast anchor at the mouth of the Liris (the Garigliano), the -waters of which formed a marsh, and they urged Marius to land in order -to take some nourishment and recover from his sea-sickness and to await -a more favourable wind. He confided in them and followed their advice; -and when they had put him ashore he hid himself in a meadow, little -thinking of what was to follow, for he had hardly left the vessel when -they weighed anchor again and left the place, as though thinking it -would neither be honest in them to deliver him to his enemies, nor safe -to try to save his life. - -Left thus alone and abandoned by all, Marius for a time lay stretched -upon the shore, without the power to rise or to utter a single word; but -at length, lifting himself up with difficulty, he began to totter -painfully along a pathless waste of land. After crossing several deep -marshes he came by chance to the cottage of an old labouring man, and -falling at his feet he besought him to save one who, if he escaped from -his present dangers, would have it in his power to bestow an unhoped-for -recompense upon his deliverer. The old man, either knowing him or -detecting something of his real importance in his bearing, replied that -if he wished for rest he might find it in the cottage, but if he sought -for safety from his enemies he would hide him in a more secret place. -Marius begged him to do so, and the peasant, leading him into the marsh, -told him to crouch in a hole on the bank of a river, and covered him up -with reeds and other light things, which effectually concealed him, -without oppressing him with their weight. - -He had not lain there long when he heard a slight uproar and the sound -of voices coming from the cottage. Geminius of Terracina had, in fact, -sent a number of people in pursuit of him, and some of them, who had -penetrated to that place, were trying to frighten the old man by -charging him with having harboured the enemy of Rome. Marius then -foolishly revealed himself by crawling out of his hiding-place and -plunging naked into the filthy waters of the marsh, where he was at once -seen by his pursuers. They dragged him out half suffocated and covered -with mud, and took him to Minturnæ, where the magistrates thought it -prudent to deliberate on his fate, although the decree ordering his -pursuit and immediate execution when captured had been published in all -the cities. They decided at last on placing him for safe custody in the -house of a woman named Fannia, whom he had formerly injured, and who, it -was thought, would be very evilly disposed towards him. Fannia, however, -on this occasion showed him no animosity; indeed, the sight of her -supposed enemy did not appear to recall one bitter feeling to her mind, -for she placed food before him and exhorted him to take courage. He told -her he had just seen a favourable omen and was full of confidence, and -ordered her to close the door of his chamber, as he wished for repose. - -Meanwhile, the authorities of Minturnæ had decided that he should be put -to death without delay, but not one citizen could be found to undertake -his execution. At length a horse-soldier--a Gaul according to some, and -according to others a Cimbrian--took a sword and entered the woman’s -dwelling. The room in which the captive lay was very badly lit, and was -indeed in almost total darkness; and the Cimbrian (so runs the story) -thought he saw two fierce eyes darting flames, and heard a terrible -voice calling to him out of the gloom, “Wretch! darest thou slay Caius -Marius?” At all events, he at once threw down his sword in terror and -ran away, exclaiming, as he leaped headlong over the threshold, “No, I -dare not kill Caius Marius.” The whole city was seized with -astonishment, and then with pity and repentance, and the people -reproached themselves for their cruel and ungrateful resolution against -a man who had saved Italy, and whom it had once been a crime to refuse -to aid. “Let him go where he will to meet his destiny,” they said; “and, -for our part, let us supplicate the gods to pardon us for having cast -him out naked and helpless from our midst.” - -A number of the citizens then went to Fannia’s house, and forming in -procession before the proscribed man led him to the sea. As each had -some useful thing to present to him for his journey, he lost some time -in receiving and acknowledging their attention, and this delay -threatened to be further prolonged by the fact that the sacred grove, -called Marica, lay in the way of their direct passage to the shore. An -old man, however, had the courage to enter the wood, observing that -where the safety of Marius was concerned there should be no forbidden -path, and the rest followed his example. On reaching the shore Marius -found a ship ready to receive him, which had been thoroughly equipped -and provisioned for his service by a citizen named Beleus. In this -manner he made his escape. - -He afterwards ordered all these incidents to be made the subject of a -grand picture, which he placed as an offering in the temple standing -near the place of his embarkation. - - - - -_ATTALUS._ - -SIXTH CENTURY. - - -Theodoric and Childebert entered into an alliance, took oath not to -march against one another, and mutually received hostages for the better -observance of the terms of their treaty. Among these hostages were many -of the sons of senators, who, when the kings unfortunately began to -quarrel again, were reduced to servitude, and became the slaves of those -in whose guardianship they had been placed. Many of them, however, -contrived to escape, and but a few - -[Illustration: Marius sent away from Minturnæ.] - -were kept in servitude for any length of time. Among the latter was -Attalus, nephew of Gregory, Bishop of Langres. He had been sold as a -slave to the State, and had been employed in the care of horses under a -certain barbarian in the district of Treves. Some servants of Bishop -Gregory, who had been sent in search of the youth, and had discovered -his whereabouts, tried to buy his freedom from the barbarian; but he -refused their modest offerings, on the ground that a person so -illustrious as his captive ought to pay at least ten pounds’ weight of -gold for his ransom. On the return of these emissaries, one of them -named Leon, employed in the bishop’s kitchen, said to his master, “God -grant that your lordship give me permission to make the attempt, and -perhaps I shall be able to redeem Attalus yet.” - -The bishop consented, and Leon set out for Treves. He tried at first to -get the young man away secretly, but this was impossible. He then -deliberately caused himself to be sold to the barbarian, offering the -price of the transaction as a reward to the man who had pretended to be -his owner. The buyer asked what the new slave could do. “I am a very -clever cook,” replied Leon; “I can serve everything fit for the table of -a great lord; and I don’t believe that my equal in this science is to be -found anywhere. I dare venture to say that if my master wanted to -entertain the king, he could not do better than order me to invent him a -right royal feast.” - -“Sunday is coming,” said the barbarian, “and on that day I am going to -invite my friends and relations. I want you to prepare a banquet for me -which will excite their admiration.” - -The Sunday came, and the new slave served one of his choicest repasts, -which so pleased his master that he at once took him into high favour, -and made him almost the second person in the household. At the end of -about a year he was so trusted that he was enabled one day, without -exciting suspicion, to walk after Attalus into a meadow near the house, -and to begin a conversation with him, though they took the precaution of -sitting back to back and at some distance from one another. “It is -time,” said Leon to the young man, “that we began to think of our -country; and I have come to you to give you warning not to go to sleep -to-night after you have put up your horses, but to be ready to leave -this place the moment you hear me call.” - -The barbarian was in the meanwhile feasting at his own table with a -number of his relations and a son-in-law, to whom he wished to do -especial honour. As they left the table at midnight to go to bed, Leon -followed this son-in-law to his apartment, and presented him with a cup -of wine. - -“You are very high in the confidence of my father-in-law,” said the -son-in-law, jocularly; “but, suppose you had the power, when would you -have the will to jump on the back of one of his horses, and make a dash -for your own country?” - -“I hope to do it to-night, please God,” said Leon, adopting the same -tone of pleasantry, with great self-possession. - -“Then, please God too,” returned the other, laughing, “my servants will -keep a sharp look out, for I must see that you don’t take away any -property of mine;” and they left one another in this pleasant way. - -When the whole household was asleep, Leon softly called Attalus, whose -horses were ready saddled, and asked him if he had a sword. “I have -nothing but a small spear,” said Attalus. - -Leon went straight into his master’s room, and took down his sword and -buckler, not without awakening him, however, for he called out to know -who was there. “Only Leon,” replied the slave; “I am going to wake -Attalus, to make sure of his being up in time to take the horses to -grass, for he is as sound asleep as a drunken man.” - -“Oh! is that all?” murmured the master; “very well,” and he turned over -and went to sleep again. - -Leon stole out, and gave the weapons to the young man; and, by nothing -less than a miracle, found the doors of the court-yard open, though they -had been closed at nightfall, with heavy iron wedges, for the better -security of the horses. They both gave thanks to God, and at once made -off, taking with them all the horses, and their few personal effects as -slaves. But at Moselle they were obliged to leave both horses and -effects behind for fear of awakening the suspicion of some persons they -overtook there; and once rid of these encumbrances, they easily gained -the opposite bank of the river by floating over on their bucklers. The -darkness favoured them; and they soon found shelter and concealment in a -forest. They stayed there till they had been three whole days and nights -without tasting food, till at length, by the special favour of -Providence, they found a plum-tree, the fruit of which served to satisfy -their more pressing and immediate wants. They then started with renewed -strength on their journey, and took the road to Champagne. They had not -gone far when they heard the sound of hoofs, and they hastily hid -themselves in a thicket of brier, taking care, however, to draw their -swords, so as to be ready to defend themselves in the last extremity. A -moment after a number of horsemen drew up at the thicket, and one of -them was heard to say, “Why cannot we find these wretches? I swear if I -came across them, I would hang the one and hack the other in pieces with -my sword.” It was the voice of the barbarian, their master, who had -ridden from Rheims in search of them, and who would certainly have found -them on the way if the darkness had not been in their favour. The troop -then pushed forward again, and the sound of their hoofs was soon lost in -the distance. - -The two fugitives resumed their journey, reached Rheims at nightfall, -and asked the first person they met in the city the way to the house of -the priest Pantellus. It was Sunday, and as they went through the great -square on their way to the house, the bell sounded for matins. When they -entered the priest’s dwelling, Leon disclosed to the good man the name -and rank of Attalus. “My dream is made out,” said the overjoyed father; -“for this very night in my sleep I saw two doves fly towards my -threshold, and perch upon my hand, and one of them was a white one and -the other black.” (The reader will bear in mind that Leon was a negro). -“God forgive us,” replied the slave, “for not paying due observance to -his holy day.” (On Sunday no one took nourishment till after mass.) “But -we entreat you give us something to eat, for this is the fourth time we -have seen the sun rise without breaking our fast.” - -The priest hid the two young men, gave them some bread steeped in wine, -and went to matins. - -The barbarian, by-and-by, appeared on the scene, still in hot and eager -pursuit of his slaves; but he had to go away again without them, for the -priest deliberately put him on a wrong scent, out of his great -friendship for Bishop Gregory. They then sat down to the uninterrupted -enjoyment of a good meal; and they remained two days with the good -priest until they had quite recruited their strength, and were enabled -to pursue their journey towards their own home, which they reached -without any further trouble. The bishop, transported with joy at the -sight of them, fell weeping on the neck of Attalus: and as a special -mark of his gratitude to the preserver of his nephew, he gave Leon and -all his family their freedom, with as much land as sufficed for their -subsistence for the rest of their days. (_Histoire Ecclésiastique des -Francs_, bk. iii., ch. xv., translated by M. Henri Bordier.) - -Attalus afterwards became Count of Autun. - - - - -_RICHARD, DUKE OF NORMANDY._ - -TENTH CENTURY. - - -After the assassination of William Longsword, Duke of Normandy, near -Pecquigny, on the Somme, his infant son Richard was called to the -succession. Louis d’Outre-Mer, who had fixed his eyes on the throne, -contrived to get the young prince in his power, and to have him sent to -Laon, under pretence of giving him an education suited to his rank. The -arch-plotter placed the child under the most rigorous espionage, and -treated him with great cruelty. He even threatened to hamstring his -innocent victim by fire, a frightful torture which the policy of the -Middle Ages did not disdain to use as a means for depriving princes of -their thrones. - -The young prince’s steward, Osmond, hearing of the king’s determination, -and foreseeing the terrible lot in store for the child, sent messengers -to apprise the Normans of the perilous position of their lord. The news -excited the utmost anxiety and alarm throughout all Normandy; and during -a three days’ fast of the entire people, the clergy prayed continually -for the safety of the captive. Osmond, meanwhile, by the advice of -Yvon, the father of William de Belesme, found an opportunity to advise -the young prince to pretend to be very ill, and to take to his bed as if -he never hoped to rise from it again. The child, understanding the -object of his steward’s instructions, showed great intelligence in -following them, and stretched himself at full length on his bed, to all -appearance at the point of death. This naturally had the effect of -making his guardians less vigilant, and they soon began to neglect their -charge of the seeming invalid to look after their own affairs. When -Osmond judged that the fitting moment had arrived, he went into the -courtyard of the prince’s house, and, putting the child in a bundle of -grass which he found there, hoisted him on his shoulders as if he were -going to carry fodder to his horse, and scaled the walls of the city -while the king sat at supper and the streets were almost deserted. He -then took horse, and in due time arrived at Conci, where he placed the -child in the care of the governor, himself pushing forward, till he -reached Senlis by the break of day. Count Bernard showed some surprise -at the sight of him, and made many eager inquiries about the safety of -the child; and when he had received a full account of all that had been -done, he rode away with the brave steward to ask help of Hugo the Great. -The appeal was not in vain. Hugo remembered an oath by which he had -engaged to protect the prince, and sent a large army to Conci, whence -the fugitive was conducted in state to Senlis, to the great joy of the -entire people. (_Guillaume de Jumièges: Histoire des Normands_, bk. iv., -ch. iv.) - - - - -_LOUIS II., COUNT OF FLANDERS._ - -1347. - - -When Louis II., Count of Flanders, had succeeded his father, Louis I., -in 1346, at the age of sixteen years, the Flemings wished him to marry -Isabella, daughter of the King of England, while Duke John of Brabant -and Philip VI. of Valois, King of France, had come to an understanding -to unite the young count to the daughter of Duke John. Louis II., on his -part, refused the marriage which his subjects wished to force on him, -“Being,” says Froissart, “unwilling to marry the daughter of the man who -had murdered his father, even if she brought him half the kingdom of -England for her portion.” “When the Flemings heard that,” the old -chronicler continues, “they said their lord was too much of a Frenchman, -and was badly advised, and that he would not do for them at all if he -did not mean to take their counsel. So they laid hands upon him, though -with all courtesy and tenderness, and put him into prison, telling him -he must remain there until he saw fit to do as they wished. - -“The young count was shut up by his subjects a long while, and he even -began to be in some danger, for his firmness provoked them. At last, -however, he gave way, or pretended to do so, and told those about him -that he would do as his people wished, since they were dearer to him -than any other. This rejoiced the Flemings mightily, and they at once -softened the excessive rigours of his captivity. They allowed him to -extend his walks as far as the river, to his great joy though he was -still attended by guards, who had orders never to leave him a moment out -of their sight. When this had lasted a pretty long while, the young -count seemed to yield absolutely, and told the Flemings that he was now -quite willing to marry the lady of their choice. They ran in great haste -with the news to the King and Queen of England, who were before Calais, -and signified to their majesties that if they would take their daughter -to the abbey of Bergues, the young count should be there to meet her, -and the preliminaries to the marriage should be at once concluded. This -arrangement was actually carried out; the young people were betrothed at -the abbey, and the Flemings once more took the count back to his prison -for safe keeping until the marriage. - -“The count,” continues Froissart, “still went down to the river every -day with his guards, but he pretended to look forward to the marriage -with so much joy that they did not think it needful to watch him half so -narrowly as before. But they did not quite know the temper of their -young lord, for submissive as he was to outward seeming, he was soon to -prove that he had at heart all the courage of a Frenchman. It wanted -scarcely a week to the day fixed for the marriage, when he went out one -morning to fly his falcon by the river. His falconer started one bird, -himself another; and when the two falcons were seen in hot pursuit of -the same prey, the count ran forward as if carried away by the -excitement of the chase, and encouraged them with his cries. This ruse -enabled him to reach the open fields without suspicion, and, once there, -he clapped spurs to his horse, and in an instant was lost to view. He -hardly paused till he came to Artois, where he felt safe, and he lost no -time in laying his case before King Philip and the French people, and -telling them by what a fine stratagem he had escaped from his own people -and the English. The King of France was greatly overjoyed, and told the -young man he had done more than well, and the French people said the -same. The poor English, on the contrary, seemed to think that he had -betrayed them.” (_Froissart’s Chronicles_, bk. i., ch. xxxi.) - - - - -_THE DUKE OF ALBANY._ - -FIFTEENTH CENTURY. - - -James III., King of Scotland, saw, not without misgiving, that his two -brothers, the Duke of Albany and the Earl of Mar, were greatly beloved -by his subjects; and this feeling was soon changed into one of positive -hate, thanks to the whisperings of certain evil counsellors who were -about his person. These wretches, well knowing the feeble nature they -had to deal with, threw the King into a very sickness of terror with -impossible stories of his brothers’ design against his crown and life. - -The Earl of Mar, they told him, had obtained a positive assurance from -certain sorcerers that his royal kinsman would die by the hand of a near -relation, and they brought a sorcerer of their own to the palace to say -that there was a lion in Scotland which would be torn in pieces by its -own whelps. This was enough for the king; his cowardly spirit was -frightened into energy and decision, and he ordered the arrest of his -brothers. Albany was thrown into Edinburgh Castle, but the fate of Mar -was determined on at once. He was suffocated in a bath, according to -some historians; or, according to others, bled to the last drop of his -blood. - -Albany was in great danger of the same miserable lot, but he had friends -both in France and in Scotland who were resolved not to let him perish -without making an effort to save his life. They were not long in forming -their plans. A little sloop sailed into Leith Roads with a cargo of -Gascony wines, of which two small casks were sent as a present to the -captive prince. The governor of the castle allowed them to be taken into -the chamber in which his prisoner was confined, and when the duke came -to dip into them, he found in one a ball of wax, containing a letter -urging him to escape and make his way to the water-side, where he would -find the little vessel waiting for him. In the other cask there was a -coil of rope, which would enable him to drop from the walls of his -prison to the rock on which the castle stands. His faithful chamberlain, -who shared his captivity, promised to aid him in the enterprise. - -The main point was to make sure of the captain of the guard. Albany, -therefore, invited this officer to sup with him under the pretext of -wishing to have his judgment on the wine. The invitation was accepted, -and the captain, having as usual posted his men with due circumspection, -led three of them into the duke’s room with him, and took his place at -table. - -The meal over, the duke proposed a game of _trictrac_, and took care -while it was going on to ply his guest freely with the wine, while his -chamberlain was no less attentive to the three soldiers. The drink, and -the heat of a great fire, near which they had artfully placed him, soon -made the officer very drowsy, and the men too began to nod their heads. - -Their time was come: the duke, who was a strong man, suddenly jumped up, -and with one blow of a poniard laid the captain dead at his feet. In -another moment he had despatched two of the soldiers; while the -chamberlain with his own dagger finished the third. Their work was the -easier to do as the drink and the fire together had almost stupefied -the poor wretches before a blow was struck. After they had taken the -keys out of the captain’s pockets, they threw the bodies on the fire, -and making their way to an out-of-the-way corner of the wails, began -their perilous descent. - -The chamberlain went down first to try the cord, but it was too short, -and he fell and broke his leg. He uttered no cry of pain, but simply -told his master the cause of the disaster. The duke went back to fetch -his bed-clothes, and finally made the descent in safety. His first care -was to provide for the injured man; and he did not bestow a thought on -himself till he had carried his faithful dependent to a hut where he -might remain in perfect security until his recovery. This done, he flew -to the sea-shore, and a boat answering to the hail--at the signal agreed -on--he boarded the sloop, which instantly set sail for France. - -During the night, the guards, who knew that their officer had three men -with him in the duke’s room, had no suspicion of what was passing. But -when at daybreak they saw the cord hanging from the wall, they took the -alarm, and rushed hastily into the apartment, when they stumbled over -the body of one soldier lying across the doorway, and saw those of the -captain and the two other men smouldering amid the dying embers in the -large fireplace. The King expressed much surprise at this extraordinary -escape, and he could not be brought to believe in it till he had seen -the place with his own eyes. (_Sir Walter Scott’s History of Scotland_, -vol. i., ch. xix.) - - - - -_JAMES V., KING OF SCOTLAND._ - -SIXTEENTH CENTURY. - - -Sir George Douglas and his brother, the Earl of Angus, who had married -Queen Margaret of Scotland, had obtained possession of the person of the -young King James V., then a child; and the Earl of Angus administered -the kingdom, and discharged all the functions of a regent without -assuming the title. In a word, these two lords manœuvred so as to -substitute their family for the reigning one upon the throne of -Scotland. Several attempts for the King’s deliverance had failed, and -even two great battles had been fought without success by the partisans -of James V. At the commencement of the second battle, George Douglas, -seeing that the King was eagerly watching an opportunity to escape, -said, “It is useless for your Grace to think of getting out of our -hands; if our enemies held you by one arm, and we by the other, we would -see you torn in pieces rather than loosen our grip.” To make quite sure -of their prize, they appointed a hundred chosen men to guard the -youthful monarch, commanded by one of their own family, Douglas of -Parkhead. - -Every attempt by open force having thus failed, James resolved to have -recourse to stratagem. He persuaded his mother, Queen Margaret, to give -up her castle of Stirling to him, and to place it under the command of a -gentleman in whom he had confidence. All this was done very secretly, -and the King, having thus prepared a possible retreat, began to seek an -opportunity of flying to it. The better to disarm the vigilance of the -Douglases, he showed such deference to the Earl of Angus, that people -began to think he had gone over to that nobleman’s party, and had become -resigned to the loss of his own liberty. He was then living at -Falkland, a royal residence very favourably situated for hunting and -falconry, his favourite amusements. - -The Earl of Angus and Archibald and George Douglas had all three left -Falkland on various errands of business or pleasure, and no one remained -near the King but Douglas of Parkhead, with the hundred men on whose -vigilance the family knew they could rely. James saw the moment was -favourable. To allay the suspicions of his guards, he announced his -intention of rising early on a certain morning to hunt the stag, and -Douglas of Parkhead never doubting that this was said in good faith, -went to bed after posting his sentinels in the usual manner. - -But the King no sooner found himself alone than he called his trusty -page, John Hart, and looking at him very earnestly, said, “John, do you -love me?” - -“More than I love myself,” replied the page. - -“And are you willing to risk everything for me?” - -“My life, if needs be,” replied the youth. - -The King then made him acquainted with his plan, and hastily putting on -a servant’s livery, went to the stables with him, as though to prepare -for the next day’s hunt. The guards, failing to recognise him in this -disguise, suffered him to pass without hindrance. The King had -previously taken another of his servants into his confidence, so that -when he and the page reached the stable they found three good horses, -ready saddled and bridled, awaiting them. - -James mounted at once with his two faithful servants and galloped all -night, light as a bird just escaped from its cage. At break of day he -passed the bridge of Stirling, and as there was no other means of -crossing the Forth than by this bridge or by a boat, he ordered the -gates which barred the passage to be closed against all comers, without -exception. He was very tired when he reached Stirling Castle, where he -was received with joy by the governor, whom, as we have seen, he had -himself been the means of placing in that fortress. The drawbridge was -raised, the portcullis lowered, the guards were doubled--in fact, every -possible precaution was taken that prudence could dictate. But the King -was so much afraid of again falling into the power of the Douglas, that -in spite of his fatigue, he refused to go to bed until he had himself -placed the keys of the castle under his pillow. - -There was great alarm at Falkland on the following morning. George -Douglas had returned on the very night of the King’s flight at about -eleven o’clock, and had at once asked for his prisoner. He was told that -James had gone to bed early, wishing to rise in good time for the hunt; -and he himself retired, perfectly satisfied that all was safe. But in -the morning he was destined to hear very different news, for a certain -Peter Carmichael, baillie of Abernethy, came rapping at his door, to ask -him if he knew where the King was at that moment. - -“He is asleep in his bedchamber,” said Sir George. - -“You are deceived,” replied Carmichael; “he passed over Stirling Bridge -last night.” - -Douglas, jumping out of bed, ran to the King’s room, knocked loudly, and -receiving no answer, broke open the door. Finding the apartment empty, -he cried, “Treason! the King is gone!” dispatched couriers to his -brothers, and sent out in every direction to call his partisans together -for the recapture of James. But the King had by this time proclaimed by -sound of trumpet that he would declare traitor every person bearing the -name of Douglas who should approach within twelve miles of his person, -or take any part in the administration of the kingdom. The Douglases -were obliged to submit, and from that time commenced the decay of their -house, for James could not be brought to pardon them. (_Sir Walter -Scott’s History of Scotland_, ch. xxiii.) - - - - -_SECUNDUS CURION._ - -SIXTEENTH CENTURY. - - -Cœlius Secundus Curion, a zealous Lutheran, having dared to give the -lie in open church to a Jacobin who had heaped on him the most odious -calumnies from the pulpit, was immediately arrested by order of the -inquisitor of Turin. He was dragged from prison to prison, but he at -last made his escape so cleverly that his enemies could only account for -it by accusing him of magic. In order to exculpate himself from an -accusation extremely dangerous at that time, he published an account of -his escape in a little Latin dialogue, entitled “Probus,” from which we -select the following passages for translation:-- - -“I had been shut up for eight days in my new prison,” says Curion, “with -my feet fastened to enormous pieces of wood, when, by nothing less than -a sudden inspiration from Heaven, I was urged to supplicate the young -man in charge of me to release me from at least one of my fetters. The -other, as I pointed out to him, would be quite heavy enough to ensure my -safe custody. As he was merciful, and bore no malice against me, he at -length suffered himself to be persuaded, and set one of my feet at -liberty. He had no sooner left me than I set to work to carry out a plan -I had already formed for my escape. I tore my shirt into shreds, and -taking off my stocking and slipper, stuffed them with these rags till I -had made a very fair model of a leg and foot. But though the form and -contour of the flesh were there, you had only to touch the new limb to -find that it was lamentably deficient in bone. What was to be done? I -looked about everywhere, till at last my eye lighted on a stick hidden -away under a settle. I seized it eagerly and soon fashioned bones for my -leg; and then, hiding my real limb under my cloak, I sat calmly awaiting -the success of my ruse. After a time the young man came in to pay me his -usual visit and to ask me how I did. ‘I should feel better,’ I said, -pointing to my dummy, ‘if you would kindly fasten this leg to the fetter -and let me give the other a rest.’ He consented, and chained up my false -limb with all imaginable care.” - -The rest is soon told. The prisoner waited till nightfall, and as soon -as he heard his attendants snoring, quietly parted company with his -fettered leg, undressed it, clothed himself again, and softly stole out -of his cell, which no one had taken the trouble to fasten on the -outside. Even then his difficulties were not at an end; but he at length -found means to scale the outer walls of his prison and to regain his -liberty. (_Ludovic Lalanne: Curiosities of Biography._) - - - - -_BENVENUTO CELLINI._ - -1538. - - -Benvenuto Cellini lived nearly twenty years at Rome, producing those -masterpieces of work in the precious metals which have immortalised his -name. He was high in favour with Clement VII., and was sought after and -entrusted with the most important commissions by the princes of the -Church and other great personages who visited the Eternal City. He had -won the especial regard of Clement by his courage in taking part in the -defence of the castle of St. Angelo when it was besieged by the army of -the Constable of Bourbon; and such was the confidence placed in him at -that time that all the costliest things among the Papal treasures were -given to him to be broken up, and he was allowed to hide the jewels for -safe keeping in his own clothes. He afterwards engraved for the same -Pope and his successor a series of coins, which have always been -considered by the best judges to rival the finest productions of -antiquity. But his was not the mild temper of the artist, nor was the -history of his studio all the history of his life. He was brutal and -ungovernable in his rage, and licentious in his love; and he was feared -and hated almost as much as he was admired, although an easy tolerance -of vice was the fashion of the time. A certain goldsmith, named Pompeo, -had incurred his enmity by trying to deprive him of the favour of -Clement VII.; and during the interregnum which followed the death of -that Pope, he stabbed the unfortunate artist in open day and in the very -midst of Rome. But he escaped the direct punishment due to this -atrocious crime, for Paul III., who succeeded to the Papal throne, not -only pardoned him, but gave him many important commissions. He was -actively engaged in these labours when he was threatened by a new -danger--probably the consequence of a former outrage. A workman accused -him of having stolen some of the jewels entrusted to his keeping during -the siege of Rome. Paul could afford to forgive the murder of a subject, -but he could not look so lightly on a theft by which he himself was -likely to be a sufferer, and he began to mistrust and to dislike -Cellini before he had given himself much pains to examine into the truth -of the accusation against him. Added to this, too, the artist had a -mortal foe near the person of his patron in Peter Louis Farnese, the son -of Paul. One such enemy would have been enough for his ruin; with two, -he could hardly fail to be utterly lost. - -“One morning,” says Cellini in his memoirs, “I put on my cloak to take a -short walk, and was turning down the Julian street to enter the quarter -called Chiavica, when Crispino, captain of the city guard, met me with -his whole band of sbirri, and told me roughly I was the Pope’s prisoner. -I answered him, ‘Crispino, you mistake your man.’ ‘By no means,’ said -Crispino, ‘you are the clever artist Benvenuto; I know you very well, -and have orders to conduct you to the Castle of St. Angelo, where -noblemen and men of genius like yourself are confined.’ As four of his -myrmidons were going to fall upon me and deprive me forcibly of a dagger -which I had by my side, and of the rings on my fingers, Crispino ordered -them not to offer to touch me. It was sufficient, he said, for them to -do their office and prevent me from making my escape. Then coming up to -me, he very politely demanded my arms. Whilst I was giving them up, I -recollected that it was in that very place that I had formerly killed -Pompeo. They conducted me to the castle, and locked me up in one of the -upper apartments of the tower. This was the first time I ever tasted the -inside of a prison; and I was then in my thirty-seventh year.” - -It was not difficult for Benvenuto to disprove the charges against him; -he was, nevertheless, kept in prison in spite of the good offices of -Montluc, the ambassador of France, who begged for his release, in the -name of Francis I. The governor of St. Angelo was a Florentine, and he -showed every attention to his unfortunate fellow-citizen, even allowing -him on parole a certain freedom of movement within the walls. But after -a time he shut him up closely again; and then once more restored him to -his state of partial liberty. - -“When I found,” says Benvenuto, “that I was being treated with so much -rigour, I reflected deeply on the matter; and I said to myself, ‘If this -man should again happen to take such a freak, and not choose to trust me -any longer, I should feel myself released from my word, and should make -a trial of my own skill.’ I then began to get my servants to bring me -new thick sheets, and did not send back the dirty ones; and when they -asked me for them, I told them that I had given them away to some of the -soldiers, but that they were not to speak about it or the poor fellows -would run the risk of being sent to the galleys. I hid my sheets in the -mattress that served me for a bed, and burnt the straw with which it was -stuffed, bit by bit, in my chimney, to make room for them. I then tore -them up into long bands, and when I had enough of these bands to reach -to the bottom of the tower, I told my servants I did not mean to give -away any more of my linen, adding that they were to bring me finer -sheets in future, and I would return them the dirty ones. - -“The constable of the castle had annually a certain disorder which -totally deprived him of his senses, and when the fit came on him he was -talkative to excess. Every year he had some different whim: at one time -he thought himself metamorphosed into a pitcher of oil; at another he -believed himself a frog, and began to leap around like one; and again he -imagined he was dead, and it was found necessary to humour him by making -a show of burying him. He had, in fact, a new mania every year. This -year he fancied himself a bat, - -[Illustration: I then tore them into long bands.] - -and when he went to take a walk he sometimes made just such a noise as -bats do, and made gestures with his hands and body as if he were going -to fly. The physicians, who knew his disorder, and his old servants -procured him all the amusements they could think of, and as they found -he took very great pleasure in my conversation, they often fetched me to -his apartments, where the poor man would chat with me for three or four -hours at a time. On one of these occasions he asked me whether I had -ever wished to fly. I answered that I had always been readiest to -attempt such things as men found most difficult, and that with regard to -flying, as God had given me a body admirably well calculated for -running, I had even resolution enough to attempt to fly. He then asked -me to explain how I proposed to do that. I replied that when I -attentively considered the several creatures that fly, and thought of -effecting by art what they do by the force of nature, I did not find one -so fit to imitate as the bat. As soon as the poor man heard mention made -of the bat, his mania for the year turning upon that animal, he cried -out aloud, ‘That’s very true; a bat is the thing.’ He then suddenly -turned to me and said, ‘Would you, Benvenuto, if you had the -opportunity, have the heart to make the attempt to fly?’ I answered that -if he would give me permission, I had courage enough to attempt to fly -as far as Prati by means of a pair of wings waxed over. ‘I should like -to see you fly,’ he returned, ‘but as the Pope has enjoined me to watch -over you with the utmost care, and I know that you have the cunning of -the devil, and would be glad of the opportunity to make your escape, I -mean to keep you locked up with a hundred keys to prevent you from -slipping out of my hands.’ I then began to supplicate him afresh, -reminding him that I had had it in my power to make my escape, but -would never avail myself of the opportunity through respect for the -promise I had given him. Whilst I was uttering these words he gave -peremptory orders that I should be bound, and confined a closer prisoner -than ever. - -“I at once began to think about the means of making my escape. As soon -as I was locked in, I made a careful examination of my prison, and -thinking that I had found a sure way out of it, I turned over several -plans for descending from the top of the great tower, where I was, to -the ground. At last, guessing the length of line which would about carry -me down, I took a new pair of sheets, cut them into the requisite number -of strips, and sewed them fast together. The next thing I wanted was a -pair of pincers, which I stole from a Savoyard on guard at the castle. -This man had the care of the casks and the cisterns, and likewise worked -as a carpenter; and as he had several pairs of pincers, and one amongst -others which was thick and large, I took it, thinking it would suit my -purpose, and laid it in the tick of my bed. When the time had come for -making use of the pincers, I began to pull at the nails fastening the -plates of iron fixed upon the door; and, as the door was double, the -clenching of those nails could not be perceived. I exerted my utmost -efforts to draw out one of them, and at last, with great difficulty -succeeded. As soon as I had drawn a few, I was again obliged to torture -my invention in order to devise some expedient to prevent the loss being -perceived. I immediately thought of mixing a little of the filings of -the rusty iron with wax; and, as this mixture was exactly of the colour -of the heads of the nails I had drawn, I counterfeited a resemblance of -them on the iron plates, and in this manner imitated in wax as many as -I drew. I left each of the plates fastened both at top and bottom, and -refixed them with some of the nails I had drawn; but the nails were cut, -and I drove them in only a little way, so that they just served to hold -the plates. I found it a very difficult matter to do all this, because -the governor dreamed every night that I had made my escape, and used to -send often to have the prison searched. The man who came on these visits -had the appearance and bearing of one of the city guards. His name was -Bozza, and he used to bring with him another, named John Pedignone; the -latter was a soldier, the former a servant. This Pedignone never came to -my room without giving me abusive language. The other one confined -himself to examining the plates of iron I have mentioned, as well as the -whole prison. I constantly said to him, ‘Look after me well, for I mean -to escape.’ These words once made him very angry with me, and I took -that opportunity of depositing all my tools--that is to say, my pincers -and a tolerably long dagger, with other things belonging to me--in the -tick of my bed, and of sweeping the room myself, as soon as it was -daylight, for I naturally delighted in cleanliness, and on this occasion -I took care to be particularly neat. As soon as I had swept the room I -made my bed with equal care, and adorned it with flowers which were -every morning brought me by the Savoyard. When Bozza and Pedignone came -near the bed, I told them angrily to keep away from it lest it should be -defiled by their touch; and afterwards, when merely to amuse themselves, -they tumbled the sheets, I added, ‘You dirty dogs, keep off, or I’ll -draw one of your swords and maul you as you were never mauled before! Do -you think your paws are fit to touch the bed of a man like me? If I made -up my mind to kill you, I should not in the least hesitate to sacrifice -my own life; so be warned in time; leave me to my own troubles and -sorrows, and do not add to the bitterness of my lot, or I will show you -what a desperate man can do.’ The men duly repeated all this to the -constable, who expressly ordered them never to go near my bed, to -unbuckle their swords before coming to my cell, and to be as careful as -possible in all other respects. The object of all this on my part was to -secure my bed from search, and I gained my point. - -“One holiday evening the constable was in a very bad way, and his mania -had risen to such a pitch that he did nothing but repeat that he had -become a bat. He told his attendants to take no notice if Benvenuto -should escape, for he would soon be caught by a bat so much better able -to fly by night than himself. ‘Benvenuto,’ the poor man was pleased to -add, ‘is a counterfeit bat; I am a real one; let me alone to manage him. -I’ll soon have him back again. I’ll be bound.’ He had continued in this -state for several nights, till he quite tried the patience of all his -servants, as I learned from my faithful Savoyard, who continued very -much attached to me. I had made up my mind to escape that night, let -what would happen, and I began by praying fervently to Almighty God that -it would please his Divine Majesty to befriend and assist me in my -hazardous enterprise. I then went to work, and was employed the whole -night in getting everything in readiness. Two hours before daybreak I -took the iron plates from the door, with great trouble and difficulty, -for the bolt and the wood that received it made a great resistance, so -that I could not open them, but was obliged to cut the wood. I, however, -at last forced the door; and having taken with me the slips of linen I -have mentioned, which I had rolled up in bundles with the utmost care, -I got out, and reached the right side of the tower, and leaped with the -utmost ease upon two tiles of the roof which I had observed from within. -I was in a white doublet, and had on a pair of white leggings, over -which I wore tight boots that reached half-way up my legs, and in one of -these I put my dagger. I then took the end of one of my bundles of long -slips, which I had made out of the sheets of my bed, and fastened it to -a tile that happened to jut out four inches, to which it hung like a -stirrup. I then again prayed to God in these terms: ‘Almighty God,. come -to my aid; for thou knowest that my cause is just, and that I aid -myself.’ Then letting myself go very gently,. and supporting myself by -the strength of my arms, I reached the ground. There was no moon, but -the night was clear. When I once more felt the earth beneath my feet, I -looked up with awe at the immense height from which I had made so -adventurous a descent, and I went forward very joyfully believing I was -free, though that was by no means the case. - -“The constable had built on this side of the castle two pretty high -walls, which enclosed his stables and his hen-houses, and which were -closed by doors with very strong bolts. Despairing of being able to -leave the place that way, I wandered on at hazard, reflecting on my sad -position, when my foot struck suddenly against a large pole covered with -straw. I reared it, though not without great difficulty, by the side of -the wall, and then by sheer strength of arm I climbed to the top of it, -and so reached the parapet. The end of the pole being firmly fixed in an -angle of the coping stone, I could not draw it up after me, but it -afforded me a secure fastening for my second band (I had been obliged to -leave the first hanging from my window in the tower), and by this means -I reached the ground on the other side of the wall, though with hands -torn and dripping with blood. I was very greatly fatigued, but after I -had rested a little I felt strong enough to attempt to surmount the last -wall looking towards Prati. I accordingly laid my roll of bands on the -ground for a moment, and was just about to throw one of them over a -battlement, when I saw a sentinel standing almost by my side. Feeling -that not only the success of my enterprise, but my very life was in -danger, I was preparing to attack the fellow, when he saved me the -trouble by taking to his heels as soon as he saw the glitter of the -poniard in my hand. I lost no time in getting back to my bands, and then -I saw another man on guard, but he appeared not to wish to notice me. I -fastened my band to the battlement; I clambered up the wall on one side, -and I slid down it on the other; but, whether from fatigue or from a -miscalculation as to the distance between my feet and the ground, I -opened my hands too soon, and fell head first to the earth with such -violence that I remained unconscious an hour and a half, as nearly as I -can judge. - -“The freshness of early morning brought me to myself, but I did not at -once recover my memory. It seemed to me that I had had my head cut off -and that I was in purgatory. But as my reason gradually came back, I saw -that I was outside the castle, and then I remembered all I had been -doing. I put my hands to my head, and found that it was covered with -blood. There was no serious wound upon my body, but on attempting to -raise myself, I found I had broken my right leg in three places at a -point about midway between the knee and the heel. Without in the least -losing courage, I drew my knife and its sheath from my boot. There was a -great ball at the end of the sheath, and this, pressing on the bone in -my fall, had caused the fracture. I threw the sheath away, and cutting -up what little of the band was left with the poniard, I set the leg as -best I could and knife in hand began to crawl slowly on my knees towards -the city gate. It was closed; but observing that one of the great stones -that formed the threshold was loose, I managed to pick it out, and to -squeeze my body through the aperture. It was more than five hundred -paces from the place where I had fallen to this gate. - -“I had hardly entered Rome when a number of prowling dogs rushed at me, -and tore me cruelly; but when they returned to the charge, I gave them a -taste of my poniard, and pricked one of them so vigorously that he -limped off with a hideous howl that damped the ardour of the rest. I -followed his example, so far as to leave that place, and I set out on my -knees for the church of the Traspontina. - -“When I came to the end of the street that turns down to St Angelo, I -directed my steps towards St Peter’s. It was broad day, and I ran some -risk of being discovered; so, seeing a water-carrier pass by leading a -heavily laden ass, I called out to him to take me on his shoulders and -carry me to St Peter’s market-place. ‘I am,’ said I, ‘a poor fellow who -has broken his leg in trying to preserve the honour of a lady. I had to -leap from a window to save myself from being cut to pieces, and I am -still in danger. Take me up then, I beg of you, and you shall have a -crown in gold for your trouble;’ and I put my hand to my purse, where I -carried a good number of these tempters. He at once lifted me in his -arms, and carried me to the market-place, where he left me very hastily, -and went back to find the ass. I then took to my hands and knees once -more, and slowly crawled towards the Duke Octavio’s house. The duchess, -his wife, was a daughter of the Emperor, and had - -[Illustration: Cellini attacked by the dogs.] - -been married to Duke Alexander of Florence. Many of my friends had -accompanied this great princess from Florence to Rome, and I knew that -she was extremely well disposed towards me. - -“I crawled, then, towards his Excellency’s house, where I felt certain -of finding safety. But, as the adventures I had gone through were too -wonderful for a mere mortal, God would not let me give myself up to the -vain glory which must have followed an absolute success, but mercifully -ordained for my good an affliction far more severe than any to which I -had yet been subjected. - -“While I was on my way to St. Peter’s market-place, I was recognised by -a servant of Cardinal Cornaro, who was lodged at the Vatican. The man -ran at once to his master’s bedroom, woke him, and said, ‘Benvenuto, -your protégé, is below; he has escaped from the castle, and he is -dragging himself along all covered with blood. He seems to have his leg -broken, and there is no saying where he is going.’ ‘Quick,’ said the -cardinal, ‘run and bring him to me--in this room.’ When I came before -him, he at once told me I had nothing to fear, and he sent for the best -surgeons in Rome to attend upon me. He also took care to have me placed -in a secret apartment; and having thus provided for my immediate wants, -he set out to demand, in person, my pardon of the Pope. - -“By this time there was a great stir in Rome, for the bands hanging from -the high tower had been discovered, and all the city ran to see this -incredible thing. - -“When Cardinal Cornaro reached the Vatican, he met Signor Roberto Pucci, -and related to him the details of my escape, and the fact that I was at -that moment hidden in his house. The two then went together to throw -themselves at the feet of the Pope; but before they could speak, his -Holiness said to them, ‘I know what it is you want of me.’ ‘Most holy -father,’ said Pucci, ‘we beg of you, for pity’s sake, to spare this poor -man. His talents entitle him to some consideration; and he has just -shown such courage and address as seem above humanity. We know not for -what offences your Holiness has had him put in prison, but if they are -at all pardonable, we entreat you to forget them for our sake.” - -“The Pope, somewhat ashamed, replied that he had sent me to prison -because I was too presumptuous; ‘But,’ he added, ‘his merit is very well -known, and we wish to keep him near us, to which end we will place him -beyond the necessity of returning to France. I am sorry that he is so -ill. Tell him to make haste to get well, and say that we will then give -him cause to forget all the miseries he has suffered.” - -“These two great personages duly brought me these good tidings on the -part of the Pope.” - - * * * * * - -The governor afterwards visited him, and asked if no one had aided him -in his flight. - -Cellini continues: “When he went back to the Pope, he gave him all the -particulars of my escape, as he had heard them from me, to the -astonishment of every one present. ‘It is truly something prodigious,’ -said the Pope. ‘Most holy father,’ replied my old enemy, the Signor -Peter Louis Farnese, ‘he will do many other things equally prodigious -for you, if you set him at liberty, for he is one of the most audacious -of men. I will give you a proof of it, of which perhaps you have not yet -heard. Before you shut him up in the Castle of St. Angelo, this same -Benvenuto, having had some words with one of the Cardinal Santa Fiore’s -gentlemen, threatened to strike him; and the cardinal hearing of the -affair, said that if the arch-fool attempted to carry out his threat, he -would cure him once for all. The words were repeated to Benvenuto, and -the cardinal’s palace being in front of his studio, he took his musket -one day when he saw his Eminence at the window, and was just going to -shoot him, when his intended victim happened to be warned in time and -withdrew. He can put a ball in the centre of a farthing with that -musket; and when he saw that the cardinal had escaped him, he coolly -blew off the head of a pigeon perched on the opposite roof, to give his -enemies a proof of his skill. But let your Holiness do what you please -with him; I, at least, have warned you. The man is quite capable, if he -thought himself unjustly treated, of firing upon even you. He has a -character of the utmost ferocity, and he stops at nothing. Remember, he -ran his dagger twice into Pompeo’s throat, although the poor wretch was -in the midst of ten men appointed expressly to guard him. One of Santa -Fiore’s gentlemen was present, and confirmed what the Pope’s son had -said. - -“The Pope was still under the unfortunate impression produced by these -words when, two days after the above conversation, Cardinal Cornaro came -to ask him for a bishopric for one of his gentlemen, André Centano. The -Pope had, in fact, promised him the bishopric; and, as one was now -vacant, the cardinal reminded him of his word. ‘It is true,’ said his -Holiness, ‘I have promised you a bishopric, and you shall have one; but -I have one favour to ask in return--let me have Benvenuto again.’ ‘Most -holy father,’ replied the cardinal, ‘you have for my sake consented to -his pardon and his liberty, what will the world say of both of us?’ ‘You -want your bishopric,’ replied the Pope, ‘and I want my Benvenuto: let -the world say what it pleases.’ ‘Give me my bishopric,’ said the good -cardinal, ‘and for the rest your Holiness yourself shall be the judge of -what ought to be, and what can be done.’ ‘I will send for Benvenuto,’ -said the Pope, somewhat ashamed of breaking his word, ‘and I will put -him in one of the lower apartments of my private garden, where he will -want for nothing that can aid his recovery. His friends may come and see -him, and I will bear the entire cost of his living myself.’ - -“The cardinal returned to his apartments, and sent to tell me through -Signor André that the Pope wished to have me once more in his power, but -that I should be lodged in his private garden, and should be free to see -any one I pleased. I implored André to ask the cardinal not to give me -up, but rather to let me have myself taken at once to a safe place I -knew of outside Rome, for that to put me in the power of the Pope would -be to send me to death. - -“The cardinal would, I believe, have aided me to carry out this plan; -but Signor André, who did not like to give up his bishopric, caused the -Pope to be acquainted with the whole affair, and I was immediately -ordered into custody.” - -Cellini was well treated for a time in his new prison. He was afterwards -sent to Torre di Nova, and from thence he was taken back again to the -Castle of St. Angelo. The mad governor, incensed with a prisoner who had -dared to brave him, threw the unfortunate artist into a subterranean -cell, which only admitted the sun’s rays for about an hour and a half -each day. He remained there four months, with nothing to occupy his time -but the reading of the Bible and the Chronicles of Villani, which had -been sent to him by his tormentor. This poor maniac felt that he was -dying; and attributing his death to Benvenuto, he sometimes redoubled -his cruelty towards him, though at others he treated him with greater -tenderness. He had him removed from his first dungeon to another and a -deeper one, particularly famed since a certain preacher named Foiano had -died there of starvation. Meanwhile Montluc, the ambassador of France, -had very energetically demanded Cellini’s liberty, in the name of his -master, Francis I., and after a time, the governor, whose reason was -restored a few days before his death, also urged his release. At length -Cardinal Ferrara, on his arrival from France, went to pay his respects -to the Pope, who kept him to dinner, “Thinking,” says Cellini, “that a -good meal loosens the tongue, and wishing to hear his Eminence talk on -several important subjects.” The cardinal, an accomplished diplomatist, -accepted the invitation, and entertained the Pope with the pleasures and -the amusements of the Court of France, till he saw that he had put his -Holiness into an excellent humour, when he implored him in the name of -the King to pardon Cellini. The Pope consented, and said to him with a -loud burst of laughter, “Take him away at once with you.” The necessary -orders were given, and without so much as waiting for the morrow, the -cardinal sent immediately for Cellini, who left the Castle of St. -Angelo, never to return to it again. - - - - -_MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS._ - -1568. - - -When the confederate Scotch lords had taken Mary Stuart prisoner after -her defeat at Carberry Hill, and had resolved to dethrone her, they sent -her for safe custody to the castle of Loch Leven, situate on a small -island in the middle of the lake of that name. They chose this gloomy -place, not only because it was nearly inaccessible, but because the -hapless lady would there be in the keeping of that most watchful of all -gaolers, a mortal enemy. Margaret Erskine, mother of William Douglas, -the owner of the castle, had had a son by James V., whom it pleased her -to regard as the legitimate heir to the throne of Scotland, and she -hated Mary as an obstacle to her schemes of ambition. Religious -differences intensified this feeling, for Margaret was a zealous -Presbyterian. In short, her character, her faith, her family pride, and -the natural harshness of her temper, all conspired to make her an -inexorable guardian of the unfortunate Queen. - -After Mary had been compelled by violence to renounce the crown in -favour of her son, she was placed in the most rigorous confinement, the -strictest watch being kept over her to prevent her, not only from -effecting her escape, but from holding any sort of communication with -the outer world. Many of the sovereigns of Europe were well disposed -towards her, but she was not allowed to write to her friends, though she -sometimes found an opportunity of doing so while the daughters of -Margaret, who shared her chamber, were asleep, or at their meals. The -cruelty of these restraints defeated their end, for it touched the very -son her gaoler, George Douglas, with compassion for the captive Queen, -and led him to form a plan for her escape. But his first attempt to aid -her was unsuccessful. It was arranged that the Queen should leave the -castle in the dress of the laundress who brought her linen to Loch -Leven, and that George Douglas and a number of his partisans should be -ready to receive her as soon she had crossed the lake. The appointed -day came; the young man was at his post, and the Queen, thanks to her -disguise, had actually got clear of the castle, and reached the boat, -when one of the boatmen, struck by the figure of the pretended -laundress, attempted to lift her veil, and the hasty gesture with which -the Queen resisted his touch, revealed a hand too white and too -delicately formed to be that of a hard-working girl. The man at once -guessed her real rank, but even at that moment Mary did not lose her -presence of mind. She declared her name and title, and ordered him, on -pain of death, to row her across the lake. The name of Margaret Erskine -had, however, greater terror for the fellow than that of Mary Stuart; -and the Queen was taken back to captivity again. - -As the penalty of this unfortunate attempt of the 25th March, George -Douglas was sent away from the island. This did not, however, make him -one whit the less eager to succeed in his noble design; and he confided -the Queen to the care of one who was equally devoted to her--his -brother, a youth of fifteen or sixteen, called the “Little Douglas,” and -employed as page to his mother. - -Mary was, of course, made to suffer more heavily, and every fresh -precaution against her escape took the form of a new torture. Her life -became almost unendurable. She wrote to Elizabeth, to Catherine de’ -Medicis, and to Charles IX., supplicating them for aid, but before any -of them could move in her favour other help was at hand. George Douglas -had never forgotten his promise to set her free. He used the liberty -gained by his banishment from the castle in extending the circle of her -friends. He engaged the powerful families of the Seatons and the -Hamiltons in her cause, and with their aid formed a more carefully -prepared plan than the last for her escape. It was arranged that on a -given night they should be waiting for her where he had formerly waited. -The page, young Douglas, undertook the rest. Sunday, the 2nd May, 1568, -was the day fixed for the execution of the project. The whole household -at Loch Leven took their meals in a common hall; and while they were -together the keys of the fortress were placed on the table by the -governor’s side. At supper time on the appointed night the young page -watched his opportunity; and while he held out his plate to be filled, -he contrived to get possession of the keys without being for the moment -observed. He at once ran to Mary’s chamber and released her, and then -led her to the boat, locking every door behind him on his way to -diminish the chances of pursuit. He then threw the keys into the lake, -and took the oars, after handing the Queen and her waiting-woman into -their seats, and pulled vigorously for the shore. Before leaving the -castle he had placed a signal light in one of the windows, so that when -the Queen stepped from the boat she found her friends waiting to receive -her. She at once took horse, and accompanied by Lord Seaton, galloped -hard for that nobleman’s house at Niddry, in East Lothian, whence after -a few hours’ repose she made her way to the more strongly fortified -castle of the Hamiltons. She was received there by the Archbishop St. -Andrew’s and Lord Claude, who had gone out to meet her with fifty -horses. The news of this escape, according to Scott, spread through -Scotland with the rapidity of lightning, and the Queen was greeted -everywhere with enthusiasm. The people remembered her affability, her -grace, her beauty, and her misfortunes; and if they remembered her -errors too, it was only to say that she had been punished for them too -severely. On Sunday Mary had been a sad captive, abandoned to her -enemies in a solitary tower; and on the Saturday - -[Illustration: Escape of Mary, Queen of Scots, from Loch Leven -Castle.] - -following she found herself at the head of a powerful confederation, in -which nine counts, eight lords, nine bishops, and a great number of -gentlemen of the highest rank were engaged to defend her and to restore -her to her throne. But this ray of hope only illumined her sombre -destiny for an instant. - -The keys thrown into the lake by the page were found by a fisherman in -1805, and are now placed at Kinross. The place where the fugitive Queen -landed, on the southern shore of the lake, is still called Mary’s Knoll. - - - - -_CAUMONT DE LA FORCE._ - -1572. - - -During the massacre of St. Bartholomew the murderers found their way -into the Rue de la Seine, where lived Monsieur de la Force and his two -sons, who were noted for their courageous profession of the condemned -doctrines. Monsieur de la Force was strongly urged by his brother to -escape, but he refused, because his eldest son, who had been very ill, -was not yet able to travel, and he would not leave him behind. He had -barely taken his heroic resolution before he was surrounded and made -prisoner by a band of zealots, red-handed from the work of death. They -threatened him, but desisted for a time when he offered their chief two -thousand crowns of ransom. He was then led away with his two sons to a -house in the Rue des Petits-Champs, and left there in the custody of two -Swiss soldiers, after he had given his solemn word of honour that he -would not try to escape. The soldiers felt some pity for the hapless -gentleman, and gave him to understand that they would not stand in the -way of his flight; but he was a slave to his word, and he refused either -to move himself or to allow even his youngest son to be taken to a place -of safety. - -On the next day, according to the Memoirs of La Force, Count Coconas, -with a party of fifty soldiers, came to the house in the Rue des -Petits-Champs, and told Monsieur de la Force that he had come to fetch -him by order of Monsieur the King’s brother. There was a purposed -vagueness in the words which did not escape the unhappy gentleman’s -notice, and he asked where he was to be taken, at the same time -beginning to make some few alterations in his dress, as if he thought it -best to pretend to believe what he had heard. But Coconas spared him -this trouble, and at the same time relieved himself of the irksomeness -of concealment, by tearing hat and cloak out of his hands before he -could put them on. Then both father and sons knew what was intended for -them, and began to prepare their minds for death. It soon became evident -that they were not being conducted to the apartments of Monsieur in the -Louvre; but when De la Force pointed this out to the escort, and -complained bitterly of the breach of faith towards him after his offer -of ransom had been accepted, they answered not a word, but pushed their -victims on towards the slaughterhouse. - -The father, bareheaded and without his cloak, walked first; the sons, in -the same half-naked condition, followed--the elder, who could scarcely -move, but to whom terror had given a little strength, being second; and -the younger the last in the dismal column. In this way they were taken -the entire length of the Rue des Petits-Champs, until they came to the -rampart, when the officer in charge, without a word of warning, called -out, “Kill! kill!” and in an instant, a circle of soldiers was formed -round the victims, and the daggers were at work. The eldest son fell -first with the cry, “O my God, I am dead!” The father, turning -instinctively to help him, was struck as he was bending over the body, -and fell across him--his shield even in death. The youngest son, by -nothing less than a miracle of presence of mind, repeated his brother’s -cry before a single dagger had reached him, and fell with the others, -though his skin was not so much as scratched. But his body was covered -all over with the blood that welled from their wounds, and the assassins -stripped him almost naked without once suspecting that he had not -received a mortal thrust. When they had treated all their victims in -this way, they left their naked and still warm bodies with the -contemptuous expression, “There they lie, all three.” - -The eldest son was quite dead; his diseased frame had probably offered -no resistance to the shock of the first blow; the father was mortally -wounded, but he lay a long while gasping out his life, while the frame -of his youngest and unhurt child, who had nestled close to him the -better to feign death, vibrated to every shudder. The child was, of -course, quite conscious, and perhaps his position was the more pitiable -of the two, for he lay side by side with death, or worse than death, -without daring to stir or to utter a single cry of horror, lest he -should bring the assassins back. He remained in this sickening -companionship till about four in the afternoon, when some persons crept -out of the neighbouring houses to look at the bodies and secure what few -valuables the soldiers had left behind. One of these marauders, a marker -at tennis, in taking off the stockings of the living child, turned him -over with his face to the sky, with the exclamation, “Alas! poor little -one, what harm has he done?” “I am not dead,” whispered young Caumont, -raising himself gently: “pray, pray, save my life!” - -“Hush!” said the man; “keep quiet: they are still there,” and pointing -to a group of the murderers who were still hovering about the place, he -went away, but returned after a little while, when the coast was clear, -and told the child to get up. He had brought a tattered, dirty cloak -with him, which he threw over Caumont’s naked shoulders; and in this -guise of poverty and wretchedness he drove the child before him through -the streets, pretending that he was chastising a runaway nephew who had -sold his clothes. By this ruse he contrived to pass almost unquestioned -through several groups both of citizens and of soldiers, and to lead the -boy to the miserable garret in which he and his family lived. - -Caumont hid himself for a while in the straw of the marker’s bed, and -tried to get a little sleep. In the meantime the man had observed that -he wore several rings of great value; and he asked for them in return -for his hospitality as soon as the child awoke. Caumont unhesitatingly -drew them one by one off his fingers with the exception of a certain -diamond, which had been his mother’s gift; and in answer to a question -by the marker’s wife, he told her why he wished to keep it. The woman -angrily replied that he ought to grudge nothing to persons who had shown -him so much kindness, and who could not afford to be out of pocket by -their good actions; and the child knowing how much he was in their -power, reluctantly yielded up the coveted reward. She then gave him a -meal of very unpalatable food, and her husband offered to guide him to -any place of safety he might select. The child at first chose the -Louvre, where his sister, Madame de Larchant, was near - -[Illustration: “Hush!” said the man, “keep quiet, they are still -there.”] - -the person of the Queen; but the man positively refused to take him -there on account of the great risk of his being recognised by some of -the guards. “Take me to the arsenal then,” said young De Caumont, “to -the house of Madame de Brisambourg, my aunt.” “Agreed,” replied the -tennis-marker; “it is a long way, but we will go round by the ramparts, -and perhaps we shall be so lucky as not to meet a single person on the -road.” - -Early the next morning little Caumont, once more disguised in the -dirtiest garments, and wearing a red hat bearing a leaden cross, set out -with the tennis-marker for the arsenal, which they reached without any -noteworthy incident. At the outer gate, Caumont told his guide to go no -farther, but to wait until some one should return to him with the dress -and thirty crowns. The child at the same time stood ready to enter the -arsenal, but he could not summon up courage to call out to the soldiers -to open the gate. At length, however, some one came out, and he passed -in without having to submit to the dreaded scrutiny. He traversed the -first court, and saw several people whom he thought he knew; but he was -so effectually concealed in his rags that none of them had a moment’s -suspicion of his real identity. - -In the massacre in which Caumont had so narrowly escaped death, a page -named La Vigerie, and called L’Auvergnat, to distinguish him from a -namesake, had met with an equally miraculous preservation. He was with -M. de la Force and his two sons in the house in the Rue des -Petits-Champs when the Count de Coconas and his party arrived; and he -was about to follow his master, when one of the Swiss soldiers said to -him, “Look out for yourself; they are going to be killed.” He -accordingly stayed behind; and as soon as the party had left he stole -quietly out of the house, and followed them at a distance without -attracting notice, for he wore the livery of the Count de la Marck, one -of the chiefs of the massacre. He watched the assassins at their bloody -work, and then hurried away to Madame de Brisambourg at the arsenal, -with the news of her brother-in-law’s death. He was kindly received, and -though the lady was well-nigh overwhelmed with grief, she took ample -measures to provide for his safety. - -The young De la Force had stood for some time trembling before Madame de -Brisambourg’s door, when it was opened from within, and he saw this page -standing in the entry. He called out to him, but in so weak a voice that -he was not heard, and the door was closed again. But shortly after it -opened a second time, and then he made himself heard, calling out two or -three times in the energy of his misery and his despair, “Auvergnat! -Auvergnat!” The page ran out, and for a time failed to recognise his -young master in the dirty and ill-dressed little boy who began to appeal -to him for protection. “Do you not know me, Auvergnat?” inquired the -child, looking him full in the face. The Auvergnat returned his gaze, -and when at length he found out who it was, his astonishment at this -return to life of one slain, as he thought, before his very eyes was -almost ludicrous to witness. He at once seized Caumont by the hand, and -hurried away with him to a gentleman of the household, by whom he was -taken to Madame de Brisambourg. The lady fell on his neck, and for some -time could not speak for sobs. - -When she was a little recovered Caumont told her his story, and her -first care was to have his dress changed, and to send back the bundle of -dirty clothes with the promised reward of thirty crowns to the -tennis-marker at the outer gate. She then had him put to bed in the -room occupied by her waiting-women. After he had slept a little he got -up, and dressing himself, by his aunt’s direction, in the livery of the -Marshal de Biron, Grand Master of the Artillery, was taken to see that -nobleman, and allowed to enter his service as a page, with the Auvergnat -for a play-fellow. - -He had not been more than two days in the marshal’s apartments when word -was brought that the King had heard of fugitives being concealed there, -and had directed that the place should be searched. The marshal was -greatly incensed, and he ordered four pieces of cannon to be pointed -against the principal gate of the arsenal, to repel any attempt at -intrusion. Whatever truth there may have been in this particular rumour, -the Queen-mother had certainly heard of the escape and concealment of -young De la Force; for a very few days after his arrival at the arsenal, -she sent a gentleman to the marshal’s apartments, at the instance of a -certain M. de Larchant, to demand him. While this messenger was -discharging his errand, the child was hurried away into the room of the -marshal’s daughters, and concealed between two beds, on which a few -farthingales were thrown with such an appearance of carelessness that no -one would ever have thought of looking for a fugitive there. When all -was ready, the gentleman was invited to begin his search, and he passed -through all the rooms without finding the boy. He then returned to the -Louvre, with the tidings that the Queen had been deceived by a false -rumour, greatly to the disgust and disappointment of M. de Larchant, for -it was this person in effect who had mainly instigated the Queen-mother -to order the search. He was actuated by the very vilest motives, being -next heir after the three De la Forces to a very considerable property. -His influence was all-powerful at the palace; and but for this -circumstance it is more than probable that none of that family would -have been marked for destruction at the massacre. - -When the Queen’s gentleman had gone, young Caumont crept out from -between the beds and went back to his old place of concealment in the -marshal’s apartments. But it was not considered prudent to let him -remain there, and the very next day, M. de Born, Lieutenant-general of -the Artillery, and a friend of his aunt, took him very secretly to his -own lodgings, where they breakfasted. M. de Born then told him that he -was to enter the service of M. Guillon, Controller of the Artillery, as -page, and that when asked his name he was to say he was son of M. de -Beaupuy, a lieutenant under the Marshal de Biron. He at the same time -cautioned him particularly against leaving the house when in M. -Guillon’s service, and against talking, lest he should by some chance -word betray the secret of his identity. The poor child promised -faithfully to observe all these directions, and was led away to the -controller’s house, trotting by the side of his new protector, who was -on horseback because he had a wooden leg, and could not walk without -pain. - -Arrived at the house, M. de Born delivered the child over to the -controller, in a speech full of praises of his friend’s goodness of -heart, and lamentations about the disturbed state of the country, which -made it very difficult for persons who had the care of young children -and such helpless folk to know how best to provide for their security. -M. Guillon listened, and readily undertook the charge of young De -Beaupuy, as Caumont was called. This was done simply out of his -friendship for M. de Born, for the two had been long acquainted; and the -fact that, notwithstanding this intimacy, De Born did not think fit to -entrust him with the whole secret, may serve to show in what extreme -peril the young fugitive was judged to be. Guillon guessed it, -nevertheless, from the evident anxiety of his friend, or at least he had -a pretty shrewd suspicion that he had not heard all the truth. - -Caumont had been some seven or eight days with the controller, and had -not failed to do everything M. de Born had told him. His master came -home every day to dinner, and it was the new page’s business to let him -in; but one day opening the door in answer to a knock at the usual hour, -Caumont was surprised to see, in place of M. Guillon, a person he had -formerly known. He hastily shut the door in great terror; but the new -comer only knocked more loudly than before, and called out that he had a -very urgent message to deliver from Madame de Brisambourg. When he had -thus gained admittance, he told the child that Madame de Brisambourg had -sent him to say that she was in great trouble about her nephew, and -wished to have news of him. This said he went away, and the terrified -boy still suspecting him, jumped on horseback immediately, and rode to -M. de Born to tell him what had happened. M. de Born took him to Madame -de Brisambourg for an explanation, but the lady was equally astonished -with himself, and said that no messenger had been sent by her. - -The peril was immediate, and a council of the child’s friends was held -without delay. It was seen that in the neighbourhood in which he then -was, the safety of the little fugitive could no longer be reckoned on, -and it was resolved to dispatch him into a distant part of the country. -The marshal was accordingly prevailed on to apply to the King for a -passport for his house-steward, whom he was sending with a page to -Guyenne, to look after his affairs in that province. The request was -granted; a trusty gentleman of the marshal’s personated the -house-steward, and the page was, of course, no other than the poor -hunted child. They set out, and thanks to M. de Born, passed safely -through the gates of Paris; but when they were about a two days’ journey -from the capital, the child was horrified at the sight of a fellow -wearing his father’s dressing-gown, whom he recognised as one of the -executioners of the Rue des Petits-Champs. The wretch was boasting of -his exploits, but some chance words dropped by him acquainted Caumont -with the fact that his uncle, with about a hundred of his gentlemen, had -escaped the massacre. Farther on their guide put them all in great peril -by his imprudence, in publicly condemning the massacre in a little inn -in which they stayed. At length, after having escaped many dangers, they -arrived on the eighth day of their journey at the chateau of -Castelnaut-des-Mirandes, in Guyenne, where the child was received in the -arms of his uncle, with every demonstration of gratitude and joy, and -where he found plenty, peace, and security awaiting him after all his -troubles. (_Memoirs of Caumont de la Force._) - - - - -_CHARLES DE GUISE._ - -1591. - - -Charles de Guise, eldest Son of Henry de Guise, who was assassinated at -Blois, was arrested at the death of his father, in 1588, and confined in -the chateau of Tours. He remained there three years (till 1591) before -he could make his escape. - -“The duke,” says the president De Thou, had taken counsel with Claude de -la Chastre and his son, and had resolved to make an effort for liberty -on August 15th, the fête of the Virgin. He took the communion on that -day, in order to deceive his guards and to remove all suspicion of his -intention from their minds. He had remarked that it was their custom to -close the doors after dinner, and to take the keys to the sheriff. On -August 15th, accordingly, when the men were seated at their meal in the -large hall, he quietly locked them in, and ran with great speed to the -top of a high tower which lay nearest to the bridge beyond the city, -first taking care to bolt the door behind him. - -“Everything succeeded according to his wish. His trusty valet, who aided -him on the occasion, was waiting for him at the top of the tower, -holding a cord in his hand, with a piece of wood tied transversely to -the end of it, to form a seat for the duke and facilitate his descent. -When all was ready the valet let the cord go gently, and his master -reached the ground in safety. The man then fastened the rope firmly to a -stake, and at greater peril followed the duke, who had already hurried -away along the course of the river, and whom he did not overtake till he -reached Saint-Côme. - -“The guards were in great consternation. Rouvray, the Governor of Tours, -sent the news of the escape in all directions, with orders to the -neighbouring population to take up arms and put themselves on the track -of the fugitives. He had previously broken open the door of the tower; -but the men employed in the work, finding no traces of their former -prisoner, joined their companions, who were running wildly about the -city. A great deal of time was wasted in the search for the keys of the -bridge gate and the various doors of the chateau, for all the doors -were opened at hazard, as it was not known what direction the fugitives -had taken.” - -“As soon as the duke reached the ground,” says Davila, “he took the road -into the country by the Loire, and soon found two men holding a horse -ready for him to mount. Galloping hard, he presently joined the Baron de -Maison, son of the Lord de la Chastre, who, with three hundred horsemen, -attended him beyond the Cher, and who sent the escort on with him to -Bourges, where he not only found safety but was received with every -demonstration of joy.” (_Ludovic Lalanne: Curiosities of Biography._) - - - - -_MARY DE’ MEDICIS._ - -1619. - - -Mary de’ Medicis, after the assassination of her favourite, Concini, -seeing herself shut out from all participation in affairs by the -intrigues of Luynes, asked for and obtained permission to retire to -Blois (May, 1617), where she soon became a prisoner. Luynes surrounded -her with spies, and placed two companies of cavalry in the neighbouring -villages, with orders to watch her slightest movements. But the Duke -d’Épernon and other malcontent lords, who had retired from the court, -wishing to give more importance to their party, sought to deliver the -Queen-mother and to place her at their head. - -M. d’Épernon was chiefly urged on to this enterprise by a devoted -adherent of the Queen-mother, named De Ruccellai, who had no other -thought than how to serve his mistress, and no other inspiration than a -passionate desire to see her at liberty. After long meditation over -various plans, Ruccellai thought that no person could be made so useful -to him as M. de Bouillon, on account both of that nobleman’s reputation -among all classes of his countrymen, particularly among the Huguenots, -and of the security which was afforded by his retreat at Sedan. He -accordingly made a secret journey to Blois, and obtained the -Queen-mother’s permission to speak to M. de Bouillon, and to promise him -whatever might be necessary, in her name. He then sought out M. de -Bouillon, but at very great peril, for he was obliged to travel by night -and alone, for fear of being discovered. M. de Bouillon, however, -excused himself from all participation in the design on account of his -age, his infirmities, and his good understanding with the King, which he -was unwilling to risk, as he had no other wish than to enjoy the -benefits of that mercy which had been extended to him after the death of -Marshal d’Ancre, and to end his days in peace. He, however, referred the -Queen-mother’s messenger to M. d’Épernon, who, being extremely -ill-satisfied with De Luynes, and having, besides, a number of large -establishments in the kingdom, would be likely to prove far more -serviceable in the cause than himself. - -Ruccellai, having written to the Queen-mother and obtained her consent -to this change of plan, laid his proposals before M. d’Épernon. The -latter at first received them with some suspicion, but he was finally -won over. At the end of a secret conference at his house, which lasted -several days, he authorised Ruccellai to tell the Queen that if she -could once contrive to escape from the chateau, and to pass the bridge -on the Loire, he would await her arrival on the other side of the river, -with such an escort as would conduct her safely, in spite of every -obstacle, to Angoulême, or any other part of the kingdom to which she -might choose to go. The Queen replied that nothing would be more easy; -and Ruccellai pressed D’Épernon to hasten the execution of his part of -the plan; but the latter insisted on putting off the enterprise till the -February of the following year. - -De Luynes, ever suspicious, and wishing to discover the real feelings of -the Queen, sent one of his creatures to her, to say that the King was -shortly going to Blois, and that he would fetch her away with him. The -envoy also made repeated protestations of service on the part of De -Luynes, and assured the Queen that she would in future be treated -exactly in accordance with her own desires; but he never failed, while -proffering these services, to narrowly watch the countenances of the -Queen and all who approached her, to gather what he could of their real -feelings. But not one of the Queen’s people was yet aware of her design; -and as she had already sworn without scruple, so she did not hesitate to -swear again, and that so well, that the agent of De Luynes went back -firmly persuaded that she was impatient for the coming of the King, and -was perfectly ready to be on good terms with his master and forget -everything. - -D’Épernon, having completed his measures, went to Confolens, where the -Archbishop of Toulouse was waiting for him, with two hundred of his -friends; but he did not find the expected news of the Queen-mother. He -had, however, gone too far to recede; and he at once sent M. du Plessis -to the Queen, to warn her of his arrival and to learn her wishes. When -M. du Plessis had delivered his message, the Queen decided on setting -out that same night. - -She then for the first time took others into her confidence, and broke -the matter to the Count de Brennes, her master of the horse, to M. de -Merçay, and another officer of her body guard, and to the Signora -Caterine, her woman of the bedchamber. She ordered the Count de Brennes -to be at the door of her room at five the next morning, and to see that -her travelling chariot with six horses was at the same time beyond the -bridge. The others she kept with her all night, to pack up her jewels -and wearing apparel. - -With these three gentlemen then, and a single woman of the bedchamber, -she left the place on the 22nd of February, at six in the morning, by -the window of a room looking out upon the terrace, from which, owing to -a broken wall, it was easy to reach the ground without passing by the -door of the chateau. After the Queen had let herself glide down this -ruin, and had regained her feet, she made her way to the bridge, where -she met two men, one of whom, seeing her almost alone at that early -hour, passed a very uncharitable judgment upon her. The other, however, -recognised her, guessed her purpose, and wished her “God speed.” - -On the other side of the bridge she found her carriage, and entering it, -with her attendants she went to Montrichard, where she came up with one -of her gentlemen, who had preceded her to make sure of the passage of -the Cher. She remained there two days, during which time she wrote to -the King, and then she set out for Angoulême. - -After long conferences and innumerable intrigues, in which De Luynes and -Richelieu, then Bishop of Luçon, displayed all their ability, Mary de’ -Medicis, seeing all her partisans abandoning her interests in their -anxiety to carry on a quarrel among themselves, left Angoulême for -Tours, where Louis XIII. and Anne of Austria were waiting for her. They -received her at about two leagues from the city, and lavished upon her -the most affectionate caresses. She passed seven or eight days with -them, and then withdrew for a time to Chinon, until the preparations -were completed for her grand entry into Angers.--(_Memoirs of -Fontenay-Mareuil._) - - - - -_GROTIUS._ - -1621. - - -Grotius was involved in the ruin of Barneveldt, for whom he had a very -great admiration, and whose partisan he had been; and was sentenced to -perpetual imprisonment, and the confiscation of all his property. He was -confined in the castle of Louvenstein, near Gorcum. This was in 1619, -when he was in his thirty-sixth year. He was very closely guarded, and -the only consolation he enjoyed was that of the company of his wife, -Marie de Reygesberg, who had obtained permission to visit him. The boon -was accompanied by this cruel condition, that if she left the prison she -would not be allowed to return to it. After a time, however, the -severity of this rule was slightly relaxed, and she was allowed to leave -the place twice a week. - -Grotius had been some eighteen months at Louvenstein, when Muys van -Holi, one of his declared enemies, who had also been one of his judges, -warned the States-General that he had received certain information of -the prisoner’s intention to escape. An agent was at once sent to the -castle, to examine into the truth of the report, but he returned without -having been able to find anything in confirmation of it. It was, -however, so far true, that Marie de Reygesberg was constantly occupied -with a design for effecting her husband’s liberation. - -The prisoner had been allowed to borrow books of his friends, and when -he had read them they were sent away in a large trunk, together with his -linen, which was washed at Gorcum. During the first year the guards had -never once failed to make a close search of this trunk whenever it was -sent out of the prison; but tired at length of turning over nothing but -dirty linen and books, they used to allow it to pass without -examination. Their negligence did not escape the notice of the -prisoner’s wife, and it occurred to her that she might take advantage of -it. She discussed her plans with her husband, and persuaded him to let -himself be shut up in the trunk, first taking care to bore several small -holes in it at either end for the admission of air. When all was ready, -the intended escape was rehearsed. The prisoner was shut up in the trunk -during the time usually occupied by the journey to Gorcum, and this -experiment was repeated several times, until he had grown tolerably -accustomed to all the inconveniences of the situation. The adventurous -pair then awaited nothing but a favourable moment for carrying out their -design. - -This soon came: the commandant of the fortress left the place for a -short time on business; and before his departure the brave wife sought -an interview with him, and obtained his permission to send away the -trunk full of books, alleging as a reason that her husband being very -weak, she wished to place the temptation to study beyond his reach. On -leaving the commandant she immediately returned to the apartment -occupied by Grotius, and shut him up in the trunk. His valet and a -female servant were in the secret, and she caused them to spread the -report of her husband’s illness among the soldiers, so that his -temporary absence from his accustomed place of resort within the castle -might occasion no surprise. Two soldiers were then brought in to carry -the trunk, and one of them finding it very heavy, observed: “There must -be an Arminian inside,” in allusion to the sect, flourishing at this -epoch, to which Grotius belonged. The wife replied calmly, “In truth -there are some Arminian books.” The chest was then lowered to the ground -by means of a ladder, though not without great difficulty. The soldier -who had found it too heavy was by no means satisfied with the -explanation he had received; and he insisted that the trunk should be -opened, in order that he might see what it really contained. He even -went so far as to communicate his suspicions to the wife of the -commandant, but the lady, either through negligence, or with the -deliberate intention of refusing to notice what she had no desire to -see, declined to listen to him. She replied, that the trunk contained -nothing but books, as the wife of Grotius had assured her, and that it -might be taken to the boat. This was done, and the female servant was -allowed to take charge of it and to convey it to a certain house in -Gorcum, as she had been ordered to do. She steadily refused, on its -arrival at the landing-place, to have it placed on a sledge along with -the rest of the luggage, on the ground that it was full of very fragile -articles, which might easily be damaged. It was accordingly lifted into -a hand barrow, and wheeled to the house of David Dazelaër, a friend of -Grotius, and a relation of Marie de Reygesberg. When the woman found -herself alone with her charge, she lifted the lid of the chest, and her -master leaped out safe and sound, though he had suffered somewhat from -his long confinement in a space three feet and a half in length. He at -once assumed the dress of a mason; and taking a rule and trowel in his -hand, he left the house by a back door - -[Illustration: She lifted the lid of the chest, and her master leaped -out safe and sound.] - -and made his way across the square of Gorcum to a gate of the city -leading to the river. Here he again took boat and went to Valvic, in -Brabant, whence, after making himself known to some Arminian friends, he -set out by coach for Anvers, using great precautions on the way to -prevent discovery. - -Meanwhile, the report of his illness was still current at Louvenstein; -and his wife, in order to gain time for him, assured every one that he -was in great danger. As soon, however, as she learned, by the return of -the servant, that he had reached Brabant, and was, consequently, in -safety, she boldly told the guards that their bird had flown. The -commandant, who had just returned, ran at once to the prisoner’s -apartment and ordered the courageous woman to say where her husband was -hidden. She suffered him to spend some time in a fruitless search, and -then informed him of the stratagem by which he had been duped. She was -at once imprisoned, more rigorously than ever Grotius had been; but she -petitioned the States-General, and in a few days was permitted to rejoin -the husband for whose liberty she had risked so much. - - - - -_ISAAC ARNAULD._ - -1635. - - -During the winter of 1635, Isaac Arnauld was governor of Philipsburg--a -place well fortified by earthworks and a large ditch (the water of which -was constantly frozen), but very insufficiently garrisoned. “The -Imperialists, who were well informed of everything,” says the Abbé -Arnauld, in his “Memoirs,” “had little difficulty in forming their plan -of attack and putting it into execution.” When they entered the place -they found the garrison under arms, but too weak to sustain a general -assault. All the courage and conduct of the governor availed him nothing -but to make a desperate defence and to sell his liberty dearly, after -nearly all the garrison had been put to the sword. He was obliged to -surrender, with a few companions who survived the slaughter; and after -having been imprisoned in several places, was at length taken to -Esslingen. - -To add to the miseries of his situation, he was doomed to hear that he -was openly accused, at the Court of France, of having lost Philipsburg -by his negligence. From that moment he had but one thought--namely, how -he could escape and clear his character before his sovereign; and with -this view he steadily refused to become a prisoner on parole. His design -was not easy of execution, for he was constantly guarded by soldiers, -who accompanied him, even in his walks in the grounds of the fortress, -and slept outside the door of his room at night. These difficulties, -however, served only to give a stimulus to his invention. He carefully -measured with his eye the exact height of his window which opened on the -ditch of the fortress, and he became convinced that he had only to make -the descent in safety to gain his liberty. He began by gaining the -connivance of some French cavalry soldiers who were in the service of -the Emperor, with the promise of giving them employment in his own -regiment of carabineers, on his return to France; and he afterwards kept -his word. The great and almost the only difficulty was to find rope for -the descent, for there was but little to fear from the watchfulness of -the garrison, the ditch beneath his window being very poorly guarded. To -that end he always urged his confederates, when he was taking exercise, -to pretend to be amusing themselves with various games, which they were -always the more ready to do as he never failed to encourage them with -liberal supplies of drink. After a short time, indeed, they proposed the -games themselves, and seemed to take a real pleasure in them. One of -these games, called Girding the Ass, was peculiarly favourable to his -design, for it involved the use of a cord for binding the principal -player. Arnauld always found a piece of silver for the purchase of this -cord, and never asked for the change. When the game was over, the cord, -being too small to seem worth keeping, used to be thrown away, and those -who were in the prisoner’s interest took care to pick it up and give it -him without attracting attention. When he had as many pieces as he -judged necessary for his purpose, he put his scheme into execution, and -escaped with the soldiers who had helped him; and he used such diligence -that his friends first received the news of his liberty from his own -lips. - -On his arrival at Paris he constituted himself, by his own act, a -prisoner in the Bastille, and demanded a full inquiry into the -allegations against him. He remained there several months, until he had -cleared his character, and he then consented to be set free. (_Memoirs -of the Abbé Arnauld._) - - - - -_THE DUKE OF BEAUFORT._ - -1648. - - -The Duke of Beaufort, one of the chiefs of the party of the Fronde, was -accused of having tried to assassinate Cardinal Mazarin, and was -arrested at the Louvre, by order of Anne of Austria, and imprisoned in -the tower of Vincennes. He remained there five years, but at length -made his escape by the aid of his friends. The story is best told in the -words of Madame de Motteville:-- - -“On the Day of Pentecost, the 1st of June, 1648, the Duke of Beaufort, -who had been confined for five years at Vincennes, escaped from his -prison at about twelve at noon. He found means to break his fetters, -through the skill of his friends and of some of his own people, who -served him faithfully on this occasion. He was closely watched by an -officer of the body-guard, and by seven or eight soldiers, who slept in -his room and had orders never to lose sight of him. He was waited on, -besides, by the King’s own servants, and was not allowed to have one of -his own men near him; and, moreover, Chavigny, the Governor of -Vincennes, was unfriendly to him. The officer in charge of him, La -Ramée, yielding to the request of some companions, had secretly given an -asylum in the prison to a certain person, who alleged that he had fought -a duel and that he wished to escape the penalty of his offence. There is -some reason, however, to believe that he had been taken to Vincennes by -the creatures of Beaufort, and probably with the knowledge of the -officer; but I cannot speak positively as to this circumstance, and I am -unwilling to deceive myself by mere appearances. - -“At first this man, willing to make himself useful, played more zeal -than any one else in his self-imposed service of watching the prisoner, -and even did not shrink from rudeness, as the Queen was informed when -this story was told to her. But whether he was at first there for the -Duke of Beaufort, or against him, he presently allowed himself to be -gained over by that prince, and he became useful to him by communicating -with his friend and informing him of the schemes that were on foot for -his release. When the time was ripe for the execution of their designs, -the confederates expressly chose the Day of Pentecost, because every one -was engaged in Divine service during that solemn fête. While the guards -were at dinner, the Duke of Beaufort asked La Ramée to allow him to take -a walk in a gallery, to which he had sometimes been permitted to have -access. This gallery, although lower than the donjon in which the duke -was confined, was, nevertheless, at a great height from the ditch, on -which it looked. La Ramée followed his prisoner in his walk, and -remained alone with him in the gallery. Meanwhile, the man whom the duke -had gained had gone to dinner with the others, but, after taking a -little wine, he feigned illness and left the table, as though to seek -the fresh air of the gallery, taking care, on his way, to fasten several -doors that were between his companions and their prisoner. As soon as he -had joined the duke, the two threw themselves upon La Ramée so suddenly -that he had not time to cry out. He was easily overpowered, for the duke -alone was a very strong man. They were unwilling to take his life, -though prudence might have dictated that course; but they gagged and -bound him very securely, and left him on the floor. They then tied a -cord to the window and slid, one after the other, to the ground, the man -going first, as the one who would have been the most severely punished -if their flight had been prevented. The depth of the ditch is so great, -that although their rope was a very long one, they were obliged to drop -a considerable distance. The servant suffered no injury from the fall, -but the duke came to the earth with such violence that he fainted, and -it took some time to bring him to himself. When he was sufficiently -recovered, four or five of his people, who were on the other side of the -ditch, and who had witnessed his sufferings with an anxiety that may -easily be conceived, threw another rope to the fugitives, and by means -of it drew them up by sheer force of arm to their own side--the servant -taking precedence of his master, as before, in accordance with the -engagement between them, which the duke most faithfully observed -throughout the affair. When he reached the bank, the duke was in a very -poor plight, for he had not only been wounded in falling, but his flesh -had been cruelly pressed and cut by the tightened rope. But having a -little recovered his strength, as much by his own natural force of will -as by his fear of losing the reward of all his exertions, he raised -himself and walked into a neighbouring wood, where he found a troop of -fifty horsemen ready to do his bidding. One of his gentlemen, who was -with him at the time, has since told me that the duke’s joy at seeing -himself again at liberty and among his friends was such that it seemed -to cure him in an instant, and that he leaped on horseback and vanished -like a flash of lightning, as though he were mad with joy at the idea of -being able to breathe the air without restraint, and to say with King -Francis, when he set foot in France, on his return from Spain, ‘I am -free!’ A woman gathering herbs by the side of the ditch, with her little -son, saw all that passed; but the men in ambush had so threatened them, -and they had besides, so little interest in preventing the escape of the -duke, that they were perfectly still and became passive spectators of -all that passed. As soon, however, as the fugitives were gone the woman -ran with the news to her husband, the gardener of the place, and the two -together alarmed the guard. But it was too late; it was not for man to -change what God had ordained, for the stars, which seem sometimes to -register the decrees of sovereigns, had already informed many persons, -through an astrologer, named Goësel, that the duke would leave the -chateau that very day. The news had a great effect on the whole court, -and particularly on those who knew something of the duke’s plans. The -minister was, no doubt, a good deal annoyed at the success of the little -plot; but, true to his old habit, he did not make any display of his -feelings.” - -Madame de Motteville afterwards adds, “The Queen and Cardinal Mazarin -talk very good-naturedly about it, and say laughingly, that M. de -Beaufort has done right.” - - - - -_CARDINAL DE RETZ._ - -1654. - - -In December, 1652, Cardinal de Retz, who had played so considerable a -part in the troubles of the Fronde, was wasting his time in fruitless -negotiations with the ministers, when he was arrested at the Louvre and -taken to Vincennes. He did not like his prison, and he had therefore to -do what was very distasteful to him--namely, to make a humble appeal to -the Archbishop of Paris, ere he could procure his transfer to the -Chateau of Nantes, then under the governorship of Chalucet. From thence -in due time he made his escape; and he gives us the following account of -the exploit in his memoirs:-- - -“The Marshal de la Meilleraye and the First President de Bellièvre came -together to fetch me from Vincennes. As the marshal was a martyr to the -gout he could not come upstairs, so that M. Bellièvre alone came to my -room, and this gave him an opportunity to tell me, as we were leaving -it together, that I was to be sure not to give my parole when I was -asked for it. I had no sooner reached the bottom of the staircase than -the marshal demanded this pledge. I replied, that though I had heard of -prisoners of war being required to give their parole, I did not know -that the demand was customary in the case of prisoners of state. M. de -Bellièvre then struck in on my side and said, ‘You don’t understand one -another. The cardinal will not refuse to give his word provided only -that you (turning to the marshal) confide absolutely in him, and let him -walk about without guards; but if you guard him, monsieur, of what use -will his parole be, for a man who is guarded is free from all -obligations of honour?’ - -“The First President knew very well what he was about in saying this, -for he had heard the Queen make the marshal promise that they should -never lose sight of me. ‘You know,’ replied the marshal, looking M. de -Bellièvre in the face, ‘whether or not I am able to do what you propose. -But come,’ he continued, turning to me, ‘I must guard you, then, it -seems; however, I will take care that you have nothing to complain of.’ - -“I remained there simply under the charge of M. de la Meilleraye, and he -kept his word, for it would have been impossible to add to the kindness -with which he treated me. I saw everybody; I had even all the amusements -I desired, including a comedy almost every evening. All the ladies were -there, and they supped with me very often. The fidelity of the guards to -their trust was equal to their good nature. They never lost sight of me -except when I entered my room, and the only door of this room was -watched by six men, day and night. The window--a very high one--looked -out on a courtyard, always filled with soldiers, and the six men -appointed to look after me used to watch me from a terrace when I was -taking exercise in a little garden planted in a kind of bastion or -ravelin on a level with the water. - -“I resolved, however, to devote all my energies to the recovery of my -liberty. The First President urged me very strongly to make the attempt, -and Montresor had sent me, through a lady of Nantes, a note containing -the following words:--‘You are to be taken to Brest at the end of the -month, if you don’t get away.’ But my task was by no means an easy one. -The first thing was to amuse the marshal, and in doing that I did not -forget that the most suspicious persons are often the most easily duped. -I then spoke to M. de Brissac, who made journeys to Nantes from time to -time, and who promised to help me. As he carried a great deal with him -he invariably had a number of mules in his train, and it occurred to me -that I might easily hide myself in one of the large trunks fastened to -these creatures’ backs. A trunk was accordingly made for me somewhat -larger than the rest, and with a hole or two in it to admit air. I tried -it myself, and came to the conclusion that this means of escape was not -only practicable, but that it was as easy as it was simple, and that it -would not oblige me to share my secret with many persons. - -“M. de Brissac, too, was very much in favour of it at first, but in the -course of a journey to Machecoul he quite changed his opinion. On his -return to Nantes he assured me that I could not fail to be suffocated in -the trunk; but to convince me that his good intentions on my behalf -remained the same, he told me that if I devised some other plan I might -reckon on very effectual help from him in all that concerned the outside -of the castle. We therefore began to take new measures on a plan which I -formed myself the moment I became convinced that the other one could -not be put into execution. - -“I have already said that I used sometimes to take exercise on a kind of -ravelin that gives on the river Loire. As we were in the month of -August, and the river was very dry, the water did not quite touch the -wall of the ravelin, but left a long strip of shore visible at the foot -of it. Between the garden which was on the top of this bastion and the -terrace where my guards took their station, there was a door, which -Chalucet had had made to prevent the soldiers from stealing his grapes. -This circumstance shaped my plan, which was to quietly fasten the door -after me one day without letting the guards observe what I was doing, -and then, while they could still see me through the open trellis-work, -without being able to reach me if their suspicions should be aroused, to -drop down from the wall by means of a rope provided for me by my doctor -and the Abbé Rousseau, and to jump on horseback at the bottom of the -ravelin with four gentlemen, whom I intended to make the companions of -my flight. This plan was, of course, very difficult of execution. It -could only be carried out in open day, between two sentries standing but -thirty paces apart, and in full view of the six guards who could fire at -me through the openings in the trellis-work. It was necessary again that -the four gentlemen who were to accompany me and to favour my escape -should be careful to be at the foot of the ravelin at exactly the proper -time, for their presence there a moment too early would excite -suspicions that might ruin all. If my object had merely been to get out -of prison it would have been enough for me to have taken only such -measures as I have already indicated; but I had very much more to do -besides, for it was my intention to make my way to Paris and to appear -there in public. And more than that, I had other pretensions that -entailed difficulties of a still more formidable nature. It was -desirable that I should travel from Nantes to Paris by diligence, for -the couriers of the marshal would be certain to carry the alarm along -every road, and it would be impossible for me to avoid observation and -arrest if I travelled alone. And lastly, I should have to take care to -inform my friends in Paris of my intentions while keeping my enemies -there in ignorance of them. No event of our time would be more -extraordinary than the success of an escape like mine, if the end of it -were at the same time to free me from my fetters and to make me master -of the capital of the kingdom. - -“I began my flight on Saturday the 8th of April, at five o’clock in the -evening. The little garden door closed, so to speak, quite naturally -after me, and I slid down easily (with a stick between my legs) from the -bastion, which was forty feet high. My valet de chambre, Fromentin, who -is with me still, kept the guards occupied by giving them drink, and -they became quite absorbed in the amusement of watching a Jacobin, who -had got out of his depth in the river and was drowning under the castle -walls. The sentinel who was but seventy paces from me, but in such a -position that he could not reach me, hesitated to fire, because the -moment I saw him getting his match ready I called out to him that he -would be hanged if he did me harm, and he afterwards declared that this -led him to believe I was escaping with the connivance of the marshal. -Two little pages, who were bathing, and who saw me hanging by the rope, -cried out lustily that I was trying to get away, but no attention was -paid to them, because it was thought that they were merely calling for -help for the drowning Jacobin. The four gentlemen were waiting for me at -the bottom of the ravelin, where they pretended to be watering their -horses as though they were just getting ready for the chase. To be -brief, I was on horseback myself before the least alarm had been given, -and as I had forty relays placed between Nantes and Paris, I should -infallibly have reached the capital had not an accident occurred which I -may say has exercised a fatal influence over the rest of my life. - -“The moment I got to horse I took the road to Mauve--which is, if I am -not mistaken, at about five leagues from Nantes by the river. It was -agreed that M. de Brissac and the Chevalier de Sévigné should be in -readiness there with a boat to carry me over. La Ralde, master of the -horse to the Duke de Brissac, who preceded me, told me that I must -gallop very fast, so as not to give the marshal’s guards time to close -the gate of a little street in their quarter through which we should -have to pass. I was mounted on one of the best horses in the world, -which had cost M. de Brissac a thousand crowns, but I did not let him -have his head, because the pavement was very bad and very slippery. We -were making great speed when one of my gentlemen having suddenly warned -me to take to my pistols because two of the marshal’s guards were -approaching--who, however, were not paying the least attention to us--I -unfortunately followed his advice, and was in the act of presenting the -pistol at the nearest guard, when it exploded and frightened my horse, -which reared and threw me. I fell with great violence against a -door-post and broke my left shoulder. Another of my gentlemen, named -Beauchesne, lifted me up and put me on horseback again: and though I -endured such frightful sufferings that I was obliged every now and then -to pull my hair to save myself from fainting, I finished my ride of five -leagues before the grand-master, who followed at full speed with all -the couriers of Nantes, could come up with me. I found M. de Brissac and -the Chevalier de Sévigné at the appointed place by the river, but I -fainted the moment I entered the boat. They brought me to myself by -throwing water in my face. I wanted to get on horseback again when we -had passed the river, but I lacked the strength; and Monsieur de Brissac -was obliged to put me in a stack of hay, where he left me with one of my -gentlemen, named Montet, who held me in his arms. He took Joly away with -him, who, with Montet, had alone been able to follow us, the horses of -the others having broken down: and he went straight to Beaupreau, with -the intention of assembling the nobility there to come to my aid. - -“I was hidden there above seven hours, suffering agonies such as I can -hardly describe. My shoulder was put out of joint, and I was covered -with terrible bruises. I was seized with a fever at about nine o’clock -in the evening, and the pain that gave me was cruelly aggravated by the -heat of the hay. I did not dare drink, although I was on the bank of the -river, because if Montet and I had quitted our hiding-place there would -have been no one to arrange the hay after us; and this circumstance -would have put our pursuers on our track. As it was, we heard the -horse-soldiers passing to right and left of us. M. de la Poise St. -Offanges, a gentleman of some distinction in the district, whom M. de -Brissac had informed of my plight, came at about two o’clock in the -morning to take me away from the stack as soon as he had remarked that -there were no more horse-soldiers in the neighbourhood. - -“Monsieur d’Offanges put me upon a hand-barrow and had me wheeled by two -peasants to a barn at about two leagues from the place, where I was -again covered with hay; but as I now had something to drink I found -myself in a state of almost perfect comfort. - -“In about seven or eight hours Monsieur and Madame Brissac came to fetch -me with about fifteen or twenty horses, and they took me to Beaupreau, -where I only remained one night, while the nobility were being called -together. In this short time M. de Brissac had assembled more than two -hundred gentlemen, who were joined at about four leagues from the place -by three hundred gentlemen under M. de Retz. We passed almost within -sight of Nantes, from which place some of the marshal’s guards came to -intercept us. They were vigorously repulsed and driven within the -barrier, and we arrived at Machecoul, which is in the district of De -Retz, in perfect safety.” - -From Machecoul, Cardinal de Retz was taken, not without difficulty, to -Belle-Isle; and some days after he reached San Sebastian, whence he went -with Spanish passports to Rome. (_Memoirs of Cardinal de Retz._) - - - - -_QUIQUÉRAN DE BEAUJEU._ - -1671. - - -Paul-Antoine Quiquéran de Beaujeu, Knight of Malta, had acquired the -reputation of one of the first seamen of his time by the number and -success of his fights against the Turks. In the month of January, 1660, -he was driven by a storm into one of the worst ports of the Archipelago, -where he was blockaded and attacked by thirty galleys of Rhodes, -commanded by the Capitan Pacha Mazamet in person. He stood out against -an overpowering fire for an entire day, and only yielded when he had -spent all his ammunition and lost three-fourths of his crew. He was put -into irons and carried away in triumph; but the victorious fleet was -assailed with a new storm of such violence that Mazamet was obliged to -have recourse to the superior seamanship of his captive. M. de Beaujeu -saved him, and so won the gratitude of the Turk that the latter, with a -view to rescue his preserver, placed him for concealment among the -lowest slaves. The grand vizier, however, who had probably been informed -of this stratagem, demanded the illustrious prisoner by name; and -recognising Beaujeu by his haughty air, he picked him out from among the -slaves and sent him to the Seven Towers, bidding him give up all hope of -ransom or of exchange. The Porte rejected every proposal made for his -release, although the King interceded for him, and the Venetians sought -in vain to have his name included in the terms of the Treaty of Candia. -One of his nephews, about twenty-two years of age, then formed a plan -for effecting his release and he executed it in the most brilliant and -successful manner. He first went to Constantinople with M. de Nointel, -the ambassador of France, and there he was allowed to see the -prisoner--that permission being freely granted to every one on account -of the supposed safety of the place. No other precaution was taken than -that of searching the visitors, who were obliged, before seeing the -prisoners, to give up their arms, their pocket-knives, and even their -keys. - -M. de Beaujeu was at first alarmed at a proposal which threatened to -have very dangerous results; but eleven years of imprisonment, his -natural taste for hazardous enterprises, and the contagious example of -the young man’s courage and enthusiasm soon decided him to give his -consent to the attempt. His nephew then began to carry him at each -visit a small piece of rope, which he placed round his body; and when he -thought he had enough of it for his purpose, he fixed on the day, the -hour, and the signal for his departure. When the signal was given, the -chevalier slid down from the walls; but finding the rope somewhat too -short, he let himself drop into the sea, which washes the base of the -Seven Towers. The splash of the falling body was heard by some Turks -passing in a brigantine, and they made towards the fugitive; but the -nephew, reaching him first in a well-armed skiff, drove them off, picked -up his uncle, and took him on board one of the King’s ships, commanded -by his friend the Count d’Apremont. The vessel carried him safely to -France, where he lived a long while in the bosom of his family, as -Commandant of Bordeaux. - -The Governor of the Seven Towers was put to death for permitting his -escape. - - - - -_CHARLES II._ - -1680. - - -Charles had landed in Scotland to attempt to reconquer the throne of the -Stuarts, and had been doomed to witness the ruin of all his hopes at the -disastrous battle of Worcester. He had displayed great courage on that -occasion, but he had been compelled to take to flight, with many of his -bravest and most distinguished officers. The following narrative, -extracted from a fuller account in the Pepys MS., is in his own words:-- - -“After that the battle was so absolutely lost as to be beyond hope of -recovery, I began to think of the best way of saving myself, and the -first thought that came into my - -[Illustration: He let himself drop into the sea.] - -head was, that, if I could possibly, I would get to London as soon, if -not sooner, than the news of our defeat could get thither; and it being -near dark I talked with some, especially with my Lord Rochester, who was -then Wilmot, about their opinions which would be the best way for me to -escape, it being impossible, as I thought, to get back to Scotland. I -found them mightily distracted, and their opinions different, of the -possibility of getting to Scotland; but not one agreeing with mine for -going to London, saving my Lord Wilmot; and the truth is I did not -impart my design of going to London to any but my Lord Wilmot. But we -had such a number of beaten men with us of the horse that I strove, as -soon as it was dark, to get from them; and though I could not get them -to stand by me against the enemy, I could not get rid of them now I had -a mind to it. So we--that is, my Lord Duke of Buckingham, Lauderdale, -Derby, Wilmot, Tom Blague, Duke Darcey, and several others of my -servants--went along northwards towards Scotland; and at last we got -about sixty that were gentlemen and officers, and slipped away out of -the high road that goes to Lancashire, and kept on the right hand, -letting all the beaten men go along the great road; and ourselves not -knowing very well which way to go, for it was then too late for us to -get to London on horseback, riding directly for it; nor could we do it, -because there were many people of quality with us that I could not get -rid of. - -“So we rode through a town short of Wolverhampton, betwixt that and -Worcester, and went through, there lying a troop of the enemies there -that night. We rode very quietly through the town, they having nobody to -watch, nor they suspecting us more than we did them, which I learnt -afterwards from a country fellow. - -“We went that night about twenty miles, to a place called White Lady’s, -hard by Tong Castle, by the advice of Mr. Giffard, where we stopped and -got some little refreshment of bread and cheese, such as we could get, -it being just beginning to be day. This White Lady’s was a private -house, that Mr. Giffard, who was a Staffordshire man, had told me -belonged to honest people that lived thereabouts. - -“And just as we came thither there came in a country fellow, that told -us there were three thousand of our horse just hard by Tong Castle, upon -the heath, all in disorder, under David Leslie and some other of the -general officers; upon which there were some of the people of quality -that were with me, who were very earnest that I should go to him and -endeavour to go into Scotland, which I thought was absolutely -impossible, knowing very well they would all rise upon us, and that men -who had deserted me when they were in good order would never stand to me -when they had been beaten. - -“This made me take the resolution of putting myself into a disguise, and -endeavouring to get a-foot to London in a country fellow’s habit, with a -pair of ordinary grey cloth breeches, a leathern doublet, and a green -jerkin, which I took in the house of White Lady’s. I also cut my hair -very short, and flung my clothes into a privy-house, that nobody might -see that anybody had been stripping themselves, I acquainting none with -my resolution of going to London but my Lord Wilmot, they all desiring -me not to acquaint them with what I intended to do, because they knew -not what they might be forced to confess; on which consideration they -with one voice begged of me not to tell them what I intended to do. - -“So all the persons of quality and officers who were with me--except my -Lord Wilmot, with whom a place was agreed upon for our meeting in London -if we escaped, and who endeavoured to go on horseback, in regard, as I -think, of his being too big to go on foot--were resolved to go and join -with the three thousand disordered horse, thinking to get away with them -to Scotland. But, as I did before believe, they were all routed by a -single troop of horse; which shows that my opinion was not wrong in not -sticking to men who had run away. - -“As soon as I was disguised I took with me a country fellow, whose name -was Richard Penderell, whom Mr. Giffard had undertaken to answer for to -be an honest man. He was a Roman Catholic, and I chose to trust them, -because I knew they had hiding-places for priests, that I thought I -might make use of in case of need. - -“I was no sooner gone out of the house with this country fellow (being -the next morning after the battle, and then broad day) but as I was in a -great wood, I sat myself at the edge of the wood, near the highway that -was there, the better to see who came after us, and whether they made -any search after the runaways, and I immediately saw a troop of horse -coming by, which I conceived to be the same troop that beat our three -thousand horse; but it did not look like a troop of the army’s, but of -the militia, for the fellow before it did not look at all like a -soldier. - -“In this wood I stayed all night, without meat or drink, and by great -good fortune it rained all the time, which hindered them, as I believe, -from coming into the wood to search for men that might be fled thither; -and one thing is remarkable enough, that those with whom I have since -spoken, of them that joined with the horse upon the heath, did say that -it rained little or nothing with them all the day, but only in the wood -where I was--thus contributing to my safety. - -“As I was in the wood I talked with the fellow about getting towards -London, and asking many questions about what gentlemen he knew. I did -not find he knew any man of quality in the way towards London. And the -truth is my mind changed as I lay in the wood, and I resolved on another -way of making my escape; which was, to get over the Severn into Wales, -and so to get either to Swansea or some other of the sea towns that I -knew had commerce with France, to the end I might get over that way, as -being a way that I thought none would suspect my taking; besides that I -remembered several honest gentlemen that were of my acquaintance in -Wales. - -“So that night as soon as it was dark, Richard Penderell and I took our -journey on foot towards the Severn, intending to pass over a ferry half -way between Bridgenorth and Shrewsbury. But as we were going in the -night, we came up by a mill, where I heard some people talking -(memorandum that I had got some bread and cheese the night before at one -of the Penderells’ houses, I not going in) and as we conceived it was -about twelve or one o’clock at night, and the country fellow desired me -not to answer if anybody should ask me any questions because I had not -the accent of the country. - -“Just as we came to the mill, we could see the miller, as I believed, -sitting at the mill door, he being in white clothes, it being a very -dark night. He called out, ‘Who goes there?’ Upon which Richard -Penderell answered, ‘Neighbours going home,’ or some such like words, -whereupon the miller cried out, ‘If you be neighbours, stand, or I will -knock you down.’ Upon which we believing there was company in the -house, the fellow bade me follow him close, and he run to a gate that -went up a dirty lane, up a hill; and opening the gate the miller cried -out, ‘Rogues, rogues.’ And thereupon some men came out of the mill after -us, which I believed were soldiers. So we fell a-running both of us, up -the lane as long as we could run, it being very deep and very dirty, -till at last I bade him leap over a hedge, and lie still to hear if -anybody followed us, which we did, and continued lying upon the ground -about half an hour, when hearing nobody come, we continued our way on to -the village upon the Severn, where the fellow told me there was an -honest gentleman, one Mr. Woolfe, that lived in that town, where I might -be with great safety, for that he had hiding-holes for priests. But I -would not go in, till I knew a little of his mind whether he would -receive so dangerous a guest as me, and therefore stayed in a field, -under a hedge, by a great tree. Commanding him not to say it was I, but -only to ask Mr. Woolfe whether he would receive an English gentleman, a -person of quality, to hide him the next day, till we could travel again -by night--for I durst not go but by night. - -“Mr. Woolfe, when the country fellow told him it was one that had -escaped from the battle of Worcester, said that for his part, it was so -dangerous a thing to harbour anybody that was known, that he would not -venture his neck for any man, unless it were the King himself. Upon -which Richard Penderell, very indiscreetly, and without my leave, told -him it was I. Upon which Mr. Woolfe replied, he should be very ready to -venture all he had in the world to secure me. Upon which Richard -Penderell came and told me what he had done, at which I was a little -troubled; but then there was no remedy, the day being just coming in, -and I must either venture that or run some greater danger. - -“So I came into the house by a back way, where I found Mr. Woolfe, an -old gentleman, who told me he was very sorry to see me there, because -there were two companies of the militia sort at that time in arms in the -town, and kept a guard at the ferry to examine everybody that came that -way; and that he durst not put me into any of the hiding-holes of his -house because they had been discovered, and consequently if any search -should be made, they would certainly repair to these holes, and that -therefore I had no other way of security but to go into his barn, and -there lie behind his corn and hay. So after he had given us some cold -meat that was ready, we, without making any bustle in the house, went -and lay in the barn all the next day, when towards evening, his son who -had been prisoner at Shrewsbury, an honest man, was released, and came -home to his father’s house. And as soon as ever it began to be a little -darkish, Mr. Woolfe and his son brought us meat into the barn, and then -we discoursed with them whether we might safely get over the Severn into -Wales, which they advised me by no means to adventure upon, because of -the strict guards that were kept all along the Severn where any passage -could be found, for preventing anybody escaping that way into Wales. - -“Upon this I took resolution that night the very same way back again to -Penderell’s house, where I knew I should hear some news what was become -of my Lord Wilmot, and resolved again upon going for London. - -“So we set out as soon as it was dark, but we came by the mill again; we -had no mind to be questioned a second time there, and therefore asking -Richard Penderell whether he could swim or no, and how deep the river -was, he told me it was a scurvy river, not easy to be passed in all -places, and that he could not swim. So I told him the river being but a -little one, I would undertake to help him over. Upon which we went over -some closes by the river-side and I entering the river first to see if I -could myself go over, who knew how to swim, found it was but a little -above my middle, and thereupon taking Richard Penderell by the hand, I -helped him over. Which being done, we went on our way to one of -Penderell’s brothers (his house not being far from White Lady’s), who -had been guide to my Lord Wilmot, and we believed might by that time be -come back again, for my Lord Wilmot intended to go to London upon his -own horse. When I came to this house I inquired where my Lord Wilmot -was, it being now towards morning, and having travelled these two nights -on foot. - -“Penderell’s brother told me he had conducted him to a very honest -gentleman’s house, one Mr. Pitchcroft[A], not far from Wolverhampton, a -Roman Catholic. I asked him what news. He told me that there was one -Major Careless in the house, that was that countryman whom, I knowing, -he having been a major in our army, and made his escape thither, a Roman -Catholic also, I sent for him into the room where I was, and consulted -him what we should do the next day. He told me that it would be very -dangerous for me to stay in that house or go into the wood--there being -a great wood hard by Boscobel; that he knew but one way how to pass the -next day, and that was to get up into a great oak, in a pretty plain -place, where we might see round about us; for the enemy would certainly -search at the wood for people that had made their escape. - -“Of which proposition of his, I approving, we (that is to say Careless -and I) went, and carried up some victuals for the whole day; viz., -bread, cheese, small beer, and nothing else, and got up into a great -oak, that had been topped some three or four years before, and being -grown out again very bushy and thick, could not be seen through, and -here we stayed all the day. I having in the meantime sent Penderell’s -brother to Mr. Pitchcroft’s, to know whether my Lord Wilmot was there or -no; and had word brought me by him at night that my lord was there; that -there was a very secure hiding-hole in Mr. Pitchcroft’s house, and that -he desired me to come thither to him. - -“Memorandum.--That, while we were in this tree we saw soldiers going up -and down in the thicket of the wood, searching for persons escaped; we -saw them now and then peeping out of the wood. - -“That night Richard Penderell and I went to Mr. Pitchcroft’s, about six -or seven miles off, when I found the gentleman of the house, and an old -grandmother of his, and Father Hurlston, who had then the care, as -governor, of bringing up two young gentlemen, who, I think, were Sir -John Preston and his brother, they being boys. Here I spoke with my Lord -Wilmot, and sent him away to Colonel Lane’s, about five or six miles -off, to see what means could be found for my escaping towards London; -who told my lord, after some consultation thereon, that he had a sister -that had a very fair pretence of going hard by Bristol, to a cousin of -hers, that was married to one Mr. Norton, who lived two or three miles -towards Bristol, on Somersetshire side, and she might carry me there as -her man, and from Bristol I might find shipping to get out of England.” - -After various adventures, some of them attended with great danger, they -arrived safely at the house of Mr. Norton, the king passing as the -servant of Mrs. Lane. The next day while he was dining with the -servants, one of them gave so accurate a description of the battle of -Worcester, that Charles took him to be a soldier of Cromwell. He turned -out, however, to have been a soldier of the royal army, and one of the -regiment of guards. “I asked him what kind of man the King was, and he -gave me an exact description of the clothes I wore at the battle, and of -the horse I rode, adding that the King was at least three inches taller -than I. I left the place hastily, being much alarmed to find that the -man had been one of my own soldiers.” Charles learnt soon after that -Pope, the butler, had recognised him, and having previously heard that -the man was honest, and incapable of treason, he thought it best to -confide in him, and accordingly mentioned his real name and rank. Pope -at once put himself under his orders, and was of the greatest service to -him. - -Just at the very moment when the King was setting out for the house of -one of his partisans, Mrs. Norton was taken with the pains of labour, -and as she was cousin to Mrs. Lane, whose servant Charles pretended to -be, that lady found it difficult to invent a pretext for quitting her. A -letter written to announce that Mrs. Lane’s father was dangerously ill, -however, answered this purpose, and the fugitives set out for the house -of Frank Wyndham at Trent. - -When they arrived there the bells were ringing merry peals, and -inquiring the cause, they learned that one of the soldiers of Cromwell’s -army had entered the town, boasting that he had killed the King. -Wyndham, however, had provided a boat, and Charles, accompanied by that -loyal gentleman and by Lady Coningsby, went to a place appointed for -his reception. But as no vessel appeared, he set out for the -neighbouring town. On arriving there he found the streets filled with -red coats, the town being in possession of fifteen hundred of Cromwell’s -troops. This sight somewhat alarmed Wyndham, “and he asked me,” says the -King, “what we should now do? ‘We must go boldly,’ I said, ‘to the best -inn, and ask for the best room,’ and we accordingly did so. We found the -courtyard of the inn full of soldiers, and as soon as I alighted, I -thought it would be best to walk boldly amongst them, and to take my -horses to the stable. I did this, and they grew very angry at my -rudeness.” When he arrived in the stable, Charles found himself -confronted by a new danger. The ostler pretended to recognise him as an -old acquaintance whom he had met at Exeter, but Charles had sufficient -presence of mind to turn this to his own account. “True,” he replied, “I -have been in the service of Mr. Potter, but I am just now in a great -hurry, for my master is going straight to London; when he comes back we -will renew the acquaintance over a mug of beer.” Shortly afterwards the -King and his suite joined Lord Wilmot outside the city, but the master -of the ship they had hired, yielding to the fears of his wife, refused -to fulfil his engagement with them; Charles then once more took the -Trent road. - -Another vessel which had been procured at Southampton, had been seized -by the authorities for the transport of troops, and certain mysterious -rumours which began to circulate in the neighbourhood, made it dangerous -for the King to stay any longer with Colonel Wyndham, at Salisbury; -however, he found an asylum where he remained for five days, during -which Colonel Gunter hired a boat at - -[Illustration: They grew very angry at my rudeness.] - -New Shoreham, and Charles set out in haste for Brighton. While he was at -supper there, with his attendants and with Tattershall, the owner of the -boat, the latter fixed his eyes, upon the King, and took occasion after -the meal to draw one of the royal attendants aside, and complain of his -having been deceived. “The gentleman in the grey dress was the King; he -knew him well, having been with him in 1648, when he was Prince of -Wales, and commanded the royal fleet.” This information was promptly -conveyed to Charles, who thought it the more prudent course to keep his -companions drinking with him all night, in order to make sure of their -holding no conversation that he did not overhear. - -Just before their departure, and while he was alone in his room, -Tattershall came in, and kissing his hand, which was resting on the back -of a chair, said, “I suppose, if I live I shall be a lord, and my wife -will be a lady.” Charles laughed, to show that he understood him, and -joined the company in the other room. At four in the morning of the 16th -of October they set out for Shoreham. When Charles and Wilmot, his sole -companion, had entered the vessel, Tattershall fell upon his knees and -swore to the King that whatever might be the consequence he would land -him safe and sound on the coast of France. - -The boat made for the Isle of Wight, that being its ordinary course; but -towards six o’clock in the evening, Charles, having previously arranged -the matter with Tattershall, addressed the crew. He told them that his -companion and himself were merchants, who were running away from their -creditors, and asked them to join him in begging the captain to take -them to France, backing his entreaties, at the same time, with a present -of twenty shillings for drink. Tattershall raised a great many -objections; but at last, with apparent repugnance, he turned the -vessel’s head towards France. At daybreak they sighted the city of -Fécamp. At the same time they discovered a suspicious-looking sail which -they took for an Ostend pirate. Without waiting to test the truth of -their suspicions, the two fugitives took to the ship’s boat and arrived -safely in port. (_Guizot: Memoirs of Charles the Second; Lingard: -History of England._) - - - - -_BLANCHE GAMOND._ - -1687. - - -Blanche Gamond belonged to a Protestant family of -Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, -when the Protestants were subjected to the most rigorous persecution, -Mademoiselle Gamond, whose piety was of the most fervent and exalted -kind, resolved to fly the kingdom. The city of Saint-Paul was closely -invested, and the dragoons overran all the neighbouring country in -search of the Protestants. Blanche left the city and wandered about for -some time alone, and afterwards with her parents, who had joined her. At -times they were exposed to all the hardships of forest life, and it was -only at intervals that they could venture to show themselves in towns. -In this manner they travelled through the greater part of Dauphiné; but -they were obliged to separate at last, to escape the more easily from -the dragoons; and our poor heroine was about to pass the frontier with -her brother and her mother and sister, when she was taken near Goncelin. -Her brother escaped from the soldiers, but her mother and her sister -were brutally ill-treated by these wretches, and were taken to Grenoble -and thrown into a horrible dungeon. Blanche Gamond was then twenty-one -years of age. She was subjected for a long time to the most terrible -tortures; but insulted, mercilessly beaten, dying of hunger, and sinking -under a lingering illness, as she was, she bore all with the courage and -the resignation of a martyr. - -The following is her account of her attempt at escape, the consequences -of which were most disastrous to her:-- - -“We were told to get ourselves ready in three days for a voyage to -America; ‘and when,’ it was added, ‘you are once on shipboard you will -be made to walk the plank, and will be thrust into the sea, so that the -detested race of the Huguenots may perish with you.’ - -“‘It concerns me little,’ I replied, ‘whether my body be eaten by the -fish in the sea or by the worms in the earth.’ - -“When they had left us alone, Susan de Montélimart said, ‘We might make -our escape by this window if we could only break the bars.’ - -“‘We are at such a height from the ground,’ I replied, ‘that we should -either kill or lame ourselves; and then we should only be recaptured and -treated worse than before. If that should happen, I could never survive -my sufferings. I prefer death, therefore, and will rather set out for -America. God will deliver us, as he delivered the victims of La -Rapine.’” - -La Rapine, or D’Herapine, who had been formerly condemned for robbery, -under his real name of Guichard, had become director of the hospital of -Valence, where he was told to employ all the means in his power for the -conversion of the Protestants--a commission which he executed with all -the cynicism and the ferocity of one of the worst of scoundrels. - -“Susan replied, ‘If they had done to me what they have done to you I -should have died ere this; but they are killing us of hunger; and, -besides, they are going to take us to America, and we shall be half dead -when they throw us in the sea. We might get out of this window. We seem -to be despising the means which God has placed within our reach; but, -for my part, I mean to attempt to use them.’ - -“At length, by her persuasion, I joined her in cutting a piece of cloth -into shreds, and sewing it together; and when we had made a long band in -this manner we tied a piece of stone to the end of it and lowered it, to -ascertain the height of the window from the ground. We were on the -fourth storey, and we found that our band was too short; but we -lengthened it, and finally the end touched the ground. I then put my -head out of the window and said to my dear sisters, ‘Alas! we shall kill -ourselves, for it almost frightens me to death to look down.’ - -“That same evening, when our guards were asleep, we crept to the window -with bare feet, for we were afraid that the priest, whose chamber was -beneath ours, would hear our footsteps. Susan was the first to get out, -and she was followed by Mademoiselle Terrasson de Die, then by me and by -Mademoiselle Anne Dumas, of La Salle, in Languedoc. When I got outside -and began to lay hold of the band, my strength failed me, and I heard -the bones of my arm crack. My dress caught in a hook outside the window, -and I was obliged to support myself with one arm while I disengaged -myself with the other. I no longer felt either strength or courage, and -I cried, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!’ But I seized the band with my -teeth, and joining my two hands over it, I fell, rather than lowered -myself, to the ground, striking against the stones with such violence -that I cried, ‘Mercy! My God, I am either killed or maimed for life!’ - -[Illustration: I was obliged to support myself with one arm.] - -“The dear sisters who were waiting for me ran up to me and asked me -where I was hurt. - -“‘Everywhere,’ I replied; ‘I am sure that I have broken my thigh,’ and I -begged of them to tie it up for me with my apron. I then limped away, my -two sisters supporting me on either side. I made sixty or seventy steps -in great pain, and reached the gate of the Faubourg de Valence: but it -was closed. They helped me to get upon the wall, but when I stood upon -the top of it, and saw how high it was, I said to my three dear sisters, -‘This is a second precipice, and I am not brave enough to attempt to -descend. Leave me and go alone.’ - -“They let me down from the wall and left me there, and then they tried -to get down themselves, and succeeded after great trouble. When they had -reached the other side, Mademoiselle Dumas cried out to me, ‘We are -going. We are very sorry to leave you behind. God preserve you from our -enemies. I wish you prosperity, and give you my blessing, and I beg of -you to give me yours in return.’ - -“‘Who am I,’ I replied, ‘to give you my blessing? but I pray that God -will give you his. I pray fervently that he will lead you in all his -ways; and I conjure you to leave this place as quickly as you can, or -all of us may be recaptured.’ - -“I was thus left quite alone, still suffering the cruel and violent -pains which had never left me from the moment of my fall. It was not yet -daybreak, and I lifted up my heart to God. But I fainted in the midst of -my prayer, and did not come to myself for, at least, a quarter of an -hour. I had no one to console me, or even to offer me a single drop of -water; but as soon as I came to myself I cried out, ‘Lord, do not -abandon me.’ I lay for a time without being able to make any movement, -and then I thought that at daybreak they would be sure to find me, and -then I should be recaptured and taken to the hospice. ‘O God,’ I prayed, -‘grant me this mercy that this day may see the last of my troubles, for -death is better than life. I have lived enough. Take my soul to thee, O -God. Oh grant, if it please thee, that I may be taken to the tomb, and -not to the hospice this day.’ - -“Day then began to break. I had not enough strength to raise myself, so -that those who passed by did not know that I was lamed. I was only just -able to hide my face from them by covering it with my tappeta. I was -interrupted during my prayers by the agony which I suffered from my -broken thigh and dislocated ankle. After a time a gentleman came by, and -said, ‘It would be better, mademoiselle, for you to be at your own house -than to remain here, and it would certainly be more becoming.’ - -“‘If you knew who I was, sir,’ I replied, ‘you would not address me in -such language.’ - -“In another moment they opened the gate of the Faubourg and the -passers-by said very hard and cruel things about me, seeing me lying at -full length in the road so early in the morning.” - -She begged one of them to fetch Mademoiselle Marsilière, a Protestant -converted to Catholicism, whom she knew, and she prayed God that this -early friend might turn out a good Samaritan, but this prayer was not -heard. - -“Are you asking for me?” said Mademoiselle Marsilière, when she -approached the poor wounded creature. “Yes, mademoiselle; save me--for -mercy’s sake help me. Take me to some place where I may die, so that no -one may witness my sufferings.” - -“But Mademoiselle Marsilière replied that I should endanger her safety -as well as my own. ‘I must go,’ she said, ‘before any one sees me, or I -shall be put in prison myself.’ - -“I was wounded to the heart at this treatment from a co-religionist, and -I asked her if she had the courage to leave me in this condition. ‘Help -me, at least,’ I said, ‘to crawl behind this wall, so that I may not be -seen by the passers-by.’” - -But neither the prayers nor the sufferings of the unfortunate Blanche -had the least effect on the prudent and charitable person whom she had -called to her aid. Mademoiselle Marsilière went away, but returned -shortly afterwards with the almoner of the religious house of which she -was a member, who, without paying the least regard to the distressed -condition of the wounded girl, began to address to her a series of -questions about her escape and her accomplices. At length two men, -seizing her by the shoulders and the feet, carried her to the hospice -and laid her down upon the stones in the courtyard. - -It is impossible to enter fully here into all the details of the -rigorous punishment endured by the poor girl for some months after this. -She bore all with her ordinary courage and patience, but the mere -recital of such atrocities would give too much pain to the most -unfeeling heart. - -She was at last allowed to return to her parents, and she recovered her -health after her long sufferings, and retired to Switzerland with her -family. - - - - -_JEAN BART AND THE CHEVALIER DE FORBIN._ - -1689. - - -Jean Bart escorting a fleet of twenty merchantmen, had hoisted his flag -on board the frigate _La Raileuse_, of twenty-eight guns, having for -second in command under him the Chevalier de Forbin, captain of _Les -Jeux_, a frigate of twenty-four. They were attacked by two English -ships, one of forty-eight, and the other of forty-two guns, and they -nobly sacrificed themselves to save the merchant fleet. Jean Bart lost -nearly all his men and was slightly wounded in the head, but Forbin was -still more unfortunate, for he received six wounds, and nearly all of -his crew perished. They were compelled to surrender, but the fleet of -merchantmen was saved, while all the English officers and a great number -of the common seamen were killed. - -They were taken to Portsmouth, where they of course expected to be -treated as prisoners of war on parole, but the governor of the fortress -would not even grant them this scanty honour. They were shut up in a -sort of inn with barred windows, and sentinels were placed before their -door. This wretched treatment naturally made them anxious to escape, and -they did not even wait until their wounds were cured before they began -to form their plans. An Ostend fisherman, a relation of Jean Bart--as -some say, Gaspar Bart, his brother--having put in to Portsmouth, found -means to gain admission to the prison, and to confer with his two -friends on the project which occupied all their thoughts. On one of his -visits he left a file behind him, with which they cut the bars before -their windows, hiding the marks by covering them with pieces of -moistened bread and soot. - -It happened fortunately that the surgeon sent to attend them was a -Fleming, himself a prisoner, and equally desirous with his two patients -of recovering his liberty. In due time too, the men who had been -appointed to wait on them were gained over by a liberal present, and by -still more liberal promises. The great difficulty was to find means of -putting to sea; but the attendants who alone had power to leave the -prison undertook to make the necessary arrangements for the embarkation. -They accordingly hailed one day a Norwegian shallop, the master of which -was at the time lying in a drunken sleep in his cabin. He was quietly -transferred from his own vessel to another; and this was no sooner done -than the two attendants ran to tell the prisoners to prepare for instant -flight. - -As soon as the surgeon came to pay his accustomed visit, he was told to -give the Ostend fishermen notice to take everything necessary for a -voyage of some days on board the Norwegian vessel. He lost no time in -executing his commission, and the sloop was soon amply supplied with -bread, cheese, beer, and other necessaries. It was then arranged that -the surgeon should return at midnight with the fisherman and the two -attendants, and as soon as he arrived beneath the prison window should -signal his presence by throwing a small stone against the panes. - -The signal was heard at the appointed hour. Jean Bart removed the bars -in front of his window, fastened his bedclothes end to end, and sliding -down the band, reached the ground in safety. The surgeon, the fisherman, -and the two attendants led them at once to a little creek in which the -vessel was moored, and they all embarked with the exception of the -fisherman, who went quietly back to his own ship. In leaving Plymouth -the fugitives had a narrow escape. They were seen by the look-out on -the guard ship, and hailed with the customary “Who goes there?” By great -good fortune Jean Bart knew a little English, and he replied, -“Fishermen.” They were then suffered to pass. - -The poor lieutenant had not been able to follow his captain. He had lost -an arm; he was very corpulent; and as he could not have rendered the -least assistance during the voyage, his presence would only have tended -to compromise the safety of his friends. He took, therefore, the heroic -resolution of remaining in prison, and of assisting the fugitives by -keeping the guard amused while they were running away. He continued this -subterfuge after Jean Bart had left the house, and pretended to be -conversing with him in his room, until long after he had had time to -effect his embarkation in safety. He then drew in the sheets which had -served his commander as a rope, and quietly went to bed. He affected -great surprise next day when he was informed of the escape of his -fellow-prisoners, pretending to believe they had basely abandoned him, -and cursing them very heartily in both English and French. - -His gaolers were deceived by this _ruse_, and put several questions to -him as to the conversations with his commander, in the hope of -ascertaining the direction the fugitives had taken. “These traitors,” he -replied, “have told me nothing; all that I know is that Bart lately had -a pair of shoes made, and that he remarked when he tried them on, how -useful they would be to any one who had to take a long walk.” This -completely deceived them, and they sent horse soldiers out in all -directions in the hope of recapturing the fugitives, who were then in -the middle of the Channel. - -Jean Bart at length sighted the coast of Brittany, and disembarked at a -small village a few leagues from St. Malo. The journey from Plymouth had -occupied forty-eight hours, and, this time included, he had not been in -captivity more than eleven days. The party were received with transports -of joy, for the merchantmen whom they had saved had spoken in the -highest terms of their courage, but it was thought their patriotic -devotion had cost them their lives. Jean Bart’s first care was to -indemnify the Ostend fisherman whom the English had made responsible for -his flight, and his next to purchase the liberty of his brave -lieutenant, who was released a month after the escape of his commander. - - - - -_DUGUAY-TROUIN._ - -1694. - - -Duguay-Trouin, commanding the frigate _La Diligente_, of forty guns, was -driven by a storm into the midst of a squadron of six English vessels, -of from fifty to seventy guns each. After fighting five of them for -several hours, and refusing to surrender, notwithstanding the urgent -solicitations of his officers, he was struck by a spent shot, and -rendered insensible. When he came to himself he was a prisoner in the -hands of the English. He was at first sent to Plymouth; and he had -already begun to make preparations for his escape, when orders were -given that his confinement should be made more rigorous. The captain of -a company on guard at the prison had fallen in love with a young woman -of Plymouth, and had confided his passion to Duguay-Trouin, who had -promised to use all his influence to induce the fair one to consent to -marriage. He took advantage of the comparative freedom which he enjoyed -through his good offices on the captain’s behalf, to come to a good -understanding with the lady on his own account; and he was enabled by -her aid to make arrangements with a Swedish captain for the hire of a -vessel, properly provisioned and manned, for his intended flight. While -the captain thought that Duguay-Trouin was pleading for him with the -lady in a neighbouring inn, to which he had been permitted to extend his -walks, the commander was leaping over the wall of the garden, with -another officer who was to join him in trying to escape. The Swedish -captain and six sailors were waiting for them at a neighbouring spot, -and they all reached the little vessel in safety. - -“We embarked,” he says in his “Memoirs,” “at about six in the evening. -We had scarcely started when we ran almost between two English vessels, -and were obliged to answer their inquiries as to our destination. We -told them we were fishermen putting out to sea, and they allowed us to -pass. At daybreak we came upon another English ship making for Plymouth. -She was going to turn in pursuit of us, although we did not lie in her -route, and we should certainly have been taken but for a sudden gust of -wind, which carried us away from her almost without any effort of our -own. - -“We had been rowing all the time, and we were very tired when we reached -the open sea. We relieved one another at nightfall, and the master of -the vessel and I tried to make out our way with the aid of a small -compass, illumined by the feeble rays of a lantern. While thus engaged I -was so overpowered with fatigue that I fell asleep; but I was soon -awakened by the noise of a terrible gust of wind, which threw the little -vessel on her side, and filled her with water in an instant. By a quick -movement of the helm I was fortunate enough to avoid the threatened -shipwreck--a disaster that must have proved fatal, as we were more than -fifteen leagues from land. My companions, who were also asleep, were -quite as suddenly awakened as myself by the waves beating about their -heads. Our biscuit and our beer were quite spoiled by the seawater, and -it took us a long while to bale out the water with our hats. At about -eight o’clock on the following day we landed at a spot two leagues from -Tréguier, on the coast of Brittany.” - - - - -_THE ABBÉ COUNT DE BUCQUOY._ - -1700-1702. - - -The Count de Bucquoy, who was originally an officer in the army, had -become, under the combined influence of the Jesuits and the monks of La -Trappe, a religious enthusiast, but had afterwards quarrelled with his -priestly friends. He was of an active mind, and, if we may believe his -own account of himself, he was too much addicted to the advocacy of -advanced ideas. This, and his hostility to Louis XIV., caused him to be -arrested at Sens, on a charge of having been heard to mutter -disaffection at an inn. While he was being taken to Paris he tried to -escape, but without success; and his account of the attempt shows that -he did not then possess the skill in conducting that class of -enterprises which he afterwards acquired. - -He was sent to For-l’Évêque; and from the very first day of his -imprisonment he began to consider how he could recover his liberty. He -remembered that one of the body-guard, who had been imprisoned in the -same place, had nearly made his escape through a window of a loft, -which looked out upon one of the quays, then called the Valley of -Misery, and that he had failed, owing solely to his terror at the sight -of the precipice on which his prison was built. - -Bucquoy, however, made up his mind to repeat this attempt. He tried at -first to form a clear idea of the plan of this terrible place. He -discovered that the loft in question served as a kind of antechamber to -his small cell, and that it was, at the same time, the lumber-room of -the prison. Wishing to make sure of everything before risking his life, -he one day pretended to be ill, and asked to be led upstairs to breathe -the air at a small window which over-looked that part of the building. -The height from the quay was appalling; and, in addition to that, every -one of the numerous window-gratings to which he would have to cling in -making his descent was covered with short, sharp spikes. The sight was -enough to strike terror into the stoutest heart. - -When he had once more been locked up in his cell, he, however, confirmed -himself in his resolution to escape through the loft. All that was -necessary was to find means to leave the cell unobserved, and to reach a -certain part of the antechamber. - -To get out without the consent of the gaoler, he would have had to break -the door down; but he soon saw that it would be impossible to do this, -as he was wholly unprepared with tools, and as the noise of his -operations would be certain to alarm his guards. It occurred to him, -however, that he might burn away the door; and with this view he -obtained permission to cook for himself in his own cell. He asked for a -few eggs and some charcoal, and paid liberally for both, in order the -more readily to induce the gaoler to supply them. All being ready, and -the whole household asleep, he placed the brasier close to the door and -fanned the flame until it ignited the ponderous timbers. When he had by -this means burnt a hole large enough to admit his body, he passed -through, first taking care to extinguish the flames, as it was not his -wish to destroy the building. In this operation he was nearly suffocated -by the smoke from the smouldering beams. He was without a rope to tie to -the window of the loft, but he made a substitute for it by binding -together a number of strips of webbing cut from a mattrass which he -found among the furniture. He then fastened this band to a bedstead, -which he dragged to the window, and, gliding gently down, was fortunate -enough to pass the windows without receiving any fatal injury from the -spikes, and to reach the quay. It was daybreak, and the market people -opening their shops did not fail to observe him, all torn and bloody as -he was, for many of the spikes had entered his flesh. But a greater -danger threatened him, in the unwelcome attentions of a number of young -men, who had only just risen from supper, and who chased him through the -streets with drunken cries. A timely shower of rain, however, dispersed -them, and he was saved. - -In trying to avoid them he made many turns and doubles, and at last -found himself at the door of a _café_, near the Temple, which he entered -for the purpose of making some slight changes in his appearance, in case -he should meet his tormentors again. His dress, however, began to excite -remark among the customers, and fearing he was already known, he hastily -paid his reckoning, and went out without knowing what direction to take. -He at last took refuge at the house of a relation of one of his -servants, to whom he told a plausible story to excuse the negligence of -his attire. The woman fetched him some food at his request, but feeling -he could not confide in her discretion, he soon left the house to seek a -more secure asylum. - -After spending some nine months in sending petition after petition from -his various hiding-places, he tried to leave the kingdom, but choosing -his time badly, was arrested at La Fère and sent to prison. He made two -attempts to escape, and failed only by a hair’s breadth in the second, -having scaled a wall and swum across a ditch before he was discovered. -He was at length taken back to Paris, and imprisoned in the Bastille. - -To enter the Bastille was almost to abandon hope, for escape seemed -impossible. But even while he was passing the gates of the prison, -Bucquoy was reconnoitering it to find means to effect his escape. He -took particular notice of the drawbridge and the counterscarp, but he -was not allowed much time for his observations; for he was at once -hurried away to the Bretignière tower. - -After passing a few days in one of the lowest dungeons of this tower, he -was placed in a cell, shared by a number of prisoners in common. He -proposed that they should make a joint effort to recover their liberty, -but he was denounced by one of their number, an abbé. He was then once -more shut up in his dungeon. He was suffered to leave it, however, on -feigning to be ill and at the point of death. He was believed to be -paralytic, and as it was thought there was no further danger of his -attempting to carry out his plans, he was once more sent to the common -room. In course of time he had made the circuit of nearly all the towers -of the building, never failing to study the plan of each of them -attentively; and he was at length sent to the Bertaudière, where he had -for companion a German baron, whom he undertook to convert from the -Lutheran faith, and whom he persuaded to aid him in his attempt to -escape. They had already commenced operations on an old window which had -long been closed up, when they were betrayed by another prisoner. -Bucquoy was adroit enough to exculpate himself, and to throw the blame -upon his betrayer, but he was removed to a cell in the tower, La -Liberté, together with the baron, whose _conversion_ he represented was -not quite complete. - -They then began to renew their preparations, this time with the view of -reaching the ditch of the Porte Saint Antoine. They made a hole in the -wall by means of certain jagged pieces of iron and brass, old nails and -knife-blades, which the abbé had carefully collected in the course of -his long sojourn in the prison; and which, by the aid of the fire in the -room, they fashioned into tools. At the same time they began to make a -ladder, using for this purpose the strips of osier in which their wine -bottles were enveloped, and telling the gaoler they were collecting them -to serve as fuel. A hole which they had scooped out under the flooring -of their cell served to conceal all these things. - -Working steadily every day, and never losing sight of their design, they -contrived in a short time to make a tolerable ladder. All was now nearly -ready, and they were on the very point of making their attempt, when on -visiting their subterranean cupboard one day, it gave way beneath them, -and precipitated them into a room on the floor below occupied by a -jesuit. The poor man’s mind was ill at ease, and this terrible accident -made him quite mad. The abbé was taken back to his cell by a gaoler, but -he was not allowed to remain there long, and he was thus doomed to lose -almost in a moment the fruits of long months of most trying exertion. -He found means, however, to get rid of his German baron, who was no -further use to him, as he could not be persuaded to embark in another -attempt. But the baron had abjured his religion, and this gained the -abbé such a reputation as a converter of heretics, that he was sent to -attempt the reformation of a certain Protestant, named Grandville, who -was considered a very excellent boon companion by his fellow prisoners, -and who was known to be most anxious to make his escape. - -Two other prisoners were placed in the same cell with them, and the abbé -soon found means to come to an understanding with all his companions in -misfortune. After he had bound them to him by the most solemn oaths, he -informed them that he had a small file concealed in his clothes, which -had hitherto escaped the closest search, and he proposed that they -should cut through the bars of their windows with it, and make their way -into the courtyard. He had managed to keep some pieces of osier that he -and the German had plaited, and by the aid of his new confederates, he -soon added largely to his store. They laboured together like the workmen -of the tower of Babel, for they were almost as much hindered by -differences of opinion, as the others were by differences of speech. At -last they made up their minds to take the only course possible to them: -viz. to descend by the ladder into the ditch. Once there, it was agreed -that each should look after himself. - -On the appointed day--or, rather, night--they removed the bars as soon -as they found all was silent in the fortress. Fearing that their -suspended bodies might be seen from the other cells, they first let down -a long white sheet, which covered all the windows between their cell and -the ground. As it was necessary to prevent the ladder from falling -close to the wall, the abbé had some days previously erected a kind of -sundial at the end of a long pole, and the sentinels had already learned -to regard it without suspicion. After they had taken all these -precautions, and had smeared the white ropes of their ladder with soot, -the abbé asked to be allowed to be first to make the descent, promising -to await his companions in the ditch. He was, at the same time, to warn -them of the approach of the sentinels by pulling a smaller rope, falling -from the window to the ground. When all had been thus arranged he got -out of the window, and reached the ditch in safety; but he remained -there two hours without receiving a sign from his companions. He pulled -the rope repeatedly, to no purpose, and he began to fear they were -engaged in some new dispute, when he saw them lowering some cumbrous -machine they had constructed to aid them in their flight. Two of them -came down, but the rest had not at first been able to pass through the -window, and this had been the cause of the delay. When they found, at -length, they could force themselves through, they were still willing to -stay with the unfortunate Grandville, whose obesity compelled him to -remain behind, but he generously refused to allow them to make this -useless sacrifice on his behalf. - -Their sad story ended, the abbé urged them, with all the eloquence of -which he was master, to follow his plan of escape; but not being able to -persuade them he began to look to his own safety. He had only a small -osier ladder; with this he contrived to gain the top of the ditch as -soon as the sentinel’s back was turned; he then climbed the counterscarp -and reached a deep gutter, and passing over another wall and ditch, -finally dropped into the Rue St. Antoine, nearly lacerating his arm on -a hook outside a butcher’s shop in his fall. Before leaving the wall he -looked round for his comrades, and hearing the cry of a half-strangled -person, followed rapidly by a musket-shot, he concluded that they had -tried to carry out their intention of seizing the guard but had been -overpowered; and as he never heard of the unfortunate creatures again he -remained all his life confirmed in this impression. Not caring to await -a similar fate, he ran rapidly from the Rue St. Antoine to the Rue des -Journelles; and after making half the circuit of Paris he arrived at the -house of some friends, who furnished him with the means of leaving the -country. - - - - -_FORSTER, MACINTOSH, ROBERT KEITH, NITHSDALE, AND OTHER CHIEFS OF THE -JACOBITE INSURRECTION._ - -1715. - - -During the Jacobite insurrection of 1715 a great number of the partisans -of the Pretender, who had been made prisoners at Preston, were taken to -London, and lodged in Newgate and other gaols of the metropolis. Among -these unfortunate men were Thomas Forster, of Bamborough, a man of -excellent family and a member of Parliament for the county of -Northumberland, who had been commander-in-chief of the insurrection in -the north of England; Brigadier Macintosh, a highland gentleman, who had -learnt the art of war in the service of France; Robert Hepburn, of -Keith, one of the first lairds who had raised the standard of the -chevalier; Charles Radcliffe, brother of the Earl of Derwentwater, a -chief of the insurrection in England; and the Earls of Nithsdale and of -Winton, who had played the same in Scotland. - -Like almost all their companions in misfortune, they had cherished the -hope that the fact of their having surrendered at discretion would have -saved their lives. But when they saw so many around them condemned for -high treason they resolved to escape. The means at their command, their -numerous friends in the capital, and the faulty construction of the -gaols in which they were imprisoned afforded them a reasonable prospect -of success. - -Accordingly, on the 10th of April, 1716, Thomas Forster, having procured -false keys, simply opened the door of his prison and escaped in a manner -the very reverse of dramatic, but, beyond doubt, perfectly satisfactory -to himself. Everything was prepared for his flight, and he arrived -safely in France. - -On the 10th of May following, Brigadier Macintosh, having succeeded in -removing his irons and in reaching the lower storey of the prison, -placed himself near the door, and the moment it opened for the admission -of a servant, who had stayed out late, hurled the gaoler to the ground -and passed out, with fourteen of his companions. Some of the fugitives -were re-arrested in the streets, not knowing where to fly for safety, -but Macintosh was not so unfortunate. Among the prisoners who escaped at -about the same time was Robert Hepburn, of Keith. He overpowered the -gaoler by his immense strength, and, taking the keys away from him, -succeeded in gaining the street without being pursued. He was aware that -his wife and a number of his own people were in London, ready to come to -his aid; but he did not know how to find them in that immense city, -living, as they probably were, under an assumed name. While wandering -about in this state of uncertainty, fearing to betray his nationality by -asking a question, he saw in a window a piece of plate which had long -been in possession of his family, and which was called the Tankard of -Keith. Without a moment’s hesitation, the fugitive entered the house and -was received in the arms of his wife and children. Informed of his -intention to escape, they had taken a lodging as near the prison as they -could; and, not daring to confide the secret of their retreat to any -stranger, they had had recourse to this means of making it known to the -head of the family. Hepburn of Keith succeeded in reaching France. - -Charles Radcliffe and Lord Winton, who were condemned to death, also -contrived to regain their freedom at about the same time--whether -through the mere carelessness or the deliberate neglect of their guards -it is not easy to say. But the escape which made the most noise at the -time was that of the Earl of Nithsdale, who, like his companions, had -been condemned to suffer the extreme penalty of the law. - -The most strenuous exertions had been made to obtain a pardon for this -unfortunate gentleman, but in vain. Lady Nithsdale, his wife, had thrown -herself at the feet of George II., imploring mercy, but the king had -refused to listen to her. She, however, obtained permission to bid her -husband adieu on the night before his execution; and she accordingly -went to the Tower, accompanied by two women, who were in her confidence. -One of these women had on two suits of outer garments; and after leaving -a suit in the earl’s chamber she immediately quitted the prison. The -second woman gave the earl her clothes and put on those which the first -had just taken off. Wrapped up in a long cloak, and with a handkerchief -to his eyes, the prisoner then passed through the midst of the -sentinels, left the Tower, and at once took ship for France. Lady -Nithsdale, who remained behind, ran some risk of suffering in her -husband’s stead, but her life was spared, and she soon regained her -liberty. - -The Pretender himself succeeded in reaching the bridge of Montrose with -his army, and embarked secretly with the Earl of Mar and a few other -gentlemen, and thus abandoned his faithful mountaineers to all the -violence of an infuriated government, as if, in his anxiety for his own -safety, he had quite forgotten the unhappy creatures who had imperilled -their liberty and their lives for his sake. This departure was, indeed, -less of an escape than a dishonourable flight, and no sort of interest -attaches to it. In this it differed altogether from the escape, at a -future period, of his son, Prince Charles Edward, of which we propose to -give an account. - - - - -_CHARLES EDWARD._ - -1746. - - -After the battle of Culloden, which proved the ruin of his hopes, -Charles Edward was obliged to fly, to escape the government of George -II. A price was put on his head, and a reward of £30,000 sterling was -offered for his discovery and capture. “One would have supposed,” says -Scott, “that in a country so poor as the highlands of Scotland, where -laws concerning property are almost unknown, and among a people whose -propensities to pillage had almost passed into a proverb, a reward far -less considerable would have sufficed to awake the cupidity of some -traitor, and to have ruined the Pretender. That was not, however, the -case; and the escape of this prince, so long retarded by the agents of -the victorious power, and effected with so much difficulty and amid a -thousand obstacles, must be cited to the honour of Scotland, as a -striking and brilliant example of good faith.” - -During the battle of Culloden, Charles Edward had exposed himself to -considerable danger. He was several times covered with earth thrown up -by the bullets; he made repeated attempts to rally his troops, and -according to the testimony of most of those who witnessed his conduct, -he showed himself a brave and efficient commander. On quitting the field -of battle he dismissed, under various pretexts, the greater number of -the gentlemen who followed him--doubting, possibly, their fidelity--and -kept with him only a few Irish officers, on whom he thought he could -count. He directed his flight at first towards the residence of Lord -Lovat, thinking, perhaps, that this person, who was renowned for his -sagacity, could advise him as to his future course, and, perhaps, even -give him some material help; for his son, the Master of Lovat, and Cluny -MacPherson, another relative, had both raised considerable -reinforcements, and they were on the march to join the prince’s army, -when the battle took place. Charles and Lovat met for the first and last -time, both of them a prey to the fears and embarrassments of a desperate -situation. Charles spoke only of the distress into which Scotland was -plunged, Lovat occupied himself solely with his personal dangers. The -prince soon perceived that he had neither advice nor help to expect from -his host, and he went away after hastily taking some refreshment. The -place was dangerous, on account of the proximity of the victorious army; -and, perhaps, even the fidelity of Lovat was to be suspected. Charles -next halted at Invergarry--a castle belonging to the laird of -Glengarry, where he was served with an excellent repast of fresh-caught -salmon. As a punishment for this isolated act of hospitality, the -English soldiers shortly afterwards pillaged and sacked the castle. - -From Invergarry the fugitive made his way to a village in the western -mountains, near the place where he had disembarked on coming from -France. He there resolved to abandon his enterprise, and he accordingly -sent a message to the chiefs and the soldiers assembled at Ruthven, -thanking them for their services, and urging them to provide for their -own safety, since no other course was left to him but to try to make his -escape to France. His partisans in vain implored him to suffer them to -expose themselves to new dangers for his sake. Charles saw too clearly -that all was lost, and he refused to be the means of sacrificing the -lives of brave men, who he knew were only taking counsel of their own -devotion and despair. - -Separated from his faithful supporters and friends, Charles wandered -about the Hebrides in the hope of finding a ship for France. But the -very elements seemed to have declared against him; no ship appeared; and -his daily life was fast becoming almost purposeless. He at length -arrived at the spot where he had formerly disembarked. He was met by -Clanronald, who had been the first to declare for him, and who remained -faithful to him in this his dire distress. The prince was lodged in a -miserable hut belonging to a woodcutter named Corradale, and situated -upon the rugged mountain which bears the same name. - -Meanwhile the agents of the English government were making a keen search -for the fugitive in every place that seemed to offer him the possibility -of an asylum. General Campbell went to the very extremity of the isle of -St. Kilda, which might be termed the boundary of the habitable world, -and from thence passing to the other extremity of the Hebrides, he found -the chiefs of Skye and of MacLeod engaged in a similar search. Two -thousand men in all were employed in this undertaking, while the coasts -of the island were constantly watched by ships of war. It seemed -absolutely impossible for the prince to escape; yet he was saved by the -courage of a woman. - -That woman was Flora Macdonald, and her name is still honoured in the -land of her birth. She was a relative of Clanronald, and she was at the -time visiting that chief. Her father-in-law, who was of the clan of Sir -Alexander MacDonald, was consequently an enemy of the Pretender, and he -commanded the militia of the name of MacDonald, which was then exploring -South Uist. - -Having hastily formed a plan for saving the prince, Flora had sufficient -address to obtain from her father-in-law permission to engage a male -attendant and a servant girl, whom she named Betty Burke. The part of -Betty was to be played by the prince dressed as a woman. Charles did in -fact assume this disguise, and after having been several times in danger -of capture, he arrived at Kilbride, in the Isle of Skye. But he was -still in Sir Alexander MacDonald’s county, and he ran almost as great -risks as before. Here, however, the courage and presence of mind of -Flora were displayed anew in favour of the man thus so strangely placed -under the protection of a young girl. She resolved to confide her secret -to Lady Margaret MacDonald, wife of Sir Alexander, and to trust to the -natural compassion of the sex, and to that enthusiasm for the Jacobite -cause then common among nearly all the women of the Highlands. - -This undertaking was the more dangerous, as the husband of Lady -Margaret was already suspected of having at first offered his services -to the prince. Lady Margaret was alarmed at Flora’s revelation. Her -husband was absent, and her house was full of officers of militia. She -could think of no other way of providing for the safety of the prince -than to confide him to the care of MacDonald of Kingsburgh, a brave and -intelligent man, who acted as agent or steward to Sir Alexander. Flora -undertook to conduct the prince to MacDonald’s house; and the prince was -fortunate enough to avoid recognition on the road, although the -awkwardness of his air, dressed as he was like a woman, more than once -excited suspicion. - -From Kingsburgh he went to Raasay, where he was in the greatest -distress; the isle having been pillaged because the laird had taken part -in the insurrection. During this period of his flight he passed for the -servant of his guide. He then took refuge for a time in the country of -the laird of MacKinnon; but notwithstanding all the efforts of this -chief in his favour, he could find neither rest nor safety in that part -of the Isle of Skye, and was obliged to return once more to the mainland -of Scotland, on the borders of Loch Nevis. He was there exposed to new -dangers, and was very nearly taken. A great number of soldiers were -overrunning the district which was the cradle of the insurrection, the -country of Lochiel, of Keppoch, of Glengarry, and of other Jacobite -chiefs. The prince and his guide soon found themselves in the midst of a -circle of sentinels, and were scarcely able to move for fear of -detection. After having passed two days surrounded by enemies, and -without daring to light a fire to cook their food, they at length -avoided the threatened danger by passing through a narrow defile, which -separated the posts of two sentinels. Living thus in misery and -nakedness, often without food, without fire, and without shelter, the -unfortunate prince, sustained alone by the hope of learning that some -French vessel was approaching the coast, arrived at length at the -mountains of Strath-glass; And with Glen Allandale, who was then his -only companion, was obliged to take shelter in a cavern which was shared -by seven robbers. These men, however, were not ordinary outcasts; but -like Charles himself, they had been obliged to hide because they had -taken part in the insurrection. They willingly granted shelter to the -fugitive, and recognising the prince for whom they had so often exposed -their lives, they renewed to him their oaths of devotion. Among his most -obedient and attached subjects, Charles Edward never found more zeal, -fidelity, and effective help, than he met with at the hands of these men -who had become the enemies of the world and of its laws. Wishing to give -him all the assistance in their power, they undertook to procure him a -suit of clothes, a change of linen, some provisions, and news. They -executed their design with a strange mixture of that simplicity and -ferocity which then formed the basis of the Highland character. Two of -them lay in ambush for the servant of an officer who was going to Fort -Augustine with his master’s baggage, and killed him. This was the means -of furnishing the prince with clothes. Then another, in disguise, -ventured to enter Fort Augustine, managed to obtain valuable information -as to the movement of troops, and wishing to fulfil his mission of aid -in all its integrity, brought away for the unfortunate prince a small -piece of spiced bread of the value of a halfpenny. Charles Edward passed -more than three weeks in this cave, and it was with great reluctance -that his hosts suffered him to depart. “Stay with us,” they said. “The -mountains of gold which the government has promised for your head will -perhaps lead some gentleman to betray you; for it will be easy for him -to go in a distant land, and live upon the price of his infamy. But we -are under no such temptation. We know no other language but our own; we -cannot live in any other country; and if we were to harm a hair of your -head, our own mountains would fall upon us and crush us.” Another -remarkable example of enthusiasm and devotion aided at about this time -the escape of the prince. The son of a goldsmith of Edinburgh, named -Robert Mackenzie, who had been an officer in the Jacobite army, was then -hidden in the country of Glen Moriston. He was of about the same height -as Charles, and he resembled him very much, both in face and figure. He -was discovered by a party of soldiers, and attacked. He defended himself -bravely; and wishing by a last effort of heroism to render his death -useful to the cause he had served, he cried as he fell mortally wounded, -“Oh, wretches, you have killed your prince!” His generous plan -succeeded. He was taken for Charles Edward, and his head was sent to -London. Some time elapsed before the deception was discovered; and as -most persons believed that the real prince was killed, the government -began to relax the rigour of its search. Profiting by this momentary -respite, Charles Edward sought an interview with Lochiel, Cluny -MacPherson, and some others of his faithful partisans said to be hidden -in a neighbouring district. He therefore bid farewell to his faithful -banditti, two of whom, however, he kept with him to serve as guides and -as an escort. He at length succeeded in reaching Lochiel and MacPherson, -though not without running very great risks. They lived for some time in -a hut called the cage, sheltered by a very thick copse on the slope of -the mountain Benalder. But they were in the midst of abundance; and for -the first time since his flight the prince had enough to eat. - -Towards the middle of September, Charles Edward learned that two French -frigates had arrived at Loch Lannagh to convey him to France. He -embarked on the twentieth, with a hundred of his partisans, and touched -the coast of Brittany on the twenty-ninth, at a spot near Morlaix. For -five months he had wandered a fugitive; leading a precarious life in the -midst of fatigues and of dangers surpassing anything recorded in -history. During this time his secret had been confided to hundreds of -persons of both sexes, of all ages, and of all conditions, without one -of them, even among the thieves who lived at the risk of their lives, -having for a moment thought of enriching himself with the wages of the -informer. - - - - -_STANISLAUS LECZINSKI._ - -1734. - - -Stanislaus Leczinski was besieged by the Russians in the city of -Dantzic, and having no hope of relief, and knowing that the enemy wished -to capture him rather than the city, the unfortunate king of Poland -resolved to subserve the interests of his country in providing for his -own safety. Several means of escape were presented to him. Some wished -him to place himself at the head of a hundred determined men, and to -pierce the Russian lines, but the project was too impracticable to be -entertained. He then adopted the plan of the ambassador of -France--that, namely, of flying in the disguise of a peasant. - -“I left the house of the ambassador,” says the king, “in partial -disguise. I had not gone far when I wished to return to reassure him, -for he was greatly alarmed for my safety, and to dry the tears which I -had seen him shed. I therefore walked up again to his apartments and -tapped at the door, which he had gently closed. I found him prostrate on -the ground, and offering up fervent prayers to God to guide me in my -dangerous journey. ‘I come,’ said I, ‘to embrace you once more, and to -beg of you to resign yourself, as I do, to Providence.’” - -Accompanied by General Steinflycht, disguised like himself as a peasant, -and by another officer who was engaged to assist him, the king crossed -the ditch in a boat, intending to enter Prussia, but he was obliged to -pass a post commanded by a serjeant, who interrogated the party so -closely that they judged it most prudent to declare themselves. The -serjeant then made a profound salute to the king, and allowed him to -pass. The king’s guides did not belong to the most honourable portion of -society, two of them being mere vagabonds; but that was of no great -moment as they were perfectly acquainted with the roads, and were above -all faithful. They began, however, by detaining the unfortunate king all -one night and the following day in a miserable cabin in the midst of a -marsh, about a quarter of a league from Dantzic. They assured him this -was necessary for his safety, and Stanislaus soon discovered that the -trusty fellows thought too little of his rank to make it worth his while -to expostulate with them. On the following night they took to their -boat, and rowed slowly and with difficulty along a sluggish river -covered with weeds. Towards midnight the guides separated in two -parties, one of which led the general by the road bordering the river, -while the other continued with the king in the boat. At daybreak they -again hid themselves in a peasant’s hut, and the king slept on a truss -of straw. He had not lain there long when some Cossacks entered with a -great uproar, and he gave himself up for lost till he discovered that -they had merely come in to breakfast. They remained at table two mortal -hours, but at last they went away, and the peasant’s wife came to -reassure Stanislaus with the news, though she was wholly unable to -understand why he wished to avoid the Cossacks instead of drinking with -them. At nightfall they again took to the boat, and passed over a great -tract of country which had been flooded, and then after a long and -fatiguing march arrived at a house, the owner of which uttered a loud -cry at seeing the king. “He is merely one of our comrades,” said the -guides; “what has alarmed you?” “No, I am not deceived,” said the -peasant; “it is the king, Stanislaus.” “Yes, my friend,” said the king -firmly and confidently; “it is myself; but you are too honest a man to -refuse me help in the condition in which you see me.” The king’s -confidence was not misplaced; the man promised to take him across the -Vistula, and he kept his word. - -This part of the journey, however, was not effected without the king -being exposed to very great dangers. The Cossacks had possession of the -roads, and they examined every person with the greatest care whose -appearance resembled that of the king. The fugitives were often seen, -and on one occasion the guides were preparing to abandon Stanislaus, -telling him that they did not wish to be hanged without having the least -chance of saving his life. But he made them remain by threatening that -if they left him he would at once call the Cossacks, although they all -perished together. At another time he had to reanimate their courage by -a liberal supply of beer and of brandy. He had already learned that -Steinflycht had been misled and probably taken. At length they reached -the shores of the Vistula, and the peasant, hiding the king in some -bushes, went to look for a boat. When he was ready to embark, the king -wished to recompense the brave fellow by a present of a considerable sum -of money, but he could only induce him to accept two ducats, which the -worthy man said he would regard “As a souvenir of the happiness he had -known in seeing and knowing his sovereign.” “He took the ducats out of -my hand,” says Stanislaus, “in a manner and with expressions not easily -to be described.” - -All danger was not at an end even when they had passed the Vistula. On -one occasion one of the two vagabonds who had guided the king, got -drunk, and in the midst of a village openly demanded the price of -services he had rendered at the risk of his life. The chief guide had -happily the presence of mind to ridicule him before the villagers, and -to represent him as a kind of madman, who whenever he had too much to -drink mistook every one around him for a prince. Stanislaus at length -succeeded in passing the Nogat, and got rid at the same time of his -fears and of his vagabond companions, who though they had not betrayed -him, had added no little by their indiscretions to the discomforts and -miseries of his journey. - - - - -_BARON TRENCK._ - -1746-1763. - - -Frederic Baron Trenck, born at Königsberg in 1726, was the son of a -superior officer in the Prussian army, and cousin-german of the famous -Trenck, colonel of the Pandours in the service of Maria Theresa. At the -age of eighteen he became an officer in the body-guard of Frederic II., -and he was high in the favour of that prince. But the intelligence, the -bravery, and the brilliant exploits to which he owed that favour had -also procured him many enemies, who knew how to take advantage of the -indiscretions of a high-spirited young man. Trenck was presumptuous -enough to aspire to the regard of the Princess Amelia, sister of the -king; and this was undoubtedly the main cause of his disgrace, though -not the only one. In the campaign of 1744 the enemy’s foragers captured -the young officer’s groom, with two of his horses. The king at once -supplied him with another horse from the royal stables; but the next -morning the groom and the captured horses were brought back again by a -trumpeter of the enemy, who, on returning them to Trenck, placed in his -hands the following letter from the chief of the Pandours:-- - -“Trenck the Austrian is not at war with his cousin Trenck the Prussian. -He is delighted to have been able to get the two horses out of the -clutches of his hussars, and to return them to his cousin, to whom they -belong.” - -The young officer at once took the letter to the king, who, regarding -him with a frown, said: “Since your cousin has sent back your horses, -you have no need of mine.” - -Some months passed, and Trenck seemed perfectly restored to the favour -of his sovereign, when, the blow with which the king had long menaced -him fell suddenly upon his head. - -Some time previously, Trenck had been imprudent enough to write to his -cousin in the Austrian service; and, though his letter contained only -general expressions of compliment and regard, it was none the less a -grave breach of discipline. The affair of the captured horses had -afterwards happened, and Trenck had very nearly forgotten his letter, -when he one day received what purported to be a reply to it, though -there is every reason to believe that it was the work of some person in -the Prussian service plotting his ruin. Trenck was, however, arrested, -with the letter in his possession, and was taken to the castle of Glatz, -where he was placed in one of the rooms allotted to the officers of the -guard, and allowed the liberty of the fortress. He committed the error -of writing a very haughty letter to Frederic, which gave great offence. -He had remained five months in confinement; the king had vouchsafed no -reply to his demand to be brought before a military tribunal; peace had -been made; his post in the guards had been given to another; it was then -that he began to think of making his escape. - -During his imprisonment at Glatz he had made many friends among the -officers who had charge of him, by freely supplying them with money, -with which he was well provided. Two of these officers volunteered to -aid him in his escape, and to accompany him; and in addition to this -they all three undertook, from feelings of pity, to deliver another -officer, who had been condemned to ten years’ imprisonment in the same -fortress. After he had learned all their plans, this wretch, whom Trenck -had loaded with benefits, betrayed them, and earned his own liberty as -the reward of his treachery. One of the confederates, warned in time, -was enabled to save himself; the other, thanks to Trenck, who had bribed -his judge, escaped with a year’s imprisonment. But Trenck himself was -from that day watched more closely than before. Some years after, the -wretch who had so basely sold him received his reward: Trenck met him at -Warsaw, insulted him publicly, and killed him in a duel. - -The king was greatly incensed at this attempted escape, the more so as -he had already promised, at the earnest entreaty of Trenck’s mother, to -release him in a year. But Trenck had, unfortunately, been kept in -ignorance of this latter circumstance. He was not long, however, before -he made another effort to recover his liberty, of which he gives an -account in the following terms:-- - -“My window looked towards the city, and was ninety feet from the ground, -in the tower of the citadel, out of which I dared not get before finding -a place of refuge in the city. This an officer undertook to procure me, -and prevailed on an honest soap-boiler to grant me a hiding-place. I -then notched my penknife and sawed through three iron bars; but this -mode was too tedious, it being necessary to file away eight bars from my -window before I could pass through. Another officer, therefore, procured -me a file, which I was obliged to use with caution, lest I should be -overheard by the sentinels. - -“Having ended this labour, I cut my leather portmanteau into thongs, -sewed them end to end, added the sheets of my bed, and descended safely -from this tremendous height. - -“It rained, the night was dark, and all seemed fortunate; but I had to -wade through moats full of mud before I could enter the city--a -circumstance I had never once considered. I sank up to the knees, and -after long struggling and incredible efforts to extricate myself, I was -obliged to call the sentinel and desire him to go and tell the governor -Trenck was stuck fast in the moat. - -“My misfortune was the greater on this occasion as General Fouquet was -then governor of Glatz. He was one of the cruellest of men. He had been -wounded by my father in a duel, and the Austrian Trenck had taken his -baggage in 1744, and had also laid the country of Glatz under -contribution. He was, therefore, an enemy to the very name of Trenck; -nor did he lose any opportunity of giving proofs of his sentiments, and -especially on the present occasion, when he left me standing in the mire -till noon, the sport of the soldiers. I was then drawn out, half dead, -only to be again imprisoned and shut up the whole day, without water to -wash myself. No one can imagine how I looked--exhausted and dirty, my -long hair having fallen into the mud, with which, by my struggling, it -was loaded. I remained in this condition till the next day, when two -fellow-prisoners were sent to assist and clean me. - -“My imprisonment now became intolerable. I had still eighty louis d’ors -in my purse, which had not been taken from me at my removal into another -dungeon, and these afterwards did me good service. - -“Eight days had not elapsed since my last fruitless attempt to escape -when an event happened which would appear incredible were I, the -principal actor in the scene, not alive to attest its truth, and might -not all Glatz and the Prussian garrison be produced as eye and -ear-witnesses. This incident will prove that adventurous and even rash -daring will render the most improbable undertakings possible, and that -desperate attempts may often make a general more fortunate and famous -than the wisest and best concerted plans. - -“Major Doo came to visit me, accompanied by an officer of the guard and -an adjutant. After examining every corner of my chamber, he addressed -me, taxing me with a second crime in endeavouring to obtain my liberty, -adding that this must certainly increase the anger of the king. - -“My blood boiled at the word crime; he talked of patience, I asked how -long the king had condemned me to imprisonment. He answered, a traitor -to his country who has correspondence with the enemy, cannot be -condemned for a certain time, but must depend for grace and pardon on -the king. - -“At that instant I snatched his sword from his side, on which my eyes -had been some time fixed, sprang out of the door, tumbled the sentinel -from the top to the bottom of the stairs, passed the men who happened to -be drawn up before the prison door to relieve the guard, attacked them -sword in hand, threw them suddenly into surprise by the manner in which -I laid about me, wounded four of them, made way through the rest, sprang -over the breastwork of the ramparts, and with the sword drawn in my hand -immediately leaped this astonishing height without receiving the least -injury; I leaped the second wall with equal safety and good fortune. -None of their pieces were loaded; no one durst leap after me, and in -order to pursue, they must go round through the tower and gate of the -citadel, so that I had the start full half an hour. - -“A sentinel, however, in a narrow passage endeavoured to oppose my -flight, but I parried his fixed bayonet and wounded him in the face. A -second sentinel, meantime, ran from the outworks to seize me behind, and -I, to avoid him, I made a spring at the palisades; unluckily my foot -got stuck, and the sentinel seized it and held me by it till his -comrades came up, who beat me with the butt end of their muskets, and -dragged me back to prison, while I struggled and defended myself like a -man grown desperate. - -“Certain it is, had I more carefully jumped the palisades, and -despatched the sentinel who opposed me I might have escaped, and gained -the mountains. Thus might I have fled to Bohemia, after having, at noon -day, broken from the fortress at Glatz, sprung past all its sentinels, -over all its walls, and passed with impunity, in spite of the guard, who -were under arms, ready to oppose me. I should not, with a sword in my -hand, have feared any single opponent, and was able to contend with the -swiftest runners. That good fortune which had so far attended me, -forsook me at the palisades, where hope was at an end. - -“The severities of imprisonment were increased, two sentinels and an -under officer were locked in with me, and were themselves guarded by -sentinels without. I was beaten and wounded by the butt ends of their -muskets, my right foot was sprained. I spit blood, and my wounds were -not cured in less than a month. - -“I was now informed for the first time that the king had only condemned -me to a year’s imprisonment to learn whether his suspicions were well -founded. My mother had petitioned for me, and was answered, ‘Your son -must remain a year imprisoned as a punishment for his rash -correspondence.’ Of this I was ignorant, and it was reported in Glatz, -that my imprisonment was for life. I had only three weeks longer to -repine for the loss of liberty, when I made this rash attempt. What must -the king think? Was he not obliged to act with this severity? How could -prudence excuse my - -[Illustration: My foot got stuck, and the sentinel seized it.] - -impatience, thus to risk a confiscation, when I was certain of receiving -freedom, justification, and honour in three weeks. But such was my -adverse fate, circumstances all tended to injure and persecute me, till -at length I gave everyone reason to suppose I was a traitor, -notwithstanding the purity of my intentions. - -“Once more then I was in a dungeon, and no sooner was I there than I -formed new projects of flight. I first gained the intimacy of my guards. -I had money, and this, with the compassion I had inspired, might effect -anything among discontented Prussian soldiers. Soon I had gained -thirty-two men who were ready to execute, on the first signal, whatever -I should command. Two or three excepted, they were unacquainted with -each other, they consequently could not all betray me at once. One -Nicholai, a subaltern, was chosen as the leader. - -“The garrison consisted only of one hundred and twenty men from the -garrison regiment--the rest being dispersed in the county of Glatz--and -four officers their commanders, three of whom were in my interest. -Everything was prepared, swords and pistols were concealed in the oven, -which was in my prison. We intended to give liberty to all the -prisoners, and retire with drums beating, into Bohemia. - -“Unfortunately, an Austrian deserter, to whom Nicholai had imparted our -design revealed our conspiracy. The governor instantly sent his adjutant -to the citadel with orders that the officer on guard should arrest -Nicholai, and with his men take possession of the casement. - -“Nicholai was on the guard, and the lieutenant was my friend, and being -in the secret gave the signal that all was discovered. Nicholai only -knew all the conspirators, several of whom that day were on guard. He -instantly formed his resolution, leaped into the casement, crying, -‘Comrades, to arms! we are betrayed;’ all followed to the guard-house, -where they seized on the cartridges. The officer having only eight men, -and threatening to fire on whoever should offer resistance, came to -deliver me from prison, but the iron door was too strong and the time -too short for that to be demolished. Nicholai, calling to me, bid me aid -them, but in vain; and perceiving nothing more could be done for me, -this brave man, heading nineteen others, marched to the gate of the -citadel, where there was a sub-officer and ten soldiers, obliged these -to accompany him, and thus arrived safely at Braunau, in Bohemia, for -before the news was spread through the city, and men were collected for -the pursuit, they were nearly half way on their journey. - -“Two years after I met with this extraordinary man at Ofenburg, where he -was a writer; he entered immediately into my service, and became my -friend, but died some months after of a burning fever at my quarters in -Hungary, at which I was deeply grieved, for his memory will ever be dear -to me. - -“Now was I exposed to all the storms of ill fortune; a prosecution was -entered against me as a conspirator, who wanted to corrupt the officers -and soldiers of the King. They commanded me to name the remaining -conspirators; but to these questions I made no answer except by -steadfastly declaring I was an innocent prisoner, an officer unjustly -broken, because I had never been brought to trial,--that consequently I -was released from all my engagements. - -“A lieutenant, whose name was Bach, a Dane, mounted guard every fourth -day, and was the terror of the whole garrison; for being a perfect -master of arms, he was incessantly involved in quarrels, and generally -left his marks behind him. He had served in two regiments, neither of -which would associate with him for this reason, and he had been sent to -the garrison regiment at Glatz as a punishment. - -“Bach, one day sitting beside me, related how the evening before he had -wounded a lieutenant, of the name of Schell in the arm. I replied, -laughing, ‘Had I my liberty, I believe you would find some trouble in -wounding me, for I have some skill in the sword.’ The blood instantly -flew into his face. We split off a kind of a pair of foils from an old -door, which had served me as a table, and at the first lunge I hit him -on the breast. - -“His rage became ungovernable, and he left the prison. What was my -astonishment when, a moment after, I saw him return with two soldier’s -swords, which he had concealed under his coat. ‘Now then, boaster, -prove,’ said he, giving me one of them, ‘what thou art able to do.’ I -endeavoured to pacify him, by representing the danger; but -ineffectually. He attacked me with the utmost fury, and I wounded him in -the arm. - -“Throwing his sword down, he fell upon my neck, kissed me, and wept. At -length, after some convulsive emotions of pleasure, he said, ‘Friend, -thou art my master, and thou must, thou shalt, by my aid, obtain thy -liberty, as certainly as my name is Bach.’ We bound up his arm as well -as we could. He left me, and secretly went to a surgeon to have it -properly dressed, and at night returned. - -“Lieutenant Schell was just come from the garrison at Habelschwert, to -the citadel of Glatz, and in two days was to mount guard over me, till -which time our attempt was suspended. I had received no more supplies, -and my purse only contained some six pistoles. It was therefore -resolved that Bach should go to Schweidnitz, and obtain money of a sure -friend of his in that city. - -“It must be borne in mind that at this period the officers and I all -understood each other, Captain Roder alone excepted, who was exact, -rigid, and gave trouble on every possible occasion. Major Quaadt was my -kinsman by my mother’s side, a good friendly man, and ardently desirous -I should escape, seeing my calamities were so much increased. The four -lieutenants, who successively mounted guard over me, were Bach, -Schroeder, Lunitz, and Schell. The first was the grand projector, and -made all preparations. Schell was to desert with me, and Schroeder and -Lunitz, three days after, were to follow. No one ought to be surprised -that officers of garrison regiments should be so ready to desert; they -are in general either men of violent passions, quarrelsome, overwhelmed -with debts, or unfit for service. They are usually sent to garrison as a -punishment, and are called the refuse of the army. Dissatisfied with -their situation, their pay much reduced, and despised by the troops, -such men, expecting advantage, may be brought to engage in the most -desperate undertaking; for none of them can hope for their discharge. -They all hoped by my means to better their fortune, I always having had -money enough, and with money, nothing is more easy than to find friends -in places where each individual is desirous of escaping from slavery. - -“The governor had in the meantime been informed how familiar I had -become with the officers, and, growing alarmed at this circumstance, he -sent orders that my door should no more be opened, but that I should -receive my food through a small window that had been made for the -purpose. The care of the prison was committed to the major, and he was -forbidden to eat with me under pain of being broken. - -“His precautions were ineffectual. The officers procured a false key, -and remained with me half the day and night. - -“A Captain Damnitz was imprisoned in an apartment by the side of mine. -This man had deserted from the Prussian service, with the money -belonging to his company, to Austria, where he obtained a commission in -his cousin’s regiment. This cousin having prevailed on him to serve as a -spy during the campaign of 1744, he was taken in the Prussian -territories, recognised, and condemned to be hanged. - -“Some Swedish volunteers who were then in the army interested themselves -in his behalf, and his sentence was changed to perpetual imprisonment, -with a sentence of infamy. - -“This wretch, who two years afterwards, by the aid of his protectors, -not only obtained his liberty, but a lieutenant-colonel’s commission, -was the secret spy of the major over the prisoners, and he remarked that -notwithstanding the express prohibition laid on the officers, they still -passed the greater part of their time in my company. - -“The 24th of December came, and Schell mounted guard. He entered my -prison immediately, where he continued a long time, and we made our -arrangements for flight when he should next mount guard. - -“Meantime Lieut. Schroeder, who was in the secret, had no doubt but that -we were betrayed, knowing that the spy Damnitz had informed the governor -that Schell was then in my chamber. Schroeder, therefore, full of -terror, came running to the citadel, and said to Schell: ‘Save thyself, -friend; all is discovered, and thou wilt instantly be put under -arrest.’ - -“Schell might easily have provided for his own safety, by flying singly, -Schroeder having prepared horses on one of which he himself offered to -accompany him into Bohemia. - -“How did this worthy man, in a moment so dangerous, act towards his -friend? Running suddenly into my prison, he drew a corporal’s sabre from -under his coat, and said, ‘My friend, we are betrayed; follow me, only -do not allow me to fall alive into the hands of my enemies.’ - -“I would have spoken, but interrupting me, and taking me by the hand, he -added, ‘Follow me, we have not a moment to lose.’ I therefore slipped on -my coat and boots, without having time to take the little money I had -left; and as we went out of the prison, Schell said to the sentinel, ‘I -am taking the prisoner into the officer’s apartment; stand where you -are.’ - -“Into this room we really went, but passed out at the other door. The -design of Schell was to go under the arsenal, which was not far off, to -gain the covered way, leap the palisadoes, and afterwards escape the -best manner we might. - -“We had hardly gone a hundred paces before we met the Adjutant and Major -Quaadt. Schell started back, sprang upon the rampart, and leaped from -the wall, which was at that part not very high. I followed, and alighted -unhurt, except having grazed my shoulder. My poor friend was not so -fortunate, having put out his ankle. He immediately drew his sword, -presented it to me, and begged me to despatch him and fly. He was a -small, weak man; but, far from complying with his request, I took him in -my arms, threw him over the palisadoes, afterwards got him on my back, -and began to run, without knowing very well which way I went. - -“It may not be unnecessary to notice the fortunate circumstances that -favoured our enterprise. - -“The sun had just set as we took to flight, and a hoar frost came on. No -one would run the risk that we had done, by making so dangerous a leap. -We heard a terrible noise behind us. Everybody knew us, but before they -could go round the citadel, and run through the town, in order to pursue -us, we had got a full half-league. - -“The alarm guns were fired before we were a hundred paces distant, at -which my friend was very much terrified, knowing that in such cases it -was generally impossible to escape from Glatz unless the fugitives had -got a start of full two hours; the passes being immediately all stopped -by the peasants and hussars, who are exceedingly vigilant. No sooner is -a prisoner missed than the gunner runs from the guard house and fires -the cannon on the three sides of the fortress, which are kept loaded day -and night for that purpose. - -“We were not five hundred paces from the wall when all before us and -behind us were in motion. It was daylight when we leaped, yet was our -attempt as fortunate as it was wonderful; this I attributed to my -presence of mind, and the reputation I had already gained, which made it -thought a service of danger for two or three men to attack me. - -“It was, besides, imagined we were well provided with arms for our -defence, and it was little suspected that Schell had only his sword, and -I an old corporal’s sabre. - -“Scarcely had I borne my friend three hundred paces, before I set him -down, and I looked round me; but darkness came on so fast, that I could -see neither town nor citadel, consequently, we ourselves could not be -seen. - -“My presence of mind did not forsake me; death or freedom was my -determination. ‘Where are we, Schell?’ said I to my friend. ‘Where does -Bohemia lie? On which side is the river Neiss.’ The worthy man could -make no answer; his mind was all confusion, and he despaired of our -escape. He still, however, entreated I would not let him be taken alive, -and affirmed my labour was all in vain. After having promised, by all -that was sacred, I would save him from an infamous death, if no other -means were left, and thus raised his spirits, he looked round, and knew, -by some trees, we were not far from the city gates. - -“I asked him, ‘Where is the Neiss?’ He pointed sideways. ‘All Glatz has -seen us fly towards the Bohemian mountains. It is impossible we should -avoid the hussars, the passes being all guarded, and we beset with -enemies.’ So saying, I took him on my shoulders, and carried him to the -Neiss. Here we distinctly heard the alarm sounded in the villages, and -the peasants, who likewise were to form the line of desertion, were -everywhere in motion and spreading the alarm. I came to the Neiss, which -was a little frozen, entered it with my friend, and carried him as long -as I could wade; and when I could not feel the bottom, which did not -continue for a space of eighteen feet, he clung round me, and thus we -got safely to the other shore. The reader will easily suppose swimming -in the midst of December, and remaining afterwards in the open air -eighteen hours, was a severe hardship. - -“About seven o’clock, the hoar frost was succeeded by frost and -moonlight. The carrying of my friend kept me warm, it is true; but I -began to be tired, while he suffered everything that frost, the pain of -a dislocated foot (which I in vain endeavoured to reset), and the danger -of death from a thousand hands could inflict. - -“We were somewhat tranquil, however, since nobody would pursue us to -Silesia. I followed the course of the river for half an hour, and having -once passed the first villages that formed the line of desertion, with -which Schell was perfectly acquainted, we in a lucky moment found a -fisherman’s boat moored to the shore. Into this we leaped, crossed the -river again, and soon gained the mountains. Here being come, we sat -ourselves down on the snow. Hope revived in our hearts, and we held -council concerning how it was best to act. I cut a stick to assist -Schell in hopping forward as well as he could when I was tired of -carrying him; and thus we continued our route, the difficulties of which -were increased by the mountain snows. - -“Thus passed the night, during which, up to the middle in snow, we made -but little way. There were no paths to be traced in the mountains, and -they were in many places impassable. - -“Day at length appeared. We thought ourselves near the frontiers, which -are twenty English miles from Glatz, when we suddenly, to our terror, -heard the city clock strike. Overwhelmed as we were by hunger, cold, -pain, and fatigue, it was impossible we should hold out during the day. -After some consideration, and another half-hour’s labour, we came to a -village at the foot of the mountain, on the side of which, about three -hundred paces from us, we perceived two separate houses, and the sight -inspired us with a stratagem that was successful. - -“We lost our hats in leaping the ramparts, but Schell had preserved his -scarf and gorget, which would give him authority among the peasants. - -“I then cut my finger, rubbed the blood over my face, my shirt, and my -coat, and bound up my head, to give myself the appearance of a man -dangerously wounded. In this condition, I carried Schell to the end of -the wood, not far from these houses. Here he tied my hands behind my -back, but so that I could easily disengage them in time of need, and -hobbled after me by aid of his staff, calling for help. - -“Two old peasants appeared, and Schell commanded them to run to the -village and tell a magistrate to come immediately with a cart. ‘I have -seized this knave,’ added he, ‘who has killed my horse, and in the -struggle I have put out my ankle. However, I have wounded him and bound -him. Fly quickly; bring a cart, lest he should die before he is hanged.’ - -“As for me, I suffered myself to be led, as if half dead, into the -house. A peasant was dispatched to the village. - -“An old woman and a pretty girl seemed to take great pity on me, and -gave me some bread and milk; but how great was our astonishment when the -aged peasant called Schell by his name, and told him he well knew we -were deserters, he having the night before been at a neighbouring -alehouse, where the officer in pursuit of us came, named and described -us, and related the whole history of our flight. The peasant knew -Schell, because his son served in his company, and had often spoken of -him when he was quartered at Habelschwert. - -“Presence of mind and resolution were all that were now left. I -instantly ran to the stable, while Schell detained the peasant in the -chamber. He, however, was a worthy man, and directed him to the road -towards Bohemia. We were still about seven miles from Glatz, having lost -ourselves among the mountains, where we had wandered many miles. The -daughter followed me. I found three horses in the stable but no -bridles. I conjured her in the most passionate manner possible to assist -me. She was affected, seemed half willing to follow me, and gave me two -bridles. I led the horses to the door, called Schell, and helped him, -with his lame leg, on horseback. The old peasant then began to weep, and -begged I would not take his horses; but he luckily wanted courage, and -perhaps the will to impede us, for with nothing more than a dung fork, -in our then feeble condition, he might have stopped us long enough to -have called in assistance from the village. - -“And now behold us on horseback, without hats or saddles--Schell with -his uniform scarf and gorget, and I in my red regimental coat. Still we -were in danger of seeing all our hopes vanish, for my horse would not -stir from the stable. However, at last, good horseman-like, I made him -move. Schell led the way, and we had scarcely gone a hundred paces -before we perceived the peasants coming in crowds from the village. As -kind fortune would have it, the people were all at church, it being a -festival. It was nine in the morning, and had the peasants been at home -we had been lost without redemption. We were obliged to take the road to -Wunshelburg, and pass through the town where Schell had been quartered a -month before, and in which he was known by everybody. Our dress, without -hats or saddles, sufficiently proclaimed we were deserters; our horses, -however, continued to go tolerably well, and we had the good luck to get -through the town, although there was a garrison of one hundred and -eighty infantry and twelve horse purposely to arrest deserters. Schell -knew the road to Brummen, where we arrived at eleven o’clock, and from -thence we went to Braunau, where we were safe.” - -During the first few months following his escape, Trenck - -[Illustration: Trenck escaping with Lieutenant Schell.] - -wandered about miserably, pursued everywhere by the vengeance of -Frederick, and being obliged sometimes to resist sword in hand persons -sent in pursuit of him. Proscribed in his own country, he had taken -service with Austria. At length, after a series of adventures, of which -he gives an account in his “Memoirs” that bears all the impress of -sincerity, notwithstanding the extraordinary events to which it refers, -he found himself at Dantzic, where he was delivered up to the King of -Prussia by the treachery of the imperial resident and the authorities of -the city. He was then taken to Magdeburg, and imprisoned in the citadel. - -“My dungeon,” he says, “was in a casemate, the fore part of which, six -feet wide and ten feet long, was divided by a party wall. In the inner -wall were two doors, and a third at the entrance of the casemate itself. -The window in the outer wall, which was seven feet thick, was so -situated, that though I had light, I could see neither heaven nor earth, -but only the roof of the magazine within, and outside this window were -iron bars, and in the space between, an iron grating, so narrow and with -such small interstices that it was impossible I should see any person -without the prison or that any person should see me. On the outside was -a wooden palisado six feet from the wall, by which the sentinels were -prevented conveying anything to me. I had a mattress, and a bedstead, -fastened to the floor by iron cramps so firmly that it was impossible to -move it up to the window. Beside the door was a small iron stove and a -table, in like manner fixed to the floor. I was not yet put in irons, -and my allowance was a pound and a half per day of ammunition bread, and -a jug of water. From my youth I always had a good appetite, and my bread -was so mouldy I could at first scarcely eat the half of it. This was -one result of the commandant’s avarice, who endeavoured to profit even -by the food supplies of the unfortunate prisoners. It is impossible for -me to describe to my reader the excess of tortures that during eleven -months I endured from ravenous hunger. I could easily have devoured six -pounds of bread every day; and every twenty-four hours, after having -received and swallowed my small portion I continued as hungry as before -I began, yet I was obliged to wait another twenty-four hours for a new -morsel. How willingly would I have signed a bill of exchange for a -thousand ducats, on my property at Vienna, only to have satiated my -hunger on dry bread. Scarcely had I dropped into a sweet sleep before I -dreamed I was feasting at some table, luxuriously loaded, where the -whole company were astonished to see me, eating like a glutton, to such -an extent was my imagination heated by the sensation of famine. - -“Awakened by the pains of hunger, I used to find that the dishes had -vanished, and that nothing remained but the reality of my distress. The -cravings of nature were but inflamed, my tortures prevented sleep, and -looking into futurity, the cruelty of my fate seemed to me, if possible -to increase, for I imagined that the prolongation of pangs like these -was insupportable. God preserve every honest man from sufferings like -mine! They were not to be endured by the most obdurate villain. Many -have fasted three days, many have suffered want for a week or more, but -certainly no one beside myself ever endured it in the same excess for -eleven months; some have supposed that to eat little might become -habitual, but I have experienced the contrary. My hunger increased every -day, and of all the trials of fortitude my whole life has afforded, this -eleven months was the most bitter. - -“My three doors were kept always shut, and I was left to such -meditations as such feelings and such hopes might inspire. Daily, about -noon, or once in twenty-four hours, my pittance of bread and water was -brought. The keys of all the doors were kept by the governor; the inner -door was not opened, but my bread and water were delivered through an -aperture. The prison was opened only once a week, on a Wednesday, when -the governor and town major paid their visit, after my den had been -cleaned. - -“Having remained thus two months, and observed this method was -invariable, I began to execute a project I had formed, and of the -possibility of which I was convinced. - -“Where the table and stove stood, the floor was bricked, and this paving -extended to the wall that separated my casemate from the adjoining one, -in which no one was confined. My window was only guarded by a single -sentinel. I therefore soon found among those who successively relieved -guard, two kind-hearted fellows, who described to me the situation of my -prison, whence I perceived I might effect my escape, could I but -penetrate into the adjoining casement (the door of which was not shut), -and find a friend and a boat waiting for me at the Elbe. Or could I swim -that river, the confines of Saxony were but a mile distant. - -“To describe my plan at length would lead to prolixity, yet I must -enumerate some of its main features, as it was remarkably intricate and -it involved gigantic labour. - -“I worked through the iron, eighteen inches long, by which the table was -fastened, and broke off the clinchings of the nails, but preserved their -heads, that I might put them again in their places, that all might -appear secure to my weekly visitors. This procured me tools to raise up -the brick floor, under which I found earth. My first attempt was to work -a hole through the wall, seven feet thick behind, and concealed by the -table. The first layer was of brick; I afterwards came to large hewn -stones. I endeavoured accurately to number and remember the bricks, both -of the flooring and the wall, so that I might replace them, that all -might appear safe. This having been accomplished, I awaited the day of -visitation. All was carefully replaced, and the intervening mortar as -carefully preserved. The cell had probably been whitewashed a hundred -times, and, that I might fill up all remaining interstices, I pounded -the white stuff from the walls, wetted it, made a brush of my hair, -washed it over, that the colour might be uniform, and afterwards -stripped myself, and sat, with my naked body against the place, by the -heat of which it was dried. - -“While labouring, I placed the stones and bricks upon my bedstead; and -had they taken the precaution to come at any other time of the week, the -stated Wednesday excepted, I had inevitably been discovered; but as no -such ill accident befell me, in six months my Herculean labours gave me -a prospect of success. - -“Means were to be found to remove the rubbish from my prison, all of -which, in so thick a wall, it was impossible to replace. Mortar and -stone could not be removed. I therefore took the earth, scattered it -about my chamber, and ground it under my feet the whole day, till I had -reduced it to dust, which I strewed in the aperture of my window, making -use of the loosened table to stand upon. I tied splinters from my -bedstead together, with the ravelled yarn of an old stocking, and to -this I affixed a tuft of my hair. I worked a large hole under the middle -grating, which could not be seen by any one standing on the ground, and -through this I pushed my dust with the tool I had prepared in the outer -window, then waiting till the wind rose, during the night I brushed it -away. It was blown off, and no appearance remained on the outside. - -“By this single expedient, I rid myself of at least three hundredweight -of earth, and thus made room to continue my labours; yet this being -still insufficient, I had recourse to many other artifices, among them -that of kneading up the earth into little balls which, and when the -sentinel’s back was turned, I blew through a paper tube, out of the -window. Into the empty space I put my mortar and stones, and worked on -successfully. - -“I cannot, however, describe my difficulties after having penetrated -about two feet into the hewn stone. My tools were the irons I had dug -out, which fastened my bedstead and table. A compassionate soldier also -gave me an old iron ramrod, and a soldier’s sheath knife, which did me -excellent service, more especially the latter, as I shall presently more -fully show. With the knife I cut splinters from my bedstead, which aided -me to pick the mortar from the interstices of the stone; yet the labour -of penetrating through this seven-feet wall was incredible. The building -was ancient, and the mortar occasionally quite petrified, so that the -whole stone was obliged to be reduced to dust. After continuing my work -unremittingly for six months, I at length approached the accomplishment -of my hopes, as I knew by coming to the facing of brick which alone -remained between me and the adjoining casemate. - -“Meantime, I found opportunity to speak to some of the sentinels, among -whom was an old grenadier, called Gefhardt, whom I here name because he -displayed qualities of the greatest and most noble kind. From him I -learned the precise situation of my prison, and every circumstance that -might best conduce to my escape. - -“Nothing was wanting but money to buy a boat, so crossing the Elbe with -Gefhardt, I might take refuge in Saxony. By Gefhardt’s means I became -acquainted with a kind-hearted girl, a Jewess, and a native of Dessau, -Esther Heymannin by name, whose father had been ten years in prison. -This good, compassionate maiden, whom I had never seen, won over two -grenadiers, who gave her an opportunity of speaking to me every time -they stood sentinel. By tying my splinters together, I made a stick long -enough to reach beyond the palisadoes that were before my window, and -thus obtained paper, another knife, and a file. - -“I now wrote to my sister, the wife of the before-mentioned only son of -General Waldow, described my awful situation, and entreated her to remit -three hundred rix-dollars to the Jewess, hoping by this means I might -escape from my prison. I then wrote another affecting letter to Count -Puebla, the Austrian ambassador at Berlin, in which was enclosed a draft -for a thousand florins on my effects at Vienna, desiring him to remit -these to the Jewess, having promised her that sum as a reward for her -fidelity. She was to bring the three hundred rix-dollars my sister -should send me, and take measures with the grenadiers to facilitate my -flight, which nothing seemed able to prevent; I having the power either -to break into the casemate, or, aided by the grenadiers and the Jewess, -to cut the locks from the doors and that way escape my dungeon. The -letters were open, I being obliged to roll them round the stick to -convey them to Esther. - -“The faithful girl diligently proceeded to Berlin, where she arrived -safely, and immediately spoke to Count Puebla. The Count gave her the -kindest reception, received the letter, with the letter of exchange, and -bade her go and speak to Weingarten, the secretary of the embassy, and -act entirely as he should direct. She was received by Weingarten in the -most friendly manner, and he, by his questions, drew from her the whole -secret, our intended plan of flight, and the names of the two grenadiers -who were to aid us. She told him also that she had a letter for my -sister, which she must carry to Hammer, near Custrin. - -“He asked to see this letter, read it, told her to proceed on her -journey, gave her two ducats to bear her expenses, and ordered her to -come to him on her return; adding that during this interval he would -endeavour to obtain the thousand florins for my draft, and would then -give her further instructions. - -“Esther cheerfully departed for Hammer, where my sister, then a widow, -and no longer, as in 1746, in dread of her husband, immediately gave her -a letter to me, with three hundred rix-dollars, exhorting her to exert -every possible means to obtain my deliverance. Having prospered so far, -Esther hastened back to Berlin, with the letter from my sister, and told -Weingarten all that passed, whom she allowed to read the letter. He told -her the two thousand florins from Vienna were not yet come, but gave her -twelve ducats, bade her hasten back to Magdeburg, to carry me all this -good news, and then return to Berlin, where he would pay her the -thousand florins. Esther came to Magdeburg, went immediately to the -citadel, and most luckily met the wife of one of the grenadiers, who -told her that her husband and his comrade had been taken and put in -irons the day before. Esther’s quickness of perception told her that we -had been betrayed: she, therefore, instantly again began her travels, -and happily came safe to Dessau.” - -One of the grenadiers was hung, the other cruelly tortured. Trenck’s -sister was condemned to pay a heavy fine, and the expenses of building a -new cell for her brother. Trenck did not know at first what had -happened, but he was soon informed of it by Gefhardt, who told him that -his new prison would be finished in a month. Frederic, who had come to -Magdebourg to hold a review, himself designed the chains for the limbs -of his victim. Meanwhile Trenck was still in hopes of regaining his -liberty. As yet nothing had been discovered of his subterranean -operations. His preparations were at length finished, and he was getting -ready to fly during the night, when suddenly the doors were opened; he -was seized, and bound hand and foot; a bandage was placed over his eyes, -and he was dragged away to his new cell. His feelings are best described -in his own words:-- - -“The bandage was taken from my eyes. The dungeon was lighted by a few -torches. Great heaven! what were my feelings when I beheld the floor -covered with chains, a fire pan, and two grim men standing with their -smiths’ hammers. - -“These engines of despotism went to work at once: enormous chains were -fixed to my ancles at one end, and at the other to a ring which was -fixed in the wall. This ring was three feet from the ground, and only -allowed me to move about two or three feet to the right and left. They -next riveted another huge iron ring of a hand’s breadth round my naked -body, to which hung a chain fixed into an iron bar as thick as a man’s -arm. This bar was two feet in length, and at each end of it was a -handcuff. The iron collar round my neck was not added till the year -1756. - -“No soul bade me good-night. All retired in dreadful silence, and I -heard the horrible grating of four doors that were successively locked -and bolted upon me. - -“Thus does man act by his fellow, knowing him to be innocent, in blind -obedience to the commands of another man. - -“O God! Thou alone knowest how my heart, void as it was of guilt, beat -at this moment. There I sat, destitute, alone, in thick darkness, upon -the bare earth, with a weight of fetters insupportable to nature, -thanking Thee that these cruel men had not discovered my knife by which -my miseries might yet find an end. Death is a last certain refuge that -can indeed bid defiance to the rage of tyranny. What shall I say. How -shall I make the reader feel as I then felt? How describe my -despondency, and yet account for that latent impulse that withheld my -hand on this fatal, this miserable night? - -“The misery I foresaw was not of short duration. I had heard of the wars -that were lately broken out between Austria and Prussia. To patiently -wait their termination amid sufferings and wretchedness such as mine, -appeared impossible, and freedom even then was doubtful. Sad experience -had I had of Vienna, and well I knew that those who had despoiled me of -my property would most anxiously endeavour to prevent my return. Such -were my meditations, such my night thoughts. Day at length returned, -but where was its splendour? I beheld it not, yet its glimmering -obscurity was sufficient to show me my dungeon. - -“In breadth, the cell was about eight feet; in length, ten. Near me -stood a table; in a corner was a seat four bricks broad, on which I -might sit and recline against the wall opposite to the ring to which I -was fastened; the light was admitted through a semicircular aperture one -foot high, and two in diameter. This aperture ascended to the centre of -the wall, which was six feet thick, and at this central part was a close -iron grating from which outward the aperture descended, having its two -extremities again closely secured by strong iron bars. My dungeon was -built in the ditch of the fortification, and the aperture by which the -light entered was so covered by the wall of the rampart, that instead of -finding immediate passage, the light only gained admission by -reflection. This, considering the smallness of the aperture and the -impediments of grating and iron bars, made the obscurity very great, yet -my eyes in time became so accustomed to this gloom, that I could see a -mouse run. In winter, however, when the sun did not shine into the -ditch, it was dense night with me. Between the bars and the grating was -a glass window, most curiously formed, with a small central casement, -which might be opened to admit the air. The name of Trenck was built in -the wall in red brick, and under my feet was a tombstone with the name -of Trenck also cut on it, and carved with a death’s head. The doors to -my dungeon were double, of oak, two inches thick; without, there was an -open space in front of the cell, in which was a window. And this space -was likewise shut in by double doors. The ditch in which this dreadful -den was built was inclosed on both sides by palisadoes twelve feet high, -the key of the gate of which was intrusted to the officer of the guard, -it being the king’s intention to prevent all possibility of speech or -communication with the sentinel. The only motion I had the power to make -was that of jumping upward, or swinging my arms to procure myself -warmth. When more accustomed to the fetters, I became capable of moving -from side to side about four feet, but this pained my shin-bones. - -“The cell had been finished with lime and plaster but eleven days, and -everybody supposed it impossible I should exist above a fortnight after -breathing the damp air. I remained six months, continually drenched with -very cold water, that trickled upon me from the thick arches above; and -I can safely affirm that for the first three months I was never dry, yet -I continued in health. I was visited daily at noon, after the relieving -of guard, and the doors were then obliged to be left open for some -minutes, otherwise the dampness of the air put out my gaolers’ candles. - -“This was my situation. And here I sat, destitute of friends, helplessly -wretched, preyed on by all the tortures of an imagination that -continually suggested the most gloomy, the most horrid, the most -dreadful of images. My heart was not yet wholly turned to stone; my -fortitude was reduced to despondency; my dungeon was the very cave of -despair; yet was my arm restrained, and this excess of misery endured. - -“How, then, may hope be wholly eradicated from the heart of man? My -fortitude, after some time, began to revive. I glowed with the desire of -convincing the world I was capable of suffering what man had never -suffered before, perhaps of, at last, emerging from beneath this load of -wretchedness triumphant over my enemies. So long and ardently did my -fancy dwell on this picture that my mind at length acquired a heroism -which Socrates himself certainly never possessed. Age had benumbed his -sense of pleasure, and he drank the poisonous draught with cool -indifference; but I was young, inured to high hopes, yet now beholding -deliverance impossible, or at an immense, a dreadful distance. Such, -too, were my other sufferings of soul and body that I could not hope and -live. - -“About noon my door was opened. Sorrow and compassion were painted on -the countenances of my keepers; no one spoke, no one bade me ‘Good -morrow!’ Dreadful, indeed, was the sound of their arrival; for the -monstrous bolts and bars moved with difficulty, and the noise of their -removal would be resounding for a good half hour through the vaults of -the prison. - -“But at length a camp bed, mattress, and blankets were brought me, and -beside it an ammunition loaf of six pounds’ weight. ‘That you may no -more complain of hunger,’ said the town major, when the loaf was laid -before me, ‘you shall have as much bread as you can eat.’ The door was -shut, and I again left to my thoughts.” - -For eleven months Trenck had been dying of hunger, and he devoured the -bread so greedily that repletion nearly finished what starvation had -begun, and he became seriously ill. When he had somewhat recovered he -began anew to meditate a scheme of escape. - -“I observed, as the four doors of my cell were opened, that they were -only of wood; I therefore considered whether I might not even cut off -the locks with the knife that I had so fortunately concealed; and should -this and every other means fail, then would be the time to die. I -likewise determined to make an attempt to free myself of my chains. I -happily forced my right hand through the handcuffs, though the blood -trickled from my nails. My attempts on the left were long ineffectual, -but by rubbing with a brick, which I got from my seat, on a rivet that -had been negligently closed, I effected this also. - -“The chain was fastened to the ring round my body by a hook, the end of -which was not inserted in the ring; therefore, by setting my foot -against the wall, I had strength enough so far to bend this hook back, -and open it, as to force out the link of the chain. The remaining -difficulty was the chain that attached my foot to the wall; the links of -this I took, doubled, twisted, and wrenched, till at length, nature -having bestowed on me great strength, I made a desperate effort, sprang -forcibly up, and two links at once flew off. Fortunate indeed did I -think myself. I hastened to the door, groped in the dark to find the -clinchings of the nails by which the lock was fastened, and discovered -no very large piece of wood need be cut. Immediately I went to work with -my knife, and cut through the oak door to find its thickness, which -proved to be only one inch, therefore it was possible to open all the -four doors in four and twenty hours. - -“Again hope revived in my heart. To prevent discovery I hastened to put -on my chains; but, O Heaven! what difficulties had I to surmount. After -much groping about, I at length found the link that had flown off, but -this I hid. It had hitherto been my good fortune to escape examination, -as the possibility of ridding myself of such chains was in no wise -suspected. The separated iron links I tied together with my hair ribbon; -but when I again endeavoured to force my hand into the ring, it was so -swelled that every effort was fruitless. The whole night was employed -upon the rivet, but all labour was in vain. - -“It was near the hour of visitation, and necessity and danger again -obliged me to attempt forcing my hand through the ring, an operation at -length, after excruciating tortures, I effected. My visitors came, and -everything had the appearance of order. I found it, however, impossible -to again free my right hand while it continued swelled. - -“I therefore remained quiet for the time; and on the fourth of July, the -day I had fixed for my attempt, the moment my visitors had left me, I -disencumbered myself of irons, took my knife and began my Herculean -labours on the doors. The first of them that opened inwards was -conquered in less than an hour. The other was a very different task. The -lock was soon cut round, but it opened outwards; there was, therefore, -no other means left but to cut the whole door away above the bar. -Incessant and incredible labour made this possible, though it was the -more difficult as everything was to be done by feeling, as I was totally -in the dark; the sweat dropped, or rather flowed from my body. My -fingers were clotted in my own blood, and my lacerated hands were one -continued wound. - -“Daylight appeared. I clambered over the door that I had cut through, -and got up to the window in the space or cell that was between the -double doors as before described. Here I saw that my dungeon was in the -ditch of the first rampart; before me I saw the road from the rampart, -the guard but fifty paces distant, and the high palisades that were in -the ditch, and must be scaled before I could reach the rampart. Hope -grew stronger. My efforts were redoubled. The first of the next double -doors was attacked, which likewise opened inward, and was soon -conquered. The sun set before I had ended this, and the fourth was cut -away as the second had been. My strength failed, both my hands were raw. -I rested awhile, began again, and had made a cut of a foot long when my -knife snapped, and the broken blade dropped to the ground.” - -Seeing all his dreams of liberty thus vanish in a moment, the -unfortunate prisoner, abandoning himself to despair, opened the veins of -his left arm and foot with the broken blade. - -“I fainted, and I know not how long I remained in this state. Suddenly I -heard my own name, awoke, and again heard the words, ‘Baron Trenck!’ -‘Who calls?’ was my answer. And who indeed was it to be but my loved -grenadier Gefhardt--my former faithful friend in the citadel. The good, -the kind fellow had got upon the rampart that he might see and comfort -me. - -“‘In what state are you?’ said Gefhardt. ‘Weltering in my blood,’ -answered I; ‘to-morrow you will find me dead.’ ‘Why should you die?’ -replied he. ‘It is much easier for you to escape from this place than -from the citadel. There is no sentinel here, and I shall soon find means -to furnish you with tools. If you can only break out, leave the rest to -me. As often as I am on guard, I will seek an opportunity to speak to -you. In the whole of the Star Fort there are only two sentinels, the one -at the entrance and the other at the guard-house. Do not despair, God -will help you, trust to me.’ The good man’s kindness and his words -revived my hopes. I saw the possibility of my escape. A secret joy -diffused itself through my soul. I immediately tore my shirt, bound up -my wounds, and waited the approach of day; and the sun soon after shone -through my window with more than its accustomed brightness. - -“Till noon I had time to consider what might further be done; yet what -could be done? What could be expected but that I should now be much more -cruelly treated, and even more insupportably ironed than before, -finding as they must the doors cut through and my fetters shaken off. - -“After mature consideration I therefore made the following resolution, -which succeeded happily, and even beyond my hopes. Before I proceed, -however, I will speak a few words concerning my situation at this -moment. It is impossible to describe how much I was exhausted. The -prison swam with blood, and certainly but little was left in my body. -With painful wounds, swelled and torn hands, I stood shirtless in my -cell. I felt an almost irresistible inclination to sleep, scarcely had -strength to keep my legs out, and I was obliged to rouse myself that I -might execute my plan. - -“With the bar that separated my hands I loosened the bricks of my seat, -which as they were newly laid, was easily done, and heaped them up in -the middle of my prison. The inner door was quite open, and with my -chains I so barricaded the upper half of the second, as to prevent any -one climbing over it. When noon came, and the first of the doors was -unlocked, all were astonished to find the second open. There I stood, -besmeared with blood, the picture of horror, with a brick in one hand, -and in the other my broken knife, crying as they approached, ‘Keep off, -major, keep off. Tell the governor I will live no longer in chains, and -that here I stand if he pleases, to be shot, for so only will I be -conquered. No man shall enter; I will destroy every one that approaches; -here are my weapons; I will die in despite of tyranny.’ The major was -terrified, and lacking resolution to approach, made his report to the -governor. I, mean time, sat down on my bricks to await what might -happen. My second intent, however, was not so desperate as it appeared. -I sought only to obtain a favourable capitulation. - -“The governor-general, Borck, presently came, attended by the town major -and some officers. He entered the outer cell, but sprang back the moment -he beheld a figure like me, standing with a brick and uplifted arm. I -repeated what I had told the major, and he immediately ordered six -grenadiers to force the door. The front cell was scarcely six feet -broad, so that no more than two at a time could attack my intrenchment, -and when they saw my threatening bricks ready to descend, they leaped -back in terror. A short pause ensued, and the old town major, with the -chaplain, advanced towards the door to soothe me: the conversation -continued some time to no purpose. The governor grew angry, and ordered -a fresh attack. The first grenadier I knocked down, and the rest ran -back to avoid my missiles. - -“The town major again began a parley. ‘For God’s sake, my dear Trenck,’ -said he, ‘in what have I injured you, that you endeavour to effect my -ruin? I must answer for your having through my negligence concealed a -knife; be persuaded, I entreat you; be appeased. You are not without -hope or without friends.’ My answer was, ‘But will you promise not to -load me with heavier irons than before?’ - -“He went out and spoke with the governor, and gave me his word of honour -that the affair should be no further noticed, and that everything should -be reinstated as formerly. - -“Here ended the capitulation, and my wretched citadel was taken.” - -The state of the unfortunate prisoner excited commiseration, and he was -attended with great care, and supplied with everything needful to his -recovery. For four days he was suffered to remain out of irons, but on -the fifth he was again fettered, and new doors, one of them of double -thickness, were set up in place of those he had destroyed. - -[Illustration: The first grenadier I knocked down.] - -Gefhardt came on guard soon after this, and he at once began to concert -with Trenck measures for a new attempt at flight. He furnished him with -writing materials, and undertook to post a letter to a friend of the -prisoner, in Vienna. This friend sent back some money, which Gefhardt -found means to convey to the prisoner while handing him his food. - -“Having money to carry on my designs, I began to put into execution my -plan, of burrowing under the foundation. The first thing necessary was -to free myself from my fetters. To accomplish this Gefhardt supplied me -with two small files, and by the aid of these this operation, though a -difficult one, was effected. - -“The cap or staple of the foot-ring was made so wide that I could draw -it forward a quarter of an inch. I filed the iron which passed through -it on the inside; the more I filed this away the farther I could draw -the cap down, till at last the whole inside iron through which the -chains passed was cut quite through; by this means I could slip off the -ring, while the cap on the outside continued whole, and it was -impossible to discover any cut, as only the outside could be examined. -My hands, by continued efforts, I so compressed, as to be able to draw -them out of the handcuffs. I then filed off the hinge, and made a -screw-driver of one of the foot-long flooring nails, with which I could -take out the screws at pleasure. The rim round my body was but a small -impediment, were it not for the chain which passed from my hand bar, and -this I removed by filing an aperture in one of the links, which at the -necessary hour I closed with bread rubbed over with rusty iron, first -drying it with the heat of my body; and I would wager any sum that, -without striking the chain link by link with a hammer, no one not in the -secret would have discovered the fracture. - -“The window was never strictly examined. I therefore drew the two -staples by which the iron bars were fixed to the wall, daily replacing -and carefully plastering them over. I procured wire from Gefhardt, and -tried how well I could imitate the inner grating. Finding I succeeded -tolerably, I cut the real grating totally away, and substituted an -artificial one of my own making, by which I obtained a free -communication with the outside, additional fresh air, together with all -necessary implements, tinder and candles. - -“In order that the light might not be seen, I hung the coverlet of my -bed before the window, so that I could work fearless and undetected. The -floor of my dungeon was not of stone, but of oak plank three inches -thick, three beds of which were laid crossways, and were fastened to -each other by nails half an inch in diameter and a foot long. Having -worked round the head of a nail, I made use of the hole at the end of -the bar which separated my hands to draw it out, and this nail, -sharpened upon my tombstone, made an excellent chisel. - -“I now cut through the board more than an inch in width, that I might -work downwards, and having drawn away a piece of wood which was inserted -two inches under the wall, I cut this so as to exactly fit. The small -crevice it occasioned I stopped up with bread, and strewed over with -dust, so as to prevent all suspicions. My labour under this was -continued with less precaution, and I had soon worked through my -nine-inch planks. Under them I came to a fine white sand, on which the -Star Fort was built. My chips I carefully distributed beneath the -boards, but I soon saw that, if I had not help from without, I could -proceed no farther; for it would be useless to dig, unless I could rid -myself of my rubbish. - -“Gefhardt supplied me with some ells of cloth, of which I made long -narrow bags, stuffed them with earth, and passed them between the iron -bars to Gefhardt, who, as he was on guard, scattered or conveyed away -their contents. Furnished with room to secrete them under the floor, I -obtained more instruments, together with a pair of pistols, powder, -ball, and a bayonet. I now discovered that the foundation of my prison, -instead of two, was sunk four feet deep. Time, labour, and patience were -all necessary to break out unheard and undiscovered; but few things are -impossible where resolution is not wanting. - -“The hole I made was obliged to be four feet deep, corresponding with -the foundation, and wide enough to kneel and to stoop in. The lying down -on the floor to work, the continual stooping to throw out the earth, the -narrow space in which all must be performed,--these made the labour -incredible; and after this daily labour, all things were to be replaced, -and my chains again resumed, which alone required some hours to effect. - -“I now continued my labour, and found it very possible to break out -under the foundation, but Gefhardt had been so terrified by the late -accident, that he started a thousand difficulties, in proportion as my -end was more nearly accomplished; and at the moment when I wished to -concert with him the means of flight, he persisted that it was necessary -to find additional help to escape in safety, and not bring both him and -myself to destruction. At length we came to a new determination, which, -however, after eight months’ incessant labour, rendered my whole project -abortive.” - -A letter posted by Gefhardt’s wife, containing an unusual number of -recommendations, revealed the whole plot; though, after a strict search, -the authorities failed to discover any of the signs of Trenck’s -activity on either his chains or the flooring of his cell. All that was -noticed was the changes he had made in his window, which was immediately -closed up with planks. The prisoner was interrogated with threats as to -the names of his accomplices, in presence of his guards, and his -firmness in refusing to make any revelations proved of great service to -him afterwards among men, who were not unwilling to aid a prisoner if -they could feel quite certain of not being betrayed. Some days after, -all his chains were padlocked together; and his window too was narrowed -till it became little better than a mere air-vent. He was at the same -time deprived of his bed, and he had no other means of taking repose -than by sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, in which -position he was half strangled by the weight of the padlock. He became -ill, and lay for two months at the point of death without receiving any -aid. He was again, however, allowed the use of his bed. - -When he had again recovered, he contrived to gain by bribes three of the -four officers who attended him, and through them he obtained candles, -books, newspapers; and, more precious than all, some tools for cutting -through the chains hanging from his padlock. He also, through one of the -officers, obtained larger handcuffs, from which he could easily withdraw -his hands. He then renewed his subterranean labours with the design of -cutting a passage, thirty-seven feet in length, to the gallery beneath -the rampart. He made a new opening, however, to avoid working beneath -the feet of the sentinels:-- - -“The work at first proceeded so rapidly that, while I had room to throw -back my sand, I was able in one night to gain three feet; but ere I had -proceeded ten feet, I discovered all my difficulties. Before I could -continue my work, I was obliged to make room for myself, by emptying the -sand out of the hole upon the floor of the prison, and this itself was -an employment of some hours. The sand was obliged to be thrown out by -the hand, and after it thus lay heaped in my prison, it had again to be -returned into the hole. I have calculated that, after I had proceeded -twenty feet, I was obliged to creep underground in my hole from fifteen -hundred to two thousand fathoms within twenty-four hours, in the removal -and replacing of the sand. This labour ended, care was to be taken that -in none of the crevices of the floor there might be any appearance of -this fine white sand. The flooring was next to be exactly replaced, and -my chains to be resumed. So severe was the fatigue of one day of this -kind, that I was always obliged to rest the three following. - -“To reduce my labour as much as possible, I was constrained to make the -passage so small that my body only had space to pass, and I had not room -to draw my arm back to my head. The work, too, had all to be done naked, -otherwise the dirtiness of my shirt would have been remarked; and the -sand was wet, water being found at the depth of four feet, where the -stratum of the gravel began. At length the expedient of sand bags -occurred to me, by which it might be removed out and in more -expeditiously. I obtained linen from the officers, but not in sufficient -quantities. Suspicions would have been excited had too much linen been -brought into the prison. At last I took my sheets, and the ticking that -inclosed my straw, and cut them up for sand bags, taking care to lie -down on my bed as if ill, when Bruckhausen paid his visit. - -“The labour, towards the conclusion, became so intolerable as to excite -despondency. I frequently sat contemplating the heaps of sand, during a -momentary respite from work; and thinking it impossible I could have -strength or time again to replace all things as they were, have resolved -patiently to wait the consequences, and leave everything in its present -disorder. Yes, I can assure the reader that to effect concealment, I -have scarcely had time in twenty-four hours to sit down and eat a morsel -of bread. Recollecting, however, the efforts and all the progress I had -made, hope would again revive in me, and exhausted strength return, and -again would I begin my labours; yet it has frequently happened that my -visitors have entered a few minutes after I had reinstated everything in -its place. - -“When my work was within six or seven feet of being accomplished, a new -misfortune happened, that at once frustrated all further attempts. I -worked, as I have said, under the foundation of the rampart, near where -the sentinels stood. I could disencumber myself of my fetters, except my -neck collar and its pendant chain. This, as I worked, though it was -fastened, got loose, and the clanking was heard by one of the sentinels, -about fifteen feet from my dungeon. The officer was called, they laid -their ears to the ground and heard me as I went backward and forward to -bring my earth bags. This was reported the next day, and the major, who -was my best friend, with the town major, and a smith and mason, entered -my prison. I was terrified. The lieutenant, by a sign, gave me to -understand I was discovered. An examination was begun; but the officers -would not see, and the smith and mason found all, as they thought, safe. -Had they examined my bed they would have seen the ticking and sheets -were gone. The town major, who was a dull man, was persuaded the thing -was impossible, and said to the sentinel, ‘Blockhead, you have heard -some mole underground, and not Trenck. How indeed could it be, that he -should work underground at such a distance from his dungeon?’ Here the -scrutiny ended. - -“There was now no time for delay. Had they altered their hour of coming, -they must have found me at work; but this, during ten years, never -happened, for the governor and town major were stupid men, and the -others, poor fellows, wishing me all success, were willingly blind. In a -few days I could have broken out; but when ready, I was desirous to wait -for the visitation of the man who had treated me so tyrannically, -Bruckhausen; but this man, though he wanted understanding, did not want -good fortune. He was ill for some time, and his duty devolved on K----. -He recovered, and the visitation being over, the doors were no sooner -barred than I began my supposed last labour. I had only three feet -farther to proceed, and it was no longer necessary that I should bring -out the sand, as I had room to throw it behind me. What my anxiety was, -what my exertions were, can well be imagined. My evil genius, however, -had decreed that the same sentinel who had heard me before, should be -that day on guard. He was piqued by vanity to prove he was not the -blockhead he had been called, he therefore again laid his ear to the -ground, and again heard me burrowing. He called his comrades first, next -the major; who came and heard me likewise, they then went outside the -palisades and heard me working next the door, at which place I was to -break into the gallery. This door they immediately opened, entered the -gallery with lanterns, and waited to catch the hunted fox when -unearthed. - -“Through the first small breach I made I perceived a light, and saw the -heads of those who were expecting me. This was indeed a thunderstroke. I -crept back, made my way through the sand I had cast behind me, and -shudderingly awaited my fate. I had the presence of mind to conceal my -pistols, candles, paper, and some money, under the moveable floor. The -money was disposed of in various holes, well concealed in the panels of -the doors; and I hid my small files and knives under different cracks in -the floor. Scarcely were these disposed of before the doors resounded. -The floor was covered with sand and sand bags; my handcuffs, however, -and the separating bar I had hastily resumed, that they might suppose I -had worked with them on, which they were silly enough to credit, highly -to my future advantage.” - -The passage which had cost Trenck so much trouble was filled up, the -flooring repaired, heavier irons replaced those which he had broken, and -he was once more deprived of his bed. Bruckhausen and the major -interrogated him in presence of the workmen and the soldiers as to the -manner in which he had obtained his tools. “My answer,” says Trenck, was -‘Gentlemen, Beelzebub is my best and most intimate friend; he brings me -everything I want, and supplies me with light. We play whole nights at -piquet, and, guard me as you please, he will finally deliver me out of -your power.’ - -“Some were astonished, others laughed. At length, as they were barring -the last door, I called, ‘Come, gentlemen, you have forgotten something -of great importance in the interior.’ I had taken up one of my hidden -files when they returned: ‘Look you, gentlemen,’ said I, ‘here is a -proof of the friendship Beelzebub has for me, he has brought me this in -a twinkling.’ Again they examined the cell, and again they shut the -doors. While they were so doing I took out a knife and the -_louis-d’ors_. Their consternation was excessive, and I solaced my -misfortunes by jesting at such blundering short-sighted keepers. It was -soon rumoured through Magdeburg, especially among the simple and vulgar, -that I was a magician, to whom the devil brought all that I asked. One -Major Holtzkammer, a very selfish man, profited by this report. A -foolish citizen had offered him fifty dollars if he might only be -permitted to see me through the door, as he was very desirous to see a -wizard. Holtzkammer told me, and we jointly determined to sport with his -credulity. The major gave me a mask with a monstrous nose, which I put -on when the doors were opening, and threw myself in an heroic attitude. -The affrighted burgher drew back, but Holtzkammer stopped him, and said, -‘Have patience for some quarter of an hour and you shall see he will -assume quite a different countenance.’ The burgher waited. My mask was -thrown by, and my face appeared whitened with chalk and made ghastly. -The burgher again shrunk back, Holtzkammer kept him in conversation, and -I assumed a third facial form. I tied my hair under my nose, and -fastened a pewter dish to my breast, and when the door opened a third -time, I thundered, ‘Begone, rascals, or I’ll twist your necks awry.’ -They both ran, and the silly burgher, eased of his fifty dollars, -scampered first.” - -Some time after this Trenck meditated another and a far bolder plan of -escape. The garrison of Magdeburg was but 900 strong, and there were at -least 7000 Croat prisoners of war in the fortress. He proposed to gain -access to the Croats by bribing his jailers, and then putting himself at -their head to seize the place for Maria Theresa. He sent to Vienna for -2,000 ducats, but failed to obtain them, and the project came to -nothing. - -He then once more began his mining operations, and had already made -considerable progress with them, when the governor of the fortress -becoming mad, he was replaced by the hereditary Prince of Hesse Cassel, -who treated Trenck with so much kindness that the grateful prisoner -pledged himself not to attempt to escape. This state of things continued -for eighteen months, at the end of which time the prince, leaving the -fortress in consequence of the death of his father, Trenck considered -himself justified in making another effort for liberty. He accordingly -procured the necessary tools with the same facility as before, and was -opening up one of his old galleries, when an accident happened that had -nearly put an end to his project and his life. - -“While mining under the foundation of the ramparts,” he says, “just as I -was going to carry out the sand bag, I struck my foot against a stone in -the wall, which fell down and closed up the passage. What was my horror -to find myself thus buried alive! After a short time for reflection, I -began to work the sand away from the side that I might obtain room to -turn round. By good fortune there were some feet of empty space into -which I threw the sand as I worked it away, but the small quantity of -air soon made it so foul that I a thousand times wished myself dead, and -made several attempts to strangle myself. Further labour began to seem -impossible. Thirst almost deprived me of my senses, but as often as I -put my mouth to the sand I inhaled fresh air. My sufferings were -incredible, and I imagine I passed full eight hours in this distraction -of horror. Of all dreaded deaths surely such a one as this is the most -dreadful. My spirits fainted, again I somewhat recovered, again I began -to labour, but the earth was as high as my chin, and I had no more space -into which I might throw the sand, that I might turn round. I made a -more desperate effort, drew my body into a ball and turned round. I now -faced the stone, which was as wide as the whole passage, but there being -an opening at the top I respired fresher air. My next labour was to root -away the sand under the stone and let it sink, so that I might creep -over, and by this means at length I once more happily arrived in my -dungeon.” - -He had hardly time to clear away the traces of his work, and to put all -in order, before he received the daily visit of his jailers. A change of -the garrison and other circumstances somewhat hindered the -accomplishment of his design, but the gallery was at length finished, -and an officer had even promised to bring him false keys to open his -prison doors. The thought that he was on the very eve of liberty turned -his head, as he admits himself. - -“I was then vain enough, stupid enough, mad enough,” he says, “to form -the design of casting myself on the generosity and magnanimity of the -great Frederic! Should this fail, I still thought my lieutenant a -certain saviour. Having heated my imagination with this lamentable -scheme, I awaited the hour of visitation with great anxiety. The major -entered. ‘I know, sir,’ I said, ‘the great Prince Ferdinand is again in -Magdeburg’ (my new friend had told me this): ‘Be pleased to inform him -that he may first examine my prison, and double the sentinels, and -afterwards give me his commands, stating at what hour it will please him -I should make my appearance in perfect freedom on the glacis of -Klosterbergen. If I prove myself capable of this, I then hope for the -protection of Prince Ferdinand, and I trust he will relate my -proceedings to the king, who may thereby be convinced of my innocence -and the perfect clearness of my conscience.’ - -“The major was astonished, and he supposed my brain turned. The proposal -he held to be ridiculous, and the performance impossible. As I, however, -persisted, he rode to town and returned with the sub-governor, -Reichmann, the town major, Riding, and the major of inspection. The -answer they delivered was, ‘That the prince promised me his protection, -the king’s favour, and a certain release from my chains, should I prove -the truth of my assertion.’ I required they would appoint a time; they -ridiculed the thing as impossible, and at last said that it would be -sufficient could I only prove the practicability of such a scheme; but -should I refuse they would immediately break up the whole flooring and -place sentinels in my dungeon night and day; adding, ‘The governor would -not admit of any actual breaking out.’ - -“After the most solemn promises of good faith, I immediately -disencumbered myself of my chains, raised up the flooring, gave them my -arms and implements, and also two keys, that my friend had procured me, -to the doors of the subterranean gallery. I desired them to enter this -gallery and sound with their sword hilts at a place through which I -could easily break in a few minutes. I further described the road I was -to take through the gallery, informed them that two of the doors had not -been shut for six months, and that they already had the keys to the -others, adding, I had horses waiting at the glacis that would be ready -the moment I wanted them. - -“They went, examined, returned, and put questions, which I answered with -as much precision as the engineer could have done who built the Star -Fort. They left me with seeming friendship, continued away about an -hour, came back, told me the prince was astonished at what he had heard, -that he wished me all happiness, and then took me unfettered to the -guard-house. The major came in the evening, treated us with a sumptuous -supper, assured me everything would happen in accordance with my wishes, -and that Prince Ferdinand had already written to Berlin. - -“But all these promises were illusory. The guard was reinforced next -day; two grenadiers entered the officers’ room as sentinels; the whole -guard loaded with ball before my eyes; the drawbridges were raised in -open day, and precautions were taken as if it were supposed I intended -to make attempts as desperate as those I had made at Glatz.” - -Nothing had come from the Duke of Brunswick. The commandant and the -officers, dreading the king’s displeasure, had spread the rumour that a -new attempt at escape had been discovered on the part of the prisoner. -The cell was repaired in eight days and paved with great flagstones, and -the unfortunate Trenck was again placed there, with a single chain about -his feet, which weighed as much as all those he had previously worn put -together. The duke, however, was some time afterwards informed of all -the circumstances, and he spoke to the king, who kept Trenck in prison -another year and then set him at liberty. - -It is well known that Trenck, after a life of constant agitation, -perished on the scaffold of the revolution with André -Chénier.--(_Holcroft’s Life of Trenck._) - - - - -_CASSANOVA DE SEINGALT._ - -1757. - - -Jacques Cassanova de Seingalt says of himself that he was one of the -most good-for-nothing fellows in Venice when he was arrested; but, -perhaps, in the sense in which he used the words this title may be -considered too flattering for him. Be that as it may, however, his -account of his imprisonment and escape at Venice is not wanting in -interest. Many details are, no doubt, erroneous or exaggerated; not a -few writers, indeed, have declared that Cassanova had no greater -obstacle to surmount than the watchfulness of his gaolers, and that he -found it an easy matter to gain them over by liberal presents; but these -assertions, in their turn, have to be taken entirely on trust. All that -seems certain is, that Cassanova escaped from the prison near the Bridge -of Sighs. We quote from his own account of the exploit, without offering -any guarantee of his veracity:-- - -“At daybreak on the 26th of July, 1755, the terrible Messer Grande came -into my room while I lay asleep, and waking me with a rude shake, asked -me if my name was Jacques Cassanova. On my replying in the affirmative, -he told me to get up and dress myself, to give up every piece of writing -I had in my possession, and to follow him. - -“‘In whose name,’ I asked, ‘do you bring these orders?’ - -“‘In the name of the tribunal.’ - -“The word tribunal frightened me so much that I had only the strength -left to yield him a passive obedience. I was led to a gondola, and -Messer Grande took his seat by my side with an escort of four men. When -we reached his house he offered me some coffee, but I refused it. I was -then locked up in one of the rooms and closely guarded. At about three -the captain of the archers came in and said that he had received orders -to take me to prison, and I followed him without saying a word. We again -took to the gondola, and after passing along many of the smaller canals -came at last to the Grand Canal and landed on the Prison Quay (Riva de -Schiavoni). We mounted several staircases and crossed the Bridge of -Sighs, and at length found ourselves in the presence of a person in the -dress of a patrician, who just glanced at me, and then ordered the guard -to take me to my cell.” - -Cassanova was now placed in a small chamber, opening, with many others, -on a large gallery, in which were heaped together a number of the most -diverse objects--official papers, decrees of the tribunals, and articles -of furniture of every kind. The prisoners took their exercise in this -gallery every day while the gaolers were sweeping out the cells. -Cassanova suffered a good deal from the heat during the first few days -of his incarceration, and fell ill, but he soon recovered and began to -form plans for making his escape. One day, while exercising in the -gallery, he found a kind of round bolt of iron and a piece of marble, -and, hastily concealing them, took them back with him to his cell. He -pointed the iron at his leisure by grinding it on the marble, though -this was an operation of great difficulty and of the most fatiguing -kind. - -“After pondering for several days over the best way of using my -chisel--or, rather, crowbar, for it was of considerable length--I -resolved to make a hole with it through the flooring underneath my bed. -I knew that the room to which this would give me access was that in -which I had been received by the secretary of the inquisitors on my -arrival; and I thought that if I could contrive to secrete myself under -the council table during the night I might escape by running hastily out -of the room as soon as the door was opened in the morning. I did not -forget that in all probability I should find an archer on guard in the -room, but I felt confident that my crowbar would enable me to dispose of -him. The great difficulty lay in the thickness of the flooring. I -should, perhaps, be engaged for two months in cutting my way through, -and how was I to avoid discovery, meanwhile, when the guards came to -sweep out my room? To forbid them to sweep it would be to awaken their -suspicions, more especially as I had previously insisted on its being -kept very clean. I began, however, by telling them not to trouble -themselves to put the place in order; but in a few days Laurent, the -gaoler, asked me the meaning of this unusual request. I replied that the -dust raised by the sweepers was peculiarly disagreeable to me. This -satisfied him for awhile, but he soon grew suspicious again, and not -only ordered the cell to be swept out, but himself examined it most -carefully in every corner with a lighted candle.” - -Cassanova then cut his finger and rolled his handkerchief round the -wound, telling Laurent that the sweeping had affected his lungs, and -that he was beginning to spit blood. The surgeon of the place, who was, -without doubt, in the prisoner’s interest, bled him, and declared that -his life was in danger. The result was that the guards were ordered to -discontinue the sweeping. - -“My resolution grew stronger every day; but the time for beginning the -great work of my deliverance had not yet arrived, for the weather was so -cold that I could not hold the crowbar in my frozen hands. The long -winter nights made me wretched, for I was obliged to pass nineteen -mortal hours in darkness; and even during the day, the light that -entered by the window was not strong enough to enable me to read. The -possession of even a wretched kitchen lamp would have rendered me happy; -but how was I to make one. I required a cup, a wick, oil, a flint and -steel, besides tinder and matches. But nevertheless I set to work to -obtain them, and succeeded after repeated efforts, in which I availed -myself of every pretext my ingenuity could devise. As soon as the lamp -was in working order, I fixed on the first Monday in Lent for the -commencement of my operations on the floor, for I was apprehensive of -being disturbed during the carnival.” - -His fears were well founded; a Jew was sent to bear him company in his -cell; and for two whole months, Cassanova was not relieved of this man’s -unwelcome presence. - -“As soon as I was alone again I began to work with renewed activity. It -was above all things necessary to avoid delay, now that I had actually -cut into the planks, for a new companion might have insisted, as the Jew -had done, on having the prison swept. I first removed my bed, and then -throwing myself upon my chest, crowbar in hand, began to hack away at -the boards, carefully collecting the débris in a napkin which I spread -out by my side. I have said that I had to hack away the boards. I ought -rather to have said that I was obliged to pick them to pieces with the -point of my crowbar. The work was fatiguing in the extreme, and at first -I brought away pieces no bigger than a grain of wheat; but after a time -my labour was cheered with more encouraging results. - -“The plank I had selected was of very tough wood, and was about sixteen -inches in breadth. I continued to pick it to pieces for about six hours, -and then I carefully gathered up the débris in the napkin, in order to -throw them away behind a heap of papers in the gallery. They formed a -bundle four or five times as large as the hole from which I had taken -them. I put the bed back in its place, and on the morning contrived to -get rid of the rubbish without being perceived. By the next day, having -worked my way through the first plank, which was about two inches in -thickness, I came upon a second of nearly the same solidity, as far as I -could judge. But I was so afraid of having a new visitor quartered upon -me, that I now wielded my crowbar with even greater energy than before. -In less than three weeks I had made a hole clean through all the three -planks; but judge of my despair when I found that these rested on a -tesselated marble pavement, which turned the point of the tool and -seemed to defy all my efforts to remove it. I was cast down, disgusted, -heart-broken, in a word; but at length, I know not how, the story of -Hannibal came unto my mind, and I forthwith emptied into the hole a -bottle of very strong vinegar which I had by me. In the morning--whether -it was owing to the action of the vinegar or to my renewed strength, I -cannot say--I was able to remove the pieces of marble by pulverising the -cement which held them together; and in four days the mosaic was -destroyed. I found another plank beneath it, but this was no more than I -expected, and I concluded that it would be the last, for I was tolerably -familiar with the plan on which these ceilings and floors were made. I -had great difficulty, however, in cutting through it, for as the hole in -the planking was over ten inches in depth, it was well nigh impossible -to use the crowbar at all at the bottom of it. - -“At about three in the afternoon of the 25th June, while I was working -quite naked, and covered with sweat, in the hole, I heard--with an -emotion of agony I can hardly describe--the sound of a door being -unbolted in the corridor which led to my cell. I blew out the candle -hastily, left crowbar and napkin in the hole, wheeled my bed in its -place and threw myself upon it as though dead; and in a moment after, -the door of my cell flew open, and Laurent came in. Two seconds earlier -and he would have surprised me. He was about to walk straight up to me -when I uttered a cry of pain that made him draw back. ‘Good heaven, -Signor!’ he cried, ‘I pity you, for this place would be enough to -suffocate any one. Get up and give thanks to Providence for having sent -you an excellent companion.’ - -“The new comer seemed to think he was entering the infernal regions, for -he began to cry out, ‘What a heat! what a stench!’ and Laurent ordered -us out into the gallery, in order, as he said, that the cell might be -purged of the unpleasant odour of oil that hung about it. The pain and -surprise with which I heard these last words was extreme. I had -forgotten in my hurry to snuff out the smouldering wick of the lamp -after having extinguished the flame. I thought that Laurent knew -everything, and that the Jew had completely betrayed me; but in reality -he had not discovered the secret of the lamp.” - -Eight days after that he was relieved of his unwelcome companion. - -The next day he says, “Laurent having rendered me an account of the -money that belonged to me, I found I had an odd sum of four sequins -remaining, and I won his favour by telling him he might keep it as a -present for his wife. I did not tell him it was for the rent of my lamp, -but he was quite free to think so if he pleased. After this I pursued - -[Illustration: I heard the sound of a door being unbolted.] - -my labours for a considerable time without any interruption whatever, -but I did not witness the completion of them till the 23rd August. This -delay was due to a very natural accident in cutting through the last -plank. I had formed at first, a very small hole indeed, in order that I -might safely reconnoitre the room in which the inquisitors sat. But I -found that the opening was quite close to one of the thick beams on -which the ceiling was supported; this of course obliged me to change the -direction of my little shaft, for it would have cost me too much labour -to have cut through the beam. I worked for some time in great doubt and -fear, lest the other beams should be placed so closely together as to -bar the passage to my body, but to my great joy, I soon discovered that -this alarm was groundless. It is needless to say that I always carefully -covered up the little peep hole when I was not actually looking through -it, lest a single ray of light from my lamp should discover me to the -inquisitors below. - -“I fixed on the eve of St Augustine’s Day for my flight, for I knew that -at that time there would be no one in the room contiguous to the council -chamber, through which I should have to pass. This was on the 27th, but -on the 25th, I was doomed to suffer a misfortune, the bare recollection -of which makes me tremble as I write. - -“At the stroke of midnight I heard some one drawing the bolts of my cell -door, and my heart began to beat as violently as though I were a -criminal who knew that his last hour was come. I had barely time to -throw myself upon my bed, when Laurent came in, and said: ‘I -congratulate you on the good news I bring.’ This made me tremble all the -more, for believing nothing less than that he came to announce my -restoration to liberty, I dreaded lest a discovery of my attempt to -escape should lead the judges to revoke their pardon. Laurent told me to -follow him. I asked him to wait a few moments while I put my dress in -order. ‘No need to wait for that,’ said he, ‘for I am going to change -your lodging from this miserable den, to a well lit and lofty room, from -which you can see the half of Venice.’ - -“I could not utter a word, and I felt my strength rapidly giving way. I -begged him to give me a little vinegar, and to tell the tribunal in my -name, that while I thanked them for their generous consideration, I -should greatly prefer to be left where I was. - -“‘You make me laugh,’ he replied. ‘Are you mad? You are offered the -chance of removal from the infernal regions to paradise; and you refuse -to profit by your good fortune. Come, you _must_ obey. Get up at once: I -will give you my arm, and your clothes and books shall be carried to -your new room.’ - -“Seeing that resistance was impossible, I got up, and I was somewhat -comforted to hear him order an archer to move my bed, for that contained -my invaluable crowbar. How I wished that at the same time it could have -been made to hold the floor itself, through which I had cut with such -incredible labour and pains. I can truthfully declare that though my -body left this horrible dungeon, my spirit remained behind. - -“Leaning on the shoulder of Laurent, who tried to put me on a better -footing with myself, with his abominable pleasantries, I passed through -several long corridors, until I reached a room about twelve feet in -length, and very narrow, the barred aperture of which looking out on the -two windows of a corridor beyond it, commanded the view of Venice, of -which he had spoken. I was not disposed at that particular moment to -find much pleasure in the prospect, but I was afterwards glad to -discover that the window admitted not only light, but fresh air, which -tempered the intolerable heat and closeness of the atmosphere of the -place. As soon as I entered the room, Laurent had my chair brought in, -and told me that he would at once order the removal of the rest of my -effects. I sat for some time immoveable as a statue, expecting every -moment that the storm would burst over my head, but too apathetic from -despair to dread it. I was in this state when two sbirri came in with -the bed. They left again, to fetch the rest of my things, and I sat -there for two hours without seeing any one, the door remaining open all -the time. I was a prey to a host of conflicting emotions, but I found it -impossible to fix any one impression clearly on my mind. I at length -heard hasty steps, and then Laurent came in, foaming at the mouth, and -blaspheming in a manner frightful to hear. He began by ordering me to -hand over to him the hatchet and the other tools with which I had cut -through the flooring; and to give the name of the soldier who had -furnished me with them. I replied calmly, and without stirring, that I -really did not understand him. He then told some of his people to search -me, but before they could approach, I stripped myself of my scanty -clothing, and assuming a threatening attitude, cried out ‘Do your -office, but beware every one of you of laying hands on me.’ They turned -over my mattrass, my paillasse, and the cushions of my chair, but they -found nothing. - -“‘You will not tell me then,’ said Laurent, ‘how you found your tools, -but never fear, I shall find out how to make you speak.’ - -“‘If it be true,’ I replied, ‘that I have made a hole or two, I shall be -prepared to prove that it is you who have furnished me with the tools, -and that I have already returned them to you.’ - -“At this threat, which made one or two of his people smile, whom he had -probably irritated by some act of rigour, he stamped on the ground, tore -his hair, and rushed out of the place like one possessed. His people -came back, and brought me all my effects, with the exception of the -stove and lamp. Before quitting the corridor, and after he had closed my -door, he shut up the windows by which I had received the supply of air, -but, with all his knowledge of his trade, he heedlessly forgot to search -my armchair; and so, thanks to Providence, I yet kept possession of my -little crowbar.” - -The next day Laurent brought the prisoner some provisions of the worst -quality; and an archer, furnished with an iron bar, sounded the place -everywhere--particularly under the bed. - -“I observed,” says Cassanova, “that he did not notice the ceiling, so I -at once fixed on that route for leaving this horrible place. I could -attempt nothing however, without being instantly discovered. The cell -was quite new, and the faintest mark of chisel or crowbar, would have -been at once visible to my guardians.” - -On the following days Laurent continued to bring him food it was almost -impossible to swallow, and to refuse to allow him either to have his -cell cleaned, or to open the windows. On the eighth day, Cassanova -vented his impatience in some angry words, and asked for a reckoning of -the money belonging to him in his jailer’s hands. Laurent promised to -furnish it next day, and in the meantime he brought the prisoner a -basket of lemons, and a nice roast fowl, on the part of M. de Bragadin. - -“When he had brought my account I cast my eyes over it, and told him to -give the odd money to his wife, with the exception of one sequin, which -was to be presented to the archers who waited on me. Laurent then being -left alone with me, addressed me thus: ‘You have already said Monsieur, -that it was from me you received the tools with which you made that -enormous hole. I am inquisitive enough about that, but more so about -another thing. In the name of Fortune, how _did_ you contrive to make -your lamp?’ ‘You assisted me in that, as in the other matters,’ I -replied. ‘Oh!’ he exclaimed, adding after a few moments, when he had -recovered from his astonishment, ‘I did not think wit consisted in lying -and effrontery.’ ‘I am not lying: it is you who with your own hands gave -me all that was necessary--oil, flint, matches,--I already had the -rest.’ ‘You are right: but you cannot convince me so easily that I -supplied you with the tools for digging that enormous hole.’ ‘Assuredly, -for I received nothing from anybody but you.’ ‘Mercy, what do I hear! -tell me how, when, and where I gave you a hatchet!’ ‘I will tell you -everything; and I will speak the truth, but it can only be in presence -of the secretary.’ ‘I don’t want to know anything more, and I believe -all you have said,’ returned Laurent hastily; ‘I beg of you to be -silent, for remember I am but a poor man, and have children.’ He then -went, pressing his hands to his head. - -“I congratulated myself heartily on having found the means to make -myself feared by this fellow. I saw that his own interest compelled him -to conceal from his masters all that had passed.... I had ordered -Laurent to buy me the works of Maffei. ‘I will borrow the books for you -from some one here,’ he said, ‘and you can lend him some of yours in -return. By that plan you will save your money.’” - -Cassanova consented, and gave a book in exchange for another that -Laurent brought him. - -“Delighted at the opportunity of entering into a correspondence with -some one who might perhaps help me to escape from the place, I opened -the book as soon as Laurent was gone, and read with intense joy a -paraphrase of these words of Seneca. ‘Calamitosus est animus futuri -anxius,’ done in six good lines, and written on the fly leaf. I made as -many more lines at once, and had recourse to the following expedients -for copying them out. I had let the nail of my little finger grow until -it was very long, and I had only to cut it to a point to make a pen. I -was just on the point of pricking my finger, to make ink out of my own -blood, when it struck me I could write equally well with mulberry juice, -of which I had a quantity by me. Besides the six lines, I wrote out a -catalogue of all my books, and slid it down the back of the book which I -had borrowed. It must be remembered that in Italy, the books are for the -most part bound in parchment, and on opening them the back forms a kind -of pocket. On the title page I inscribed the word ‘Latet.’ I was -impatient to have an answer, so when Laurent came in the morning, I told -him I had read my book through, and wanted another. In a few moments he -returned with the second volume. I was no sooner alone than I opened it, -and found a slip of paper, containing these words, written in Latin: ‘We -are both in the same prison, and we both discover with the greatest -pleasure that the ignorance of a miserly gaoler has procured us a -privilege almost unexampled in places of this sort. I, who write to you, -am Marin Balbi, a noble Venetian, and my companion is the Count André -Asquin, of Udine. He charges me to tell you that all the books he -possesses are catalogued on a slip in the back of this volume, and that -they are wholly at your service, but we both warn you that you must use -the greatest circumspection to prevent Laurent from learning what is -going on.’ I am bound to say that I thought this exhortation to -prudence, written openly on a leaf not belonging to the book, rather -odd. It was too much to expect that Laurent would not at one time or -other open the book he carried, and if he should find a sheet of -manuscript, he could easily find some one to read it for him, and then -all would be discovered. The note led me to conclude that my -correspondent was but a kind of plain-speaking blunderer. I looked over -the catalogue, and then in reply wrote my name, the manner of my arrest, -and my ignorance of the cause, with the hopes that I cherished of soon -regaining my liberty. Balbi, who was a monk, sent in return a letter of -sixteen pages, in which he gave me the history of all his misfortunes, -and told me that he had been four years in prison. His companion did not -write.” - -The monk’s history proved that he had nothing of the ecclesiastic in him -but the title. It showed him to be a sensualist, a poor reasoner, a -mischievous rogue, and a careless and ungrateful fool. At least, such -were the conclusions that Cassanova drew from it, and the event -satisfied him that they were not incorrect. - -“I found pencil, pens, and paper in the back of the book, and these -enabled me to write at my ease. Balbi next furnished me with the history -of all the persons confined in the place during his imprisonment. He -told me that the archer Nicholas had given him his information, and had, -besides, brought him everything he required; and in proof of the former -statement, he gave me a pretty exact account of my own abortive effort -to escape. It had taken two hours to repair the damage I had done, and -Laurent had forbidden the workmen engaged, as well as the archers, to -mention the matter, under pain of death. ‘Another day,’ said the archer, -‘and Cassanova would have escaped, and Laurent’s life would hardly have -been worth an hour’s purchase; for with all his surprise at the sight of -the hole, there can be no doubt that he himself unwittingly supplied the -instruments with which it was made.’ The monk concluded by begging me to -give him an account of the whole affair, and in particular to inform him -how I had obtained my tools, adding, that I might count safely on his -discretion. - -“I had no doubt whatever as to his curiosity, but I was absolutely -without confidence in his discretion, especially after the proof of it -he had just given me in his foolish request. I thought, however, I might -make him useful, for he seemed just the kind of man to follow my -directions in everything. I began a reply to it; but while writing it a -suspicion crossed my mind, which induced me to hold it back for a time. -What if this correspondence might, after all, be a mere device of -Laurent’s for finding out how I obtained my tools! But, in order to -satisfy Balbi without compromising myself, I told him that I had made -the opening by means of a strong knife, which I had hidden in the sill -of the corridor window. In less than three days I was satisfied that the -suspicion was groundless, for Laurent took no notice of the window-sill. -Balbi, too, wrote to say that he could easily understand how I had -concealed the knife, for Laurent himself had told him that I had not -been searched on entering the prison. He concluded by begging me to send -him my knife, through Nicholas, in whom, he assured me, I might safely -confide. The carelessness of this monk was almost inconceivable. I wrote -to tell him that I was not by any means inclined to share my secrets -with Nicholas, and that I was still less disposed to trust them to -paper. - -“My suspicions were, however, quite set at rest, and I again began to -think about my escape. I reflected in this way:--I wish at any price to -procure my liberty. The crowbar I have is an excellent one, but it is -impossible to use it, for every part of my cell, except the ceiling, is -sounded and examined every day. To escape from here I must make a hole -through the ceiling; but that will be no easy matter, working, as I do, -from below; and in no case will it be the affair of a day. I want an -ally, who would be willing to escape with me. There was not much choice, -and the only person whose name suggested itself to my mind was the monk. -He was twenty-eight years of age, and, though he was not rich in good -sense, I thought that the love of liberty--that most enduring of man’s -passions--would, at least, give him resolution enough to obey my -instructions. I was obliged to commence with a resolution to confide -everything to him, and then to find out how to make him my -instrument--both very difficult points. - -“I began by asking him if he desired his liberty, and if he were willing -to risk everything for the sake of procuring it with me. He replied that -both his companion and himself were capable of any enterprise that might -lead to freedom, but that it would be folly to peril one’s life in -schemes that had no reasonable prospect of success. He filled four long -pages with a list of the impossibilities which overawed his poor spirit. -I replied that in forming my plans I paid no attention to mere -difficulties of detail, for that I felt sure of being able to overcome -them the moment they presented themselves, and I went on to give him my -word of honour that I would set him free if he would follow my -directions in everything. He gave the required promise, and I then -informed him that I had a crowbar some twenty inches in length, and that -by means of this instrument he was to break through the ceiling of his -cell, and then make a hole in the wall that separated us, and join me, -and that afterwards he was to help me to break through my ceiling and to -make my way through the opening. - -“‘When we have arrived at that point,’ I added, ‘your task will be done, -and mine will begin, and I will undertake to set you and the Count -Asquin at liberty.’ - -“He replied that when he had helped me out of my cell we should still be -nevertheless in prison,--that we should simply have effected a change of -place without any corresponding change of circumstances, for we should -be wandering in the gallery, cut off from the outer world by the three -strong doors. - -“‘I know that very well, reverend father,’ I replied; ‘but we are not -going to leave the place by the doors at all. My plan is complete, and I -feel certain of success. All that I ask of you is exactness and fidelity -in the execution of your part of it, and some self-control in the matter -of raising objections. Try to think only of a way of getting the crowbar -conveyed to you without exciting the suspicion of the man who carries -it. In the meantime ask the jailer to buy you some hangings ornamented -with the images of saints, and cover your cell with them. The saintly -images will remove all suspicion from Laurent’s mind, and they will -serve excellently well to hide the hole in the ceiling. It will take you -several days to make the hole, and you can by this means always contrive -to hide the signs of your activity. I would undertake that part of the -plan myself, but I am already suspected, as you know.’ - -“Although I urged him to find out a means for the removal of the -crowbar, I tried constantly to discover one myself, and at length I had -an idea, which I hastened to carry out. I told Laurent to buy me a copy -of a Bible in folio, which had just appeared. I hoped to be able to -place my crowbar in the back of this Bible, and thus to get it conveyed -to the monk. But as soon as I obtained the book I saw that it was -shorter than the instrument by just two inches. My correspondent had -already written to inform me that his cell was covered with images, and -I had told him of my plan for sending him the crowbar, and of the -difficulty I had met with. I was however firmly resolved to send him the -implement by some means, and at length I hit on the following stratagem. -I told Laurent that I wished to celebrate St. Michael’s day by feasting -on a dish of maccaroni with cheese, and that in return for the -politeness of the person who had lent me the books, I thought of sending -him a dish especially prepared by myself. Laurent observed that the -gentleman was very anxious to read the large book, which had cost three -sequins. ‘Very well,’ I replied, ‘I will send it to him with the -maccaroni, only bring me the very largest dish you have in the place, -for I wish to make him a present worth his acceptance.’ I then wrapped -the crowbar up in paper and placed it in the back of the book, taking -care that it projected equally at either end. I was sure that if I -placed a good dishfull of maccaroni on the Bible, Laurent’s attention -would be too much occupied by that delicacy to allow him any opportunity -to discover the hiding-place of the crowbar. I prepared Balbi for all -that was about to happen, and enjoined him above all to be careful to -take both the dish and the book from the jailer’s hands. - -“On the appointed day Laurent came earlier than was his wont, with a pot -full of boiling maccaroni, and all the ingredients for seasoning it. I -then melted a quantity of butter, and placing the maccaroni in the dish, -I poured the butter over it until it touched the very edges. The dish -was an enormous one, and it very greatly exceeded the book in size. All -this was done at the door of my cell while Laurent was standing outside. -When everything was ready, I carefully lifted Bible and dish, and -placing the back of the book towards the gaoler, I told him to hold out -his arms, to be very careful not to spill the sauce, and to make the -best of his way to the other cell. While giving him this important -commission I kept my eyes fixed on his, and I was delighted to see that -he did not remove his gaze from the dish, for fear of spilling the -butter. He suggested that it might be better to take the dish first, and -then to return for the Bible, but I replied that the present would lose -something of its value if both were not sent together. He then -complained that I had put too much butter, and warned me laughingly that -if he should spill any of it he would not hold himself responsible for -the damage. - -“As soon as I saw the Bible in the simpleton’s arms, I felt certain of -success, for the ends of the crowbar were quite imperceptible. I -followed him with my eyes until I saw him enter the antechamber, and in -a few moments, the monk, blowing his nose three times, gave the signal -that everything had turned out well. Laurent’s speedy reappearance, too, -gave me another intimation of the same joyful event. - -“Father Balbi lost no time in carrying out my intimations and in eight -days he had made an opening which he concealed with a piece of bread -crumb. On the 8th October, - -[Illustration: I told him to be very careful not to spill the sauce.] - -he wrote to tell me that he had been working all night. On the 16th, at -ten o’clock in the morning, just as I was occupied in translating an ode -of Horace, I heard a stamping of feet overhead, followed by three gentle -raps--the signal agreed on--to show us that the first part of our plan -had been carried to a successful termination. He worked on until the -evening, and the next day he wrote to say that if my ceiling was only -two boards thick, his labours would be finished on that day. He told me, -moreover, that he would take great care to make the hole circular, as I -had suggested, and that he would not cut through the floor. This -precaution was absolutely essential, for the smallest crack in the floor -would have led to instant detection. The excavation, he added, was in -such a state that another quarter of an hour’s work would suffice to -finish it. - -“I had determined to leave my cell during the night, for with a -companion I felt sure of being able to make a hole in the great roof of -the ducal palace, in three or four hours; and once on the roof, I would -take what opportunity offered to reach the ground. But I had not yet -reached the roof, alas, for my bad fortune placed yet another difficulty -in my way, that demanded all my skill and address. On this very day--it -was Monday--while Balbi was striking his last strokes, I heard the -opening of a door close to my cell. I felt all the blood in my body -freeze, but I had enough presence of mind to give the two raps that -warned Balbi to hurry back to his cell, and put everything in order. In -less than a minute Laurent came in, and asked my pardon for thrusting a -very disagreeable companion upon me. The new comer, whom he immediately -introduced, was a little thin man, between forty and fifty years of age, -very ugly, and very badly dressed. There could be no doubt about his -being a scoundrel, the more especially as Laurent announced the fact to -his face, without making any visible impression on him. ‘The tribunal,’ -I said sulkily, in reply to my jailer’s communication, ‘will of course -do what it pleases.’ - -“Overwhelmed with vexation at this miserable misadventure, I stared -fixedly at my fellow prisoner, whose hang-dog physiognomy as I have -said, betrayed him. I was thinking of saying something to him, when he -began a conversation by thanking me for giving him a palliasse. With a -view to gaining him over, I asked him if he would share my meals with -me. He kissed my hand, and asked whether his acceptance of my generous -invitation would deprive him of his right to the ten sous, which the -tribunal had assigned him for his support. On my telling him that it -would, he fell on his feet, and drawing an enormous chaplet from his -pocket, he rolled his eyes about, until his glance fell in every corner -of the room. I asked him what he was looking for. ‘Pardon, Signor,’ he -replied: ‘I was in hopes of finding some image of the Virgin, for I am a -Christian.’ It was with difficulty that I kept from laughing--not on -account of his piety, for conscience and faith are sentiments which it -is not given to any of us to control--but because of the oddity of his -appearance and manner. I concluded that he mistook me for a Jew, so to -undeceive him, I gave him an image of the Virgin, which he kissed with -great fervour, and proceeded to inform me that his father, an alquazil, -had neglected to have him taught to read. ‘I am,’ he added, ‘devoted to -the holy rosary;’ and he went on to relate a number of miracles he had -witnessed, while I listened with the patience of an angel. When he had -done, I asked him if he had dined, and he told me that he was dying of -hunger. I gave him everything I had, and he ate and drank more like a -beast than a human being. At length he got quite drunk, and began to -weep, and to babble all kinds of foolish things. I asked him what -afflicted him, and received the following answer. ‘My sole passion has -always been the glory of God, and of this holy republic; and an exact -obedience to the laws. Ever watchful of the tricks of rogues, I have -tried to discover their secrets, and to disclose them to the -authorities. I have been well paid, it is true, but that was no more -than I deserved, and I have always been unable to understand the -prejudices of those people who pretend to see something shameful in the -trade of a spy. A spy is a person who seeks the good of the state, and -is a faithful subject of his government and prince. And I can truly say, -that unlike others of my calling, I have never suffered private -friendship to stand in the way of my performance of a public duty.’ - -“The wretch went on in this manner till I knew him for the foulest spy -the imagination can conceive. His last achievement had been the -discovery of a political plot, but he had had the weakness--incredible, -in a man of his stamp--to give one of his friends engaged in the -conspiracy a recommendation to prudence. The friend, and his companions, -had thereupon fled, and our spy had been sent to prison in their stead. -He ended by telling me that he had hopes of being soon released, his -wife being a Legrenzi, and daughter of one of the secretaries of the -Council of Ten. - -“I shuddered to think with what a monster I was associated, but feeling -that my situation was a delicate one, I at once chose my part. I -pretended to sympathise with him, and was loud in praises of his -patriotism, nor did I hesitate to assure him that so excellent a man -must be set at liberty in a few days. He shortly after fell asleep, and -I took the opportunity of writing to Father Balbi, to tell him -everything, and to warn him to suspend his labours until he should hear -from me again. On the next day, I asked Laurent to buy me a wooden -crucifix, an image of the Holy Virgin, and a portrait of St. Francis, -and at the same time to procure two bottles of holy water. Soradaci (my -companion) took the opportunity to ask for the ten sous allowed for his -maintenance, and Laurent tossed twenty sous to him with an air of great -disdain. When the jailer had gone away, I opened the book, and found a -letter from Balbi, depicting his fright in very moving terms. He thought -that all was lost, so far as our plan of escape was concerned, but he -none the less congratulated me and himself on our good fortune in having -Soradaci brought to my cell, rather than to theirs, ‘for if Laurent had -come to our cell,’ he continued, ‘I should have been missed, and -everything would have been discovered.’ - -“Soradaci’s tale convinced me that he was no better than a spy upon me, -so I made up my mind to meet him with his own weapons of stratagem and -cunning. I wrote and confided to his care two letters, so worded, that -if sent to their address, they would do me neither harm nor good, while -they would be likely to do me good, if handed over to the secretary, and -that I did not doubt would be the case.” - -Soradaci, on receiving the letters, took the most solemn and the most -terrible oaths that he would faithfully deliver them at their -destinations when he recovered his liberty. In some few days he was -called before the secretary of the tribunal, and afterwards taken back -to prison. Cassanova wishing to assure himself of the correctness of his -suspicions, asked him to return one of the letters, on the plea that it -contained something he wished to alter. - -“The monster then threw himself at my feet, and declared that on his -appearance before the terrible secretary, he had been so seized with -fright, that it was seen he had some secret on his mind, and he had been -obliged to betray me. I pretended to be greatly troubled, and throwing -myself before an image of the Virgin, I solemnly demanded vengeance on -the head of the villain who had consigned me to destruction. I next -flung myself on the bed with my face to the wall, and had the constancy -to remain in this position all day, without moving, or uttering a word, -and pretending not to hear the sobs, the repentant cries, and the -protestations of this miserable wretch. In short, I admirably played my -part in a comedy of which I had the entire plan in my head. During the -night, I wrote to Balbi to come and finish his work at half-past eleven -in the morning--not a moment sooner or later--and to work exactly four -hours, and not a moment more. ‘Our liberty,’ I said, ‘depends on the -most rigorous exactitude in this matter, and you have nothing to fear.’ - -“It was the 25th of October, and the time for me to carry out my plan or -to abandon it for ever was at hand. The state inquisitors and the -secretary went every year to pass the three first days of November in -the country; and Laurent, taking advantage of their absence, used -invariably to get drunk in the evening and to make a very late -appearance among the prisoners in the morning. I chose this time, -therefore, for my flight, persuaded that I should not be missed till the -day was pretty well advanced. Another reason, too, had something to do -with my determination. I had consulted an oracle of fate by looking into -Ariosto, according to certain cabalistic formulas, and had lighted oil -the following verse:--‘_Frà il fin d’ ottobre e il capo di novembre_’ -(between the end of October and the beginning of November). The -precision of the passage and its applicability to the design I had -already formed both seemed so extraordinary that the reader will pardon -me if I used every effort to bring about the fulfilment of the prophecy -it seemed to contain. - -“I passed the morning in the following manner, in order to deceive this -base and stupid creature, to confuse his weak understanding, to hinder -him, in a word, from ruining my scheme. As soon as Laurent had left us I -bade Sorodaci come and take his soup. The wretch had gone to bed; he had -told Laurent that he was ill, and he would not have dared to come to me -if I had not called him. He advanced towards me with every sign of fear, -and throwing himself flat on his stomach he crawled to my feet, kissed -them, and assured me, amid floods of tears, that if I did not forgive -him it would certainly be the death of him before the day was out, for -he already felt the effect of the Holy Virgin’s curse. He was seized -with racking pains in the inside, and his mouth was full of ulcers. I -did not take the trouble to examine him to ascertain if he spoke the -truth; my object was to appear to believe him and to make him entertain -hopes of pardon; and to do that it was at first necessary to make him -eat and drink. The traitor probably intended to deceive me; but as I had -the same intention with regard to him it was simply a question as to -which of us should forestal the other. I had prepared an attack on his -credulity which I knew it would be difficult for him to withstand. I -assumed an inspired air, and bade him, in a voice of authority, sit down -and eat his soup, assuring him that when he had done that I would give -him ‘a piece of good news.’ ‘Know,’ I continued, ‘that the Holy Virgin -has appeared to me and has commanded me to pardon you; you will not -die, but you will leave this place with me.’ He was thunderstruck, and -he at once began to eat his soup, submissively resting on his knees, -there being no chair in the cell. He afterwards sat down on his -palliasse and listened attentively for further revelations. I then -continued: ‘Your horrible treason has cost me a sleepless night, for my -letter was of a nature to ensure my condemnation to perpetual -imprisonment. My sole consolation, I confess, was the certainty that in -less than three days you would die in torments before my eyes. With my -heart full of this wicked thought--unworthy of a Christian, for God -commands us to pardon our enemies--I went to sleep, and in my dream the -Holy Virgin came to me in a vision and said, “Sorodaci is a devotee of -the Holy Rosary and I protect him. I command you to pardon him, and I -will remove the curse which you have called down upon his head. As a -reward for your generous act I will command one of my angels to assume -the human form, to descend from heaven to break your prison bonds, and -to release you from this place in five or six days. The angel will -commence his work to-day at half-past eleven precisely, and will finish -it at half-past three, for he must re-ascend to heaven in open day. On -leaving the prison, in company with the angel, you must take Sorodaci -with you and provide for his safety, on condition of his giving up his -trade of spy. Repeat to him all I have said to you.” At these words the -Holy Virgin disappeared, and I awoke.’ - -“Still maintaining my seriousness and my inspired air, I watched the -traitor’s face, and observed that he was petrified with astonishment and -fear. I then took my breviary in one hand, and with the other sprinkled -the cell with holy water in every part. In a little time the fellow -asked me at what hour the angel would descend, and whether he would -make any noise in breaking into the prison. - -“‘I am certain,’ I replied, ‘that he will come at half-past three, that -we shall hear him at work, and that he will leave precisely at the time -the Virgin has named.’ - -“‘You may have been merely dreaming,’ he ventured, timidly. - -“‘No; I am sure I did not dream. And now, do you feel yourself capable -of taking an oath never again to become a spy?’ - -“Instead of replying, he lay down on the bed and went to sleep. He awoke -in two hours with the question. Whether it was not possible to defer the -taking of the oath? - -“‘You may defer it,’ I replied, ‘until the coming of the angel, if you -like; but if you are not ready to swear then, I will leave you to your -miserable trade and the miserable fate that will surely overtake you if -you continue thus to offend God and man.’ - -“I read in his detestable face the satisfaction he derived from this -announcement, for it was easy to see he felt sure the angel would not -come. I waited anxiously to hear the clock strike, for I felt certain -that the ‘arrival of the angel’ would end in the overthrow of his -miserable reason. As soon, therefore, as I heard the first stroke of the -appointed hour, I threw myself on my knees and ordered him, in a voice -of authority, to do the same. He obeyed me with a terrified air. As soon -as I heard the monk approaching I cried out hastily, ‘The angel is -coming!’ and throwing myself flat on my stomach I gave the terrified spy -a vigorous blow with my fist, that forced him to assume the same -posture. The monk’s operations made a great noise, and they lasted a -sufficiently long time, for I had to remain for at least a quarter of -an hour in my disagreeable position. In any other case I should have -been ready to die with laughter at the sight of the miserable wretch -lying motionless at my side. But I carefully refrained even from -smiling, for I felt that too much was at stake to permit of such an -indulgence. I presently got up and assumed a kneeling attitude, giving -him to understand that he was to do the same; and he passed three hours -and a half in this manner, telling his beads all the while. From time to -time he fell asleep, from sheer weariness, and now and then he cast a -furtive glance at the ceiling, his face all the while wearing an -expression of the most complete stupor. At length I called out, in a -tone half solemn, half devotional, ‘Prostrate yourself, for the angel is -leaving!’ and just then Balbi went away to his own cell, and every sound -was hushed. On rising, I perceived, by the wretch’s countenance, that -his mind was full of anxiety and fright. I was delighted, for I saw in -this an opportunity of imposing on him some penance adequate to his -manifold misdeeds. ‘When Laurent comes in the morning,’ I said, ‘you -will throw yourself on the bed, with your face to the wall, without -making the slightest movement or uttering a word. If he _should_ speak -you must reply, without looking at him, that you have not been able to -sleep, and that you are in want of rest. Do you promise this without -reserve?’ - -“‘I promise,’ he stammered out, ‘to do everything you have said.’ - -“‘Swear it,’ I said, ‘before this holy image! And now, most Holy -Virgin,’ I continued, addressing the image, ‘I swear that if I hear -Sorodaci utter a word, or make a single movement, I will strangle him -like a dog.’ I reckoned that this threat would have at least as much -effect upon him as the oath. I then gave him something to eat, and -ordered him to go to bed; and as soon as he had fallen asleep I sat down -and wrote for a couple of hours, informing Balbi that all was ready, and -that he had nothing to do to reach me but to revisit the roof of my cell -and break the planks of the ceiling. I added that we should leave on the -31st of October, and that there would be four of us, counting his -companion and mine. - -“It was the 28th. The next day the monk wrote to say that the passage -between the two cells was quite ready, and that the breaking through the -last plank would be an affair of but four or five minutes. Sorodaci, -faithful to his sworn promise, pretended to be asleep, and Laurent did -not speak to him. But I did not keep my eyes off him for a moment, and I -really believe that if he had uttered a word I should have killed him on -the spot. I devoted the rest of the day to the delivery of a series of -sublime discourses on the recent remarkable visitation, and I was -pleased to see that every word I spoke increased the fanatical terror -with which he regarded me. I took care to ply him well with wine, as -well as with mystifying influences of a religious nature, and I did not -leave him to himself until I saw him fairly overpowered with drunkenness -and sleep. For one moment, indeed, he had a feeble glimmering of common -sense, for he observed that it ought not to take an angel three hours to -break into a cell. ‘The ways of heaven,’ I replied, ‘are -incomprehensible to mortals, and this heavenly messenger clearly is not -working in his celestial capacity, or otherwise he could force a way -through the ceiling with a single breath. He works in his human -capacity, doubtless out of pity for us, who could not otherwise endure -the sight of his glory.’ - -“On the next day Laurent asked after his health, and he replied without -raising his head. It was the same on succeeding days, till at length we -had our last interview with our gaoler on the 31st. I gave him the book -as usual, containing a message for Balbi to come at half-past nine in -the morning, and break through the ceiling. I had no apprehension that -any accident would mar the execution of our plot, for I had heard from -Laurent that the inquisitors and the secretary had already gone into the -country. There was no danger of my again having a companion thrust upon -me at the eleventh hour, and I had found out how to manage the wretch -whose coming had once threatened to prove the downfall of all my hopes. - -“When Laurent left I told Sorodaci that we might now expect the angel -very shortly. ‘He will bring a pair of scissors with him,’ I added, ‘and -it will be your office to clip his beard and mine.’ - -“‘Has the angel a beard then?’ inquired the simpleton. - -“‘Yes, as you will see. When you have done this, we shall all leave the -cell and break through the roof of the palace, whence we shall drop down -into the great square of St. Mark.’ - -“He did not reply, but went on eating his breakfast. As for me, I could -touch nothing at all, for my anxiety as to the success of my enterprise -deprived me of all appetite, as it had made me quite insensible to -fatigue. - -“The appointed hour struck, and the angel was heard. Sorodaci was about -to prostrate himself, but I told him that was no longer necessary. In -less than three minutes the ceiling was broken through, and Balbi rolled -down into my arms. ‘And now,’ said I, ‘your work is done, and mine -begins.’ We embraced, and he gave me back - -[Illustration: Balbi rolled down into my arms.] - -my crowbar and placed the scissors in my hands. I told Sorodaci to cut -our beards; but I could not help laughing at the sight of the wretch, -with his mouth wide open, staring at the angel, who bore so much -resemblance to a supernatural being of another kind. But astonished and -terrified as he was, he did his office with the greatest ease. - -“Anxious to reconnoitre our position, I told Balbi to stay with the spy -(for I dared not leave Sorodaci alone) while I visited the cell where -the count was confined. I found it without difficulty, and embraced a -noble looking old man who, however, seemed scarcely strong enough to -support the fatigues of our meditated flight. He asked me what my plan -was, and observed that he feared I was going to work rather recklessly. -‘I must go on,’ I replied, ‘until I find either liberty or death.’ ‘If -you think,’ said he, ‘to break through the roof and then to drop into -the courtyard, I don’t see how you can possibly succeed, as you are -without wings; and I, at least, dare not venture to accompany you; but I -will stay here and pray to Heaven on your behalf.’ - -“I left him to look at the palace roof, drawing as near as I could to -the walls of the granary. In tapping the woodwork of the roof with my -crowbar, I discovered to my great satisfaction that it was quite rotten. -The planks crumbled to dust the moment they were touched. Judging that I -could easily make an opening large enough for my requirements in about -an hour, I returned to my cell, and spent four hours in cutting up my -bedclothes and every piece of drapery I could find there, and making a -rope of the shreds. I took care to make the knots very strong, and to -test each one as I went on. When the rope was finished I made a bundle -of my coat, my cloak, and a few other things, and went with the monk -and Sorodaci to the count’s cell. Sorodaci’s air of utter bewilderment -would have made the dullest fellow smile. I had long since thrown off -the inconvenient mask of the visionary which I had at first assumed, and -I could see that he felt he had been tricked, though it must still have -been a matter of wonder to him how I could have contrived to ensure the -visits of my ‘angel’ at the appointed hours. He listened with great -attention to the count’s arguments against our plan of escape, and he -seemed to be meditating an excuse for staying behind. Meanwhile, I told -the monk to get his bundle ready while I went to make the hole in the -roof. - -“At about seven o’clock I had finished this part of the work. I pierced -a hole through the wood without the least difficulty, but the leaden -coating of the planks did not yield so easily, and I was obliged to -obtain the assistance of the monk before I could wrench it off. I then -put my head through the opening, and felt for a few moments, with a -delight that I can hardly express, that I was breathing the air of -liberty. But unfortunately the moon was at the full, and I saw myself -doomed to wait for many weary hours before I could venture to move. The -night was a superb one; all the best society in Venice was taking the -air in the square of St. Mark, but I dared not stand on the roof, for my -shadow would have betrayed me to the people below, I therefore told my -companions firmly that we could not leave before ten o’clock at the -earliest, and as the sun did not rise before half-past six, this would -give us some eight hours and a half of perfect darkness,--more by far -than we were likely to require. - -“I accordingly suggested to Balbi that we might while away part of the -time in conversation with the count, and I sent him at once--before -leaving the roof myself--to borrow thirty sequins of the old man, for I -knew that money would now be as indispensable to the success of our plan -as the crowbar had formerly been. Balbi went away, but soon returned -with the message that the count would like to see me alone. The poor old -nobleman began to tell me, with his usual mildness, that money would not -help me to escape, that in fact he had no money, that his family was a -large one, and that if I perished, anything he might give me would be -lost. He ended by giving me two sequins on condition that I should -return them if I finally decided on abandoning my perilous design. His -last words showed how little he knew me, for I was fully prepared to die -rather than remain where I was. - -“I called my companions together, and when we had placed our bundles -near the hole, we passed some hours in talking of the difficulties we -had already surmounted, and of those that still lay before us. The first -proof that Balbi gave me of the nobleness of his character was to repeat -at least half a dozen times that I had deceived him in saying my plan -was complete, and that if he had foreseen the real state of my -preparations, he would never have helped me to leave my cell. - -“The count too employed all his eloquence to dissuade me from the -attempt. ‘The roof, covered as it is with lead,’ said he, ‘is so steep -that you cannot hope to keep your footing on it.’ (This was totally -false, for the slope is unusually gentle.) ‘And on which side do you -propose to drop? Surely not on that looking towards the piazzetta, for -you would be seen at once. You cannot take the side nearest the church, -for that looks into a high walled court; and to drop on the side nearest -the arsenal, would be to fall right into the hands of the guards, who -are constantly making their rounds.’ - -“This kind of talking made my blood boil, though I forced myself to -listen to it with patience. The monk’s reproaches in particular, -incensed me greatly, but I felt that my position was a delicate one. I -was dealing with a coward who might at any time discover that he was not -desperate enough to set death at defiance, and without him I knew it -would be impossible to proceed. I, therefore, did violence to my -feelings, and mildly assured both my fellow-prisoners, that I felt sure -of success though I could not give them all the details of my plan. -While thus engaged I from time to time put forth my hand to ascertain if -Sorodaci was still near me, and I laughed inwardly at what I guessed -would be his secret meditations now that he knew I had deceived him. At -ten o’clock I told him to go and find out in what quarter the moon lay. -He obeyed, and in a short time came back to say that in a quarter of an -hour it would be quite dark, and that a thick fog was falling, which -threatened to add a new danger to our attempted flight. ‘Never mind -that,’ I replied, ‘but take your bundle and be ready to follow me.’ At -these words, what was my surprise to find Sorodaci at my feet, seizing -my hands, and imploring me, in a voice broken by sobs, not to lead him -to certain death. ‘I shall be sure to fall into the canal,’ he -whimpered, ‘and I cannot be of the least use in the world to you. Alas, -leave me here, and I will pass the night in praying to St. Francis for -your success. You may kill me if you like, but I will never follow you.’ -The fool did not know how exactly he anticipated my wishes. ‘You are -right,’ I replied, ‘and you may remain, but only on condition that you -pray incessantly to St. Francis, and that you carry all the books I -have left behind to the count’s room.’ He ran away without replying, and -doubtless with a heart overflowing with joy. My books were worth about a -hundred crowns, and the count told me that he would give me the money -for them _on my return_. ‘You will never see me here again,’ I replied, -‘on that you may safely rely; but the value of the books may be taken as -a set off against your loan of the sequins. As for this scoundrel I am -delighted to think he has not the courage to follow me, for I should not -know what to do with him; and besides he is altogether unworthy to share -the honour of such an escape as this with Balbi and myself.’ ‘Very -good,’ replied the count; ‘only take care that to-morrow he has not -occasion to congratulate himself on his cowardice.’ - -“It was now time to go, for the moon had disappeared, and it was quite -dark. I tied half our bundle of cords round Balbi’s shoulders, together -with his own bundle of clothes; and having equipped myself in the same -way, we made for the opening in the roof. - -“I went out first, and Balbi followed. I had the crowbar in my right -hand, and, using this as a kind of prop, I contrived, by crawling on all -fours, to reach the summit of the roof. The monk clung to my waistband, -and I dragged him up, so that I was like a beast of burden groaning -under a double load; and all this on a sloping roof, rendered quite -slippery by a dewy fog. - -“When we were about half way up, the monk implored me to stop, as he had -lost one of his packets, and hoped to be able to find it in the gutter. -My first impulse was to give him a sound kick and to send him after his -packet. But, happily, I was enabled to restrain myself, for to have lost -his co-operation would have been to forfeit my only - -[Illustration: The Monk clung to my waistband.] - -chance of escape. I asked him if it was the packet of cords, and he -informed me, to my great joy, that it was the other one, containing a -valuable manuscript, which he had discovered in the prison, and which he -hoped would be the means of making his fortune. I told him that we could -not possibly return for it, for that a single retrograde step would be -the ruin of us. The poor fellow breathed a deep sigh, and we went on -climbing as before. - -“At length, as I have said, we reached the summit of the roof. I -comfortably got astride, and Father Balbi followed my example. Behind us -was the little island of St. George the Greater, and a couple of hundred -paces in front were the numerous cupolas of the church of St. Mark. My -first act was to rid myself of my burden, and I invited my companion to -do the same. He placed his bundle of cords under his thighs, as well as -he could; but, wishing to take off his hat, which hurt him, and being -awkward, it rolled from tile to tile, and at last joined the packet of -clothes in the canal. My poor companion was in despair. ‘Bad omen!’ he -exclaimed. ‘Here I am, at the beginning of our enterprise, without shirt -or hat, without even my precious manuscript.’ - -“‘My dear fellow,’ I said, ‘these two accidents, which are far from -discouraging me, prove to you that God protects us; for if your hat, -instead of falling to the right, had fallen to the left, we should have -been lost: it would have fallen into the court-yard of the palace, where -the guards would have found it, and we should, before long, have been -retaken.’ - -“After passing some minutes looking right and left, I told the monk not -to stir from there till I returned; and I advanced, carrying only my -crowbar in my hand, along the summit of the roof without any -difficulty. I spent nearly an hour on the roof, going from side to side, -observing; but in vain, for I could nowhere find a point to which to -fasten the end of the rope. I was in the greatest perplexity. The canal -and the palace court-yard were both out of the question, and on the top -of the church I could see only precipices which led to no opening. To go -beyond the church I should have had to climb ascents so steep that I saw -it was impossible. - -“Yet it was necessary to do something--either to get out or to return to -the dungeon, never, perhaps, to come out again, or to throw myself into -the canal. My eye was caught by a garret window on the side next the -canal, and about two-thirds of the way down the slope of the roof. It -was far enough from the place whence I had come out to enable me to -judge that the garret it gave light to did not belong to the inclosure -of the prison I had broken out from. It must be a loft over some -apartment of the palace, the doors of which I should naturally find open -at daybreak. Under this impression I thought it right to have a look at -the garret window; and, sliding down gently, I was soon astride of the -little roof. Leaning on my hands, and stretching forward, I was able to -see and touch a little grating, behind which was a window with small -panes of glass set in lead. The window was nothing, but the grating -seemed an invincible obstacle, for without a file I did not see how I -could remove it. I was confounded, when a very simple and natural thing -revived my spirits. The clock of St. Martin’s striking midnight was the -phenomenon which produced this effect. The clock reminded me that All -Saints’ Day was setting in, and being the feast of my patron saint, the -prediction of my Jesuit confessor recurred to me: ‘_Know that you will -not get out of this till the feast of the patron saint whose name you -bear._’ But I own that what especially roused my courage and added to my -strength was the profound oracle I had received from my beloved Ariosto: -‘_Fra il fin d’ottobre, e il capo di novembre._’ - -“The stroke of the clock was like a speaking talisman calling on me to -act, and promising victory. Extended at full length, with my head over -the grating, I pushed the lock into the framework for it, and determined -to tear it off bodily. In a quarter of an hour I had succeeded. I placed -the grating aside, and I had no difficulty in breaking the glass out, -despite my bleeding hands. Retracing my steps, I got back to where I had -left my companion. He was furious. He heaped the grossest abuse on me -for leaving him there so long. He assured me he was only waiting for it -to strike one, to return to his prison. - -“‘What did you think about me then?’ - -“‘I thought you had fallen down some precipice.’ - -“‘And you express your joy at seeing me by loading me with abuse?’ - -“‘What were you doing so long then?’ - -“‘Follow me, and you shall see.’ - -“Having picked up my packets, I made my way back to the garret window. -When we reached it, I gave Balbi an exact account of what I had done, -and consulted him as to how we should get into the garret. The thing was -easy, I told him, for one of us, for by means of the rope he could be -let down by the other; but I did not see how the second was to get down, -having no means of fastening the rope. If I were to get in and let -myself slip down, I might break my arms or legs, for I did not know the -distance of the floor. To this reasoning in the most friendly tone, the -brute replied, ‘Let me down, and when I am below you will have time -enough to think of how to follow me.’ - -“I own that in my indignation I was tempted to bury my crowbar in his -breast. My good genius restrained me, however. I did not utter a word of -reproach for his base selfishness, but undoing my bundle of ropes, I -tied them firmly under his arms, and getting him to be down flat, feet -foremost, I lowered him on to the roof of the garret window. When he was -there I bid him creep into the window as far as the hips, and to balance -himself in that position. When that was done, I slid along the roof as -before, and holding the rope firmly, told him to let go, and not be -afraid. Having reached the floor, he untied the rope, and I found that -the height was more than fifty feet.[B] The leap would be too dangerous. -The monk cried out to me to throw him the ropes and he would take care. -I was very careful not to follow his advice. - -“Not knowing what to do, and waiting for an inspiration, I crept upon -the summit of the roof, and my eye rested upon a spot near a cupola -which I had not visited. I made my way to it. I found a scaffolding -covered with plates of lead, near a large garret window, closed with two -shutters. On it was a barrel of mortar, a trowel, and at one side a -ladder which appeared long enough to assist me to descend to the loft -where I had left my companion. Passing my rope through the first round, -I dragged the ladder through the window. The point then was to get in -this heavy mass which was twelve of my cubits long,[C] and the -difficulty of the task made me repent having deprived myself of the -monk’s assistance. I had pushed the ladder until one of the ends touched -the window while the other reached a full third beyond the gutter. I got -on to the top of the window, and dragging the ladder after me, I tied -the rope to the eighth round, then I let it run until it was parallel -with the window. I tried to pass it through the window, but found it -impossible to get it past the fifth rung, for the end was stopped inside -by the top of the window. I might have put the ladder across, tied the -rope to it, and then slid down without danger, but the ladder would then -have remained to point to where we were hiding. - -“I did not wish to risk losing by imprudence the fruit of so much -fatigue and danger, and to leave no trace the entire ladder must be got -in. Being without help, I resolved to mount to the gutter, raise it, and -shove it in. I did so, but with so much danger that it was a marvel I -was not killed. I could let the ladder run with the rope without any -fear of its falling into the canal, because it was in a manner hooked on -to the spout by the third round. I lay on my stomach with my feet -against the marble spout. I then raised the ladder half a foot, pushed -it forward, and to my delight saw it enter about a foot. This diminished -its weight. I had still to get it two feet farther by raising it as -much, then by getting atop of the window by means of the rope I could -get it in. I got on my knees to raise it, but the force I had to use -made me shoot as far as the chest over the roof. - -“It was a horrible moment: even now I tremble at it. The natural -instinct of self-preservation made me almost unconsciously use all my -strength to turn on my side and stop myself, and miraculously I -succeeded. Happily I had nothing to fear for the ladder, for in the -unlucky effort which was near costing me so dear, I had sent it more -than three feet in, which fixed it immovable. In trying to clamber back -to my former position I was seized with a cramp which deprived me of the -use of my limbs. Retaining my self-possession, I lay still till the -cramp passed. The moment was terrible, but in two minutes more I had the -happiness to succeed in getting my knees back in the gutter. Lifting the -ladder as soon as I had recovered breath, till it was parallel with the -window, I then mounted on the top of the window, and easily got the -whole of the ladder in, my companion catching one end of it, and then -throwing in ropes, clothes, and the débris of the window, I descended -myself into the garret. - -“Arm in arm we inspected the dark place we found ourselves in. It was -about thirty paces long by twenty wide. At one end was a folding door -barred with iron. It looked badly, but it opened at a touch. In the next -enclosure we knocked up against a large table surrounded by seats and -armchairs. Opening one of the windows we saw by the starlight only -precipices between the cupolas. Shutting the window we returned to where -we had left our packages, and as I was utterly exhausted, body and mind, -I put one of them under my head and fell fast asleep. Had death stared -me in the face I could not have kept awake, and well I remember the -delightful pleasure of that sleep. - -“I slept for three hours and a half, and was at last wakened by the -shaking and cries of the monk. He told me five o’clock had struck, and -that my sleeping was inconceivable. It was, however, not surprising. For -two whole days excitement had prevented me from eating or sleeping; and, -besides, the exertions I had just made would have exhausted any man. -This sleep completely refreshed me, and there was now sufficient light -to know what one was doing. - -“When I cast my eyes about I cried out, ‘This is not a prison; there -must be an exit easy to find.’ In a corner opposite the iron door I -spied out another door; running my hand over it I found the key-hole. -Putting in my crowbar I opened it, and we found ourselves in a little -chamber, where a key lay on the table. With this key I opened another -door opposite, sent the monk back for our clothes, replaced the key, and -we entered a gallery, the niches of which were full of papers. It was -the archives. We descended a stone staircase, and then another, and at -the bottom found a glass door, which we opened, and were in a hall I -knew--the ducal chancellery. I opened a window. I could easily have got -out, but I should have found myself in the labyrinth of little streets -surrounding the church of St. Mark. God protect me from such folly! - -“I tried the lock of the door; but finding it impossible to force it, I -decided on making a hole in one of the panels. The monk aided me, -trembling at the noise my crowbar made each time I tried to drive it -through the plank; such a noise was sure to be heard at a distance. I -felt the danger, but it was necessary to brave it. - -“In half an hour the hole was large enough. Had it not been, I could not -have enlarged it without a saw. The sides of this hole bristled with -points, liable to tear the clothes and lacerate the flesh. It was five -feet from the ground. Placing two chairs together under it we mounted -on them, and I pushed the monk through. Then I handed him our bundles, -and placing another chair on these two, I scrambled through the hole, -the monk dragging me, tearing my side and legs till the blood flowed in -streams. Going down two staircases, I opened a door at the bottom and -entered the passage, where the great gate of the royal staircase is -situate, and beside the door of the cabinet of the Savio alla Scrittura. -The great gate was fastened, and I saw at a glance I could not force it. - -“Calm, resigned, and perfectly tranquil, I seated myself, telling the -monk to do the same. ‘My work is finished.’ said I; ‘the rest is now in -the hands of God and fortune.’ - - “‘Abbia chi regge il ciel cura del resto, - O la fortuna se non tocca a lui.’ - -“‘I don’t know whether the palace sweepers will come here either to-day, -All Saints’ Day, or to-morrow, All Souls Day. Should any one come I -shall save myself as soon as the door is opened, and do you follow me. -But if no one comes, here I remain, were I to die of hunger.’ - -“At this the poor man became furious: he called me mad, desperado, a -seducer, traitor, liar. Six o’clock struck. It was only an hour since I -awoke in the garret. - -“What chiefly occupied my thoughts was, how to get a change of clothes. -Father Balbi was dressed as a peasant, and his clothes were intact; -while I could inspire only horror and pity, for I was covered with -blood, and my dress was in rags. Tearing up my handkerchief, I staunched -my wounds. I gathered my hair into my purse, drew on white stockings, a -lace shirt, and put on my fine coat. I then resembled a man who had -been at a ball and passed the night at a tavern and got disordered -there. - -“Thus decked out, my fine hat, with Spanish lace and black plume on my -head, I opened a window. Some idlers in the court, not understanding how -one so dressed could be in such a place so early, ran to inform those -who were in charge. The doorkeeper immediately came and opened the door, -supposing he had locked somebody in the previous evening. Hearing him -coming, I told the monk to be silent, and placed close by the door. - -“When the man opened it he was stupefied at my appearance. Profiting by -his confusion I passed out without saying a word. Without appearing to -fly, I took the magnificent staircase called the ‘Giants’, and passed on -without heeding the monk, who kept calling to enter the church. He knew -as well as I did that churches were no longer sanctuaries in Venice, but -in his terror he forgot the fact. - -“I made my way at once for the frontier. I hastened straight to the -royal gate of the ducal palace, traversed the piazetta, and stepped with -the monk, who had followed me, into the first gondola I met, telling the -gondolier I wished to go to Fusine, and to call another rower. - -“When we had passed the custom-house, I asked the gondolier if we could -reach Mestre before eight. - -“‘But, sir,’ said he, ‘you told me to go to Fusine.’ - -“I told him he was mistaken. The other gondolier insisted he was not, -and the stupid monk joined them. I could have knocked his head off. But -I laughed, said probably I was wrong, but that I wished to go to Mestre, -and for Mestre we started. - -“Arrived at Mestre I hired a carriage. I mounted; and as we were -starting I turned to make a remark to Father Balbi: he was not at my -side. I sent a stable-boy for him, but he was not to be found. I looked -into a tavern, and found him taking a cup of chocolate. Repressing my -indignation, I got him out, and we were getting into the carriage again, -when a man came up who knew me, and who had the reputation of being a -familiar of the inquisition of the republic. He saluted me, said he was -happy to see me, and asked how I had escaped. - -“‘I have not escaped, sir; I have been discharged.’ - -“‘Impossible, sir; for only yesterday I was at Signor Grimani’s, and I -should have heard it there.’ - -“Descending from the carriage, I asked him to step aside with me behind -the house. There I seized him, and raised my crowbar to strike; but he -broke from me and ran away. When he had got at a safe distance he kissed -hands, in token that he wished me a happy voyage, and I thanked God I -had not taken his life. - -“Arrived at Trevisa, I ordered a post carriage for ten o’clock; but I -had no intention of using it, for I had not the means to pay for it; and -I feared, hungry as I was, I did not even dare to break my fast. - -“Passing out of the gate of the city I took to the fields, determined -not to get on the road again while in the territories of the republic. -For safety sake, to avoid any ambuscades that might lie in wait for me -on the shortest route, I everywhere took the longest way. After three -hours’ walking I threw myself on the ground exhausted, and sent the monk -to a neighbouring farmer’s house for food, and a good dinner was soon -sent me by a girl. After walking for four hours more we sat down, and I -told the monk we must separate to pass the frontiers, but that we should -meet again at Borgo di Val Sugana, and I directed him how to go, making -him a present of my cloak. Giving him all the money that remained to me, -I appointed finally a place for meeting in two days. He refused to leave -me, reminding me of the promise I had made when inducing him to help my -escape--that I would never separate from him. I rose with much effort, -took his measure, and began to dig a hole, without answering his -questions. After a quarter of an hour’s work I told him to prepare his -soul, for I was going to bury him, if he drove me to it by his -obstinacy. He still refused to go; but at length, either from fear or -reflection, he consented, and we embraced one another. When he had gone, -I approached a shepherd, asked the name of the village and the owners of -several houses, and decided to apply for a night’s lodging at the house -of the chief of the sbirri, inquiring from a child playing in the yard -where her father was.” - -The child called its mother, who mistook Cassanova for Signor Vitturi, -who had promised to become godfather to her child. She told him her -husband had been summoned to search for two prisoners who had escaped -from the leads, and that she did not expect him back for two or three -days. He explained that he had received his hurts in a fall from his -horse, and the mother of his hostess eagerly dressed them. He was served -an excellent supper, and after twelve hours’ refreshing sleep, set out -again at five in the morning. After five hours’ travelling he heard a -bell, and remembering it was All Souls’ Day, he entered the church, and -met there one he had thought his friend. This friend was very eager to -hear the story of his escape, but refused him any assistance. At an -isolated farmhouse, however, he was well entertained, and again at a -Capuchin convent. At the house of another friend he was refused even a -drink of water; but, - -[Illustration: I told him I was going to bury him.] - -crowbar in hand, he extorted six sequins. He passed the night at a -farmhouse. In the morning he bought some old clothes and an ass, and on -its back he passed the frontier, without being even asked his name. He -arrived early at Borgo, where he found the monk, who told him, by way of -welcome, that he had not expected him. - - - - -_LATUDE._ - -1750-1784. - - -Masers de Latude was born in 1725, at the castle of Craiseih, near -Montagnac, in Languedoc. His father, the Marquis de Latude, was an -officer in high rank, and the young Latude was destined for the military -profession. While, however, he was studying at Paris, in 1749, he -unfortunately conceived the idea of having recourse to subterfuge, in -order to attract the notice of Madame de Pompadour, and to obtain her -protection. He accordingly placed a small cardboard box in the post -containing a harmless powder, and addressed to the marchioness, and then -went straight to Versailles with the information that two individuals -wished to poison the royal favourite, and that he had discovered their -secret. The marchioness at first thanked him in the warmest terms; but -he had scarcely left her presence when she began to suspect that she had -been the victim of a shameful fraud. She obtained a few lines in his own -handwriting from her pretended preserver; and comparing them with the -address on the box, had her suspicions confirmed. Some few days after -that, Latude found himself in the Bastille. - -When he had remained there four months, he was taken to the castle of -Vincennes, and he had every reason to fear that his imprisonment was to -last for life, for the enraged woman proved inexorable to every appeal -in his favour. - -“I kept up my courage,” he says in his “Memoirs,” “with the hope that I -should one day obtain my liberty, and that I should owe it to my own -exertions alone, not to the favour of my gaolers. I was constantly -forming plans. Among my fellow-prisoners I noticed an aged ecclesiastic, -who appeared at a particular time every day in the garden of the -chateau. He had been deprived of his liberty a long while on account of -Jansenism. He was frequently visited by the abbé of St. Sauveur, and he -devoted a great deal of his leisure to teaching the children of the -officers to read and write. He was allowed to go almost wherever he -pleased when in the company of his little pupils. He usually took his -walk at about the time when I was led into a small garden adjoining the -one I have spoken of--an indulgence granted me through the kindness of -M. Berryer, the lieutenant of police. Two turnkeys used to accompany me -on my leaving the cell, and on my return; but sometimes the elder of the -two would wait for me in the garden, while the younger came up alone to -let me out. I gradually accustomed the latter to see me run down the -stairs in advance of him, and join his comrade in the garden, so that he -always moved in the most leisurely manner when he came to fetch me. - -“On a certain day I had resolved, at any price, to make an effort for -liberty. As soon, therefore, as he came into my cell I ran downstairs -with inconceivable swiftness, and hastily bolting the door on the -outside, left him a prisoner within. There were then four sentinels to -deal with. The first was on the other side of a door which led from the -donjon, and which was always closed. I knocked; the door was opened. -‘Where is the abbé of St. Sauveur?’ I asked, hurriedly. ‘Our priest has -been waiting for him in the garden over two hours, and I have been -looking for him everywhere.’ I ran forward, as I spoke, till I came to a -second sentinel, to whom I put the same question, and who allowed me to -pass in the same way; and to a third, posted on the other side of the -drawbridge, with whom I was equally fortunate. The fourth sentinel did -not for a moment suspect I was a prisoner, seeing I had passed the -others. I crossed the threshold of the outermost gate; I ran forward and -was lost to view: I was free. - -“I made my way across the fields, avoiding the high road as much as -possible, and at length I came to Paris, where I took furnished -lodgings, and tasted to the full the joys of liberty, with an appetite -sharpened by fourteen months of captivity.” - -Having had the imprudence to write to the king to excuse his fault, and -to urge that he had already made sufficient expiation for it, Latude was -again arrested and taken to the Bastille, where he was confined in a -very strong cell. After remaining there eighteen months, however, he was -removed, by M. Berryer’s orders, to a tolerably comfortable room, which -he occupied jointly with a young man of his own age, named Alègre, whose -crime was also that of having given offence to Madame de Pompadour. - -“Under such circumstances, young men could come to but one -resolution--to escape, or perish in the attempt. But every one able to -form the slightest idea of the Bastille will conceive that this project -had in it a touch of the wildness of delirium. In adopting it, however, -I knew what I was about, and I hope I shall be credited with a soul a -little above the common for having invented, formed, and carried it out. - -“It was now no longer of any use to think of escaping from the Bastille -by the gates. Every physical impossibility tended to render that idea -impracticable. The ground being thus denied me, there was but one other -way--to mount into the air. There was in our room a chimney running to -the top of the tower; but, like every other in the place, it was so -fortified with bars of iron as scarcely to leave a free passage to the -smoke; and any one making his way to the top of the tower would find -himself cut off from all communication with surrounding buildings, and -with a ditch, commanded by a high wall some two hundred feet beneath -him. Yet all these obstacles, all these dangers, could not daunt me. I -communicated my ideas to my companion, but his timorous soul at first -shrunk from the possible sufferings they involved. He chose to regard me -as a madman, and for a time I thought and worked alone. - -“There were many things to provide for, and to do: to climb to the top -of the chimney, in spite of the iron bars; to make a ladder long enough -to reach to the foot of the tower, and a second one (of wood) for -mounting the ditch on the other side. In order to do all this I should -have to procure tools and materials, and to use them in secret, yet, as -it were, under the gaoler’s eyes. - -“My first care was to find out a place in which I could hide my -implements and the other things as soon as I should obtain them. Through -thinking earnestly about it, I at length hit on a happy idea. I had been -in several rooms in the Bastille, and I had always been able to -ascertain whether the one below or above me happened to be occupied, by -the noise the prisoner made. On this occasion I heard sounds from above, -but none from below, and yet I knew that some one was in the room -beneath me. This led me to believe that there was a double thickness of -boards between us; and I took the following means to test the -correctness of my conclusion:-- - -“There was a chapel in the Bastille, where mass was said once a day -during the week, and three times on Sunday. Permission to be present on -these occasions was a favour very rarely granted, and obtained with no -little difficulty. Both myself and my companion, however, with the -prisoner in the room beneath us, were allowed to attend the service. - -“I resolved to seek the opportunity of our leaving the chapel together, -to obtain a hasty glimpse of this prisoner’s room, and I told Alègre how -he could help me. He was to let his knife case fall down stairs, as -though by accident, in drawing out his pocket-handkerchief, so that one -of the turnkeys would be obliged to run back to pick it up. All this was -managed to perfection. The turnkey went down to find the case; and I, in -the meantime, hurried away to our fellow-prisoner’s room. The ceiling -was a very low one, and measuring it and the height of the entire storey -with my eye, I judged that there was an unoccupied space of about five -feet between the two chambers. ‘My friend,’ said I to Alègre on my -return, ‘we are saved; we have hiding-place enough for a whole workshop -full of things.’ ‘But how are we to get them?’ he asked impatiently. -‘Well, as for materials, this trunk of mine will supply us with more -rope than we are likely to want.’ ‘Trunk! rope! why, the thing does not -contain a single yard of rope!’ ‘What! have I not a quantity of -linen--several dozens of shirts, and a number of napkins, stockings, and -other things? We have only to tear them up into strips to make a ladder -of any length we please.’ - -“There was a folding table in our room with a good deal of iron work -about it; and, by cutting away part of this iron work with our pocket -knives, we soon obtained a kind of rough chisel for loosening the bars -of the chimney. As soon as our guards had left us for the night, we -prized up a portion of the flooring with this implement, and we then -began to pick a hole in the brickwork beneath. After we had worked in -this way for some six hours, I found that my hasty calculation had not -deceived me. There was a clear space of four feet between our floor and -the ceiling below. This was work enough for one day; so we carefully -swept all the rubbish into the hole, and replaced the piece of flooring -that had been torn up. - -“Our next operation was to unstitch two of my shirts--carefully -preserving the thread--and by cutting them in pieces, and tying or -stitching them together, we made a ladder some twenty feet long, which -enabled us to move from place to place in the chimney while we were -removing the bars. This part of the undertaking was of the most painful -and trying character, and its execution cost us six months of an agony -which even now I shudder to think of. We were obliged to work in the -most uncomfortable and torturing positions, and we had scarcely struck a -dozen strokes before our hands were covered with blood. The bars were -fixed in an extremely hard cement, on which we could make no impression -with our tools till we had moistened it with water, and the water had to -be carried up in our mouths. Our progress was so slow that we were well -satisfied when we removed a single square inch of the cement in the -course of a night. As soon as we had loosened one bar we left it in its -place, not daring to remove it until the very last moment, for fear the -chimney should be examined in the meantime. - -“When this odious labour was at length completed, we set to work upon -the wooden ladder, by means of which we were to make our way into the -governor’s garden that lay beyond the ditch. It had to be from twenty to -twenty-five feet in length; and to make it, we set aside the pieces of -wood sent up as firing, using part of an old chandelier, notched with -our pocket knives for a saw. With this and another rude tool, made from -the ironwork of the table, we cut our logs of wood into smaller pieces, -which we fastened together with small bits of metal and bolts of wood, -that served as hinges and screws. Through the single pole thus made we -placed the rounds of the ladder, which projected some six inches on -either side. The whole thing could be taken to pieces easily, and -therefore we had no difficulty in hiding it beneath the flooring of our -room. - -“Our little subterranean workshop (as I may call it) was now quite -nicely furnished, and its contents were known to none but ourselves. We -had contrived to avoid detection in a most wonderful manner, but there -was one danger which still gave us particular uneasiness. It was the -custom with the officers of the Bastille, not only to make irregular and -unexpected visits to the cells, but even to set spies upon the -prisoners’ most secret hours. We had to take care therefore to do all -our work by night, and not to leave the faintest trace of it behind us. -But guards have ears as well as eyes. We were, of course, talking over -our projects incessantly; and since we could not avoid the necessity for -doing this, we had to invent a language intelligible only to ourselves. -This was easily done; the saw was called _faun_; a hook, _Tubal Cain_; -the hole in the floor, _Polyphemus_; the wooden ladder, _Jacob_; and the -rounds, _sprigs_; the ropes, _doves_ (from their whiteness); the pocket -knife, _puppy_, and so forth. We were constantly on our guard, however, -in using even this gibberish, and we succeeded perfectly in keeping our -guards in the dark. - -“When the operations already spoken of were completed, we began to think -about our great ladder. We calculated that it would have to be at least -one hundred and eighty feet in length; and to find material for it we -had to sacrifice shirts, napkins, stockings, flannels--in short, nearly -the whole of our underclothing. As soon as we had made a hank, or twist, -out of the shreds, we hid it away in ‘Polyphemus.’ When we had a -sufficient number of these, we spent the whole night in binding them -together; and I would defy any ropemaker to produce a stouter cable (of -its size) than the one we then possessed. - -“At the summit of all the towers of the Bastille a ledge projected some -four or five feet beyond the wall. This we knew would cause any one -using our ladder to swing about in the air, and in all probability to -lose his hold from giddiness, and fall to the ground. We were obliged, -there fore, to invent an apparatus for steadying the ladder, which was -far too complicated to describe here. Suffice it to say, that it -involved the use of another rope, some three hundred and sixty feet -long; and this we actually made, together with shorter ropes for tying -our ladder to a cannon, and for other necessities of the moment. - -“When all these ropes were ready we measured them, and found they were -fourteen hundred feet in length. Our ladders, all taken together, had -two hundred and eight rounds. - -“There was one other danger to be dreaded--the noise likely to be made -by the friction of our ladders against the wall. We endeavoured to avoid -this by carefully binding up the ladders with pieces of our -dressing-gowns, etc., at the places where they were likely to touch the -stonework. - -“We had been employed some eighteen months in these preparations, and -yet our work was not done. We had found a means of reaching the top of -the tower, and for dropping into the ditch; but now other operations -would be needed to enable us to leave the place. The first was to mount -the parapet of the governor’s wall, which looks into the ditch of the -Porte St. Antoine. But this parapet was always guarded by sentinels. We -might choose a very rainy and dark night for our attempt; but then it -might rain while we were leaving the chimney, and yet be perfectly fine -by the time we reached the parapet and the sentinels. And, besides, -there were not only the sentinels, but the guard going the grand rounds. -To be seen by the latter was to be hopelessly lost. - -“The second operation promised to be less of a danger than a difficulty. -It consisted of making a passage through the wall separating the ditch -of the Bastille from the Porte St. Antoine. It would necessitate the use -of a couple of crowbars, and these we could easily obtain from our -chimney. - -“We fixed on Monday, the 25th of February, 1756, for our flight. The -river had overflowed its banks, and there was water to the depth of four -feet in the ditches of the Bastille. We judged it prudent, therefore, to -pack up a change of clothes in a portmanteau, so that we might not run -the risk of perishing of cold if we happened to be fortunate enough to -escape from the prison. - -“Immediately after our dinner hour, on the appointed day, we took our -rope-ladder from its hiding-place beneath the floor, and having seen -that all the rounds were in order, put it away again in a more -convenient place for instant use. At the same time we tied the three -pieces of the wooden ladder together, bound our crowbars in rags, to -prevent the metal from coming in contact with the wall, and furnished -ourselves with a small bottle of brandy for our sustenance during the -nine hours we were to pass up to our necks in water in the ditch. This -done, we waited impatiently for the hour of supper. It came at length, -and our gaolers left us for the night. - -“I was the first to mount the chimney. I was suffering from rheumatism -in the left arm, but I paid very little attention to that. I was nearly -suffocated, however, with the soot accumulated in the upper part of the -chimney beyond the bars, and the rough brickwork tore open my elbows and -my knees, and made them run with blood. I was in this state when I -reached the roof; I nevertheless, without thinking of my wounds, dropped -a rope down the chimney, and drew up the portmanteau, which Alègre had -fastened to the end of it. In the same manner we conveyed the wooden -ladder, the crowbars, and the other packets to the top of the roof. -Alègre made the ascent more easily than I, thanks to my having lowered -the rope ladder for him. We then slid down from the top of the chimney -on the outside, and stood both together on the roof of the Bastille. - -“We lost no time in preparing for our descent. Doubling up our rope -ladder till it formed a kind of ball, we rolled it along the roof till -we came to the Treasury Tower, where we tied one end of it to a cannon -and let the other fall gently into the ditch. I then fastened the single -rope round my body, and Alègre holding it, to steady me, I stepped on -to the ladder. But I swayed about dreadfully, nevertheless, and became -so giddy that once or twice I felt myself on the point of losing -consciousness, and gave up all for lost. I reached the ditch, however, -without serious accident; and when Alègre had lowered the things to me, -I was lucky enough to find a little eminence to place them on, so that -they did not get wetted. My companion then made the descent, but he had -one advantage over me--I was at the bottom to hold the ladder for him, -so that he did not suffer from giddiness nearly so much as I had done. -When we had both reached the bottom we could not suppress a sigh of -regret at being obliged to leave behind us the ladder it had cost so -much pains to make.[D] - -“It was not raining, and we could distinctly hear the footfall of a -sentinel, at the distance of a few paces. We were obliged therefore, to -give up the idea of reaching the parapet, and to turn our steps towards -the governor’s garden. We accordingly shouldered our crowbars, and went -straight to the wall between the ditches, where we began to work. But -unfortunately, just at the spot we were obliged to choose, the ditch was -deepest, so that we were up to our armpits in water, instead of being up -to our breasts. There had been a thaw but a few hours previously, and -the ditch was full of lumps of ice, yet we had to endure all this for -more than nine hours, our strength exhausted by labour of the most -fatiguing kind, and our limbs more than half frozen. Hardly had we began -to work, when I saw on - -[Illustration: I saw on the parapet the soldiers of the grand round.] - -the parapet, some twelve feet above us, the soldiers of the grand round. -Their lantern lit up the place where we were perfectly, and there was no -way of avoiding discovery but to plunge down into the water, an -operation which had to be repeated at each visit of the grand -round--that is to say, every half-hour. At length after nine hours of -labour and of terror, and after having picked stone from stone with -inconceivable difficulty, we succeeded in making, through a wall four -feet and a half in thickness, a hole large enough to admit of our -passing, and we dragged ourselves through to the other side. Our souls -were already full of joy, when we experienced a new and wholly -unforeseen danger. We were now crossing the ditch of St. Antoine in -order to gain the road to Bercy. We had hardly advanced twenty steps in -the water when we fell into the aqueduct, which is in the middle of the -ditch, and where we had ten feet of water above our heads; and beneath -our feet some two feet of a thick purifying substance (for the most part -salt) on which it was well-nigh impossible to walk. But for this latter -circumstance, there could have been no difficulty in gaining the -opposite side, for the aqueduct was only six feet in breadth. D’Alègre, -when he found himself out of his depth, was foolish enough to clutch me -convulsively. But I saw this must infallibly end in the ruin of us both, -since if by any accident we should fall into the salt mud, we should not -have strength enough to raise ourselves again. I therefore dealt -D’Alègre a heavy blow with my fist, and having freed myself from him, I -succeeded by a vigorous push in gaining the side of the aqueduct, and -thus saving us both, for nothing was easier than to stretch out my hand -and drag him ashore from my vantage-ground. It struck five when we -emerged from the ditch: the sound of the bell had hardly died away, -when we stood together on the main road--free men. - -“Transported with the same sentiment, we threw ourselves into one -another’s arms in a close embrace, and then fell upon our knees to -express our gratitude to God. This first duty fulfilled, we began to -think about a change of dress, and we then felt by what a happy -inspiration of prudence and foresight, we had been prompted to furnish -our portmanteau with some spare clothes. The cold had frozen our limbs, -and, as I had anticipated, we suffered a good deal more now than during -the nine hours we were in the water. Each of us had far too little -control over his movements to be able to undress and dress himself, but -by rendering some assistance to one another, we contrived at length to -effect these operations. We then jumped into a fiacre and drove straight -to the house of M. de Silhouette; the chancellor of the Duke of Orleans, -but unfortunately we learned that he had gone to Versailles.” - -They however, found an asylum with some friends, natives of Languedoc, -like themselves, and, after hiding with them a month, left separately -for Brussels. D’Alègre arriving first, was immediately arrested by the -agents of the French government. He was taken back to France, and -fifteen years later Latude found him at Charenton. He had become mad. As -for Latude, during his stay in Brussels, he managed to avoid the snares -laid for him by the French police, but he was finally arrested at -Amsterdam, and conducted back to France, with irons on his ankles and -wrists. - -In 1764 he was transferred to Vincennes, and subjected to the most cruel -treatment by order of M. de Sartines. After a time Guyonnet, the -governor, released him from his cell, and gave him a furnished room to -live in, at the same time permitting him to take exercise in the -gardens of the chateau, two hours every day. - -“What I valued most about this favour was that it promised to afford me -sooner or later, the prospect of another escape. For eight months -however, so carefully was I watched, I did not find a single opportunity -of putting my project into execution, and I began to feel that I could -owe my liberty only to some happy chance. Such a chance presented itself -at length in a most unexpected manner. - -“On the 23rd of November, 1765, I was walking in the garden at about -four o’clock in the afternoon, when a thick fog suddenly rose from the -ground. The idea of escape immediately occurred to me; but how was I to -get rid of my guards? for, to say nothing of the many sentinels in the -passages, I had two at my side, with a sergeant who never quitted me an -instant. I could not attack them, nor could I glide quietly from their -side, for their orders were to accompany me everywhere and to follow all -my movements. I therefore addressed myself boldly to the sergeant, and -called his attention to the fog which had come upon us so suddenly. - -“‘What do you think of this weather?’ I asked. - -“‘It is very bad, monsieur.’ - -“‘Do you think so?’ I replied in an instant, and in the calmest and most -natural tone. ‘It seems to me, on the contrary, the very weather to -favour my escape.’ - -“While uttering these words I raised my elbows suddenly and thrust the -soldiers from me, and at the same time, giving the sergeant a violent -push, I took to flight, passing a third sentinel, who did not seem to -perceive what I was doing until I was at some distance from him. They -all, however, rapidly recovered from their surprise, and pursued me -with cries of ‘Stop him! stop him!’ The guard assembled: the windows -began to open; everybody ran into the courtyard, and ‘Stop him! stop -him!’ was heard on every side. How to escape? I did not remain long at a -loss. There was nothing for it but to dash right into the midst of the -crowd and take up their cry. ‘Stop thief! stop thief!’ I bawled louder -than any of them, pointing in front of me at the same time. They took -the bait admirably, following their noses in search of nothing at all -with the most praiseworthy energy and zeal. I outran them easily; there -was scarcely a step between me and liberty. I had reached the end of the -royal court; there was but one sentinel to pass, but to pass him would -not be easy, for, alarmed by the uproar, he would naturally be -suspicious of the first comer in the crowd. I had, in fact, foreseen the -exact state of things. At the first cry, the sentinel had placed himself -in the middle of the pathway, which was very narrow in this place; and, -to add to the ill luck of the situation, the man knew me. He was named -Chenu. I came up; he stopped the way, and bade me stand still, or he -would run me through with his bayonet. - -“‘Chenu,’ said I, ‘you know me; your duty is to arrest, not to kill me.’ -I slackened my pace and drew near to him slowly, and when I was within a -yard or two I suddenly threw myself upon him, and snatched his gun with -so much and such unexpected violence that he fell to the ground. I -leaped over his body, and hurled his gun as far from him as I could, for -fear he should recover it and fire. And now I was free once more. I -easily hid myself in the park, for I had at once avoided the main road; -I leaped over the low wall, and I awaited the night to enter Paris.” - -Having taken refuge with two girls, with whom he had - -[Illustration: Stop thief.] - -entered into correspondence from the top of the towers of the Bastille, -and who had vainly tried to serve him by delivering letters to his -friends, he could think of no better means of providing for his safety -than that of writing to implore M. de Sartines to become his protector. -It would seem that Latude’s active and acute spirit, which, while he was -a captive, enabled him so well to calculate his opportunities of escape, -and to profit by them, abandoned him the moment he was at liberty. Not -content with having invited the attention of M. de Sartines, he could -conceive of nothing wiser, fugitive and prison-breaker as he was, than -to go to Fontainebleau, to see M. de Choiseul and M. de la Vallière, -both ministers, and to recommend himself to them. He was, of course, -re-arrested and taken back to Vincennes, where he was put in a cell, -called the black hole. In 1775 he was transferred to Charenton, and he -was set at liberty in 1777 by a _lettre de cachet_, ordering his exile -to Montagnac, his native place. He delayed his departure some time, but -at length he set out, only to be arrested once more, when he was some -fifty leagues from Paris, and taken to the Bicêtre. He was then -fifty-three years of age; and since his twenty-fourth year he had passed -very little time out of prison. At length, in 1784, Madame Necker -humanely exerted her influence to procure his total release. - - - - -_BENIOWSKI._ - -1771. - - -Count Beniowski, a magnate of Hungary and of Poland, was taken prisoner -by the Russians, and sent to Kamtschatka. On the very day after his -arrival in the little city of Bolska, or Bolchérietzkoi, which had been -assigned him as a residence, he had persuaded seven of his companions in -exile, to join with him in an attempt to escape. At first they thought -only of procuring a boat for their attempted flight, but they afterwards -found it necessary to make many material alterations in their plan. -Beniowski was only thirty years old; and to the physical advantages of -force, elegance, and address, he united that of a good education, which -naturally placed him in the first rank among the other exiles, and he -was chosen as their chief without one dissentient voice. The governor -employed him as a teacher of languages to his three daughters, the -youngest of whom, Aphanasia, fell desperately in love with her master. -Beniowski dexterously took advantage of this passion to further his -scheme. - -The confederates, at first few in number, obtained additions to their -ranks every day; but they had many difficulties to surmount. Their prime -need, however, was money; and in this respect, chance and the cupidity -of their guards came very opportunely to their aid. The three principal -personages of Bolska were the governor, the chancellor, and the hetman -of Cossacks. The two last had discovered Beniowski’s skill at chess, and -they thought that by using him as a kind of _employé_, to play in their -interest with the richest merchants of the district, they might make -considerable additions to their income. He was obliged, for the sake of -his companions and for the furtherance of his scheme, to lend himself to -this discreditable trick; but he did not forget his own wants while he -was filling the pockets of the hetman and the chancellor. The -confederates already possessed some twelve thousand roubles, when the -rage of one of Beniowski’s victims at the chess-board nearly led to the -discovery of the entire plot. - -A merchant, named Casarinow, who had lost considerable sums at the game, -presented his conqueror with a quantity of poisoned sugar. On the 1st of -January, 1771, the principal confederates assembled, according to -custom, to take tea; but they had scarcely swallowed the first cup when -they were all seized with frightful pains. One of them died during the -night; the rest, escaping by a miracle, tested the sugar on various -animals, and when they had satisfied themselves as to its poisonous -properties they denounced Casarinow to the governor. The merchant was at -once summoned, and when he came before the governor was offered a cup of -unsweetened tea. He took it. “See,” said his host, offering him some of -the poisoned sugar, “what good fellows these exiles are; they have given -me all this, and only yesterday they received it as a present -themselves.” - -Casarinow grew pale, complained of a sudden illness, and asked to be -allowed to retire. He was at once arrested, and, yielding to the -evidence of facts, confessed his crime, alleging, as an excuse, that he -had attempted it in order to punish Beniowski for plotting to arm the -exiles and to escape with them from Kamtschatka. He was indebted for the -information to Pianitsin, one of the confederates. Too irritated to pay -due attention to this defence, the governor imprisoned Casarinow, and -ordered the chancellor to take immediate steps for the confiscation of -his property, and his despatch to the mines, according to law. But -Beniowski had been present during the interview, though he was hidden in -a cabinet, the law forbidding not only the functionaries, but simple -citizens, to hold any communication with the exiles. He had, therefore, -become acquainted with the guilt of Pianitsin; and on his return to the -confederates, finding the traitor present, he denounced him. The -unfortunate wretch was at once condemned, and was allowed only three -hours to prepare for death. A priest who was in the plot prayed with him -during that time, and he was then taken out of the village and shot. - -Some time after, the authorities seemed willing to test the truth of -Casarinow’s depositions; but they looked in vain for the only person who -could enlighten them on the point--Pianitsin. They accordingly suffered -the matter to rest, convinced that the whole story was nothing better -than a fable, invented by the poisoner to serve his own ends. - -We cannot give in detail the different episodes of this history of four -months, during which the plot was several times on the point of being -discovered. The confederates owed their safety to the presence of mind -of their chief, and, above all, to the folly and the corruption of their -guardians. But on one occasion certain suspicions excited by Beniowski’s -conduct had nearly ruined all. Some days after the affair of Casarinow, -poor Aphanasia, in presence of her father and of a crowd of persons -invited to a fête, declared her passion for the count. Her father was at -first in a great rage; but this did not last long; and eventually--it is -not easy to say through whose good offices--he was induced to show -Beniowski more kindness than ever. He, in fact, threw his house open to -the exile, and allowed him to come and go as he pleased. All this soon -got rumoured abroad, and one day, on entering his own house, Beniowski -found himself confronted by four of the principal conspirators, who -summoned him to the general assembly, to give an account of his -suspicious intimacy with the authorities. He went at once; and on -entering the council-room, found that it was guarded by two -conspirators, sabre in hand. A cup of poison stood on the table. -Beniowski was accused of intriguing for his liberty by the betrayal of -his associates. He easily justified himself, and his accuser was the -first to embrace him warmly, and to desire his pardon for having -suspected him. In time, thanks to Beniowski’s influence with the -governor, all the exiles were declared free as to residence within the -country, and were allowed to form a colony in the district of Lopattka. -He was thus slowly advancing towards his object, when the governor’s -wife, Madame Nilow, insisted that his marriage with her daughter should -take place at once; while one of the conspirators, named Stephanow, -becoming enamoured of Aphanasia, attempted to kill her lover, and nearly -revealed the plot. He was, however, terrified into silence, and then -pardoned. - -The conspirators were at last perfectly organized. They had arms and -munitions, and they only awaited the breaking of the ice to embark in a -vessel already prepared for them, when circumstances again rendered the -authorities suspicious. Beniowski, learning from various signs that all -might be compromised in a moment, engaged Aphanasia, to whom he had -confided the secret of the plot, to send him a piece of red riband -whenever she judged that danger was imminent. All the confederates, -meanwhile, were ready and armed; but a day or two preceding that fixed -for their departure, Beniowski received a piece of red riband from -Aphanasia, while, at the same time, a sergeant brought him a note from -the governor, asking him to breakfast. One may easily judge whether the -daughter’s present inclined him to accept the father’s invitation. He -pretended to be ill, and put off the visit till the next day. But the -sergeant had the imprudence to tell him that he would do well to come by -fair means, unless he wished to be dragged to the governor’s table by -force. - -“You had better confess yourself, friend,” replied the exile, haughtily, -“before you bring me another message like that.” - -At midday the hetman arrived at Beniowski’s house, and was very civilly -received; but his air of confidence and of good nature, unskilfully -assumed as it was, did not avail to conceal his real purpose from the -penetrating glance of the exile. On Beniowski’s refusal to go to the -fort, the poor hetman so far forgot his _rôle_ as to get into a violent -passion, and to threaten the unwilling guest with his Cossacks. -Beniowski laughed in his face, and the hetman called two of his men. -Beniowski whistled, and in an instant five of his companions appeared, -and hetman and Cossacks stood disarmed and bound. - -At five o’clock in the evening the governor sent a message, urging -Beniowski to throw himself on the clemency of the throne, and -threatening him with death if he did not instantly set the captives at -liberty. The count gave an evasive reply, in order to gain time, and -meanwhile seized the chancellor’s nephew and two other persons, whose -influence he feared. He would have seized the chancellor himself had he -come within his reach. These acts marked the beginning of the -insurrection. - -On the next day the governor despatched four men and a corporal to -arrest the count, who, however, managed to arrest them instead, and to -shut them up in his cellar. These were duly followed by a regular -detachment of troops, who approached the house with as much -circumspection as though it had been a fortress. Beniowski went out to -meet them, and killed three of their number; the rest ran away. Then -came another detachment, with a cannon. The officer in command allowed -Beniowski to approach within fifteen paces, as though willing to hold a -parley; but when they had got so near, the confederates suddenly opened -fire, and those of the soldiers who did not fall down in terror, ran -away outright, so that the cannon became the property of the insurgents. -The latter then re-formed their ranks and marched straight upon the -fort. The sentinel, seeing the cannon in their hands, mistook them for -the detachment which had left in the morning, and lowered the -drawbridge. Beniowski, as soon as he found himself inside the place, ran -to the governor’s room, with a view of saving him from the violence of -the confederates; but the enraged official, incensed at finding himself -outwitted, snapped a pistol in his preserver’s face, and sprang at -Beniowski’s throat with such violence that the latter was about to -defend himself, when one of the confederates spared him the trouble by -shooting the unfortunate governor dead. Towards nightfall, however, the -Cossacks approached the fort, and prepared to assault it; but their -ladders were too short, and the flashes from their muskets serving to -betray their position, the confederates were enabled to point their -cannon upon them with very destructive effect. On the following day the -exiles shut up in a church all the women and children of the city, to -the number of about a thousand, and sent word to the eight hundred -Cossacks who invested the place, that if they did not at once surrender -their arms and give hostages for their peaceable behaviour, the building -should be fired. The Cossacks accepted the conditions, and the -insurgents remained masters of the place, the former having seven of -their number seriously wounded, and nine killed. - -Some days after, the exiles took possession of the war corvette, _St. -Peter and St. Paul_; and after they had rendered the last honours of war -to the poor governor, they occupied themselves in fitting out the -vessel. The hostages were then sent back to the city, with the exception -of the chancellor’s secretary, who was detained on board to serve as -cook, as a punishment for his malicious intentions. - -At length, on the 11th, Beniowski went on board, raised the flag of the -confederation of Poland, which was saluted by the guns of the corvette, -and quitted Kamtschatka--not as a prisoner escaping, but like a -sovereign leaving one of the ports of his empire. - - - - -_ESCAPE OF TWELVE PRIESTS, SAVED BY GEOFFROY ST. HILAIRE._ - -1792. - - -On the 13th of August, 1792, Haüy, Lhomond, and the other professors at -the college of Cardinal Lemoine, were arrested as non-jurors, and were -shut up in the seminary of St. Firmin, temporarily converted into a -prison. Near St. Firmin lived a young student, Geoffroy St. Hilaire, who -was destined soon to become one of the stars of France. He had pursued -his studies at the college of Lemoine; and not less devoted to his -professors than passionately fond of science, without giving a thought -to the danger to which he exposed himself, he resolved on saving Haüy -and his companions. - -By great perseverance he persuaded the members of the Academy of -Sciences to appeal in favour of Haüy; and an order of liberation was -granted. Geoffroy brought it in great haste; and a few days after, Haüy -obtained from Tallien the same liberty for Lhomond that Geoffroy and the -Academy had obtained for himself. But several of Haüy’s colleagues were -still in prison. It was the day before the September massacres; and -though nothing of these wild projects was officially known to the -public, after the Brunswick manifesto something terrible was expected. -Geoffroy, at any price, was resolved on saving his masters from the -danger threatening them. On the 2nd of September, at the moment when the -massacres had already begun at the Abbaye and La Force, he disguised -himself as a commissary of the prisons, obtained access by this means to -the prisoners, and informed them of the means he had prepared to -facilitate their escape. - -“No,” answered one of them, the Abbé D’Keranran; “no, we will not leave -our brethren; our flight would make their deaths more certain.” - -This sublime refusal grieved Geoffroy, without discouraging him. At -night he took a ladder and went to St. Firmin, standing by an angle of -the wall that he had taken care to indicate to the Abbé D’Keranran and -his companion that same morning. He remained there for more than eight -hours without seeing a soul. At last a priest appeared, and was soon -safely out of the fatal place. Several others followed. One of them, on -climbing the wall too hastily, fell and hurt his foot. Geoffroy took him -in his arms, and carried him to a barn near by. He then ran back to his -post, and by his help more priests escaped. Twelve victims had thus been -snatched from death, when a shot was fired on Geoffroy from the garden, -and touched his clothes. He was then on the top of the wall; and, -entirely absorbed in his generous task, he did not perceive that the sun -was up. He was obliged to come down, and leave both the happy and the -miserable at once, for those that he had been unable to save he was -never to see again.--(_Life of Geoffroy St. Hilaire, by Isidore -Geoffroy._) - - - - -_DE CHATEAUBRUN._ - -1794. - - -M. de Vaublanc, in his “Memoirs,” relates the following circumstance:-- - -“A nobleman, named M. de Chateaubrun, having been condemned to death by -the revolutionary tribunal, had been placed on the fatal tumbril and -taken to the Place de la Revolution, to be put to death. After the -‘Terror’ he was met by a friend, who gave a cry of surprise; and, -scarcely able to believe the evidence of his senses, asked De -Chateaubrun, to explain the mystery of his appearance. The explanation -was given, and I heard it from his friend. - -“He was taken away with twenty other unhappy victims. ‘After twelve or -fifteen executions,’ he said, ‘one part of the horrible instrument -broke, and a workman was sent for to mend it. M. de Chateaubrun was, -with the other victims, near the scaffold, with his hands tied behind -his back. The repairing took a long time. The day began to darken; the -great crowd of spectators were far more intent on watching the repairing -of the guillotine than on looking at the victims who were to die; and -all, even the gendarmes themselves, had their eyes fixed on the -scaffold. Resigned, but very weak, the condemned man leant, without -meaning it, on those behind him; and they, pressed by the weight of his -body, mechanically made way for him, till gradually, and by no effort of -his own, he came to the last ranks of the crowd. The instrument once -repaired, the executions began again, and they hurried to the end. A -dark night concealed both executioners and spectators. Led on by the -crowd, De Chateaubrun was at first amazed at his situation, but soon -conceived the hope of escaping. He went to the Champs Elysées and -there, addressing a man who looked like a workman, he told him, -laughingly, that some comrades with whom he had been joking had tied his -hands behind his back, and taken his hat, telling him to go and look for -it. He begged the man to cut the cords, and the workman pulled out a -knife and did so, laughing all the while at the joke. M. de Chateaubrun -then proposed going into one of the small wineshops in the Champs -Elysées. During a slight repast he seemed to be expecting his comrades -to bring back his hat; and seeing nothing of them, he begged his guest -to carry a note to some friend, whom he knew would lend him one, for he -could not go bareheaded through the streets. He added that his friend -would bring him some money, for his comrades, in fun, had taken away his -purse. The poor man believed every word M. de Chateaubrun told him, took -the note, and returned in half an hour, accompanied by the friend, who -embraced Chateaubrun, and gave him all the help he -required.’"--(_Memoirs of M. de Vaublanc._) - - - - -_SYDNEY SMITH._ - -1797. - - -Commodore William Sydney Smith, afterwards admiral, had been made -prisoner at the mouth of the Seine, where he had ventured in his -frigate, then stationed at Havre. This enterprise seemed so daring that -the English sailor was suspected of having wished to favour a royalist -attempt, and of being a dangerous spy. The suspicions as to the nature -of his mission seemed confirmed by the fact that his secretary was an -exile, named De Trommelin, who had been with him a long time, in the -hopes of being in some way useful - -[Illustration: The woodman pulled out a knive and did so.] - -to the royal cause. If the nationality of this man had been recognised, -he would have been instantly put to death, according to the law then -existing in France; but the commodore passed him as his servant. In vain -England begged the exchange of Sydney Smith; the Directory refused, -knowing how dangerous an enemy to France he was. Imprisoned at the -Abbaye, then at the Temple, he was more than once on the point of -escaping, in spite of the vigilance of the police. Several ladies, as -well as Trommelin, attempted to aid him at various periods. Trommelin’s -wife--who could, at least, invoke duty as the motive of her -conduct--came to Paris, and hired a house near the Temple. A mason was -bribed to open a communication between this house and the Temple, by way -of the cellar, and everything seemed sure of success, when the fall of a -few stones gave the alarm. The prisoners were more strictly watched than -ever. In a short time Trommelin, having a better fate than a man -deserves who carries arms against his country, was exchanged; but Sydney -Smith was obliged to forego that advantage. After the 18th Fructidor, he -was still more rigorously treated; but the moment of his freedom was -drawing nigh. - -Among the royalists then hidden and conspiring in Paris, was an officer -named Philippeaux, formerly the fortunate rival of Bonaparte at the -military school, and, since that time, his sworn enemy. Certainly -without any idea that Sydney Smith and himself would, two years -afterwards, be together in the presence of General Bonaparte at St. Jean -d’Acre, and without any other motive than that of injuring the republic, -Philippeaux determined to deliver the commodore. He associated himself -with other royalists, and notably with an opera dancer, named -Boisgirard; and he entered into relations with the daughter of one of -the Temple gaolers, by whose aid he succeeded in deceiving her father. -Disguised as a prison commissary, and accompanied by his accomplices, -wearing the uniform of gendarmes--one of whom, Boisgirard, represented a -general--Philippeaux went at night to the Temple. Boisgirard, at the -gate, showed an order of release, signed by the minister of foreign -affairs, and demanded that the prisoner might be given up. Either -bribed, or deceived by appearances, the gaolers and director of the -prison obeyed, and Sydney Smith was brought out. Playing his part -perfectly, he affected great surprise; and on hearing his immediate -transfer to another prison spoken of, he vehemently protested against -it. Then, feigning obedience, he followed his liberators, and entered a -carriage that conveyed him to Rouen, from whence he crossed to Havre. -There he succeeded in getting on board an English ship, the _Argo_, -which took him to London. The English captain, Brenton, certifies, in -his “History of the Navy,” that he knows, from good authority, that -£3000 sterling (75,000 francs), given by the English government, opened -the doors of Sydney Smith’s prison, and smoothed all obstacles as far as -the coast. He adds that Lord St. Vincent (Jervis) assured him he had -seen the order from the Treasury. - - - - -_PICHEGRU, RAMEL, BARTHELEMY, DELARUE, ETC._ - -1797. - - -A short time after the 18th Fructidor, a certain number of those who had -taken part in the counter-revolutionary riots were transported to -Guiana. They all belonged, more or - -[Illustration: He affected great surprise.] - -less, to the royalist party. Among them were--Pichegru, one of the -greatest soldiers and one of the worst citizens France ever produced; -Barthélemy, a member of the Directory; Ramel, adjutant-general, -commander of the grenadiers of the Corps Législatif; Delarue, a member -of the council of the Five Hundred; and generals Aubry and Willot, who -had been among the first arrested. To the names of these party-men it is -but right to add that of Letellier, Barthélemy’s servant, who having -begged, as a favour, that he might be allowed to follow his master to -prison, accompanied him in his exile, and died, at last, the victim of -his devotion. At Cayenne, and then at Sinnamary, the deputies saw, with -sorrow, several of their companions struck down by the influence of the -climate; and, to fly from a similar fate, they resolved on escaping and -making their way to Dutch Guiana. Of this adventure we have two very -different versions--one by Ramel, who, on his return to London, -published the journal of his escape; and the other by Delarue, who, long -after, under the restoration, wrote a “History of the 18th Fructidor,” -where this escape is related. Seen from our point of view, Ramel’s -journal is, in all probability, nothing more than a romance; while the -narrative of Delarue, far simpler, seems to be the expression of truth. -We give both, beginning with the first:-- - -“We were accustomed to walk,” says Ramel, “on the ramparts along the -river. We often contemplated, with deep sighs, the western coast, but -saw nothing, either on land or water, that could give us the faintest -hope of escape. At the foot of the bastion, outside the fort and on the -edge of the river, there was a small boat, used for conveying the guard -to and fro. This little boat, with its moorings, was consigned to the -care of the sentinel placed near the battlements of the fort, in which -the guards were stationed. We had often looked with longing eyes at this -boat; but it was only by degrees, and when impelled by despair, that we -became accustomed to the idea of venturing out to sea in so frail a -skiff. None of us knew how to manage a boat; we had no compass, and -should have been obliged to trust ourselves to some Indian or sailor.” - -The first attempt proved fruitless. Pichegru having tried to win over an -Indian, who sold vegetables to the fort, this latter spread abroad -suspicions which the general’s half offer had created in his mind. But -this check was only a temporary one. A person at that time in the fort, -whom Ramel does not otherwise specify, gave them much information as to -the road they should take, and as to the proper means of insuring their -flight. They procured passports under supposed names, and ripened their -plans, without divulging them to those of their companions who were not -in the plot, and several of whom inspired them with a not unfounded -mistrust. - -A pirate captain, named Poisvert, having captured an American ship, -commanded by a certain Tilly, the owner of the cargo, brought his -capture to Sinnamary, and lodged the crew and their captain in the fort. -The American captain soon found out Pichegru, Ramel, and their -companions, with whom he was well acquainted, and gave them news of -their families and friends. They informed him of their plans, and showed -him the boat. After trying to convince them of the impossibility of -putting out to sea, and attempting a journey of several days in such a -vessel; and seeing, at last, that they were fully determined to perish -rather than remain at Sinnamary, the brave Tilly resolved on joining his -fate to theirs. “I give up all,” he said, “to save you. I will take my -pilot, Barrick, with me, and we will set out together.” - -Everything was settled, when they learnt that Tilly was to be -immediately transferred to Cayenne. He went away, leaving them Barrick -in his place, who soon disappeared, and remained hidden in the wood near -by for thirty-six hours, perched on a tree, to escape from the serpents. -“It had been agreed that the following day, the 3rd of June, at nine in -the evening, he should go down to the edge of the river near the fort, -and should jump into the boat on seeing us appear.” - -Everything seemed in favour of the fugitives. Captain Poisvert gave a -dinner on board the American capture to the commander of the place; and -the wine soon began to flow freely both on the ship and in the -fort--soldiers, officers, convicts, even, were at the feast. All were -soon drunk, except the eight conspirators, who simply feigned -intoxication, and quarrelled, to ward off suspicion. - -“Night came on. We saw the commander taken home quite insensible, and -carried as if he were dead. Silence had succeeded to songs and drunken -shouts; soldiers and slaves were lying here and there; the service was -forgotten; the guard-house left empty. - -“The final hour of our stay at Sinnamary rang at last. At nine o’clock -Dessonville, who was watching, warned each of us. We went out and met at -the gate of the fort, the bridge of which was not yet taken up. -Everything was profoundly quiet. I went with Pichegru and Aubry to the -top of the guard-house, and walked straight to the sentinel. He was a -wretched drummer, who had worried us to his utmost. I asked him what -time it was; he raised his eyes to the stars; I sprang at his throat; -Pichegru disarmed him; and we dragged him away, tightening our hold to -prevent his crying out. We were on the parapet; the man struggled -violently, slipped from us, and fell into the river. We joined our -companions at the foot of the rampart, and seeing no one in the -guard-house, we ran in and took out arms and cartridges, left the fort, -and flew into the boat. Barrick was there, and carried us into the -skiff. Barthélemy, an infirm man, and not so active as we were, fell and -stuck in the mud. Barrick, with his strong arm, caught him, pulled him -out, and placed him in the boat. The cable was cut; Barrick took the -helm; motionless and silent we drifted with the current. The tide and -the current together impelled our frail vessel. We listened, but could -hear nothing but the murmur of the waters, and the land breeze, which -soon swelled our little sail. We were then unable to distinguish the -tower of Sinnamary. On approaching the watch on the point we took down -the sail, so as to make ourselves less visible. We knew that the eight -men on guard there had received their full share of the captain’s -bounty, and that, consequently, they must be as drunk as their comrades. -We were not hailed; the tide carried us across the bar. We left on our -right our brave friend Tilly’s ship, and passed close to _The Victoire_, -just come from Cayenne, and commanded by Captain Brochet, who was much -pleased at our escape, and who certainly would not have opposed it. - -“The breeze freshened, the sea was calm; but in going out far we ran the -risk of losing ourselves; while, hugging the coast too closely, we were -in danger of wrecking the ship on the rocks, which extend as far as -Iracouba. The moon shone out suddenly, as if to light up our path. The -moment was delicious; we congratulated ourselves; we thanked Providence -and our generous pilot, Barrick, who was in a dreadful state from the -mosquito bites. We sailed safely on for about two hours, when we heard -three cannon-shots--two from the Sinnamary fort, and one from the Point. -Soon after the watch at Iracouba repeated the three reports. We could no -longer doubt of our escape being discovered. We did not now fear direct -pursuit from Sinnamary, where there was not a single boat they could -arm; besides, we had a good start. The only thing we dreaded was the -detachment from Iracouba, composed, as we knew, of twelve men. They -could only have met us in a boat similar to ours, with eight or ten men. -We kept sailing on near the coast, all the while preparing our arms, and -fully determined on defending ourselves if they attacked, or attempted -to bar the passage under the fort of Iracouba. - -“At four in the morning two cannon-shots were heard towards the east, -and were immediately responded to by a report close to our ears. We were -in front of the fort. It was still dark; but at daybreak we found -ourselves to windward of Iracouba. We had nothing more to fear from -pursuit; the dangers of the sea were all we had to overcome.” - -In such a vessel, which was so small, and so light that the waves filled -it at every moment, and had to be baled incessantly with a gourd, the -fugitives were in imminent danger of perishing. A movement of Ramel’s, -who wished to catch his hat, which fell in the water, almost upset the -boat; and Pichegru, who had been unanimously chosen captain, severely -reprimanded him. Without a compass, and without the necessary -instruments to show them the way, without food, and with two bottles of -rum as their sole sustenance, if Ramel is to be believed, they suffered -acutely from hunger for eight days. But their moral strength kept them -up, and they even had the courage to joke about their misery and their -hunger, which they bore with great patience. - -After being fired at on their passage in front of fort Orange, because -they would not hoist their flag, they were thrown by a storm upon the -coast. On the following day they were reconnoitred by some Dutch -soldiers. There was at first some slight difficulty as to their -admission to the Dutch territory; but that being soon settled, they -found themselves the objects of the most generous -hospitality.--(_Journal of the Adjutant-General Ramel._) - -According to Delarue, the convicts enjoyed great liberty at Sinnamary: -they could go about, so long as they kept within certain limits; they -had guns and ammunition, and could shoot. The post of Sinnamary, guarded -by a few soldiers, had no resemblance whatever to a fort; it was only a -poor village, inhabited by Indian or Creole fishermen; and the boat they -used for their escape belonged to a German, whom they knew to be engaged -in smuggling between Surinam and Cayenne. It was thought that such a -state of things did not guarantee much for the security of the convicts, -and it was decided to transport them to a much less healthy part of -Guiana. By the advice of Tilly, who could not accompany them, as he was -being transferred to Cayenne, and with the certainty of the help of -Barrick, his pilot, they determined to escape. They quietly went one -night with their firearms to a wood, where Barrick awaited them, without -all the attending circumstances of revelling Ramel speaks of. They had -no sentinel to disarm, but only to give help to a negro, who was trying -to master a turtle. The boat contained provisions--scanty, it is true, -but still more than sufficient to last them till their arrival in the -Dutch possessions. So they did not suffer a week from hunger, as Ramel -says: they heard no cannon fired, to signal their departure; in short, -they escaped without most of those episodes with which Ramel has thought -proper to embellish his recital. - - - - -_COLONEL DE RICHEMONT._ - - -In the year 1807 the Baron de Richemont, a French colonel, was taken by -an English privateer in the ship bringing him from the Mauritius to -Europe. The town of Chesterfield was assigned to him for a residence. -Richemont had been in England about eighteen months, and every proposal -of exchange had been refused, when one morning he saw something in his -newspaper which made a deep impression on his mind. “I had just been -reading,” he says in his memoirs, “an account of Colonel Crawford who -had escaped from Verdun, where he was a prisoner on parole, and who, not -being willing to take the command of his regiment, until his conduct had -been approved of, had appealed to a jury. The jury had declared, that he -being detained prisoner against the law of nations, had acted rightly in -breaking through the obligation imposed on him. This narrative -interested me very much, and I read it several times over with deep -attention. I found all the details of the escape plainly set forth, with -an account of the ruse to which he had recourse to ensure without fail -the success of his plan. He had petitioned the French Government for -permission to drink the waters of Spa, promising to return and deliver -himself prisoner again at Verdun, and he had taken advantage of this -favour, granted with the confidence always inspired by the word of a -gentleman, to return to England. - -“The various thoughts that such a recital gave rise to in my mind are -more easily felt than described. I also was detained against the law of -nations, and my position admitted of a far different statement from that -of the English colonel’s, a decree of the high court of admiralty having -declared neutral the ship on which I had been arrested. I had officially -protested against the injustice of my detention. I was moreover free -from any kind of engagement by the declaration of the jury who had -pronounced the acquittal of Colonel Crawford. I was not troubled now -with the slightest scruple of delicacy.” - -Having made up his mind, Richemont joined himself to a Frenchman, a -marine officer who had already proposed to him to escape. They first -decided on their plan, and then Richemont wrote a letter to the -gentlemen of the transport-office, in which he declared his intention of -leaving England, at the same time giving his reasons, and reminding his -gaolers of the verdict of their own countrymen in the Verdun case. “This -letter, posted two hours after my departure from Chesterfield, reached -the gentlemen of the transport-office on the day that I arrived in -London, and I only left England eight or ten days afterwards. I -evidently gave them all the necessary time to make their search; but in -all conscience they could not expect me to surrender myself to their -generosity.” The two fugitives, calling themselves Spaniards, and having -a well-filled purse, reached the capital without any difficulty. They -then immediately posted to Folkstone to the house of a certain smuggler, -about whom Richemont had very precise information. “I knocked, and went -in. The girl who had opened the door showed me into a very clean and -comfortably furnished parlour, where I found the man alone, smoking his -pipe, with a glass of grog before him. I nodded to him, and asked if I -had the honour of speaking to Mr. W. G----. - -“‘Yes sir,’ he said; ‘I am the man.’ - -“Then going straight to the subject, I told him that we were two -Frenchmen, who looked to him for the means to return to France. - -“‘What do you take me for?’ said he in an angry tone. - -“‘Master,’ I answered directly, ‘don’t let us get angry; talk coolly. If -you have to complain of me in any way, you will always be free to do as -you please, but listen to me first. We are two honourable and discreet -gentlemen, who only wish to deal pleasantly with you; but I ought to -tell you, that I have taken measures to make you pay dearly, if -necessary, for an obstinate refusal, for I have about me all the -documents to prove that, at such a time, you came to Chesterfield, took -Captain X---- away in your post chaise, kept him hidden so many days in -your house, and at last carried him in your vessel to the other side of -the channel. I have now to offer you one hundred pounds sterling, and -the gratitude and friendship of two men of heart and loyalty besides.’ - -“‘A man that talks in that way,’ said he, taking my hand, and shaking it -vigorously, ‘is served in every country. Your manner suits me; there is -frankness and resolution in your words. You are welcome; I am your man; -you shall always have reason to think well of me. Don’t fear; _we_ are -the real kings of the sea, and not those upstarts of the royal navy.’ - -“‘Quite true,’ said I, and shook his hand cordially. ‘That’s a bargain,’ -I added; ‘and now we must agree as to the carrying out of the plan.’ I -then told him where we had put up, and that the important thing was to -be able to wait in safety for decidedly favourable weather, and to -provide for everything during our stay. - -“‘All right,’ said the master; ‘everything shall be done, and well done. -At such a time to-night, come to me here, and I will take you to a place -of safety, where you can drink, smoke, and sleep at your ease, without -thinking about anything.’ - -“At the time mentioned we went to the smuggler, who was expecting us. I -put into his hands the hundred pounds agreed on, telling him he must -expect to see on the walls, a notice of the transport-office, promising -a reward to whoever should arrest us. - -“‘Never mind,’ said he quickly; ‘I might be offered the crown of -England, but never shall an act of cowardice or treachery be laid to my -door.’ - -“We started, and entered rather a mean looking place, a regular den of -smugglers, a house with innumerable doors or traps. Had they come to -arrest us here, we might have escaped in a dozen different directions. -The house was lighted, and consequently inhabited. We found in it a -woman, no longer young, who was introduced to us as our servant and -cook; we saw in the sitting-room a side table, laid out with plenty of -china. As for the kitchen, it was arranged _à l’anglaise_, with iron -ovens. - -“‘You will only have to give your orders,’ said Master G----. ‘The -pantry is well furnished; beer, tobacco, and eatables are there in -abundance, and you can choose the best.’ - -“He showed us two bedrooms, each containing a bed, a table, and a few -chairs. In one was a writing table, with paper and ink. Installed thus, -and treated with more care and attention than even the strictest -hospitality demanded, when we could only expect security in the most -humble retreat, we thanked and shook hands with our liberator, who took -leave of us laughing, and wishing us a good night. - -“We had already passed seven or eight days trying to kill time in this -solitude, when the smuggler suddenly came and told us that the wind had -changed most favourably; that there was every chance of it remaining in -its present quarter, and that at about ten that night, he would come -with some sailors’ clothes, and we should set sail under the best -auspices. Happy news! We paid all our scores; we thanked and rewarded -our cook as she deserved; in short, we satisfied all the exigencies of -equity, and even the most generous liberality, and awaited the solemn -moment. It came at last. We put on our clothes, the pantaloons and large -sailor waistcoats brought for us, and we went out with cutlasses at our -sides. We reached the beach, where we found a pretty little skiff of 15 -or 16 feet long, without a deck, and launched her. We put up the mast, -unfurled the sail, fixed the helm, and jumped in with the two sailors -given us by Master G----. We pushed off, the sail swelled to the breeze, -and we were gone. A custom-house ship was on guard in the harbour, and -made signs for us to go alongside of it; we did not pay any attention, -and before it had time to lower and arm its boat, we were far ahead, for -our skiff was a swift one, and the darkness shrouded us. We were all -four sailors, and each had his post; one at the helm, another managing -the sail, the third in the front of the boat, and the fourth, furnished -with a night-glass, was commissioned to explore the horizon. A good -breeze was blowing, but the sea was calm; in less than two hours we had -passed Cape Grisnez. We steered a southward course, and each time we -heard a signal of recognition, we answered it in a friendly manner, for -we were provided with all the signals corresponding to those of the -coast. We kept close in shore, so that at the least suspicious movement, -we might be able to reach the coast and land in spite of all the small -boats. At daybreak we boldly entered the little harbour of Vimerene, and -I jumped lightly on land. - -“The commander of that post making his usual morning rounds, came up the -moment after, and said with some temper: ‘If I had been present, you -would not have landed, monsieur.’ - -“‘Sir,’ I answered, ‘even if the emperor, to whom I am devoted body and -soul as much as any man in France, had wished to forbid my touching the -soil of my country, I should have done so in defiance of him and his -valiant guard, in defiance of you and your garrison. I am Colonel -Richemont; make your report.’” - -Richemont proceeded direct to Boulogne, and there obtained the liberty -of the two English sailors, who had been temporarily detained, and -rewarded them generously.--(_Mémoires du Général Camus, Baron de -Richemont._) - - - - -_CAPTAIN GRIVEL._ - -1810. - - -Admiral Rosily having taken refuge in the port of Cadiz with four ships, -the poor remnants of Trafalgar, was, after a gallant struggle, obliged -to surrender to overpowering numbers. The infamous capitulation of -Baylen singularly increased the number of prisoners condemned to the -tortures of those plague-stricken prisons, the guardships. Still, one of -these vessels, the _Vieille Castille_ was a privileged abode. Specially -set apart for the officers, whose daily pay allowed them to live very -comfortably, the _Vieille Castille_, was not ravaged by typhus fever, -nor were the unhappy prisoners there afflicted with the agonies of -hunger. Still, they felt themselves prisoners, and only dreamt of -freedom, the more especially when, on the French army approaching Cadiz, -they discovered their comrades encamped at only an hour’s distance from -their prisons. Many plans were formed, and then abandoned, for peace and -amity did not precisely reign among the prisoners, who kept reproaching -each other with their prudence or temerity. At last, the boldest of -them--Grivel, then captain of the sailors of the guard, now rear-admiral -and senator, agreed with his friends to carry off the first boat -approaching in a high wind. On the 25th February, 1810, the _Mulet_, a -small Spanish ship carrying water barrels, came alongside the _Vieille -Castille_. The breeze was a favourable one; under pretext of helping to -transport the barrels, the chiefs of the plot were lowered into the -boat, and there gained the sailors. The sail was unfurled and spread, -without loss of time. While they were getting under way in great haste, -an English boat left the admiral’s ship, and saluted the fugitives with -a discharge of musketry; the guard on shore, answered the signal, and -soon cannons, muskets, pistols--everything in short, was turned against -the little boat. Only one man, however, perished, a sailor. Captain -Grivel and his companions headed straight among the merchant ships -anchoring near Cadiz, and made a bulwark of them. The greatest interest -was shown in their success. “Hurrah! Hurrah;” cried the different crews. -“Courage _Frenchmen_!” Encouraged by these signs of sympathy, the -fugitives profited by the favourable breeze, and landed, to the number -of thirty-four, on the coast of Andalusia, after an hour of constant -anxiety and danger. Marshal Soult expressed the highest admiration of -their courageous conduct. “_Bah! Marshal_,” answered Grivel, “_it is -only a sailor’s trick!_” - - - - -LAVALETTE. - -1815. - - -Arrested on the 18th June, 1815, and imprisoned at the Conciergerie, -Count Lavalette had been condemned to death, for having taken an active -part in the return from Elba. In vain his wife endeavoured to soften -Louis XVIII., who would not forego his revenge; in vain she hoped to -find mercy in the Duchess d’Angouleme. She was cruelly repulsed on every -side. “Literally worn out,” says Lavalette in his Memoirs, “she sank -down on the stone steps of the palace, and stayed there for an hour, -still hoping against hope that she would be allowed to enter. She -attracted the notice of all the passers by, especially of those going to -the chateau; but none dared show her a sign of compassion. At last she -decided on leaving the palace, and returning to my prison, where she -soon arrived, weary and heart-broken.” - -The hours of Lavalette were numbered; by dint of questioning his -jailers, he had discovered that the execution was fixed for Thursday -morning, and it was then Tuesday evening. “At six,” says he, “my wife -came to dine with me, and when we were alone, she said, ‘It appears only -too certain that we have nothing now to hope for. It is time then to -decide on something, and this is what I propose: at eight o’clock you -will go from here, in my clothes, and, accompanied by my cousin, you -will step into my sedan chair, which will take you to the Rue des -Saints-Pères, where you will find M. Baudus in a gig: he will take you -to some place prepared for you, and you will wait there till you can -leave France without danger.” - -This plan seemed at first quite impracticable to Lavalette; but his wife -urged it so strongly, that he feared to increase her grief, and perhaps -endanger her life by a refusal. He only suggested, that the gig being so -far away, he should not be able to reach it before they had discovered -his escape, and that then he could be easily taken prisoner again. They -then agreed to modify and somewhat change the plan. The next day was -spent in heart-rending adieux. - -“At five o’clock, Madam de Lavalette arrived, accompanied by Josephine, -whom I recognised with as much surprise as joy. ‘I think it better,’ -said she, ‘to take our child with us, she will now easily follow out my -idea.’ She had put on a dress of merino, lined with fur, and she carried -a black silk skirt in her bag. ‘Nothing more is needed,’ she said, ‘to -disguise you perfectly.’ She then sent her daughter to the window, and -said in a low tone: ‘At seven exactly you will be ready dressed, -everything is well prepared: you will walk out, giving your arm to -Josephine. Mind and walk slowly; and when you cross the large hall, put -on my gloves, and hold my handkerchief to your face. I had thought of -bringing a veil, but unfortunately I have not been accustomed to wear -one during my visits here, so it must not be thought of. Take great -care, when passing under the doors, which are very low, not to knock off -the flowers on your bonnet, for all would be lost then.’” Madame de -Lavalette next proceeded to give the necessary instructions to her -daughter, and had almost finished, when there entered a friend of -Lavalette’s, M. de Sainte-Rose, who came to bid him adieu. It was -important that he should be dismissed as soon as possible. This -Lavalette did under the pretext that his wife was still ignorant of the -fatal hour. He treated in the same manner Colonel de Bricqueville who -had quitted his bed, where he was kept by several serious wounds, to -come and take leave of his friend. “At last dinner was served up. This -meal which perhaps was to be the last in my life, I found horrible. We -could not swallow a morsel; we did not exchange a word, and we were -obliged to pass nearly an hour in that manner. At last the clock struck -the three quarters past six, and Madame de Lavalette rang the bell. -Bonneville, my valet, entered the room; she took him aside, said a few -words in his ear, and added aloud, ‘Be sure to have the porters ready; I -am going soon. Come,’ she said to me; ‘it is time for you to dress now.’ -I had had a screen placed in my chamber, so as to form behind it a small -dressing-room; we then went behind this screen. While dressing me with -charming quickness and skill, she never ceased repeating, ‘Don’t forget -to bend your head as you pass under the doors. Walk slowly through the -outer room, like a person worn out by much suffering.’ In less than -three minutes my toilet was completed. We all advanced in silence -towards the door. ‘The porter,’ I said to Emily, ‘comes every night -after you leave. Mind and stay behind the screen, and make a slight -noise by moving some piece of furniture. He will think I am there, and -will go out for the few moments that will give me the necessary time to -escape.’ She understood me, and I pulled the bell rope. We heard the -jailor’s footsteps; Emily sprang behind the screen, and the door was -opened. I passed out first, my daughter next, Madame Dutoit (an old -servant of Madame de Lavalette’s) closed the march. After crossing the -passage I came to the door of the outer room. There I was obliged to -lift my foot on account of the doorstep, and at the same time to bow my -head so that the feathers of the bonnet should not touch the ceiling. I -succeeded; but on raising my head, I found myself opposite to five -jailors, sitting, leaning, standing, the whole length of the way. I held -my handkerchief to my eyes, and waited for my daughter to place herself -near me, as was agreed. The child took my right arm, and the porter -coming down the stairs from his room, which was on the left, advanced -towards me, and placing his hand on my arm, said, ‘You are leaving -early, my lady.’ He seemed very agitated, and probably thought the wife -had bidden the husband adieu for ever. They afterwards said that my -daughter and I cried aloud, though we scarcely dared sigh. At last I -came to the end of the hall. Day and night a turnkey sits there in a -large armchair, in a space narrow enough to allow him to place his hands -on the keys of the two gates, one an iron gate, the other made of wood, -and called the first entrance. The jailor kept looking at me, but did -not open; I therefore passed my hand between the bars to - -[Illustration: I held my handkerchief to my eyes.] - -make him aware of our presence. At last he turned his two keys, and we -walked out. Once outside, my daughter did not forget, but took my right -arm. There are twelve steps to mount before you get to the court, but -the guard of gendarmes is stationed at the foot of them. About twenty -soldiers headed by the officer, stood three paces from me to see Madame -de Lavalette pass. I at length reached the last step, and entered the -chair which stood two or three yards off. But there were no signs of -porters or servants. My daughter and the old servant were standing near -the chair, the sentinel ten paces off motionless and turned towards me. -To my astonishment succeeded a feeling of violent agitation; my eyes -were fixed on the sentry’s gun, as those of a serpent on its prey. I -felt, so to speak, the gun between my clenched hands. At the slightest -movement, the slightest noise, I felt myself springing on this arm.... -This terrible situation lasted about ten minutes only, but to me it -seemed the length of a night. At last I heard Bonneville’s voice, saying -in a low tone: ‘One of the porters was missing, but I have found -another.’ I then felt myself lifted. The chair crossed the great court, -and turned to the right on going out. We proceeded in that way to the -Quai des Orfévres, opposite the little Rue du Harlay. There the chair -stopped, the door opened, and my friend Baudus, offering me his arm, -said aloud; ‘You know, madame, you have still a visit to pay to the -president.’ I stepped out, and he pointed out to me a gig a short -distance off in the small, dark street. I sprang into this carriage, and -one touch made the horse start at a good trot. Passing the quay I saw -Josephine, her hands clasped, and praying to God with all her heart. We -crossed the Pont St. Michel, the Rue de la Harpe, and were soon in the -Rue Vaugirard behind the Odéon, where I began to breathe. I then looked -at the coachman, and what was my astonishment to recognise the Comte de -Chassenon! ‘What! you here!’ said I. ‘Yes; and you have behind you four -double-barrelled pistols. I hope you will use them.’ ‘No; really I do -not wish to endanger you.’ ‘Then I’ll set you the example; and woe to -any who tries to stop you!’ We went as far as the boulevard, at the -corner of the Rue Plumet, where we stopped. On the way I had thrown off -all my feminine attire, and put on a postillion’s coat, with the round -gold-braided hat. - -“M. Baudus soon came up. I took leave of M. du Chassenon, and modestly -followed my new master. It was eight in the evening; the rain fell in -torrents, the night was dark, and the solitude complete in this part of -the Faubourg St. Germain. I walked with much trouble, and it was with -great difficulty I followed M. Baudus, whose pace was very rapid. I soon -lost one of my shoes, but still had to go on. We met some gendarmes, -running fast, and little thinking I was there, for they were probably in -search of me. At last after an hour’s march, tired out, one foot in my -shoe, the other naked, I saw M. Baudus stop for an instant at the Rue de -Grenelle near the Rue du Bac. ‘I am going,’ he said, ‘into an hotel; -while I am talking to the porter, enter the court. On the left you will -find a staircase; go up to the last story, and follow the dark passage -on the right; at the end of that is a pile of wood,--stay there and -wait.’ We proceeded a few steps farther along the Rue du Bac, and a sort -of giddiness came over me when I saw him knock at the door of the -minister of foreign affairs. He entered first, and while he stood -talking with the porter, whose head was out of his lodge, I passed -quickly by. ‘Where’s that man going?’ cried the porter. ‘He is my -servant.’ I went up stairs to the third story, and came to the place -mentioned. I had scarcely reached it, when I heard the rustling of a -stuff dress, and felt myself gently taken by the arm, and pushed into a -room, the door of which was closed after me.” - -A fire was burning, and on a small table Lavalette saw a candlestick and -some matches, from which he concluded that the room could be lighted -without danger. On the bureau was a paper, containing these words: “No -noise, open the window at night, only wear soft shoes, and wait -patiently.” Near this paper was a bottle of excellent Bordeaux wine, -with several volumes of Molière and Rabelais, and a small basket -containing some elegant toilet fittings. - -M. Baudus shortly came in, threw himself in his friend’s arms, and told -him he was in the apartment of M. Bresson, cashier at the office of -foreign affairs. Proscribed under the Reign of Terror, M. Bresson and -his wife had found shelter with some kind people who had concealed them -at the peril of their lives. Lavalette shared this shelter with them for -eighteen days, during all which time he heard the criers in the streets, -threatening severe punishment to any person harbouring him. - -Madame de Lavalette was soon discovered by the jailor behind the screen. -The alarm once given, this heroic woman found herself a butt for the -insults of those wretches who were not capable of appreciating her -courage. The procureur général Bellart, ordered them to cease their -noisy rudeness, but assaulted Madame de Lavalette with ribaldry and -abuse, and put her in a room overlooking the court of the women, whose -shouts and coarse talk were a martyrdom for her. After studying with -great care the best means of getting Lavalette out of the kingdom, his -friends took counsel of a young Englishman, Mr. Bruce, who accepted the -proposal with joy, and entrusted it to General Wilson. This latter, -whose efforts to save Marshal Ney had proved so vain, wished to take his -revenge. Everything was settled, every event well provided for, and in -spite of gendarmes, custom-house officers, and all the difficulties of -such a journey, Lavalette, in the uniform of an English officer, was -conducted by General Wilson on to Belgian ground. “On shaking hands with -the general, I expressed with deep emotion all my gratitude; but he, -still preserving his imperturbable calm, only smiled without answering. -Half an hour after, he turned to me, and said very seriously: ‘Now, my -dear fellow, give me your reasons for not wishing to be guillotined?’ I -was surprised, and looked at him without answering. ‘Yes,’ he went on; -‘I was told that you had requested as a particular favour that you might -be shot.’ ‘Because,’ I said; ‘the prisoner is dragged in a cart with his -hands tied behind his back; he is attached to a plank’---- ‘Oh, I -understand; you did not wish to die like a calf.’ A few hours -afterwards, the two friends separated: one proceeding to Germany, the -other returning to Paris, where he underwent several months’ -imprisonment for his generous conduct.” - - - - -_GIOVANNI ARRIVABENE, UGONI, AND SCALVINI._ - -1822. - - -During his campaign of Guaita, in 1820, the Count Giovanni Arrivabene -had had the hardihood to receive Pellico, his two pupils, and their -father, Count Porro, men who, to use the expression of Lamennais, had -dared to pronounce the word country. This crime incurred the penalty of -death, though the tender mercy of Austria sometimes commuted it to -fifteen or twenty years of hard labour. Porro being pursued, and Pellico -arrested, their host could not expect less; and he was, in fact, seized -and arraigned. He was, however, released, but shortly after he found out -that the Austrian police regretted their clemency. He accordingly left -his home one day in the greatest secrecy, crossed Brescia, and came to -the house of his two oldest and most devoted friends, Camillo Ugoni and -Giovita Scalvini, whom he informed of his determination to fly, and of -their own state of insecurity, offering them at the same time places in -his carriage. They did not hesitate a moment, but their preparations for -departure occupied some little time, and they were, of course, anxious -to maintain the greatest secrecy. It being then four in the afternoon, -they decided to wait till daybreak. Scalvini took Arrivabene home with -him, and put him in the bed usually occupied by his mother. The good -lady, from whom they wished to conceal the real state of affairs, was so -effectually kept in the dark, that, without knowing anything of their -secret, she was made instrumental in giving the alarm in case of a visit -from the police. On the 10th of April, 1822, the fugitives and one of -Arrivabene’s servants left Brescia; and choosing the roads along the -valley, they soon dismissed the carriage, and pursued their way on -horseback. They passed three days and three nights in the labyrinth of -valleys, constantly changing guides, and they were received everywhere -with the attention and respect worthy of the most ancient times. At -Edolo, a village on the Adda, twelve hours from Tirano, they saw the -uniforms of some gendarmes hung over a large fire in an inn. “What’s -this?” “Hush! they are asleep! poor wretches, it would be a pity to wake -them!” - -The gendarmes had been pursuing three fugitives, and half dead with the -long ride and with the drenching rain, they had taken shelter in the -inn. The three outlaws were too charitably disposed to disturb them; but -one of them, touching the pockets of a sleeping soldier, called out, -“This, perhaps, contains the order for our arrest; let us leave the den -before the lion roars!” In spite of all the kind offers of those around, -they could only procure two horses. The man walked; Ugoni rode one -horse, and Scalvini and Arrivabene mounted the other as best they could. -The gendarmes slept on. At daybreak the fugitives crossed the heights of -the mountain called the Sapei della Briga, where they found some -gendarmes quartered; but the good angel who had sent the men at Edolo to -sleep, did the same for their comrades, and Arrivabene and his -companions passed them unseen. There still remained the most difficult -place to pass,--the frontier. They called themselves cattle drivers, -going to the fair, and quietly crossed the line of Austrian custom-house -officers. The fugitives uncovered their heads, but scarcely had they -passed the boundary mark when they fell exhausted to the ground. The -effect was indescribable. On one side the officers, blaspheming and -threatening, furious at the trick played upon them; and on the other, -the poor exiles, leaving country, fortune, friends, and all they held -most dear; but blessing Heaven for their safety, and only answering the -insults heaped on them by a quiet indifference. The innkeeper of Edolo -was imprisoned for a long period; and his poor wife, whom they had told -that her husband would be hanged, died suddenly of fear and grief. (_My -Prisons._ Silvio Pellico.) - -[Illustration: They fell exhausted to the ground.] - - - - -_MARRAST, GUINARD, GODEFROI CAVAIGNAC, AND OTHER POLITICAL PRISONERS._ - -JULY, 1834. - - -Soon after the riots of April, 1834, at Paris and at Lyons, many men, -whose hostile opinions to the Government were well known, were arraigned -before the court of peers, and accused of having taken part in those -movements. Among those accused were MM. Guinard, Marrast, Godefroi -Cavaignac, brother to the great general of that name, Berrier-Fontaine, -etc. - -The trial went on, but on the night of the 12th July, news was brought -that twenty eight of those imprisoned at Sainte Pelagie, formerly the -prison for debtors, had managed to escape. - -The watch kept over them was purely nominal, they had communication with -persons outside, and passed the whole of their time either in their own -rooms or in the court provided for them to walk in. The door of a cellar -opened on to this court, and the cellar itself extended as far as the -centre of the prison, so that the end of it was only separated by a very -short distance from the garden of a neighbouring house. To enter this -garden they had only to pierce the wall of the cellar, and to form a -gallery passing under the sentinel’s post and the two exterior walls, -which they accomplished. They hollowed out a passage, about ten yards in -length, by one yard in diameter, and so constructed that its extremity -touched the ground of the garden, belonging to a house situated at 7, -Rue Copeau. Maintaining their communications with those outside, they -found everything in this house that could aid their flight, all matters -being so arranged as not to compromise any person. About nine at night -they pierced through the thin crust of earth that still divided their -passage from the open air, posted in that way from Sainte Pelagie into -the garden, and from there hurried away singly or in twos and threes. -The ministerial newspapers declared that they had managed to obtain a -false key for the cellar door. According to the _National_, this cellar -was always given up to the prisoners. Some twenty-eight of them escaped -in this way, but, about fifteen others refused to follow them from -various motives, or were hindered from doing so by illness. Those, -however, who were not kept to their rooms, stayed in the court, as they -were accustomed to do till ten o’clock every night, and their presence -in that place, their conversation, and their noise, prevented the -keepers from suspecting the flight of the rest. In short, this escape -was so easy, and so favoured by circumstances, that it was even said -authority had lent its aid, in order to escape the difficulties of a -trial very hard to terminate. Those prisoners who went abroad found very -few obstacles on their way out of the kingdom. Still Armand Marrast and -his travelling companions were arrested by gendarmes at only forty -kilometres from the frontier, and on a cross road which they fancied -very secure. For two hours they were detained by a brigadier of -gendarmes, when fortunately for them, a civil officer came up. Marrast -quickly addressed him: “Sir, I will make you responsible for the -consequences of this delay; for two hours I have been awaiting your -presence to get rid of the absurd mistakes of these gendarmes, who take -me for I don’t know what.” The official, rather confused, carefully -examined the passports of the two travellers, which of course were in -perfect order, and allowed them to go. That same night, Marrast, guided -by some smugglers, passed the frontier without difficulty. M. Guinard -had the same good fortune. He went to dine at Compiegne with a friend, -who, to make matters safer, brought the fugitive and the procureur de -roi together at dinner. The magistrate who had within his grasp a -splendid opportunity for promotion, had no suspicion whatever of his -agreeable _convive_. At the close of the evening, the friend carried off -his guest in a gig, conducted him to the frontier, and gave him over to -the care of a smuggler, whom they had bribed, and who took him safely -across the custom-house lines. - - - - -_MONSIEUR RUFIN PIOTROWSKI._ - -1846. - - -Of all the innumerable victims transported during the last century by -the Russian government to Siberia, two alone were able to escape from -that dreadful place; their names are Beniowski, whose escape we have -already related, and M. Piotrowski. If, on one side, the adventures of -the Hungarian magnate are as full of interest as any novel, on the -other, the simple story of the modest and intrepid Polish soldier -inspires one with quite a different feeling. There we have all the -emotion excited by a pompous show; here the hidden drama, the laceration -of every fibre of a heart tortured by slow and almost secret anguish. -Beniowski, as a general and a prisoner of war, was treated according to -his rank, and even among exiles was allowed a certain liberty and the -privileges of his order. Piotrowski, the veteran warrior of 1831, being -only the simple emissary of his exiled countrymen in France, was sent to -Siberia, thrown into a convict’s den, and forced to obey the orders of -a scoundrel himself condemned for theft. The half-savage population of -the country gave the infamous appellation of “Varnak,” as well to the -noble Pole transported for patriotism, as to the vilest forger and -assassin. Rufin Piotrowski is in fact the Silvio Pellico of Poland. The -book of Silvio Pellico raised against Austria the indignation of all -civilized nations. Beaten at Solferino, annihilated at Sadowa, the -jailors of Spielberg have nowhere met a look of pity. The “Memoirs of a -Siberian” are a terrible witness against the jailors of Siberia. - -M. Piotrowski being sent to Russia by the Polish Emigration Society, -went in 1843 to Kamiéniec, in Podolia, under the supposed name and title -of Catharo, an English subject. He had remained there about nine months -as a professor of languages, when he was recognised as a Pole, -arrested, and condemned to hard labour in Siberia. Transported in -1844 to the place of his exile, he was sent to the distillery of -Ekaterininski-Zavod, three hundred kilometres north of Omsk, and for a -year was obliged to perform the hardest and most repulsive labour. A -word or sign on his part, or only a fit of ill temper on the part of -those over him, would have exposed him to the bastinado or the knout; -but being resolved on suffering everything rather than be struck, and -cherishing always in his heart the hope of escape, he learnt to control -himself sufficiently to show great docility, and a constant care to do -thoroughly the work imposed on him. He so succeeded by this means in -raising himself, that he was allowed to enter the distillery. “My -office,” said he, “was the rendezvous for many travellers who came -either for the sale of grains or for the purchase of spirits; peasants, -townspeople, tradesmen, Russians, Tartars, Jews, and Kirghis. Of -passing strangers I inquired with a curiosity that never flagged -concerning Siberia. I talked with men who had been, some to Berezov, -others to Nertchinsk, to the frontiers of China, to Kamtschatka, among -the steppes of Kirghis, and in Bokhara, so that without leaving my -office I learned to know Siberia intimately. This acquired knowledge was -in the future of immense use to me in my plan of escape. A circumstance -that much softened my fate was the permission I obtained from the -inspector to leave the barracks; by this means I was able to quit the -ordinary dwelling-place of the convicts, and live with two of my -countrymen in a house belonging to Siesicki. - -“This man had succeeded little by little in building for himself a small -wood cabin; thanks to his long stay at Ekaterininski-Zavod, and to the -savings made out of his small pay. The house was not yet completed; in -fact there was then no roof, but we nevertheless carried in our goods -and chattels. The wind entered by every crack, but wood costing very -little, we lit a large fire on the hearth every night. In spite of these -inconveniences, we felt ourselves at home, and were relieved of the -disagreeable companionship of the convicts; the soldiers alone, whom we -had to pay, never leaving us. We spent the long winter evenings in -thinking about those dear to us, and even in making plans for the -future. Ah, if that house still exists, and if it shelters some -unfortunate exiled brother, let him remember he is not the first who has -wept in it, and invoked his absent country! I had quickly risen from the -lowest to the highest degree which a convict of our establishment on the -banks of the Irtiche could attain. In 1846, I could almost fancy myself -a simple recruit, banished to distant shores, and under an inclement -sky. How different was this to that terrible winter of 1844, when I -swept out gutters, carried or split wood, and lived under the same roof -with the scum of humanity! How many of my brethren, alas! were now -groaning in the mines of Nertchinsk! How many even who had been -condemned to a less severe punishment than mine, would have thought -themselves happy in my position, though I had resolved on flying from it -even at the risk of the knout, and the mysterious dungeons of Akatouïa! - -“In 1845, the Emperor Nicholas had issued a decree, by which the -situation of those exiled to Siberia was considerably aggravated. -Commissions visited the penitentiary establishments with the object of -proposing new measures of severity. The forced residence of all the -convicts in the barracks was the first point conceded to the suspicious -despotism of the czar. All this necessarily made me persist in a plan -conceived long ago. - -“During the summer of 1845, I had already made two attempts, rather -hasty and thoughtless ones, and both having the same result, though -neither, fortunately, creating any suspicions. In the month of June I -had noticed a small skiff often left by carelessness on the banks of the -river; I had thought of using this skiff to carry me down the river to -Tobolsk; but scarcely had I loosed the boat, one dark night, and rowed a -little way, when the moon shone out, lighting the country most -dangerously, and at the same time I heard from the shore the voice of -the inspector who was walking with some employés. I landed with as -little noise as possible, thinking how fruitless that attempt had -proved. The following month I perceived that the same boat had been left -in a more advantageous place, on a lake leading, by a canal and the -Irtiche, to a rather distant point of our establishment. A phenomenon -pretty frequent on the waters of Siberia during this season formed an -insurmountable barrier to this second attempt of mine. Caused by the -sudden chill of the air at nightfall, there rise from the earth great -columns of vapour, so thick as to make even the nearest things quite -indistinguishable. It was in vain that I kept pushing my boat in all -directions during the long mortal hours of that night of anxiety; the -fog prevented my finding the canal which would have led me to the -Irtiche. It was only at day-break that I at last discovered the -long-sought issue, but it was already too late to proceed, so I returned -home, rejoiced to be able to do that without mishap. From that time I -gave up all thought of flight by the inclement waves of the Irtiche, and -began in earnest to ripen my first plan of escape.” - -After long and due meditation on all the different and possible ways of -quitting the Russian empire, he resolved on effecting his escape by the -north, the Oural Mountains, the steppe of Petchora, and Archangel. - -“Slowly and with great difficulty I collected the necessary things for a -journey, the first and chief of which was a passport. There are two -kinds of passports for the Siberians; one being a sort of pass ticket, -granted for a very limited time, and for places not far distant from -each other; the other being a much more important document, given by the -high authorities on stamped paper. I succeeded in forging both. I -managed slowly also to get the clothes and other things necessary for my -disguise. I endeavoured to transform myself into a native, ‘a man of -Siberia’ (Sibirski tchèlovieck), as they say in Russia. Ever since my -departure from Kiow, I had purposely allowed my beard to grow, and it -had then reached quite a respectable and orthodox length. By great -perseverance, I also became possessor of a wig,--a Siberian wig, that is -a wig made of sheepskin turned inside out. Thanks to these various -means, I was pretty sure of not being recognised. I had also 180 roubles -(about 200 francs) left, a small enough sum for so long a journey, and -which was destined by a fatal accident to become still much smaller. I -was in no way blind to the difficulties of my enterprise, nor to the -many dangers to which I was exposed at each step. One thing alone -sustained me, and while aggravating my situation, at all events eased my -conscience: it was the oath I had sworn to myself never to reveal my -secret to any one till I was in a free country; to ask neither help, nor -protection, nor advice of any living being, so long as I had not passed -the limits of the czar’s empire; and rather to give up my own liberty -than to endanger any one of my brethren. I might have brought my own sad -fate on many of my poor countrymen by my stay at Kamiéniec, when I -imagined I was fulfilling a mission of general interest. Now, my own -personal safety was the only thing in question, therefore I ought to -look to none but myself. God gave me grace to keep this resolution to -the last, which after all, was simply an honest one; and who knows that -it is not in consideration of this oath, which I swore on the outset of -my attempt, that He has always stretched over me His protecting arm! - -“About the end of January, 1846, I had finished my preparations, and the -opportunity seemed all the more favourable to me from the fact of it -being near the time for the large fair of Irbite, at the foot of the -Oural Mountains,--one of those fairs only seen in eastern Russia. I -thought I should be lost among such a migration of people, and hastened -to profit by the occasion. - -“On the 8th February, I started. I had on three shirts, one of which, a -coloured one, was put over the trousers of thick cloth, and over all, a -small burnous (armiack) of sheepskin, well greased with tallow, and -coming down to my knees. Large riding boots, well tarred, completed my -costume. Around my waist I wore a large sash of white, red, and black -wool, and on my wig a round cap of red velvet, trimmed with fur, such as -is worn by a well-to-do peasant of Siberia on holidays, or by a -travelling merchant. I was moreover well wrapped in a large pelisse, the -collar of which being turned up and fastened by a handkerchief tied -round it, had as much the effect of keeping out the cold as of hiding my -face. A small bag which I carried contained a second pair of boots, a -fourth shirt, a pair of blue summer trousers, according to the custom of -the country, some bread and some dried fish. In the leg of the right -boot, I had concealed a large dagger. The money, which was in notes of -five or ten roubles, I placed in my waistcoat, and in my hands, which -were covered with large skin gloves, with the hair outside, I carried a -formidable, knotty stick. - -“So rigged out, at night I quitted the establishment of -Ekaterininski-Zavod, by a small by-path. It froze very hard, and the -flying sleet glistened in the moonbeams. I had soon passed my Rubicon, -the Irtiche, and hurrying rapidly forward, I took the road to Tara, a -village twelve kilometres distant from my place of detention. ‘Winter -nights,’ I thought to myself, ‘are very long in Siberia: how far can I -go before day-break, and before my escape is signalled? What will become -of me afterwards?’ - -“I had scarcely passed the Irtiche, when I heard behind me the sound of -a sleigh. I shivered, but resolved on waiting for the nocturnal -traveller, and, as it has happened to me more than once during my -dangerous peregrination, what I most dreaded as a peril, became a quite -unexpected means of escape. - -“On the peasant asking me where I was going, I replied ‘To Tara.’ - -“‘Where are you from?’ - -“‘The village of Zalivina.’ - -“‘Give me sixty kopeks (ten sous), and I will take you to Tara, where I -am going myself.’ - -“‘No, it’s too much; fifty kopeks if you like.’ - -“‘Very well; get up at once.’ - -“I took my place next to him; we started at a gallop, and in half an -hour were at Tara. Left alone, I asked, according to the Russian custom, -at the first house I saw, if I could get any horses. - -“‘Where for?’ - -“‘For the fair at Irbite.’ - -“‘There are some.’ - -“‘A pair?’ - -“‘Yes, a pair.’ - -“‘How much the verst?’ - -“‘Eight kopeks.’ - -“‘I wont give so much. Six kopeks. What do you say to that?’ - -“‘Very well, then.’ - -In a short time the horses were ready and harnessed to the sleigh. - -“‘And where are you from?’ was asked of me. - -“‘From Tomsk. I am the employé of N. (I gave the first name that -occurred to me); my master has gone on before me to Irbite. I had to -stay behind for some small matters, and am horribly late; I fear he will -be angry. If you will take me there quickly, I will give you something -more for yourself.’ - -“The peasant whistled, and the horses started like arrows. All at once -the clouds gathered, the snow began to fall thickly, and the peasant -lost his way, and after wandering about a good deal, we were obliged to -halt, and pass the night in the forest. I pretended to be greatly -enraged, and my guide humbly begged my forgiveness. It would be -impossible to describe the terrible anxiety of that night, spent in a -sleigh in the midst of a snowstorm, scarcely four miles distant from -Ekaterininski-Zavod, and expecting every minute to hear the bells of the -_kibitkas_ sent in pursuit of me. At last the day began to dawn. - -“‘We will return to Tara,’ I said to the peasant, ‘where I shall engage -another sleigh. As for you, fool, you may expect nothing. I will take -care, moreover, to give you up to the police for making me waste my -time.’ The poor peasant, quite ashamed, started to return to Tara, but -scarcely had he gone a verst, when he stopped, looked round, and showing -the vestige of a pathway under the drifts of snow, said, ‘That is the -road we should have taken!’ ‘Follow it then,’ I said, ‘and God speed -us.’ He then did his utmost to make up for lost time. A most horrible -idea struck me just then; I remembered how our unhappy Colonel Wysocki -was, like me, detained in the forest for a whole night, and was given up -to the gendarmes by his guide. Vain terrors! The peasant took me to a -friend’s house, where I managed to get tea and some fresh horses. So I -went on, changing my horses at very moderate prices; when having arrived -late one night at a village called Soldatskaïa, and not having -sufficient money to pay my guide, I went with him to an inn filled with -a number of drunken wretches. I had taken from under my waistcoat a few -notes, intending to have one or two changed by the landlord, when a -movement of the crowd, done purposely or not, I cannot tell, pushed me -from the table where I had spread my papers, which were quickly seized -by some clever hand. In vain I made my loss known: I never could -discover the thief, nor seriously think of calling in the gendarmes; so -I resigned myself to my misfortune. I was in that manner deprived of -forty-five roubles in notes; but what greatly increased my regrets, and -even my terror, was the fact that the thief had taken at the same time -two papers of the greatest worth to me: a small sheet on which I had -inscribed the towns and villages I must pass through on my way to -Archangel, and my passport, the one on stamped paper, the making of -which had cost me so much pains. Thus at the outset I lost almost a -quarter of the modest allowance for my journey, the note that was to -have been my guide, and the only paper capable of satisfying any curious -people. I was in despair.” - -Still the fugitive was obliged to go on: each step taken brought him -nearer to freedom; but whether he was taken at only a few miles’ -distance from the place of his exile, or on the Russian frontier, his -fate would be the same. Lost in the immense morass which covered the -road to Irbite he did not reach the gates of that town, till the third -day of his escape, having travelled, thanks to the celerity of -sleigh-riding, 1000 kilometers since his departure from -Ekaterininski-Zavod. - -“‘Halt, and show your passport!’ shouted the sentinel; fortunately he -added in a low tone, ‘Give me twenty kopeks, and be off with you.’ I -yielded with great satisfaction to the exigencies of the law so -opportunely modified in my favour.” - -Having passed one night at Irbite, M. Piotrowski hastened to leave it -next morning; but the expenses of his journey, and his losses by theft -having reduced his purse to seventy-five roubles (about eighty francs), -he could only proceed on foot. - -“The winter of 1846 was extremely severe; still on the morning I left -Irbite the atmosphere softened, but then the snow fell so thickly that -it quite obscured the light. Walking became almost impossible among -these white masses, which grew higher and thicker at every step. About -midday the sky cleared a little, and my journey grew easier. I generally -avoided villages, if possible; but when I found myself obliged to cross -one, I went straight along as if I belonged to the neighbourhood, and -needed no directions. Only at the last house of a hamlet did I venture -sometimes to ask a few questions, and then not until I had great doubt -as to which road I was to take. When I felt hungry, I took from my bag a -piece of frozen bread, and ate it while walking, or sitting at the foot -of a tree in some retired spot in the forest. To appease my thirst I -looked eagerly out for the holes made in the ice by the people of the -country to water their cattle. I was sometimes obliged to content myself -with letting snow melt in my mouth, although that means was far from -satisfactory. - -“My first day’s march after leaving Irbite was very hard, and at night I -found myself quite worn out. The heavy clothes I wore added to my -fatigue, and still I did not dare throw them off. At nightfall I ran to -the thickest part of the forest and began to prepare my bed. I knew the -method used by the Ostiakes to shelter themselves in their deserts of -ice; they simply hollow out a deep hole under a great heap of snow, and -in that way find a bed--a hard one in truth, but a good warm one. I did -the same, and soon found the repose of which I stood greatly in need.” - -On the morrow he lost his way, and after wandering about almost the -whole of the day, he found himself at nightfall on a road which -fortunately happened to be the right one. Seeing a small house not far -from a hamlet, he resolved on asking shelter there: it was not denied -him. He gave himself out for a workman seeking employment in the iron -works of Bohotole, in the Oural. He played his part to the best of his -ability, but was thought to be too well clothed and furnished with linen -for a workman, and was woke from his first sleep by peasants asking for -his passport. With the greatest coolness he showed them the pass ticket, -the only one he had left; fortunately the sight of the seal was -sufficient for these self-appointed gendarmes, who begged his pardon for -having taken him for an escaped convict. - -“The rest of the night I spent very quietly, and the next day took leave -of those whose hospitality was so near growing fatal to me. This -incident carried a sad conviction to my mind that I could never ask -shelter for the night of any human being without exposing myself to the -greatest risks, and the Ostiake bed must be, until further notice, my -only place of repose. I had, in short, to put up with this Ostiake style -of sleeping during the whole of the time I was crossing from the Oural -mountains to Veliki-Oustioug; that is, from the middle of February to -the beginning of April. Three or four times only dared I beg hospitality -for the night in some isolated hut, worn out by fifteen or twenty days’ -march in the forest, almost exhausted, and scarcely knowing what I did. -Every other night I was satisfied with digging out a hole to lie in, and -by degrees became accustomed to that way of sleeping. Sometimes at -nightfall I even found myself going towards the thick part of the wood, -as to a well-known inn; at other times I confess this savage kind of -life became intolerable to me. The absence of any - -[Illustration: The sight of the seal was sufficient.] - -human habitation, the want of hot food, and even of frozen bread, my -only nourishment for whole days sometimes, made me face in all their -terrible reality those two hideous spectres called cold and hunger. In -moments like these I dreaded specially the fits of drowsiness that -suddenly came over me, for they were evident invitations to death, -against which I fought with the little strength I had left. And now and -then the craving for hot food became so strong in me, that it was with -the greatest difficulty I resisted the temptation of begging in some hut -for a few spoonfuls of the root soup of Siberia.” - -After slowly climbing the heights of the Ourals, he at last crossed them -on a fine night; but his troubles were precisely the same on the western -side of the mountains. On one occasion, during a snowstorm he lost his -way, passed a horrible night in the agonies of hunger, and at daybreak, -while trying to find the path, he fell exhausted at the foot of a tree. -The sleep, which in these regions is the forerunner of death, had -already fallen on him, when he was saved by a trapper who was crossing -the forest. This kind man gave him a little brandy and a few mouthfuls -of bread, told him to take heart, pointed out to him a house of refuge, -and disappeared in the woods. - -“When I saw the house in the distance, my joy was beyond all -description; I would have gone to it, I think, even had I known it to be -full of gendarmes. I got as far as the door; but no sooner had I crossed -the threshold, than I fell down and rolled under a wooden bench.” - -After a few minutes of complete insensibility, he came to himself, and -not being able to touch the food offered him by his host, he fell into a -sleep which lasted twenty-four hours; kindly taken care of all the while -by the landlord, who became doubly attentive when he found the -traveller to be a pilgrim going to the holy island of the White Sea. -That was the character taken by the fugitive; he had transformed himself -into a _bohomolets_ (worshipper of God) going to salute the holy images -of the convent of Solovetsk, near Archangel. Protected by the respect -and sympathy with which this title inspires a Russian peasant, M. -Piotrowski managed, without much trouble, to get to Veliki-Oustioug, and -was well received there by his brethren the _bohomolets_, who were -waiting in large numbers in that town for the thaw which would permit -them to embark on the _Dwina_ for Archangel. After a month’s stay in the -midst of them, during which he established his reputation as a good -pilgrim by the punctuality with which he performed all his duties, he -embarked on one of the many boats collected for that special service, -and hired himself to the captain as a rower during the crossing, for the -usual sum of fifteen roubles in notes, that sum being exactly what he -had spent during his journey from Irbite. About a fortnight after his -arrival at Veliki-Oustioug, he landed at Archangel, the point on which -all his expectations were centred; for he hoped that in the port, which -was much frequented by ships of all nations, he should find one vessel -that would bring him over to France or England. Without neglecting the -religious duties which the title of pilgrim imposed on him, nor the -precautions the neglect of which might endanger him, he sought in vain -during two long days for this saviour ship. On the deck of each vessel -stood, night and day, a Russian sentinel; and along the whole length of -the quays, to be able to cross the line of sentinels, it was necessary -to give explanations and papers, a demand which the fugitive could not -dream of subjecting himself to. Relinquishing then, not without grief, -his long cherished hopes, he took the road to Onéga, as a pilgrim who -having visited the holy images of Solovetsk, was going to Kiow “to -salute the sacred bones.” After many adventures, more or less agreeable, -he arrived at Vytiegra. He was accosted on the quay by a peasant who -asked him where he was going, and proposed to take him in his boat to -St. Petersburg. He engaged himself to the man as a rower, and on the -passage had occasion to render some services to a poor old peasant woman -also going to St. Petersburg. On entering the harbour the unhappy -fugitive felt great anxiety as to how he could avoid the police on -landing, and where he should lodge, etc. All at once his protégé, the -old peasant woman, said, “Stay near me. My daughter, who knows of my -arrival, is coming to meet me, and will find you a good lodging-house.” -He landed, and carrying the old woman’s trunk, went to the same inn with -her. There still remained the difficulty about the passport and police. -He much feared that his hostess would prove exacting on this point; but, -on being questioned by him as to the formalities to be gone through, she -said, he need not trouble to call on the police for two or three days. -Being easy on this score, he went the next day towards the harbour, -furtively scanning as he walked,--for a Russian peasant ought not to -know how to read,--the advertisements on many steam packets announcing -the time of their departure. - -“All at once my eyes fell on an announcement in large letters placed -near the mast of one of the steamers, to the effect that this ship was -to leave for Riga the next day. I saw a man walking on the deck with his -red shirt worn over his trousers, _à la Russe_, but not daring to speak -to him, I remained satisfied with devouring him with my eyes. In the -meantime the sun went down; it was already seven in the evening, when -suddenly the man with the red shirt raised his head, and called to me:-- - -“‘Do you happen to want to go to Riga? If you do, come here.’ - -“‘I do certainly want to go; but what means has a poor man like me of -taking the steamboat? It must cost a great deal, and is not for such as -I am.’ - -“‘And why not come? We won’t ask much from a _moujik_ like you.’ - -“‘How much?’ - -“He mentioned some price which I do not quite remember now, but which -astonished me--it was so small. - -“‘Well, does that suit you? Why do you still hesitate?’ - -“‘Why, I have only just arrived to-day, and I must have my passport -looked to by the police.’ - -“‘Oh, your police will detain you three days, and the boat starts -to-morrow morning.’ - -“‘What’s to be done?’ - -“‘Why, start without having it looked at.’ - -“‘Yes; and if some misfortune happened to me?’ - -“‘Fool! you, a _moujik_, teach me what I have to do! Have you got your -passport with you? Show it.’ - -“I pulled from my pocket my pass-ticket, carefully wrapped in a silk -handkerchief, after the fashion of all the Russian peasants; but he -spared himself the trouble looking at it, and said,-- - -“‘Come to-morrow morning at seven; and if you don’t see me, wait for me. -Now, be off with you.’ - -“I joyfully returned home, and the next morning was punctual at the -rendezvous. The man soon perceived me, but only said, ‘Give me the -money!’ He went off, but immediately returned, bringing me a yellow -ticket, which of course I pretended not to know anything about: a -circumstance which occasioned another gracious observation,--‘Hold your -tongue _moujik_, and don’t trouble yourself.’ The bell rang three times, -the passengers crowded together, a rough blow from my companion drove me -after them, and the ship was in full motion. I thought I was in a -dream.” - -From Riga, M. Piotrowski, still travelling on foot, soon reached the -frontier without difficulty. He had slightly modified his costume, but -still kept the distinct garment of a Russian--the little bornous of -sheepskin. He called himself a pork merchant, which allowed of his -asking on the road all necessary information. Having once ascertained -all the obstacles he could possibly encounter on his way from Russia to -Prussia, he succeeded in crossing the frontier in open daylight, in -spite of the shots fired at him; and taking refuge in a wood, where he -cut off his beard, and transformed his costume, leaving behind him all -the signs of a Russian peasant, he arrived at last at Kœnigsberg. But -when he thought himself all but saved, a circumstance occurred that -nearly proved his ruin. He had resolved on journeying by steamer to -Elbing, and towards evening he sat down on some ruins, thinking of going -at nightfall in the fields to sleep on some hay, while waiting the time -for departure; but, quite tired out, he fell asleep, and was woke by a -night guard, who, not satisfied with his answers, took him to the first -police-station. He at once volunteered the statement that he was a -French workman, who had lost his passport, but he was put in prison. A -month afterwards he was called again before the police, his statements -were proved to be false, and he was clearly allowed to see that the -grossest suspicions were afloat concerning him. Tired of concealment, -and especially irritated at being taken for a malefactor in hiding, he -at last declared himself. A recent treaty between Prussia and Russia -obliged these two countries mutually to give up their fugitives. The -Prussian authorities on hearing the declaration of M. Piotrowski, were -mute with consternation; thinking it quite impossible to elude the -convention. But steps were taken by the principal inhabitants of -Kœnigsberg, and by many persons of high rank, which Government itself -evidently shrank from opposing. M. Piotrowski soon after was informed -that an order had come from Berlin, enjoining his being given up to the -Russians, but that time would be allowed him to escape at his own risk; -and by the help of his generous friends, he was next day on his road to -Dantzic. - -“I had, he says, letters for different people, in all the towns of -Germany I had to cross, and everywhere I found the same zeal to render -my journey more comfortable. Thanks to all the help, that failed me in -no place, I had very quickly crossed the whole of Germany, and on the -22nd September, 1846, I found myself again in that Paris that I had -quitted four years ago.” - - - - -_ESCAPE OF PRINCE LOUIS NAPOLEON FROM THE FORTRESS OF HAM._ - - -In the summer of 1840, Prince Louis Napoleon, afterwards Emperor of the -French, landed with a number of adherents at Boulogne, to assert his -claim to the French throne, as the nephew and heir of the first -Napoleon. It had been represented to the prince by his friends that the -people were everywhere ill-affected, and would rise in insurrection -against King Louis Philippe, as soon as any one bearing the great name -of Napoleon appeared on the soil of France. Events, however, proved -that these councillors were wrong; the people did not rise, and the -prince and his followers, to the number of fifty-three, were captured -and sent to Paris. After a trial, which attracted the attention of -Europe, on account of the eloquence of the advocates on both sides, and -the great names and issues concerned, thirty-three of the prisoners were -discharged, nineteen received sentences ranging from a few months to -twenty years’ imprisonment, and the prince was ordered into close -confinement for life. - -The sentence was read to his highness in his solitary cell in the -Conciergerie at four o’clock in the afternoon of October 26th; and -without exhibiting the least emotion, he remarked, “Then I shall at -least die on the soil of France.” A few hours afterwards, in speaking of -the sentence, he said, “You say _perpetual_ imprisonment; but just as -‘impossible’ used to be a word unknown to the French, so I suspect it -will be with the word _perpetual_ in this instance.” It is needless to -add that the prince’s prophecy was fulfilled; for instead of lasting for -life, his imprisonment endured some five years and nine months, when it -came to an end in the manner we shall hereafter relate. It will be -necessary to say a few words upon the prison itself, and some of the -prince’s fellow-captives, to make the narrative more easily understood. - -The prince was removed, after sentence, to the fortress of Ham. This -fortress is about ninety miles to the north-east of Paris; and with the -exception of a few houses which have sprung up around it in the form of -a very small town, the gloomy building stands almost in the centre of a -great treeless plain. The greater part of the castle was rebuilt between -four and five hundred years ago, but there are still portions of the -wall which date from the seventh and eighth centuries. In the interior, -at the time of the prince’s incarceration, there were two low, -dilapidated brick buildings, serving as barracks for the garrison, which -consisted of 400 men. It was at the end of one of these that the state -prisoners were kept, in two or three rooms which the friends of the -captives declared were dirty, damp, and dark; and as they were only -removed from the old ivy-covered walls of the fort by a few feet, it is -not to be wondered at if they were not particularly dry. In these -apartments lived the prince, Dr. Conneau, his physician (who had been -sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for his share in the invasion of -Boulogne), and the Count and Countess Montholon; the former undergoing a -term of twenty years for the same reason as Dr. Conneau, and the latter -having received permission to reside with her husband. Besides these, -there was a faithful manservant named Thelin, who had followed the -prince’s fortunes in various countries, and had been tried with the -rest, but was acquitted. With much trouble this man had obtained leave -from the minister of the interior to share his master’s imprisonment. We -must not forget to mention a large dog to which the prince was much -attached, which was named after the prison, “Ham.” The reader has now -before him the entire household, the members of which passed so many -dreary years and months together. - -The guard kept over the prisoners was a very careful one. The -commandant, M. Demarle, although a kind-hearted man, was a strict -disciplinarian; and took every precaution, in accordance with his -instructions, to keep his captives safe. Sixty soldiers, besides a -number of warders, were constantly on duty; one keeper was always -stationed at the door of the prince’s room, and two at the bottom of -his stairs; and he was never allowed to either walk or ride around the -courtyard of the fortress without armed attendants. - -It should be stated, however, that the servant Thelin, as he was only -residing in the castle of his own free will, was allowed to go in and -out on errands; but this only with a pass from the governor. Nor were -all these precautions unnecessary; for before the prince had been long -in confinement, there were rumours that the working men of Paris, and -some of the other large towns, among whom the Bonapartes were at that -time very popular, were about to march on Ham to release their friend. - -At one time it was stated that a body of 2000 had actually started on -the expedition; and the Government, in a panic, hastily sent down -several regiments of horse and foot to strengthen the garrison. - -These energetic measures either frightened the revolutionists, or they -changed their plans; for it is certain that beyond a few little groups -who used occasionally to cheer the prince when he appeared with his -keepers on the walls, no demonstration of any kind was ever actually -made. - -As with most men of education undergoing state imprisonment, the prince -passed his time chiefly in study and in writing to his friends outside -and to the newspapers. Every letter, however, either to or from the -prisoner, had not only to pass through the governor’s hands, but to be -read by him. He also occupied himself in gardening, of which he was very -fond; and now and then, by the direct permission in writing of the -minister of the interior, a visitor was allowed to enter the castle, but -this was a privilege very rarely afforded. - -The following systematic division of the day was rigidly adhered to by -the prince. He rose early, and studied until ten. Then breakfasted and -walked half an hour for exercise around the parapet of the fort, where a -space of 100 feet by 60 had been allotted for the purpose. He then -retired to his room, and read and corresponded with the outside world -until dinner, which was between seven and eight. In the evenings, there -was usually conversation and a game at whist, in which the governor -frequently joined, after seeing that all the doors were locked, and the -guards properly posted for the night. In this quiet manner the little -household passed their days, waiting and watching for events which -should either induce the Government to grant a pardon, or afford the -prince an opportunity of effecting his escape. - -Louis Napoleon, however, did not allow any chance of exciting the -sympathy of the people in his behalf to pass by. In spite of the -precautions which were adopted, he several times got spirited literary -articles smuggled out of the prison by his friends, and published in -Paris. These were usually in the form of comments upon passing events, -but were so written that the object was only transparently veiled. For -instance, when the remains of the first Napoleon were brought back to -France from St. Helena, on the 15th of December, 1840, we find him -dating a touching letter from his “prison at Ham,” addressed “to the -manes of” his “uncle.” In this, approaching the dead emperor, he says:-- - -“Sire,--You return to your capital, and the people in multitudes hail -your return; but I, from the depths of my dungeon, can discern but a ray -of that sun which shines upon your obsequies. Be not displeased with -your family because they are not there to receive you. Your exile and -your misfortunes have ceased with your life, but ours continue still. - -“You have died upon a rock, far from your country and kindred; the hand -of a son has not closed your eyes. - -“Even to-day no relative will follow your bier! - -“Montholon, whom you loved the most among your faithful companions, -rendered you the service of a son. He remains faithful to your thoughts, -to your last wishes. He has brought to me your last words. He is in -prison with me. - -“A French vessel, conducted by a noble young man, went to claim your -ashes; but it is in vain you would seek upon the deck any one of your -kindred--your family were not there. - -“In landing upon the soil of France, an electric shock was felt. You -raised yourself in your coffin. Your eyes for a moment re-opened, the -tricolour flag floated upon the shore; but your eagle was not there. The -people press, as in other times upon your passage; they salute you with -their acclamations as if you were living; but the great men of the day -in rendering you homage, in suppressed voice say, ‘_God grant that he -may not awake_.’” - -When nearly six years had elapsed, the prince had received letters -containing news of the critical state of his father’s health, and -accordingly made great efforts to obtain permission to visit him. To -this end he wrote several times to the ministers, and even to the king -himself, promising on his word of honour to return and place himself at -the Government’s disposal, whenever called upon to do so. All his -efforts however were unsuccessful. The king was said to favour his -release, but the ministers were firm in their refusal. Finding therefore -that escape was his only remedy, the prince resolved upon making the -attempt. After several long and earnest conferences with his faithful -friends, it was decided that the effort should be made in May. - -The first thing to be done was to throw the governor off his guard as -much as possible; for which purpose letters were written from various -persons in Paris to the prisoners, telling them that the Government was -shortly about to grant a general amnesty, and congratulating them upon -it. These being carefully read by M. Demarle, were of course calculated -to make him less apprehensive of any attempt at flight, than from his -knowledge of the failure of the prince’s effort to procure permission to -visit his father, he would otherwise have been. About this time, too, -fortune favoured the plot in a way that the actors in it had scarcely -ventured to reckon upon. - -The illustrious captive had for years been making representations to the -authorities in Paris upon the subject of the dilapidated state of his -rooms. Again and again had he begged that something might be done to -render the place at least safe and wholesome. The staircase was rickety, -and the whole of that part of the building in which he was confined as -unsafe as it could possibly be. But a deaf ear had as usual been turned -to all his remonstrances, and the matter had been allowed to drop. It -was therefore with no small pleasure that one evening the captives -learnt from their kind hearted governor, over a game at cards, that the -order had come down for the necessary repairs to be done, and that the -workmen would set about them in a few days’ time. From this moment it -was resolved that the prince should endeavour to leave the place in the -disguise of a joiner, and a suitable dress for the purpose was -accordingly procured from friends outside. Dr. Conneau, who although the -five years of his sentence had expired, still stayed with the others, -was now allowed to go in and out occasionally, just as the servant -Thelin was, and the two made all necessary arrangements for the flight. -The day of departure was originally fixed for Saturday, the 23rd of May, -but the unexpected arrival of some English visitors made it necessary to -wait until the Monday. With his usual careful attention to details, the -prince had ascertained both from his own and reported observations of -his friends, the movements of every workman and guard about the place. -It was found that the greatest precautions were taken to have the -unfrequented parts of the fort well watched. If a workman was seen in -any retired spot he was immediately challenged; but beyond the usual -measures of causing the men to pass in single file through a serjeant’s -guard when they left, there were no extra pains taken to hinder them -passing out through the gate. By a strange fatuity all the Government’s -anxiety seemed to be centred in preventing people coming _into_ the -prison, for there had always been some fear of a possible rescue. The -walls were also narrowly watched within and without; but it had not -apparently occurred to anybody that the captive might coolly walk -through the door and politely wish his gaolers good day, as eventually -he did. - -As may be imagined, the Sunday before their departure was a very anxious -day. The smallest accident might bring failure, and with it all hope of -liberty and the certainty of universal ridicule; for people would have -all shaken their heads, and said a man must have been destitute of the -most common sense to believe he could walk out of prison, through men -who had known him for a half a dozen years, in the flimsy disguise of a -journeyman carpenter. The friendly ostrich would have been severely laid -under contribution to point innumerable morals and adorn no end of -tales. - -A passport had been procured from Paris by which the prince was to -travel, of course under an assumed name; and the fact of the faithful -Thelin not being similarly supplied, caused much anxiety to the little -circle; but the accident of the English visitors’ arrival, was turned to -good account in this matter. Telling his friends that he wished his -valet to take a journey, the prince begged that one of them would be -good enough to let his courier give the man his passport, which was -immediately done. It is curious to note that afterwards, when in power, -as if the emperor had remembered this small favour, he passed a law to -the effect that English people might travel through France without a -passport. - -Very early on the Monday morning, the prince, Dr. Conneau, and Charles -Thelin stood, without their shoes, watching the courtyard from behind -the window curtains, for the arrival of the workmen. “St. Monday” is -kept in France as religiously as it is here by certain classes of -operatives; and to their great vexation they saw but very few of the men -come in, and those were in cleaner blouses than the “Saturday” one which -was to form the prince’s disguise. Again: by an unfortunate chance, the -only sentinel they were particularly anxious to avoid happened to be on -duty just outside. The prince had noticed that this man had been -extremely zealous in his inspection and cross-examination of the -workmen, every one of whom, as he was a keen, eagle-eyed fellow, he knew -at sight. However, this man was relieved at six o’clock, and one who was -considered less active took his place. The danger of discovery was, of -course, chiefly to be apprehended from two sources--from the soldiers -and keepers, and from the workmen themselves, who, seeing a stranger -among them, would be sure to give an alarm. To lessen the chances from -the latter, as soon as the workmen were all in, Thelin, having clipped -his master’s moustaches, went out and invited them into the dining-room -to have a morning dram; and while he was pouring it out and detaining -them with light conversation, the prince slipped down the first stairs, -and picking up a plank, waited coolly for his man to rejoin him; for as -the two keepers at the bottom of the stairs knew him well, it was -necessary for Thelin to be there to take off the attention of one, while -his highness’s face was covered from the other by the plank on his -shoulder. Here another difficulty arose. The prince being much below the -middle stature, and therefore smaller than any of the workmen, his -friends had provided a pair of high-heeled boots, which gave him the -appearance of being four inches taller than he really was, and the feet -of these were hidden from observation by being placed in a pair of -clumsy-looking sabots. But as it was Monday, and the weather was fine, -it was noticed that not one of the men had sabots on, so that at the -last moment a whispered consultation became necessary upon the subject -of sabots or no sabots. The prince was for kicking them off; but Thelin -insisted upon their retention. So, with plank and sabots, and a -much-soiled blouse, with a short, common clay pipe between his lips, the -future Emperor of the French marched out of Ham. - -Going down the stairs, the prince was alarmed to see that one of the -workmen, who was probably a teetotaller, and had resisted Thelin’s -invitation, was already at his work on the baluster; but fortunately he -did not look up as the man with the plank went by. At the bottom, the -fugitive heard the workmen come pouring out of the dining-room overhead, -just as he was rejoined by Thelin; and with great presence of mind Dr. -Conneau called out to the workmen that he had something to say to them, -and so delayed them until the others had passed between the keepers. - -“Good morning, Thelin,” said Dupin, one of these, stooping to pat the -prince’s dog, which went with them: “so you are off on a journey, eh?” -seeing the great coat on his arm. - -“Yes, I am off for a short drive with master doggy here,” replied -Thelin, making room for the awkward man with the board, who walked -straight through. - -“Well, good-bye, take care of yourself,” replied Dupin; while Issali, -the other keeper, walked on in conversation with Thelin as far as the -gate of the fort. Here, as they went out, the soldier on guard would -have taken no notice had not the prince dropped his pipe right at the -man’s feet, which attracted his attention, and he looked him straight in -the face as he stooped to pick it up. That must have been a moment long -after remembered by the ruler of the French. Recovering his pipe, he -passed out through the serjeant’s guard, and being narrowly scanned by -one of the soldiers, he shifted the plank as if he were tired, and -managed so as very nearly to knock his examiner on the head. With an -exclamation of impatience the man turned aside, and the prince was free! - -The fugitives had not gone far, however, when they met two workmen, who -looked very hard at the prince, who had once more to shift his board so -as to hide his face. As they passed, one of them exclaimed, “Is that -Bertou?” To which, with almost pardonable disregard of truth, his -highness gave a laconic “_Oui!_” and passed on. - -The moment they were out of sight of the fortress, the board was thrown -into a ditch, with the dirty blouse; and as the prince was disguised as -a cabman, he waited outside the cemetery of St. Sulpice, two miles from -Ham, while his companion went for the cab in which the master was to -drive the servant to St. Quentin, on their way to Valenciennes. - -When Charles Thelin returned with the cabriolet, he found the prince on -his knees before a large crucifix, returning thanks for his delivery. - -As they drove towards St. Quentin, an old woman who knew Thelin passed -them, and afterwards told her friends that she had never before seen him -in such disreputable looking company, for she had always regarded the -valet to the good prince as a very respectable young man. At St. Quentin -the prince walked round the outskirts of the town to the opposite side -to that on which he had entered, while the valet drove to the post-house -to get a chaise to take them to Valenciennes. - -Thelin being a great favourite with Madame Abrai, who kept the inn from -which the chaise had to be obtained, had much trouble to get away. She -insisted upon his taking some breakfast, and to tempt him, brought out a -pie of her own making, which she declared he must taste or never speak -to her again. Always ready to improve the occasion, her guest not only -ate some, but in a jocular way declared that the pasty was so good that -he should steal it and take it with him to eat on the journey. The good -soul consenting, it was taken to his highness, who, being very hungry, -condescended to finish it. - -Owing to the pressure put upon him at the inn, Thelin was so long that -the prince feared he had mistaken the rendezvous. As he sat in great -suspense on a bank by the roadside, a fussy-looking little gentleman -passed and scanned him somewhat narrowly. - -“Have you seen a postchaise on the road you have come, sir?” said the -prince. - -“I have not, sir!” replied the little man, pompously. This was the -Procureur du Roi, who would have been charged with the prosecution of -the prince if he had been recaptured. - -After the postchaise arrived, there were no further adventures until -Valenciennes was reached a little before two. The train for Brussels did -not leave till four, so for two weary hours the travellers sat together -in the waiting room of the station talking over the events of the -journey, and wondering how it fared with poor Dr. Conneau, who, although -free to walk out of the prison when he liked, had insisted upon -remaining to cover their retreat. While they sat there, a gendarme from -Ham suddenly appeared, and clapped Thelin on the shoulder. The -consternation of the travellers may be easily imagined. - -“How goes it, Thelin?” said the man, in cheerful accents which speedily -reassured them. “Who would have thought now of meeting anybody from Ham -all this way off?” - -“Good morning, neighbour,” said Thelin. “I am off to Belgium.” - -“Ah! and how is the good prince?” - -“He was very well when I last saw him. I have left his service now.” - -“Oh, indeed! That gentleman with you is not from Ham, is he?” - -“Oh, dear no! he is a man whom I have known years ago, and we have met -again on the journey.” - -“Ah, well, good-bye; my train is going, and I cannot stop any longer -with you. Bon jour, monsieur” (to the prince). Hats raised. - -“Bon jour, monsieur.” - -And so the two fugitives got safely into Belgium. From Brussels they -went to Ostend, and from Ostend to London, where, as soon as the prince -arrived, he wrote a letter to the premier, Lord Aberdeen, to acquaint -him with the facts of his escape, and to assure Her Majesty’s Government -that he did not intend to conspire against the Government of France, but -was merely desirous of attending to his private affairs. In reply, Lord -Aberdeen wrote a polite letter, telling him that, under the -circumstances, he was welcome to remain in England as long as he -pleased. Thus ended one of the most memorable flights in history. - -As the reader may like to know how the faithful Dr. Conneau fared, we -will just state that, by various pretences he delayed the discovery of -the prince’s departure for more than twelve hours. As the governor -always made a point of seeing the prince at frequent intervals during -the day, it was necessary to give it out that he was ill, and wanted -repose. To aid in the deception the doctor made up a stuffed figure, -dressed it in the prince’s clothes, and placed it on his bed; then -leaving his door ajar, he allowed the governor to peep in and satisfy -his mind that his prisoner was still there. Towards eight o’clock at -night, however, M. Demarle’s suspicions were aroused, and he insisted on -entering the prince’s room with the doctor, when, of course, the ruse -was discovered. - -“When did the prince go?” said he, turning round sharply to Dr. Conneau. - -“At seven this morning.” - -“You are under arrest, Doctor.” - -“Good.” - -The worthy doctor was afterwards sentenced to three months’ -imprisonment, for his share in the transaction. - - - - -_THE CAPTURE AND ESCAPE OF THE FENIAN HEAD CENTRE, JAMES STEPHENS._ - - -After the seizure of the Fenian newspaper, the _Irish People_, in the -summer of 1865, the British Government made great efforts to capture a -number of the leading members of the “brotherhood,” which had caused -them so much trouble in Ireland. Among those who were thus “wanted,” -there was nobody whose presence in a court of justice was felt to be -more desirable than Mr. James Stephens, _alias_ Power, the chief centre, -and indeed, prime mover of Fenianism. The available detective force of -the three kingdoms were in active pursuit, and spies and informers were -being anxiously interrogated concerning the antecedents and personal -habits of their enterprising enemy. Wonderful were the tales told to the -authorities of this Mr. Stephens. He had for years, ever since 1848, it -was said, been carefully educating the Irish peasantry in the art and -mystery of treason, having travelled for the purpose in all sorts of -disguises through every town and hamlet of the country. At one time he -would be met with in the dress of a parish priest; then he would hobble -past police barracks on crutches; again, he would assume the character -of a rollicking farm servant on his way to a country fair, and so on, -_ad infinitum_. Whether all or any of these tales were true or not, it -is certain that, by some means or other, the organization which the -Government was determined to put down was not only widely spread but -continually increasing, and had members in every corner of the land; and -although the police felt quite certain that James Stephens had not left -the country or ceased from his labours, he somehow or other did for -months manage to baffle his innumerable pursuers. - -The Government knew the man’s history. He had been connected with the -abortive attempts at insurrection with Smith O’Brien in 1848; was -present at the “battle” in the cabbage garden, and had escaped to the -Continent, where he had for a year or two made a precarious living as a -teacher of English and drawing. In Paris he had, with two friends, John -O’Mahoney and Michael Doheny, invented and drawn up the plans for the -conspiracy of which the world has since heard so much. The organization -was to be called the “Fenian Brotherhood,” after the Fenians, a -semi-mystical body of militia, celebrated for its deeds of chivalry and -prowess in ancient Irish history. Among other modest achievements set -down to the credit of these old warriors, in ballads still sung in the -wilds of Connemara and Mayo, it is recorded that each of them singly was -in the habit of conquering any nine men who had the temerity to engage -with him in mortal combat; in fact, it appears not to have been allowed -by the rules of the order for a private in that distinguished corps to -fight less than nine ordinary mortals, save under exceptionally -provoking circumstances. In fixing upon the title, “Fenian,” therefore, -the conspirators showed an intimate knowledge of the weakness of -thousands of their poorer fellow-countrymen, who are to this day as -proud of the doings of the old Fenian heroes, as English schoolboys are -of the self-reliance and wonderful performances of Robinson Crusoe. - -The cleverest part of the programme, however, was that by which it was -determined to carry on the organization simultaneously in Ireland and -America. Two of the sedition farmers were to proceed to the United -States, and one to his native land; so that as fast as the treason -plants were sufficiently grown in the one country to bear -transplantation to the soil of the other, an experienced nurseryman -might be on the spot to receive them. Of course, the post of honour and -danger being the Irish one, there was a friendly contest in which each -of the conspirators endeavoured to secure it for himself. Each urged his -claims, but as no one would yield to the others, it was decided to toss -for it with a golden coin, for in such a sacred cause it was unanimously -agreed that neither silver or bronze was pure enough for use. This -decision caused some little delay, owing to the fact that among the -three original members of the brotherhood there did not happen to be as -much as five and fourpence; and as there is no French gold coin of less -value, the settlement of the momentous question was deferred. Mr. -Stephens soon after this obtaining some money from one of his pupils, -won the toss, and after seeing his friends off for New York, went to -Ireland, where, obtaining a living, first in a situation as teacher, and -afterwards as a commercial traveller, he devoted himself to his -enterprise with a zeal and devotion which as loyal citizens we must -regret were not applied in a worthier cause. - -Among his other studies, Mr. Stephens had with much foresight included -the internal economy of the gaols of his native land. It was said, and -probably with some truth, that under various pretences he had made -himself tolerably well acquainted with the arrangements for the -detention of prisoners in most of the leading strongholds of the -country. He had evidently become imbued with the belief that the battle -of Irish liberty would have to be fought out in Her Majesty’s gaols, and -the sequel has proved the soundness of his conclusion. This was the man -whom the Government was so desirous of capturing all through the summer -and autumn of 1865. - -Towards the end of July, 1865, a gentleman, named Herbert, with his wife -and daughter, went to reside in a handsome residence, called Fairfield -House, at the corner of Newbridge Avenue, Sandy Mount, Dublin. The -arrival of the family was hailed with much satisfaction among the -tradesmen of the neighbourhood; for the new comers evidently had not -only expensive tastes, but what was more important, plenty of money to -gratify them. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert laid out considerable sums, not only -in the embellishment and furnishing of Fairfield House, but in the -adornment of the grounds which were rather extensive; and although it -was observed that they kept very little company, yet, as they always -paid punctually for what they had, they soon became much respected in -the neighbourhood. The gentleman seldom went out and was therefore but -little known; but Mrs. Herbert, from her kindly manner and frequent -purchases, was a general favourite with the shopkeepers. So this quiet -household pursued the even tenor of its way until one dark winter’s -morning, when an accident happened to them, which as it has an immediate -bearing upon our narrative, we shall now relate. - -Between five and six o’clock, on the 11th of November, a body of about -thirty well-armed policemen surrounded Mr. and Mrs. Herbert’s premises, -and three inspectors with cocked pistols in their hands scaled the wall -and effected an entrance. Of course, the peaceable inhabitants of the -house were all wrapped in slumber, from which Mr. Herbert was rudely -awakened by a loud knocking at his bedroom door. - -“Who is there, and what is the matter?” were the questions which that -gentleman naturally put to his disturbers, who, commencing to break in -the door, replied as follows: - -“Come, Mr. Stephens, open the door, we know you, and resistance is -perfectly useless.” To which summons Mr. Herbert, _alias_ Power, _alias_ -Stephens, responded by opening the door and letting his captors in. One -of the inspectors stayed with Mr. Stephens while he dressed, and the -others searched the house, where, in an adjoining bedroom they found two -gentlemen in bed together, and one lying on a mattress on the floor. -These were Messrs. Brophy, Duffy, and Kickham, who were immediately -arrested upon the same charge as Stephens. In the other parts of the -house provisions enough to last the inmates six months, a quantity of -arms, and nearly £2000 in gold and cheques were found; one draft -recently received from New York being drawn in favour of a “Mr. Hooper,” -for no less a sum than £1525 8_s._ 6_d._ - -Mrs. Stephens had been tracked by female detectives during one of her -numerous shopping excursions, and thus the discovery of her husband’s -whereabouts had been effected. Without the least trouble the whole party -were conveyed to a police court, and after several preliminary -examinations were committed to Richmond Bridewell, to take their trial -before a Special Commission convened by Government for the purpose. - -It was observed that Mr. Stephens bore himself with great composure -during his examination. Upon being called upon to make a defence, he -handed in a written protest as follows: - -“I deliberately and conscientiously repudiate the existence of British -law in Ireland. I despise and defy any punishment it may inflict upon -me. - -(Signed) - -“JAMES STEPHENS.” - -During the proceedings his cool and even defiant manner were calculated -to impress the by-standers with the belief that he was an attorney -watching a case, rather than a prisoner expecting the loss of his -liberty, and perhaps life. He seemed fully conscious of the goodness of -his cause and his superior ability, and appeared to feel a sovereign -contempt for “the other side.” He is described as being a “smart” -looking man, very neatly dressed, rather below the middle stature, with -smooth cheeks, a fair complexion, a fine large auburn beard, and hair of -light brown colour curling round the back of the head, the front and top -of which was entirely bald, and showed a very good development of the -intellectual and moral faculties, “firmness” being remarkably large. The -eyes small, lively, and restless. Temperament evidently sanguine and -nervous, indicating quickness of perception, energy, and determination. -He spoke fluently and correctly, with a slight Yankee accent (acquired -during his frequent visits to America which he had made to report -progress to his friends there). His manners were described as being -gentlemanly, savouring of a certain degree of abruptness and impatience. -This is the description which by general testimony applied to one who -was certainly the ablest man ever before the public in connection with -the Fenian conspiracy. As we have said before, the prisoners were kept -for safety in the Richmond Bridewell, one of the strongest prisons in -Ireland. - -A portion of the gaol was selected which could not be approached without -passing through a number of doors composed of iron, and double locked. -The cell occupied by Stephens was in the corridor leading to the eastern -wing of the building, and adjoining the chapel where he was in the habit -of attending mass. His cell door was composed of strong hammered iron, -and secured, by a massive stock-lock and a huge padlock, to a staple -and thick swinging bar. The corridor on which the cell door opened was -guarded by another ponderous iron door of great strength and thickness, -and also double locked. But these were only the commencement of the -obstacles which would prevent escape by the doors, and escape from the -windows was absolutely impossible. No persons were permitted to see the -Fenian prisoners save the officials of the prison and the prisoners’ -legal advisers; and it is stated that Stephens only saw a legal -gentlemen once, and that for a short time since his committal. The -instructions of the governor of the gaol to the officials under his -command were most stringent, and were apparently most strictly carried -out; and with the view of having a sufficient force on the premises, in -case it should be required, some of the metropolitan police were kept -constantly on duty in one of the outer corridors of the prison. All -communications to the prisoners were opened and read before they were -delivered, and also all letters written from them to their acquaintance. - -Every article of food, clothing, etc., brought in was closely -scrutinized, and in fact, everything which foresight and precaution -could suggest was adopted, and a perfect control kept over any -communication with the prisoners’ friends outside. - -At ten o’clock on a certain Thursday night, when the warders made their -last rounds, the cell in which James Stephens was confined was locked. -The keys had been at five o’clock duly handed over to the governor, who -had had them deposited in their proper order in the case in his office. - -The watchman for the night was Daniel Byrne, who went on duty at ten -o’clock; and nothing occurred to disturb the ordinary routine of the -prison until a quarter to four the following morning, when Byrne gave an -alarm that he had discovered two tables placed one above the other, near -the south-western wall adjoining the governor’s garden. Mr. Philpots, -the deputy-governor and manager, and the gate warder, went quickly to -the place and found the two tables to be as Byrne had described them. -These tables belonged to the lunatic dining-hall and had to be brought a -long distance; but strange to say, there were no footprints on the upper -table, which there would have been if it had been stood upon by any -person who had walked through the open passages which were muddy, as -torrents of rain were falling. The wall bore no marks whatever of -persons having escaped by climbing over it. The night was particularly -dark and tempestuous. - -When the governor and his assistants went to the section of the prison -in which Stephens had been confined, they found the doors of the -corridor open and also the door of his cell. His bed looked as if he had -not recently slept in it, and as if he had only rolled himself up in a -railway rug (found on the floor), and had waited for his deliverance. - -A master key, quite bright, as if only recently made, was found in the -lock of the corridor door. - -Byrne was accused of being an accomplice; and he certainly was a very -unfit person for so responsible a trust, seeing that he had been one of -the Irish legion at Castelfidardo, and was believed to be a captain in -the Fenian conspiracy. The patronage of the gaol appeared to be vested -in a body closely connected with the Dublin corporation. It is further -alleged that there were only three policemen employed in the prison, and -that while the barracks of Dublin were full of troops, there was no -guard to protect a building in which so many prisoners charged with -such serious offences were confined. There was a theory, which however -was not believed by the police, that Stephens was conveyed at once on -board a Cunard steamer, on his way to America, to relate to his brethren -there an account of the most brilliant achievement of the militant -branch of the order resident in Ireland. - -As may be imagined, the escape caused immense excitement all over the -three kingdoms. Indignant leading articles appeared in the chief English -newspapers, blaming the police, Government, and everybody concerned in -what was felt to be a most disastrous business. - -The Lord Lieutenant immediately caused the following proclamation to be -issued. - - -“A PROCLAMATION.” - -“WODEHOUSE. - - “Whereas, James Stephens, has been an acting member of a - treasonable conspiracy against the Queen’s authority in Ireland, - and has this morning escaped from the Richmond prison: - - “Now, we being determined to bring the said James Stephens to - justice, do hereby offer a reward of £1000 to any person or persons - who shall give such information as shall lead to the arrest of the - said James Stephens. - - “And we do hereby offer a further reward of £300 to any person or - persons who shall give such information as shall lead to the arrest - of any one whomsoever who has knowingly harboured, or received, or - concealed, or assisted, or aided in any way whatsoever in his - escape from arrest the said James Stephens. - - “And we do also hereby offer a free pardon, in addition to the - above-mentioned reward, to any person or persons concerned in the - escape of the said James Stephens, who shall give such information - as shall lead to his arrest as aforesaid. - - “Given at Her Majesty’s Castle of Dublin, this 24th day of - November, 1865. - -“By his Excellency’s command, - -“THOMAS A. LARCOM.” - - - -Mr. Stephens was only too successful in eluding the vigilance of the -police; for finding that he was an exception to the rest of their -leaders, whose chief characteristic appeared to be to utterly fail in -everything they undertook, the Fenians began to suspect that their -head-centre had betrayed them to the Government, who had let him off as -the price of his treachery; and this in spite of the declarations of the -warder Byrne, who, after his acquittal from want of proof, went to -America, and told the story of the escape; how Col. Kelly and friends -were outside, and received the prisoner after he had let him out. There -were so many believers in the “treachery” view of the question, that -Stephens was deposed from office, and has never since been held of the -least importance in connection with the movement. It is only fair to -state, however, that of late years there has been a growing belief, as -expressed in the columns of the so-called “National” press, among the -Fenians, that Mr. Stephens was most unjustly accused. After his escape -he spent a few months in Ireland, and then visited New York, from -whence, disgusted with his reception, he departed for Paris, where he -lived for several years in great poverty. A story is told of his meeting -with an English detective at the Paris Exhibition, which, if true, -would appear to show that he was at least innocent of the “betrayal of -his companions for gold,” as was alleged against him by his American -accusers. The detective officer in question was enjoying a few weeks’ -holiday in Paris, and being unable to speak French at the bar of one of -the refreshment rooms in the exhibition, got in dispute with a waiter. -After some time, he was helped out of the difficulty by a -shabbily-dressed but good-looking gentleman with a bald head. - -“Why, you are Mr. Stephens, I believe!” said the policeman, in some -amazement, when he had time to take a good look at his new friend. - -“Yes, I am indeed,” said the proprietor of the bald head, with a good -natured laugh; “and as one good turn deserves another, you shall stand a -dinner for old acquaintance sake; for to tell you the truth, I have not -been able to dine yet.” - -“Why, Mr. Stephens, they say you are doing remarkably well here,” said -the other with a knowing wink. - -“Ah! they do say so, but they are wrong. I was doing pretty well when I -was on here as interpreter, but your good friends in Scotland Yard have -got me out of that berth by their kind intercession on my behalf with -the French Government here; so make no more fuss about it, but stand -treat like a man;” which the correspondent of the respectable English -journal who related the story at the time was happy to inform his -readers the detective did. - -Mr. Stephens is said to be at the present time in Russia. - - - THE END. - - * * * * * - - Charles Scribner & Co., - - 654 Broadway, New York, - - HAVE JUST COMMENCED THE PUBLICATION OF - - The Illustrated Library of Wonders. - - -This Library is based upon a similar series of works now in course of -issue in France, the popularity of which may be inferred from the fact -that - -OVER ONE MILLION COPIES - -have been sold. The volumes to be comprised in the series are all -written in a popular style, and, where scientific subjects are treated -of, with careful accuracy, and with the purpose of embodying the latest -discoveries and inventions, and the results of the most recent -developments in every department of investigation. Familiar explanations -are given of the most striking phenomena in nature, and of the various -operations and processes in science and the arts. Occasionally notable -passages in history and remarkable adventures are described. The -different volumes are profusely illustrated with engravings, designed by -the most skilful artists, and executed in the most careful manner, and -every possible care will be taken to render them complete and reliable -expositions of the subjects upon which they respectively treat. For THE -FAMILY LIBRARY, for use as PRIZES in SCHOOLS, as an inexhaustible fund -of ANECDOTE and ILLUSTRATION for TEACHERS, and as works of instruction -and amusement for readers of all ages, the volumes comprising THE -ILLUSTRATED LIBRARY OF WONDERS will be found unexcelled. - -The following volumes of the series have been published:-- - - -Optical Wonders. - -THE WONDERS OF OPTICS.--By F. MARION. Illustrated with over seventy -engravings on wood, many of them full-page, and a colored frontispiece. -One volume, 12mo. Price - -$1 50 - - -_For specimen illustration see page 13._ - - In the _Wonders of Optics_, the phenomena of Vision, including the - structure of the eye, optical illusions, the illusions caused by - light itself, and the influence of the imagination, are explained. - These explanations are not at all abstract or scientific. Numerous - striking facts and events, many of which were once attributed to - supernatural causes, are narrated, and from them the laws in - accordance with which they were developed are derived. The closing - section of the book is devoted to Natural Magic, and the properties - of Mirrors, the Stereoscope, the Spectroscope, &c., &c., are fully - described, together with the methods by which “Chinese Shadows,” - Spectres, and numerous other illusions are produced. The book is - one which furnishes an almost illimitable fund of amusement and - instruction, and it is illustrated with no less than 73 finely - executed engravings, many of them full-page. - - -CRITICAL NOTICES. - - “The work has the merit of conveying much useful scientific - information in a popular manner."--_Phila. North American._ - - “Thoroughly admirable, and as an introduction to this science for - the general reader, leaves hardly anything to be desired."--_N. Y. - Evening Post._ - - “Treats in a charming, but scientific and exhaustive manner, the - wonderful subject of optics."--_Cleveland Leader._ - - “All the marvels of light and of optical illusions are made - clear."--_N. Y. Observer._ - - -Thunder and Lightning. - -THUNDER AND LIGHTNING. By W. DE FONVIELLE. Illustrated with 39 -Engravings on wood, nearly all full-page. One volume. 12mo - -$1 50 - - -_For specimen illustrations see page 14._ - - _Thunder and Lightning_, as its title indicates, deals with the - most startling phenomena of nature. The writings of the author, M. - De Fonvielle, have attracted very general attention in France, as - well on account of the happy manner in which he calls his readers’ - attention to certain facts heretofore treated in scientific works - only, as because of the statement of others often observed and - spoken of, over which he appears to throw quite a new light. The - different kinds of lightning--forked, globular, and sheet - lightning--are described; numerous instances of the effects - produced by this wonderful agency are very graphically narrated; - and thirty-nine engravings, nearly all full-page, illustrate the - text most effectively. The volume is certain to excite popular - interest, and to call the attention of persons unaccustomed to - observe to some of the wonderful phenomena which surround us in - this world. - - -CRITICAL NOTICES. - - “In the book before us the dryness of detail is avoided. The author - has given us all the scientific information necessary, and yet so - happily united interest with instruction that no person who has the - smallest particle of curiosity to investigate the subject treated - of can fail to be interested in it."--_N. Y. Herald._ - - “Any boy or girl who wants to read strange stories and see curious - pictures of the doings of electricity, had better get these - books."--_Our Young Folks._ - - “A volume which cannot fail to attract attention and awaken - interest in persons who have not been accustomed to give the - subject any thought."--_Daily Register (New Haven)._ - - -HEAT. - -THE WONDERS OF HEAT. By ACHILLE CAZIN. -With 90 illustrations, many of them full-page, and a colored -frontispiece. One volume, 12mo $1 50 - -_For specimen illustration see page 15._ - -In the _Wonders of Heat_ the principal phenomena are presented as viewed -from the standpoint afforded by recent discoveries. Burning-glasses, and -the remarkable effects produced by them, are described; the relations -between heat and electricity, between heat and cold, and the -comparative effects of each, are discussed; and incidentally, -interesting accounts are given of the mode of formation of glaciers, of -Montgolfier’s balloon, of Davy’s safety-lamp, of the methods of -glass-blowing, and of numerous other fact[]s in nature and processes -in art dependent upon the influence of heat. Like the other volumes of -the Library of Wonders, this is illustrated wherever the text gives an -opportunity for explanation by this method. - - -CRITICAL NOTICES. - - “From the first to the very last page the interest is - all-absorbing."--_Albany Evening Times._ - - “The book deserves, as it will doubtless attain, a wide - circulation."--_Pittsburg Chronicle._ - - “This book is instructive and clear."--_Independent._ - - “It describes and explains the wonders of heat in a manner to be - clearly understood by non-scientific readers."--_Phila. Inquirer._ - - -Animal Intelligence. - -THE INTELLIGENCE OF ANIMALS, WITH -ILLUSTRATIVE ANECDOTES.--From the French of ERNEST -MENAULT. With 54 illustrations. One volume, 12mo. $1 50 - -_For specimen illustration see page 16._ - -In this very interesting volume there are grouped together a great -number of facts and anecdotes collected from original sources, and -from the writings of the most eminent naturalists of all countries, -designed to illustrate the manifestations of intelligence in the animal -creation. Very many novel and curious facts regarding the habits of -Reptiles, Birds, and Beasts are narrated in the most charming style, and -in a way which is sure to excite the desire of every reader for wider -knowledge of one of the most fascinating subjects in the whole range -of natural history. The grace and skill displayed in the illustrations, -which are very numerous, make the volume singularly attractive. - -CRITICAL NOTICES. - - “May be recommended as very entertaining."--_London Athenæum._ - - “The stories are of real value to those who take any interest in - the curious habits of animals."--_Rochester Democrat._ - - -EGYPT. - -EGYPT 3,300 YEARS AGO; OR, RAMESES THE -GREAT. By F. DE LANOYE. With 40 illustrations. One -volume, 12mo. $1 50 - -_For specimen illustration see Page 17._ - -This volume is devoted to the wonders of Ancient Egypt during the time -of the Pharaohs and under Sesostris, the period of its greatest splendor -and magnificence. Her monuments, her palaces, her pyramids, and her -works of art are not only accurately described in the text, but -reproduced in a series of very attractive illustrations as they have -been restored by French explorers, aided by students of Egyptology. -While the volume has the attraction of being devoted to a subject -which possesses all the charms of novelty to the great number of -readers, it has the substantial merit of discussing, with intelligence -and careful accuracy, one of the greatest epochs in the world’s history. - - -FOOTNOTES: - - [A] Charles mistook the name, which was Whitgreave. He was thinking - of the field called Pitchcroft, near Worcester, where his army was - encamped the night before the memorable battle.--ED. - - [B] The floor of the lowest storey of the palace is only about 6 - metres (19½ feet) below the top of the roof. - - [C] The word cubit here evidently corresponds with the cordwainer’s - cubit. And if so the ladder measured 247 yards. But there never was - a ladder of this length. The longest are not more than 130, and the - strongest man cannot manœuvre such a one, nor even carry it. Supposing - the cubit here to mean the same as the Italian _braccio_, the ladder - would even then be 91 yards long, and it would have been difficult for - Cassanova to move such a ladder, as he relates. We must set it down to - exaggeration, and let him go on with his story. - - [D] Latude found all these things again on the 15th July, 1789--the - day after the capture of the Bastille. They were in the Archives with - a _procès-verbal_, dated the 27th February, 1756, and signed by the - major of the Bastille and the Commissary Rochebrune. - - -Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber: - -Duguay Tronin=> Duguay Trouin {pg iii} - -to Magdebourg to a hold a review=> to Magdebourg to hold a review {pg -146} - -but to out the whole door=> but to cut the whole door {pg 152} - -dressed, everything is well=> dressed, everthing is well {pg 256} - -wai-patiently=> wait patiently {pg 261} - -This man had suceeded=> This man had succeeded {pg 269} - -fastened by a handkerhief=> fastened by a handkerchief {pg 273} - -been making repretentations=> been making representations {pg 290} - -selling them that=> telling them that {pg 293} - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Wonderful Escapes, by Frédéric Bernard - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WONDERFUL ESCAPES *** - -***** This file should be named 52304-0.txt or 52304-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/3/0/52304/ - -Produced by deaurider, Chuck Greif and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Wonderful Escapes - -Author: Frédéric Bernard - -Translator: Richard Whiteing - -Release Date: June 11, 2016 [EBook #52304] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WONDERFUL ESCAPES *** - - - - -Produced by deaurider, Chuck Greif and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<p class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="319" height="500" -alt="Image unavailable: book's cover" /> -</p> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="" -style="border: 2px black solid;margin:auto auto;max-width:50%; -padding:1%;"> -<tr><td> -<p class="c"><a href="#CONTENTS">Contents.</a></p> -<p class="c">Some typographical errors have been corrected; -<a href="#transcrib">a list follows the text</a>.</p> - -<p class="c"><a href="#LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS">List of Illustrations</a><br /> <span class="nonvis">(In certain versions of this etext [in certain browsers] -clicking directly on the image, -will bring up a larger version.)</span></p> - -<p class="c">(etext transcriber's note)</p></td></tr> -</table> - -<p class="cb">WONDERFUL ESCAPES.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_i" id="page_i"></a>{i}</span> </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_ii" id="page_ii"></a>{ii}</span> </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_iii" id="page_iii"></a>{iii}</span> </p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_iv" id="page_iv"></a>{iv}</span> </p> - -<p><a name="front" id="front"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_frontispiece_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_frontispiece_sml.jpg" width="281" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: Osmond carrying off Duke Richard." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">Osmond carrying off Duke Richard.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_v" id="page_v">{v}</a></span></p> - -<h1> -<img src="images/wonderful.png" -width="500" -height="66" -alt="Wonderful Escapes" -/></h1> - -<p class="cb"><i>REVISED FROM THE FRENCH OF F. BERNARD<br /> -AND ORIGINAL CHAPTERS ADDED.</i><br /> -<br /> -<small>BY</small><br /> -<big>R I C H A R D W H I T E I N G.</big><br /> -<br /> -<span class="eng">With Twenty-six Plates.</span><br /> -<br /> -NEW YORK:<br /> -CHARLES SCRIBNER & CO.<br /> -1871.</p> - -<p class="cb"><big><span class="eng"> -Illustrated Library of Wonders.</span></big><br /> -<br /> -<small>PUBLISHED BY</small><br /> -<span class="eng">Messrs. Charles Scribner & Co.,</span><br /> -654 BROADWAY, NEW YORK.<br /> -</p> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> -<tr><td> </td><td>Each one volume 12mo.</td><td class="rt">Price per volume, $1.50.</td></tr> -<tr><td colspan="3"> </td></tr> -<tr><td colspan="3" class="c">————</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td><i>Titles of Books.</i></td><td class="rt"><i>No. of Illustrations</i></td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Thunder and Lightning</span>,</td><td class="rt">39</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Wonders of Optics</span>,</td><td class="rt">70</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Wonders of Heat</span>,</td><td class="rt">90</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Intelligence of Animals</span>,</td><td class="rt">54</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Great Hunts</span>,</td><td class="rt">22</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Egypt 3,300 Years Ago</span>,</td><td class="rt">40</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Wonders of Pompeii</span>,</td><td class="rt">22</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">The Sun</span>, <span class="smcap">by A. Guillemin</span>,</td><td class="rt">53</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Sublime in Nature</span>,</td><td class="rt">50</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Wonders of Glass Making</span>,</td><td class="rt">63</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Wonders of Italian Art</span>,</td><td class="rt">28</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Wonders of the Human Body</span>,</td><td class="rt">45</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Wonders of Architecture</span>,</td><td class="rt">50</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Lighthouses and Lightships</span>,</td><td class="rt">60</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Bottom of the Ocean</span>,</td><td class="rt">68</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Wonders of Bodily Strength and Skill</span>,</td><td class="rt">70</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Wonderful Balloon Ascents</span>,</td><td class="rt">30</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Acoustics</span>,</td><td class="rt">114</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Wonders of the Heavens</span>,</td><td class="rt">48</td></tr> -<tr><td>*</td><td> <span class="smcap">The Moon</span>, <span class="smcap">by A. Guillemin</span>,</td><td class="rt">60</td></tr> -<tr><td>*</td><td> <span class="smcap">Wonders of Sculpture</span>,</td><td class="rt">61</td></tr> -<tr><td>*</td><td> <span class="smcap">Wonders of Engraving</span>,</td><td class="rt">32</td></tr> -<tr><td>*</td><td> <span class="smcap">Wonders of Vegetation</span>,</td><td class="rt">45</td></tr> -<tr><td>*</td><td> <span class="smcap">Wonders of the Invisible World</span>,</td><td class="rt">97</td></tr> -<tr><td> </td><td> <span class="smcap">Celebrated Escapes</span>,</td><td class="rt">26</td></tr> -<tr><td>*</td><td> <span class="smcap">Water</span>,</td><td class="rt">77</td></tr> -<tr><td>*</td><td> <span class="smcap">Hydraulics</span>,</td><td class="rt">40</td></tr> -<tr><td>*</td><td> <span class="smcap">Electricity</span>,</td><td class="rt">71</td></tr> -<tr><td>*</td><td> <span class="smcap">Subterranean World</span>,</td><td class="rt">27</td></tr> -</table> -<p class="c">* In Press for early Publication.</p> - -<p class="c"><i>The above works sent to any address, post paid, upon receipt of the -price by the publishers.</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_vii" id="page_vii"></a>{vii}</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> - -<tr><td> </td><td class="rt"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#ARISTOMENES_THE_MESSENIAN">Aristomenes the Messenian</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_001">1</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#HEGESISTRATUS">Hegesistratus</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_002">2</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#DEMETRIUS_SOTER">Demetrius Soter</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_004">4</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#MARIUS">Marius</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_006">6</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#ATTALUS">Attalus</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_010">10</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#RICHARD_DUKE_OF_NORMANDY">Richard, Duke of Normandy</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_015">15</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#LOUIS_II_COUNT_OF_FLANDERS">Louis II., Count of Flanders</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_017">17</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#THE_DUKE_OF_ALBANY">The Duke of Albany</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_019">19</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#JAMES_V_KING_OF_SCOTLAND">James V., King of Scotland</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_022">22</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#SECUNDUS_CURION">Secundus Curion</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_025">25</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#BENVENUTO_CELLINI">Benvenuto Cellini</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_026">26</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#MARY_QUEEN_OF_SCOTS">Mary, Queen of Scots</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_041">41</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#CAUMONT_DE_LA_FORCE">Caumont de la Force</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_045">45</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#CHARLES_DE_GUISE">Charles de Guise</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_054">54</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#MARY_DE_MEDICIS">Mary de Medicis</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_056">56</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#GROTIUS">Grotius</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_060">60</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#ISAAC_ARNAULD">Isaac Arnauld</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_063">63</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#THE_DUKE_OF_BEAUFORT">The Duke of Beaufort</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_065">65</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#CARDINAL_DE_RETZ">Cardinal de Retz</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_069">69</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#QUIQUERAN_DE_BEAUJEU">Quiquéran de Beaujeu</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_076">76</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#CHARLES_II">Charles II.</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_078">78</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#BLANCHE_GAMOND">Blanche Gamond</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_090">90</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#JEAN_BART_AND_THE_CHEVALIER_DE_FORBIN">Jean Bart and the Chevalier de Forbin</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_096">96</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#DUGUAY-TROUIN">Duguay Trouin</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_099">99</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#THE_ABBE_COUNT_DE_BUCQUOY">The Abbé Count de Bucquoy</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_101">101</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#JACOBITE_INSURRECTIONISTS">Jacobite Insurrectionists</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_108">108</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#CHARLES_EDWARD">Charles Edward</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_111">111</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#STANISLAUS_LECZINSKI">Stanislaus Leczinski</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_118">118</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#BARON_TRENCK">Baron Trenck</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_122">122</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#CASSANOVA_DE_SEINGALT">Cassanova de Seingalt</a><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_viii" id="page_viii"></a>{viii}</span></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_160">160</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#LATUDE">Latude</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_214">214</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#BENIOWSKI">Beniowski</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_229">229</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#ESCAPE_OF_TWELVE_PRIESTS_SAVED_BY_GEOFFROY_ST_HILAIRE">Twelve Priests saved by Geoffroy St. Hilaire</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_236">236</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#DE_CHATEAUBRUN">De Chateaubrun</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_238">238</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#SYDNEY_SMITH">Sydney Smith</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_239">239</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#PICHEGRU_RAMEL_BARTHELEMY_DELARUE_ETC">Pichegru, Ramel, Barthelemy, etc.</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_241">241</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#COLONEL_DE_RICHEMONT">Colonel de Richemont</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_248">248</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#CAPTAIN_GRIVEL">Captain Grivel</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_254">254</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#LAVALETTE">Lavalette</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_255">255</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#GIOVANNI_ARRIVABENE_UGONI_AND_SCALVINI">Giovanni Arrivabene, Ugoni, and Scalvini</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_262">262</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#MARRAST_GUINARD_GODEFROI_CAVAIGNAC_AND_OTHER_POLITICAL_PRISONERS">Political Prisoners, 1834</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_265">265</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#MONSIEUR_RUFIN_PIOTROWSKI">Monsieur Rufin Piotrowski</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_267">267</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#ESCAPE_OF_PRINCE_LOUIS_NAPOLEON_FROM_THE_FORTRESS_OF_HAM">Prince Louis Napoleon</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_284">284</a></td></tr> -<tr><td valign="top"><a href="#THE_CAPTURE_AND_ESCAPE_OF_THE_FENIAN_HEAD_CENTRE_JAMES_STEPHENS">James Stephens</a></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_298">298</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_ix" id="page_ix">{ix}</a></span></p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS" id="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS"></a>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary=""> - -<tr><td colspan="2"> </td><td class="rt"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_I">I.</a></td><td> They came at last to an opening,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_002">2</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_II">II.</a></td><td> Marius sent away from Minturnæ,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_010">10</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_III">III.</a></td><td> I then tore them up into long bands,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_029">29</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_IV">IV.</a></td><td> Cellini attacked by the dogs,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_036">36</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_V">V.</a></td><td> Escape of Mary, Queen of Scots, from Loch Leven Castle,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_044">44</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_VI">VI.</a></td><td> “Hush!” said the man, “keep quiet, they are still there,”</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_048">48</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_VII">VII.</a></td><td> She lifted the lid of the chest, and her master leaped out safe and sound,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_062">62</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_VIII">VIII.</a></td><td> He let himself drop into the sea,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_078">78</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_IX">IX.</a></td><td> They grew very angry at my rudeness,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_088">88</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_X">X.</a></td><td> I was obliged to support myself with one arm,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_092">92</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_XI">XI.</a></td><td> My foot got stuck, and the sentinel seized it,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_127">127</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_XII">XII.</a></td><td> Trenck escaping with Lieutenant Schell,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_138">138</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_XIII">XIII.</a></td><td> The first grenadier I knocked down,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_155">155</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_XIV">XIV.</a></td><td> I heard the sound of a door being unbolted,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_174">174</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_XV">XV.</a></td><td> I told him to be very careful not to spill the sauce,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_186">186</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_XVI">XVI.</a></td><td> Balbi rolled down into my arms,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_x" id="page_x"></a>{x}</span></td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_197">197</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_XVII">XVII.</a></td><td> The monk clung to my waistband,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_202">202</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_XVIII">XVIII.</a></td><td> I told him I was going to bury him,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_213">213</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_XIX">XIX.</a></td><td> I saw on the parapet the soldiers of the grand round,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_224">224</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_XX">XX.</a></td><td> Stop, thief!</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_228">228</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_XXI">XXI.</a></td><td> The woodman pulled out a knife and did so,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_239">239</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_XXII">XXII.</a></td><td> He affected great surprise,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_241">241</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_XXIII">XXIII.</a></td><td> I held my handkerchief to my eyes,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_258">258</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_XXIV">XXIV.</a></td><td> They fell exhausted to the ground,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_264">264</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#ill_XXV">XXV.</a></td><td> The sight of the seal was sufficient,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#page_278">278</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="rt" valign="top"><a href="#front">XXVI.</a></td><td> Osmond carrying off Duke Richard,</td><td class="rt" valign="bottom"><a href="#front"><i>Frontispiece</i>.</a></td></tr> - -</table> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_001" id="page_001">{1}</a></span> </p> - -<h1>WONDERFUL ESCAPES.</h1> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="ARISTOMENES_THE_MESSENIAN" id="ARISTOMENES_THE_MESSENIAN"></a><i>ARISTOMENES THE MESSENIAN.</i><br /><br /> -<small>ABOUT 684 B.C.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Aristomenes</span>, the Messenian general, fighting at the head of his troops -against very superior numbers of the Lacedemonians, commanded by the two -kings of Sparta, received a severe blow on the head from a stone, and -fell insensible and to all appearance dead. He was taken prisoner, with -fifty of his soldiers, and dragged to Sparta, where the Lacedemonians -condemned them all to be thrown into the Cœada, a hideous gulf formed -by a fissure in the earth, in whose depths already lay the bones of -hundreds of criminals who had been put to death. The barbarous sentence -was actually carried out; and Aristomenes, with all his surviving -soldiers, was hurled into the gulf. The latter perished to a man in the -fall; but their general, on this as on so many other occasions, was -saved—as the historian Pausanias has it, by the favour of a god. The -most enthusiastic chroniclers of his exploits say that an eagle flying -towards him sustained his body on its extended wings, and thus bore him -unharmed to the bottom of the ravine. A happy chance revealed to him a -means of egress from this dismal prison. When he reached the bottom, he -lay for some time on the ground, wrapped in his mantle, and in momentary -expectation of death. He scarcely stirred from this position for two<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_002" id="page_002"></a>{2}</span> -days; on the third day of his entombment, however, he heard a noise, and -uncovering his face, saw a fox creeping along in the gloom towards a -heap of corpses. Judging from this that there must be an opening in the -ravine, he waited until the animal approached him, and then seized its -leg with one hand, thrust his mantle into its mouth with the other when -it turned to bite, and suffered himself to be dragged through the -passages of his subterranean prison. They came at last to an opening -just large enough to give a passage to the fox and to admit a feeble ray -of light into the cavern. The animal bounded forward into the daylight, -and disappeared as soon as Aristomenes let go his hold, leaving the -captive general to follow after he had enlarged the opening with his -hands. This escape of Aristomenes was considered a manifest proof of the -favour and protection of the gods. (<i>Pausanias: Description of Greece</i>, -bk. iv., ch. xviii.)</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="HEGESISTRATUS" id="HEGESISTRATUS"></a><i>HEGESISTRATUS.</i><br /><br /> -<small>ABOUT 475 B.C.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Mardonias</span> had for an augur, according to the Greek rites, Hegesistratus -of Elea. This man, at one time, was in the power of the Spartans, to -whom he had wrought very great harm, and he lay heavily ironed in -prison, and condemned to death. In this extremity, knowing that he had -to expect, not only to lose his life, but to suffer the most frightful -tortures before his execution, he performed an incredible exploit. He -was fastened to a heavy wooden fetter bound with iron, and by the aid of -a scrap of the same metal which he found by accident in his prison, he -accomplished the</p> - -<p><a name="ill_I" id="ill_I"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p002a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p002a_sml.jpg" width="282" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: They came at last to an opening." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">They came at last to an opening.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_003" id="page_003"></a>{3}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">most courageous action ever recorded; for, having carefully measured off -as much of his foot as he could manage to drag out of the fetters, he -cut it away from the rest by the tarsal bone. He then contrived, -although the prison was strictly guarded, to pick a hole in the wall of -his dungeon, and escape to Tegea, walking, or rather hobbling along, by -night, and hiding during the day. He arrived at Tegea on the third -night, after eluding all the vigilance of the Lacedemonians, who had, -indeed, been struck with almost ludicrous astonishment when they found -only the half of the man’s foot in their safe keeping and the owner -gone. As soon as Hegesistratus was cured, he provided himself with a -wooden foot, and became the declared enemy of the Lacedemonians. His -hatred of them was about equalled by his love of gain; and he was -enabled to gratify both passions by sacrificing, and by drawing -divinations for the Persians at the battle of Platea, for which he was -most liberally paid by Mardonius. But his enmity to the Spartans brought -him to a bad end, for he was captured by them at Zacynthus, where he was -following his trade of divination, and put to death. (<i>Herodotus</i>, bk. -ix., § xxxvii.)</p> - -<p>In the time of Herodotus, the term “tarsus” was applied, not only to -that part of the foot so designated by modern anatomists, but also to -that immediately above the toes. It would even seem to follow, from a -passage in Hippocrates, that the term tarsus was employed specially to -designate those portions now called metatarsal, and to the second row of -the bones of the tarsus, from which he distinguishes those in direct -communication with the leg. From the text of Herodotus, however, it is -sufficiently clear that Hegesistratus cut off his foot at the part where -the tarsus and metatarsus join.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_004" id="page_004"></a>{4}</span></p> - -<p>It would at first seem incredible that a man could have the resolution -to mutilate himself in this way, and, above all, to do subsequently what -is here recorded by the Greek author; but facts certainly as -extraordinary have been observed among the North American Indians. It is -but rarely, however, that among stories of the kind we have collected, -even though they may be taken from the gravest historians, some details -are not found open to at least the suspicion of exaggeration. We give -the name of our authority: the reader must take the story for what it is -worth.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="DEMETRIUS_SOTER" id="DEMETRIUS_SOTER"></a><i>DEMETRIUS SOTER.</i><br /><br /> -<small>162 B.C.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Demetrius</span> had been sent to Rome as a hostage by his father, Seleucus -Philopater. Antiochus having afterwards assassinated Seleucus, and made -himself King of Syria, Demetrius asked the Senate to restore him his -liberty and his throne. But, according to Polybius, although the -senators were touched by the words of the young prince, they thought it -more to the interest of the Republic to detain him in Rome, and to -recognise the son of Antiochus.</p> - -<p>Some time after, Demetrius wished to renew his appeal to the Senate, and -he consulted Polybius, who tried to dissuade him from it: “Do not,” said -the historian, “bruise yourself a second time against the same stone. -Believe in yourself and in yourself alone, and prove by your own -boldness that you deserve to be king.”</p> - -<p>The prince, expecting no doubt advice more in harmony with his -intentions, did not follow the counsel of Polybius till he was taught -the value of it by a second refusal from<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_005" id="page_005"></a>{5}</span> the Senate; and then he -prepared for flight. Diodorus, who had educated him, arrived very -opportunely at that moment from Syria, and assured him that if he were -to present himself to his people with but one attendant at his back he -would be immediately proclaimed king.</p> - -<p>Polybius, Diodorus, and some other friends of the young prince, devoted -themselves to his service. They bought a Carthaginian ship lying at the -mouth of the Tiber, without much hindrance it would seem from the -vigilance of the authorities; for the sale and all the arrangements, -including the settlement of the very hour of departure, were effected -with the utmost publicity. When the time came Demetrius assembled his -friends around him, a limited number of them only being in the secret, -and standing pledged to embark with their slaves at a given signal. -Polybius was ill, and could not leave his house, but he became -apprehensive lest the young man should abandon himself to the pleasures -of the table, and forget the hour fixed for his setting out. He -therefore sent a slave to him towards nightfall, with orders to approach -him as though on business of importance, and to place a letter in his -hand reminding him of his duty. Demetrius read the letter, invented a -pretext for withdrawing from the table, and returned with his confidants -to his own house, whence he sent away his servants to Anagnia with -orders to get everything in readiness for a boar hunt on the next day -but one—this being his favourite sport, and the one which had first -brought him into contact with Polybius. His friends also gave the same -orders to their slaves, and in due time all the confederates assembled -at Ostia. Demetrius still pretended that he meant to stay at Rome, and -that he was merely sending out some trusted friends of his own age with -instructions to his brother. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_006" id="page_006"></a>{6}</span> captain of the ship, for his part, was -not disposed to be too particular in his inquiries about anything except -the money for the voyage; and towards night Demetrius and his companions -quietly embarked. At daybreak the anchors were raised, the vessel stood -out to sea, and the fugitives were free. (<i>Polybius</i>, bk. xxxi., frag. -xii.)</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="MARIUS" id="MARIUS"></a>MARIUS.<br /><br /> -<small>85 B.C.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">When</span> Marius felt himself menaced by Sylla’s march on Rome he tried to -raise the slaves in his favour, but on the failure of the attempt, he -took to flight, knowing that he had no mercy to expect from his rival, -whose friends he had so remorselessly slain. He had hardly left the city -when his attendants dispersed, and he was obliged to seek refuge alone -at Solonium, one of his country retreats. From this place he sent his -son to collect food in the grounds of his father-in-law, Mucius, which -were not far off. The hunted man at the same time hurried away to Ostia, -and without waiting for his son’s return, embarked with his son-in-law, -Granius, in a vessel kept in readiness for him by Numerius, one of his -friends. The young Marius had meanwhile got a store of provisions; but -at daybreak he was alarmed by the approach of the horsemen of Sylla, -whose suspicions had led them to the place. They were seen, however, at -a distance by Mucius’s faithful steward, who hid the youth in a cart -laden with beans, and harnessing his oxen to it, pushed boldly on before -the horsemen into the city. The fugitive was then conveyed to his wife’s -house, where he waited till nightfall, and then took ship, and reached -Africa in safety.</p> - -<p>The elder Marius had weighed anchor, and was carried<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_007" id="page_007"></a>{7}</span> along the coasts -of Italy by a favourable wind; but he ordered the sailors to stand off -from Terracina, because he feared his enemy Geminius, one of the -principal inhabitants of that place. They were in the act of obeying him -when a gale began to blow, which soon swelled to such a furious tempest -that it seemed impossible for the boat to live. This, joined to the -illness of Marius, who was prostrated by sea-sickness, obliged them to -make for the coast of Circæi, where they landed with great difficulty.</p> - -<p>They were scarcely a league from Minturnæ when they saw a troop of -horsemen approaching, and quite by chance perceived a couple of barks -afloat. They at once turned in terror from the horsemen, and plunged -into the sea to swim to the barks. Granius easily reached one of the -boats and made for the island of Enaria, situated opposite to this point -of the coast; but Marius, who was then seventy years of age, was dragged -with great difficulty towards the other by two slaves, and had hardly -been placed in it when his pursuers reached the bank and ordered the -sailors to row him ashore, or else to throw him overboard and go -wherever they pleased without him. Marius had recourse to supplications -and to tears, and his companions, after hesitating a little while, -refused to abandon him. But his enraged pursuers had hardly left the -shore when the sailors again changed their minds and steered towards the -land. They cast anchor at the mouth of the Liris (the Garigliano), the -waters of which formed a marsh, and they urged Marius to land in order -to take some nourishment and recover from his sea-sickness and to await -a more favourable wind. He confided in them and followed their advice; -and when they had put him ashore he hid himself in a meadow, little -thinking of what was to follow, for he had hardly left the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_008" id="page_008"></a>{8}</span> vessel when -they weighed anchor again and left the place, as though thinking it -would neither be honest in them to deliver him to his enemies, nor safe -to try to save his life.</p> - -<p>Left thus alone and abandoned by all, Marius for a time lay stretched -upon the shore, without the power to rise or to utter a single word; but -at length, lifting himself up with difficulty, he began to totter -painfully along a pathless waste of land. After crossing several deep -marshes he came by chance to the cottage of an old labouring man, and -falling at his feet he besought him to save one who, if he escaped from -his present dangers, would have it in his power to bestow an unhoped-for -recompense upon his deliverer. The old man, either knowing him or -detecting something of his real importance in his bearing, replied that -if he wished for rest he might find it in the cottage, but if he sought -for safety from his enemies he would hide him in a more secret place. -Marius begged him to do so, and the peasant, leading him into the marsh, -told him to crouch in a hole on the bank of a river, and covered him up -with reeds and other light things, which effectually concealed him, -without oppressing him with their weight.</p> - -<p>He had not lain there long when he heard a slight uproar and the sound -of voices coming from the cottage. Geminius of Terracina had, in fact, -sent a number of people in pursuit of him, and some of them, who had -penetrated to that place, were trying to frighten the old man by -charging him with having harboured the enemy of Rome. Marius then -foolishly revealed himself by crawling out of his hiding-place and -plunging naked into the filthy waters of the marsh, where he was at once -seen by his pursuers. They dragged him out half suffocated and covered -with mud, and took him to Minturnæ, where the magistrates thought it<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_009" id="page_009"></a>{9}</span> -prudent to deliberate on his fate, although the decree ordering his -pursuit and immediate execution when captured had been published in all -the cities. They decided at last on placing him for safe custody in the -house of a woman named Fannia, whom he had formerly injured, and who, it -was thought, would be very evilly disposed towards him. Fannia, however, -on this occasion showed him no animosity; indeed, the sight of her -supposed enemy did not appear to recall one bitter feeling to her mind, -for she placed food before him and exhorted him to take courage. He told -her he had just seen a favourable omen and was full of confidence, and -ordered her to close the door of his chamber, as he wished for repose.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, the authorities of Minturnæ had decided that he should be put -to death without delay, but not one citizen could be found to undertake -his execution. At length a horse-soldier—a Gaul according to some, and -according to others a Cimbrian—took a sword and entered the woman’s -dwelling. The room in which the captive lay was very badly lit, and was -indeed in almost total darkness; and the Cimbrian (so runs the story) -thought he saw two fierce eyes darting flames, and heard a terrible -voice calling to him out of the gloom, “Wretch! darest thou slay Caius -Marius?” At all events, he at once threw down his sword in terror and -ran away, exclaiming, as he leaped headlong over the threshold, “No, I -dare not kill Caius Marius.” The whole city was seized with -astonishment, and then with pity and repentance, and the people -reproached themselves for their cruel and ungrateful resolution against -a man who had saved Italy, and whom it had once been a crime to refuse -to aid. “Let him go where he will to meet his destiny,” they said; “and, -for our part, let us supplicate the gods to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_010" id="page_010"></a>{10}</span> pardon us for having cast -him out naked and helpless from our midst.”</p> - -<p>A number of the citizens then went to Fannia’s house, and forming in -procession before the proscribed man led him to the sea. As each had -some useful thing to present to him for his journey, he lost some time -in receiving and acknowledging their attention, and this delay -threatened to be further prolonged by the fact that the sacred grove, -called Marica, lay in the way of their direct passage to the shore. An -old man, however, had the courage to enter the wood, observing that -where the safety of Marius was concerned there should be no forbidden -path, and the rest followed his example. On reaching the shore Marius -found a ship ready to receive him, which had been thoroughly equipped -and provisioned for his service by a citizen named Beleus. In this -manner he made his escape.</p> - -<p>He afterwards ordered all these incidents to be made the subject of a -grand picture, which he placed as an offering in the temple standing -near the place of his embarkation.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="ATTALUS" id="ATTALUS"></a><i>ATTALUS.</i><br /><br /> -<small>SIXTH CENTURY.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Theodoric</span> and Childebert entered into an alliance, took oath not to -march against one another, and mutually received hostages for the better -observance of the terms of their treaty. Among these hostages were many -of the sons of senators, who, when the kings unfortunately began to -quarrel again, were reduced to servitude, and became the slaves of those -in whose guardianship they had been placed. Many of them, however, -contrived to escape, and but a few</p> - -<p><a name="ill_II" id="ill_II"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p010a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p010a_sml.jpg" width="284" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: Marius sent away from Minturnæ." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">Marius sent away from Minturnæ.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_011" id="page_011"></a>{11}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">were kept in servitude for any length of time. Among the latter was -Attalus, nephew of Gregory, Bishop of Langres. He had been sold as a -slave to the State, and had been employed in the care of horses under a -certain barbarian in the district of Treves. Some servants of Bishop -Gregory, who had been sent in search of the youth, and had discovered -his whereabouts, tried to buy his freedom from the barbarian; but he -refused their modest offerings, on the ground that a person so -illustrious as his captive ought to pay at least ten pounds’ weight of -gold for his ransom. On the return of these emissaries, one of them -named Leon, employed in the bishop’s kitchen, said to his master, “God -grant that your lordship give me permission to make the attempt, and -perhaps I shall be able to redeem Attalus yet.”</p> - -<p>The bishop consented, and Leon set out for Treves. He tried at first to -get the young man away secretly, but this was impossible. He then -deliberately caused himself to be sold to the barbarian, offering the -price of the transaction as a reward to the man who had pretended to be -his owner. The buyer asked what the new slave could do. “I am a very -clever cook,” replied Leon; “I can serve everything fit for the table of -a great lord; and I don’t believe that my equal in this science is to be -found anywhere. I dare venture to say that if my master wanted to -entertain the king, he could not do better than order me to invent him a -right royal feast.”</p> - -<p>“Sunday is coming,” said the barbarian, “and on that day I am going to -invite my friends and relations. I want you to prepare a banquet for me -which will excite their admiration.”</p> - -<p>The Sunday came, and the new slave served one of his choicest repasts, -which so pleased his master that he at<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_012" id="page_012"></a>{12}</span> once took him into high favour, -and made him almost the second person in the household. At the end of -about a year he was so trusted that he was enabled one day, without -exciting suspicion, to walk after Attalus into a meadow near the house, -and to begin a conversation with him, though they took the precaution of -sitting back to back and at some distance from one another. “It is -time,” said Leon to the young man, “that we began to think of our -country; and I have come to you to give you warning not to go to sleep -to-night after you have put up your horses, but to be ready to leave -this place the moment you hear me call.”</p> - -<p>The barbarian was in the meanwhile feasting at his own table with a -number of his relations and a son-in-law, to whom he wished to do -especial honour. As they left the table at midnight to go to bed, Leon -followed this son-in-law to his apartment, and presented him with a cup -of wine.</p> - -<p>“You are very high in the confidence of my father-in-law,” said the -son-in-law, jocularly; “but, suppose you had the power, when would you -have the will to jump on the back of one of his horses, and make a dash -for your own country?”</p> - -<p>“I hope to do it to-night, please God,” said Leon, adopting the same -tone of pleasantry, with great self-possession.</p> - -<p>“Then, please God too,” returned the other, laughing, “my servants will -keep a sharp look out, for I must see that you don’t take away any -property of mine;” and they left one another in this pleasant way.</p> - -<p>When the whole household was asleep, Leon softly called Attalus, whose -horses were ready saddled, and asked him if he had a sword. “I have -nothing but a small spear,” said Attalus.</p> - -<p>Leon went straight into his master’s room, and took down his sword and -buckler, not without awakening him, however,<span class="pagenum"> -<a name="page_013" id="page_013"></a>{13}</span> for he called out to know -who was there. “Only Leon,” replied the slave; “I am going to wake -Attalus, to make sure of his being up in time to take the horses to -grass, for he is as sound asleep as a drunken man.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! is that all?” murmured the master; “very well,” and he turned over -and went to sleep again.</p> - -<p>Leon stole out, and gave the weapons to the young man; and, by nothing -less than a miracle, found the doors of the court-yard open, though they -had been closed at nightfall, with heavy iron wedges, for the better -security of the horses. They both gave thanks to God, and at once made -off, taking with them all the horses, and their few personal effects as -slaves. But at Moselle they were obliged to leave both horses and -effects behind for fear of awakening the suspicion of some persons they -overtook there; and once rid of these encumbrances, they easily gained -the opposite bank of the river by floating over on their bucklers. The -darkness favoured them; and they soon found shelter and concealment in a -forest. They stayed there till they had been three whole days and nights -without tasting food, till at length, by the special favour of -Providence, they found a plum-tree, the fruit of which served to satisfy -their more pressing and immediate wants. They then started with renewed -strength on their journey, and took the road to Champagne. They had not -gone far when they heard the sound of hoofs, and they hastily hid -themselves in a thicket of brier, taking care, however, to draw their -swords, so as to be ready to defend themselves in the last extremity. A -moment after a number of horsemen drew up at the thicket, and one of -them was heard to say, “Why cannot we find these wretches? I swear if I -came across them, I would hang the one and hack the other in pieces with -my sword.” It was the voice of the barbarian, their<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_014" id="page_014"></a>{14}</span> master, who had -ridden from Rheims in search of them, and who would certainly have found -them on the way if the darkness had not been in their favour. The troop -then pushed forward again, and the sound of their hoofs was soon lost in -the distance.</p> - -<p>The two fugitives resumed their journey, reached Rheims at nightfall, -and asked the first person they met in the city the way to the house of -the priest Pantellus. It was Sunday, and as they went through the great -square on their way to the house, the bell sounded for matins. When they -entered the priest’s dwelling, Leon disclosed to the good man the name -and rank of Attalus. “My dream is made out,” said the overjoyed father; -“for this very night in my sleep I saw two doves fly towards my -threshold, and perch upon my hand, and one of them was a white one and -the other black.” (The reader will bear in mind that Leon was a negro). -“God forgive us,” replied the slave, “for not paying due observance to -his holy day.” (On Sunday no one took nourishment till after mass.) “But -we entreat you give us something to eat, for this is the fourth time we -have seen the sun rise without breaking our fast.”</p> - -<p>The priest hid the two young men, gave them some bread steeped in wine, -and went to matins.</p> - -<p>The barbarian, by-and-by, appeared on the scene, still in hot and eager -pursuit of his slaves; but he had to go away again without them, for the -priest deliberately put him on a wrong scent, out of his great -friendship for Bishop Gregory. They then sat down to the uninterrupted -enjoyment of a good meal; and they remained two days with the good -priest until they had quite recruited their strength, and were enabled -to pursue their journey towards their own home,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_015" id="page_015"></a>{15}</span> which they reached -without any further trouble. The bishop, transported with joy at the -sight of them, fell weeping on the neck of Attalus: and as a special -mark of his gratitude to the preserver of his nephew, he gave Leon and -all his family their freedom, with as much land as sufficed for their -subsistence for the rest of their days. (<i>Histoire Ecclésiastique des -Francs</i>, bk. iii., ch. xv., translated by M. Henri Bordier.)</p> - -<p>Attalus afterwards became Count of Autun.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="RICHARD_DUKE_OF_NORMANDY" id="RICHARD_DUKE_OF_NORMANDY"></a><i>RICHARD, DUKE OF NORMANDY.</i><br /><br /> -<small>TENTH CENTURY.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">After</span> the assassination of William Longsword, Duke of Normandy, near -Pecquigny, on the Somme, his infant son Richard was called to the -succession. Louis d’Outre-Mer, who had fixed his eyes on the throne, -contrived to get the young prince in his power, and to have him sent to -Laon, under pretence of giving him an education suited to his rank. The -arch-plotter placed the child under the most rigorous espionage, and -treated him with great cruelty. He even threatened to hamstring his -innocent victim by fire, a frightful torture which the policy of the -Middle Ages did not disdain to use as a means for depriving princes of -their thrones.</p> - -<p>The young prince’s steward, Osmond, hearing of the king’s determination, -and foreseeing the terrible lot in store for the child, sent messengers -to apprise the Normans of the perilous position of their lord. The news -excited the utmost anxiety and alarm throughout all Normandy; and during -a three days’ fast of the entire people, the clergy prayed continually -for the safety of the captive. Osmond, meanwhile,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_016" id="page_016"></a>{16}</span> by the advice of -Yvon, the father of William de Belesme, found an opportunity to advise -the young prince to pretend to be very ill, and to take to his bed as if -he never hoped to rise from it again. The child, understanding the -object of his steward’s instructions, showed great intelligence in -following them, and stretched himself at full length on his bed, to all -appearance at the point of death. This naturally had the effect of -making his guardians less vigilant, and they soon began to neglect their -charge of the seeming invalid to look after their own affairs. When -Osmond judged that the fitting moment had arrived, he went into the -courtyard of the prince’s house, and, putting the child in a bundle of -grass which he found there, hoisted him on his shoulders as if he were -going to carry fodder to his horse, and scaled the walls of the city -while the king sat at supper and the streets were almost deserted. He -then took horse, and in due time arrived at Conci, where he placed the -child in the care of the governor, himself pushing forward, till he -reached Senlis by the break of day. Count Bernard showed some surprise -at the sight of him, and made many eager inquiries about the safety of -the child; and when he had received a full account of all that had been -done, he rode away with the brave steward to ask help of Hugo the Great. -The appeal was not in vain. Hugo remembered an oath by which he had -engaged to protect the prince, and sent a large army to Conci, whence -the fugitive was conducted in state to Senlis, to the great joy of the -entire people. (<i>Guillaume de Jumièges: Histoire des Normands</i>, bk. iv., -ch. iv.)<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_017" id="page_017"></a>{17}</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="LOUIS_II_COUNT_OF_FLANDERS" id="LOUIS_II_COUNT_OF_FLANDERS"></a><i>LOUIS II., COUNT OF FLANDERS.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1347.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">When</span> Louis II., Count of Flanders, had succeeded his father, Louis I., -in 1346, at the age of sixteen years, the Flemings wished him to marry -Isabella, daughter of the King of England, while Duke John of Brabant -and Philip VI. of Valois, King of France, had come to an understanding -to unite the young count to the daughter of Duke John. Louis II., on his -part, refused the marriage which his subjects wished to force on him, -“Being,” says Froissart, “unwilling to marry the daughter of the man who -had murdered his father, even if she brought him half the kingdom of -England for her portion.” “When the Flemings heard that,” the old -chronicler continues, “they said their lord was too much of a Frenchman, -and was badly advised, and that he would not do for them at all if he -did not mean to take their counsel. So they laid hands upon him, though -with all courtesy and tenderness, and put him into prison, telling him -he must remain there until he saw fit to do as they wished.</p> - -<p>“The young count was shut up by his subjects a long while, and he even -began to be in some danger, for his firmness provoked them. At last, -however, he gave way, or pretended to do so, and told those about him -that he would do as his people wished, since they were dearer to him -than any other. This rejoiced the Flemings mightily, and they at once -softened the excessive rigours of his captivity. They allowed him to -extend his walks as far as the river, to his great joy though he was -still attended by guards, who had orders never to leave him a moment out -of their sight. When this had lasted a pretty long while, the young -count seemed to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_018" id="page_018"></a>{18}</span> yield absolutely, and told the Flemings that he was now -quite willing to marry the lady of their choice. They ran in great haste -with the news to the King and Queen of England, who were before Calais, -and signified to their majesties that if they would take their daughter -to the abbey of Bergues, the young count should be there to meet her, -and the preliminaries to the marriage should be at once concluded. This -arrangement was actually carried out; the young people were betrothed at -the abbey, and the Flemings once more took the count back to his prison -for safe keeping until the marriage.</p> - -<p>“The count,” continues Froissart, “still went down to the river every -day with his guards, but he pretended to look forward to the marriage -with so much joy that they did not think it needful to watch him half so -narrowly as before. But they did not quite know the temper of their -young lord, for submissive as he was to outward seeming, he was soon to -prove that he had at heart all the courage of a Frenchman. It wanted -scarcely a week to the day fixed for the marriage, when he went out one -morning to fly his falcon by the river. His falconer started one bird, -himself another; and when the two falcons were seen in hot pursuit of -the same prey, the count ran forward as if carried away by the -excitement of the chase, and encouraged them with his cries. This ruse -enabled him to reach the open fields without suspicion, and, once there, -he clapped spurs to his horse, and in an instant was lost to view. He -hardly paused till he came to Artois, where he felt safe, and he lost no -time in laying his case before King Philip and the French people, and -telling them by what a fine stratagem he had escaped from his own people -and the English. The King of France was greatly overjoyed, and told the -young man he had done<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_019" id="page_019"></a>{19}</span> more than well, and the French people said the -same. The poor English, on the contrary, seemed to think that he had -betrayed them.” (<i>Froissart’s Chronicles</i>, bk. i., ch. xxxi.)</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="THE_DUKE_OF_ALBANY" id="THE_DUKE_OF_ALBANY"></a><i>THE DUKE OF ALBANY.</i><br /><br /> -<small>FIFTEENTH CENTURY.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">James</span> III., King of Scotland, saw, not without misgiving, that his two -brothers, the Duke of Albany and the Earl of Mar, were greatly beloved -by his subjects; and this feeling was soon changed into one of positive -hate, thanks to the whisperings of certain evil counsellors who were -about his person. These wretches, well knowing the feeble nature they -had to deal with, threw the King into a very sickness of terror with -impossible stories of his brothers’ design against his crown and life.</p> - -<p>The Earl of Mar, they told him, had obtained a positive assurance from -certain sorcerers that his royal kinsman would die by the hand of a near -relation, and they brought a sorcerer of their own to the palace to say -that there was a lion in Scotland which would be torn in pieces by its -own whelps. This was enough for the king; his cowardly spirit was -frightened into energy and decision, and he ordered the arrest of his -brothers. Albany was thrown into Edinburgh Castle, but the fate of Mar -was determined on at once. He was suffocated in a bath, according to -some historians; or, according to others, bled to the last drop of his -blood.</p> - -<p>Albany was in great danger of the same miserable lot, but he had friends -both in France and in Scotland who were resolved not to let him perish -without making an effort to save his life. They were not long in forming -their plans.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_020" id="page_020"></a>{20}</span> A little sloop sailed into Leith Roads with a cargo of -Gascony wines, of which two small casks were sent as a present to the -captive prince. The governor of the castle allowed them to be taken into -the chamber in which his prisoner was confined, and when the duke came -to dip into them, he found in one a ball of wax, containing a letter -urging him to escape and make his way to the water-side, where he would -find the little vessel waiting for him. In the other cask there was a -coil of rope, which would enable him to drop from the walls of his -prison to the rock on which the castle stands. His faithful chamberlain, -who shared his captivity, promised to aid him in the enterprise.</p> - -<p>The main point was to make sure of the captain of the guard. Albany, -therefore, invited this officer to sup with him under the pretext of -wishing to have his judgment on the wine. The invitation was accepted, -and the captain, having as usual posted his men with due circumspection, -led three of them into the duke’s room with him, and took his place at -table.</p> - -<p>The meal over, the duke proposed a game of <i>trictrac</i>, and took care -while it was going on to ply his guest freely with the wine, while his -chamberlain was no less attentive to the three soldiers. The drink, and -the heat of a great fire, near which they had artfully placed him, soon -made the officer very drowsy, and the men too began to nod their heads.</p> - -<p>Their time was come: the duke, who was a strong man, suddenly jumped up, -and with one blow of a poniard laid the captain dead at his feet. In -another moment he had despatched two of the soldiers; while the -chamberlain with his own dagger finished the third. Their work was the -easier to do as the drink and the fire together had almost<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_021" id="page_021"></a>{21}</span> stupefied -the poor wretches before a blow was struck. After they had taken the -keys out of the captain’s pockets, they threw the bodies on the fire, -and making their way to an out-of-the-way corner of the wails, began -their perilous descent.</p> - -<p>The chamberlain went down first to try the cord, but it was too short, -and he fell and broke his leg. He uttered no cry of pain, but simply -told his master the cause of the disaster. The duke went back to fetch -his bed-clothes, and finally made the descent in safety. His first care -was to provide for the injured man; and he did not bestow a thought on -himself till he had carried his faithful dependent to a hut where he -might remain in perfect security until his recovery. This done, he flew -to the sea-shore, and a boat answering to the hail—at the signal agreed -on—he boarded the sloop, which instantly set sail for France.</p> - -<p>During the night, the guards, who knew that their officer had three men -with him in the duke’s room, had no suspicion of what was passing. But -when at daybreak they saw the cord hanging from the wall, they took the -alarm, and rushed hastily into the apartment, when they stumbled over -the body of one soldier lying across the doorway, and saw those of the -captain and the two other men smouldering amid the dying embers in the -large fireplace. The King expressed much surprise at this extraordinary -escape, and he could not be brought to believe in it till he had seen -the place with his own eyes. (<i>Sir Walter Scott’s History of Scotland</i>, -vol. i., ch. xix.)<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_022" id="page_022"></a>{22}</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="JAMES_V_KING_OF_SCOTLAND" id="JAMES_V_KING_OF_SCOTLAND"></a><i>JAMES V., KING OF SCOTLAND.</i><br /><br /> -<small>SIXTEENTH CENTURY.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Sir George Douglas</span> and his brother, the Earl of Angus, who had married -Queen Margaret of Scotland, had obtained possession of the person of the -young King James V., then a child; and the Earl of Angus administered -the kingdom, and discharged all the functions of a regent without -assuming the title. In a word, these two lords manœuvred so as to -substitute their family for the reigning one upon the throne of -Scotland. Several attempts for the King’s deliverance had failed, and -even two great battles had been fought without success by the partisans -of James V. At the commencement of the second battle, George Douglas, -seeing that the King was eagerly watching an opportunity to escape, -said, “It is useless for your Grace to think of getting out of our -hands; if our enemies held you by one arm, and we by the other, we would -see you torn in pieces rather than loosen our grip.” To make quite sure -of their prize, they appointed a hundred chosen men to guard the -youthful monarch, commanded by one of their own family, Douglas of -Parkhead.</p> - -<p>Every attempt by open force having thus failed, James resolved to have -recourse to stratagem. He persuaded his mother, Queen Margaret, to give -up her castle of Stirling to him, and to place it under the command of a -gentleman in whom he had confidence. All this was done very secretly, -and the King, having thus prepared a possible retreat, began to seek an -opportunity of flying to it. The better to disarm the vigilance of the -Douglases, he showed such deference to the Earl of Angus, that people -began to think he had gone over to that nobleman’s party, and had become -resigned<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_023" id="page_023"></a>{23}</span> to the loss of his own liberty. He was then living at -Falkland, a royal residence very favourably situated for hunting and -falconry, his favourite amusements.</p> - -<p>The Earl of Angus and Archibald and George Douglas had all three left -Falkland on various errands of business or pleasure, and no one remained -near the King but Douglas of Parkhead, with the hundred men on whose -vigilance the family knew they could rely. James saw the moment was -favourable. To allay the suspicions of his guards, he announced his -intention of rising early on a certain morning to hunt the stag, and -Douglas of Parkhead never doubting that this was said in good faith, -went to bed after posting his sentinels in the usual manner.</p> - -<p>But the King no sooner found himself alone than he called his trusty -page, John Hart, and looking at him very earnestly, said, “John, do you -love me?”</p> - -<p>“More than I love myself,” replied the page.</p> - -<p>“And are you willing to risk everything for me?”</p> - -<p>“My life, if needs be,” replied the youth.</p> - -<p>The King then made him acquainted with his plan, and hastily putting on -a servant’s livery, went to the stables with him, as though to prepare -for the next day’s hunt. The guards, failing to recognise him in this -disguise, suffered him to pass without hindrance. The King had -previously taken another of his servants into his confidence, so that -when he and the page reached the stable they found three good horses, -ready saddled and bridled, awaiting them.</p> - -<p>James mounted at once with his two faithful servants and galloped all -night, light as a bird just escaped from its cage. At break of day he -passed the bridge of Stirling, and as there was no other means of -crossing the Forth than by this bridge or by a boat, he ordered the -gates which barred the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_024" id="page_024"></a>{24}</span> passage to be closed against all comers, without -exception. He was very tired when he reached Stirling Castle, where he -was received with joy by the governor, whom, as we have seen, he had -himself been the means of placing in that fortress. The drawbridge was -raised, the portcullis lowered, the guards were doubled—in fact, every -possible precaution was taken that prudence could dictate. But the King -was so much afraid of again falling into the power of the Douglas, that -in spite of his fatigue, he refused to go to bed until he had himself -placed the keys of the castle under his pillow.</p> - -<p>There was great alarm at Falkland on the following morning. George -Douglas had returned on the very night of the King’s flight at about -eleven o’clock, and had at once asked for his prisoner. He was told that -James had gone to bed early, wishing to rise in good time for the hunt; -and he himself retired, perfectly satisfied that all was safe. But in -the morning he was destined to hear very different news, for a certain -Peter Carmichael, baillie of Abernethy, came rapping at his door, to ask -him if he knew where the King was at that moment.</p> - -<p>“He is asleep in his bedchamber,” said Sir George.</p> - -<p>“You are deceived,” replied Carmichael; “he passed over Stirling Bridge -last night.”</p> - -<p>Douglas, jumping out of bed, ran to the King’s room, knocked loudly, and -receiving no answer, broke open the door. Finding the apartment empty, -he cried, “Treason! the King is gone!” dispatched couriers to his -brothers, and sent out in every direction to call his partisans together -for the recapture of James. But the King had by this time proclaimed by -sound of trumpet that he would declare traitor every person bearing the -name of Douglas who should approach within twelve miles of his person, -or take any part<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_025" id="page_025"></a>{25}</span> in the administration of the kingdom. The Douglases -were obliged to submit, and from that time commenced the decay of their -house, for James could not be brought to pardon them. (<i>Sir Walter -Scott’s History of Scotland</i>, ch. xxiii.)</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="SECUNDUS_CURION" id="SECUNDUS_CURION"></a><i>SECUNDUS CURION.</i><br /><br /> -<small>SIXTEENTH CENTURY.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Cœlius Secundus Curion</span>, a zealous Lutheran, having dared to give the -lie in open church to a Jacobin who had heaped on him the most odious -calumnies from the pulpit, was immediately arrested by order of the -inquisitor of Turin. He was dragged from prison to prison, but he at -last made his escape so cleverly that his enemies could only account for -it by accusing him of magic. In order to exculpate himself from an -accusation extremely dangerous at that time, he published an account of -his escape in a little Latin dialogue, entitled “Probus,” from which we -select the following passages for translation:—</p> - -<p>“I had been shut up for eight days in my new prison,” says Curion, “with -my feet fastened to enormous pieces of wood, when, by nothing less than -a sudden inspiration from Heaven, I was urged to supplicate the young -man in charge of me to release me from at least one of my fetters. The -other, as I pointed out to him, would be quite heavy enough to ensure my -safe custody. As he was merciful, and bore no malice against me, he at -length suffered himself to be persuaded, and set one of my feet at -liberty. He had no sooner left me than I set to work to carry out a plan -I had already formed for my escape. I tore my shirt into shreds, and -taking off my stocking and slipper, stuffed them with<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_026" id="page_026"></a>{26}</span> these rags till I -had made a very fair model of a leg and foot. But though the form and -contour of the flesh were there, you had only to touch the new limb to -find that it was lamentably deficient in bone. What was to be done? I -looked about everywhere, till at last my eye lighted on a stick hidden -away under a settle. I seized it eagerly and soon fashioned bones for my -leg; and then, hiding my real limb under my cloak, I sat calmly awaiting -the success of my ruse. After a time the young man came in to pay me his -usual visit and to ask me how I did. ‘I should feel better,’ I said, -pointing to my dummy, ‘if you would kindly fasten this leg to the fetter -and let me give the other a rest.’ He consented, and chained up my false -limb with all imaginable care.”</p> - -<p>The rest is soon told. The prisoner waited till nightfall, and as soon -as he heard his attendants snoring, quietly parted company with his -fettered leg, undressed it, clothed himself again, and softly stole out -of his cell, which no one had taken the trouble to fasten on the -outside. Even then his difficulties were not at an end; but he at length -found means to scale the outer walls of his prison and to regain his -liberty. (<i>Ludovic Lalanne: Curiosities of Biography.</i>)</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="BENVENUTO_CELLINI" id="BENVENUTO_CELLINI"></a><i>BENVENUTO CELLINI.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1538.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Benvenuto Cellini</span> lived nearly twenty years at Rome, producing those -masterpieces of work in the precious metals which have immortalised his -name. He was high in favour with Clement VII., and was sought after and -entrusted with<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_027" id="page_027"></a>{27}</span> the most important commissions by the princes of the -Church and other great personages who visited the Eternal City. He had -won the especial regard of Clement by his courage in taking part in the -defence of the castle of St. Angelo when it was besieged by the army of -the Constable of Bourbon; and such was the confidence placed in him at -that time that all the costliest things among the Papal treasures were -given to him to be broken up, and he was allowed to hide the jewels for -safe keeping in his own clothes. He afterwards engraved for the same -Pope and his successor a series of coins, which have always been -considered by the best judges to rival the finest productions of -antiquity. But his was not the mild temper of the artist, nor was the -history of his studio all the history of his life. He was brutal and -ungovernable in his rage, and licentious in his love; and he was feared -and hated almost as much as he was admired, although an easy tolerance -of vice was the fashion of the time. A certain goldsmith, named Pompeo, -had incurred his enmity by trying to deprive him of the favour of -Clement VII.; and during the interregnum which followed the death of -that Pope, he stabbed the unfortunate artist in open day and in the very -midst of Rome. But he escaped the direct punishment due to this -atrocious crime, for Paul III., who succeeded to the Papal throne, not -only pardoned him, but gave him many important commissions. He was -actively engaged in these labours when he was threatened by a new -danger—probably the consequence of a former outrage. A workman accused -him of having stolen some of the jewels entrusted to his keeping during -the siege of Rome. Paul could afford to forgive the murder of a subject, -but he could not look so lightly on a theft by which he himself was -likely to be a sufferer, and he began to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_028" id="page_028"></a>{28}</span> mistrust and to dislike -Cellini before he had given himself much pains to examine into the truth -of the accusation against him. Added to this, too, the artist had a -mortal foe near the person of his patron in Peter Louis Farnese, the son -of Paul. One such enemy would have been enough for his ruin; with two, -he could hardly fail to be utterly lost.</p> - -<p>“One morning,” says Cellini in his memoirs, “I put on my cloak to take a -short walk, and was turning down the Julian street to enter the quarter -called Chiavica, when Crispino, captain of the city guard, met me with -his whole band of sbirri, and told me roughly I was the Pope’s prisoner. -I answered him, ‘Crispino, you mistake your man.’ ‘By no means,’ said -Crispino, ‘you are the clever artist Benvenuto; I know you very well, -and have orders to conduct you to the Castle of St. Angelo, where -noblemen and men of genius like yourself are confined.’ As four of his -myrmidons were going to fall upon me and deprive me forcibly of a dagger -which I had by my side, and of the rings on my fingers, Crispino ordered -them not to offer to touch me. It was sufficient, he said, for them to -do their office and prevent me from making my escape. Then coming up to -me, he very politely demanded my arms. Whilst I was giving them up, I -recollected that it was in that very place that I had formerly killed -Pompeo. They conducted me to the castle, and locked me up in one of the -upper apartments of the tower. This was the first time I ever tasted the -inside of a prison; and I was then in my thirty-seventh year.”</p> - -<p>It was not difficult for Benvenuto to disprove the charges against him; -he was, nevertheless, kept in prison in spite of the good offices of -Montluc, the ambassador of France, who begged for his release, in the -name of Francis I. The governor of St. Angelo was a Florentine, and he -showed<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_029" id="page_029"></a>{29}</span> every attention to his unfortunate fellow-citizen, even allowing -him on parole a certain freedom of movement within the walls. But after -a time he shut him up closely again; and then once more restored him to -his state of partial liberty.</p> - -<p>“When I found,” says Benvenuto, “that I was being treated with so much -rigour, I reflected deeply on the matter; and I said to myself, ‘If this -man should again happen to take such a freak, and not choose to trust me -any longer, I should feel myself released from my word, and should make -a trial of my own skill.’ I then began to get my servants to bring me -new thick sheets, and did not send back the dirty ones; and when they -asked me for them, I told them that I had given them away to some of the -soldiers, but that they were not to speak about it or the poor fellows -would run the risk of being sent to the galleys. I hid my sheets in the -mattress that served me for a bed, and burnt the straw with which it was -stuffed, bit by bit, in my chimney, to make room for them. I then tore -them up into long bands, and when I had enough of these bands to reach -to the bottom of the tower, I told my servants I did not mean to give -away any more of my linen, adding that they were to bring me finer -sheets in future, and I would return them the dirty ones.</p> - -<p>“The constable of the castle had annually a certain disorder which -totally deprived him of his senses, and when the fit came on him he was -talkative to excess. Every year he had some different whim: at one time -he thought himself metamorphosed into a pitcher of oil; at another he -believed himself a frog, and began to leap around like one; and again he -imagined he was dead, and it was found necessary to humour him by making -a show of burying him. He had, in fact, a new mania every year. This -year he fancied himself a bat,</p> - -<p><a name="ill_III" id="ill_III"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p029b_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p029b_sml.jpg" width="282" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: I then tore them into long bands." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">I then tore them into long bands.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_030" id="page_030"></a>{30}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">and when he went to take a walk he sometimes made just such a noise as -bats do, and made gestures with his hands and body as if he were going -to fly. The physicians, who knew his disorder, and his old servants -procured him all the amusements they could think of, and as they found -he took very great pleasure in my conversation, they often fetched me to -his apartments, where the poor man would chat with me for three or four -hours at a time. On one of these occasions he asked me whether I had -ever wished to fly. I answered that I had always been readiest to -attempt such things as men found most difficult, and that with regard to -flying, as God had given me a body admirably well calculated for -running, I had even resolution enough to attempt to fly. He then asked -me to explain how I proposed to do that. I replied that when I -attentively considered the several creatures that fly, and thought of -effecting by art what they do by the force of nature, I did not find one -so fit to imitate as the bat. As soon as the poor man heard mention made -of the bat, his mania for the year turning upon that animal, he cried -out aloud, ‘That’s very true; a bat is the thing.’ He then suddenly -turned to me and said, ‘Would you, Benvenuto, if you had the -opportunity, have the heart to make the attempt to fly?’ I answered that -if he would give me permission, I had courage enough to attempt to fly -as far as Prati by means of a pair of wings waxed over. ‘I should like -to see you fly,’ he returned, ‘but as the Pope has enjoined me to watch -over you with the utmost care, and I know that you have the cunning of -the devil, and would be glad of the opportunity to make your escape, I -mean to keep you locked up with a hundred keys to prevent you from -slipping out of my hands.’ I then began to supplicate him afresh, -reminding him that I had<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_031" id="page_031"></a>{31}</span> had it in my power to make my escape, but -would never avail myself of the opportunity through respect for the -promise I had given him. Whilst I was uttering these words he gave -peremptory orders that I should be bound, and confined a closer prisoner -than ever.</p> - -<p>“I at once began to think about the means of making my escape. As soon -as I was locked in, I made a careful examination of my prison, and -thinking that I had found a sure way out of it, I turned over several -plans for descending from the top of the great tower, where I was, to -the ground. At last, guessing the length of line which would about carry -me down, I took a new pair of sheets, cut them into the requisite number -of strips, and sewed them fast together. The next thing I wanted was a -pair of pincers, which I stole from a Savoyard on guard at the castle. -This man had the care of the casks and the cisterns, and likewise worked -as a carpenter; and as he had several pairs of pincers, and one amongst -others which was thick and large, I took it, thinking it would suit my -purpose, and laid it in the tick of my bed. When the time had come for -making use of the pincers, I began to pull at the nails fastening the -plates of iron fixed upon the door; and, as the door was double, the -clenching of those nails could not be perceived. I exerted my utmost -efforts to draw out one of them, and at last, with great difficulty -succeeded. As soon as I had drawn a few, I was again obliged to torture -my invention in order to devise some expedient to prevent the loss being -perceived. I immediately thought of mixing a little of the filings of -the rusty iron with wax; and, as this mixture was exactly of the colour -of the heads of the nails I had drawn, I counterfeited a resemblance of -them on the iron plates, and in this manner imitated in wax as<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_032" id="page_032"></a>{32}</span> many as -I drew. I left each of the plates fastened both at top and bottom, and -refixed them with some of the nails I had drawn; but the nails were cut, -and I drove them in only a little way, so that they just served to hold -the plates. I found it a very difficult matter to do all this, because -the governor dreamed every night that I had made my escape, and used to -send often to have the prison searched. The man who came on these visits -had the appearance and bearing of one of the city guards. His name was -Bozza, and he used to bring with him another, named John Pedignone; the -latter was a soldier, the former a servant. This Pedignone never came to -my room without giving me abusive language. The other one confined -himself to examining the plates of iron I have mentioned, as well as the -whole prison. I constantly said to him, ‘Look after me well, for I mean -to escape.’ These words once made him very angry with me, and I took -that opportunity of depositing all my tools—that is to say, my pincers -and a tolerably long dagger, with other things belonging to me—in the -tick of my bed, and of sweeping the room myself, as soon as it was -daylight, for I naturally delighted in cleanliness, and on this occasion -I took care to be particularly neat. As soon as I had swept the room I -made my bed with equal care, and adorned it with flowers which were -every morning brought me by the Savoyard. When Bozza and Pedignone came -near the bed, I told them angrily to keep away from it lest it should be -defiled by their touch; and afterwards, when merely to amuse themselves, -they tumbled the sheets, I added, ‘You dirty dogs, keep off, or I’ll -draw one of your swords and maul you as you were never mauled before! Do -you think your paws are fit to touch the bed of a man like me? If I made -up my mind to kill you, I should not<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_033" id="page_033"></a>{33}</span> in the least hesitate to sacrifice -my own life; so be warned in time; leave me to my own troubles and -sorrows, and do not add to the bitterness of my lot, or I will show you -what a desperate man can do.’ The men duly repeated all this to the -constable, who expressly ordered them never to go near my bed, to -unbuckle their swords before coming to my cell, and to be as careful as -possible in all other respects. The object of all this on my part was to -secure my bed from search, and I gained my point.</p> - -<p>“One holiday evening the constable was in a very bad way, and his mania -had risen to such a pitch that he did nothing but repeat that he had -become a bat. He told his attendants to take no notice if Benvenuto -should escape, for he would soon be caught by a bat so much better able -to fly by night than himself. ‘Benvenuto,’ the poor man was pleased to -add, ‘is a counterfeit bat; I am a real one; let me alone to manage him. -I’ll soon have him back again. I’ll be bound.’ He had continued in this -state for several nights, till he quite tried the patience of all his -servants, as I learned from my faithful Savoyard, who continued very -much attached to me. I had made up my mind to escape that night, let -what would happen, and I began by praying fervently to Almighty God that -it would please his Divine Majesty to befriend and assist me in my -hazardous enterprise. I then went to work, and was employed the whole -night in getting everything in readiness. Two hours before daybreak I -took the iron plates from the door, with great trouble and difficulty, -for the bolt and the wood that received it made a great resistance, so -that I could not open them, but was obliged to cut the wood. I, however, -at last forced the door; and having taken with me the slips of linen I -have mentioned, which I had rolled up in bundles<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_034" id="page_034"></a>{34}</span> with the utmost care, -I got out, and reached the right side of the tower, and leaped with the -utmost ease upon two tiles of the roof which I had observed from within. -I was in a white doublet, and had on a pair of white leggings, over -which I wore tight boots that reached half-way up my legs, and in one of -these I put my dagger. I then took the end of one of my bundles of long -slips, which I had made out of the sheets of my bed, and fastened it to -a tile that happened to jut out four inches, to which it hung like a -stirrup. I then again prayed to God in these terms: ‘Almighty God,. come -to my aid; for thou knowest that my cause is just, and that I aid -myself.’ Then letting myself go very gently,. and supporting myself by -the strength of my arms, I reached the ground. There was no moon, but -the night was clear. When I once more felt the earth beneath my feet, I -looked up with awe at the immense height from which I had made so -adventurous a descent, and I went forward very joyfully believing I was -free, though that was by no means the case.</p> - -<p>“The constable had built on this side of the castle two pretty high -walls, which enclosed his stables and his hen-houses, and which were -closed by doors with very strong bolts. Despairing of being able to -leave the place that way, I wandered on at hazard, reflecting on my sad -position, when my foot struck suddenly against a large pole covered with -straw. I reared it, though not without great difficulty, by the side of -the wall, and then by sheer strength of arm I climbed to the top of it, -and so reached the parapet. The end of the pole being firmly fixed in an -angle of the coping stone, I could not draw it up after me, but it -afforded me a secure fastening for my second band (I had been obliged to -leave the first hanging from my window in the tower), and by this means -I reached the ground on the other side<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_035" id="page_035"></a>{35}</span> of the wall, though with hands -torn and dripping with blood. I was very greatly fatigued, but after I -had rested a little I felt strong enough to attempt to surmount the last -wall looking towards Prati. I accordingly laid my roll of bands on the -ground for a moment, and was just about to throw one of them over a -battlement, when I saw a sentinel standing almost by my side. Feeling -that not only the success of my enterprise, but my very life was in -danger, I was preparing to attack the fellow, when he saved me the -trouble by taking to his heels as soon as he saw the glitter of the -poniard in my hand. I lost no time in getting back to my bands, and then -I saw another man on guard, but he appeared not to wish to notice me. I -fastened my band to the battlement; I clambered up the wall on one side, -and I slid down it on the other; but, whether from fatigue or from a -miscalculation as to the distance between my feet and the ground, I -opened my hands too soon, and fell head first to the earth with such -violence that I remained unconscious an hour and a half, as nearly as I -can judge.</p> - -<p>“The freshness of early morning brought me to myself, but I did not at -once recover my memory. It seemed to me that I had had my head cut off -and that I was in purgatory. But as my reason gradually came back, I saw -that I was outside the castle, and then I remembered all I had been -doing. I put my hands to my head, and found that it was covered with -blood. There was no serious wound upon my body, but on attempting to -raise myself, I found I had broken my right leg in three places at a -point about midway between the knee and the heel. Without in the least -losing courage, I drew my knife and its sheath from my boot. There was a -great ball at the end of the sheath, and this, pressing on the bone in -my fall, had caused the fracture. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_036" id="page_036"></a>{36}</span> threw the sheath away, and cutting -up what little of the band was left with the poniard, I set the leg as -best I could and knife in hand began to crawl slowly on my knees towards -the city gate. It was closed; but observing that one of the great stones -that formed the threshold was loose, I managed to pick it out, and to -squeeze my body through the aperture. It was more than five hundred -paces from the place where I had fallen to this gate.</p> - -<p>“I had hardly entered Rome when a number of prowling dogs rushed at me, -and tore me cruelly; but when they returned to the charge, I gave them a -taste of my poniard, and pricked one of them so vigorously that he -limped off with a hideous howl that damped the ardour of the rest. I -followed his example, so far as to leave that place, and I set out on my -knees for the church of the Traspontina.</p> - -<p>“When I came to the end of the street that turns down to St Angelo, I -directed my steps towards St Peter’s. It was broad day, and I ran some -risk of being discovered; so, seeing a water-carrier pass by leading a -heavily laden ass, I called out to him to take me on his shoulders and -carry me to St Peter’s market-place. ‘I am,’ said I, ‘a poor fellow who -has broken his leg in trying to preserve the honour of a lady. I had to -leap from a window to save myself from being cut to pieces, and I am -still in danger. Take me up then, I beg of you, and you shall have a -crown in gold for your trouble;’ and I put my hand to my purse, where I -carried a good number of these tempters. He at once lifted me in his -arms, and carried me to the market-place, where he left me very hastily, -and went back to find the ass. I then took to my hands and knees once -more, and slowly crawled towards the Duke Octavio’s house. The duchess, -his wife, was a daughter of the Emperor, and had</p> - -<p><a name="ill_IV" id="ill_IV"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p036a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p036a_sml.jpg" width="450" height="275" alt="Image unavailable: Cellini attacked by the dogs." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">Cellini attacked by the dogs.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_037" id="page_037"></a>{37}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">been married to Duke Alexander of Florence. Many of my friends had -accompanied this great princess from Florence to Rome, and I knew that -she was extremely well disposed towards me.</p> - -<p>“I crawled, then, towards his Excellency’s house, where I felt certain -of finding safety. But, as the adventures I had gone through were too -wonderful for a mere mortal, God would not let me give myself up to the -vain glory which must have followed an absolute success, but mercifully -ordained for my good an affliction far more severe than any to which I -had yet been subjected.</p> - -<p>“While I was on my way to St. Peter’s market-place, I was recognised by -a servant of Cardinal Cornaro, who was lodged at the Vatican. The man -ran at once to his master’s bedroom, woke him, and said, ‘Benvenuto, -your protégé, is below; he has escaped from the castle, and he is -dragging himself along all covered with blood. He seems to have his leg -broken, and there is no saying where he is going.’ ‘Quick,’ said the -cardinal, ‘run and bring him to me—in this room.’ When I came before -him, he at once told me I had nothing to fear, and he sent for the best -surgeons in Rome to attend upon me. He also took care to have me placed -in a secret apartment; and having thus provided for my immediate wants, -he set out to demand, in person, my pardon of the Pope.</p> - -<p>“By this time there was a great stir in Rome, for the bands hanging from -the high tower had been discovered, and all the city ran to see this -incredible thing.</p> - -<p>“When Cardinal Cornaro reached the Vatican, he met Signor Roberto Pucci, -and related to him the details of my escape, and the fact that I was at -that moment hidden in his house. The two then went together to throw -themselves<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_038" id="page_038"></a>{38}</span> at the feet of the Pope; but before they could speak, his -Holiness said to them, ‘I know what it is you want of me.’ ‘Most holy -father,’ said Pucci, ‘we beg of you, for pity’s sake, to spare this poor -man. His talents entitle him to some consideration; and he has just -shown such courage and address as seem above humanity. We know not for -what offences your Holiness has had him put in prison, but if they are -at all pardonable, we entreat you to forget them for our sake.”</p> - -<p>“The Pope, somewhat ashamed, replied that he had sent me to prison -because I was too presumptuous; ‘But,’ he added, ‘his merit is very well -known, and we wish to keep him near us, to which end we will place him -beyond the necessity of returning to France. I am sorry that he is so -ill. Tell him to make haste to get well, and say that we will then give -him cause to forget all the miseries he has suffered.”</p> - -<p>“These two great personages duly brought me these good tidings on the -part of the Pope.”</p> - -<p class="cb"> * -<span style="margin-left: 5%;">*</span> -<span style="margin-left: 5%;">*</span> -<span style="margin-left: 5%;">*</span> -<span style="margin-left: 5%;">*</span> -<span style="margin-left: 5%;">*</span></p> - -<p>The governor afterwards visited him, and asked if no one had aided him -in his flight.</p> - -<p>Cellini continues: “When he went back to the Pope, he gave him all the -particulars of my escape, as he had heard them from me, to the -astonishment of every one present. ‘It is truly something prodigious,’ -said the Pope. ‘Most holy father,’ replied my old enemy, the Signor -Peter Louis Farnese, ‘he will do many other things equally prodigious -for you, if you set him at liberty, for he is one of the most audacious -of men. I will give you a proof of it, of which perhaps you have not yet -heard. Before you shut him up in the Castle of St. Angelo, this same -Benvenuto, having had some words with one of the Cardinal Santa Fiore’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_039" id="page_039"></a>{39}</span> -gentlemen, threatened to strike him; and the cardinal hearing of the -affair, said that if the arch-fool attempted to carry out his threat, he -would cure him once for all. The words were repeated to Benvenuto, and -the cardinal’s palace being in front of his studio, he took his musket -one day when he saw his Eminence at the window, and was just going to -shoot him, when his intended victim happened to be warned in time and -withdrew. He can put a ball in the centre of a farthing with that -musket; and when he saw that the cardinal had escaped him, he coolly -blew off the head of a pigeon perched on the opposite roof, to give his -enemies a proof of his skill. But let your Holiness do what you please -with him; I, at least, have warned you. The man is quite capable, if he -thought himself unjustly treated, of firing upon even you. He has a -character of the utmost ferocity, and he stops at nothing. Remember, he -ran his dagger twice into Pompeo’s throat, although the poor wretch was -in the midst of ten men appointed expressly to guard him. One of Santa -Fiore’s gentlemen was present, and confirmed what the Pope’s son had -said.</p> - -<p>“The Pope was still under the unfortunate impression produced by these -words when, two days after the above conversation, Cardinal Cornaro came -to ask him for a bishopric for one of his gentlemen, André Centano. The -Pope had, in fact, promised him the bishopric; and, as one was now -vacant, the cardinal reminded him of his word. ‘It is true,’ said his -Holiness, ‘I have promised you a bishopric, and you shall have one; but -I have one favour to ask in return—let me have Benvenuto again.’ ‘Most -holy father,’ replied the cardinal, ‘you have for my sake consented to -his pardon and his liberty, what will the world say of both of us?’ ‘You -want your bishopric,’ replied<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_040" id="page_040"></a>{40}</span> the Pope, ‘and I want my Benvenuto: let -the world say what it pleases.’ ‘Give me my bishopric,’ said the good -cardinal, ‘and for the rest your Holiness yourself shall be the judge of -what ought to be, and what can be done.’ ‘I will send for Benvenuto,’ -said the Pope, somewhat ashamed of breaking his word, ‘and I will put -him in one of the lower apartments of my private garden, where he will -want for nothing that can aid his recovery. His friends may come and see -him, and I will bear the entire cost of his living myself.’</p> - -<p>“The cardinal returned to his apartments, and sent to tell me through -Signor André that the Pope wished to have me once more in his power, but -that I should be lodged in his private garden, and should be free to see -any one I pleased. I implored André to ask the cardinal not to give me -up, but rather to let me have myself taken at once to a safe place I -knew of outside Rome, for that to put me in the power of the Pope would -be to send me to death.</p> - -<p>“The cardinal would, I believe, have aided me to carry out this plan; -but Signor André, who did not like to give up his bishopric, caused the -Pope to be acquainted with the whole affair, and I was immediately -ordered into custody.”</p> - -<p>Cellini was well treated for a time in his new prison. He was afterwards -sent to Torre di Nova, and from thence he was taken back again to the -Castle of St. Angelo. The mad governor, incensed with a prisoner who had -dared to brave him, threw the unfortunate artist into a subterranean -cell, which only admitted the sun’s rays for about an hour and a half -each day. He remained there four months, with nothing to occupy his time -but the reading of the Bible and the Chronicles of Villani, which had -been sent to him by his tormentor. This poor maniac felt that he was -dying;<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_041" id="page_041"></a>{41}</span> and attributing his death to Benvenuto, he sometimes redoubled -his cruelty towards him, though at others he treated him with greater -tenderness. He had him removed from his first dungeon to another and a -deeper one, particularly famed since a certain preacher named Foiano had -died there of starvation. Meanwhile Montluc, the ambassador of France, -had very energetically demanded Cellini’s liberty, in the name of his -master, Francis I., and after a time, the governor, whose reason was -restored a few days before his death, also urged his release. At length -Cardinal Ferrara, on his arrival from France, went to pay his respects -to the Pope, who kept him to dinner, “Thinking,” says Cellini, “that a -good meal loosens the tongue, and wishing to hear his Eminence talk on -several important subjects.” The cardinal, an accomplished diplomatist, -accepted the invitation, and entertained the Pope with the pleasures and -the amusements of the Court of France, till he saw that he had put his -Holiness into an excellent humour, when he implored him in the name of -the King to pardon Cellini. The Pope consented, and said to him with a -loud burst of laughter, “Take him away at once with you.” The necessary -orders were given, and without so much as waiting for the morrow, the -cardinal sent immediately for Cellini, who left the Castle of St. -Angelo, never to return to it again.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="MARY_QUEEN_OF_SCOTS" id="MARY_QUEEN_OF_SCOTS"></a><i>MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1568.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">When</span> the confederate Scotch lords had taken Mary Stuart prisoner after -her defeat at Carberry Hill, and had resolved to dethrone her, they sent -her for safe custody to the castle<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_042" id="page_042"></a>{42}</span> of Loch Leven, situate on a small -island in the middle of the lake of that name. They chose this gloomy -place, not only because it was nearly inaccessible, but because the -hapless lady would there be in the keeping of that most watchful of all -gaolers, a mortal enemy. Margaret Erskine, mother of William Douglas, -the owner of the castle, had had a son by James V., whom it pleased her -to regard as the legitimate heir to the throne of Scotland, and she -hated Mary as an obstacle to her schemes of ambition. Religious -differences intensified this feeling, for Margaret was a zealous -Presbyterian. In short, her character, her faith, her family pride, and -the natural harshness of her temper, all conspired to make her an -inexorable guardian of the unfortunate Queen.</p> - -<p>After Mary had been compelled by violence to renounce the crown in -favour of her son, she was placed in the most rigorous confinement, the -strictest watch being kept over her to prevent her, not only from -effecting her escape, but from holding any sort of communication with -the outer world. Many of the sovereigns of Europe were well disposed -towards her, but she was not allowed to write to her friends, though she -sometimes found an opportunity of doing so while the daughters of -Margaret, who shared her chamber, were asleep, or at their meals. The -cruelty of these restraints defeated their end, for it touched the very -son her gaoler, George Douglas, with compassion for the captive Queen, -and led him to form a plan for her escape. But his first attempt to aid -her was unsuccessful. It was arranged that the Queen should leave the -castle in the dress of the laundress who brought her linen to Loch -Leven, and that George Douglas and a number of his partisans should be -ready to receive her as soon she had crossed the lake.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_043" id="page_043"></a>{43}</span> The appointed -day came; the young man was at his post, and the Queen, thanks to her -disguise, had actually got clear of the castle, and reached the boat, -when one of the boatmen, struck by the figure of the pretended -laundress, attempted to lift her veil, and the hasty gesture with which -the Queen resisted his touch, revealed a hand too white and too -delicately formed to be that of a hard-working girl. The man at once -guessed her real rank, but even at that moment Mary did not lose her -presence of mind. She declared her name and title, and ordered him, on -pain of death, to row her across the lake. The name of Margaret Erskine -had, however, greater terror for the fellow than that of Mary Stuart; -and the Queen was taken back to captivity again.</p> - -<p>As the penalty of this unfortunate attempt of the 25th March, George -Douglas was sent away from the island. This did not, however, make him -one whit the less eager to succeed in his noble design; and he confided -the Queen to the care of one who was equally devoted to her—his -brother, a youth of fifteen or sixteen, called the “Little Douglas,” and -employed as page to his mother.</p> - -<p>Mary was, of course, made to suffer more heavily, and every fresh -precaution against her escape took the form of a new torture. Her life -became almost unendurable. She wrote to Elizabeth, to Catherine de’ -Medicis, and to Charles IX., supplicating them for aid, but before any -of them could move in her favour other help was at hand. George Douglas -had never forgotten his promise to set her free. He used the liberty -gained by his banishment from the castle in extending the circle of her -friends. He engaged the powerful families of the Seatons and the -Hamiltons in her cause, and with their aid formed a more carefully -prepared plan than the last for her escape. It was arranged<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_044" id="page_044"></a>{44}</span> that on a -given night they should be waiting for her where he had formerly waited. -The page, young Douglas, undertook the rest. Sunday, the 2nd May, 1568, -was the day fixed for the execution of the project. The whole household -at Loch Leven took their meals in a common hall; and while they were -together the keys of the fortress were placed on the table by the -governor’s side. At supper time on the appointed night the young page -watched his opportunity; and while he held out his plate to be filled, -he contrived to get possession of the keys without being for the moment -observed. He at once ran to Mary’s chamber and released her, and then -led her to the boat, locking every door behind him on his way to -diminish the chances of pursuit. He then threw the keys into the lake, -and took the oars, after handing the Queen and her waiting-woman into -their seats, and pulled vigorously for the shore. Before leaving the -castle he had placed a signal light in one of the windows, so that when -the Queen stepped from the boat she found her friends waiting to receive -her. She at once took horse, and accompanied by Lord Seaton, galloped -hard for that nobleman’s house at Niddry, in East Lothian, whence after -a few hours’ repose she made her way to the more strongly fortified -castle of the Hamiltons. She was received there by the Archbishop St. -Andrew’s and Lord Claude, who had gone out to meet her with fifty -horses. The news of this escape, according to Scott, spread through -Scotland with the rapidity of lightning, and the Queen was greeted -everywhere with enthusiasm. The people remembered her affability, her -grace, her beauty, and her misfortunes; and if they remembered her -errors too, it was only to say that she had been punished for them too -severely. On Sunday Mary had been a sad captive, abandoned to her -enemies in a solitary tower; and on the Saturday</p> - -<p><a name="ill_V" id="ill_V"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p044a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p044a_sml.jpg" width="450" height="283" alt="Image unavailable: Escape of Mary, Queen of Scots, from Loch Leven -Castle." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">Escape of Mary, Queen of Scots, from Loch Leven -Castle.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_045" id="page_045"></a>{45}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">following she found herself at the head of a powerful confederation, in -which nine counts, eight lords, nine bishops, and a great number of -gentlemen of the highest rank were engaged to defend her and to restore -her to her throne. But this ray of hope only illumined her sombre -destiny for an instant.</p> - -<p>The keys thrown into the lake by the page were found by a fisherman in -1805, and are now placed at Kinross. The place where the fugitive Queen -landed, on the southern shore of the lake, is still called Mary’s Knoll.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="CAUMONT_DE_LA_FORCE" id="CAUMONT_DE_LA_FORCE"></a><i>CAUMONT DE LA FORCE.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1572.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">During</span> the massacre of St. Bartholomew the murderers found their way -into the Rue de la Seine, where lived Monsieur de la Force and his two -sons, who were noted for their courageous profession of the condemned -doctrines. Monsieur de la Force was strongly urged by his brother to -escape, but he refused, because his eldest son, who had been very ill, -was not yet able to travel, and he would not leave him behind. He had -barely taken his heroic resolution before he was surrounded and made -prisoner by a band of zealots, red-handed from the work of death. They -threatened him, but desisted for a time when he offered their chief two -thousand crowns of ransom. He was then led away with his two sons to a -house in the Rue des Petits-Champs, and left there in the custody of two -Swiss soldiers, after he had given his solemn word of honour that he -would not try to escape. The soldiers felt some pity for the hapless -gentleman, and gave him to understand that<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_046" id="page_046"></a>{46}</span> they would not stand in the -way of his flight; but he was a slave to his word, and he refused either -to move himself or to allow even his youngest son to be taken to a place -of safety.</p> - -<p>On the next day, according to the Memoirs of La Force, Count Coconas, -with a party of fifty soldiers, came to the house in the Rue des -Petits-Champs, and told Monsieur de la Force that he had come to fetch -him by order of Monsieur the King’s brother. There was a purposed -vagueness in the words which did not escape the unhappy gentleman’s -notice, and he asked where he was to be taken, at the same time -beginning to make some few alterations in his dress, as if he thought it -best to pretend to believe what he had heard. But Coconas spared him -this trouble, and at the same time relieved himself of the irksomeness -of concealment, by tearing hat and cloak out of his hands before he -could put them on. Then both father and sons knew what was intended for -them, and began to prepare their minds for death. It soon became evident -that they were not being conducted to the apartments of Monsieur in the -Louvre; but when De la Force pointed this out to the escort, and -complained bitterly of the breach of faith towards him after his offer -of ransom had been accepted, they answered not a word, but pushed their -victims on towards the slaughterhouse.</p> - -<p>The father, bareheaded and without his cloak, walked first; the sons, in -the same half-naked condition, followed—the elder, who could scarcely -move, but to whom terror had given a little strength, being second; and -the younger the last in the dismal column. In this way they were taken -the entire length of the Rue des Petits-Champs, until they came to the -rampart, when the officer in charge, without <span class="pagenum"><a name="page_047" id="page_047"></a>{47}</span>a word of warning, called -out, “Kill! kill!” and in an instant, a circle of soldiers was formed -round the victims, and the daggers were at work. The eldest son fell -first with the cry, “O my God, I am dead!” The father, turning -instinctively to help him, was struck as he was bending over the body, -and fell across him—his shield even in death. The youngest son, by -nothing less than a miracle of presence of mind, repeated his brother’s -cry before a single dagger had reached him, and fell with the others, -though his skin was not so much as scratched. But his body was covered -all over with the blood that welled from their wounds, and the assassins -stripped him almost naked without once suspecting that he had not -received a mortal thrust. When they had treated all their victims in -this way, they left their naked and still warm bodies with the -contemptuous expression, “There they lie, all three.”</p> - -<p>The eldest son was quite dead; his diseased frame had probably offered -no resistance to the shock of the first blow; the father was mortally -wounded, but he lay a long while gasping out his life, while the frame -of his youngest and unhurt child, who had nestled close to him the -better to feign death, vibrated to every shudder. The child was, of -course, quite conscious, and perhaps his position was the more pitiable -of the two, for he lay side by side with death, or worse than death, -without daring to stir or to utter a single cry of horror, lest he -should bring the assassins back. He remained in this sickening -companionship till about four in the afternoon, when some persons crept -out of the neighbouring houses to look at the bodies and secure what few -valuables the soldiers had left behind. One of these marauders, a marker -at tennis, in taking off the stockings of the living child, turned him -over with his face to the sky, with the exclamation, “Alas! poor little -one, what harm has<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_048" id="page_048"></a>{48}</span> he done?” “I am not dead,” whispered young Caumont, -raising himself gently: “pray, pray, save my life!”</p> - -<p>“Hush!” said the man; “keep quiet: they are still there,” and pointing -to a group of the murderers who were still hovering about the place, he -went away, but returned after a little while, when the coast was clear, -and told the child to get up. He had brought a tattered, dirty cloak -with him, which he threw over Caumont’s naked shoulders; and in this -guise of poverty and wretchedness he drove the child before him through -the streets, pretending that he was chastising a runaway nephew who had -sold his clothes. By this ruse he contrived to pass almost unquestioned -through several groups both of citizens and of soldiers, and to lead the -boy to the miserable garret in which he and his family lived.</p> - -<p>Caumont hid himself for a while in the straw of the marker’s bed, and -tried to get a little sleep. In the meantime the man had observed that -he wore several rings of great value; and he asked for them in return -for his hospitality as soon as the child awoke. Caumont unhesitatingly -drew them one by one off his fingers with the exception of a certain -diamond, which had been his mother’s gift; and in answer to a question -by the marker’s wife, he told her why he wished to keep it. The woman -angrily replied that he ought to grudge nothing to persons who had shown -him so much kindness, and who could not afford to be out of pocket by -their good actions; and the child knowing how much he was in their -power, reluctantly yielded up the coveted reward. She then gave him a -meal of very unpalatable food, and her husband offered to guide him to -any place of safety he might select. The child at first chose the -Louvre, where his sister, Madame de Larchant, was near</p> - -<p><a name="ill_VI" id="ill_VI"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p048a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p048a_sml.jpg" width="450" height="278" alt="Image unavailable: “Hush!” said the man, “keep quiet, they are still -there.”" /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">“Hush!” said the man, “keep quiet, they are still -there.”</span> -</div> - -<p class="nind">the person of the Queen; but the man positively refused to take him -there on account of the great risk of his being recognised by some of -the guards. “Take me to the arsenal then,” said young De Caumont, “to -the house of Madame de Brisambourg, my aunt.” “Agreed,” replied the -tennis-marker; “it is a long way, but we will go round by the ramparts, -and perhaps we shall be so lucky as not to meet a single person on the -road.”</p> - -<p>Early the next morning little Caumont, once more disguised in the -dirtiest garments, and wearing a red hat bearing a leaden cross, set out -with the tennis-marker for the arsenal, which they reached without any -noteworthy incident. At the outer gate, Caumont told his guide to go no -farther, but to wait until some one should return to him with the dress -and thirty crowns. The child at the same time stood ready to enter the -arsenal, but he could not summon up courage to call out to the soldiers -to open the gate. At length, however, some one came out, and he passed -in without having to submit to the dreaded scrutiny. He traversed the -first court, and saw several people whom he thought he knew; but he was -so effectually concealed in his rags that none of them had a moment’s -suspicion of his real identity.</p> - -<p>In the massacre in which Caumont had so narrowly escaped death, a page -named La Vigerie, and called L’Auvergnat, to distinguish him from a -namesake, had met with an equally miraculous preservation. He was with -M. de la Force and his two sons in the house in the Rue des -Petits-Champs when the Count de Coconas and his party arrived; and he -was about to follow his master, when one of the Swiss soldiers said to -him, “Look out for yourself; they are going to be killed.” He -accordingly stayed behind; and as soon as the party had left he stole<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_050" id="page_050"></a>{50}</span> -quietly out of the house, and followed them at a distance without -attracting notice, for he wore the livery of the Count de la Marck, one -of the chiefs of the massacre. He watched the assassins at their bloody -work, and then hurried away to Madame de Brisambourg at the arsenal, -with the news of her brother-in-law’s death. He was kindly received, and -though the lady was well-nigh overwhelmed with grief, she took ample -measures to provide for his safety.</p> - -<p>The young De la Force had stood for some time trembling before Madame de -Brisambourg’s door, when it was opened from within, and he saw this page -standing in the entry. He called out to him, but in so weak a voice that -he was not heard, and the door was closed again. But shortly after it -opened a second time, and then he made himself heard, calling out two or -three times in the energy of his misery and his despair, “Auvergnat! -Auvergnat!” The page ran out, and for a time failed to recognise his -young master in the dirty and ill-dressed little boy who began to appeal -to him for protection. “Do you not know me, Auvergnat?” inquired the -child, looking him full in the face. The Auvergnat returned his gaze, -and when at length he found out who it was, his astonishment at this -return to life of one slain, as he thought, before his very eyes was -almost ludicrous to witness. He at once seized Caumont by the hand, and -hurried away with him to a gentleman of the household, by whom he was -taken to Madame de Brisambourg. The lady fell on his neck, and for some -time could not speak for sobs.</p> - -<p>When she was a little recovered Caumont told her his story, and her -first care was to have his dress changed, and to send back the bundle of -dirty clothes with the promised reward of thirty crowns to the -tennis-marker at the outer<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_051" id="page_051"></a>{51}</span> gate. She then had him put to bed in the -room occupied by her waiting-women. After he had slept a little he got -up, and dressing himself, by his aunt’s direction, in the livery of the -Marshal de Biron, Grand Master of the Artillery, was taken to see that -nobleman, and allowed to enter his service as a page, with the Auvergnat -for a play-fellow.</p> - -<p>He had not been more than two days in the marshal’s apartments when word -was brought that the King had heard of fugitives being concealed there, -and had directed that the place should be searched. The marshal was -greatly incensed, and he ordered four pieces of cannon to be pointed -against the principal gate of the arsenal, to repel any attempt at -intrusion. Whatever truth there may have been in this particular rumour, -the Queen-mother had certainly heard of the escape and concealment of -young De la Force; for a very few days after his arrival at the arsenal, -she sent a gentleman to the marshal’s apartments, at the instance of a -certain M. de Larchant, to demand him. While this messenger was -discharging his errand, the child was hurried away into the room of the -marshal’s daughters, and concealed between two beds, on which a few -farthingales were thrown with such an appearance of carelessness that no -one would ever have thought of looking for a fugitive there. When all -was ready, the gentleman was invited to begin his search, and he passed -through all the rooms without finding the boy. He then returned to the -Louvre, with the tidings that the Queen had been deceived by a false -rumour, greatly to the disgust and disappointment of M. de Larchant, for -it was this person in effect who had mainly instigated the Queen-mother -to order the search. He was actuated by the very vilest motives, being -next heir after the three<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_052" id="page_052"></a>{52}</span> De la Forces to a very considerable property. -His influence was all-powerful at the palace; and but for this -circumstance it is more than probable that none of that family would -have been marked for destruction at the massacre.</p> - -<p>When the Queen’s gentleman had gone, young Caumont crept out from -between the beds and went back to his old place of concealment in the -marshal’s apartments. But it was not considered prudent to let him -remain there, and the very next day, M. de Born, Lieutenant-general of -the Artillery, and a friend of his aunt, took him very secretly to his -own lodgings, where they breakfasted. M. de Born then told him that he -was to enter the service of M. Guillon, Controller of the Artillery, as -page, and that when asked his name he was to say he was son of M. de -Beaupuy, a lieutenant under the Marshal de Biron. He at the same time -cautioned him particularly against leaving the house when in M. -Guillon’s service, and against talking, lest he should by some chance -word betray the secret of his identity. The poor child promised -faithfully to observe all these directions, and was led away to the -controller’s house, trotting by the side of his new protector, who was -on horseback because he had a wooden leg, and could not walk without -pain.</p> - -<p>Arrived at the house, M. de Born delivered the child over to the -controller, in a speech full of praises of his friend’s goodness of -heart, and lamentations about the disturbed state of the country, which -made it very difficult for persons who had the care of young children -and such helpless folk to know how best to provide for their security. -M. Guillon listened, and readily undertook the charge of young De -Beaupuy, as Caumont was called. This was done simply out of his -friendship for M. de Born, for the two had been long acquainted; and the -fact that, notwithstanding<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_053" id="page_053"></a>{53}</span> this intimacy, De Born did not think fit to -entrust him with the whole secret, may serve to show in what extreme -peril the young fugitive was judged to be. Guillon guessed it, -nevertheless, from the evident anxiety of his friend, or at least he had -a pretty shrewd suspicion that he had not heard all the truth.</p> - -<p>Caumont had been some seven or eight days with the controller, and had -not failed to do everything M. de Born had told him. His master came -home every day to dinner, and it was the new page’s business to let him -in; but one day opening the door in answer to a knock at the usual hour, -Caumont was surprised to see, in place of M. Guillon, a person he had -formerly known. He hastily shut the door in great terror; but the new -comer only knocked more loudly than before, and called out that he had a -very urgent message to deliver from Madame de Brisambourg. When he had -thus gained admittance, he told the child that Madame de Brisambourg had -sent him to say that she was in great trouble about her nephew, and -wished to have news of him. This said he went away, and the terrified -boy still suspecting him, jumped on horseback immediately, and rode to -M. de Born to tell him what had happened. M. de Born took him to Madame -de Brisambourg for an explanation, but the lady was equally astonished -with himself, and said that no messenger had been sent by her.</p> - -<p>The peril was immediate, and a council of the child’s friends was held -without delay. It was seen that in the neighbourhood in which he then -was, the safety of the little fugitive could no longer be reckoned on, -and it was resolved to dispatch him into a distant part of the country. -The marshal was accordingly prevailed on to apply to the King for a -passport for his house-steward, whom he was<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_054" id="page_054"></a>{54}</span> sending with a page to -Guyenne, to look after his affairs in that province. The request was -granted; a trusty gentleman of the marshal’s personated the -house-steward, and the page was, of course, no other than the poor -hunted child. They set out, and thanks to M. de Born, passed safely -through the gates of Paris; but when they were about a two days’ journey -from the capital, the child was horrified at the sight of a fellow -wearing his father’s dressing-gown, whom he recognised as one of the -executioners of the Rue des Petits-Champs. The wretch was boasting of -his exploits, but some chance words dropped by him acquainted Caumont -with the fact that his uncle, with about a hundred of his gentlemen, had -escaped the massacre. Farther on their guide put them all in great peril -by his imprudence, in publicly condemning the massacre in a little inn -in which they stayed. At length, after having escaped many dangers, they -arrived on the eighth day of their journey at the chateau of -Castelnaut-des-Mirandes, in Guyenne, where the child was received in the -arms of his uncle, with every demonstration of gratitude and joy, and -where he found plenty, peace, and security awaiting him after all his -troubles. (<i>Memoirs of Caumont de la Force.</i>)</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="CHARLES_DE_GUISE" id="CHARLES_DE_GUISE"></a><i>CHARLES DE GUISE.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1591.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Charles de Guise</span>, eldest Son of Henry de Guise, who was assassinated at -Blois, was arrested at the death of his father, in 1588, and confined in -the chateau of Tours. He remained there three years (till 1591) before -he could make his escape.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_055" id="page_055"></a>{55}</span></p> - -<p>“The duke,” says the president De Thou, had taken counsel with Claude de -la Chastre and his son, and had resolved to make an effort for liberty -on August 15th, the fête of the Virgin. He took the communion on that -day, in order to deceive his guards and to remove all suspicion of his -intention from their minds. He had remarked that it was their custom to -close the doors after dinner, and to take the keys to the sheriff. On -August 15th, accordingly, when the men were seated at their meal in the -large hall, he quietly locked them in, and ran with great speed to the -top of a high tower which lay nearest to the bridge beyond the city, -first taking care to bolt the door behind him.</p> - -<p>“Everything succeeded according to his wish. His trusty valet, who aided -him on the occasion, was waiting for him at the top of the tower, -holding a cord in his hand, with a piece of wood tied transversely to -the end of it, to form a seat for the duke and facilitate his descent. -When all was ready the valet let the cord go gently, and his master -reached the ground in safety. The man then fastened the rope firmly to a -stake, and at greater peril followed the duke, who had already hurried -away along the course of the river, and whom he did not overtake till he -reached Saint-Côme.</p> - -<p>“The guards were in great consternation. Rouvray, the Governor of Tours, -sent the news of the escape in all directions, with orders to the -neighbouring population to take up arms and put themselves on the track -of the fugitives. He had previously broken open the door of the tower; -but the men employed in the work, finding no traces of their former -prisoner, joined their companions, who were running wildly about the -city. A great deal of time was wasted in the search for the keys of the -bridge<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_056" id="page_056"></a>{56}</span> gate and the various doors of the chateau, for all the doors -were opened at hazard, as it was not known what direction the fugitives -had taken.”</p> - -<p>“As soon as the duke reached the ground,” says Davila, “he took the road -into the country by the Loire, and soon found two men holding a horse -ready for him to mount. Galloping hard, he presently joined the Baron de -Maison, son of the Lord de la Chastre, who, with three hundred horsemen, -attended him beyond the Cher, and who sent the escort on with him to -Bourges, where he not only found safety but was received with every -demonstration of joy.” (<i>Ludovic Lalanne: Curiosities of Biography.</i>)</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="MARY_DE_MEDICIS" id="MARY_DE_MEDICIS"></a><i>MARY DE’ MEDICIS.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1619.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Mary de’ Medicis</span>, after the assassination of her favourite, Concini, -seeing herself shut out from all participation in affairs by the -intrigues of Luynes, asked for and obtained permission to retire to -Blois (May, 1617), where she soon became a prisoner. Luynes surrounded -her with spies, and placed two companies of cavalry in the neighbouring -villages, with orders to watch her slightest movements. But the Duke -d’Épernon and other malcontent lords, who had retired from the court, -wishing to give more importance to their party, sought to deliver the -Queen-mother and to place her at their head.</p> - -<p>M. d’Épernon was chiefly urged on to this enterprise by a devoted -adherent of the Queen-mother, named De Ruccellai, who had no other -thought than how to serve his mistress, and no other inspiration than a -passionate desire<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_057" id="page_057"></a>{57}</span> to see her at liberty. After long meditation over -various plans, Ruccellai thought that no person could be made so useful -to him as M. de Bouillon, on account both of that nobleman’s reputation -among all classes of his countrymen, particularly among the Huguenots, -and of the security which was afforded by his retreat at Sedan. He -accordingly made a secret journey to Blois, and obtained the -Queen-mother’s permission to speak to M. de Bouillon, and to promise him -whatever might be necessary, in her name. He then sought out M. de -Bouillon, but at very great peril, for he was obliged to travel by night -and alone, for fear of being discovered. M. de Bouillon, however, -excused himself from all participation in the design on account of his -age, his infirmities, and his good understanding with the King, which he -was unwilling to risk, as he had no other wish than to enjoy the -benefits of that mercy which had been extended to him after the death of -Marshal d’Ancre, and to end his days in peace. He, however, referred the -Queen-mother’s messenger to M. d’Épernon, who, being extremely -ill-satisfied with De Luynes, and having, besides, a number of large -establishments in the kingdom, would be likely to prove far more -serviceable in the cause than himself.</p> - -<p>Ruccellai, having written to the Queen-mother and obtained her consent -to this change of plan, laid his proposals before M. d’Épernon. The -latter at first received them with some suspicion, but he was finally -won over. At the end of a secret conference at his house, which lasted -several days, he authorised Ruccellai to tell the Queen that if she -could once contrive to escape from the chateau, and to pass the bridge -on the Loire, he would await her arrival on the other side of the river, -with such an escort as would<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_058" id="page_058"></a>{58}</span> conduct her safely, in spite of every -obstacle, to Angoulême, or any other part of the kingdom to which she -might choose to go. The Queen replied that nothing would be more easy; -and Ruccellai pressed D’Épernon to hasten the execution of his part of -the plan; but the latter insisted on putting off the enterprise till the -February of the following year.</p> - -<p>De Luynes, ever suspicious, and wishing to discover the real feelings of -the Queen, sent one of his creatures to her, to say that the King was -shortly going to Blois, and that he would fetch her away with him. The -envoy also made repeated protestations of service on the part of De -Luynes, and assured the Queen that she would in future be treated -exactly in accordance with her own desires; but he never failed, while -proffering these services, to narrowly watch the countenances of the -Queen and all who approached her, to gather what he could of their real -feelings. But not one of the Queen’s people was yet aware of her design; -and as she had already sworn without scruple, so she did not hesitate to -swear again, and that so well, that the agent of De Luynes went back -firmly persuaded that she was impatient for the coming of the King, and -was perfectly ready to be on good terms with his master and forget -everything.</p> - -<p>D’Épernon, having completed his measures, went to Confolens, where the -Archbishop of Toulouse was waiting for him, with two hundred of his -friends; but he did not find the expected news of the Queen-mother. He -had, however, gone too far to recede; and he at once sent M. du Plessis -to the Queen, to warn her of his arrival and to learn her wishes. When -M. du Plessis had delivered his message, the Queen decided on setting -out that same night.</p> - -<p>She then for the first time took others into her confidence, and broke -the matter to the Count de Brennes, her master<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_059" id="page_059"></a>{59}</span> of the horse, to M. de -Merçay, and another officer of her body guard, and to the Signora -Caterine, her woman of the bedchamber. She ordered the Count de Brennes -to be at the door of her room at five the next morning, and to see that -her travelling chariot with six horses was at the same time beyond the -bridge. The others she kept with her all night, to pack up her jewels -and wearing apparel.</p> - -<p>With these three gentlemen then, and a single woman of the bedchamber, -she left the place on the 22nd of February, at six in the morning, by -the window of a room looking out upon the terrace, from which, owing to -a broken wall, it was easy to reach the ground without passing by the -door of the chateau. After the Queen had let herself glide down this -ruin, and had regained her feet, she made her way to the bridge, where -she met two men, one of whom, seeing her almost alone at that early -hour, passed a very uncharitable judgment upon her. The other, however, -recognised her, guessed her purpose, and wished her “God speed.”</p> - -<p>On the other side of the bridge she found her carriage, and entering it, -with her attendants she went to Montrichard, where she came up with one -of her gentlemen, who had preceded her to make sure of the passage of -the Cher. She remained there two days, during which time she wrote to -the King, and then she set out for Angoulême.</p> - -<p>After long conferences and innumerable intrigues, in which De Luynes and -Richelieu, then Bishop of Luçon, displayed all their ability, Mary de’ -Medicis, seeing all her partisans abandoning her interests in their -anxiety to carry on a quarrel among themselves, left Angoulême for -Tours, where Louis XIII. and Anne of Austria were waiting for her. They -received her at about two leagues from the city, and lavished upon her -the most affectionate caresses. She<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_060" id="page_060"></a>{60}</span> passed seven or eight days with -them, and then withdrew for a time to Chinon, until the preparations -were completed for her grand entry into Angers.—(<i>Memoirs of -Fontenay-Mareuil.</i>)</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="GROTIUS" id="GROTIUS"></a><i>GROTIUS.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1621.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Grotius</span> was involved in the ruin of Barneveldt, for whom he had a very -great admiration, and whose partisan he had been; and was sentenced to -perpetual imprisonment, and the confiscation of all his property. He was -confined in the castle of Louvenstein, near Gorcum. This was in 1619, -when he was in his thirty-sixth year. He was very closely guarded, and -the only consolation he enjoyed was that of the company of his wife, -Marie de Reygesberg, who had obtained permission to visit him. The boon -was accompanied by this cruel condition, that if she left the prison she -would not be allowed to return to it. After a time, however, the -severity of this rule was slightly relaxed, and she was allowed to leave -the place twice a week.</p> - -<p>Grotius had been some eighteen months at Louvenstein, when Muys van -Holi, one of his declared enemies, who had also been one of his judges, -warned the States-General that he had received certain information of -the prisoner’s intention to escape. An agent was at once sent to the -castle, to examine into the truth of the report, but he returned without -having been able to find anything in confirmation of it. It was, -however, so far true, that Marie de Reygesberg was constantly occupied -with a design for effecting her husband’s liberation.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_061" id="page_061"></a>{61}</span></p> - -<p>The prisoner had been allowed to borrow books of his friends, and when -he had read them they were sent away in a large trunk, together with his -linen, which was washed at Gorcum. During the first year the guards had -never once failed to make a close search of this trunk whenever it was -sent out of the prison; but tired at length of turning over nothing but -dirty linen and books, they used to allow it to pass without -examination. Their negligence did not escape the notice of the -prisoner’s wife, and it occurred to her that she might take advantage of -it. She discussed her plans with her husband, and persuaded him to let -himself be shut up in the trunk, first taking care to bore several small -holes in it at either end for the admission of air. When all was ready, -the intended escape was rehearsed. The prisoner was shut up in the trunk -during the time usually occupied by the journey to Gorcum, and this -experiment was repeated several times, until he had grown tolerably -accustomed to all the inconveniences of the situation. The adventurous -pair then awaited nothing but a favourable moment for carrying out their -design.</p> - -<p>This soon came: the commandant of the fortress left the place for a -short time on business; and before his departure the brave wife sought -an interview with him, and obtained his permission to send away the -trunk full of books, alleging as a reason that her husband being very -weak, she wished to place the temptation to study beyond his reach. On -leaving the commandant she immediately returned to the apartment -occupied by Grotius, and shut him up in the trunk. His valet and a -female servant were in the secret, and she caused them to spread the -report of her husband’s illness among the soldiers, so that his -temporary absence from his accustomed place of resort within<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_062" id="page_062"></a>{62}</span> the castle -might occasion no surprise. Two soldiers were then brought in to carry -the trunk, and one of them finding it very heavy, observed: “There must -be an Arminian inside,” in allusion to the sect, flourishing at this -epoch, to which Grotius belonged. The wife replied calmly, “In truth -there are some Arminian books.” The chest was then lowered to the ground -by means of a ladder, though not without great difficulty. The soldier -who had found it too heavy was by no means satisfied with the -explanation he had received; and he insisted that the trunk should be -opened, in order that he might see what it really contained. He even -went so far as to communicate his suspicions to the wife of the -commandant, but the lady, either through negligence, or with the -deliberate intention of refusing to notice what she had no desire to -see, declined to listen to him. She replied, that the trunk contained -nothing but books, as the wife of Grotius had assured her, and that it -might be taken to the boat. This was done, and the female servant was -allowed to take charge of it and to convey it to a certain house in -Gorcum, as she had been ordered to do. She steadily refused, on its -arrival at the landing-place, to have it placed on a sledge along with -the rest of the luggage, on the ground that it was full of very fragile -articles, which might easily be damaged. It was accordingly lifted into -a hand barrow, and wheeled to the house of David Dazelaër, a friend of -Grotius, and a relation of Marie de Reygesberg. When the woman found -herself alone with her charge, she lifted the lid of the chest, and her -master leaped out safe and sound, though he had suffered somewhat from -his long confinement in a space three feet and a half in length. He at -once assumed the dress of a mason; and taking a rule and trowel in his -hand, he left the house by a back door</p> - -<p><a name="ill_VII" id="ill_VII"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p062a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p062a_sml.jpg" width="287" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: She lifted the lid of the chest, and her master leaped -out safe and sound." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">She lifted the lid of the chest, and her master leaped -out safe and sound.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_063" id="page_063"></a>{63}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">and made his way across the square of Gorcum to a gate of the city -leading to the river. Here he again took boat and went to Valvic, in -Brabant, whence, after making himself known to some Arminian friends, he -set out by coach for Anvers, using great precautions on the way to -prevent discovery.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, the report of his illness was still current at Louvenstein; -and his wife, in order to gain time for him, assured every one that he -was in great danger. As soon, however, as she learned, by the return of -the servant, that he had reached Brabant, and was, consequently, in -safety, she boldly told the guards that their bird had flown. The -commandant, who had just returned, ran at once to the prisoner’s -apartment and ordered the courageous woman to say where her husband was -hidden. She suffered him to spend some time in a fruitless search, and -then informed him of the stratagem by which he had been duped. She was -at once imprisoned, more rigorously than ever Grotius had been; but she -petitioned the States-General, and in a few days was permitted to rejoin -the husband for whose liberty she had risked so much.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="ISAAC_ARNAULD" id="ISAAC_ARNAULD"></a><i>ISAAC ARNAULD.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1635.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">During</span> the winter of 1635, Isaac Arnauld was governor of Philipsburg—a -place well fortified by earthworks and a large ditch (the water of which -was constantly frozen), but very insufficiently garrisoned. “The -Imperialists, who were well informed of everything,” says the Abbé -Arnauld, in his “Memoirs,” “had little difficulty in forming their plan -of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_064" id="page_064"></a>{64}</span> attack and putting it into execution.” When they entered the place -they found the garrison under arms, but too weak to sustain a general -assault. All the courage and conduct of the governor availed him nothing -but to make a desperate defence and to sell his liberty dearly, after -nearly all the garrison had been put to the sword. He was obliged to -surrender, with a few companions who survived the slaughter; and after -having been imprisoned in several places, was at length taken to -Esslingen.</p> - -<p>To add to the miseries of his situation, he was doomed to hear that he -was openly accused, at the Court of France, of having lost Philipsburg -by his negligence. From that moment he had but one thought—namely, how -he could escape and clear his character before his sovereign; and with -this view he steadily refused to become a prisoner on parole. His design -was not easy of execution, for he was constantly guarded by soldiers, -who accompanied him, even in his walks in the grounds of the fortress, -and slept outside the door of his room at night. These difficulties, -however, served only to give a stimulus to his invention. He carefully -measured with his eye the exact height of his window which opened on the -ditch of the fortress, and he became convinced that he had only to make -the descent in safety to gain his liberty. He began by gaining the -connivance of some French cavalry soldiers who were in the service of -the Emperor, with the promise of giving them employment in his own -regiment of carabineers, on his return to France; and he afterwards kept -his word. The great and almost the only difficulty was to find rope for -the descent, for there was but little to fear from the watchfulness of -the garrison, the ditch beneath his window being very poorly guarded. To -that end he always urged his confederates, when<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_065" id="page_065"></a>{65}</span> he was taking exercise, -to pretend to be amusing themselves with various games, which they were -always the more ready to do as he never failed to encourage them with -liberal supplies of drink. After a short time, indeed, they proposed the -games themselves, and seemed to take a real pleasure in them. One of -these games, called Girding the Ass, was peculiarly favourable to his -design, for it involved the use of a cord for binding the principal -player. Arnauld always found a piece of silver for the purchase of this -cord, and never asked for the change. When the game was over, the cord, -being too small to seem worth keeping, used to be thrown away, and those -who were in the prisoner’s interest took care to pick it up and give it -him without attracting attention. When he had as many pieces as he -judged necessary for his purpose, he put his scheme into execution, and -escaped with the soldiers who had helped him; and he used such diligence -that his friends first received the news of his liberty from his own -lips.</p> - -<p>On his arrival at Paris he constituted himself, by his own act, a -prisoner in the Bastille, and demanded a full inquiry into the -allegations against him. He remained there several months, until he had -cleared his character, and he then consented to be set free. (<i>Memoirs -of the Abbé Arnauld.</i>)</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="THE_DUKE_OF_BEAUFORT" id="THE_DUKE_OF_BEAUFORT"></a><i>THE DUKE OF BEAUFORT.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1648.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">The</span> Duke of Beaufort, one of the chiefs of the party of the Fronde, was -accused of having tried to assassinate Cardinal Mazarin, and was -arrested at the Louvre, by order of Anne of Austria, and imprisoned in -the tower of Vincennes. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_066" id="page_066"></a>{66}</span> remained there five years, but at length -made his escape by the aid of his friends. The story is best told in the -words of Madame de Motteville:—</p> - -<p>“On the Day of Pentecost, the 1st of June, 1648, the Duke of Beaufort, -who had been confined for five years at Vincennes, escaped from his -prison at about twelve at noon. He found means to break his fetters, -through the skill of his friends and of some of his own people, who -served him faithfully on this occasion. He was closely watched by an -officer of the body-guard, and by seven or eight soldiers, who slept in -his room and had orders never to lose sight of him. He was waited on, -besides, by the King’s own servants, and was not allowed to have one of -his own men near him; and, moreover, Chavigny, the Governor of -Vincennes, was unfriendly to him. The officer in charge of him, La -Ramée, yielding to the request of some companions, had secretly given an -asylum in the prison to a certain person, who alleged that he had fought -a duel and that he wished to escape the penalty of his offence. There is -some reason, however, to believe that he had been taken to Vincennes by -the creatures of Beaufort, and probably with the knowledge of the -officer; but I cannot speak positively as to this circumstance, and I am -unwilling to deceive myself by mere appearances.</p> - -<p>“At first this man, willing to make himself useful, played more zeal -than any one else in his self-imposed service of watching the prisoner, -and even did not shrink from rudeness, as the Queen was informed when -this story was told to her. But whether he was at first there for the -Duke of Beaufort, or against him, he presently allowed himself to be -gained over by that prince, and he became useful to him by communicating -with his friend and informing<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_067" id="page_067"></a>{67}</span> him of the schemes that were on foot for -his release. When the time was ripe for the execution of their designs, -the confederates expressly chose the Day of Pentecost, because every one -was engaged in Divine service during that solemn fête. While the guards -were at dinner, the Duke of Beaufort asked La Ramée to allow him to take -a walk in a gallery, to which he had sometimes been permitted to have -access. This gallery, although lower than the donjon in which the duke -was confined, was, nevertheless, at a great height from the ditch, on -which it looked. La Ramée followed his prisoner in his walk, and -remained alone with him in the gallery. Meanwhile, the man whom the duke -had gained had gone to dinner with the others, but, after taking a -little wine, he feigned illness and left the table, as though to seek -the fresh air of the gallery, taking care, on his way, to fasten several -doors that were between his companions and their prisoner. As soon as he -had joined the duke, the two threw themselves upon La Ramée so suddenly -that he had not time to cry out. He was easily overpowered, for the duke -alone was a very strong man. They were unwilling to take his life, -though prudence might have dictated that course; but they gagged and -bound him very securely, and left him on the floor. They then tied a -cord to the window and slid, one after the other, to the ground, the man -going first, as the one who would have been the most severely punished -if their flight had been prevented. The depth of the ditch is so great, -that although their rope was a very long one, they were obliged to drop -a considerable distance. The servant suffered no injury from the fall, -but the duke came to the earth with such violence that he fainted, and -it took some time to bring him to himself. When he was sufficiently<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_068" id="page_068"></a>{68}</span> -recovered, four or five of his people, who were on the other side of the -ditch, and who had witnessed his sufferings with an anxiety that may -easily be conceived, threw another rope to the fugitives, and by means -of it drew them up by sheer force of arm to their own side—the servant -taking precedence of his master, as before, in accordance with the -engagement between them, which the duke most faithfully observed -throughout the affair. When he reached the bank, the duke was in a very -poor plight, for he had not only been wounded in falling, but his flesh -had been cruelly pressed and cut by the tightened rope. But having a -little recovered his strength, as much by his own natural force of will -as by his fear of losing the reward of all his exertions, he raised -himself and walked into a neighbouring wood, where he found a troop of -fifty horsemen ready to do his bidding. One of his gentlemen, who was -with him at the time, has since told me that the duke’s joy at seeing -himself again at liberty and among his friends was such that it seemed -to cure him in an instant, and that he leaped on horseback and vanished -like a flash of lightning, as though he were mad with joy at the idea of -being able to breathe the air without restraint, and to say with King -Francis, when he set foot in France, on his return from Spain, ‘I am -free!’ A woman gathering herbs by the side of the ditch, with her little -son, saw all that passed; but the men in ambush had so threatened them, -and they had besides, so little interest in preventing the escape of the -duke, that they were perfectly still and became passive spectators of -all that passed. As soon, however, as the fugitives were gone the woman -ran with the news to her husband, the gardener of the place, and the two -together alarmed the guard. But it was too late; it was not for man to -change what God had ordained, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_069" id="page_069"></a>{69}</span> the stars, which seem sometimes to -register the decrees of sovereigns, had already informed many persons, -through an astrologer, named Goësel, that the duke would leave the -chateau that very day. The news had a great effect on the whole court, -and particularly on those who knew something of the duke’s plans. The -minister was, no doubt, a good deal annoyed at the success of the little -plot; but, true to his old habit, he did not make any display of his -feelings.”</p> - -<p>Madame de Motteville afterwards adds, “The Queen and Cardinal Mazarin -talk very good-naturedly about it, and say laughingly, that M. de -Beaufort has done right.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="CARDINAL_DE_RETZ" id="CARDINAL_DE_RETZ"></a><i>CARDINAL DE RETZ.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1654.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">In</span> December, 1652, Cardinal de Retz, who had played so considerable a -part in the troubles of the Fronde, was wasting his time in fruitless -negotiations with the ministers, when he was arrested at the Louvre and -taken to Vincennes. He did not like his prison, and he had therefore to -do what was very distasteful to him—namely, to make a humble appeal to -the Archbishop of Paris, ere he could procure his transfer to the -Chateau of Nantes, then under the governorship of Chalucet. From thence -in due time he made his escape; and he gives us the following account of -the exploit in his memoirs:—</p> - -<p>“The Marshal de la Meilleraye and the First President de Bellièvre came -together to fetch me from Vincennes. As the marshal was a martyr to the -gout he could not come upstairs, so that M. Bellièvre alone came to my -room, and this gave him an opportunity to tell me, as we were leaving<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_070" id="page_070"></a>{70}</span> -it together, that I was to be sure not to give my parole when I was -asked for it. I had no sooner reached the bottom of the staircase than -the marshal demanded this pledge. I replied, that though I had heard of -prisoners of war being required to give their parole, I did not know -that the demand was customary in the case of prisoners of state. M. de -Bellièvre then struck in on my side and said, ‘You don’t understand one -another. The cardinal will not refuse to give his word provided only -that you (turning to the marshal) confide absolutely in him, and let him -walk about without guards; but if you guard him, monsieur, of what use -will his parole be, for a man who is guarded is free from all -obligations of honour?’</p> - -<p>“The First President knew very well what he was about in saying this, -for he had heard the Queen make the marshal promise that they should -never lose sight of me. ‘You know,’ replied the marshal, looking M. de -Bellièvre in the face, ‘whether or not I am able to do what you propose. -But come,’ he continued, turning to me, ‘I must guard you, then, it -seems; however, I will take care that you have nothing to complain of.’</p> - -<p>“I remained there simply under the charge of M. de la Meilleraye, and he -kept his word, for it would have been impossible to add to the kindness -with which he treated me. I saw everybody; I had even all the amusements -I desired, including a comedy almost every evening. All the ladies were -there, and they supped with me very often. The fidelity of the guards to -their trust was equal to their good nature. They never lost sight of me -except when I entered my room, and the only door of this room was -watched by six men, day and night. The window—a very high one—looked -out on a courtyard, always filled with soldiers, and the six<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_071" id="page_071"></a>{71}</span> men -appointed to look after me used to watch me from a terrace when I was -taking exercise in a little garden planted in a kind of bastion or -ravelin on a level with the water.</p> - -<p>“I resolved, however, to devote all my energies to the recovery of my -liberty. The First President urged me very strongly to make the attempt, -and Montresor had sent me, through a lady of Nantes, a note containing -the following words:—‘You are to be taken to Brest at the end of the -month, if you don’t get away.’ But my task was by no means an easy one. -The first thing was to amuse the marshal, and in doing that I did not -forget that the most suspicious persons are often the most easily duped. -I then spoke to M. de Brissac, who made journeys to Nantes from time to -time, and who promised to help me. As he carried a great deal with him -he invariably had a number of mules in his train, and it occurred to me -that I might easily hide myself in one of the large trunks fastened to -these creatures’ backs. A trunk was accordingly made for me somewhat -larger than the rest, and with a hole or two in it to admit air. I tried -it myself, and came to the conclusion that this means of escape was not -only practicable, but that it was as easy as it was simple, and that it -would not oblige me to share my secret with many persons.</p> - -<p>“M. de Brissac, too, was very much in favour of it at first, but in the -course of a journey to Machecoul he quite changed his opinion. On his -return to Nantes he assured me that I could not fail to be suffocated in -the trunk; but to convince me that his good intentions on my behalf -remained the same, he told me that if I devised some other plan I might -reckon on very effectual help from him in all that concerned the outside -of the castle. We therefore began to take new measures on a plan which I -formed myself the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_072" id="page_072"></a>{72}</span> moment I became convinced that the other one could -not be put into execution.</p> - -<p>“I have already said that I used sometimes to take exercise on a kind of -ravelin that gives on the river Loire. As we were in the month of -August, and the river was very dry, the water did not quite touch the -wall of the ravelin, but left a long strip of shore visible at the foot -of it. Between the garden which was on the top of this bastion and the -terrace where my guards took their station, there was a door, which -Chalucet had had made to prevent the soldiers from stealing his grapes. -This circumstance shaped my plan, which was to quietly fasten the door -after me one day without letting the guards observe what I was doing, -and then, while they could still see me through the open trellis-work, -without being able to reach me if their suspicions should be aroused, to -drop down from the wall by means of a rope provided for me by my doctor -and the Abbé Rousseau, and to jump on horseback at the bottom of the -ravelin with four gentlemen, whom I intended to make the companions of -my flight. This plan was, of course, very difficult of execution. It -could only be carried out in open day, between two sentries standing but -thirty paces apart, and in full view of the six guards who could fire at -me through the openings in the trellis-work. It was necessary again that -the four gentlemen who were to accompany me and to favour my escape -should be careful to be at the foot of the ravelin at exactly the proper -time, for their presence there a moment too early would excite -suspicions that might ruin all. If my object had merely been to get out -of prison it would have been enough for me to have taken only such -measures as I have already indicated; but I had very much more to do -besides, for it was my intention to make my way to Paris and to appear -there in<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_073" id="page_073"></a>{73}</span> public. And more than that, I had other pretensions that -entailed difficulties of a still more formidable nature. It was -desirable that I should travel from Nantes to Paris by diligence, for -the couriers of the marshal would be certain to carry the alarm along -every road, and it would be impossible for me to avoid observation and -arrest if I travelled alone. And lastly, I should have to take care to -inform my friends in Paris of my intentions while keeping my enemies -there in ignorance of them. No event of our time would be more -extraordinary than the success of an escape like mine, if the end of it -were at the same time to free me from my fetters and to make me master -of the capital of the kingdom.</p> - -<p>“I began my flight on Saturday the 8th of April, at five o’clock in the -evening. The little garden door closed, so to speak, quite naturally -after me, and I slid down easily (with a stick between my legs) from the -bastion, which was forty feet high. My valet de chambre, Fromentin, who -is with me still, kept the guards occupied by giving them drink, and -they became quite absorbed in the amusement of watching a Jacobin, who -had got out of his depth in the river and was drowning under the castle -walls. The sentinel who was but seventy paces from me, but in such a -position that he could not reach me, hesitated to fire, because the -moment I saw him getting his match ready I called out to him that he -would be hanged if he did me harm, and he afterwards declared that this -led him to believe I was escaping with the connivance of the marshal. -Two little pages, who were bathing, and who saw me hanging by the rope, -cried out lustily that I was trying to get away, but no attention was -paid to them, because it was thought that they were merely calling for -help for the drowning Jacobin. The four gentlemen were waiting for me at -the bottom of the ravelin, where<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_074" id="page_074"></a>{74}</span> they pretended to be watering their -horses as though they were just getting ready for the chase. To be -brief, I was on horseback myself before the least alarm had been given, -and as I had forty relays placed between Nantes and Paris, I should -infallibly have reached the capital had not an accident occurred which I -may say has exercised a fatal influence over the rest of my life.</p> - -<p>“The moment I got to horse I took the road to Mauve—which is, if I am -not mistaken, at about five leagues from Nantes by the river. It was -agreed that M. de Brissac and the Chevalier de Sévigné should be in -readiness there with a boat to carry me over. La Ralde, master of the -horse to the Duke de Brissac, who preceded me, told me that I must -gallop very fast, so as not to give the marshal’s guards time to close -the gate of a little street in their quarter through which we should -have to pass. I was mounted on one of the best horses in the world, -which had cost M. de Brissac a thousand crowns, but I did not let him -have his head, because the pavement was very bad and very slippery. We -were making great speed when one of my gentlemen having suddenly warned -me to take to my pistols because two of the marshal’s guards were -approaching—who, however, were not paying the least attention to us—I -unfortunately followed his advice, and was in the act of presenting the -pistol at the nearest guard, when it exploded and frightened my horse, -which reared and threw me. I fell with great violence against a -door-post and broke my left shoulder. Another of my gentlemen, named -Beauchesne, lifted me up and put me on horseback again: and though I -endured such frightful sufferings that I was obliged every now and then -to pull my hair to save myself from fainting, I finished my ride of five -leagues before the grand-master,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_075" id="page_075"></a>{75}</span> who followed at full speed with all -the couriers of Nantes, could come up with me. I found M. de Brissac and -the Chevalier de Sévigné at the appointed place by the river, but I -fainted the moment I entered the boat. They brought me to myself by -throwing water in my face. I wanted to get on horseback again when we -had passed the river, but I lacked the strength; and Monsieur de Brissac -was obliged to put me in a stack of hay, where he left me with one of my -gentlemen, named Montet, who held me in his arms. He took Joly away with -him, who, with Montet, had alone been able to follow us, the horses of -the others having broken down: and he went straight to Beaupreau, with -the intention of assembling the nobility there to come to my aid.</p> - -<p>“I was hidden there above seven hours, suffering agonies such as I can -hardly describe. My shoulder was put out of joint, and I was covered -with terrible bruises. I was seized with a fever at about nine o’clock -in the evening, and the pain that gave me was cruelly aggravated by the -heat of the hay. I did not dare drink, although I was on the bank of the -river, because if Montet and I had quitted our hiding-place there would -have been no one to arrange the hay after us; and this circumstance -would have put our pursuers on our track. As it was, we heard the -horse-soldiers passing to right and left of us. M. de la Poise St. -Offanges, a gentleman of some distinction in the district, whom M. de -Brissac had informed of my plight, came at about two o’clock in the -morning to take me away from the stack as soon as he had remarked that -there were no more horse-soldiers in the neighbourhood.</p> - -<p>“Monsieur d’Offanges put me upon a hand-barrow and had me wheeled by two -peasants to a barn at about two<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_076" id="page_076"></a>{76}</span> leagues from the place, where I was -again covered with hay; but as I now had something to drink I found -myself in a state of almost perfect comfort.</p> - -<p>“In about seven or eight hours Monsieur and Madame Brissac came to fetch -me with about fifteen or twenty horses, and they took me to Beaupreau, -where I only remained one night, while the nobility were being called -together. In this short time M. de Brissac had assembled more than two -hundred gentlemen, who were joined at about four leagues from the place -by three hundred gentlemen under M. de Retz. We passed almost within -sight of Nantes, from which place some of the marshal’s guards came to -intercept us. They were vigorously repulsed and driven within the -barrier, and we arrived at Machecoul, which is in the district of De -Retz, in perfect safety.”</p> - -<p>From Machecoul, Cardinal de Retz was taken, not without difficulty, to -Belle-Isle; and some days after he reached San Sebastian, whence he went -with Spanish passports to Rome. (<i>Memoirs of Cardinal de Retz.</i>)</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="QUIQUERAN_DE_BEAUJEU" id="QUIQUERAN_DE_BEAUJEU"></a><i>QUIQUÉRAN DE BEAUJEU.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1671.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Paul-Antoine Quiquéran de Beaujeu</span>, Knight of Malta, had acquired the -reputation of one of the first seamen of his time by the number and -success of his fights against the Turks. In the month of January, 1660, -he was driven by a storm into one of the worst ports of the Archipelago, -where he was blockaded and attacked by thirty galleys of Rhodes, -commanded by the Capitan Pacha Mazamet in person. He stood out against -an overpowering fire for an entire day,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_077" id="page_077"></a>{77}</span> and only yielded when he had -spent all his ammunition and lost three-fourths of his crew. He was put -into irons and carried away in triumph; but the victorious fleet was -assailed with a new storm of such violence that Mazamet was obliged to -have recourse to the superior seamanship of his captive. M. de Beaujeu -saved him, and so won the gratitude of the Turk that the latter, with a -view to rescue his preserver, placed him for concealment among the -lowest slaves. The grand vizier, however, who had probably been informed -of this stratagem, demanded the illustrious prisoner by name; and -recognising Beaujeu by his haughty air, he picked him out from among the -slaves and sent him to the Seven Towers, bidding him give up all hope of -ransom or of exchange. The Porte rejected every proposal made for his -release, although the King interceded for him, and the Venetians sought -in vain to have his name included in the terms of the Treaty of Candia. -One of his nephews, about twenty-two years of age, then formed a plan -for effecting his release and he executed it in the most brilliant and -successful manner. He first went to Constantinople with M. de Nointel, -the ambassador of France, and there he was allowed to see the -prisoner—that permission being freely granted to every one on account -of the supposed safety of the place. No other precaution was taken than -that of searching the visitors, who were obliged, before seeing the -prisoners, to give up their arms, their pocket-knives, and even their -keys.</p> - -<p>M. de Beaujeu was at first alarmed at a proposal which threatened to -have very dangerous results; but eleven years of imprisonment, his -natural taste for hazardous enterprises, and the contagious example of -the young man’s courage and enthusiasm soon decided him to give his -consent to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_078" id="page_078"></a>{78}</span> attempt. His nephew then began to carry him at each -visit a small piece of rope, which he placed round his body; and when he -thought he had enough of it for his purpose, he fixed on the day, the -hour, and the signal for his departure. When the signal was given, the -chevalier slid down from the walls; but finding the rope somewhat too -short, he let himself drop into the sea, which washes the base of the -Seven Towers. The splash of the falling body was heard by some Turks -passing in a brigantine, and they made towards the fugitive; but the -nephew, reaching him first in a well-armed skiff, drove them off, picked -up his uncle, and took him on board one of the King’s ships, commanded -by his friend the Count d’Apremont. The vessel carried him safely to -France, where he lived a long while in the bosom of his family, as -Commandant of Bordeaux.</p> - -<p>The Governor of the Seven Towers was put to death for permitting his -escape.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="CHARLES_II" id="CHARLES_II"></a><i>CHARLES II.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1680.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Charles</span> had landed in Scotland to attempt to reconquer the throne of the -Stuarts, and had been doomed to witness the ruin of all his hopes at the -disastrous battle of Worcester. He had displayed great courage on that -occasion, but he had been compelled to take to flight, with many of his -bravest and most distinguished officers. The following narrative, -extracted from a fuller account in the Pepys MS., is in his own words:—</p> - -<p>“After that the battle was so absolutely lost as to be beyond hope of -recovery, I began to think of the best way of saving myself, and the -first thought that came into my</p> - -<p><a name="ill_VIII" id="ill_VIII"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p078a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p078a_sml.jpg" width="282" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: He let himself drop into the sea." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">He let himself drop into the sea.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_079" id="page_079"></a>{79}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">head was, that, if I could possibly, I would get to London as soon, if -not sooner, than the news of our defeat could get thither; and it being -near dark I talked with some, especially with my Lord Rochester, who was -then Wilmot, about their opinions which would be the best way for me to -escape, it being impossible, as I thought, to get back to Scotland. I -found them mightily distracted, and their opinions different, of the -possibility of getting to Scotland; but not one agreeing with mine for -going to London, saving my Lord Wilmot; and the truth is I did not -impart my design of going to London to any but my Lord Wilmot. But we -had such a number of beaten men with us of the horse that I strove, as -soon as it was dark, to get from them; and though I could not get them -to stand by me against the enemy, I could not get rid of them now I had -a mind to it. So we—that is, my Lord Duke of Buckingham, Lauderdale, -Derby, Wilmot, Tom Blague, Duke Darcey, and several others of my -servants—went along northwards towards Scotland; and at last we got -about sixty that were gentlemen and officers, and slipped away out of -the high road that goes to Lancashire, and kept on the right hand, -letting all the beaten men go along the great road; and ourselves not -knowing very well which way to go, for it was then too late for us to -get to London on horseback, riding directly for it; nor could we do it, -because there were many people of quality with us that I could not get -rid of.</p> - -<p>“So we rode through a town short of Wolverhampton, betwixt that and -Worcester, and went through, there lying a troop of the enemies there -that night. We rode very quietly through the town, they having nobody to -watch, nor they suspecting us more than we did them, which I learnt -afterwards from a country fellow.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_080" id="page_080"></a>{80}</span></p> - -<p>“We went that night about twenty miles, to a place called White Lady’s, -hard by Tong Castle, by the advice of Mr. Giffard, where we stopped and -got some little refreshment of bread and cheese, such as we could get, -it being just beginning to be day. This White Lady’s was a private -house, that Mr. Giffard, who was a Staffordshire man, had told me -belonged to honest people that lived thereabouts.</p> - -<p>“And just as we came thither there came in a country fellow, that told -us there were three thousand of our horse just hard by Tong Castle, upon -the heath, all in disorder, under David Leslie and some other of the -general officers; upon which there were some of the people of quality -that were with me, who were very earnest that I should go to him and -endeavour to go into Scotland, which I thought was absolutely -impossible, knowing very well they would all rise upon us, and that men -who had deserted me when they were in good order would never stand to me -when they had been beaten.</p> - -<p>“This made me take the resolution of putting myself into a disguise, and -endeavouring to get a-foot to London in a country fellow’s habit, with a -pair of ordinary grey cloth breeches, a leathern doublet, and a green -jerkin, which I took in the house of White Lady’s. I also cut my hair -very short, and flung my clothes into a privy-house, that nobody might -see that anybody had been stripping themselves, I acquainting none with -my resolution of going to London but my Lord Wilmot, they all desiring -me not to acquaint them with what I intended to do, because they knew -not what they might be forced to confess; on which consideration they -with one voice begged of me not to tell them what I intended to do.</p> - -<p>“So all the persons of quality and officers who were with<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_081" id="page_081"></a>{81}</span> me—except my -Lord Wilmot, with whom a place was agreed upon for our meeting in London -if we escaped, and who endeavoured to go on horseback, in regard, as I -think, of his being too big to go on foot—were resolved to go and join -with the three thousand disordered horse, thinking to get away with them -to Scotland. But, as I did before believe, they were all routed by a -single troop of horse; which shows that my opinion was not wrong in not -sticking to men who had run away.</p> - -<p>“As soon as I was disguised I took with me a country fellow, whose name -was Richard Penderell, whom Mr. Giffard had undertaken to answer for to -be an honest man. He was a Roman Catholic, and I chose to trust them, -because I knew they had hiding-places for priests, that I thought I -might make use of in case of need.</p> - -<p>“I was no sooner gone out of the house with this country fellow (being -the next morning after the battle, and then broad day) but as I was in a -great wood, I sat myself at the edge of the wood, near the highway that -was there, the better to see who came after us, and whether they made -any search after the runaways, and I immediately saw a troop of horse -coming by, which I conceived to be the same troop that beat our three -thousand horse; but it did not look like a troop of the army’s, but of -the militia, for the fellow before it did not look at all like a -soldier.</p> - -<p>“In this wood I stayed all night, without meat or drink, and by great -good fortune it rained all the time, which hindered them, as I believe, -from coming into the wood to search for men that might be fled thither; -and one thing is remarkable enough, that those with whom I have since -spoken, of them that joined with the horse upon the heath, did say that -it rained little or nothing with them all the day,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_082" id="page_082"></a>{82}</span> but only in the wood -where I was—thus contributing to my safety.</p> - -<p>“As I was in the wood I talked with the fellow about getting towards -London, and asking many questions about what gentlemen he knew. I did -not find he knew any man of quality in the way towards London. And the -truth is my mind changed as I lay in the wood, and I resolved on another -way of making my escape; which was, to get over the Severn into Wales, -and so to get either to Swansea or some other of the sea towns that I -knew had commerce with France, to the end I might get over that way, as -being a way that I thought none would suspect my taking; besides that I -remembered several honest gentlemen that were of my acquaintance in -Wales.</p> - -<p>“So that night as soon as it was dark, Richard Penderell and I took our -journey on foot towards the Severn, intending to pass over a ferry half -way between Bridgenorth and Shrewsbury. But as we were going in the -night, we came up by a mill, where I heard some people talking -(memorandum that I had got some bread and cheese the night before at one -of the Penderells’ houses, I not going in) and as we conceived it was -about twelve or one o’clock at night, and the country fellow desired me -not to answer if anybody should ask me any questions because I had not -the accent of the country.</p> - -<p>“Just as we came to the mill, we could see the miller, as I believed, -sitting at the mill door, he being in white clothes, it being a very -dark night. He called out, ‘Who goes there?’ Upon which Richard -Penderell answered, ‘Neighbours going home,’ or some such like words, -whereupon the miller cried out, ‘If you be neighbours, stand, or I will -knock you down.’ Upon which we believing there was<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_083" id="page_083"></a>{83}</span> company in the -house, the fellow bade me follow him close, and he run to a gate that -went up a dirty lane, up a hill; and opening the gate the miller cried -out, ‘Rogues, rogues.’ And thereupon some men came out of the mill after -us, which I believed were soldiers. So we fell a-running both of us, up -the lane as long as we could run, it being very deep and very dirty, -till at last I bade him leap over a hedge, and lie still to hear if -anybody followed us, which we did, and continued lying upon the ground -about half an hour, when hearing nobody come, we continued our way on to -the village upon the Severn, where the fellow told me there was an -honest gentleman, one Mr. Woolfe, that lived in that town, where I might -be with great safety, for that he had hiding-holes for priests. But I -would not go in, till I knew a little of his mind whether he would -receive so dangerous a guest as me, and therefore stayed in a field, -under a hedge, by a great tree. Commanding him not to say it was I, but -only to ask Mr. Woolfe whether he would receive an English gentleman, a -person of quality, to hide him the next day, till we could travel again -by night—for I durst not go but by night.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Woolfe, when the country fellow told him it was one that had -escaped from the battle of Worcester, said that for his part, it was so -dangerous a thing to harbour anybody that was known, that he would not -venture his neck for any man, unless it were the King himself. Upon -which Richard Penderell, very indiscreetly, and without my leave, told -him it was I. Upon which Mr. Woolfe replied, he should be very ready to -venture all he had in the world to secure me. Upon which Richard -Penderell came and told me what he had done, at which I was a little -troubled; but then there was no remedy, the day being just coming in,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_084" id="page_084"></a>{84}</span> -and I must either venture that or run some greater danger.</p> - -<p>“So I came into the house by a back way, where I found Mr. Woolfe, an -old gentleman, who told me he was very sorry to see me there, because -there were two companies of the militia sort at that time in arms in the -town, and kept a guard at the ferry to examine everybody that came that -way; and that he durst not put me into any of the hiding-holes of his -house because they had been discovered, and consequently if any search -should be made, they would certainly repair to these holes, and that -therefore I had no other way of security but to go into his barn, and -there lie behind his corn and hay. So after he had given us some cold -meat that was ready, we, without making any bustle in the house, went -and lay in the barn all the next day, when towards evening, his son who -had been prisoner at Shrewsbury, an honest man, was released, and came -home to his father’s house. And as soon as ever it began to be a little -darkish, Mr. Woolfe and his son brought us meat into the barn, and then -we discoursed with them whether we might safely get over the Severn into -Wales, which they advised me by no means to adventure upon, because of -the strict guards that were kept all along the Severn where any passage -could be found, for preventing anybody escaping that way into Wales.</p> - -<p>“Upon this I took resolution that night the very same way back again to -Penderell’s house, where I knew I should hear some news what was become -of my Lord Wilmot, and resolved again upon going for London.</p> - -<p>“So we set out as soon as it was dark, but we came by the mill again; we -had no mind to be questioned a second time there, and therefore asking -Richard Penderell whether he could swim or no, and how deep the river -was, he told<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_085" id="page_085"></a>{85}</span> me it was a scurvy river, not easy to be passed in all -places, and that he could not swim. So I told him the river being but a -little one, I would undertake to help him over. Upon which we went over -some closes by the river-side and I entering the river first to see if I -could myself go over, who knew how to swim, found it was but a little -above my middle, and thereupon taking Richard Penderell by the hand, I -helped him over. Which being done, we went on our way to one of -Penderell’s brothers (his house not being far from White Lady’s), who -had been guide to my Lord Wilmot, and we believed might by that time be -come back again, for my Lord Wilmot intended to go to London upon his -own horse. When I came to this house I inquired where my Lord Wilmot -was, it being now towards morning, and having travelled these two nights -on foot.</p> - -<p>“Penderell’s brother told me he had conducted him to a very honest -gentleman’s house, one Mr. Pitchcroft<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a>, not far from Wolverhampton, a -Roman Catholic. I asked him what news. He told me that there was one -Major Careless in the house, that was that countryman whom, I knowing, -he having been a major in our army, and made his escape thither, a Roman -Catholic also, I sent for him into the room where I was, and consulted -him what we should do the next day. He told me that it would be very -dangerous for me to stay in that house or go into the wood—there being -a great wood hard by Boscobel; that he knew but one way how to pass the -next day, and that was to get up into a great oak, in a pretty plain -place, where we might see round about us; for the enemy would certainly -search at the wood for people that had made their escape.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_086" id="page_086"></a>{86}</span></p> - -<p>“Of which proposition of his, I approving, we (that is to say Careless -and I) went, and carried up some victuals for the whole day; viz., -bread, cheese, small beer, and nothing else, and got up into a great -oak, that had been topped some three or four years before, and being -grown out again very bushy and thick, could not be seen through, and -here we stayed all the day. I having in the meantime sent Penderell’s -brother to Mr. Pitchcroft’s, to know whether my Lord Wilmot was there or -no; and had word brought me by him at night that my lord was there; that -there was a very secure hiding-hole in Mr. Pitchcroft’s house, and that -he desired me to come thither to him.</p> - -<p>“Memorandum.—That, while we were in this tree we saw soldiers going up -and down in the thicket of the wood, searching for persons escaped; we -saw them now and then peeping out of the wood.</p> - -<p>“That night Richard Penderell and I went to Mr. Pitchcroft’s, about six -or seven miles off, when I found the gentleman of the house, and an old -grandmother of his, and Father Hurlston, who had then the care, as -governor, of bringing up two young gentlemen, who, I think, were Sir -John Preston and his brother, they being boys. Here I spoke with my Lord -Wilmot, and sent him away to Colonel Lane’s, about five or six miles -off, to see what means could be found for my escaping towards London; -who told my lord, after some consultation thereon, that he had a sister -that had a very fair pretence of going hard by Bristol, to a cousin of -hers, that was married to one Mr. Norton, who lived two or three miles -towards Bristol, on Somersetshire side, and she might carry me there as -her man, and from Bristol I might find shipping to get out of England.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_087" id="page_087"></a>{87}</span></p> - -<p>After various adventures, some of them attended with great danger, they -arrived safely at the house of Mr. Norton, the king passing as the -servant of Mrs. Lane. The next day while he was dining with the -servants, one of them gave so accurate a description of the battle of -Worcester, that Charles took him to be a soldier of Cromwell. He turned -out, however, to have been a soldier of the royal army, and one of the -regiment of guards. “I asked him what kind of man the King was, and he -gave me an exact description of the clothes I wore at the battle, and of -the horse I rode, adding that the King was at least three inches taller -than I. I left the place hastily, being much alarmed to find that the -man had been one of my own soldiers.” Charles learnt soon after that -Pope, the butler, had recognised him, and having previously heard that -the man was honest, and incapable of treason, he thought it best to -confide in him, and accordingly mentioned his real name and rank. Pope -at once put himself under his orders, and was of the greatest service to -him.</p> - -<p>Just at the very moment when the King was setting out for the house of -one of his partisans, Mrs. Norton was taken with the pains of labour, -and as she was cousin to Mrs. Lane, whose servant Charles pretended to -be, that lady found it difficult to invent a pretext for quitting her. A -letter written to announce that Mrs. Lane’s father was dangerously ill, -however, answered this purpose, and the fugitives set out for the house -of Frank Wyndham at Trent.</p> - -<p>When they arrived there the bells were ringing merry peals, and -inquiring the cause, they learned that one of the soldiers of Cromwell’s -army had entered the town, boasting that he had killed the King. -Wyndham, however, had provided a boat, and Charles, accompanied by that -loyal<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_088" id="page_088"></a>{88}</span> gentleman and by Lady Coningsby, went to a place appointed for -his reception. But as no vessel appeared, he set out for the -neighbouring town. On arriving there he found the streets filled with -red coats, the town being in possession of fifteen hundred of Cromwell’s -troops. This sight somewhat alarmed Wyndham, “and he asked me,” says the -King, “what we should now do? ‘We must go boldly,’ I said, ‘to the best -inn, and ask for the best room,’ and we accordingly did so. We found the -courtyard of the inn full of soldiers, and as soon as I alighted, I -thought it would be best to walk boldly amongst them, and to take my -horses to the stable. I did this, and they grew very angry at my -rudeness.” When he arrived in the stable, Charles found himself -confronted by a new danger. The ostler pretended to recognise him as an -old acquaintance whom he had met at Exeter, but Charles had sufficient -presence of mind to turn this to his own account. “True,” he replied, “I -have been in the service of Mr. Potter, but I am just now in a great -hurry, for my master is going straight to London; when he comes back we -will renew the acquaintance over a mug of beer.” Shortly afterwards the -King and his suite joined Lord Wilmot outside the city, but the master -of the ship they had hired, yielding to the fears of his wife, refused -to fulfil his engagement with them; Charles then once more took the -Trent road.</p> - -<p>Another vessel which had been procured at Southampton, had been seized -by the authorities for the transport of troops, and certain mysterious -rumours which began to circulate in the neighbourhood, made it dangerous -for the King to stay any longer with Colonel Wyndham, at Salisbury; -however, he found an asylum where he remained for five days, during -which Colonel Gunter hired a boat at</p> - -<p><a name="ill_IX" id="ill_IX"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p088a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p088a_sml.jpg" width="450" height="278" alt="Image unavailable: They grew very angry at my rudeness." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">They grew very angry at my rudeness.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_089" id="page_089"></a>{89}</span></p> - -<p>New Shoreham, and Charles set out in haste for Brighton. While he was at -supper there, with his attendants and with Tattershall, the owner of the -boat, the latter fixed his eyes, upon the King, and took occasion after -the meal to draw one of the royal attendants aside, and complain of his -having been deceived. “The gentleman in the grey dress was the King; he -knew him well, having been with him in 1648, when he was Prince of -Wales, and commanded the royal fleet.” This information was promptly -conveyed to Charles, who thought it the more prudent course to keep his -companions drinking with him all night, in order to make sure of their -holding no conversation that he did not overhear.</p> - -<p>Just before their departure, and while he was alone in his room, -Tattershall came in, and kissing his hand, which was resting on the back -of a chair, said, “I suppose, if I live I shall be a lord, and my wife -will be a lady.” Charles laughed, to show that he understood him, and -joined the company in the other room. At four in the morning of the 16th -of October they set out for Shoreham. When Charles and Wilmot, his sole -companion, had entered the vessel, Tattershall fell upon his knees and -swore to the King that whatever might be the consequence he would land -him safe and sound on the coast of France.</p> - -<p>The boat made for the Isle of Wight, that being its ordinary course; but -towards six o’clock in the evening, Charles, having previously arranged -the matter with Tattershall, addressed the crew. He told them that his -companion and himself were merchants, who were running away from their -creditors, and asked them to join him in begging the captain to take -them to France, backing his entreaties, at the same time, with a present -of twenty shillings for drink. Tattershall raised a great many -objections; but at last, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_090" id="page_090"></a>{90}</span> apparent repugnance, he turned the -vessel’s head towards France. At daybreak they sighted the city of -Fécamp. At the same time they discovered a suspicious-looking sail which -they took for an Ostend pirate. Without waiting to test the truth of -their suspicions, the two fugitives took to the ship’s boat and arrived -safely in port. (<i>Guizot: Memoirs of Charles the Second; Lingard: -History of England.</i>)</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="BLANCHE_GAMOND" id="BLANCHE_GAMOND"></a><i>BLANCHE GAMOND.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1687.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Blanche Gamond</span> belonged to a Protestant family of -Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, -when the Protestants were subjected to the most rigorous persecution, -Mademoiselle Gamond, whose piety was of the most fervent and exalted -kind, resolved to fly the kingdom. The city of Saint-Paul was closely -invested, and the dragoons overran all the neighbouring country in -search of the Protestants. Blanche left the city and wandered about for -some time alone, and afterwards with her parents, who had joined her. At -times they were exposed to all the hardships of forest life, and it was -only at intervals that they could venture to show themselves in towns. -In this manner they travelled through the greater part of Dauphiné; but -they were obliged to separate at last, to escape the more easily from -the dragoons; and our poor heroine was about to pass the frontier with -her brother and her mother and sister, when she was taken near Goncelin. -Her brother escaped from the soldiers, but her mother and her sister -were brutally ill-treated by these wretches, and were taken to Grenoble -and thrown into a horrible dungeon. Blanche Gamond was then twenty-one<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_091" id="page_091"></a>{91}</span> -years of age. She was subjected for a long time to the most terrible -tortures; but insulted, mercilessly beaten, dying of hunger, and sinking -under a lingering illness, as she was, she bore all with the courage and -the resignation of a martyr.</p> - -<p>The following is her account of her attempt at escape, the consequences -of which were most disastrous to her:—</p> - -<p>“We were told to get ourselves ready in three days for a voyage to -America; ‘and when,’ it was added, ‘you are once on shipboard you will -be made to walk the plank, and will be thrust into the sea, so that the -detested race of the Huguenots may perish with you.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘It concerns me little,’ I replied, ‘whether my body be eaten by the -fish in the sea or by the worms in the earth.’</p> - -<p>“When they had left us alone, Susan de Montélimart said, ‘We might make -our escape by this window if we could only break the bars.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘We are at such a height from the ground,’ I replied, ‘that we should -either kill or lame ourselves; and then we should only be recaptured and -treated worse than before. If that should happen, I could never survive -my sufferings. I prefer death, therefore, and will rather set out for -America. God will deliver us, as he delivered the victims of La -Rapine.’ ”</p> - -<p>La Rapine, or D’Herapine, who had been formerly condemned for robbery, -under his real name of Guichard, had become director of the hospital of -Valence, where he was told to employ all the means in his power for the -conversion of the Protestants—a commission which he executed with all -the cynicism and the ferocity of one of the worst of scoundrels.</p> - -<p>“Susan replied, ‘If they had done to me what they have done to you I -should have died ere this; but they are killing<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_092" id="page_092"></a>{92}</span> us of hunger; and, -besides, they are going to take us to America, and we shall be half dead -when they throw us in the sea. We might get out of this window. We seem -to be despising the means which God has placed within our reach; but, -for my part, I mean to attempt to use them.’</p> - -<p>“At length, by her persuasion, I joined her in cutting a piece of cloth -into shreds, and sewing it together; and when we had made a long band in -this manner we tied a piece of stone to the end of it and lowered it, to -ascertain the height of the window from the ground. We were on the -fourth storey, and we found that our band was too short; but we -lengthened it, and finally the end touched the ground. I then put my -head out of the window and said to my dear sisters, ‘Alas! we shall kill -ourselves, for it almost frightens me to death to look down.’</p> - -<p>“That same evening, when our guards were asleep, we crept to the window -with bare feet, for we were afraid that the priest, whose chamber was -beneath ours, would hear our footsteps. Susan was the first to get out, -and she was followed by Mademoiselle Terrasson de Die, then by me and by -Mademoiselle Anne Dumas, of La Salle, in Languedoc. When I got outside -and began to lay hold of the band, my strength failed me, and I heard -the bones of my arm crack. My dress caught in a hook outside the window, -and I was obliged to support myself with one arm while I disengaged -myself with the other. I no longer felt either strength or courage, and -I cried, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!’ But I seized the band with my -teeth, and joining my two hands over it, I fell, rather than lowered -myself, to the ground, striking against the stones with such violence -that I cried, ‘Mercy! My God, I am either killed or maimed for life!’</p> - -<p><a name="ill_X" id="ill_X"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p092a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p092a_sml.jpg" width="279" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: I was obliged to support myself with one arm." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">I was obliged to support myself with one arm.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_093" id="page_093"></a>{93}</span></p> - -<p>“The dear sisters who were waiting for me ran up to me and asked me -where I was hurt.</p> - -<p>“ ‘Everywhere,’ I replied; ‘I am sure that I have broken my thigh,’ and I -begged of them to tie it up for me with my apron. I then limped away, my -two sisters supporting me on either side. I made sixty or seventy steps -in great pain, and reached the gate of the Faubourg de Valence: but it -was closed. They helped me to get upon the wall, but when I stood upon -the top of it, and saw how high it was, I said to my three dear sisters, -‘This is a second precipice, and I am not brave enough to attempt to -descend. Leave me and go alone.’</p> - -<p>“They let me down from the wall and left me there, and then they tried -to get down themselves, and succeeded after great trouble. When they had -reached the other side, Mademoiselle Dumas cried out to me, ‘We are -going. We are very sorry to leave you behind. God preserve you from our -enemies. I wish you prosperity, and give you my blessing, and I beg of -you to give me yours in return.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Who am I,’ I replied, ‘to give you my blessing? but I pray that God -will give you his. I pray fervently that he will lead you in all his -ways; and I conjure you to leave this place as quickly as you can, or -all of us may be recaptured.’</p> - -<p>“I was thus left quite alone, still suffering the cruel and violent -pains which had never left me from the moment of my fall. It was not yet -daybreak, and I lifted up my heart to God. But I fainted in the midst of -my prayer, and did not come to myself for, at least, a quarter of an -hour. I had no one to console me, or even to offer me a single drop of -water; but as soon as I came to myself I cried out, ‘Lord, do not -abandon me.’ I lay for a time<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_094" id="page_094"></a>{94}</span> without being able to make any movement, -and then I thought that at daybreak they would be sure to find me, and -then I should be recaptured and taken to the hospice. ‘O God,’ I prayed, -‘grant me this mercy that this day may see the last of my troubles, for -death is better than life. I have lived enough. Take my soul to thee, O -God. Oh grant, if it please thee, that I may be taken to the tomb, and -not to the hospice this day.’</p> - -<p>“Day then began to break. I had not enough strength to raise myself, so -that those who passed by did not know that I was lamed. I was only just -able to hide my face from them by covering it with my tappeta. I was -interrupted during my prayers by the agony which I suffered from my -broken thigh and dislocated ankle. After a time a gentleman came by, and -said, ‘It would be better, mademoiselle, for you to be at your own house -than to remain here, and it would certainly be more becoming.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘If you knew who I was, sir,’ I replied, ‘you would not address me in -such language.’</p> - -<p>“In another moment they opened the gate of the Faubourg and the -passers-by said very hard and cruel things about me, seeing me lying at -full length in the road so early in the morning.”</p> - -<p>She begged one of them to fetch Mademoiselle Marsilière, a Protestant -converted to Catholicism, whom she knew, and she prayed God that this -early friend might turn out a good Samaritan, but this prayer was not -heard.</p> - -<p>“Are you asking for me?” said Mademoiselle Marsilière, when she -approached the poor wounded creature. “Yes, mademoiselle; save me—for -mercy’s sake help me. Take me to some place where I may die, so that no -one may witness my sufferings.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_095" id="page_095"></a>{95}</span></p> - -<p>“But Mademoiselle Marsilière replied that I should endanger her safety -as well as my own. ‘I must go,’ she said, ‘before any one sees me, or I -shall be put in prison myself.’</p> - -<p>“I was wounded to the heart at this treatment from a co-religionist, and -I asked her if she had the courage to leave me in this condition. ‘Help -me, at least,’ I said, ‘to crawl behind this wall, so that I may not be -seen by the passers-by.’ ”</p> - -<p>But neither the prayers nor the sufferings of the unfortunate Blanche -had the least effect on the prudent and charitable person whom she had -called to her aid. Mademoiselle Marsilière went away, but returned -shortly afterwards with the almoner of the religious house of which she -was a member, who, without paying the least regard to the distressed -condition of the wounded girl, began to address to her a series of -questions about her escape and her accomplices. At length two men, -seizing her by the shoulders and the feet, carried her to the hospice -and laid her down upon the stones in the courtyard.</p> - -<p>It is impossible to enter fully here into all the details of the -rigorous punishment endured by the poor girl for some months after this. -She bore all with her ordinary courage and patience, but the mere -recital of such atrocities would give too much pain to the most -unfeeling heart.</p> - -<p>She was at last allowed to return to her parents, and she recovered her -health after her long sufferings, and retired to Switzerland with her -family.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_096" id="page_096"></a>{96}</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="JEAN_BART_AND_THE_CHEVALIER_DE_FORBIN" id="JEAN_BART_AND_THE_CHEVALIER_DE_FORBIN"></a><i>JEAN BART AND THE CHEVALIER DE FORBIN.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1689.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Jean Bart</span> escorting a fleet of twenty merchantmen, had hoisted his flag -on board the frigate <i>La Raileuse</i>, of twenty-eight guns, having for -second in command under him the Chevalier de Forbin, captain of <i>Les -Jeux</i>, a frigate of twenty-four. They were attacked by two English -ships, one of forty-eight, and the other of forty-two guns, and they -nobly sacrificed themselves to save the merchant fleet. Jean Bart lost -nearly all his men and was slightly wounded in the head, but Forbin was -still more unfortunate, for he received six wounds, and nearly all of -his crew perished. They were compelled to surrender, but the fleet of -merchantmen was saved, while all the English officers and a great number -of the common seamen were killed.</p> - -<p>They were taken to Portsmouth, where they of course expected to be -treated as prisoners of war on parole, but the governor of the fortress -would not even grant them this scanty honour. They were shut up in a -sort of inn with barred windows, and sentinels were placed before their -door. This wretched treatment naturally made them anxious to escape, and -they did not even wait until their wounds were cured before they began -to form their plans. An Ostend fisherman, a relation of Jean Bart—as -some say, Gaspar Bart, his brother—having put in to Portsmouth, found -means to gain admission to the prison, and to confer with his two -friends on the project which occupied all their thoughts. On one of his -visits he left a file behind him, with which they cut the bars before -their windows, hiding the marks by covering them with pieces of -moistened bread and soot.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_097" id="page_097"></a>{97}</span></p> - -<p>It happened fortunately that the surgeon sent to attend them was a -Fleming, himself a prisoner, and equally desirous with his two patients -of recovering his liberty. In due time too, the men who had been -appointed to wait on them were gained over by a liberal present, and by -still more liberal promises. The great difficulty was to find means of -putting to sea; but the attendants who alone had power to leave the -prison undertook to make the necessary arrangements for the embarkation. -They accordingly hailed one day a Norwegian shallop, the master of which -was at the time lying in a drunken sleep in his cabin. He was quietly -transferred from his own vessel to another; and this was no sooner done -than the two attendants ran to tell the prisoners to prepare for instant -flight.</p> - -<p>As soon as the surgeon came to pay his accustomed visit, he was told to -give the Ostend fishermen notice to take everything necessary for a -voyage of some days on board the Norwegian vessel. He lost no time in -executing his commission, and the sloop was soon amply supplied with -bread, cheese, beer, and other necessaries. It was then arranged that -the surgeon should return at midnight with the fisherman and the two -attendants, and as soon as he arrived beneath the prison window should -signal his presence by throwing a small stone against the panes.</p> - -<p>The signal was heard at the appointed hour. Jean Bart removed the bars -in front of his window, fastened his bedclothes end to end, and sliding -down the band, reached the ground in safety. The surgeon, the fisherman, -and the two attendants led them at once to a little creek in which the -vessel was moored, and they all embarked with the exception of the -fisherman, who went quietly back to his own ship. In leaving Plymouth -the fugitives had a narrow escape. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_098" id="page_098"></a>{98}</span> were seen by the look-out on -the guard ship, and hailed with the customary “Who goes there?” By great -good fortune Jean Bart knew a little English, and he replied, -“Fishermen.” They were then suffered to pass.</p> - -<p>The poor lieutenant had not been able to follow his captain. He had lost -an arm; he was very corpulent; and as he could not have rendered the -least assistance during the voyage, his presence would only have tended -to compromise the safety of his friends. He took, therefore, the heroic -resolution of remaining in prison, and of assisting the fugitives by -keeping the guard amused while they were running away. He continued this -subterfuge after Jean Bart had left the house, and pretended to be -conversing with him in his room, until long after he had had time to -effect his embarkation in safety. He then drew in the sheets which had -served his commander as a rope, and quietly went to bed. He affected -great surprise next day when he was informed of the escape of his -fellow-prisoners, pretending to believe they had basely abandoned him, -and cursing them very heartily in both English and French.</p> - -<p>His gaolers were deceived by this <i>ruse</i>, and put several questions to -him as to the conversations with his commander, in the hope of -ascertaining the direction the fugitives had taken. “These traitors,” he -replied, “have told me nothing; all that I know is that Bart lately had -a pair of shoes made, and that he remarked when he tried them on, how -useful they would be to any one who had to take a long walk.” This -completely deceived them, and they sent horse soldiers out in all -directions in the hope of recapturing the fugitives, who were then in -the middle of the Channel.</p> - -<p>Jean Bart at length sighted the coast of Brittany, and disembarked<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_099" id="page_099"></a>{99}</span> at a -small village a few leagues from St. Malo. The journey from Plymouth had -occupied forty-eight hours, and, this time included, he had not been in -captivity more than eleven days. The party were received with transports -of joy, for the merchantmen whom they had saved had spoken in the -highest terms of their courage, but it was thought their patriotic -devotion had cost them their lives. Jean Bart’s first care was to -indemnify the Ostend fisherman whom the English had made responsible for -his flight, and his next to purchase the liberty of his brave -lieutenant, who was released a month after the escape of his commander.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="DUGUAY-TROUIN" id="DUGUAY-TROUIN"></a><i>DUGUAY-TROUIN.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1694.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Duguay-Trouin</span>, commanding the frigate <i>La Diligente</i>, of forty guns, was -driven by a storm into the midst of a squadron of six English vessels, -of from fifty to seventy guns each. After fighting five of them for -several hours, and refusing to surrender, notwithstanding the urgent -solicitations of his officers, he was struck by a spent shot, and -rendered insensible. When he came to himself he was a prisoner in the -hands of the English. He was at first sent to Plymouth; and he had -already begun to make preparations for his escape, when orders were -given that his confinement should be made more rigorous. The captain of -a company on guard at the prison had fallen in love with a young woman -of Plymouth, and had confided his passion to Duguay-Trouin, who had -promised to use all his influence to induce the fair one to consent to -marriage. He took advantage of the comparative freedom which he enjoyed<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_100" id="page_100"></a>{100}</span> -through his good offices on the captain’s behalf, to come to a good -understanding with the lady on his own account; and he was enabled by -her aid to make arrangements with a Swedish captain for the hire of a -vessel, properly provisioned and manned, for his intended flight. While -the captain thought that Duguay-Trouin was pleading for him with the -lady in a neighbouring inn, to which he had been permitted to extend his -walks, the commander was leaping over the wall of the garden, with -another officer who was to join him in trying to escape. The Swedish -captain and six sailors were waiting for them at a neighbouring spot, -and they all reached the little vessel in safety.</p> - -<p>“We embarked,” he says in his “Memoirs,” “at about six in the evening. -We had scarcely started when we ran almost between two English vessels, -and were obliged to answer their inquiries as to our destination. We -told them we were fishermen putting out to sea, and they allowed us to -pass. At daybreak we came upon another English ship making for Plymouth. -She was going to turn in pursuit of us, although we did not lie in her -route, and we should certainly have been taken but for a sudden gust of -wind, which carried us away from her almost without any effort of our -own.</p> - -<p>“We had been rowing all the time, and we were very tired when we reached -the open sea. We relieved one another at nightfall, and the master of -the vessel and I tried to make out our way with the aid of a small -compass, illumined by the feeble rays of a lantern. While thus engaged I -was so overpowered with fatigue that I fell asleep; but I was soon -awakened by the noise of a terrible gust of wind, which threw the little -vessel on her side, and filled her with water in an instant. By a quick -movement<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_101" id="page_101"></a>{101}</span> of the helm I was fortunate enough to avoid the threatened -shipwreck—a disaster that must have proved fatal, as we were more than -fifteen leagues from land. My companions, who were also asleep, were -quite as suddenly awakened as myself by the waves beating about their -heads. Our biscuit and our beer were quite spoiled by the seawater, and -it took us a long while to bale out the water with our hats. At about -eight o’clock on the following day we landed at a spot two leagues from -Tréguier, on the coast of Brittany.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="THE_ABBE_COUNT_DE_BUCQUOY" id="THE_ABBE_COUNT_DE_BUCQUOY"></a><i>THE ABBÉ COUNT DE BUCQUOY.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1700-1702.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">The</span> Count de Bucquoy, who was originally an officer in the army, had -become, under the combined influence of the Jesuits and the monks of La -Trappe, a religious enthusiast, but had afterwards quarrelled with his -priestly friends. He was of an active mind, and, if we may believe his -own account of himself, he was too much addicted to the advocacy of -advanced ideas. This, and his hostility to Louis XIV., caused him to be -arrested at Sens, on a charge of having been heard to mutter -disaffection at an inn. While he was being taken to Paris he tried to -escape, but without success; and his account of the attempt shows that -he did not then possess the skill in conducting that class of -enterprises which he afterwards acquired.</p> - -<p>He was sent to For-l’Évêque; and from the very first day of his -imprisonment he began to consider how he could recover his liberty. He -remembered that one of the body-guard, who had been imprisoned in the -same place, had<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_102" id="page_102"></a>{102}</span> nearly made his escape through a window of a loft, -which looked out upon one of the quays, then called the Valley of -Misery, and that he had failed, owing solely to his terror at the sight -of the precipice on which his prison was built.</p> - -<p>Bucquoy, however, made up his mind to repeat this attempt. He tried at -first to form a clear idea of the plan of this terrible place. He -discovered that the loft in question served as a kind of antechamber to -his small cell, and that it was, at the same time, the lumber-room of -the prison. Wishing to make sure of everything before risking his life, -he one day pretended to be ill, and asked to be led upstairs to breathe -the air at a small window which over-looked that part of the building. -The height from the quay was appalling; and, in addition to that, every -one of the numerous window-gratings to which he would have to cling in -making his descent was covered with short, sharp spikes. The sight was -enough to strike terror into the stoutest heart.</p> - -<p>When he had once more been locked up in his cell, he, however, confirmed -himself in his resolution to escape through the loft. All that was -necessary was to find means to leave the cell unobserved, and to reach a -certain part of the antechamber.</p> - -<p>To get out without the consent of the gaoler, he would have had to break -the door down; but he soon saw that it would be impossible to do this, -as he was wholly unprepared with tools, and as the noise of his -operations would be certain to alarm his guards. It occurred to him, -however, that he might burn away the door; and with this view he -obtained permission to cook for himself in his own cell. He asked for a -few eggs and some charcoal, and paid liberally for both, in order the -more readily to induce the gaoler to supply them. All being ready, and -the whole household<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_103" id="page_103"></a>{103}</span> asleep, he placed the brasier close to the door and -fanned the flame until it ignited the ponderous timbers. When he had by -this means burnt a hole large enough to admit his body, he passed -through, first taking care to extinguish the flames, as it was not his -wish to destroy the building. In this operation he was nearly suffocated -by the smoke from the smouldering beams. He was without a rope to tie to -the window of the loft, but he made a substitute for it by binding -together a number of strips of webbing cut from a mattrass which he -found among the furniture. He then fastened this band to a bedstead, -which he dragged to the window, and, gliding gently down, was fortunate -enough to pass the windows without receiving any fatal injury from the -spikes, and to reach the quay. It was daybreak, and the market people -opening their shops did not fail to observe him, all torn and bloody as -he was, for many of the spikes had entered his flesh. But a greater -danger threatened him, in the unwelcome attentions of a number of young -men, who had only just risen from supper, and who chased him through the -streets with drunken cries. A timely shower of rain, however, dispersed -them, and he was saved.</p> - -<p>In trying to avoid them he made many turns and doubles, and at last -found himself at the door of a <i>café</i>, near the Temple, which he entered -for the purpose of making some slight changes in his appearance, in case -he should meet his tormentors again. His dress, however, began to excite -remark among the customers, and fearing he was already known, he hastily -paid his reckoning, and went out without knowing what direction to take. -He at last took refuge at the house of a relation of one of his -servants, to whom he told a plausible story to excuse the negligence of -his attire.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_104" id="page_104"></a>{104}</span> The woman fetched him some food at his request, but feeling -he could not confide in her discretion, he soon left the house to seek a -more secure asylum.</p> - -<p>After spending some nine months in sending petition after petition from -his various hiding-places, he tried to leave the kingdom, but choosing -his time badly, was arrested at La Fère and sent to prison. He made two -attempts to escape, and failed only by a hair’s breadth in the second, -having scaled a wall and swum across a ditch before he was discovered. -He was at length taken back to Paris, and imprisoned in the Bastille.</p> - -<p>To enter the Bastille was almost to abandon hope, for escape seemed -impossible. But even while he was passing the gates of the prison, -Bucquoy was reconnoitering it to find means to effect his escape. He -took particular notice of the drawbridge and the counterscarp, but he -was not allowed much time for his observations; for he was at once -hurried away to the Bretignière tower.</p> - -<p>After passing a few days in one of the lowest dungeons of this tower, he -was placed in a cell, shared by a number of prisoners in common. He -proposed that they should make a joint effort to recover their liberty, -but he was denounced by one of their number, an abbé. He was then once -more shut up in his dungeon. He was suffered to leave it, however, on -feigning to be ill and at the point of death. He was believed to be -paralytic, and as it was thought there was no further danger of his -attempting to carry out his plans, he was once more sent to the common -room. In course of time he had made the circuit of nearly all the towers -of the building, never failing to study the plan of each of them -attentively; and he was at length sent to the Bertaudière, where he had -for companion a German baron,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_105" id="page_105"></a>{105}</span> whom he undertook to convert from the -Lutheran faith, and whom he persuaded to aid him in his attempt to -escape. They had already commenced operations on an old window which had -long been closed up, when they were betrayed by another prisoner. -Bucquoy was adroit enough to exculpate himself, and to throw the blame -upon his betrayer, but he was removed to a cell in the tower, La -Liberté, together with the baron, whose <i>conversion</i> he represented was -not quite complete.</p> - -<p>They then began to renew their preparations, this time with the view of -reaching the ditch of the Porte Saint Antoine. They made a hole in the -wall by means of certain jagged pieces of iron and brass, old nails and -knife-blades, which the abbé had carefully collected in the course of -his long sojourn in the prison; and which, by the aid of the fire in the -room, they fashioned into tools. At the same time they began to make a -ladder, using for this purpose the strips of osier in which their wine -bottles were enveloped, and telling the gaoler they were collecting them -to serve as fuel. A hole which they had scooped out under the flooring -of their cell served to conceal all these things.</p> - -<p>Working steadily every day, and never losing sight of their design, they -contrived in a short time to make a tolerable ladder. All was now nearly -ready, and they were on the very point of making their attempt, when on -visiting their subterranean cupboard one day, it gave way beneath them, -and precipitated them into a room on the floor below occupied by a -jesuit. The poor man’s mind was ill at ease, and this terrible accident -made him quite mad. The abbé was taken back to his cell by a gaoler, but -he was not allowed to remain there long, and he was thus doomed to lose -almost in a moment the fruits of long months of most trying exertion.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_106" id="page_106"></a>{106}</span> -He found means, however, to get rid of his German baron, who was no -further use to him, as he could not be persuaded to embark in another -attempt. But the baron had abjured his religion, and this gained the -abbé such a reputation as a converter of heretics, that he was sent to -attempt the reformation of a certain Protestant, named Grandville, who -was considered a very excellent boon companion by his fellow prisoners, -and who was known to be most anxious to make his escape.</p> - -<p>Two other prisoners were placed in the same cell with them, and the abbé -soon found means to come to an understanding with all his companions in -misfortune. After he had bound them to him by the most solemn oaths, he -informed them that he had a small file concealed in his clothes, which -had hitherto escaped the closest search, and he proposed that they -should cut through the bars of their windows with it, and make their way -into the courtyard. He had managed to keep some pieces of osier that he -and the German had plaited, and by the aid of his new confederates, he -soon added largely to his store. They laboured together like the workmen -of the tower of Babel, for they were almost as much hindered by -differences of opinion, as the others were by differences of speech. At -last they made up their minds to take the only course possible to them: -viz. to descend by the ladder into the ditch. Once there, it was agreed -that each should look after himself.</p> - -<p>On the appointed day—or, rather, night—they removed the bars as soon -as they found all was silent in the fortress. Fearing that their -suspended bodies might be seen from the other cells, they first let down -a long white sheet, which covered all the windows between their cell and -the ground.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_107" id="page_107"></a>{107}</span> As it was necessary to prevent the ladder from falling -close to the wall, the abbé had some days previously erected a kind of -sundial at the end of a long pole, and the sentinels had already learned -to regard it without suspicion. After they had taken all these -precautions, and had smeared the white ropes of their ladder with soot, -the abbé asked to be allowed to be first to make the descent, promising -to await his companions in the ditch. He was, at the same time, to warn -them of the approach of the sentinels by pulling a smaller rope, falling -from the window to the ground. When all had been thus arranged he got -out of the window, and reached the ditch in safety; but he remained -there two hours without receiving a sign from his companions. He pulled -the rope repeatedly, to no purpose, and he began to fear they were -engaged in some new dispute, when he saw them lowering some cumbrous -machine they had constructed to aid them in their flight. Two of them -came down, but the rest had not at first been able to pass through the -window, and this had been the cause of the delay. When they found, at -length, they could force themselves through, they were still willing to -stay with the unfortunate Grandville, whose obesity compelled him to -remain behind, but he generously refused to allow them to make this -useless sacrifice on his behalf.</p> - -<p>Their sad story ended, the abbé urged them, with all the eloquence of -which he was master, to follow his plan of escape; but not being able to -persuade them he began to look to his own safety. He had only a small -osier ladder; with this he contrived to gain the top of the ditch as -soon as the sentinel’s back was turned; he then climbed the counterscarp -and reached a deep gutter, and passing over another wall and ditch, -finally dropped into the Rue St. Antoine,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_108" id="page_108"></a>{108}</span> nearly lacerating his arm on -a hook outside a butcher’s shop in his fall. Before leaving the wall he -looked round for his comrades, and hearing the cry of a half-strangled -person, followed rapidly by a musket-shot, he concluded that they had -tried to carry out their intention of seizing the guard but had been -overpowered; and as he never heard of the unfortunate creatures again he -remained all his life confirmed in this impression. Not caring to await -a similar fate, he ran rapidly from the Rue St. Antoine to the Rue des -Journelles; and after making half the circuit of Paris he arrived at the -house of some friends, who furnished him with the means of leaving the -country.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="JACOBITE_INSURRECTIONISTS" id="JACOBITE_INSURRECTIONISTS"></a><i>FORSTER, MACINTOSH, ROBERT KEITH, NITHSDALE, AND OTHER CHIEFS OF THE -JACOBITE INSURRECTION.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1715.</small></h2> - -<p>During the Jacobite insurrection of 1715 a great number of the partisans -of the Pretender, who had been made prisoners at Preston, were taken to -London, and lodged in Newgate and other gaols of the metropolis. Among -these unfortunate men were Thomas Forster, of Bamborough, a man of -excellent family and a member of Parliament for the county of -Northumberland, who had been commander-in-chief of the insurrection in -the north of England; Brigadier Macintosh, a highland gentleman, who had -learnt the art of war in the service of France; Robert Hepburn, of -Keith, one of the first lairds who had raised the standard of the -chevalier; Charles Radcliffe, brother of the Earl of Derwentwater, a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_109" id="page_109"></a>{109}</span> -chief of the insurrection in England; and the Earls of Nithsdale and of -Winton, who had played the same in Scotland.</p> - -<p>Like almost all their companions in misfortune, they had cherished the -hope that the fact of their having surrendered at discretion would have -saved their lives. But when they saw so many around them condemned for -high treason they resolved to escape. The means at their command, their -numerous friends in the capital, and the faulty construction of the -gaols in which they were imprisoned afforded them a reasonable prospect -of success.</p> - -<p>Accordingly, on the 10th of April, 1716, Thomas Forster, having procured -false keys, simply opened the door of his prison and escaped in a manner -the very reverse of dramatic, but, beyond doubt, perfectly satisfactory -to himself. Everything was prepared for his flight, and he arrived -safely in France.</p> - -<p>On the 10th of May following, Brigadier Macintosh, having succeeded in -removing his irons and in reaching the lower storey of the prison, -placed himself near the door, and the moment it opened for the admission -of a servant, who had stayed out late, hurled the gaoler to the ground -and passed out, with fourteen of his companions. Some of the fugitives -were re-arrested in the streets, not knowing where to fly for safety, -but Macintosh was not so unfortunate. Among the prisoners who escaped at -about the same time was Robert Hepburn, of Keith. He overpowered the -gaoler by his immense strength, and, taking the keys away from him, -succeeded in gaining the street without being pursued. He was aware that -his wife and a number of his own people were in London, ready to come to -his aid; but he did not know how to find them in that immense city, -living, as they probably<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_110" id="page_110"></a>{110}</span> were, under an assumed name. While wandering -about in this state of uncertainty, fearing to betray his nationality by -asking a question, he saw in a window a piece of plate which had long -been in possession of his family, and which was called the Tankard of -Keith. Without a moment’s hesitation, the fugitive entered the house and -was received in the arms of his wife and children. Informed of his -intention to escape, they had taken a lodging as near the prison as they -could; and, not daring to confide the secret of their retreat to any -stranger, they had had recourse to this means of making it known to the -head of the family. Hepburn of Keith succeeded in reaching France.</p> - -<p>Charles Radcliffe and Lord Winton, who were condemned to death, also -contrived to regain their freedom at about the same time—whether -through the mere carelessness or the deliberate neglect of their guards -it is not easy to say. But the escape which made the most noise at the -time was that of the Earl of Nithsdale, who, like his companions, had -been condemned to suffer the extreme penalty of the law.</p> - -<p>The most strenuous exertions had been made to obtain a pardon for this -unfortunate gentleman, but in vain. Lady Nithsdale, his wife, had thrown -herself at the feet of George II., imploring mercy, but the king had -refused to listen to her. She, however, obtained permission to bid her -husband adieu on the night before his execution; and she accordingly -went to the Tower, accompanied by two women, who were in her confidence. -One of these women had on two suits of outer garments; and after leaving -a suit in the earl’s chamber she immediately quitted the prison. The -second woman gave the earl her clothes and put on those which the first -had just taken off. Wrapped up in a long cloak, and with a handkerchief -to his eyes, the prisoner then<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_111" id="page_111"></a>{111}</span> passed through the midst of the -sentinels, left the Tower, and at once took ship for France. Lady -Nithsdale, who remained behind, ran some risk of suffering in her -husband’s stead, but her life was spared, and she soon regained her -liberty.</p> - -<p>The Pretender himself succeeded in reaching the bridge of Montrose with -his army, and embarked secretly with the Earl of Mar and a few other -gentlemen, and thus abandoned his faithful mountaineers to all the -violence of an infuriated government, as if, in his anxiety for his own -safety, he had quite forgotten the unhappy creatures who had imperilled -their liberty and their lives for his sake. This departure was, indeed, -less of an escape than a dishonourable flight, and no sort of interest -attaches to it. In this it differed altogether from the escape, at a -future period, of his son, Prince Charles Edward, of which we propose to -give an account.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="CHARLES_EDWARD" id="CHARLES_EDWARD"></a><i>CHARLES EDWARD.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1746.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">After</span> the battle of Culloden, which proved the ruin of his hopes, -Charles Edward was obliged to fly, to escape the government of George -II. A price was put on his head, and a reward of £30,000 sterling was -offered for his discovery and capture. “One would have supposed,” says -Scott, “that in a country so poor as the highlands of Scotland, where -laws concerning property are almost unknown, and among a people whose -propensities to pillage had almost passed into a proverb, a reward far -less considerable would have sufficed to awake the cupidity of some -traitor, and to have ruined the Pretender. That was not, however,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_112" id="page_112"></a>{112}</span> the -case; and the escape of this prince, so long retarded by the agents of -the victorious power, and effected with so much difficulty and amid a -thousand obstacles, must be cited to the honour of Scotland, as a -striking and brilliant example of good faith.”</p> - -<p>During the battle of Culloden, Charles Edward had exposed himself to -considerable danger. He was several times covered with earth thrown up -by the bullets; he made repeated attempts to rally his troops, and -according to the testimony of most of those who witnessed his conduct, -he showed himself a brave and efficient commander. On quitting the field -of battle he dismissed, under various pretexts, the greater number of -the gentlemen who followed him—doubting, possibly, their fidelity—and -kept with him only a few Irish officers, on whom he thought he could -count. He directed his flight at first towards the residence of Lord -Lovat, thinking, perhaps, that this person, who was renowned for his -sagacity, could advise him as to his future course, and, perhaps, even -give him some material help; for his son, the Master of Lovat, and Cluny -MacPherson, another relative, had both raised considerable -reinforcements, and they were on the march to join the prince’s army, -when the battle took place. Charles and Lovat met for the first and last -time, both of them a prey to the fears and embarrassments of a desperate -situation. Charles spoke only of the distress into which Scotland was -plunged, Lovat occupied himself solely with his personal dangers. The -prince soon perceived that he had neither advice nor help to expect from -his host, and he went away after hastily taking some refreshment. The -place was dangerous, on account of the proximity of the victorious army; -and, perhaps, even the fidelity of Lovat was to be suspected. Charles -next halted at Invergarry—a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_113" id="page_113"></a>{113}</span> castle belonging to the laird of -Glengarry, where he was served with an excellent repast of fresh-caught -salmon. As a punishment for this isolated act of hospitality, the -English soldiers shortly afterwards pillaged and sacked the castle.</p> - -<p>From Invergarry the fugitive made his way to a village in the western -mountains, near the place where he had disembarked on coming from -France. He there resolved to abandon his enterprise, and he accordingly -sent a message to the chiefs and the soldiers assembled at Ruthven, -thanking them for their services, and urging them to provide for their -own safety, since no other course was left to him but to try to make his -escape to France. His partisans in vain implored him to suffer them to -expose themselves to new dangers for his sake. Charles saw too clearly -that all was lost, and he refused to be the means of sacrificing the -lives of brave men, who he knew were only taking counsel of their own -devotion and despair.</p> - -<p>Separated from his faithful supporters and friends, Charles wandered -about the Hebrides in the hope of finding a ship for France. But the -very elements seemed to have declared against him; no ship appeared; and -his daily life was fast becoming almost purposeless. He at length -arrived at the spot where he had formerly disembarked. He was met by -Clanronald, who had been the first to declare for him, and who remained -faithful to him in this his dire distress. The prince was lodged in a -miserable hut belonging to a woodcutter named Corradale, and situated -upon the rugged mountain which bears the same name.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the agents of the English government were making a keen search -for the fugitive in every place that seemed to offer him the possibility -of an asylum. General Campbell went to the very extremity of the isle of -St. Kilda,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_114" id="page_114"></a>{114}</span> which might be termed the boundary of the habitable world, -and from thence passing to the other extremity of the Hebrides, he found -the chiefs of Skye and of MacLeod engaged in a similar search. Two -thousand men in all were employed in this undertaking, while the coasts -of the island were constantly watched by ships of war. It seemed -absolutely impossible for the prince to escape; yet he was saved by the -courage of a woman.</p> - -<p>That woman was Flora Macdonald, and her name is still honoured in the -land of her birth. She was a relative of Clanronald, and she was at the -time visiting that chief. Her father-in-law, who was of the clan of Sir -Alexander MacDonald, was consequently an enemy of the Pretender, and he -commanded the militia of the name of MacDonald, which was then exploring -South Uist.</p> - -<p>Having hastily formed a plan for saving the prince, Flora had sufficient -address to obtain from her father-in-law permission to engage a male -attendant and a servant girl, whom she named Betty Burke. The part of -Betty was to be played by the prince dressed as a woman. Charles did in -fact assume this disguise, and after having been several times in danger -of capture, he arrived at Kilbride, in the Isle of Skye. But he was -still in Sir Alexander MacDonald’s county, and he ran almost as great -risks as before. Here, however, the courage and presence of mind of -Flora were displayed anew in favour of the man thus so strangely placed -under the protection of a young girl. She resolved to confide her secret -to Lady Margaret MacDonald, wife of Sir Alexander, and to trust to the -natural compassion of the sex, and to that enthusiasm for the Jacobite -cause then common among nearly all the women of the Highlands.</p> - -<p>This undertaking was the more dangerous, as the husband<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_115" id="page_115"></a>{115}</span> of Lady -Margaret was already suspected of having at first offered his services -to the prince. Lady Margaret was alarmed at Flora’s revelation. Her -husband was absent, and her house was full of officers of militia. She -could think of no other way of providing for the safety of the prince -than to confide him to the care of MacDonald of Kingsburgh, a brave and -intelligent man, who acted as agent or steward to Sir Alexander. Flora -undertook to conduct the prince to MacDonald’s house; and the prince was -fortunate enough to avoid recognition on the road, although the -awkwardness of his air, dressed as he was like a woman, more than once -excited suspicion.</p> - -<p>From Kingsburgh he went to Raasay, where he was in the greatest -distress; the isle having been pillaged because the laird had taken part -in the insurrection. During this period of his flight he passed for the -servant of his guide. He then took refuge for a time in the country of -the laird of MacKinnon; but notwithstanding all the efforts of this -chief in his favour, he could find neither rest nor safety in that part -of the Isle of Skye, and was obliged to return once more to the mainland -of Scotland, on the borders of Loch Nevis. He was there exposed to new -dangers, and was very nearly taken. A great number of soldiers were -overrunning the district which was the cradle of the insurrection, the -country of Lochiel, of Keppoch, of Glengarry, and of other Jacobite -chiefs. The prince and his guide soon found themselves in the midst of a -circle of sentinels, and were scarcely able to move for fear of -detection. After having passed two days surrounded by enemies, and -without daring to light a fire to cook their food, they at length -avoided the threatened danger by passing through a narrow defile, which -separated the posts of two sentinels. Living thus in misery<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_116" id="page_116"></a>{116}</span> and -nakedness, often without food, without fire, and without shelter, the -unfortunate prince, sustained alone by the hope of learning that some -French vessel was approaching the coast, arrived at length at the -mountains of Strath-glass; And with Glen Allandale, who was then his -only companion, was obliged to take shelter in a cavern which was shared -by seven robbers. These men, however, were not ordinary outcasts; but -like Charles himself, they had been obliged to hide because they had -taken part in the insurrection. They willingly granted shelter to the -fugitive, and recognising the prince for whom they had so often exposed -their lives, they renewed to him their oaths of devotion. Among his most -obedient and attached subjects, Charles Edward never found more zeal, -fidelity, and effective help, than he met with at the hands of these men -who had become the enemies of the world and of its laws. Wishing to give -him all the assistance in their power, they undertook to procure him a -suit of clothes, a change of linen, some provisions, and news. They -executed their design with a strange mixture of that simplicity and -ferocity which then formed the basis of the Highland character. Two of -them lay in ambush for the servant of an officer who was going to Fort -Augustine with his master’s baggage, and killed him. This was the means -of furnishing the prince with clothes. Then another, in disguise, -ventured to enter Fort Augustine, managed to obtain valuable information -as to the movement of troops, and wishing to fulfil his mission of aid -in all its integrity, brought away for the unfortunate prince a small -piece of spiced bread of the value of a halfpenny. Charles Edward passed -more than three weeks in this cave, and it was with great reluctance -that his hosts suffered him to depart. “Stay with us,” they said. “The -mountains of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_117" id="page_117"></a>{117}</span> gold which the government has promised for your head will -perhaps lead some gentleman to betray you; for it will be easy for him -to go in a distant land, and live upon the price of his infamy. But we -are under no such temptation. We know no other language but our own; we -cannot live in any other country; and if we were to harm a hair of your -head, our own mountains would fall upon us and crush us.” Another -remarkable example of enthusiasm and devotion aided at about this time -the escape of the prince. The son of a goldsmith of Edinburgh, named -Robert Mackenzie, who had been an officer in the Jacobite army, was then -hidden in the country of Glen Moriston. He was of about the same height -as Charles, and he resembled him very much, both in face and figure. He -was discovered by a party of soldiers, and attacked. He defended himself -bravely; and wishing by a last effort of heroism to render his death -useful to the cause he had served, he cried as he fell mortally wounded, -“Oh, wretches, you have killed your prince!” His generous plan -succeeded. He was taken for Charles Edward, and his head was sent to -London. Some time elapsed before the deception was discovered; and as -most persons believed that the real prince was killed, the government -began to relax the rigour of its search. Profiting by this momentary -respite, Charles Edward sought an interview with Lochiel, Cluny -MacPherson, and some others of his faithful partisans said to be hidden -in a neighbouring district. He therefore bid farewell to his faithful -banditti, two of whom, however, he kept with him to serve as guides and -as an escort. He at length succeeded in reaching Lochiel and MacPherson, -though not without running very great risks. They lived for some time in -a hut called the cage, sheltered by a very thick copse on the slope<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_118" id="page_118"></a>{118}</span> of -the mountain Benalder. But they were in the midst of abundance; and for -the first time since his flight the prince had enough to eat.</p> - -<p>Towards the middle of September, Charles Edward learned that two French -frigates had arrived at Loch Lannagh to convey him to France. He -embarked on the twentieth, with a hundred of his partisans, and touched -the coast of Brittany on the twenty-ninth, at a spot near Morlaix. For -five months he had wandered a fugitive; leading a precarious life in the -midst of fatigues and of dangers surpassing anything recorded in -history. During this time his secret had been confided to hundreds of -persons of both sexes, of all ages, and of all conditions, without one -of them, even among the thieves who lived at the risk of their lives, -having for a moment thought of enriching himself with the wages of the -informer.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="STANISLAUS_LECZINSKI" id="STANISLAUS_LECZINSKI"></a><i>STANISLAUS LECZINSKI.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1734.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Stanislaus Leczinski</span> was besieged by the Russians in the city of -Dantzic, and having no hope of relief, and knowing that the enemy wished -to capture him rather than the city, the unfortunate king of Poland -resolved to subserve the interests of his country in providing for his -own safety. Several means of escape were presented to him. Some wished -him to place himself at the head of a hundred determined men, and to -pierce the Russian lines, but the project was too impracticable to be -entertained. He then<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_119" id="page_119"></a>{119}</span> adopted the plan of the ambassador of -France—that, namely, of flying in the disguise of a peasant.</p> - -<p>“I left the house of the ambassador,” says the king, “in partial -disguise. I had not gone far when I wished to return to reassure him, -for he was greatly alarmed for my safety, and to dry the tears which I -had seen him shed. I therefore walked up again to his apartments and -tapped at the door, which he had gently closed. I found him prostrate on -the ground, and offering up fervent prayers to God to guide me in my -dangerous journey. ‘I come,’ said I, ‘to embrace you once more, and to -beg of you to resign yourself, as I do, to Providence.’ ”</p> - -<p>Accompanied by General Steinflycht, disguised like himself as a peasant, -and by another officer who was engaged to assist him, the king crossed -the ditch in a boat, intending to enter Prussia, but he was obliged to -pass a post commanded by a serjeant, who interrogated the party so -closely that they judged it most prudent to declare themselves. The -serjeant then made a profound salute to the king, and allowed him to -pass. The king’s guides did not belong to the most honourable portion of -society, two of them being mere vagabonds; but that was of no great -moment as they were perfectly acquainted with the roads, and were above -all faithful. They began, however, by detaining the unfortunate king all -one night and the following day in a miserable cabin in the midst of a -marsh, about a quarter of a league from Dantzic. They assured him this -was necessary for his safety, and Stanislaus soon discovered that the -trusty fellows thought too little of his rank to make it worth his while -to expostulate with them. On the following night they took to their -boat, and rowed slowly and with difficulty along a sluggish river -covered with weeds. Towards<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_120" id="page_120"></a>{120}</span> midnight the guides separated in two -parties, one of which led the general by the road bordering the river, -while the other continued with the king in the boat. At daybreak they -again hid themselves in a peasant’s hut, and the king slept on a truss -of straw. He had not lain there long when some Cossacks entered with a -great uproar, and he gave himself up for lost till he discovered that -they had merely come in to breakfast. They remained at table two mortal -hours, but at last they went away, and the peasant’s wife came to -reassure Stanislaus with the news, though she was wholly unable to -understand why he wished to avoid the Cossacks instead of drinking with -them. At nightfall they again took to the boat, and passed over a great -tract of country which had been flooded, and then after a long and -fatiguing march arrived at a house, the owner of which uttered a loud -cry at seeing the king. “He is merely one of our comrades,” said the -guides; “what has alarmed you?” “No, I am not deceived,” said the -peasant; “it is the king, Stanislaus.” “Yes, my friend,” said the king -firmly and confidently; “it is myself; but you are too honest a man to -refuse me help in the condition in which you see me.” The king’s -confidence was not misplaced; the man promised to take him across the -Vistula, and he kept his word.</p> - -<p>This part of the journey, however, was not effected without the king -being exposed to very great dangers. The Cossacks had possession of the -roads, and they examined every person with the greatest care whose -appearance resembled that of the king. The fugitives were often seen, -and on one occasion the guides were preparing to abandon Stanislaus, -telling him that they did not wish to be hanged without having the least -chance of saving his life. But he made<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_121" id="page_121"></a>{121}</span> them remain by threatening that -if they left him he would at once call the Cossacks, although they all -perished together. At another time he had to reanimate their courage by -a liberal supply of beer and of brandy. He had already learned that -Steinflycht had been misled and probably taken. At length they reached -the shores of the Vistula, and the peasant, hiding the king in some -bushes, went to look for a boat. When he was ready to embark, the king -wished to recompense the brave fellow by a present of a considerable sum -of money, but he could only induce him to accept two ducats, which the -worthy man said he would regard “As a souvenir of the happiness he had -known in seeing and knowing his sovereign.” “He took the ducats out of -my hand,” says Stanislaus, “in a manner and with expressions not easily -to be described.”</p> - -<p>All danger was not at an end even when they had passed the Vistula. On -one occasion one of the two vagabonds who had guided the king, got -drunk, and in the midst of a village openly demanded the price of -services he had rendered at the risk of his life. The chief guide had -happily the presence of mind to ridicule him before the villagers, and -to represent him as a kind of madman, who whenever he had too much to -drink mistook every one around him for a prince. Stanislaus at length -succeeded in passing the Nogat, and got rid at the same time of his -fears and of his vagabond companions, who though they had not betrayed -him, had added no little by their indiscretions to the discomforts and -miseries of his journey.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_122" id="page_122"></a>{122}</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="BARON_TRENCK" id="BARON_TRENCK"></a><i>BARON TRENCK.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1746-1763.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Frederic Baron Trenck</span>, born at Königsberg in 1726, was the son of a -superior officer in the Prussian army, and cousin-german of the famous -Trenck, colonel of the Pandours in the service of Maria Theresa. At the -age of eighteen he became an officer in the body-guard of Frederic II., -and he was high in the favour of that prince. But the intelligence, the -bravery, and the brilliant exploits to which he owed that favour had -also procured him many enemies, who knew how to take advantage of the -indiscretions of a high-spirited young man. Trenck was presumptuous -enough to aspire to the regard of the Princess Amelia, sister of the -king; and this was undoubtedly the main cause of his disgrace, though -not the only one. In the campaign of 1744 the enemy’s foragers captured -the young officer’s groom, with two of his horses. The king at once -supplied him with another horse from the royal stables; but the next -morning the groom and the captured horses were brought back again by a -trumpeter of the enemy, who, on returning them to Trenck, placed in his -hands the following letter from the chief of the Pandours:—</p> - -<p>“Trenck the Austrian is not at war with his cousin Trenck the Prussian. -He is delighted to have been able to get the two horses out of the -clutches of his hussars, and to return them to his cousin, to whom they -belong.”</p> - -<p>The young officer at once took the letter to the king, who, regarding -him with a frown, said: “Since your cousin has sent back your horses, -you have no need of mine.”</p> - -<p>Some months passed, and Trenck seemed perfectly restored to the favour -of his sovereign, when, the blow with<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_123" id="page_123"></a>{123}</span> which the king had long menaced -him fell suddenly upon his head.</p> - -<p>Some time previously, Trenck had been imprudent enough to write to his -cousin in the Austrian service; and, though his letter contained only -general expressions of compliment and regard, it was none the less a -grave breach of discipline. The affair of the captured horses had -afterwards happened, and Trenck had very nearly forgotten his letter, -when he one day received what purported to be a reply to it, though -there is every reason to believe that it was the work of some person in -the Prussian service plotting his ruin. Trenck was, however, arrested, -with the letter in his possession, and was taken to the castle of Glatz, -where he was placed in one of the rooms allotted to the officers of the -guard, and allowed the liberty of the fortress. He committed the error -of writing a very haughty letter to Frederic, which gave great offence. -He had remained five months in confinement; the king had vouchsafed no -reply to his demand to be brought before a military tribunal; peace had -been made; his post in the guards had been given to another; it was then -that he began to think of making his escape.</p> - -<p>During his imprisonment at Glatz he had made many friends among the -officers who had charge of him, by freely supplying them with money, -with which he was well provided. Two of these officers volunteered to -aid him in his escape, and to accompany him; and in addition to this -they all three undertook, from feelings of pity, to deliver another -officer, who had been condemned to ten years’ imprisonment in the same -fortress. After he had learned all their plans, this wretch, whom Trenck -had loaded with benefits, betrayed them, and earned his own liberty as -the reward of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_124" id="page_124"></a>{124}</span> his treachery. One of the confederates, warned in time, -was enabled to save himself; the other, thanks to Trenck, who had bribed -his judge, escaped with a year’s imprisonment. But Trenck himself was -from that day watched more closely than before. Some years after, the -wretch who had so basely sold him received his reward: Trenck met him at -Warsaw, insulted him publicly, and killed him in a duel.</p> - -<p>The king was greatly incensed at this attempted escape, the more so as -he had already promised, at the earnest entreaty of Trenck’s mother, to -release him in a year. But Trenck had, unfortunately, been kept in -ignorance of this latter circumstance. He was not long, however, before -he made another effort to recover his liberty, of which he gives an -account in the following terms:—</p> - -<p>“My window looked towards the city, and was ninety feet from the ground, -in the tower of the citadel, out of which I dared not get before finding -a place of refuge in the city. This an officer undertook to procure me, -and prevailed on an honest soap-boiler to grant me a hiding-place. I -then notched my penknife and sawed through three iron bars; but this -mode was too tedious, it being necessary to file away eight bars from my -window before I could pass through. Another officer, therefore, procured -me a file, which I was obliged to use with caution, lest I should be -overheard by the sentinels.</p> - -<p>“Having ended this labour, I cut my leather portmanteau into thongs, -sewed them end to end, added the sheets of my bed, and descended safely -from this tremendous height.</p> - -<p>“It rained, the night was dark, and all seemed fortunate; but I had to -wade through moats full of mud before I could enter the city—a -circumstance I had never once considered.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_125" id="page_125"></a>{125}</span> I sank up to the knees, and -after long struggling and incredible efforts to extricate myself, I was -obliged to call the sentinel and desire him to go and tell the governor -Trenck was stuck fast in the moat.</p> - -<p>“My misfortune was the greater on this occasion as General Fouquet was -then governor of Glatz. He was one of the cruellest of men. He had been -wounded by my father in a duel, and the Austrian Trenck had taken his -baggage in 1744, and had also laid the country of Glatz under -contribution. He was, therefore, an enemy to the very name of Trenck; -nor did he lose any opportunity of giving proofs of his sentiments, and -especially on the present occasion, when he left me standing in the mire -till noon, the sport of the soldiers. I was then drawn out, half dead, -only to be again imprisoned and shut up the whole day, without water to -wash myself. No one can imagine how I looked—exhausted and dirty, my -long hair having fallen into the mud, with which, by my struggling, it -was loaded. I remained in this condition till the next day, when two -fellow-prisoners were sent to assist and clean me.</p> - -<p>“My imprisonment now became intolerable. I had still eighty louis d’ors -in my purse, which had not been taken from me at my removal into another -dungeon, and these afterwards did me good service.</p> - -<p>“Eight days had not elapsed since my last fruitless attempt to escape -when an event happened which would appear incredible were I, the -principal actor in the scene, not alive to attest its truth, and might -not all Glatz and the Prussian garrison be produced as eye and -ear-witnesses. This incident will prove that adventurous and even rash -daring will render the most improbable undertakings possible, and that -desperate attempts may often make a general more<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_126" id="page_126"></a>{126}</span> fortunate and famous -than the wisest and best concerted plans.</p> - -<p>“Major Doo came to visit me, accompanied by an officer of the guard and -an adjutant. After examining every corner of my chamber, he addressed -me, taxing me with a second crime in endeavouring to obtain my liberty, -adding that this must certainly increase the anger of the king.</p> - -<p>“My blood boiled at the word crime; he talked of patience, I asked how -long the king had condemned me to imprisonment. He answered, a traitor -to his country who has correspondence with the enemy, cannot be -condemned for a certain time, but must depend for grace and pardon on -the king.</p> - -<p>“At that instant I snatched his sword from his side, on which my eyes -had been some time fixed, sprang out of the door, tumbled the sentinel -from the top to the bottom of the stairs, passed the men who happened to -be drawn up before the prison door to relieve the guard, attacked them -sword in hand, threw them suddenly into surprise by the manner in which -I laid about me, wounded four of them, made way through the rest, sprang -over the breastwork of the ramparts, and with the sword drawn in my hand -immediately leaped this astonishing height without receiving the least -injury; I leaped the second wall with equal safety and good fortune. -None of their pieces were loaded; no one durst leap after me, and in -order to pursue, they must go round through the tower and gate of the -citadel, so that I had the start full half an hour.</p> - -<p>“A sentinel, however, in a narrow passage endeavoured to oppose my -flight, but I parried his fixed bayonet and wounded him in the face. A -second sentinel, meantime, ran from the outworks to seize me behind, and -I, to avoid<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_127" id="page_127"></a>{127}</span> him, I made a spring at the palisades; unluckily my foot -got stuck, and the sentinel seized it and held me by it till his -comrades came up, who beat me with the butt end of their muskets, and -dragged me back to prison, while I struggled and defended myself like a -man grown desperate.</p> - -<p>“Certain it is, had I more carefully jumped the palisades, and -despatched the sentinel who opposed me I might have escaped, and gained -the mountains. Thus might I have fled to Bohemia, after having, at noon -day, broken from the fortress at Glatz, sprung past all its sentinels, -over all its walls, and passed with impunity, in spite of the guard, who -were under arms, ready to oppose me. I should not, with a sword in my -hand, have feared any single opponent, and was able to contend with the -swiftest runners. That good fortune which had so far attended me, -forsook me at the palisades, where hope was at an end.</p> - -<p>“The severities of imprisonment were increased, two sentinels and an -under officer were locked in with me, and were themselves guarded by -sentinels without. I was beaten and wounded by the butt ends of their -muskets, my right foot was sprained. I spit blood, and my wounds were -not cured in less than a month.</p> - -<p>“I was now informed for the first time that the king had only condemned -me to a year’s imprisonment to learn whether his suspicions were well -founded. My mother had petitioned for me, and was answered, ‘Your son -must remain a year imprisoned as a punishment for his rash -correspondence.’ Of this I was ignorant, and it was reported in Glatz, -that my imprisonment was for life. I had only three weeks longer to -repine for the loss of liberty, when I made this rash attempt. What must -the king think? Was he not obliged to act with this severity? How could -prudence excuse my</p> - -<p><a name="ill_XI" id="ill_XI"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p127b_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p127b_sml.jpg" width="284" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: My foot got stuck, and the sentinel seized it." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">My foot got stuck, and the sentinel seized it.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_128" id="page_128"></a>{128}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">impatience, thus to risk a confiscation, when I was certain of receiving -freedom, justification, and honour in three weeks. But such was my -adverse fate, circumstances all tended to injure and persecute me, till -at length I gave everyone reason to suppose I was a traitor, -notwithstanding the purity of my intentions.</p> - -<p>“Once more then I was in a dungeon, and no sooner was I there than I -formed new projects of flight. I first gained the intimacy of my guards. -I had money, and this, with the compassion I had inspired, might effect -anything among discontented Prussian soldiers. Soon I had gained -thirty-two men who were ready to execute, on the first signal, whatever -I should command. Two or three excepted, they were unacquainted with -each other, they consequently could not all betray me at once. One -Nicholai, a subaltern, was chosen as the leader.</p> - -<p>“The garrison consisted only of one hundred and twenty men from the -garrison regiment—the rest being dispersed in the county of Glatz—and -four officers their commanders, three of whom were in my interest. -Everything was prepared, swords and pistols were concealed in the oven, -which was in my prison. We intended to give liberty to all the -prisoners, and retire with drums beating, into Bohemia.</p> - -<p>“Unfortunately, an Austrian deserter, to whom Nicholai had imparted our -design revealed our conspiracy. The governor instantly sent his adjutant -to the citadel with orders that the officer on guard should arrest -Nicholai, and with his men take possession of the casement.</p> - -<p>“Nicholai was on the guard, and the lieutenant was my friend, and being -in the secret gave the signal that all was discovered. Nicholai only -knew all the conspirators, several of whom that day were on guard. He -instantly<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_129" id="page_129"></a>{129}</span> formed his resolution, leaped into the casement, crying, -‘Comrades, to arms! we are betrayed;’ all followed to the guard-house, -where they seized on the cartridges. The officer having only eight men, -and threatening to fire on whoever should offer resistance, came to -deliver me from prison, but the iron door was too strong and the time -too short for that to be demolished. Nicholai, calling to me, bid me aid -them, but in vain; and perceiving nothing more could be done for me, -this brave man, heading nineteen others, marched to the gate of the -citadel, where there was a sub-officer and ten soldiers, obliged these -to accompany him, and thus arrived safely at Braunau, in Bohemia, for -before the news was spread through the city, and men were collected for -the pursuit, they were nearly half way on their journey.</p> - -<p>“Two years after I met with this extraordinary man at Ofenburg, where he -was a writer; he entered immediately into my service, and became my -friend, but died some months after of a burning fever at my quarters in -Hungary, at which I was deeply grieved, for his memory will ever be dear -to me.</p> - -<p>“Now was I exposed to all the storms of ill fortune; a prosecution was -entered against me as a conspirator, who wanted to corrupt the officers -and soldiers of the King. They commanded me to name the remaining -conspirators; but to these questions I made no answer except by -steadfastly declaring I was an innocent prisoner, an officer unjustly -broken, because I had never been brought to trial,—that consequently I -was released from all my engagements.</p> - -<p>“A lieutenant, whose name was Bach, a Dane, mounted guard every fourth -day, and was the terror of the whole garrison; for being a perfect -master of arms, he was<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_130" id="page_130"></a>{130}</span> incessantly involved in quarrels, and generally -left his marks behind him. He had served in two regiments, neither of -which would associate with him for this reason, and he had been sent to -the garrison regiment at Glatz as a punishment.</p> - -<p>“Bach, one day sitting beside me, related how the evening before he had -wounded a lieutenant, of the name of Schell in the arm. I replied, -laughing, ‘Had I my liberty, I believe you would find some trouble in -wounding me, for I have some skill in the sword.’ The blood instantly -flew into his face. We split off a kind of a pair of foils from an old -door, which had served me as a table, and at the first lunge I hit him -on the breast.</p> - -<p>“His rage became ungovernable, and he left the prison. What was my -astonishment when, a moment after, I saw him return with two soldier’s -swords, which he had concealed under his coat. ‘Now then, boaster, -prove,’ said he, giving me one of them, ‘what thou art able to do.’ I -endeavoured to pacify him, by representing the danger; but -ineffectually. He attacked me with the utmost fury, and I wounded him in -the arm.</p> - -<p>“Throwing his sword down, he fell upon my neck, kissed me, and wept. At -length, after some convulsive emotions of pleasure, he said, ‘Friend, -thou art my master, and thou must, thou shalt, by my aid, obtain thy -liberty, as certainly as my name is Bach.’ We bound up his arm as well -as we could. He left me, and secretly went to a surgeon to have it -properly dressed, and at night returned.</p> - -<p>“Lieutenant Schell was just come from the garrison at Habelschwert, to -the citadel of Glatz, and in two days was to mount guard over me, till -which time our attempt was suspended. I had received no more supplies, -and my<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_131" id="page_131"></a>{131}</span> purse only contained some six pistoles. It was therefore -resolved that Bach should go to Schweidnitz, and obtain money of a sure -friend of his in that city.</p> - -<p>“It must be borne in mind that at this period the officers and I all -understood each other, Captain Roder alone excepted, who was exact, -rigid, and gave trouble on every possible occasion. Major Quaadt was my -kinsman by my mother’s side, a good friendly man, and ardently desirous -I should escape, seeing my calamities were so much increased. The four -lieutenants, who successively mounted guard over me, were Bach, -Schroeder, Lunitz, and Schell. The first was the grand projector, and -made all preparations. Schell was to desert with me, and Schroeder and -Lunitz, three days after, were to follow. No one ought to be surprised -that officers of garrison regiments should be so ready to desert; they -are in general either men of violent passions, quarrelsome, overwhelmed -with debts, or unfit for service. They are usually sent to garrison as a -punishment, and are called the refuse of the army. Dissatisfied with -their situation, their pay much reduced, and despised by the troops, -such men, expecting advantage, may be brought to engage in the most -desperate undertaking; for none of them can hope for their discharge. -They all hoped by my means to better their fortune, I always having had -money enough, and with money, nothing is more easy than to find friends -in places where each individual is desirous of escaping from slavery.</p> - -<p>“The governor had in the meantime been informed how familiar I had -become with the officers, and, growing alarmed at this circumstance, he -sent orders that my door should no more be opened, but that I should -receive my food through a small window that had been made for the -purpose. The care<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_132" id="page_132"></a>{132}</span> of the prison was committed to the major, and he was -forbidden to eat with me under pain of being broken.</p> - -<p>“His precautions were ineffectual. The officers procured a false key, -and remained with me half the day and night.</p> - -<p>“A Captain Damnitz was imprisoned in an apartment by the side of mine. -This man had deserted from the Prussian service, with the money -belonging to his company, to Austria, where he obtained a commission in -his cousin’s regiment. This cousin having prevailed on him to serve as a -spy during the campaign of 1744, he was taken in the Prussian -territories, recognised, and condemned to be hanged.</p> - -<p>“Some Swedish volunteers who were then in the army interested themselves -in his behalf, and his sentence was changed to perpetual imprisonment, -with a sentence of infamy.</p> - -<p>“This wretch, who two years afterwards, by the aid of his protectors, -not only obtained his liberty, but a lieutenant-colonel’s commission, -was the secret spy of the major over the prisoners, and he remarked that -notwithstanding the express prohibition laid on the officers, they still -passed the greater part of their time in my company.</p> - -<p>“The 24th of December came, and Schell mounted guard. He entered my -prison immediately, where he continued a long time, and we made our -arrangements for flight when he should next mount guard.</p> - -<p>“Meantime Lieut. Schroeder, who was in the secret, had no doubt but that -we were betrayed, knowing that the spy Damnitz had informed the governor -that Schell was then in my chamber. Schroeder, therefore, full of -terror, came running to the citadel, and said to Schell: ‘Save thyself, -friend; all is discovered, and thou wilt instantly be put under -arrest.’<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_133" id="page_133"></a>{133}</span></p> - -<p>“Schell might easily have provided for his own safety, by flying singly, -Schroeder having prepared horses on one of which he himself offered to -accompany him into Bohemia.</p> - -<p>“How did this worthy man, in a moment so dangerous, act towards his -friend? Running suddenly into my prison, he drew a corporal’s sabre from -under his coat, and said, ‘My friend, we are betrayed; follow me, only -do not allow me to fall alive into the hands of my enemies.’</p> - -<p>“I would have spoken, but interrupting me, and taking me by the hand, he -added, ‘Follow me, we have not a moment to lose.’ I therefore slipped on -my coat and boots, without having time to take the little money I had -left; and as we went out of the prison, Schell said to the sentinel, ‘I -am taking the prisoner into the officer’s apartment; stand where you -are.’</p> - -<p>“Into this room we really went, but passed out at the other door. The -design of Schell was to go under the arsenal, which was not far off, to -gain the covered way, leap the palisadoes, and afterwards escape the -best manner we might.</p> - -<p>“We had hardly gone a hundred paces before we met the Adjutant and Major -Quaadt. Schell started back, sprang upon the rampart, and leaped from -the wall, which was at that part not very high. I followed, and alighted -unhurt, except having grazed my shoulder. My poor friend was not so -fortunate, having put out his ankle. He immediately drew his sword, -presented it to me, and begged me to despatch him and fly. He was a -small, weak man; but, far from complying with his request, I took him in -my arms, threw him over the palisadoes, afterwards got him on my back, -and began to run, without knowing very well which way I went.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_134" id="page_134"></a>{134}</span></p> - -<p>“It may not be unnecessary to notice the fortunate circumstances that -favoured our enterprise.</p> - -<p>“The sun had just set as we took to flight, and a hoar frost came on. No -one would run the risk that we had done, by making so dangerous a leap. -We heard a terrible noise behind us. Everybody knew us, but before they -could go round the citadel, and run through the town, in order to pursue -us, we had got a full half-league.</p> - -<p>“The alarm guns were fired before we were a hundred paces distant, at -which my friend was very much terrified, knowing that in such cases it -was generally impossible to escape from Glatz unless the fugitives had -got a start of full two hours; the passes being immediately all stopped -by the peasants and hussars, who are exceedingly vigilant. No sooner is -a prisoner missed than the gunner runs from the guard house and fires -the cannon on the three sides of the fortress, which are kept loaded day -and night for that purpose.</p> - -<p>“We were not five hundred paces from the wall when all before us and -behind us were in motion. It was daylight when we leaped, yet was our -attempt as fortunate as it was wonderful; this I attributed to my -presence of mind, and the reputation I had already gained, which made it -thought a service of danger for two or three men to attack me.</p> - -<p>“It was, besides, imagined we were well provided with arms for our -defence, and it was little suspected that Schell had only his sword, and -I an old corporal’s sabre.</p> - -<p>“Scarcely had I borne my friend three hundred paces, before I set him -down, and I looked round me; but darkness came on so fast, that I could -see neither town nor citadel, consequently, we ourselves could not be -seen.</p> - -<p>“My presence of mind did not forsake me; death or freedom<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_135" id="page_135"></a>{135}</span> was my -determination. ‘Where are we, Schell?’ said I to my friend. ‘Where does -Bohemia lie? On which side is the river Neiss.’ The worthy man could -make no answer; his mind was all confusion, and he despaired of our -escape. He still, however, entreated I would not let him be taken alive, -and affirmed my labour was all in vain. After having promised, by all -that was sacred, I would save him from an infamous death, if no other -means were left, and thus raised his spirits, he looked round, and knew, -by some trees, we were not far from the city gates.</p> - -<p>“I asked him, ‘Where is the Neiss?’ He pointed sideways. ‘All Glatz has -seen us fly towards the Bohemian mountains. It is impossible we should -avoid the hussars, the passes being all guarded, and we beset with -enemies.’ So saying, I took him on my shoulders, and carried him to the -Neiss. Here we distinctly heard the alarm sounded in the villages, and -the peasants, who likewise were to form the line of desertion, were -everywhere in motion and spreading the alarm. I came to the Neiss, which -was a little frozen, entered it with my friend, and carried him as long -as I could wade; and when I could not feel the bottom, which did not -continue for a space of eighteen feet, he clung round me, and thus we -got safely to the other shore. The reader will easily suppose swimming -in the midst of December, and remaining afterwards in the open air -eighteen hours, was a severe hardship.</p> - -<p>“About seven o’clock, the hoar frost was succeeded by frost and -moonlight. The carrying of my friend kept me warm, it is true; but I -began to be tired, while he suffered everything that frost, the pain of -a dislocated foot (which I in vain endeavoured to reset), and the danger -of death from a thousand hands could inflict.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_136" id="page_136"></a>{136}</span></p> - -<p>“We were somewhat tranquil, however, since nobody would pursue us to -Silesia. I followed the course of the river for half an hour, and having -once passed the first villages that formed the line of desertion, with -which Schell was perfectly acquainted, we in a lucky moment found a -fisherman’s boat moored to the shore. Into this we leaped, crossed the -river again, and soon gained the mountains. Here being come, we sat -ourselves down on the snow. Hope revived in our hearts, and we held -council concerning how it was best to act. I cut a stick to assist -Schell in hopping forward as well as he could when I was tired of -carrying him; and thus we continued our route, the difficulties of which -were increased by the mountain snows.</p> - -<p>“Thus passed the night, during which, up to the middle in snow, we made -but little way. There were no paths to be traced in the mountains, and -they were in many places impassable.</p> - -<p>“Day at length appeared. We thought ourselves near the frontiers, which -are twenty English miles from Glatz, when we suddenly, to our terror, -heard the city clock strike. Overwhelmed as we were by hunger, cold, -pain, and fatigue, it was impossible we should hold out during the day. -After some consideration, and another half-hour’s labour, we came to a -village at the foot of the mountain, on the side of which, about three -hundred paces from us, we perceived two separate houses, and the sight -inspired us with a stratagem that was successful.</p> - -<p>“We lost our hats in leaping the ramparts, but Schell had preserved his -scarf and gorget, which would give him authority among the peasants.</p> - -<p>“I then cut my finger, rubbed the blood over my face, my shirt, and my -coat, and bound up my head, to give myself<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_137" id="page_137"></a>{137}</span> the appearance of a man -dangerously wounded. In this condition, I carried Schell to the end of -the wood, not far from these houses. Here he tied my hands behind my -back, but so that I could easily disengage them in time of need, and -hobbled after me by aid of his staff, calling for help.</p> - -<p>“Two old peasants appeared, and Schell commanded them to run to the -village and tell a magistrate to come immediately with a cart. ‘I have -seized this knave,’ added he, ‘who has killed my horse, and in the -struggle I have put out my ankle. However, I have wounded him and bound -him. Fly quickly; bring a cart, lest he should die before he is hanged.’</p> - -<p>“As for me, I suffered myself to be led, as if half dead, into the -house. A peasant was dispatched to the village.</p> - -<p>“An old woman and a pretty girl seemed to take great pity on me, and -gave me some bread and milk; but how great was our astonishment when the -aged peasant called Schell by his name, and told him he well knew we -were deserters, he having the night before been at a neighbouring -alehouse, where the officer in pursuit of us came, named and described -us, and related the whole history of our flight. The peasant knew -Schell, because his son served in his company, and had often spoken of -him when he was quartered at Habelschwert.</p> - -<p>“Presence of mind and resolution were all that were now left. I -instantly ran to the stable, while Schell detained the peasant in the -chamber. He, however, was a worthy man, and directed him to the road -towards Bohemia. We were still about seven miles from Glatz, having lost -ourselves among the mountains, where we had wandered many miles. The -daughter followed me. I found three horses in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_138" id="page_138"></a>{138}</span> stable but no -bridles. I conjured her in the most passionate manner possible to assist -me. She was affected, seemed half willing to follow me, and gave me two -bridles. I led the horses to the door, called Schell, and helped him, -with his lame leg, on horseback. The old peasant then began to weep, and -begged I would not take his horses; but he luckily wanted courage, and -perhaps the will to impede us, for with nothing more than a dung fork, -in our then feeble condition, he might have stopped us long enough to -have called in assistance from the village.</p> - -<p>“And now behold us on horseback, without hats or saddles—Schell with -his uniform scarf and gorget, and I in my red regimental coat. Still we -were in danger of seeing all our hopes vanish, for my horse would not -stir from the stable. However, at last, good horseman-like, I made him -move. Schell led the way, and we had scarcely gone a hundred paces -before we perceived the peasants coming in crowds from the village. As -kind fortune would have it, the people were all at church, it being a -festival. It was nine in the morning, and had the peasants been at home -we had been lost without redemption. We were obliged to take the road to -Wunshelburg, and pass through the town where Schell had been quartered a -month before, and in which he was known by everybody. Our dress, without -hats or saddles, sufficiently proclaimed we were deserters; our horses, -however, continued to go tolerably well, and we had the good luck to get -through the town, although there was a garrison of one hundred and -eighty infantry and twelve horse purposely to arrest deserters. Schell -knew the road to Brummen, where we arrived at eleven o’clock, and from -thence we went to Braunau, where we were safe.”</p> - -<p>During the first few months following his escape, Trenck</p> - -<p><a name="ill_XII" id="ill_XII"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p138a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p138a_sml.jpg" width="450" height="281" alt="Image unavailable: Trenck escaping with Lieutenant Schell." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">Trenck escaping with Lieutenant Schell.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_139" id="page_139"></a>{139}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">wandered about miserably, pursued everywhere by the vengeance of -Frederick, and being obliged sometimes to resist sword in hand persons -sent in pursuit of him. Proscribed in his own country, he had taken -service with Austria. At length, after a series of adventures, of which -he gives an account in his “Memoirs” that bears all the impress of -sincerity, notwithstanding the extraordinary events to which it refers, -he found himself at Dantzic, where he was delivered up to the King of -Prussia by the treachery of the imperial resident and the authorities of -the city. He was then taken to Magdeburg, and imprisoned in the citadel.</p> - -<p>“My dungeon,” he says, “was in a casemate, the fore part of which, six -feet wide and ten feet long, was divided by a party wall. In the inner -wall were two doors, and a third at the entrance of the casemate itself. -The window in the outer wall, which was seven feet thick, was so -situated, that though I had light, I could see neither heaven nor earth, -but only the roof of the magazine within, and outside this window were -iron bars, and in the space between, an iron grating, so narrow and with -such small interstices that it was impossible I should see any person -without the prison or that any person should see me. On the outside was -a wooden palisado six feet from the wall, by which the sentinels were -prevented conveying anything to me. I had a mattress, and a bedstead, -fastened to the floor by iron cramps so firmly that it was impossible to -move it up to the window. Beside the door was a small iron stove and a -table, in like manner fixed to the floor. I was not yet put in irons, -and my allowance was a pound and a half per day of ammunition bread, and -a jug of water. From my youth I always had a good appetite, and my bread -was so mouldy I could at first scarcely eat the half of it. This<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_140" id="page_140"></a>{140}</span> was -one result of the commandant’s avarice, who endeavoured to profit even -by the food supplies of the unfortunate prisoners. It is impossible for -me to describe to my reader the excess of tortures that during eleven -months I endured from ravenous hunger. I could easily have devoured six -pounds of bread every day; and every twenty-four hours, after having -received and swallowed my small portion I continued as hungry as before -I began, yet I was obliged to wait another twenty-four hours for a new -morsel. How willingly would I have signed a bill of exchange for a -thousand ducats, on my property at Vienna, only to have satiated my -hunger on dry bread. Scarcely had I dropped into a sweet sleep before I -dreamed I was feasting at some table, luxuriously loaded, where the -whole company were astonished to see me, eating like a glutton, to such -an extent was my imagination heated by the sensation of famine.</p> - -<p>“Awakened by the pains of hunger, I used to find that the dishes had -vanished, and that nothing remained but the reality of my distress. The -cravings of nature were but inflamed, my tortures prevented sleep, and -looking into futurity, the cruelty of my fate seemed to me, if possible -to increase, for I imagined that the prolongation of pangs like these -was insupportable. God preserve every honest man from sufferings like -mine! They were not to be endured by the most obdurate villain. Many -have fasted three days, many have suffered want for a week or more, but -certainly no one beside myself ever endured it in the same excess for -eleven months; some have supposed that to eat little might become -habitual, but I have experienced the contrary. My hunger increased every -day, and of all the trials of fortitude my whole life has afforded, this -eleven months was the most bitter.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_141" id="page_141"></a>{141}</span></p> - -<p>“My three doors were kept always shut, and I was left to such -meditations as such feelings and such hopes might inspire. Daily, about -noon, or once in twenty-four hours, my pittance of bread and water was -brought. The keys of all the doors were kept by the governor; the inner -door was not opened, but my bread and water were delivered through an -aperture. The prison was opened only once a week, on a Wednesday, when -the governor and town major paid their visit, after my den had been -cleaned.</p> - -<p>“Having remained thus two months, and observed this method was -invariable, I began to execute a project I had formed, and of the -possibility of which I was convinced.</p> - -<p>“Where the table and stove stood, the floor was bricked, and this paving -extended to the wall that separated my casemate from the adjoining one, -in which no one was confined. My window was only guarded by a single -sentinel. I therefore soon found among those who successively relieved -guard, two kind-hearted fellows, who described to me the situation of my -prison, whence I perceived I might effect my escape, could I but -penetrate into the adjoining casement (the door of which was not shut), -and find a friend and a boat waiting for me at the Elbe. Or could I swim -that river, the confines of Saxony were but a mile distant.</p> - -<p>“To describe my plan at length would lead to prolixity, yet I must -enumerate some of its main features, as it was remarkably intricate and -it involved gigantic labour.</p> - -<p>“I worked through the iron, eighteen inches long, by which the table was -fastened, and broke off the clinchings of the nails, but preserved their -heads, that I might put<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_142" id="page_142"></a>{142}</span> them again in their places, that all might -appear secure to my weekly visitors. This procured me tools to raise up -the brick floor, under which I found earth. My first attempt was to work -a hole through the wall, seven feet thick behind, and concealed by the -table. The first layer was of brick; I afterwards came to large hewn -stones. I endeavoured accurately to number and remember the bricks, both -of the flooring and the wall, so that I might replace them, that all -might appear safe. This having been accomplished, I awaited the day of -visitation. All was carefully replaced, and the intervening mortar as -carefully preserved. The cell had probably been whitewashed a hundred -times, and, that I might fill up all remaining interstices, I pounded -the white stuff from the walls, wetted it, made a brush of my hair, -washed it over, that the colour might be uniform, and afterwards -stripped myself, and sat, with my naked body against the place, by the -heat of which it was dried.</p> - -<p>“While labouring, I placed the stones and bricks upon my bedstead; and -had they taken the precaution to come at any other time of the week, the -stated Wednesday excepted, I had inevitably been discovered; but as no -such ill accident befell me, in six months my Herculean labours gave me -a prospect of success.</p> - -<p>“Means were to be found to remove the rubbish from my prison, all of -which, in so thick a wall, it was impossible to replace. Mortar and -stone could not be removed. I therefore took the earth, scattered it -about my chamber, and ground it under my feet the whole day, till I had -reduced it to dust, which I strewed in the aperture of my window, making -use of the loosened table to stand upon. I tied splinters from my -bedstead together, with the ravelled<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_143" id="page_143"></a>{143}</span> yarn of an old stocking, and to -this I affixed a tuft of my hair. I worked a large hole under the middle -grating, which could not be seen by any one standing on the ground, and -through this I pushed my dust with the tool I had prepared in the outer -window, then waiting till the wind rose, during the night I brushed it -away. It was blown off, and no appearance remained on the outside.</p> - -<p>“By this single expedient, I rid myself of at least three hundredweight -of earth, and thus made room to continue my labours; yet this being -still insufficient, I had recourse to many other artifices, among them -that of kneading up the earth into little balls which, and when the -sentinel’s back was turned, I blew through a paper tube, out of the -window. Into the empty space I put my mortar and stones, and worked on -successfully.</p> - -<p>“I cannot, however, describe my difficulties after having penetrated -about two feet into the hewn stone. My tools were the irons I had dug -out, which fastened my bedstead and table. A compassionate soldier also -gave me an old iron ramrod, and a soldier’s sheath knife, which did me -excellent service, more especially the latter, as I shall presently more -fully show. With the knife I cut splinters from my bedstead, which aided -me to pick the mortar from the interstices of the stone; yet the labour -of penetrating through this seven-feet wall was incredible. The building -was ancient, and the mortar occasionally quite petrified, so that the -whole stone was obliged to be reduced to dust. After continuing my work -unremittingly for six months, I at length approached the accomplishment -of my hopes, as I knew by coming to the facing of brick which alone -remained between me and the adjoining casemate.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_144" id="page_144"></a>{144}</span></p> - -<p>“Meantime, I found opportunity to speak to some of the sentinels, among -whom was an old grenadier, called Gefhardt, whom I here name because he -displayed qualities of the greatest and most noble kind. From him I -learned the precise situation of my prison, and every circumstance that -might best conduce to my escape.</p> - -<p>“Nothing was wanting but money to buy a boat, so crossing the Elbe with -Gefhardt, I might take refuge in Saxony. By Gefhardt’s means I became -acquainted with a kind-hearted girl, a Jewess, and a native of Dessau, -Esther Heymannin by name, whose father had been ten years in prison. -This good, compassionate maiden, whom I had never seen, won over two -grenadiers, who gave her an opportunity of speaking to me every time -they stood sentinel. By tying my splinters together, I made a stick long -enough to reach beyond the palisadoes that were before my window, and -thus obtained paper, another knife, and a file.</p> - -<p>“I now wrote to my sister, the wife of the before-mentioned only son of -General Waldow, described my awful situation, and entreated her to remit -three hundred rix-dollars to the Jewess, hoping by this means I might -escape from my prison. I then wrote another affecting letter to Count -Puebla, the Austrian ambassador at Berlin, in which was enclosed a draft -for a thousand florins on my effects at Vienna, desiring him to remit -these to the Jewess, having promised her that sum as a reward for her -fidelity. She was to bring the three hundred rix-dollars my sister -should send me, and take measures with the grenadiers to facilitate my -flight, which nothing seemed able to prevent; I having the power either -to break into the casemate, or, aided by<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_145" id="page_145"></a>{145}</span> the grenadiers and the Jewess, -to cut the locks from the doors and that way escape my dungeon. The -letters were open, I being obliged to roll them round the stick to -convey them to Esther.</p> - -<p>“The faithful girl diligently proceeded to Berlin, where she arrived -safely, and immediately spoke to Count Puebla. The Count gave her the -kindest reception, received the letter, with the letter of exchange, and -bade her go and speak to Weingarten, the secretary of the embassy, and -act entirely as he should direct. She was received by Weingarten in the -most friendly manner, and he, by his questions, drew from her the whole -secret, our intended plan of flight, and the names of the two grenadiers -who were to aid us. She told him also that she had a letter for my -sister, which she must carry to Hammer, near Custrin.</p> - -<p>“He asked to see this letter, read it, told her to proceed on her -journey, gave her two ducats to bear her expenses, and ordered her to -come to him on her return; adding that during this interval he would -endeavour to obtain the thousand florins for my draft, and would then -give her further instructions.</p> - -<p>“Esther cheerfully departed for Hammer, where my sister, then a widow, -and no longer, as in 1746, in dread of her husband, immediately gave her -a letter to me, with three hundred rix-dollars, exhorting her to exert -every possible means to obtain my deliverance. Having prospered so far, -Esther hastened back to Berlin, with the letter from my sister, and told -Weingarten all that passed, whom she allowed to read the letter. He told -her the two thousand florins from Vienna were not yet come, but gave her -twelve ducats, bade her hasten back to Magdeburg, to carry me all this -good news, and then return to Berlin, where he<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_146" id="page_146"></a>{146}</span> would pay her the -thousand florins. Esther came to Magdeburg, went immediately to the -citadel, and most luckily met the wife of one of the grenadiers, who -told her that her husband and his comrade had been taken and put in -irons the day before. Esther’s quickness of perception told her that we -had been betrayed: she, therefore, instantly again began her travels, -and happily came safe to Dessau.”</p> - -<p>One of the grenadiers was hung, the other cruelly tortured. Trenck’s -sister was condemned to pay a heavy fine, and the expenses of building a -new cell for her brother. Trenck did not know at first what had -happened, but he was soon informed of it by Gefhardt, who told him that -his new prison would be finished in a month. Frederic, who had come to -Magdebourg to hold a review, himself designed the chains for the limbs -of his victim. Meanwhile Trenck was still in hopes of regaining his -liberty. As yet nothing had been discovered of his subterranean -operations. His preparations were at length finished, and he was getting -ready to fly during the night, when suddenly the doors were opened; he -was seized, and bound hand and foot; a bandage was placed over his eyes, -and he was dragged away to his new cell. His feelings are best described -in his own words:—</p> - -<p>“The bandage was taken from my eyes. The dungeon was lighted by a few -torches. Great heaven! what were my feelings when I beheld the floor -covered with chains, a fire pan, and two grim men standing with their -smiths’ hammers.</p> - -<p>“These engines of despotism went to work at once: enormous chains were -fixed to my ancles at one end, and at the other to a ring which was -fixed in the wall. This ring was three feet from the ground, and only -allowed me<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_147" id="page_147"></a>{147}</span> to move about two or three feet to the right and left. They -next riveted another huge iron ring of a hand’s breadth round my naked -body, to which hung a chain fixed into an iron bar as thick as a man’s -arm. This bar was two feet in length, and at each end of it was a -handcuff. The iron collar round my neck was not added till the year -1756.</p> - -<p>“No soul bade me good-night. All retired in dreadful silence, and I -heard the horrible grating of four doors that were successively locked -and bolted upon me.</p> - -<p>“Thus does man act by his fellow, knowing him to be innocent, in blind -obedience to the commands of another man.</p> - -<p>“O God! Thou alone knowest how my heart, void as it was of guilt, beat -at this moment. There I sat, destitute, alone, in thick darkness, upon -the bare earth, with a weight of fetters insupportable to nature, -thanking Thee that these cruel men had not discovered my knife by which -my miseries might yet find an end. Death is a last certain refuge that -can indeed bid defiance to the rage of tyranny. What shall I say. How -shall I make the reader feel as I then felt? How describe my -despondency, and yet account for that latent impulse that withheld my -hand on this fatal, this miserable night?</p> - -<p>“The misery I foresaw was not of short duration. I had heard of the wars -that were lately broken out between Austria and Prussia. To patiently -wait their termination amid sufferings and wretchedness such as mine, -appeared impossible, and freedom even then was doubtful. Sad experience -had I had of Vienna, and well I knew that those who had despoiled me of -my property would most anxiously endeavour to prevent my return. Such -were my meditations, such my night thoughts. Day at length returned,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_148" id="page_148"></a>{148}</span> -but where was its splendour? I beheld it not, yet its glimmering -obscurity was sufficient to show me my dungeon.</p> - -<p>“In breadth, the cell was about eight feet; in length, ten. Near me -stood a table; in a corner was a seat four bricks broad, on which I -might sit and recline against the wall opposite to the ring to which I -was fastened; the light was admitted through a semicircular aperture one -foot high, and two in diameter. This aperture ascended to the centre of -the wall, which was six feet thick, and at this central part was a close -iron grating from which outward the aperture descended, having its two -extremities again closely secured by strong iron bars. My dungeon was -built in the ditch of the fortification, and the aperture by which the -light entered was so covered by the wall of the rampart, that instead of -finding immediate passage, the light only gained admission by -reflection. This, considering the smallness of the aperture and the -impediments of grating and iron bars, made the obscurity very great, yet -my eyes in time became so accustomed to this gloom, that I could see a -mouse run. In winter, however, when the sun did not shine into the -ditch, it was dense night with me. Between the bars and the grating was -a glass window, most curiously formed, with a small central casement, -which might be opened to admit the air. The name of Trenck was built in -the wall in red brick, and under my feet was a tombstone with the name -of Trenck also cut on it, and carved with a death’s head. The doors to -my dungeon were double, of oak, two inches thick; without, there was an -open space in front of the cell, in which was a window. And this space -was likewise shut in by double doors. The ditch in which this dreadful -den was built was inclosed on both sides by palisadoes twelve feet high, -the key of the gate of which<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_149" id="page_149"></a>{149}</span> was intrusted to the officer of the guard, -it being the king’s intention to prevent all possibility of speech or -communication with the sentinel. The only motion I had the power to make -was that of jumping upward, or swinging my arms to procure myself -warmth. When more accustomed to the fetters, I became capable of moving -from side to side about four feet, but this pained my shin-bones.</p> - -<p>“The cell had been finished with lime and plaster but eleven days, and -everybody supposed it impossible I should exist above a fortnight after -breathing the damp air. I remained six months, continually drenched with -very cold water, that trickled upon me from the thick arches above; and -I can safely affirm that for the first three months I was never dry, yet -I continued in health. I was visited daily at noon, after the relieving -of guard, and the doors were then obliged to be left open for some -minutes, otherwise the dampness of the air put out my gaolers’ candles.</p> - -<p>“This was my situation. And here I sat, destitute of friends, helplessly -wretched, preyed on by all the tortures of an imagination that -continually suggested the most gloomy, the most horrid, the most -dreadful of images. My heart was not yet wholly turned to stone; my -fortitude was reduced to despondency; my dungeon was the very cave of -despair; yet was my arm restrained, and this excess of misery endured.</p> - -<p>“How, then, may hope be wholly eradicated from the heart of man? My -fortitude, after some time, began to revive. I glowed with the desire of -convincing the world I was capable of suffering what man had never -suffered before, perhaps of, at last, emerging from beneath this load of -wretchedness triumphant over my enemies. So long and ardently did my -fancy dwell on this picture that my mind<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_150" id="page_150"></a>{150}</span> at length acquired a heroism -which Socrates himself certainly never possessed. Age had benumbed his -sense of pleasure, and he drank the poisonous draught with cool -indifference; but I was young, inured to high hopes, yet now beholding -deliverance impossible, or at an immense, a dreadful distance. Such, -too, were my other sufferings of soul and body that I could not hope and -live.</p> - -<p>“About noon my door was opened. Sorrow and compassion were painted on -the countenances of my keepers; no one spoke, no one bade me ‘Good -morrow!’ Dreadful, indeed, was the sound of their arrival; for the -monstrous bolts and bars moved with difficulty, and the noise of their -removal would be resounding for a good half hour through the vaults of -the prison.</p> - -<p>“But at length a camp bed, mattress, and blankets were brought me, and -beside it an ammunition loaf of six pounds’ weight. ‘That you may no -more complain of hunger,’ said the town major, when the loaf was laid -before me, ‘you shall have as much bread as you can eat.’ The door was -shut, and I again left to my thoughts.”</p> - -<p>For eleven months Trenck had been dying of hunger, and he devoured the -bread so greedily that repletion nearly finished what starvation had -begun, and he became seriously ill. When he had somewhat recovered he -began anew to meditate a scheme of escape.</p> - -<p>“I observed, as the four doors of my cell were opened, that they were -only of wood; I therefore considered whether I might not even cut off -the locks with the knife that I had so fortunately concealed; and should -this and every other means fail, then would be the time to die. I -likewise determined to make an attempt to free myself of my chains. I -happily forced my right hand through the handcuffs, though<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_151" id="page_151"></a>{151}</span> the blood -trickled from my nails. My attempts on the left were long ineffectual, -but by rubbing with a brick, which I got from my seat, on a rivet that -had been negligently closed, I effected this also.</p> - -<p>“The chain was fastened to the ring round my body by a hook, the end of -which was not inserted in the ring; therefore, by setting my foot -against the wall, I had strength enough so far to bend this hook back, -and open it, as to force out the link of the chain. The remaining -difficulty was the chain that attached my foot to the wall; the links of -this I took, doubled, twisted, and wrenched, till at length, nature -having bestowed on me great strength, I made a desperate effort, sprang -forcibly up, and two links at once flew off. Fortunate indeed did I -think myself. I hastened to the door, groped in the dark to find the -clinchings of the nails by which the lock was fastened, and discovered -no very large piece of wood need be cut. Immediately I went to work with -my knife, and cut through the oak door to find its thickness, which -proved to be only one inch, therefore it was possible to open all the -four doors in four and twenty hours.</p> - -<p>“Again hope revived in my heart. To prevent discovery I hastened to put -on my chains; but, O Heaven! what difficulties had I to surmount. After -much groping about, I at length found the link that had flown off, but -this I hid. It had hitherto been my good fortune to escape examination, -as the possibility of ridding myself of such chains was in no wise -suspected. The separated iron links I tied together with my hair ribbon; -but when I again endeavoured to force my hand into the ring, it was so -swelled that every effort was fruitless. The whole night was employed -upon the rivet, but all labour was in vain.</p> - -<p>“It was near the hour of visitation, and necessity and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_152" id="page_152"></a>{152}</span> danger again -obliged me to attempt forcing my hand through the ring, an operation at -length, after excruciating tortures, I effected. My visitors came, and -everything had the appearance of order. I found it, however, impossible -to again free my right hand while it continued swelled.</p> - -<p>“I therefore remained quiet for the time; and on the fourth of July, the -day I had fixed for my attempt, the moment my visitors had left me, I -disencumbered myself of irons, took my knife and began my Herculean -labours on the doors. The first of them that opened inwards was -conquered in less than an hour. The other was a very different task. The -lock was soon cut round, but it opened outwards; there was, therefore, -no other means left but to cut the whole door away above the bar. -Incessant and incredible labour made this possible, though it was the -more difficult as everything was to be done by feeling, as I was totally -in the dark; the sweat dropped, or rather flowed from my body. My -fingers were clotted in my own blood, and my lacerated hands were one -continued wound.</p> - -<p>“Daylight appeared. I clambered over the door that I had cut through, -and got up to the window in the space or cell that was between the -double doors as before described. Here I saw that my dungeon was in the -ditch of the first rampart; before me I saw the road from the rampart, -the guard but fifty paces distant, and the high palisades that were in -the ditch, and must be scaled before I could reach the rampart. Hope -grew stronger. My efforts were redoubled. The first of the next double -doors was attacked, which likewise opened inward, and was soon -conquered. The sun set before I had ended this, and the fourth was cut -away as the second had been. My strength failed, both my hands were raw. -I rested awhile, began again, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_153" id="page_153"></a>{153}</span> had made a cut of a foot long when my -knife snapped, and the broken blade dropped to the ground.”</p> - -<p>Seeing all his dreams of liberty thus vanish in a moment, the -unfortunate prisoner, abandoning himself to despair, opened the veins of -his left arm and foot with the broken blade.</p> - -<p>“I fainted, and I know not how long I remained in this state. Suddenly I -heard my own name, awoke, and again heard the words, ‘Baron Trenck!’ -‘Who calls?’ was my answer. And who indeed was it to be but my loved -grenadier Gefhardt—my former faithful friend in the citadel. The good, -the kind fellow had got upon the rampart that he might see and comfort -me.</p> - -<p>“ ‘In what state are you?’ said Gefhardt. ‘Weltering in my blood,’ -answered I; ‘to-morrow you will find me dead.’ ‘Why should you die?’ -replied he. ‘It is much easier for you to escape from this place than -from the citadel. There is no sentinel here, and I shall soon find means -to furnish you with tools. If you can only break out, leave the rest to -me. As often as I am on guard, I will seek an opportunity to speak to -you. In the whole of the Star Fort there are only two sentinels, the one -at the entrance and the other at the guard-house. Do not despair, God -will help you, trust to me.’ The good man’s kindness and his words -revived my hopes. I saw the possibility of my escape. A secret joy -diffused itself through my soul. I immediately tore my shirt, bound up -my wounds, and waited the approach of day; and the sun soon after shone -through my window with more than its accustomed brightness.</p> - -<p>“Till noon I had time to consider what might further be done; yet what -could be done? What could be expected but that I should now be much more -cruelly treated, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_154" id="page_154"></a>{154}</span> even more insupportably ironed than before, -finding as they must the doors cut through and my fetters shaken off.</p> - -<p>“After mature consideration I therefore made the following resolution, -which succeeded happily, and even beyond my hopes. Before I proceed, -however, I will speak a few words concerning my situation at this -moment. It is impossible to describe how much I was exhausted. The -prison swam with blood, and certainly but little was left in my body. -With painful wounds, swelled and torn hands, I stood shirtless in my -cell. I felt an almost irresistible inclination to sleep, scarcely had -strength to keep my legs out, and I was obliged to rouse myself that I -might execute my plan.</p> - -<p>“With the bar that separated my hands I loosened the bricks of my seat, -which as they were newly laid, was easily done, and heaped them up in -the middle of my prison. The inner door was quite open, and with my -chains I so barricaded the upper half of the second, as to prevent any -one climbing over it. When noon came, and the first of the doors was -unlocked, all were astonished to find the second open. There I stood, -besmeared with blood, the picture of horror, with a brick in one hand, -and in the other my broken knife, crying as they approached, ‘Keep off, -major, keep off. Tell the governor I will live no longer in chains, and -that here I stand if he pleases, to be shot, for so only will I be -conquered. No man shall enter; I will destroy every one that approaches; -here are my weapons; I will die in despite of tyranny.’ The major was -terrified, and lacking resolution to approach, made his report to the -governor. I, mean time, sat down on my bricks to await what might -happen. My second intent, however, was not so desperate as it appeared. -I sought only to obtain a favourable capitulation.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_155" id="page_155"></a>{155}</span></p> - -<p>“The governor-general, Borck, presently came, attended by the town major -and some officers. He entered the outer cell, but sprang back the moment -he beheld a figure like me, standing with a brick and uplifted arm. I -repeated what I had told the major, and he immediately ordered six -grenadiers to force the door. The front cell was scarcely six feet -broad, so that no more than two at a time could attack my intrenchment, -and when they saw my threatening bricks ready to descend, they leaped -back in terror. A short pause ensued, and the old town major, with the -chaplain, advanced towards the door to soothe me: the conversation -continued some time to no purpose. The governor grew angry, and ordered -a fresh attack. The first grenadier I knocked down, and the rest ran -back to avoid my missiles.</p> - -<p>“The town major again began a parley. ‘For God’s sake, my dear Trenck,’ -said he, ‘in what have I injured you, that you endeavour to effect my -ruin? I must answer for your having through my negligence concealed a -knife; be persuaded, I entreat you; be appeased. You are not without -hope or without friends.’ My answer was, ‘But will you promise not to -load me with heavier irons than before?’</p> - -<p>“He went out and spoke with the governor, and gave me his word of honour -that the affair should be no further noticed, and that everything should -be reinstated as formerly.</p> - -<p>“Here ended the capitulation, and my wretched citadel was taken.”</p> - -<p>The state of the unfortunate prisoner excited commiseration, and he was -attended with great care, and supplied with everything needful to his -recovery. For four days he was suffered to remain out of irons, but on -the fifth he was again fettered, and new doors, one of them of double -thickness, were set up in place of those he had destroyed.</p> - -<p><a name="ill_XIII" id="ill_XIII"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p155b_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p155b_sml.jpg" width="281" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: The first grenadier I knocked down." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">The first grenadier I knocked down.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_156" id="page_156"></a>{156}</span></p> - -<p>Gefhardt came on guard soon after this, and he at once began to concert -with Trenck measures for a new attempt at flight. He furnished him with -writing materials, and undertook to post a letter to a friend of the -prisoner, in Vienna. This friend sent back some money, which Gefhardt -found means to convey to the prisoner while handing him his food.</p> - -<p>“Having money to carry on my designs, I began to put into execution my -plan, of burrowing under the foundation. The first thing necessary was -to free myself from my fetters. To accomplish this Gefhardt supplied me -with two small files, and by the aid of these this operation, though a -difficult one, was effected.</p> - -<p>“The cap or staple of the foot-ring was made so wide that I could draw -it forward a quarter of an inch. I filed the iron which passed through -it on the inside; the more I filed this away the farther I could draw -the cap down, till at last the whole inside iron through which the -chains passed was cut quite through; by this means I could slip off the -ring, while the cap on the outside continued whole, and it was -impossible to discover any cut, as only the outside could be examined. -My hands, by continued efforts, I so compressed, as to be able to draw -them out of the handcuffs. I then filed off the hinge, and made a -screw-driver of one of the foot-long flooring nails, with which I could -take out the screws at pleasure. The rim round my body was but a small -impediment, were it not for the chain which passed from my hand bar, and -this I removed by filing an aperture in one of the links, which at the -necessary hour I closed with bread rubbed over with rusty iron, first -drying it with the heat of my body; and I would wager any sum that, -without striking the chain link by link with a hammer, no one not in the -secret would have discovered the fracture.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_157" id="page_157"></a>{157}</span></p> - -<p>“The window was never strictly examined. I therefore drew the two -staples by which the iron bars were fixed to the wall, daily replacing -and carefully plastering them over. I procured wire from Gefhardt, and -tried how well I could imitate the inner grating. Finding I succeeded -tolerably, I cut the real grating totally away, and substituted an -artificial one of my own making, by which I obtained a free -communication with the outside, additional fresh air, together with all -necessary implements, tinder and candles.</p> - -<p>“In order that the light might not be seen, I hung the coverlet of my -bed before the window, so that I could work fearless and undetected. The -floor of my dungeon was not of stone, but of oak plank three inches -thick, three beds of which were laid crossways, and were fastened to -each other by nails half an inch in diameter and a foot long. Having -worked round the head of a nail, I made use of the hole at the end of -the bar which separated my hands to draw it out, and this nail, -sharpened upon my tombstone, made an excellent chisel.</p> - -<p>“I now cut through the board more than an inch in width, that I might -work downwards, and having drawn away a piece of wood which was inserted -two inches under the wall, I cut this so as to exactly fit. The small -crevice it occasioned I stopped up with bread, and strewed over with -dust, so as to prevent all suspicions. My labour under this was -continued with less precaution, and I had soon worked through my -nine-inch planks. Under them I came to a fine white sand, on which the -Star Fort was built. My chips I carefully distributed beneath the -boards, but I soon saw that, if I had not help from without, I could -proceed no farther; for it would be useless to dig, unless I could rid -myself of my rubbish.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_158" id="page_158"></a>{158}</span></p> - -<p>“Gefhardt supplied me with some ells of cloth, of which I made long -narrow bags, stuffed them with earth, and passed them between the iron -bars to Gefhardt, who, as he was on guard, scattered or conveyed away -their contents. Furnished with room to secrete them under the floor, I -obtained more instruments, together with a pair of pistols, powder, -ball, and a bayonet. I now discovered that the foundation of my prison, -instead of two, was sunk four feet deep. Time, labour, and patience were -all necessary to break out unheard and undiscovered; but few things are -impossible where resolution is not wanting.</p> - -<p>“The hole I made was obliged to be four feet deep, corresponding with -the foundation, and wide enough to kneel and to stoop in. The lying down -on the floor to work, the continual stooping to throw out the earth, the -narrow space in which all must be performed,—these made the labour -incredible; and after this daily labour, all things were to be replaced, -and my chains again resumed, which alone required some hours to effect.</p> - -<p>“I now continued my labour, and found it very possible to break out -under the foundation, but Gefhardt had been so terrified by the late -accident, that he started a thousand difficulties, in proportion as my -end was more nearly accomplished; and at the moment when I wished to -concert with him the means of flight, he persisted that it was necessary -to find additional help to escape in safety, and not bring both him and -myself to destruction. At length we came to a new determination, which, -however, after eight months’ incessant labour, rendered my whole project -abortive.”</p> - -<p>A letter posted by Gefhardt’s wife, containing an unusual number of -recommendations, revealed the whole plot; though, after a strict search, -the authorities failed to discover<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_159" id="page_159"></a>{159}</span> any of the signs of Trenck’s -activity on either his chains or the flooring of his cell. All that was -noticed was the changes he had made in his window, which was immediately -closed up with planks. The prisoner was interrogated with threats as to -the names of his accomplices, in presence of his guards, and his -firmness in refusing to make any revelations proved of great service to -him afterwards among men, who were not unwilling to aid a prisoner if -they could feel quite certain of not being betrayed. Some days after, -all his chains were padlocked together; and his window too was narrowed -till it became little better than a mere air-vent. He was at the same -time deprived of his bed, and he had no other means of taking repose -than by sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, in which -position he was half strangled by the weight of the padlock. He became -ill, and lay for two months at the point of death without receiving any -aid. He was again, however, allowed the use of his bed.</p> - -<p>When he had again recovered, he contrived to gain by bribes three of the -four officers who attended him, and through them he obtained candles, -books, newspapers; and, more precious than all, some tools for cutting -through the chains hanging from his padlock. He also, through one of the -officers, obtained larger handcuffs, from which he could easily withdraw -his hands. He then renewed his subterranean labours with the design of -cutting a passage, thirty-seven feet in length, to the gallery beneath -the rampart. He made a new opening, however, to avoid working beneath -the feet of the sentinels:—</p> - -<p>“The work at first proceeded so rapidly that, while I had room to throw -back my sand, I was able in one night to gain three feet; but ere I had -proceeded ten feet, I discovered<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_160" id="page_160"></a>{160}</span> all my difficulties. Before I could -continue my work, I was obliged to make room for myself, by emptying the -sand out of the hole upon the floor of the prison, and this itself was -an employment of some hours. The sand was obliged to be thrown out by -the hand, and after it thus lay heaped in my prison, it had again to be -returned into the hole. I have calculated that, after I had proceeded -twenty feet, I was obliged to creep underground in my hole from fifteen -hundred to two thousand fathoms within twenty-four hours, in the removal -and replacing of the sand. This labour ended, care was to be taken that -in none of the crevices of the floor there might be any appearance of -this fine white sand. The flooring was next to be exactly replaced, and -my chains to be resumed. So severe was the fatigue of one day of this -kind, that I was always obliged to rest the three following.</p> - -<p>“To reduce my labour as much as possible, I was constrained to make the -passage so small that my body only had space to pass, and I had not room -to draw my arm back to my head. The work, too, had all to be done naked, -otherwise the dirtiness of my shirt would have been remarked; and the -sand was wet, water being found at the depth of four feet, where the -stratum of the gravel began. At length the expedient of sand bags -occurred to me, by which it might be removed out and in more -expeditiously. I obtained linen from the officers, but not in sufficient -quantities. Suspicions would have been excited had too much linen been -brought into the prison. At last I took my sheets, and the ticking that -inclosed my straw, and cut them up for sand bags, taking care to lie -down on my bed as if ill, when Bruckhausen paid his visit.</p> - -<p>“The labour, towards the conclusion, became so intolerable<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_161" id="page_161"></a>{161}</span> as to excite -despondency. I frequently sat contemplating the heaps of sand, during a -momentary respite from work; and thinking it impossible I could have -strength or time again to replace all things as they were, have resolved -patiently to wait the consequences, and leave everything in its present -disorder. Yes, I can assure the reader that to effect concealment, I -have scarcely had time in twenty-four hours to sit down and eat a morsel -of bread. Recollecting, however, the efforts and all the progress I had -made, hope would again revive in me, and exhausted strength return, and -again would I begin my labours; yet it has frequently happened that my -visitors have entered a few minutes after I had reinstated everything in -its place.</p> - -<p>“When my work was within six or seven feet of being accomplished, a new -misfortune happened, that at once frustrated all further attempts. I -worked, as I have said, under the foundation of the rampart, near where -the sentinels stood. I could disencumber myself of my fetters, except my -neck collar and its pendant chain. This, as I worked, though it was -fastened, got loose, and the clanking was heard by one of the sentinels, -about fifteen feet from my dungeon. The officer was called, they laid -their ears to the ground and heard me as I went backward and forward to -bring my earth bags. This was reported the next day, and the major, who -was my best friend, with the town major, and a smith and mason, entered -my prison. I was terrified. The lieutenant, by a sign, gave me to -understand I was discovered. An examination was begun; but the officers -would not see, and the smith and mason found all, as they thought, safe. -Had they examined my bed they would have seen the ticking and sheets -were gone. The town major, who was a dull man, was persuaded the thing<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_162" id="page_162"></a>{162}</span> -was impossible, and said to the sentinel, ‘Blockhead, you have heard -some mole underground, and not Trenck. How indeed could it be, that he -should work underground at such a distance from his dungeon?’ Here the -scrutiny ended.</p> - -<p>“There was now no time for delay. Had they altered their hour of coming, -they must have found me at work; but this, during ten years, never -happened, for the governor and town major were stupid men, and the -others, poor fellows, wishing me all success, were willingly blind. In a -few days I could have broken out; but when ready, I was desirous to wait -for the visitation of the man who had treated me so tyrannically, -Bruckhausen; but this man, though he wanted understanding, did not want -good fortune. He was ill for some time, and his duty devolved on K——. -He recovered, and the visitation being over, the doors were no sooner -barred than I began my supposed last labour. I had only three feet -farther to proceed, and it was no longer necessary that I should bring -out the sand, as I had room to throw it behind me. What my anxiety was, -what my exertions were, can well be imagined. My evil genius, however, -had decreed that the same sentinel who had heard me before, should be -that day on guard. He was piqued by vanity to prove he was not the -blockhead he had been called, he therefore again laid his ear to the -ground, and again heard me burrowing. He called his comrades first, next -the major; who came and heard me likewise, they then went outside the -palisades and heard me working next the door, at which place I was to -break into the gallery. This door they immediately opened, entered the -gallery with lanterns, and waited to catch the hunted fox when -unearthed.</p> - -<p>“Through the first small breach I made I perceived a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_163" id="page_163"></a>{163}</span> light, and saw the -heads of those who were expecting me. This was indeed a thunderstroke. I -crept back, made my way through the sand I had cast behind me, and -shudderingly awaited my fate. I had the presence of mind to conceal my -pistols, candles, paper, and some money, under the moveable floor. The -money was disposed of in various holes, well concealed in the panels of -the doors; and I hid my small files and knives under different cracks in -the floor. Scarcely were these disposed of before the doors resounded. -The floor was covered with sand and sand bags; my handcuffs, however, -and the separating bar I had hastily resumed, that they might suppose I -had worked with them on, which they were silly enough to credit, highly -to my future advantage.”</p> - -<p>The passage which had cost Trenck so much trouble was filled up, the -flooring repaired, heavier irons replaced those which he had broken, and -he was once more deprived of his bed. Bruckhausen and the major -interrogated him in presence of the workmen and the soldiers as to the -manner in which he had obtained his tools. “My answer,” says Trenck, was -‘Gentlemen, Beelzebub is my best and most intimate friend; he brings me -everything I want, and supplies me with light. We play whole nights at -piquet, and, guard me as you please, he will finally deliver me out of -your power.’</p> - -<p>“Some were astonished, others laughed. At length, as they were barring -the last door, I called, ‘Come, gentlemen, you have forgotten something -of great importance in the interior.’ I had taken up one of my hidden -files when they returned: ‘Look you, gentlemen,’ said I, ‘here is a -proof of the friendship Beelzebub has for me, he has brought me this in -a twinkling.’ Again they examined the cell, and again they<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_164" id="page_164"></a>{164}</span> shut the -doors. While they were so doing I took out a knife and the -<i>louis-d’ors</i>. Their consternation was excessive, and I solaced my -misfortunes by jesting at such blundering short-sighted keepers. It was -soon rumoured through Magdeburg, especially among the simple and vulgar, -that I was a magician, to whom the devil brought all that I asked. One -Major Holtzkammer, a very selfish man, profited by this report. A -foolish citizen had offered him fifty dollars if he might only be -permitted to see me through the door, as he was very desirous to see a -wizard. Holtzkammer told me, and we jointly determined to sport with his -credulity. The major gave me a mask with a monstrous nose, which I put -on when the doors were opening, and threw myself in an heroic attitude. -The affrighted burgher drew back, but Holtzkammer stopped him, and said, -‘Have patience for some quarter of an hour and you shall see he will -assume quite a different countenance.’ The burgher waited. My mask was -thrown by, and my face appeared whitened with chalk and made ghastly. -The burgher again shrunk back, Holtzkammer kept him in conversation, and -I assumed a third facial form. I tied my hair under my nose, and -fastened a pewter dish to my breast, and when the door opened a third -time, I thundered, ‘Begone, rascals, or I’ll twist your necks awry.’ -They both ran, and the silly burgher, eased of his fifty dollars, -scampered first.”</p> - -<p>Some time after this Trenck meditated another and a far bolder plan of -escape. The garrison of Magdeburg was but 900 strong, and there were at -least 7000 Croat prisoners of war in the fortress. He proposed to gain -access to the Croats by bribing his jailers, and then putting himself at -their head to seize the place for Maria Theresa. He sent to Vienna for -2,000 ducats, but failed to obtain them, and the project came to -nothing.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_165" id="page_165"></a>{165}</span></p> - -<p>He then once more began his mining operations, and had already made -considerable progress with them, when the governor of the fortress -becoming mad, he was replaced by the hereditary Prince of Hesse Cassel, -who treated Trenck with so much kindness that the grateful prisoner -pledged himself not to attempt to escape. This state of things continued -for eighteen months, at the end of which time the prince, leaving the -fortress in consequence of the death of his father, Trenck considered -himself justified in making another effort for liberty. He accordingly -procured the necessary tools with the same facility as before, and was -opening up one of his old galleries, when an accident happened that had -nearly put an end to his project and his life.</p> - -<p>“While mining under the foundation of the ramparts,” he says, “just as I -was going to carry out the sand bag, I struck my foot against a stone in -the wall, which fell down and closed up the passage. What was my horror -to find myself thus buried alive! After a short time for reflection, I -began to work the sand away from the side that I might obtain room to -turn round. By good fortune there were some feet of empty space into -which I threw the sand as I worked it away, but the small quantity of -air soon made it so foul that I a thousand times wished myself dead, and -made several attempts to strangle myself. Further labour began to seem -impossible. Thirst almost deprived me of my senses, but as often as I -put my mouth to the sand I inhaled fresh air. My sufferings were -incredible, and I imagine I passed full eight hours in this distraction -of horror. Of all dreaded deaths surely such a one as this is the most -dreadful. My spirits fainted, again I somewhat recovered, again I began -to labour, but the earth was as high as my chin, and I had no more space -into which I might throw the sand, that I might<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_166" id="page_166"></a>{166}</span> turn round. I made a -more desperate effort, drew my body into a ball and turned round. I now -faced the stone, which was as wide as the whole passage, but there being -an opening at the top I respired fresher air. My next labour was to root -away the sand under the stone and let it sink, so that I might creep -over, and by this means at length I once more happily arrived in my -dungeon.”</p> - -<p>He had hardly time to clear away the traces of his work, and to put all -in order, before he received the daily visit of his jailers. A change of -the garrison and other circumstances somewhat hindered the -accomplishment of his design, but the gallery was at length finished, -and an officer had even promised to bring him false keys to open his -prison doors. The thought that he was on the very eve of liberty turned -his head, as he admits himself.</p> - -<p>“I was then vain enough, stupid enough, mad enough,” he says, “to form -the design of casting myself on the generosity and magnanimity of the -great Frederic! Should this fail, I still thought my lieutenant a -certain saviour. Having heated my imagination with this lamentable -scheme, I awaited the hour of visitation with great anxiety. The major -entered. ‘I know, sir,’ I said, ‘the great Prince Ferdinand is again in -Magdeburg’ (my new friend had told me this): ‘Be pleased to inform him -that he may first examine my prison, and double the sentinels, and -afterwards give me his commands, stating at what hour it will please him -I should make my appearance in perfect freedom on the glacis of -Klosterbergen. If I prove myself capable of this, I then hope for the -protection of Prince Ferdinand, and I trust he will relate my -proceedings to the king, who may thereby be convinced of my innocence -and the perfect clearness of my conscience.’<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_167" id="page_167"></a>{167}</span></p> - -<p>“The major was astonished, and he supposed my brain turned. The proposal -he held to be ridiculous, and the performance impossible. As I, however, -persisted, he rode to town and returned with the sub-governor, -Reichmann, the town major, Riding, and the major of inspection. The -answer they delivered was, ‘That the prince promised me his protection, -the king’s favour, and a certain release from my chains, should I prove -the truth of my assertion.’ I required they would appoint a time; they -ridiculed the thing as impossible, and at last said that it would be -sufficient could I only prove the practicability of such a scheme; but -should I refuse they would immediately break up the whole flooring and -place sentinels in my dungeon night and day; adding, ‘The governor would -not admit of any actual breaking out.’</p> - -<p>“After the most solemn promises of good faith, I immediately -disencumbered myself of my chains, raised up the flooring, gave them my -arms and implements, and also two keys, that my friend had procured me, -to the doors of the subterranean gallery. I desired them to enter this -gallery and sound with their sword hilts at a place through which I -could easily break in a few minutes. I further described the road I was -to take through the gallery, informed them that two of the doors had not -been shut for six months, and that they already had the keys to the -others, adding, I had horses waiting at the glacis that would be ready -the moment I wanted them.</p> - -<p>“They went, examined, returned, and put questions, which I answered with -as much precision as the engineer could have done who built the Star -Fort. They left me with seeming friendship, continued away about an -hour, came back, told me the prince was astonished at what he had heard, -that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_168" id="page_168"></a>{168}</span> wished me all happiness, and then took me unfettered to the -guard-house. The major came in the evening, treated us with a sumptuous -supper, assured me everything would happen in accordance with my wishes, -and that Prince Ferdinand had already written to Berlin.</p> - -<p>“But all these promises were illusory. The guard was reinforced next -day; two grenadiers entered the officers’ room as sentinels; the whole -guard loaded with ball before my eyes; the drawbridges were raised in -open day, and precautions were taken as if it were supposed I intended -to make attempts as desperate as those I had made at Glatz.”</p> - -<p>Nothing had come from the Duke of Brunswick. The commandant and the -officers, dreading the king’s displeasure, had spread the rumour that a -new attempt at escape had been discovered on the part of the prisoner. -The cell was repaired in eight days and paved with great flagstones, and -the unfortunate Trenck was again placed there, with a single chain about -his feet, which weighed as much as all those he had previously worn put -together. The duke, however, was some time afterwards informed of all -the circumstances, and he spoke to the king, who kept Trenck in prison -another year and then set him at liberty.</p> - -<p>It is well known that Trenck, after a life of constant agitation, -perished on the scaffold of the revolution with André -Chénier.—(<i>Holcroft’s Life of Trenck.</i>)<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_169" id="page_169"></a>{169}</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="CASSANOVA_DE_SEINGALT" id="CASSANOVA_DE_SEINGALT"></a><i>CASSANOVA DE SEINGALT.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1757.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Jacques Cassanova de Seingalt</span> says of himself that he was one of the -most good-for-nothing fellows in Venice when he was arrested; but, -perhaps, in the sense in which he used the words this title may be -considered too flattering for him. Be that as it may, however, his -account of his imprisonment and escape at Venice is not wanting in -interest. Many details are, no doubt, erroneous or exaggerated; not a -few writers, indeed, have declared that Cassanova had no greater -obstacle to surmount than the watchfulness of his gaolers, and that he -found it an easy matter to gain them over by liberal presents; but these -assertions, in their turn, have to be taken entirely on trust. All that -seems certain is, that Cassanova escaped from the prison near the Bridge -of Sighs. We quote from his own account of the exploit, without offering -any guarantee of his veracity:—</p> - -<p>“At daybreak on the 26th of July, 1755, the terrible Messer Grande came -into my room while I lay asleep, and waking me with a rude shake, asked -me if my name was Jacques Cassanova. On my replying in the affirmative, -he told me to get up and dress myself, to give up every piece of writing -I had in my possession, and to follow him.</p> - -<p>“ ‘In whose name,’ I asked, ‘do you bring these orders?’</p> - -<p>“ ‘In the name of the tribunal.’</p> - -<p>“The word tribunal frightened me so much that I had only the strength -left to yield him a passive obedience. I was led to a gondola, and -Messer Grande took his seat by my side with an escort of four men. When -we reached his house he offered me some coffee, but I refused it. I was -then locked up in one of the rooms and closely guarded.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_170" id="page_170"></a>{170}</span> At about three -the captain of the archers came in and said that he had received orders -to take me to prison, and I followed him without saying a word. We again -took to the gondola, and after passing along many of the smaller canals -came at last to the Grand Canal and landed on the Prison Quay (Riva de -Schiavoni). We mounted several staircases and crossed the Bridge of -Sighs, and at length found ourselves in the presence of a person in the -dress of a patrician, who just glanced at me, and then ordered the guard -to take me to my cell.”</p> - -<p>Cassanova was now placed in a small chamber, opening, with many others, -on a large gallery, in which were heaped together a number of the most -diverse objects—official papers, decrees of the tribunals, and articles -of furniture of every kind. The prisoners took their exercise in this -gallery every day while the gaolers were sweeping out the cells. -Cassanova suffered a good deal from the heat during the first few days -of his incarceration, and fell ill, but he soon recovered and began to -form plans for making his escape. One day, while exercising in the -gallery, he found a kind of round bolt of iron and a piece of marble, -and, hastily concealing them, took them back with him to his cell. He -pointed the iron at his leisure by grinding it on the marble, though -this was an operation of great difficulty and of the most fatiguing -kind.</p> - -<p>“After pondering for several days over the best way of using my -chisel—or, rather, crowbar, for it was of considerable length—I -resolved to make a hole with it through the flooring underneath my bed. -I knew that the room to which this would give me access was that in -which I had been received by the secretary of the inquisitors on my -arrival; and I thought that if I could contrive to secrete<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_171" id="page_171"></a>{171}</span> myself under -the council table during the night I might escape by running hastily out -of the room as soon as the door was opened in the morning. I did not -forget that in all probability I should find an archer on guard in the -room, but I felt confident that my crowbar would enable me to dispose of -him. The great difficulty lay in the thickness of the flooring. I -should, perhaps, be engaged for two months in cutting my way through, -and how was I to avoid discovery, meanwhile, when the guards came to -sweep out my room? To forbid them to sweep it would be to awaken their -suspicions, more especially as I had previously insisted on its being -kept very clean. I began, however, by telling them not to trouble -themselves to put the place in order; but in a few days Laurent, the -gaoler, asked me the meaning of this unusual request. I replied that the -dust raised by the sweepers was peculiarly disagreeable to me. This -satisfied him for awhile, but he soon grew suspicious again, and not -only ordered the cell to be swept out, but himself examined it most -carefully in every corner with a lighted candle.”</p> - -<p>Cassanova then cut his finger and rolled his handkerchief round the -wound, telling Laurent that the sweeping had affected his lungs, and -that he was beginning to spit blood. The surgeon of the place, who was, -without doubt, in the prisoner’s interest, bled him, and declared that -his life was in danger. The result was that the guards were ordered to -discontinue the sweeping.</p> - -<p>“My resolution grew stronger every day; but the time for beginning the -great work of my deliverance had not yet arrived, for the weather was so -cold that I could not hold the crowbar in my frozen hands. The long -winter nights made me wretched, for I was obliged to pass nineteen<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_172" id="page_172"></a>{172}</span> -mortal hours in darkness; and even during the day, the light that -entered by the window was not strong enough to enable me to read. The -possession of even a wretched kitchen lamp would have rendered me happy; -but how was I to make one. I required a cup, a wick, oil, a flint and -steel, besides tinder and matches. But nevertheless I set to work to -obtain them, and succeeded after repeated efforts, in which I availed -myself of every pretext my ingenuity could devise. As soon as the lamp -was in working order, I fixed on the first Monday in Lent for the -commencement of my operations on the floor, for I was apprehensive of -being disturbed during the carnival.”</p> - -<p>His fears were well founded; a Jew was sent to bear him company in his -cell; and for two whole months, Cassanova was not relieved of this man’s -unwelcome presence.</p> - -<p>“As soon as I was alone again I began to work with renewed activity. It -was above all things necessary to avoid delay, now that I had actually -cut into the planks, for a new companion might have insisted, as the Jew -had done, on having the prison swept. I first removed my bed, and then -throwing myself upon my chest, crowbar in hand, began to hack away at -the boards, carefully collecting the débris in a napkin which I spread -out by my side. I have said that I had to hack away the boards. I ought -rather to have said that I was obliged to pick them to pieces with the -point of my crowbar. The work was fatiguing in the extreme, and at first -I brought away pieces no bigger than a grain of wheat; but after a time -my labour was cheered with more encouraging results.</p> - -<p>“The plank I had selected was of very tough wood, and was about sixteen -inches in breadth. I continued to pick it to pieces for about six hours, -and then I carefully gathered<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_173" id="page_173"></a>{173}</span> up the débris in the napkin, in order to -throw them away behind a heap of papers in the gallery. They formed a -bundle four or five times as large as the hole from which I had taken -them. I put the bed back in its place, and on the morning contrived to -get rid of the rubbish without being perceived. By the next day, having -worked my way through the first plank, which was about two inches in -thickness, I came upon a second of nearly the same solidity, as far as I -could judge. But I was so afraid of having a new visitor quartered upon -me, that I now wielded my crowbar with even greater energy than before. -In less than three weeks I had made a hole clean through all the three -planks; but judge of my despair when I found that these rested on a -tesselated marble pavement, which turned the point of the tool and -seemed to defy all my efforts to remove it. I was cast down, disgusted, -heart-broken, in a word; but at length, I know not how, the story of -Hannibal came unto my mind, and I forthwith emptied into the hole a -bottle of very strong vinegar which I had by me. In the morning—whether -it was owing to the action of the vinegar or to my renewed strength, I -cannot say—I was able to remove the pieces of marble by pulverising the -cement which held them together; and in four days the mosaic was -destroyed. I found another plank beneath it, but this was no more than I -expected, and I concluded that it would be the last, for I was tolerably -familiar with the plan on which these ceilings and floors were made. I -had great difficulty, however, in cutting through it, for as the hole in -the planking was over ten inches in depth, it was well nigh impossible -to use the crowbar at all at the bottom of it.</p> - -<p>“At about three in the afternoon of the 25th June, while I was working -quite naked, and covered with sweat, in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_174" id="page_174"></a>{174}</span> hole, I heard—with an -emotion of agony I can hardly describe—the sound of a door being -unbolted in the corridor which led to my cell. I blew out the candle -hastily, left crowbar and napkin in the hole, wheeled my bed in its -place and threw myself upon it as though dead; and in a moment after, -the door of my cell flew open, and Laurent came in. Two seconds earlier -and he would have surprised me. He was about to walk straight up to me -when I uttered a cry of pain that made him draw back. ‘Good heaven, -Signor!’ he cried, ‘I pity you, for this place would be enough to -suffocate any one. Get up and give thanks to Providence for having sent -you an excellent companion.’</p> - -<p>“The new comer seemed to think he was entering the infernal regions, for -he began to cry out, ‘What a heat! what a stench!’ and Laurent ordered -us out into the gallery, in order, as he said, that the cell might be -purged of the unpleasant odour of oil that hung about it. The pain and -surprise with which I heard these last words was extreme. I had -forgotten in my hurry to snuff out the smouldering wick of the lamp -after having extinguished the flame. I thought that Laurent knew -everything, and that the Jew had completely betrayed me; but in reality -he had not discovered the secret of the lamp.”</p> - -<p>Eight days after that he was relieved of his unwelcome companion.</p> - -<p>The next day he says, “Laurent having rendered me an account of the -money that belonged to me, I found I had an odd sum of four sequins -remaining, and I won his favour by telling him he might keep it as a -present for his wife. I did not tell him it was for the rent of my lamp, -but he was quite free to think so if he pleased. After this I pursued</p> - -<p><a name="ill_XIV" id="ill_XIV"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p174a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p174a_sml.jpg" width="450" height="276" alt="Image unavailable: I heard the sound of a door being unbolted." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">I heard the sound of a door being unbolted.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_175" id="page_175"></a>{175}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">my labours for a considerable time without any interruption whatever, -but I did not witness the completion of them till the 23rd August. This -delay was due to a very natural accident in cutting through the last -plank. I had formed at first, a very small hole indeed, in order that I -might safely reconnoitre the room in which the inquisitors sat. But I -found that the opening was quite close to one of the thick beams on -which the ceiling was supported; this of course obliged me to change the -direction of my little shaft, for it would have cost me too much labour -to have cut through the beam. I worked for some time in great doubt and -fear, lest the other beams should be placed so closely together as to -bar the passage to my body, but to my great joy, I soon discovered that -this alarm was groundless. It is needless to say that I always carefully -covered up the little peep hole when I was not actually looking through -it, lest a single ray of light from my lamp should discover me to the -inquisitors below.</p> - -<p>“I fixed on the eve of St Augustine’s Day for my flight, for I knew that -at that time there would be no one in the room contiguous to the council -chamber, through which I should have to pass. This was on the 27th, but -on the 25th, I was doomed to suffer a misfortune, the bare recollection -of which makes me tremble as I write.</p> - -<p>“At the stroke of midnight I heard some one drawing the bolts of my cell -door, and my heart began to beat as violently as though I were a -criminal who knew that his last hour was come. I had barely time to -throw myself upon my bed, when Laurent came in, and said: ‘I -congratulate you on the good news I bring.’ This made me tremble all the -more, for believing nothing less than that he came to announce my -restoration to liberty, I dreaded lest a discovery of my<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_176" id="page_176"></a>{176}</span> attempt to -escape should lead the judges to revoke their pardon. Laurent told me to -follow him. I asked him to wait a few moments while I put my dress in -order. ‘No need to wait for that,’ said he, ‘for I am going to change -your lodging from this miserable den, to a well lit and lofty room, from -which you can see the half of Venice.’</p> - -<p>“I could not utter a word, and I felt my strength rapidly giving way. I -begged him to give me a little vinegar, and to tell the tribunal in my -name, that while I thanked them for their generous consideration, I -should greatly prefer to be left where I was.</p> - -<p>“ ‘You make me laugh,’ he replied. ‘Are you mad? You are offered the -chance of removal from the infernal regions to paradise; and you refuse -to profit by your good fortune. Come, you <i>must</i> obey. Get up at once: I -will give you my arm, and your clothes and books shall be carried to -your new room.’</p> - -<p>“Seeing that resistance was impossible, I got up, and I was somewhat -comforted to hear him order an archer to move my bed, for that contained -my invaluable crowbar. How I wished that at the same time it could have -been made to hold the floor itself, through which I had cut with such -incredible labour and pains. I can truthfully declare that though my -body left this horrible dungeon, my spirit remained behind.</p> - -<p>“Leaning on the shoulder of Laurent, who tried to put me on a better -footing with myself, with his abominable pleasantries, I passed through -several long corridors, until I reached a room about twelve feet in -length, and very narrow, the barred aperture of which looking out on the -two windows of a corridor beyond it, commanded the view of Venice, of -which he had spoken. I was not disposed at that<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_177" id="page_177"></a>{177}</span> particular moment to -find much pleasure in the prospect, but I was afterwards glad to -discover that the window admitted not only light, but fresh air, which -tempered the intolerable heat and closeness of the atmosphere of the -place. As soon as I entered the room, Laurent had my chair brought in, -and told me that he would at once order the removal of the rest of my -effects. I sat for some time immoveable as a statue, expecting every -moment that the storm would burst over my head, but too apathetic from -despair to dread it. I was in this state when two sbirri came in with -the bed. They left again, to fetch the rest of my things, and I sat -there for two hours without seeing any one, the door remaining open all -the time. I was a prey to a host of conflicting emotions, but I found it -impossible to fix any one impression clearly on my mind. I at length -heard hasty steps, and then Laurent came in, foaming at the mouth, and -blaspheming in a manner frightful to hear. He began by ordering me to -hand over to him the hatchet and the other tools with which I had cut -through the flooring; and to give the name of the soldier who had -furnished me with them. I replied calmly, and without stirring, that I -really did not understand him. He then told some of his people to search -me, but before they could approach, I stripped myself of my scanty -clothing, and assuming a threatening attitude, cried out ‘Do your -office, but beware every one of you of laying hands on me.’ They turned -over my mattrass, my paillasse, and the cushions of my chair, but they -found nothing.</p> - -<p>“ ‘You will not tell me then,’ said Laurent, ‘how you found your tools, -but never fear, I shall find out how to make you speak.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘If it be true,’ I replied, ‘that I have made a hole or two, I shall be -prepared to prove that it is you who have<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_178" id="page_178"></a>{178}</span> furnished me with the tools, -and that I have already returned them to you.’</p> - -<p>“At this threat, which made one or two of his people smile, whom he had -probably irritated by some act of rigour, he stamped on the ground, tore -his hair, and rushed out of the place like one possessed. His people -came back, and brought me all my effects, with the exception of the -stove and lamp. Before quitting the corridor, and after he had closed my -door, he shut up the windows by which I had received the supply of air, -but, with all his knowledge of his trade, he heedlessly forgot to search -my armchair; and so, thanks to Providence, I yet kept possession of my -little crowbar.”</p> - -<p>The next day Laurent brought the prisoner some provisions of the worst -quality; and an archer, furnished with an iron bar, sounded the place -everywhere—particularly under the bed.</p> - -<p>“I observed,” says Cassanova, “that he did not notice the ceiling, so I -at once fixed on that route for leaving this horrible place. I could -attempt nothing however, without being instantly discovered. The cell -was quite new, and the faintest mark of chisel or crowbar, would have -been at once visible to my guardians.”</p> - -<p>On the following days Laurent continued to bring him food it was almost -impossible to swallow, and to refuse to allow him either to have his -cell cleaned, or to open the windows. On the eighth day, Cassanova -vented his impatience in some angry words, and asked for a reckoning of -the money belonging to him in his jailer’s hands. Laurent promised to -furnish it next day, and in the meantime he brought the prisoner a -basket of lemons, and a nice roast fowl, on the part of M. de Bragadin.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_179" id="page_179"></a>{179}</span></p> - -<p>“When he had brought my account I cast my eyes over it, and told him to -give the odd money to his wife, with the exception of one sequin, which -was to be presented to the archers who waited on me. Laurent then being -left alone with me, addressed me thus: ‘You have already said Monsieur, -that it was from me you received the tools with which you made that -enormous hole. I am inquisitive enough about that, but more so about -another thing. In the name of Fortune, how <i>did</i> you contrive to make -your lamp?’ ‘You assisted me in that, as in the other matters,’ I -replied. ‘Oh!’ he exclaimed, adding after a few moments, when he had -recovered from his astonishment, ‘I did not think wit consisted in lying -and effrontery.’ ‘I am not lying: it is you who with your own hands gave -me all that was necessary—oil, flint, matches,—I already had the -rest.’ ‘You are right: but you cannot convince me so easily that I -supplied you with the tools for digging that enormous hole.’ ‘Assuredly, -for I received nothing from anybody but you.’ ‘Mercy, what do I hear! -tell me how, when, and where I gave you a hatchet!’ ‘I will tell you -everything; and I will speak the truth, but it can only be in presence -of the secretary.’ ‘I don’t want to know anything more, and I believe -all you have said,’ returned Laurent hastily; ‘I beg of you to be -silent, for remember I am but a poor man, and have children.’ He then -went, pressing his hands to his head.</p> - -<p>“I congratulated myself heartily on having found the means to make -myself feared by this fellow. I saw that his own interest compelled him -to conceal from his masters all that had passed.... I had ordered -Laurent to buy me the works of Maffei. ‘I will borrow the books for you -from some one here,’ he said, ‘and you can lend him some of yours in -return. By that plan you will save your money.’<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_180" id="page_180"></a>{180}</span> ”</p> - -<p>Cassanova consented, and gave a book in exchange for another that -Laurent brought him.</p> - -<p>“Delighted at the opportunity of entering into a correspondence with -some one who might perhaps help me to escape from the place, I opened -the book as soon as Laurent was gone, and read with intense joy a -paraphrase of these words of Seneca. ‘Calamitosus est animus futuri -anxius,’ done in six good lines, and written on the fly leaf. I made as -many more lines at once, and had recourse to the following expedients -for copying them out. I had let the nail of my little finger grow until -it was very long, and I had only to cut it to a point to make a pen. I -was just on the point of pricking my finger, to make ink out of my own -blood, when it struck me I could write equally well with mulberry juice, -of which I had a quantity by me. Besides the six lines, I wrote out a -catalogue of all my books, and slid it down the back of the book which I -had borrowed. It must be remembered that in Italy, the books are for the -most part bound in parchment, and on opening them the back forms a kind -of pocket. On the title page I inscribed the word ‘Latet.’ I was -impatient to have an answer, so when Laurent came in the morning, I told -him I had read my book through, and wanted another. In a few moments he -returned with the second volume. I was no sooner alone than I opened it, -and found a slip of paper, containing these words, written in Latin: ‘We -are both in the same prison, and we both discover with the greatest -pleasure that the ignorance of a miserly gaoler has procured us a -privilege almost unexampled in places of this sort. I, who write to you, -am Marin Balbi, a noble Venetian, and my companion is the Count André -Asquin, of Udine. He charges me to tell you that all the books he -possesses are catalogued on a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_181" id="page_181"></a>{181}</span> slip in the back of this volume, and that -they are wholly at your service, but we both warn you that you must use -the greatest circumspection to prevent Laurent from learning what is -going on.’ I am bound to say that I thought this exhortation to -prudence, written openly on a leaf not belonging to the book, rather -odd. It was too much to expect that Laurent would not at one time or -other open the book he carried, and if he should find a sheet of -manuscript, he could easily find some one to read it for him, and then -all would be discovered. The note led me to conclude that my -correspondent was but a kind of plain-speaking blunderer. I looked over -the catalogue, and then in reply wrote my name, the manner of my arrest, -and my ignorance of the cause, with the hopes that I cherished of soon -regaining my liberty. Balbi, who was a monk, sent in return a letter of -sixteen pages, in which he gave me the history of all his misfortunes, -and told me that he had been four years in prison. His companion did not -write.”</p> - -<p>The monk’s history proved that he had nothing of the ecclesiastic in him -but the title. It showed him to be a sensualist, a poor reasoner, a -mischievous rogue, and a careless and ungrateful fool. At least, such -were the conclusions that Cassanova drew from it, and the event -satisfied him that they were not incorrect.</p> - -<p>“I found pencil, pens, and paper in the back of the book, and these -enabled me to write at my ease. Balbi next furnished me with the history -of all the persons confined in the place during his imprisonment. He -told me that the archer Nicholas had given him his information, and had, -besides, brought him everything he required; and in proof of the former -statement, he gave me a pretty exact account of my own abortive effort -to escape. It had taken<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_182" id="page_182"></a>{182}</span> two hours to repair the damage I had done, and -Laurent had forbidden the workmen engaged, as well as the archers, to -mention the matter, under pain of death. ‘Another day,’ said the archer, -‘and Cassanova would have escaped, and Laurent’s life would hardly have -been worth an hour’s purchase; for with all his surprise at the sight of -the hole, there can be no doubt that he himself unwittingly supplied the -instruments with which it was made.’ The monk concluded by begging me to -give him an account of the whole affair, and in particular to inform him -how I had obtained my tools, adding, that I might count safely on his -discretion.</p> - -<p>“I had no doubt whatever as to his curiosity, but I was absolutely -without confidence in his discretion, especially after the proof of it -he had just given me in his foolish request. I thought, however, I might -make him useful, for he seemed just the kind of man to follow my -directions in everything. I began a reply to it; but while writing it a -suspicion crossed my mind, which induced me to hold it back for a time. -What if this correspondence might, after all, be a mere device of -Laurent’s for finding out how I obtained my tools! But, in order to -satisfy Balbi without compromising myself, I told him that I had made -the opening by means of a strong knife, which I had hidden in the sill -of the corridor window. In less than three days I was satisfied that the -suspicion was groundless, for Laurent took no notice of the window-sill. -Balbi, too, wrote to say that he could easily understand how I had -concealed the knife, for Laurent himself had told him that I had not -been searched on entering the prison. He concluded by begging me to send -him my knife, through Nicholas, in whom, he assured me, I might safely -confide. The carelessness of this monk was almost inconceivable. I wrote -to tell him that I was not<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_183" id="page_183"></a>{183}</span> by any means inclined to share my secrets -with Nicholas, and that I was still less disposed to trust them to -paper.</p> - -<p>“My suspicions were, however, quite set at rest, and I again began to -think about my escape. I reflected in this way:—I wish at any price to -procure my liberty. The crowbar I have is an excellent one, but it is -impossible to use it, for every part of my cell, except the ceiling, is -sounded and examined every day. To escape from here I must make a hole -through the ceiling; but that will be no easy matter, working, as I do, -from below; and in no case will it be the affair of a day. I want an -ally, who would be willing to escape with me. There was not much choice, -and the only person whose name suggested itself to my mind was the monk. -He was twenty-eight years of age, and, though he was not rich in good -sense, I thought that the love of liberty—that most enduring of man’s -passions—would, at least, give him resolution enough to obey my -instructions. I was obliged to commence with a resolution to confide -everything to him, and then to find out how to make him my -instrument—both very difficult points.</p> - -<p>“I began by asking him if he desired his liberty, and if he were willing -to risk everything for the sake of procuring it with me. He replied that -both his companion and himself were capable of any enterprise that might -lead to freedom, but that it would be folly to peril one’s life in -schemes that had no reasonable prospect of success. He filled four long -pages with a list of the impossibilities which overawed his poor spirit. -I replied that in forming my plans I paid no attention to mere -difficulties of detail, for that I felt sure of being able to overcome -them the moment they presented themselves, and I went on to give him my -word of honour that I would set him free if he would follow<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_184" id="page_184"></a>{184}</span> my -directions in everything. He gave the required promise, and I then -informed him that I had a crowbar some twenty inches in length, and that -by means of this instrument he was to break through the ceiling of his -cell, and then make a hole in the wall that separated us, and join me, -and that afterwards he was to help me to break through my ceiling and to -make my way through the opening.</p> - -<p>“ ‘When we have arrived at that point,’ I added, ‘your task will be done, -and mine will begin, and I will undertake to set you and the Count -Asquin at liberty.’</p> - -<p>“He replied that when he had helped me out of my cell we should still be -nevertheless in prison,—that we should simply have effected a change of -place without any corresponding change of circumstances, for we should -be wandering in the gallery, cut off from the outer world by the three -strong doors.</p> - -<p>“ ‘I know that very well, reverend father,’ I replied; ‘but we are not -going to leave the place by the doors at all. My plan is complete, and I -feel certain of success. All that I ask of you is exactness and fidelity -in the execution of your part of it, and some self-control in the matter -of raising objections. Try to think only of a way of getting the crowbar -conveyed to you without exciting the suspicion of the man who carries -it. In the meantime ask the jailer to buy you some hangings ornamented -with the images of saints, and cover your cell with them. The saintly -images will remove all suspicion from Laurent’s mind, and they will -serve excellently well to hide the hole in the ceiling. It will take you -several days to make the hole, and you can by this means always contrive -to hide the signs of your activity. I would undertake that part of the -plan myself, but I am already suspected, as you know.’<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_185" id="page_185"></a>{185}</span></p> - -<p>“Although I urged him to find out a means for the removal of the -crowbar, I tried constantly to discover one myself, and at length I had -an idea, which I hastened to carry out. I told Laurent to buy me a copy -of a Bible in folio, which had just appeared. I hoped to be able to -place my crowbar in the back of this Bible, and thus to get it conveyed -to the monk. But as soon as I obtained the book I saw that it was -shorter than the instrument by just two inches. My correspondent had -already written to inform me that his cell was covered with images, and -I had told him of my plan for sending him the crowbar, and of the -difficulty I had met with. I was however firmly resolved to send him the -implement by some means, and at length I hit on the following stratagem. -I told Laurent that I wished to celebrate St. Michael’s day by feasting -on a dish of maccaroni with cheese, and that in return for the -politeness of the person who had lent me the books, I thought of sending -him a dish especially prepared by myself. Laurent observed that the -gentleman was very anxious to read the large book, which had cost three -sequins. ‘Very well,’ I replied, ‘I will send it to him with the -maccaroni, only bring me the very largest dish you have in the place, -for I wish to make him a present worth his acceptance.’ I then wrapped -the crowbar up in paper and placed it in the back of the book, taking -care that it projected equally at either end. I was sure that if I -placed a good dishfull of maccaroni on the Bible, Laurent’s attention -would be too much occupied by that delicacy to allow him any opportunity -to discover the hiding-place of the crowbar. I prepared Balbi for all -that was about to happen, and enjoined him above all to be careful to -take both the dish and the book from the jailer’s hands.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_186" id="page_186"></a>{186}</span></p> - -<p>“On the appointed day Laurent came earlier than was his wont, with a pot -full of boiling maccaroni, and all the ingredients for seasoning it. I -then melted a quantity of butter, and placing the maccaroni in the dish, -I poured the butter over it until it touched the very edges. The dish -was an enormous one, and it very greatly exceeded the book in size. All -this was done at the door of my cell while Laurent was standing outside. -When everything was ready, I carefully lifted Bible and dish, and -placing the back of the book towards the gaoler, I told him to hold out -his arms, to be very careful not to spill the sauce, and to make the -best of his way to the other cell. While giving him this important -commission I kept my eyes fixed on his, and I was delighted to see that -he did not remove his gaze from the dish, for fear of spilling the -butter. He suggested that it might be better to take the dish first, and -then to return for the Bible, but I replied that the present would lose -something of its value if both were not sent together. He then -complained that I had put too much butter, and warned me laughingly that -if he should spill any of it he would not hold himself responsible for -the damage.</p> - -<p>“As soon as I saw the Bible in the simpleton’s arms, I felt certain of -success, for the ends of the crowbar were quite imperceptible. I -followed him with my eyes until I saw him enter the antechamber, and in -a few moments, the monk, blowing his nose three times, gave the signal -that everything had turned out well. Laurent’s speedy reappearance, too, -gave me another intimation of the same joyful event.</p> - -<p>“Father Balbi lost no time in carrying out my intimations and in eight -days he had made an opening which he concealed with a piece of bread -crumb. On the 8th October,</p> - -<p><a name="ill_XV" id="ill_XV"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p186a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p186a_sml.jpg" width="289" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: I told him to be very careful not to spill the sauce." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">I told him to be very careful not to spill the sauce.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_187" id="page_187"></a>{187}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">he wrote to tell me that he had been working all night. On the 16th, at -ten o’clock in the morning, just as I was occupied in translating an ode -of Horace, I heard a stamping of feet overhead, followed by three gentle -raps—the signal agreed on—to show us that the first part of our plan -had been carried to a successful termination. He worked on until the -evening, and the next day he wrote to say that if my ceiling was only -two boards thick, his labours would be finished on that day. He told me, -moreover, that he would take great care to make the hole circular, as I -had suggested, and that he would not cut through the floor. This -precaution was absolutely essential, for the smallest crack in the floor -would have led to instant detection. The excavation, he added, was in -such a state that another quarter of an hour’s work would suffice to -finish it.</p> - -<p>“I had determined to leave my cell during the night, for with a -companion I felt sure of being able to make a hole in the great roof of -the ducal palace, in three or four hours; and once on the roof, I would -take what opportunity offered to reach the ground. But I had not yet -reached the roof, alas, for my bad fortune placed yet another difficulty -in my way, that demanded all my skill and address. On this very day—it -was Monday—while Balbi was striking his last strokes, I heard the -opening of a door close to my cell. I felt all the blood in my body -freeze, but I had enough presence of mind to give the two raps that -warned Balbi to hurry back to his cell, and put everything in order. In -less than a minute Laurent came in, and asked my pardon for thrusting a -very disagreeable companion upon me. The new comer, whom he immediately -introduced, was a little thin man, between forty and fifty years of age, -very ugly, and very badly dressed. There could be no doubt about<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_188" id="page_188"></a>{188}</span> his -being a scoundrel, the more especially as Laurent announced the fact to -his face, without making any visible impression on him. ‘The tribunal,’ -I said sulkily, in reply to my jailer’s communication, ‘will of course -do what it pleases.’</p> - -<p>“Overwhelmed with vexation at this miserable misadventure, I stared -fixedly at my fellow prisoner, whose hang-dog physiognomy as I have -said, betrayed him. I was thinking of saying something to him, when he -began a conversation by thanking me for giving him a palliasse. With a -view to gaining him over, I asked him if he would share my meals with -me. He kissed my hand, and asked whether his acceptance of my generous -invitation would deprive him of his right to the ten sous, which the -tribunal had assigned him for his support. On my telling him that it -would, he fell on his feet, and drawing an enormous chaplet from his -pocket, he rolled his eyes about, until his glance fell in every corner -of the room. I asked him what he was looking for. ‘Pardon, Signor,’ he -replied: ‘I was in hopes of finding some image of the Virgin, for I am a -Christian.’ It was with difficulty that I kept from laughing—not on -account of his piety, for conscience and faith are sentiments which it -is not given to any of us to control—but because of the oddity of his -appearance and manner. I concluded that he mistook me for a Jew, so to -undeceive him, I gave him an image of the Virgin, which he kissed with -great fervour, and proceeded to inform me that his father, an alquazil, -had neglected to have him taught to read. ‘I am,’ he added, ‘devoted to -the holy rosary;’ and he went on to relate a number of miracles he had -witnessed, while I listened with the patience of an angel. When he had -done, I asked him if he had dined, and he told me that he was dying of -hunger.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_189" id="page_189"></a>{189}</span> I gave him everything I had, and he ate and drank more like a -beast than a human being. At length he got quite drunk, and began to -weep, and to babble all kinds of foolish things. I asked him what -afflicted him, and received the following answer. ‘My sole passion has -always been the glory of God, and of this holy republic; and an exact -obedience to the laws. Ever watchful of the tricks of rogues, I have -tried to discover their secrets, and to disclose them to the -authorities. I have been well paid, it is true, but that was no more -than I deserved, and I have always been unable to understand the -prejudices of those people who pretend to see something shameful in the -trade of a spy. A spy is a person who seeks the good of the state, and -is a faithful subject of his government and prince. And I can truly say, -that unlike others of my calling, I have never suffered private -friendship to stand in the way of my performance of a public duty.’</p> - -<p>“The wretch went on in this manner till I knew him for the foulest spy -the imagination can conceive. His last achievement had been the -discovery of a political plot, but he had had the weakness—incredible, -in a man of his stamp—to give one of his friends engaged in the -conspiracy a recommendation to prudence. The friend, and his companions, -had thereupon fled, and our spy had been sent to prison in their stead. -He ended by telling me that he had hopes of being soon released, his -wife being a Legrenzi, and daughter of one of the secretaries of the -Council of Ten.</p> - -<p>“I shuddered to think with what a monster I was associated, but feeling -that my situation was a delicate one, I at once chose my part. I -pretended to sympathise with him, and was loud in praises of his -patriotism, nor did I hesitate to assure him that so excellent a man -must be set at liberty<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_190" id="page_190"></a>{190}</span> in a few days. He shortly after fell asleep, and -I took the opportunity of writing to Father Balbi, to tell him -everything, and to warn him to suspend his labours until he should hear -from me again. On the next day, I asked Laurent to buy me a wooden -crucifix, an image of the Holy Virgin, and a portrait of St. Francis, -and at the same time to procure two bottles of holy water. Soradaci (my -companion) took the opportunity to ask for the ten sous allowed for his -maintenance, and Laurent tossed twenty sous to him with an air of great -disdain. When the jailer had gone away, I opened the book, and found a -letter from Balbi, depicting his fright in very moving terms. He thought -that all was lost, so far as our plan of escape was concerned, but he -none the less congratulated me and himself on our good fortune in having -Soradaci brought to my cell, rather than to theirs, ‘for if Laurent had -come to our cell,’ he continued, ‘I should have been missed, and -everything would have been discovered.’</p> - -<p>“Soradaci’s tale convinced me that he was no better than a spy upon me, -so I made up my mind to meet him with his own weapons of stratagem and -cunning. I wrote and confided to his care two letters, so worded, that -if sent to their address, they would do me neither harm nor good, while -they would be likely to do me good, if handed over to the secretary, and -that I did not doubt would be the case.”</p> - -<p>Soradaci, on receiving the letters, took the most solemn and the most -terrible oaths that he would faithfully deliver them at their -destinations when he recovered his liberty. In some few days he was -called before the secretary of the tribunal, and afterwards taken back -to prison. Cassanova wishing to assure himself of the correctness of his -suspicions, asked him to return one of the letters, on the plea that it -contained something he wished to alter.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_191" id="page_191"></a>{191}</span></p> - -<p>“The monster then threw himself at my feet, and declared that on his -appearance before the terrible secretary, he had been so seized with -fright, that it was seen he had some secret on his mind, and he had been -obliged to betray me. I pretended to be greatly troubled, and throwing -myself before an image of the Virgin, I solemnly demanded vengeance on -the head of the villain who had consigned me to destruction. I next -flung myself on the bed with my face to the wall, and had the constancy -to remain in this position all day, without moving, or uttering a word, -and pretending not to hear the sobs, the repentant cries, and the -protestations of this miserable wretch. In short, I admirably played my -part in a comedy of which I had the entire plan in my head. During the -night, I wrote to Balbi to come and finish his work at half-past eleven -in the morning—not a moment sooner or later—and to work exactly four -hours, and not a moment more. ‘Our liberty,’ I said, ‘depends on the -most rigorous exactitude in this matter, and you have nothing to fear.’</p> - -<p>“It was the 25th of October, and the time for me to carry out my plan or -to abandon it for ever was at hand. The state inquisitors and the -secretary went every year to pass the three first days of November in -the country; and Laurent, taking advantage of their absence, used -invariably to get drunk in the evening and to make a very late -appearance among the prisoners in the morning. I chose this time, -therefore, for my flight, persuaded that I should not be missed till the -day was pretty well advanced. Another reason, too, had something to do -with my determination. I had consulted an oracle of fate by looking into -Ariosto, according to certain cabalistic formulas, and had lighted oil -the following verse:—‘<i>Frà il fin d’ ottobre e il capo di<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_192" id="page_192"></a>{192}</span> novembre</i>’ -(between the end of October and the beginning of November). The -precision of the passage and its applicability to the design I had -already formed both seemed so extraordinary that the reader will pardon -me if I used every effort to bring about the fulfilment of the prophecy -it seemed to contain.</p> - -<p>“I passed the morning in the following manner, in order to deceive this -base and stupid creature, to confuse his weak understanding, to hinder -him, in a word, from ruining my scheme. As soon as Laurent had left us I -bade Sorodaci come and take his soup. The wretch had gone to bed; he had -told Laurent that he was ill, and he would not have dared to come to me -if I had not called him. He advanced towards me with every sign of fear, -and throwing himself flat on his stomach he crawled to my feet, kissed -them, and assured me, amid floods of tears, that if I did not forgive -him it would certainly be the death of him before the day was out, for -he already felt the effect of the Holy Virgin’s curse. He was seized -with racking pains in the inside, and his mouth was full of ulcers. I -did not take the trouble to examine him to ascertain if he spoke the -truth; my object was to appear to believe him and to make him entertain -hopes of pardon; and to do that it was at first necessary to make him -eat and drink. The traitor probably intended to deceive me; but as I had -the same intention with regard to him it was simply a question as to -which of us should forestal the other. I had prepared an attack on his -credulity which I knew it would be difficult for him to withstand. I -assumed an inspired air, and bade him, in a voice of authority, sit down -and eat his soup, assuring him that when he had done that I would give -him ‘a piece of good news.’ ‘Know,’ I continued, ‘that the Holy Virgin -has appeared to me and has<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_193" id="page_193"></a>{193}</span> commanded me to pardon you; you will not -die, but you will leave this place with me.’ He was thunderstruck, and -he at once began to eat his soup, submissively resting on his knees, -there being no chair in the cell. He afterwards sat down on his -palliasse and listened attentively for further revelations. I then -continued: ‘Your horrible treason has cost me a sleepless night, for my -letter was of a nature to ensure my condemnation to perpetual -imprisonment. My sole consolation, I confess, was the certainty that in -less than three days you would die in torments before my eyes. With my -heart full of this wicked thought—unworthy of a Christian, for God -commands us to pardon our enemies—I went to sleep, and in my dream the -Holy Virgin came to me in a vision and said, “Sorodaci is a devotee of -the Holy Rosary and I protect him. I command you to pardon him, and I -will remove the curse which you have called down upon his head. As a -reward for your generous act I will command one of my angels to assume -the human form, to descend from heaven to break your prison bonds, and -to release you from this place in five or six days. The angel will -commence his work to-day at half-past eleven precisely, and will finish -it at half-past three, for he must re-ascend to heaven in open day. On -leaving the prison, in company with the angel, you must take Sorodaci -with you and provide for his safety, on condition of his giving up his -trade of spy. Repeat to him all I have said to you.” At these words the -Holy Virgin disappeared, and I awoke.’</p> - -<p>“Still maintaining my seriousness and my inspired air, I watched the -traitor’s face, and observed that he was petrified with astonishment and -fear. I then took my breviary in one hand, and with the other sprinkled -the cell with holy water in every part. In a little time the fellow -asked me at<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_194" id="page_194"></a>{194}</span> what hour the angel would descend, and whether he would -make any noise in breaking into the prison.</p> - -<p>“ ‘I am certain,’ I replied, ‘that he will come at half-past three, that -we shall hear him at work, and that he will leave precisely at the time -the Virgin has named.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘You may have been merely dreaming,’ he ventured, timidly.</p> - -<p>“ ‘No; I am sure I did not dream. And now, do you feel yourself capable -of taking an oath never again to become a spy?’</p> - -<p>“Instead of replying, he lay down on the bed and went to sleep. He awoke -in two hours with the question. Whether it was not possible to defer the -taking of the oath?</p> - -<p>“ ‘You may defer it,’ I replied, ‘until the coming of the angel, if you -like; but if you are not ready to swear then, I will leave you to your -miserable trade and the miserable fate that will surely overtake you if -you continue thus to offend God and man.’</p> - -<p>“I read in his detestable face the satisfaction he derived from this -announcement, for it was easy to see he felt sure the angel would not -come. I waited anxiously to hear the clock strike, for I felt certain -that the ‘arrival of the angel’ would end in the overthrow of his -miserable reason. As soon, therefore, as I heard the first stroke of the -appointed hour, I threw myself on my knees and ordered him, in a voice -of authority, to do the same. He obeyed me with a terrified air. As soon -as I heard the monk approaching I cried out hastily, ‘The angel is -coming!’ and throwing myself flat on my stomach I gave the terrified spy -a vigorous blow with my fist, that forced him to assume the same -posture. The monk’s operations made a great noise, and they lasted a -sufficiently long time, for I had to remain for<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_195" id="page_195"></a>{195}</span> at least a quarter of -an hour in my disagreeable position. In any other case I should have -been ready to die with laughter at the sight of the miserable wretch -lying motionless at my side. But I carefully refrained even from -smiling, for I felt that too much was at stake to permit of such an -indulgence. I presently got up and assumed a kneeling attitude, giving -him to understand that he was to do the same; and he passed three hours -and a half in this manner, telling his beads all the while. From time to -time he fell asleep, from sheer weariness, and now and then he cast a -furtive glance at the ceiling, his face all the while wearing an -expression of the most complete stupor. At length I called out, in a -tone half solemn, half devotional, ‘Prostrate yourself, for the angel is -leaving!’ and just then Balbi went away to his own cell, and every sound -was hushed. On rising, I perceived, by the wretch’s countenance, that -his mind was full of anxiety and fright. I was delighted, for I saw in -this an opportunity of imposing on him some penance adequate to his -manifold misdeeds. ‘When Laurent comes in the morning,’ I said, ‘you -will throw yourself on the bed, with your face to the wall, without -making the slightest movement or uttering a word. If he <i>should</i> speak -you must reply, without looking at him, that you have not been able to -sleep, and that you are in want of rest. Do you promise this without -reserve?’</p> - -<p>“ ‘I promise,’ he stammered out, ‘to do everything you have said.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Swear it,’ I said, ‘before this holy image! And now, most Holy -Virgin,’ I continued, addressing the image, ‘I swear that if I hear -Sorodaci utter a word, or make a single movement, I will strangle him -like a dog.’ I reckoned that this threat would have at least as much -effect upon him as<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_196" id="page_196"></a>{196}</span> the oath. I then gave him something to eat, and -ordered him to go to bed; and as soon as he had fallen asleep I sat down -and wrote for a couple of hours, informing Balbi that all was ready, and -that he had nothing to do to reach me but to revisit the roof of my cell -and break the planks of the ceiling. I added that we should leave on the -31st of October, and that there would be four of us, counting his -companion and mine.</p> - -<p>“It was the 28th. The next day the monk wrote to say that the passage -between the two cells was quite ready, and that the breaking through the -last plank would be an affair of but four or five minutes. Sorodaci, -faithful to his sworn promise, pretended to be asleep, and Laurent did -not speak to him. But I did not keep my eyes off him for a moment, and I -really believe that if he had uttered a word I should have killed him on -the spot. I devoted the rest of the day to the delivery of a series of -sublime discourses on the recent remarkable visitation, and I was -pleased to see that every word I spoke increased the fanatical terror -with which he regarded me. I took care to ply him well with wine, as -well as with mystifying influences of a religious nature, and I did not -leave him to himself until I saw him fairly overpowered with drunkenness -and sleep. For one moment, indeed, he had a feeble glimmering of common -sense, for he observed that it ought not to take an angel three hours to -break into a cell. ‘The ways of heaven,’ I replied, ‘are -incomprehensible to mortals, and this heavenly messenger clearly is not -working in his celestial capacity, or otherwise he could force a way -through the ceiling with a single breath. He works in his human -capacity, doubtless out of pity for us, who could not otherwise endure -the sight of his glory.’<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_197" id="page_197"></a>{197}</span></p> - -<p>“On the next day Laurent asked after his health, and he replied without -raising his head. It was the same on succeeding days, till at length we -had our last interview with our gaoler on the 31st. I gave him the book -as usual, containing a message for Balbi to come at half-past nine in -the morning, and break through the ceiling. I had no apprehension that -any accident would mar the execution of our plot, for I had heard from -Laurent that the inquisitors and the secretary had already gone into the -country. There was no danger of my again having a companion thrust upon -me at the eleventh hour, and I had found out how to manage the wretch -whose coming had once threatened to prove the downfall of all my hopes.</p> - -<p>“When Laurent left I told Sorodaci that we might now expect the angel -very shortly. ‘He will bring a pair of scissors with him,’ I added, ‘and -it will be your office to clip his beard and mine.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Has the angel a beard then?’ inquired the simpleton.</p> - -<p>“ ‘Yes, as you will see. When you have done this, we shall all leave the -cell and break through the roof of the palace, whence we shall drop down -into the great square of St. Mark.’</p> - -<p>“He did not reply, but went on eating his breakfast. As for me, I could -touch nothing at all, for my anxiety as to the success of my enterprise -deprived me of all appetite, as it had made me quite insensible to -fatigue.</p> - -<p>“The appointed hour struck, and the angel was heard. Sorodaci was about -to prostrate himself, but I told him that was no longer necessary. In -less than three minutes the ceiling was broken through, and Balbi rolled -down into my arms. ‘And now,’ said I, ‘your work is done, and mine -begins.’ We embraced, and he gave me back</p> - -<p><a name="ill_XVI" id="ill_XVI"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p197b_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p197b_sml.jpg" width="281" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: Balbi rolled down into my arms." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">Balbi rolled down into my arms.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_198" id="page_198"></a>{198}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">my crowbar and placed the scissors in my hands. I told Sorodaci to cut -our beards; but I could not help laughing at the sight of the wretch, -with his mouth wide open, staring at the angel, who bore so much -resemblance to a supernatural being of another kind. But astonished and -terrified as he was, he did his office with the greatest ease.</p> - -<p>“Anxious to reconnoitre our position, I told Balbi to stay with the spy -(for I dared not leave Sorodaci alone) while I visited the cell where -the count was confined. I found it without difficulty, and embraced a -noble looking old man who, however, seemed scarcely strong enough to -support the fatigues of our meditated flight. He asked me what my plan -was, and observed that he feared I was going to work rather recklessly. -‘I must go on,’ I replied, ‘until I find either liberty or death.’ ‘If -you think,’ said he, ‘to break through the roof and then to drop into -the courtyard, I don’t see how you can possibly succeed, as you are -without wings; and I, at least, dare not venture to accompany you; but I -will stay here and pray to Heaven on your behalf.’</p> - -<p>“I left him to look at the palace roof, drawing as near as I could to -the walls of the granary. In tapping the woodwork of the roof with my -crowbar, I discovered to my great satisfaction that it was quite rotten. -The planks crumbled to dust the moment they were touched. Judging that I -could easily make an opening large enough for my requirements in about -an hour, I returned to my cell, and spent four hours in cutting up my -bedclothes and every piece of drapery I could find there, and making a -rope of the shreds. I took care to make the knots very strong, and to -test each one as I went on. When the rope was finished I made a bundle -of my coat, my cloak, and a few other things, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_199" id="page_199"></a>{199}</span> went with the monk -and Sorodaci to the count’s cell. Sorodaci’s air of utter bewilderment -would have made the dullest fellow smile. I had long since thrown off -the inconvenient mask of the visionary which I had at first assumed, and -I could see that he felt he had been tricked, though it must still have -been a matter of wonder to him how I could have contrived to ensure the -visits of my ‘angel’ at the appointed hours. He listened with great -attention to the count’s arguments against our plan of escape, and he -seemed to be meditating an excuse for staying behind. Meanwhile, I told -the monk to get his bundle ready while I went to make the hole in the -roof.</p> - -<p>“At about seven o’clock I had finished this part of the work. I pierced -a hole through the wood without the least difficulty, but the leaden -coating of the planks did not yield so easily, and I was obliged to -obtain the assistance of the monk before I could wrench it off. I then -put my head through the opening, and felt for a few moments, with a -delight that I can hardly express, that I was breathing the air of -liberty. But unfortunately the moon was at the full, and I saw myself -doomed to wait for many weary hours before I could venture to move. The -night was a superb one; all the best society in Venice was taking the -air in the square of St. Mark, but I dared not stand on the roof, for my -shadow would have betrayed me to the people below, I therefore told my -companions firmly that we could not leave before ten o’clock at the -earliest, and as the sun did not rise before half-past six, this would -give us some eight hours and a half of perfect darkness,—more by far -than we were likely to require.</p> - -<p>“I accordingly suggested to Balbi that we might while away part of the -time in conversation with the count, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_200" id="page_200"></a>{200}</span> I sent him at once—before -leaving the roof myself—to borrow thirty sequins of the old man, for I -knew that money would now be as indispensable to the success of our plan -as the crowbar had formerly been. Balbi went away, but soon returned -with the message that the count would like to see me alone. The poor old -nobleman began to tell me, with his usual mildness, that money would not -help me to escape, that in fact he had no money, that his family was a -large one, and that if I perished, anything he might give me would be -lost. He ended by giving me two sequins on condition that I should -return them if I finally decided on abandoning my perilous design. His -last words showed how little he knew me, for I was fully prepared to die -rather than remain where I was.</p> - -<p>“I called my companions together, and when we had placed our bundles -near the hole, we passed some hours in talking of the difficulties we -had already surmounted, and of those that still lay before us. The first -proof that Balbi gave me of the nobleness of his character was to repeat -at least half a dozen times that I had deceived him in saying my plan -was complete, and that if he had foreseen the real state of my -preparations, he would never have helped me to leave my cell.</p> - -<p>“The count too employed all his eloquence to dissuade me from the -attempt. ‘The roof, covered as it is with lead,’ said he, ‘is so steep -that you cannot hope to keep your footing on it.’ (This was totally -false, for the slope is unusually gentle.) ‘And on which side do you -propose to drop? Surely not on that looking towards the piazzetta, for -you would be seen at once. You cannot take the side nearest the church, -for that looks into a high walled court; and to drop on the side nearest -the arsenal,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_201" id="page_201"></a>{201}</span> would be to fall right into the hands of the guards, who -are constantly making their rounds.’</p> - -<p>“This kind of talking made my blood boil, though I forced myself to -listen to it with patience. The monk’s reproaches in particular, -incensed me greatly, but I felt that my position was a delicate one. I -was dealing with a coward who might at any time discover that he was not -desperate enough to set death at defiance, and without him I knew it -would be impossible to proceed. I, therefore, did violence to my -feelings, and mildly assured both my fellow-prisoners, that I felt sure -of success though I could not give them all the details of my plan. -While thus engaged I from time to time put forth my hand to ascertain if -Sorodaci was still near me, and I laughed inwardly at what I guessed -would be his secret meditations now that he knew I had deceived him. At -ten o’clock I told him to go and find out in what quarter the moon lay. -He obeyed, and in a short time came back to say that in a quarter of an -hour it would be quite dark, and that a thick fog was falling, which -threatened to add a new danger to our attempted flight. ‘Never mind -that,’ I replied, ‘but take your bundle and be ready to follow me.’ At -these words, what was my surprise to find Sorodaci at my feet, seizing -my hands, and imploring me, in a voice broken by sobs, not to lead him -to certain death. ‘I shall be sure to fall into the canal,’ he -whimpered, ‘and I cannot be of the least use in the world to you. Alas, -leave me here, and I will pass the night in praying to St. Francis for -your success. You may kill me if you like, but I will never follow you.’ -The fool did not know how exactly he anticipated my wishes. ‘You are -right,’ I replied, ‘and you may remain, but only on condition that you -pray incessantly to St. Francis, and that<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_202" id="page_202"></a>{202}</span> you carry all the books I -have left behind to the count’s room.’ He ran away without replying, and -doubtless with a heart overflowing with joy. My books were worth about a -hundred crowns, and the count told me that he would give me the money -for them <i>on my return</i>. ‘You will never see me here again,’ I replied, -‘on that you may safely rely; but the value of the books may be taken as -a set off against your loan of the sequins. As for this scoundrel I am -delighted to think he has not the courage to follow me, for I should not -know what to do with him; and besides he is altogether unworthy to share -the honour of such an escape as this with Balbi and myself.’ ‘Very -good,’ replied the count; ‘only take care that to-morrow he has not -occasion to congratulate himself on his cowardice.’</p> - -<p>“It was now time to go, for the moon had disappeared, and it was quite -dark. I tied half our bundle of cords round Balbi’s shoulders, together -with his own bundle of clothes; and having equipped myself in the same -way, we made for the opening in the roof.</p> - -<p>“I went out first, and Balbi followed. I had the crowbar in my right -hand, and, using this as a kind of prop, I contrived, by crawling on all -fours, to reach the summit of the roof. The monk clung to my waistband, -and I dragged him up, so that I was like a beast of burden groaning -under a double load; and all this on a sloping roof, rendered quite -slippery by a dewy fog.</p> - -<p>“When we were about half way up, the monk implored me to stop, as he had -lost one of his packets, and hoped to be able to find it in the gutter. -My first impulse was to give him a sound kick and to send him after his -packet. But, happily, I was enabled to restrain myself, for to have lost -his co-operation would have been to forfeit my only</p> - -<p><a name="ill_XVII" id="ill_XVII"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p202a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p202a_sml.jpg" width="450" height="290" alt="Image unavailable: The Monk clung to my waistband." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">The Monk clung to my waistband.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_203" id="page_203"></a>{203}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">chance of escape. I asked him if it was the packet of cords, and he -informed me, to my great joy, that it was the other one, containing a -valuable manuscript, which he had discovered in the prison, and which he -hoped would be the means of making his fortune. I told him that we could -not possibly return for it, for that a single retrograde step would be -the ruin of us. The poor fellow breathed a deep sigh, and we went on -climbing as before.</p> - -<p>“At length, as I have said, we reached the summit of the roof. I -comfortably got astride, and Father Balbi followed my example. Behind us -was the little island of St. George the Greater, and a couple of hundred -paces in front were the numerous cupolas of the church of St. Mark. My -first act was to rid myself of my burden, and I invited my companion to -do the same. He placed his bundle of cords under his thighs, as well as -he could; but, wishing to take off his hat, which hurt him, and being -awkward, it rolled from tile to tile, and at last joined the packet of -clothes in the canal. My poor companion was in despair. ‘Bad omen!’ he -exclaimed. ‘Here I am, at the beginning of our enterprise, without shirt -or hat, without even my precious manuscript.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘My dear fellow,’ I said, ‘these two accidents, which are far from -discouraging me, prove to you that God protects us; for if your hat, -instead of falling to the right, had fallen to the left, we should have -been lost: it would have fallen into the court-yard of the palace, where -the guards would have found it, and we should, before long, have been -retaken.’</p> - -<p>“After passing some minutes looking right and left, I told the monk not -to stir from there till I returned; and I advanced, carrying only my -crowbar in my hand, along the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_204" id="page_204"></a>{204}</span> summit of the roof without any -difficulty. I spent nearly an hour on the roof, going from side to side, -observing; but in vain, for I could nowhere find a point to which to -fasten the end of the rope. I was in the greatest perplexity. The canal -and the palace court-yard were both out of the question, and on the top -of the church I could see only precipices which led to no opening. To go -beyond the church I should have had to climb ascents so steep that I saw -it was impossible.</p> - -<p>“Yet it was necessary to do something—either to get out or to return to -the dungeon, never, perhaps, to come out again, or to throw myself into -the canal. My eye was caught by a garret window on the side next the -canal, and about two-thirds of the way down the slope of the roof. It -was far enough from the place whence I had come out to enable me to -judge that the garret it gave light to did not belong to the inclosure -of the prison I had broken out from. It must be a loft over some -apartment of the palace, the doors of which I should naturally find open -at daybreak. Under this impression I thought it right to have a look at -the garret window; and, sliding down gently, I was soon astride of the -little roof. Leaning on my hands, and stretching forward, I was able to -see and touch a little grating, behind which was a window with small -panes of glass set in lead. The window was nothing, but the grating -seemed an invincible obstacle, for without a file I did not see how I -could remove it. I was confounded, when a very simple and natural thing -revived my spirits. The clock of St. Martin’s striking midnight was the -phenomenon which produced this effect. The clock reminded me that All -Saints’ Day was setting in, and being the feast of my patron saint, the -prediction of my Jesuit confessor recurred to me:<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_205" id="page_205"></a>{205}</span> ‘<i>Know that you will -not get out of this till the feast of the patron saint whose name you -bear.</i>’ But I own that what especially roused my courage and added to my -strength was the profound oracle I had received from my beloved Ariosto: -‘<i>Fra il fin d’ottobre, e il capo di novembre.</i>’</p> - -<p>“The stroke of the clock was like a speaking talisman calling on me to -act, and promising victory. Extended at full length, with my head over -the grating, I pushed the lock into the framework for it, and determined -to tear it off bodily. In a quarter of an hour I had succeeded. I placed -the grating aside, and I had no difficulty in breaking the glass out, -despite my bleeding hands. Retracing my steps, I got back to where I had -left my companion. He was furious. He heaped the grossest abuse on me -for leaving him there so long. He assured me he was only waiting for it -to strike one, to return to his prison.</p> - -<p>“ ‘What did you think about me then?’</p> - -<p>“ ‘I thought you had fallen down some precipice.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘And you express your joy at seeing me by loading me with abuse?’</p> - -<p>“ ‘What were you doing so long then?’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Follow me, and you shall see.’</p> - -<p>“Having picked up my packets, I made my way back to the garret window. -When we reached it, I gave Balbi an exact account of what I had done, -and consulted him as to how we should get into the garret. The thing was -easy, I told him, for one of us, for by means of the rope he could be -let down by the other; but I did not see how the second was to get down, -having no means of fastening the rope. If I were to get in and let -myself slip down, I might break my arms or legs, for I did not know the -distance of the floor.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_206" id="page_206"></a>{206}</span> To this reasoning in the most friendly tone, the -brute replied, ‘Let me down, and when I am below you will have time -enough to think of how to follow me.’</p> - -<p>“I own that in my indignation I was tempted to bury my crowbar in his -breast. My good genius restrained me, however. I did not utter a word of -reproach for his base selfishness, but undoing my bundle of ropes, I -tied them firmly under his arms, and getting him to be down flat, feet -foremost, I lowered him on to the roof of the garret window. When he was -there I bid him creep into the window as far as the hips, and to balance -himself in that position. When that was done, I slid along the roof as -before, and holding the rope firmly, told him to let go, and not be -afraid. Having reached the floor, he untied the rope, and I found that -the height was more than fifty feet.<a name="FNanchor_B_2" id="FNanchor_B_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_2" class="fnanchor">[B]</a> The leap would be too dangerous. -The monk cried out to me to throw him the ropes and he would take care. -I was very careful not to follow his advice.</p> - -<p>“Not knowing what to do, and waiting for an inspiration, I crept upon -the summit of the roof, and my eye rested upon a spot near a cupola -which I had not visited. I made my way to it. I found a scaffolding -covered with plates of lead, near a large garret window, closed with two -shutters. On it was a barrel of mortar, a trowel, and at one side a -ladder which appeared long enough to assist me to descend to the loft -where I had left my companion. Passing my rope through the first round, -I dragged the ladder through the window. The point then was to get in -this heavy mass which was twelve of my cubits long,<a name="FNanchor_C_3" id="FNanchor_C_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_C_3" class="fnanchor">[C]</a> and the -difficulty of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_207" id="page_207"></a>{207}</span> the task made me repent having deprived myself of the -monk’s assistance. I had pushed the ladder until one of the ends touched -the window while the other reached a full third beyond the gutter. I got -on to the top of the window, and dragging the ladder after me, I tied -the rope to the eighth round, then I let it run until it was parallel -with the window. I tried to pass it through the window, but found it -impossible to get it past the fifth rung, for the end was stopped inside -by the top of the window. I might have put the ladder across, tied the -rope to it, and then slid down without danger, but the ladder would then -have remained to point to where we were hiding.</p> - -<p>“I did not wish to risk losing by imprudence the fruit of so much -fatigue and danger, and to leave no trace the entire ladder must be got -in. Being without help, I resolved to mount to the gutter, raise it, and -shove it in. I did so, but with so much danger that it was a marvel I -was not killed. I could let the ladder run with the rope without any -fear of its falling into the canal, because it was in a manner hooked on -to the spout by the third round. I lay on my stomach with my feet -against the marble spout. I then raised the ladder half a foot, pushed -it forward, and to my delight saw it enter about a foot. This diminished -its weight. I had still to get it two feet farther by raising it as -much, then by getting atop of the window by means of the rope I could -get it in. I got on my knees to raise it, but the force I had to use -made me shoot as far as the chest over the roof.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_208" id="page_208"></a>{208}</span></p> - -<p>“It was a horrible moment: even now I tremble at it. The natural -instinct of self-preservation made me almost unconsciously use all my -strength to turn on my side and stop myself, and miraculously I -succeeded. Happily I had nothing to fear for the ladder, for in the -unlucky effort which was near costing me so dear, I had sent it more -than three feet in, which fixed it immovable. In trying to clamber back -to my former position I was seized with a cramp which deprived me of the -use of my limbs. Retaining my self-possession, I lay still till the -cramp passed. The moment was terrible, but in two minutes more I had the -happiness to succeed in getting my knees back in the gutter. Lifting the -ladder as soon as I had recovered breath, till it was parallel with the -window, I then mounted on the top of the window, and easily got the -whole of the ladder in, my companion catching one end of it, and then -throwing in ropes, clothes, and the débris of the window, I descended -myself into the garret.</p> - -<p>“Arm in arm we inspected the dark place we found ourselves in. It was -about thirty paces long by twenty wide. At one end was a folding door -barred with iron. It looked badly, but it opened at a touch. In the next -enclosure we knocked up against a large table surrounded by seats and -armchairs. Opening one of the windows we saw by the starlight only -precipices between the cupolas. Shutting the window we returned to where -we had left our packages, and as I was utterly exhausted, body and mind, -I put one of them under my head and fell fast asleep. Had death stared -me in the face I could not have kept awake, and well I remember the -delightful pleasure of that sleep.</p> - -<p>“I slept for three hours and a half, and was at last wakened by the -shaking and cries of the monk. He told<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_209" id="page_209"></a>{209}</span> me five o’clock had struck, and -that my sleeping was inconceivable. It was, however, not surprising. For -two whole days excitement had prevented me from eating or sleeping; and, -besides, the exertions I had just made would have exhausted any man. -This sleep completely refreshed me, and there was now sufficient light -to know what one was doing.</p> - -<p>“When I cast my eyes about I cried out, ‘This is not a prison; there -must be an exit easy to find.’ In a corner opposite the iron door I -spied out another door; running my hand over it I found the key-hole. -Putting in my crowbar I opened it, and we found ourselves in a little -chamber, where a key lay on the table. With this key I opened another -door opposite, sent the monk back for our clothes, replaced the key, and -we entered a gallery, the niches of which were full of papers. It was -the archives. We descended a stone staircase, and then another, and at -the bottom found a glass door, which we opened, and were in a hall I -knew—the ducal chancellery. I opened a window. I could easily have got -out, but I should have found myself in the labyrinth of little streets -surrounding the church of St. Mark. God protect me from such folly!</p> - -<p>“I tried the lock of the door; but finding it impossible to force it, I -decided on making a hole in one of the panels. The monk aided me, -trembling at the noise my crowbar made each time I tried to drive it -through the plank; such a noise was sure to be heard at a distance. I -felt the danger, but it was necessary to brave it.</p> - -<p>“In half an hour the hole was large enough. Had it not been, I could not -have enlarged it without a saw. The sides of this hole bristled with -points, liable to tear the clothes and lacerate the flesh. It was five -feet from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_210" id="page_210"></a>{210}</span> ground. Placing two chairs together under it we mounted -on them, and I pushed the monk through. Then I handed him our bundles, -and placing another chair on these two, I scrambled through the hole, -the monk dragging me, tearing my side and legs till the blood flowed in -streams. Going down two staircases, I opened a door at the bottom and -entered the passage, where the great gate of the royal staircase is -situate, and beside the door of the cabinet of the Savio alla Scrittura. -The great gate was fastened, and I saw at a glance I could not force it.</p> - -<p>“Calm, resigned, and perfectly tranquil, I seated myself, telling the -monk to do the same. ‘My work is finished.’ said I; ‘the rest is now in -the hands of God and fortune.’</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“ ‘Abbia chi regge il ciel cura del resto,<br /></span> -<span class="i2">O la fortuna se non tocca a lui.’<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>“ ‘I don’t know whether the palace sweepers will come here either to-day, -All Saints’ Day, or to-morrow, All Souls Day. Should any one come I -shall save myself as soon as the door is opened, and do you follow me. -But if no one comes, here I remain, were I to die of hunger.’</p> - -<p>“At this the poor man became furious: he called me mad, desperado, a -seducer, traitor, liar. Six o’clock struck. It was only an hour since I -awoke in the garret.</p> - -<p>“What chiefly occupied my thoughts was, how to get a change of clothes. -Father Balbi was dressed as a peasant, and his clothes were intact; -while I could inspire only horror and pity, for I was covered with -blood, and my dress was in rags. Tearing up my handkerchief, I staunched -my wounds. I gathered my hair into my purse, drew on white stockings, a -lace shirt, and put on my fine coat. I then<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_211" id="page_211"></a>{211}</span> resembled a man who had -been at a ball and passed the night at a tavern and got disordered -there.</p> - -<p>“Thus decked out, my fine hat, with Spanish lace and black plume on my -head, I opened a window. Some idlers in the court, not understanding how -one so dressed could be in such a place so early, ran to inform those -who were in charge. The doorkeeper immediately came and opened the door, -supposing he had locked somebody in the previous evening. Hearing him -coming, I told the monk to be silent, and placed close by the door.</p> - -<p>“When the man opened it he was stupefied at my appearance. Profiting by -his confusion I passed out without saying a word. Without appearing to -fly, I took the magnificent staircase called the ‘Giants’, and passed on -without heeding the monk, who kept calling to enter the church. He knew -as well as I did that churches were no longer sanctuaries in Venice, but -in his terror he forgot the fact.</p> - -<p>“I made my way at once for the frontier. I hastened straight to the -royal gate of the ducal palace, traversed the piazetta, and stepped with -the monk, who had followed me, into the first gondola I met, telling the -gondolier I wished to go to Fusine, and to call another rower.</p> - -<p>“When we had passed the custom-house, I asked the gondolier if we could -reach Mestre before eight.</p> - -<p>“ ‘But, sir,’ said he, ‘you told me to go to Fusine.’</p> - -<p>“I told him he was mistaken. The other gondolier insisted he was not, -and the stupid monk joined them. I could have knocked his head off. But -I laughed, said probably I was wrong, but that I wished to go to Mestre, -and for Mestre we started.</p> - -<p>“Arrived at Mestre I hired a carriage. I mounted; and as we were -starting I turned to make a remark to Father<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_212" id="page_212"></a>{212}</span> Balbi: he was not at my -side. I sent a stable-boy for him, but he was not to be found. I looked -into a tavern, and found him taking a cup of chocolate. Repressing my -indignation, I got him out, and we were getting into the carriage again, -when a man came up who knew me, and who had the reputation of being a -familiar of the inquisition of the republic. He saluted me, said he was -happy to see me, and asked how I had escaped.</p> - -<p>“ ‘I have not escaped, sir; I have been discharged.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Impossible, sir; for only yesterday I was at Signor Grimani’s, and I -should have heard it there.’</p> - -<p>“Descending from the carriage, I asked him to step aside with me behind -the house. There I seized him, and raised my crowbar to strike; but he -broke from me and ran away. When he had got at a safe distance he kissed -hands, in token that he wished me a happy voyage, and I thanked God I -had not taken his life.</p> - -<p>“Arrived at Trevisa, I ordered a post carriage for ten o’clock; but I -had no intention of using it, for I had not the means to pay for it; and -I feared, hungry as I was, I did not even dare to break my fast.</p> - -<p>“Passing out of the gate of the city I took to the fields, determined -not to get on the road again while in the territories of the republic. -For safety sake, to avoid any ambuscades that might lie in wait for me -on the shortest route, I everywhere took the longest way. After three -hours’ walking I threw myself on the ground exhausted, and sent the monk -to a neighbouring farmer’s house for food, and a good dinner was soon -sent me by a girl. After walking for four hours more we sat down, and I -told the monk we must separate to pass the frontiers, but that we should -meet again at Borgo di Val Sugana, and I directed him how to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_213" id="page_213"></a>{213}</span> go, making -him a present of my cloak. Giving him all the money that remained to me, -I appointed finally a place for meeting in two days. He refused to leave -me, reminding me of the promise I had made when inducing him to help my -escape—that I would never separate from him. I rose with much effort, -took his measure, and began to dig a hole, without answering his -questions. After a quarter of an hour’s work I told him to prepare his -soul, for I was going to bury him, if he drove me to it by his -obstinacy. He still refused to go; but at length, either from fear or -reflection, he consented, and we embraced one another. When he had gone, -I approached a shepherd, asked the name of the village and the owners of -several houses, and decided to apply for a night’s lodging at the house -of the chief of the sbirri, inquiring from a child playing in the yard -where her father was.”</p> - -<p>The child called its mother, who mistook Cassanova for Signor Vitturi, -who had promised to become godfather to her child. She told him her -husband had been summoned to search for two prisoners who had escaped -from the leads, and that she did not expect him back for two or three -days. He explained that he had received his hurts in a fall from his -horse, and the mother of his hostess eagerly dressed them. He was served -an excellent supper, and after twelve hours’ refreshing sleep, set out -again at five in the morning. After five hours’ travelling he heard a -bell, and remembering it was All Souls’ Day, he entered the church, and -met there one he had thought his friend. This friend was very eager to -hear the story of his escape, but refused him any assistance. At an -isolated farmhouse, however, he was well entertained, and again at a -Capuchin convent. At the house of another friend he was refused even a -drink of water; but,</p> - -<p><a name="ill_XVIII" id="ill_XVIII"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p213b_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p213b_sml.jpg" width="287" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: I told him I was going to bury him." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">I told him I was going to bury him.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_214" id="page_214"></a>{214}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">crowbar in hand, he extorted six sequins. He passed the night at a -farmhouse. In the morning he bought some old clothes and an ass, and on -its back he passed the frontier, without being even asked his name. He -arrived early at Borgo, where he found the monk, who told him, by way of -welcome, that he had not expected him.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="LATUDE" id="LATUDE"></a><i>LATUDE.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1750-1784.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Masers de Latude</span> was born in 1725, at the castle of Craiseih, near -Montagnac, in Languedoc. His father, the Marquis de Latude, was an -officer in high rank, and the young Latude was destined for the military -profession. While, however, he was studying at Paris, in 1749, he -unfortunately conceived the idea of having recourse to subterfuge, in -order to attract the notice of Madame de Pompadour, and to obtain her -protection. He accordingly placed a small cardboard box in the post -containing a harmless powder, and addressed to the marchioness, and then -went straight to Versailles with the information that two individuals -wished to poison the royal favourite, and that he had discovered their -secret. The marchioness at first thanked him in the warmest terms; but -he had scarcely left her presence when she began to suspect that she had -been the victim of a shameful fraud. She obtained a few lines in his own -handwriting from her pretended preserver; and comparing them with the -address on the box, had her suspicions confirmed. Some few days after -that, Latude found himself in the Bastille.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_215" id="page_215"></a>{215}</span></p> - -<p>When he had remained there four months, he was taken to the castle of -Vincennes, and he had every reason to fear that his imprisonment was to -last for life, for the enraged woman proved inexorable to every appeal -in his favour.</p> - -<p>“I kept up my courage,” he says in his “Memoirs,” “with the hope that I -should one day obtain my liberty, and that I should owe it to my own -exertions alone, not to the favour of my gaolers. I was constantly -forming plans. Among my fellow-prisoners I noticed an aged ecclesiastic, -who appeared at a particular time every day in the garden of the -chateau. He had been deprived of his liberty a long while on account of -Jansenism. He was frequently visited by the abbé of St. Sauveur, and he -devoted a great deal of his leisure to teaching the children of the -officers to read and write. He was allowed to go almost wherever he -pleased when in the company of his little pupils. He usually took his -walk at about the time when I was led into a small garden adjoining the -one I have spoken of—an indulgence granted me through the kindness of -M. Berryer, the lieutenant of police. Two turnkeys used to accompany me -on my leaving the cell, and on my return; but sometimes the elder of the -two would wait for me in the garden, while the younger came up alone to -let me out. I gradually accustomed the latter to see me run down the -stairs in advance of him, and join his comrade in the garden, so that he -always moved in the most leisurely manner when he came to fetch me.</p> - -<p>“On a certain day I had resolved, at any price, to make an effort for -liberty. As soon, therefore, as he came into my cell I ran downstairs -with inconceivable swiftness, and hastily bolting the door on the -outside, left him a prisoner within. There were then four sentinels to -deal with. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_216" id="page_216"></a>{216}</span> first was on the other side of a door which led from the -donjon, and which was always closed. I knocked; the door was opened. -‘Where is the abbé of St. Sauveur?’ I asked, hurriedly. ‘Our priest has -been waiting for him in the garden over two hours, and I have been -looking for him everywhere.’ I ran forward, as I spoke, till I came to a -second sentinel, to whom I put the same question, and who allowed me to -pass in the same way; and to a third, posted on the other side of the -drawbridge, with whom I was equally fortunate. The fourth sentinel did -not for a moment suspect I was a prisoner, seeing I had passed the -others. I crossed the threshold of the outermost gate; I ran forward and -was lost to view: I was free.</p> - -<p>“I made my way across the fields, avoiding the high road as much as -possible, and at length I came to Paris, where I took furnished -lodgings, and tasted to the full the joys of liberty, with an appetite -sharpened by fourteen months of captivity.”</p> - -<p>Having had the imprudence to write to the king to excuse his fault, and -to urge that he had already made sufficient expiation for it, Latude was -again arrested and taken to the Bastille, where he was confined in a -very strong cell. After remaining there eighteen months, however, he was -removed, by M. Berryer’s orders, to a tolerably comfortable room, which -he occupied jointly with a young man of his own age, named Alègre, whose -crime was also that of having given offence to Madame de Pompadour.</p> - -<p>“Under such circumstances, young men could come to but one -resolution—to escape, or perish in the attempt. But every one able to -form the slightest idea of the Bastille will conceive that this project -had in it a touch of the wildness of delirium. In adopting it, however, -I knew what I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_217" id="page_217"></a>{217}</span> about, and I hope I shall be credited with a soul a -little above the common for having invented, formed, and carried it out.</p> - -<p>“It was now no longer of any use to think of escaping from the Bastille -by the gates. Every physical impossibility tended to render that idea -impracticable. The ground being thus denied me, there was but one other -way—to mount into the air. There was in our room a chimney running to -the top of the tower; but, like every other in the place, it was so -fortified with bars of iron as scarcely to leave a free passage to the -smoke; and any one making his way to the top of the tower would find -himself cut off from all communication with surrounding buildings, and -with a ditch, commanded by a high wall some two hundred feet beneath -him. Yet all these obstacles, all these dangers, could not daunt me. I -communicated my ideas to my companion, but his timorous soul at first -shrunk from the possible sufferings they involved. He chose to regard me -as a madman, and for a time I thought and worked alone.</p> - -<p>“There were many things to provide for, and to do: to climb to the top -of the chimney, in spite of the iron bars; to make a ladder long enough -to reach to the foot of the tower, and a second one (of wood) for -mounting the ditch on the other side. In order to do all this I should -have to procure tools and materials, and to use them in secret, yet, as -it were, under the gaoler’s eyes.</p> - -<p>“My first care was to find out a place in which I could hide my -implements and the other things as soon as I should obtain them. Through -thinking earnestly about it, I at length hit on a happy idea. I had been -in several rooms in the Bastille, and I had always been able to -ascertain whether the one below or above me happened to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_218" id="page_218"></a>{218}</span> occupied, by -the noise the prisoner made. On this occasion I heard sounds from above, -but none from below, and yet I knew that some one was in the room -beneath me. This led me to believe that there was a double thickness of -boards between us; and I took the following means to test the -correctness of my conclusion:—</p> - -<p>“There was a chapel in the Bastille, where mass was said once a day -during the week, and three times on Sunday. Permission to be present on -these occasions was a favour very rarely granted, and obtained with no -little difficulty. Both myself and my companion, however, with the -prisoner in the room beneath us, were allowed to attend the service.</p> - -<p>“I resolved to seek the opportunity of our leaving the chapel together, -to obtain a hasty glimpse of this prisoner’s room, and I told Alègre how -he could help me. He was to let his knife case fall down stairs, as -though by accident, in drawing out his pocket-handkerchief, so that one -of the turnkeys would be obliged to run back to pick it up. All this was -managed to perfection. The turnkey went down to find the case; and I, in -the meantime, hurried away to our fellow-prisoner’s room. The ceiling -was a very low one, and measuring it and the height of the entire storey -with my eye, I judged that there was an unoccupied space of about five -feet between the two chambers. ‘My friend,’ said I to Alègre on my -return, ‘we are saved; we have hiding-place enough for a whole workshop -full of things.’ ‘But how are we to get them?’ he asked impatiently. -‘Well, as for materials, this trunk of mine will supply us with more -rope than we are likely to want.’ ‘Trunk! rope! why, the thing does not -contain a single yard of rope!’ ‘What! have I not a quantity of -linen—several dozens of shirts, and a number of napkins, stockings, and -other things? We<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_219" id="page_219"></a>{219}</span> have only to tear them up into strips to make a ladder -of any length we please.’</p> - -<p>“There was a folding table in our room with a good deal of iron work -about it; and, by cutting away part of this iron work with our pocket -knives, we soon obtained a kind of rough chisel for loosening the bars -of the chimney. As soon as our guards had left us for the night, we -prized up a portion of the flooring with this implement, and we then -began to pick a hole in the brickwork beneath. After we had worked in -this way for some six hours, I found that my hasty calculation had not -deceived me. There was a clear space of four feet between our floor and -the ceiling below. This was work enough for one day; so we carefully -swept all the rubbish into the hole, and replaced the piece of flooring -that had been torn up.</p> - -<p>“Our next operation was to unstitch two of my shirts—carefully -preserving the thread—and by cutting them in pieces, and tying or -stitching them together, we made a ladder some twenty feet long, which -enabled us to move from place to place in the chimney while we were -removing the bars. This part of the undertaking was of the most painful -and trying character, and its execution cost us six months of an agony -which even now I shudder to think of. We were obliged to work in the -most uncomfortable and torturing positions, and we had scarcely struck a -dozen strokes before our hands were covered with blood. The bars were -fixed in an extremely hard cement, on which we could make no impression -with our tools till we had moistened it with water, and the water had to -be carried up in our mouths. Our progress was so slow that we were well -satisfied when we removed a single square inch of the cement in the -course of a night. As soon as we had<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_220" id="page_220"></a>{220}</span> loosened one bar we left it in its -place, not daring to remove it until the very last moment, for fear the -chimney should be examined in the meantime.</p> - -<p>“When this odious labour was at length completed, we set to work upon -the wooden ladder, by means of which we were to make our way into the -governor’s garden that lay beyond the ditch. It had to be from twenty to -twenty-five feet in length; and to make it, we set aside the pieces of -wood sent up as firing, using part of an old chandelier, notched with -our pocket knives for a saw. With this and another rude tool, made from -the ironwork of the table, we cut our logs of wood into smaller pieces, -which we fastened together with small bits of metal and bolts of wood, -that served as hinges and screws. Through the single pole thus made we -placed the rounds of the ladder, which projected some six inches on -either side. The whole thing could be taken to pieces easily, and -therefore we had no difficulty in hiding it beneath the flooring of our -room.</p> - -<p>“Our little subterranean workshop (as I may call it) was now quite -nicely furnished, and its contents were known to none but ourselves. We -had contrived to avoid detection in a most wonderful manner, but there -was one danger which still gave us particular uneasiness. It was the -custom with the officers of the Bastille, not only to make irregular and -unexpected visits to the cells, but even to set spies upon the -prisoners’ most secret hours. We had to take care therefore to do all -our work by night, and not to leave the faintest trace of it behind us. -But guards have ears as well as eyes. We were, of course, talking over -our projects incessantly; and since we could not avoid the necessity for -doing this, we had to invent a language intelligible only to ourselves. -This was easily done; the saw was called <i>faun</i>;<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_221" id="page_221"></a>{221}</span> a hook, <i>Tubal Cain</i>; -the hole in the floor, <i>Polyphemus</i>; the wooden ladder, <i>Jacob</i>; and the -rounds, <i>sprigs</i>; the ropes, <i>doves</i> (from their whiteness); the pocket -knife, <i>puppy</i>, and so forth. We were constantly on our guard, however, -in using even this gibberish, and we succeeded perfectly in keeping our -guards in the dark.</p> - -<p>“When the operations already spoken of were completed, we began to think -about our great ladder. We calculated that it would have to be at least -one hundred and eighty feet in length; and to find material for it we -had to sacrifice shirts, napkins, stockings, flannels—in short, nearly -the whole of our underclothing. As soon as we had made a hank, or twist, -out of the shreds, we hid it away in ‘Polyphemus.’ When we had a -sufficient number of these, we spent the whole night in binding them -together; and I would defy any ropemaker to produce a stouter cable (of -its size) than the one we then possessed.</p> - -<p>“At the summit of all the towers of the Bastille a ledge projected some -four or five feet beyond the wall. This we knew would cause any one -using our ladder to swing about in the air, and in all probability to -lose his hold from giddiness, and fall to the ground. We were obliged, -there fore, to invent an apparatus for steadying the ladder, which was -far too complicated to describe here. Suffice it to say, that it -involved the use of another rope, some three hundred and sixty feet -long; and this we actually made, together with shorter ropes for tying -our ladder to a cannon, and for other necessities of the moment.</p> - -<p>“When all these ropes were ready we measured them, and found they were -fourteen hundred feet in length. Our ladders, all taken together, had -two hundred and eight rounds.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_222" id="page_222"></a>{222}</span></p> - -<p>“There was one other danger to be dreaded—the noise likely to be made -by the friction of our ladders against the wall. We endeavoured to avoid -this by carefully binding up the ladders with pieces of our -dressing-gowns, etc., at the places where they were likely to touch the -stonework.</p> - -<p>“We had been employed some eighteen months in these preparations, and -yet our work was not done. We had found a means of reaching the top of -the tower, and for dropping into the ditch; but now other operations -would be needed to enable us to leave the place. The first was to mount -the parapet of the governor’s wall, which looks into the ditch of the -Porte St. Antoine. But this parapet was always guarded by sentinels. We -might choose a very rainy and dark night for our attempt; but then it -might rain while we were leaving the chimney, and yet be perfectly fine -by the time we reached the parapet and the sentinels. And, besides, -there were not only the sentinels, but the guard going the grand rounds. -To be seen by the latter was to be hopelessly lost.</p> - -<p>“The second operation promised to be less of a danger than a difficulty. -It consisted of making a passage through the wall separating the ditch -of the Bastille from the Porte St. Antoine. It would necessitate the use -of a couple of crowbars, and these we could easily obtain from our -chimney.</p> - -<p>“We fixed on Monday, the 25th of February, 1756, for our flight. The -river had overflowed its banks, and there was water to the depth of four -feet in the ditches of the Bastille. We judged it prudent, therefore, to -pack up a change of clothes in a portmanteau, so that we might not run -the risk of perishing of cold if we happened to be fortunate enough to -escape from the prison.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_223" id="page_223"></a>{223}</span></p> - -<p>“Immediately after our dinner hour, on the appointed day, we took our -rope-ladder from its hiding-place beneath the floor, and having seen -that all the rounds were in order, put it away again in a more -convenient place for instant use. At the same time we tied the three -pieces of the wooden ladder together, bound our crowbars in rags, to -prevent the metal from coming in contact with the wall, and furnished -ourselves with a small bottle of brandy for our sustenance during the -nine hours we were to pass up to our necks in water in the ditch. This -done, we waited impatiently for the hour of supper. It came at length, -and our gaolers left us for the night.</p> - -<p>“I was the first to mount the chimney. I was suffering from rheumatism -in the left arm, but I paid very little attention to that. I was nearly -suffocated, however, with the soot accumulated in the upper part of the -chimney beyond the bars, and the rough brickwork tore open my elbows and -my knees, and made them run with blood. I was in this state when I -reached the roof; I nevertheless, without thinking of my wounds, dropped -a rope down the chimney, and drew up the portmanteau, which Alègre had -fastened to the end of it. In the same manner we conveyed the wooden -ladder, the crowbars, and the other packets to the top of the roof. -Alègre made the ascent more easily than I, thanks to my having lowered -the rope ladder for him. We then slid down from the top of the chimney -on the outside, and stood both together on the roof of the Bastille.</p> - -<p>“We lost no time in preparing for our descent. Doubling up our rope -ladder till it formed a kind of ball, we rolled it along the roof till -we came to the Treasury Tower, where we tied one end of it to a cannon -and let the other fall gently into the ditch. I then fastened the single -rope round my<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_224" id="page_224"></a>{224}</span> body, and Alègre holding it, to steady me, I stepped on -to the ladder. But I swayed about dreadfully, nevertheless, and became -so giddy that once or twice I felt myself on the point of losing -consciousness, and gave up all for lost. I reached the ditch, however, -without serious accident; and when Alègre had lowered the things to me, -I was lucky enough to find a little eminence to place them on, so that -they did not get wetted. My companion then made the descent, but he had -one advantage over me—I was at the bottom to hold the ladder for him, -so that he did not suffer from giddiness nearly so much as I had done. -When we had both reached the bottom we could not suppress a sigh of -regret at being obliged to leave behind us the ladder it had cost so -much pains to make.<a name="FNanchor_D_4" id="FNanchor_D_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_D_4" class="fnanchor">[D]</a></p> - -<p>“It was not raining, and we could distinctly hear the footfall of a -sentinel, at the distance of a few paces. We were obliged therefore, to -give up the idea of reaching the parapet, and to turn our steps towards -the governor’s garden. We accordingly shouldered our crowbars, and went -straight to the wall between the ditches, where we began to work. But -unfortunately, just at the spot we were obliged to choose, the ditch was -deepest, so that we were up to our armpits in water, instead of being up -to our breasts. There had been a thaw but a few hours previously, and -the ditch was full of lumps of ice, yet we had to endure all this for -more than nine hours, our strength exhausted by labour of the most -fatiguing kind, and our limbs more than half frozen. Hardly had we began -to work, when I saw on</p> - -<p><a name="ill_XIX" id="ill_XIX"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p224a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p224a_sml.jpg" width="287" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: I saw on the parapet the soldiers of the grand round." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">I saw on the parapet the soldiers of the grand round.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_225" id="page_225"></a>{225}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">the parapet, some twelve feet above us, the soldiers of the grand round. -Their lantern lit up the place where we were perfectly, and there was no -way of avoiding discovery but to plunge down into the water, an -operation which had to be repeated at each visit of the grand -round—that is to say, every half-hour. At length after nine hours of -labour and of terror, and after having picked stone from stone with -inconceivable difficulty, we succeeded in making, through a wall four -feet and a half in thickness, a hole large enough to admit of our -passing, and we dragged ourselves through to the other side. Our souls -were already full of joy, when we experienced a new and wholly -unforeseen danger. We were now crossing the ditch of St. Antoine in -order to gain the road to Bercy. We had hardly advanced twenty steps in -the water when we fell into the aqueduct, which is in the middle of the -ditch, and where we had ten feet of water above our heads; and beneath -our feet some two feet of a thick purifying substance (for the most part -salt) on which it was well-nigh impossible to walk. But for this latter -circumstance, there could have been no difficulty in gaining the -opposite side, for the aqueduct was only six feet in breadth. D’Alègre, -when he found himself out of his depth, was foolish enough to clutch me -convulsively. But I saw this must infallibly end in the ruin of us both, -since if by any accident we should fall into the salt mud, we should not -have strength enough to raise ourselves again. I therefore dealt -D’Alègre a heavy blow with my fist, and having freed myself from him, I -succeeded by a vigorous push in gaining the side of the aqueduct, and -thus saving us both, for nothing was easier than to stretch out my hand -and drag him ashore from my vantage-ground. It struck five when we -emerged from the ditch: the sound of the bell had<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_226" id="page_226"></a>{226}</span> hardly died away, -when we stood together on the main road—free men.</p> - -<p>“Transported with the same sentiment, we threw ourselves into one -another’s arms in a close embrace, and then fell upon our knees to -express our gratitude to God. This first duty fulfilled, we began to -think about a change of dress, and we then felt by what a happy -inspiration of prudence and foresight, we had been prompted to furnish -our portmanteau with some spare clothes. The cold had frozen our limbs, -and, as I had anticipated, we suffered a good deal more now than during -the nine hours we were in the water. Each of us had far too little -control over his movements to be able to undress and dress himself, but -by rendering some assistance to one another, we contrived at length to -effect these operations. We then jumped into a fiacre and drove straight -to the house of M. de Silhouette; the chancellor of the Duke of Orleans, -but unfortunately we learned that he had gone to Versailles.”</p> - -<p>They however, found an asylum with some friends, natives of Languedoc, -like themselves, and, after hiding with them a month, left separately -for Brussels. D’Alègre arriving first, was immediately arrested by the -agents of the French government. He was taken back to France, and -fifteen years later Latude found him at Charenton. He had become mad. As -for Latude, during his stay in Brussels, he managed to avoid the snares -laid for him by the French police, but he was finally arrested at -Amsterdam, and conducted back to France, with irons on his ankles and -wrists.</p> - -<p>In 1764 he was transferred to Vincennes, and subjected to the most cruel -treatment by order of M. de Sartines. After a time Guyonnet, the -governor, released him from his cell, and gave him a furnished room to -live in, at the same<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_227" id="page_227"></a>{227}</span> time permitting him to take exercise in the -gardens of the chateau, two hours every day.</p> - -<p>“What I valued most about this favour was that it promised to afford me -sooner or later, the prospect of another escape. For eight months -however, so carefully was I watched, I did not find a single opportunity -of putting my project into execution, and I began to feel that I could -owe my liberty only to some happy chance. Such a chance presented itself -at length in a most unexpected manner.</p> - -<p>“On the 23rd of November, 1765, I was walking in the garden at about -four o’clock in the afternoon, when a thick fog suddenly rose from the -ground. The idea of escape immediately occurred to me; but how was I to -get rid of my guards? for, to say nothing of the many sentinels in the -passages, I had two at my side, with a sergeant who never quitted me an -instant. I could not attack them, nor could I glide quietly from their -side, for their orders were to accompany me everywhere and to follow all -my movements. I therefore addressed myself boldly to the sergeant, and -called his attention to the fog which had come upon us so suddenly.</p> - -<p>“ ‘What do you think of this weather?’ I asked.</p> - -<p>“ ‘It is very bad, monsieur.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Do you think so?’ I replied in an instant, and in the calmest and most -natural tone. ‘It seems to me, on the contrary, the very weather to -favour my escape.’</p> - -<p>“While uttering these words I raised my elbows suddenly and thrust the -soldiers from me, and at the same time, giving the sergeant a violent -push, I took to flight, passing a third sentinel, who did not seem to -perceive what I was doing until I was at some distance from him. They -all, however, rapidly recovered from their surprise, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_228" id="page_228"></a>{228}</span> pursued me -with cries of ‘Stop him! stop him!’ The guard assembled: the windows -began to open; everybody ran into the courtyard, and ‘Stop him! stop -him!’ was heard on every side. How to escape? I did not remain long at a -loss. There was nothing for it but to dash right into the midst of the -crowd and take up their cry. ‘Stop thief! stop thief!’ I bawled louder -than any of them, pointing in front of me at the same time. They took -the bait admirably, following their noses in search of nothing at all -with the most praiseworthy energy and zeal. I outran them easily; there -was scarcely a step between me and liberty. I had reached the end of the -royal court; there was but one sentinel to pass, but to pass him would -not be easy, for, alarmed by the uproar, he would naturally be -suspicious of the first comer in the crowd. I had, in fact, foreseen the -exact state of things. At the first cry, the sentinel had placed himself -in the middle of the pathway, which was very narrow in this place; and, -to add to the ill luck of the situation, the man knew me. He was named -Chenu. I came up; he stopped the way, and bade me stand still, or he -would run me through with his bayonet.</p> - -<p>“ ‘Chenu,’ said I, ‘you know me; your duty is to arrest, not to kill me.’ -I slackened my pace and drew near to him slowly, and when I was within a -yard or two I suddenly threw myself upon him, and snatched his gun with -so much and such unexpected violence that he fell to the ground. I -leaped over his body, and hurled his gun as far from him as I could, for -fear he should recover it and fire. And now I was free once more. I -easily hid myself in the park, for I had at once avoided the main road; -I leaped over the low wall, and I awaited the night to enter Paris.”</p> - -<p>Having taken refuge with two girls, with whom he had</p> - -<p><a name="ill_XX" id="ill_XX"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p228a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p228a_sml.jpg" width="285" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: Stop thief." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">Stop thief.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_229" id="page_229"></a>{229}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">entered into correspondence from the top of the towers of the Bastille, -and who had vainly tried to serve him by delivering letters to his -friends, he could think of no better means of providing for his safety -than that of writing to implore M. de Sartines to become his protector. -It would seem that Latude’s active and acute spirit, which, while he was -a captive, enabled him so well to calculate his opportunities of escape, -and to profit by them, abandoned him the moment he was at liberty. Not -content with having invited the attention of M. de Sartines, he could -conceive of nothing wiser, fugitive and prison-breaker as he was, than -to go to Fontainebleau, to see M. de Choiseul and M. de la Vallière, -both ministers, and to recommend himself to them. He was, of course, -re-arrested and taken back to Vincennes, where he was put in a cell, -called the black hole. In 1775 he was transferred to Charenton, and he -was set at liberty in 1777 by a <i>lettre de cachet</i>, ordering his exile -to Montagnac, his native place. He delayed his departure some time, but -at length he set out, only to be arrested once more, when he was some -fifty leagues from Paris, and taken to the Bicêtre. He was then -fifty-three years of age; and since his twenty-fourth year he had passed -very little time out of prison. At length, in 1784, Madame Necker -humanely exerted her influence to procure his total release.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="BENIOWSKI" id="BENIOWSKI"></a><i>BENIOWSKI.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1771.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Count Beniowski</span>, a magnate of Hungary and of Poland, was taken prisoner -by the Russians, and sent to Kamtschatka. On the very day after his -arrival in the little city of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_230" id="page_230"></a>{230}</span> Bolska, or Bolchérietzkoi, which had been -assigned him as a residence, he had persuaded seven of his companions in -exile, to join with him in an attempt to escape. At first they thought -only of procuring a boat for their attempted flight, but they afterwards -found it necessary to make many material alterations in their plan. -Beniowski was only thirty years old; and to the physical advantages of -force, elegance, and address, he united that of a good education, which -naturally placed him in the first rank among the other exiles, and he -was chosen as their chief without one dissentient voice. The governor -employed him as a teacher of languages to his three daughters, the -youngest of whom, Aphanasia, fell desperately in love with her master. -Beniowski dexterously took advantage of this passion to further his -scheme.</p> - -<p>The confederates, at first few in number, obtained additions to their -ranks every day; but they had many difficulties to surmount. Their prime -need, however, was money; and in this respect, chance and the cupidity -of their guards came very opportunely to their aid. The three principal -personages of Bolska were the governor, the chancellor, and the hetman -of Cossacks. The two last had discovered Beniowski’s skill at chess, and -they thought that by using him as a kind of <i>employé</i>, to play in their -interest with the richest merchants of the district, they might make -considerable additions to their income. He was obliged, for the sake of -his companions and for the furtherance of his scheme, to lend himself to -this discreditable trick; but he did not forget his own wants while he -was filling the pockets of the hetman and the chancellor. The -confederates already possessed some twelve thousand roubles, when the -rage of one of Beniowski’s victims at the chess-board nearly led to the -discovery of the entire plot.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_231" id="page_231"></a>{231}</span></p> - -<p>A merchant, named Casarinow, who had lost considerable sums at the game, -presented his conqueror with a quantity of poisoned sugar. On the 1st of -January, 1771, the principal confederates assembled, according to -custom, to take tea; but they had scarcely swallowed the first cup when -they were all seized with frightful pains. One of them died during the -night; the rest, escaping by a miracle, tested the sugar on various -animals, and when they had satisfied themselves as to its poisonous -properties they denounced Casarinow to the governor. The merchant was at -once summoned, and when he came before the governor was offered a cup of -unsweetened tea. He took it. “See,” said his host, offering him some of -the poisoned sugar, “what good fellows these exiles are; they have given -me all this, and only yesterday they received it as a present -themselves.”</p> - -<p>Casarinow grew pale, complained of a sudden illness, and asked to be -allowed to retire. He was at once arrested, and, yielding to the -evidence of facts, confessed his crime, alleging, as an excuse, that he -had attempted it in order to punish Beniowski for plotting to arm the -exiles and to escape with them from Kamtschatka. He was indebted for the -information to Pianitsin, one of the confederates. Too irritated to pay -due attention to this defence, the governor imprisoned Casarinow, and -ordered the chancellor to take immediate steps for the confiscation of -his property, and his despatch to the mines, according to law. But -Beniowski had been present during the interview, though he was hidden in -a cabinet, the law forbidding not only the functionaries, but simple -citizens, to hold any communication with the exiles. He had, therefore, -become acquainted with the guilt of Pianitsin; and on his return to the -confederates, finding the traitor present, he denounced him. The -unfortunate wretch<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_232" id="page_232"></a>{232}</span> was at once condemned, and was allowed only three -hours to prepare for death. A priest who was in the plot prayed with him -during that time, and he was then taken out of the village and shot.</p> - -<p>Some time after, the authorities seemed willing to test the truth of -Casarinow’s depositions; but they looked in vain for the only person who -could enlighten them on the point—Pianitsin. They accordingly suffered -the matter to rest, convinced that the whole story was nothing better -than a fable, invented by the poisoner to serve his own ends.</p> - -<p>We cannot give in detail the different episodes of this history of four -months, during which the plot was several times on the point of being -discovered. The confederates owed their safety to the presence of mind -of their chief, and, above all, to the folly and the corruption of their -guardians. But on one occasion certain suspicions excited by Beniowski’s -conduct had nearly ruined all. Some days after the affair of Casarinow, -poor Aphanasia, in presence of her father and of a crowd of persons -invited to a fête, declared her passion for the count. Her father was at -first in a great rage; but this did not last long; and eventually—it is -not easy to say through whose good offices—he was induced to show -Beniowski more kindness than ever. He, in fact, threw his house open to -the exile, and allowed him to come and go as he pleased. All this soon -got rumoured abroad, and one day, on entering his own house, Beniowski -found himself confronted by four of the principal conspirators, who -summoned him to the general assembly, to give an account of his -suspicious intimacy with the authorities. He went at once; and on -entering the council-room, found that it was guarded by two -conspirators, sabre in hand. A cup of poison stood on the table. -Beniowski was accused of intriguing<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_233" id="page_233"></a>{233}</span> for his liberty by the betrayal of -his associates. He easily justified himself, and his accuser was the -first to embrace him warmly, and to desire his pardon for having -suspected him. In time, thanks to Beniowski’s influence with the -governor, all the exiles were declared free as to residence within the -country, and were allowed to form a colony in the district of Lopattka. -He was thus slowly advancing towards his object, when the governor’s -wife, Madame Nilow, insisted that his marriage with her daughter should -take place at once; while one of the conspirators, named Stephanow, -becoming enamoured of Aphanasia, attempted to kill her lover, and nearly -revealed the plot. He was, however, terrified into silence, and then -pardoned.</p> - -<p>The conspirators were at last perfectly organized. They had arms and -munitions, and they only awaited the breaking of the ice to embark in a -vessel already prepared for them, when circumstances again rendered the -authorities suspicious. Beniowski, learning from various signs that all -might be compromised in a moment, engaged Aphanasia, to whom he had -confided the secret of the plot, to send him a piece of red riband -whenever she judged that danger was imminent. All the confederates, -meanwhile, were ready and armed; but a day or two preceding that fixed -for their departure, Beniowski received a piece of red riband from -Aphanasia, while, at the same time, a sergeant brought him a note from -the governor, asking him to breakfast. One may easily judge whether the -daughter’s present inclined him to accept the father’s invitation. He -pretended to be ill, and put off the visit till the next day. But the -sergeant had the imprudence to tell him that he would do well to come by -fair means, unless he wished to be dragged to the governor’s table by -force.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_234" id="page_234"></a>{234}</span></p> - -<p>“You had better confess yourself, friend,” replied the exile, haughtily, -“before you bring me another message like that.”</p> - -<p>At midday the hetman arrived at Beniowski’s house, and was very civilly -received; but his air of confidence and of good nature, unskilfully -assumed as it was, did not avail to conceal his real purpose from the -penetrating glance of the exile. On Beniowski’s refusal to go to the -fort, the poor hetman so far forgot his <i>rôle</i> as to get into a violent -passion, and to threaten the unwilling guest with his Cossacks. -Beniowski laughed in his face, and the hetman called two of his men. -Beniowski whistled, and in an instant five of his companions appeared, -and hetman and Cossacks stood disarmed and bound.</p> - -<p>At five o’clock in the evening the governor sent a message, urging -Beniowski to throw himself on the clemency of the throne, and -threatening him with death if he did not instantly set the captives at -liberty. The count gave an evasive reply, in order to gain time, and -meanwhile seized the chancellor’s nephew and two other persons, whose -influence he feared. He would have seized the chancellor himself had he -come within his reach. These acts marked the beginning of the -insurrection.</p> - -<p>On the next day the governor despatched four men and a corporal to -arrest the count, who, however, managed to arrest them instead, and to -shut them up in his cellar. These were duly followed by a regular -detachment of troops, who approached the house with as much -circumspection as though it had been a fortress. Beniowski went out to -meet them, and killed three of their number; the rest ran away. Then -came another detachment, with a cannon. The officer in command allowed -Beniowski to approach within fifteen<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_235" id="page_235"></a>{235}</span> paces, as though willing to hold a -parley; but when they had got so near, the confederates suddenly opened -fire, and those of the soldiers who did not fall down in terror, ran -away outright, so that the cannon became the property of the insurgents. -The latter then re-formed their ranks and marched straight upon the -fort. The sentinel, seeing the cannon in their hands, mistook them for -the detachment which had left in the morning, and lowered the -drawbridge. Beniowski, as soon as he found himself inside the place, ran -to the governor’s room, with a view of saving him from the violence of -the confederates; but the enraged official, incensed at finding himself -outwitted, snapped a pistol in his preserver’s face, and sprang at -Beniowski’s throat with such violence that the latter was about to -defend himself, when one of the confederates spared him the trouble by -shooting the unfortunate governor dead. Towards nightfall, however, the -Cossacks approached the fort, and prepared to assault it; but their -ladders were too short, and the flashes from their muskets serving to -betray their position, the confederates were enabled to point their -cannon upon them with very destructive effect. On the following day the -exiles shut up in a church all the women and children of the city, to -the number of about a thousand, and sent word to the eight hundred -Cossacks who invested the place, that if they did not at once surrender -their arms and give hostages for their peaceable behaviour, the building -should be fired. The Cossacks accepted the conditions, and the -insurgents remained masters of the place, the former having seven of -their number seriously wounded, and nine killed.</p> - -<p>Some days after, the exiles took possession of the war corvette, <i>St. -Peter and St. Paul</i>; and after they had rendered the last honours of war -to the poor governor, they<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_236" id="page_236"></a>{236}</span> occupied themselves in fitting out the -vessel. The hostages were then sent back to the city, with the exception -of the chancellor’s secretary, who was detained on board to serve as -cook, as a punishment for his malicious intentions.</p> - -<p>At length, on the 11th, Beniowski went on board, raised the flag of the -confederation of Poland, which was saluted by the guns of the corvette, -and quitted Kamtschatka—not as a prisoner escaping, but like a -sovereign leaving one of the ports of his empire.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="ESCAPE_OF_TWELVE_PRIESTS_SAVED_BY_GEOFFROY_ST_HILAIRE" id="ESCAPE_OF_TWELVE_PRIESTS_SAVED_BY_GEOFFROY_ST_HILAIRE"></a><i>ESCAPE OF TWELVE PRIESTS, SAVED BY GEOFFROY ST. HILAIRE.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1792.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">On</span> the 13th of August, 1792, Haüy, Lhomond, and the other professors at -the college of Cardinal Lemoine, were arrested as non-jurors, and were -shut up in the seminary of St. Firmin, temporarily converted into a -prison. Near St. Firmin lived a young student, Geoffroy St. Hilaire, who -was destined soon to become one of the stars of France. He had pursued -his studies at the college of Lemoine; and not less devoted to his -professors than passionately fond of science, without giving a thought -to the danger to which he exposed himself, he resolved on saving Haüy -and his companions.</p> - -<p>By great perseverance he persuaded the members of the Academy of -Sciences to appeal in favour of Haüy; and an order of liberation was -granted. Geoffroy brought it in great haste; and a few days after, Haüy -obtained from Tallien the same liberty for Lhomond that Geoffroy and the -Academy had obtained for himself. But several of Haüy’s colleagues were -still in prison. It was the day before the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_237" id="page_237"></a>{237}</span> September massacres; and -though nothing of these wild projects was officially known to the -public, after the Brunswick manifesto something terrible was expected. -Geoffroy, at any price, was resolved on saving his masters from the -danger threatening them. On the 2nd of September, at the moment when the -massacres had already begun at the Abbaye and La Force, he disguised -himself as a commissary of the prisons, obtained access by this means to -the prisoners, and informed them of the means he had prepared to -facilitate their escape.</p> - -<p>“No,” answered one of them, the Abbé D’Keranran; “no, we will not leave -our brethren; our flight would make their deaths more certain.”</p> - -<p>This sublime refusal grieved Geoffroy, without discouraging him. At -night he took a ladder and went to St. Firmin, standing by an angle of -the wall that he had taken care to indicate to the Abbé D’Keranran and -his companion that same morning. He remained there for more than eight -hours without seeing a soul. At last a priest appeared, and was soon -safely out of the fatal place. Several others followed. One of them, on -climbing the wall too hastily, fell and hurt his foot. Geoffroy took him -in his arms, and carried him to a barn near by. He then ran back to his -post, and by his help more priests escaped. Twelve victims had thus been -snatched from death, when a shot was fired on Geoffroy from the garden, -and touched his clothes. He was then on the top of the wall; and, -entirely absorbed in his generous task, he did not perceive that the sun -was up. He was obliged to come down, and leave both the happy and the -miserable at once, for those that he had been unable to save he was -never to see again.—(<i>Life of Geoffroy St. Hilaire, by Isidore -Geoffroy.</i>)<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_238" id="page_238"></a>{238}</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="DE_CHATEAUBRUN" id="DE_CHATEAUBRUN"></a><i>DE CHATEAUBRUN.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1794.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">M. de Vaublanc</span>, in his “Memoirs,” relates the following circumstance:—</p> - -<p>“A nobleman, named M. de Chateaubrun, having been condemned to death by -the revolutionary tribunal, had been placed on the fatal tumbril and -taken to the Place de la Revolution, to be put to death. After the -‘Terror’ he was met by a friend, who gave a cry of surprise; and, -scarcely able to believe the evidence of his senses, asked De -Chateaubrun, to explain the mystery of his appearance. The explanation -was given, and I heard it from his friend.</p> - -<p>“He was taken away with twenty other unhappy victims. ‘After twelve or -fifteen executions,’ he said, ‘one part of the horrible instrument -broke, and a workman was sent for to mend it. M. de Chateaubrun was, -with the other victims, near the scaffold, with his hands tied behind -his back. The repairing took a long time. The day began to darken; the -great crowd of spectators were far more intent on watching the repairing -of the guillotine than on looking at the victims who were to die; and -all, even the gendarmes themselves, had their eyes fixed on the -scaffold. Resigned, but very weak, the condemned man leant, without -meaning it, on those behind him; and they, pressed by the weight of his -body, mechanically made way for him, till gradually, and by no effort of -his own, he came to the last ranks of the crowd. The instrument once -repaired, the executions began again, and they hurried to the end. A -dark night concealed both executioners and spectators. Led on by the -crowd, De Chateaubrun was at first amazed at his situation, but soon -conceived the hope of escaping. He went to the Champs<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_239" id="page_239"></a>{239}</span> Elysées and -there, addressing a man who looked like a workman, he told him, -laughingly, that some comrades with whom he had been joking had tied his -hands behind his back, and taken his hat, telling him to go and look for -it. He begged the man to cut the cords, and the workman pulled out a -knife and did so, laughing all the while at the joke. M. de Chateaubrun -then proposed going into one of the small wineshops in the Champs -Elysées. During a slight repast he seemed to be expecting his comrades -to bring back his hat; and seeing nothing of them, he begged his guest -to carry a note to some friend, whom he knew would lend him one, for he -could not go bareheaded through the streets. He added that his friend -would bring him some money, for his comrades, in fun, had taken away his -purse. The poor man believed every word M. de Chateaubrun told him, took -the note, and returned in half an hour, accompanied by the friend, who -embraced Chateaubrun, and gave him all the help he -required.’"—(<i>Memoirs of M. de Vaublanc.</i>)</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="SYDNEY_SMITH" id="SYDNEY_SMITH"></a><i>SYDNEY SMITH.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1797.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Commodore William Sydney Smith</span>, afterwards admiral, had been made -prisoner at the mouth of the Seine, where he had ventured in his -frigate, then stationed at Havre. This enterprise seemed so daring that -the English sailor was suspected of having wished to favour a royalist -attempt, and of being a dangerous spy. The suspicions as to the nature -of his mission seemed confirmed by the fact that his secretary was an -exile, named De Trommelin, who had been with him a long time, in the -hopes of being in some way useful</p> - -<p><a name="ill_XXI" id="ill_XXI"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p239b_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p239b_sml.jpg" width="277" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: The woodman pulled out a knive and did so." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">The woodman pulled out a knive and did so.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_240" id="page_240"></a>{240}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">to the royal cause. If the nationality of this man had been recognised, -he would have been instantly put to death, according to the law then -existing in France; but the commodore passed him as his servant. In vain -England begged the exchange of Sydney Smith; the Directory refused, -knowing how dangerous an enemy to France he was. Imprisoned at the -Abbaye, then at the Temple, he was more than once on the point of -escaping, in spite of the vigilance of the police. Several ladies, as -well as Trommelin, attempted to aid him at various periods. Trommelin’s -wife—who could, at least, invoke duty as the motive of her -conduct—came to Paris, and hired a house near the Temple. A mason was -bribed to open a communication between this house and the Temple, by way -of the cellar, and everything seemed sure of success, when the fall of a -few stones gave the alarm. The prisoners were more strictly watched than -ever. In a short time Trommelin, having a better fate than a man -deserves who carries arms against his country, was exchanged; but Sydney -Smith was obliged to forego that advantage. After the 18th Fructidor, he -was still more rigorously treated; but the moment of his freedom was -drawing nigh.</p> - -<p>Among the royalists then hidden and conspiring in Paris, was an officer -named Philippeaux, formerly the fortunate rival of Bonaparte at the -military school, and, since that time, his sworn enemy. Certainly -without any idea that Sydney Smith and himself would, two years -afterwards, be together in the presence of General Bonaparte at St. Jean -d’Acre, and without any other motive than that of injuring the republic, -Philippeaux determined to deliver the commodore. He associated himself -with other royalists, and notably with an opera dancer, named -Boisgirard; and he entered into<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_241" id="page_241"></a>{241}</span> relations with the daughter of one of -the Temple gaolers, by whose aid he succeeded in deceiving her father. -Disguised as a prison commissary, and accompanied by his accomplices, -wearing the uniform of gendarmes—one of whom, Boisgirard, represented a -general—Philippeaux went at night to the Temple. Boisgirard, at the -gate, showed an order of release, signed by the minister of foreign -affairs, and demanded that the prisoner might be given up. Either -bribed, or deceived by appearances, the gaolers and director of the -prison obeyed, and Sydney Smith was brought out. Playing his part -perfectly, he affected great surprise; and on hearing his immediate -transfer to another prison spoken of, he vehemently protested against -it. Then, feigning obedience, he followed his liberators, and entered a -carriage that conveyed him to Rouen, from whence he crossed to Havre. -There he succeeded in getting on board an English ship, the <i>Argo</i>, -which took him to London. The English captain, Brenton, certifies, in -his “History of the Navy,” that he knows, from good authority, that -£3000 sterling (75,000 francs), given by the English government, opened -the doors of Sydney Smith’s prison, and smoothed all obstacles as far as -the coast. He adds that Lord St. Vincent (Jervis) assured him he had -seen the order from the Treasury.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="PICHEGRU_RAMEL_BARTHELEMY_DELARUE_ETC" id="PICHEGRU_RAMEL_BARTHELEMY_DELARUE_ETC"></a><i>PICHEGRU, RAMEL, BARTHELEMY, DELARUE, ETC.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1797.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">A short</span> time after the 18th Fructidor, a certain number of those who had -taken part in the counter-revolutionary riots were transported to -Guiana. They all belonged, more or</p> - -<p><a name="ill_XXII" id="ill_XXII"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p241b_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p241b_sml.jpg" width="284" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: He affected great surprise." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">He affected great surprise.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_242" id="page_242"></a>{242}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">less, to the royalist party. Among them were—Pichegru, one of the -greatest soldiers and one of the worst citizens France ever produced; -Barthélemy, a member of the Directory; Ramel, adjutant-general, -commander of the grenadiers of the Corps Législatif; Delarue, a member -of the council of the Five Hundred; and generals Aubry and Willot, who -had been among the first arrested. To the names of these party-men it is -but right to add that of Letellier, Barthélemy’s servant, who having -begged, as a favour, that he might be allowed to follow his master to -prison, accompanied him in his exile, and died, at last, the victim of -his devotion. At Cayenne, and then at Sinnamary, the deputies saw, with -sorrow, several of their companions struck down by the influence of the -climate; and, to fly from a similar fate, they resolved on escaping and -making their way to Dutch Guiana. Of this adventure we have two very -different versions—one by Ramel, who, on his return to London, -published the journal of his escape; and the other by Delarue, who, long -after, under the restoration, wrote a “History of the 18th Fructidor,” -where this escape is related. Seen from our point of view, Ramel’s -journal is, in all probability, nothing more than a romance; while the -narrative of Delarue, far simpler, seems to be the expression of truth. -We give both, beginning with the first:—</p> - -<p>“We were accustomed to walk,” says Ramel, “on the ramparts along the -river. We often contemplated, with deep sighs, the western coast, but -saw nothing, either on land or water, that could give us the faintest -hope of escape. At the foot of the bastion, outside the fort and on the -edge of the river, there was a small boat, used for conveying the guard -to and fro. This little boat, with its moorings, was consigned to the -care of the sentinel placed near the battlements<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_243" id="page_243"></a>{243}</span> of the fort, in which -the guards were stationed. We had often looked with longing eyes at this -boat; but it was only by degrees, and when impelled by despair, that we -became accustomed to the idea of venturing out to sea in so frail a -skiff. None of us knew how to manage a boat; we had no compass, and -should have been obliged to trust ourselves to some Indian or sailor.”</p> - -<p>The first attempt proved fruitless. Pichegru having tried to win over an -Indian, who sold vegetables to the fort, this latter spread abroad -suspicions which the general’s half offer had created in his mind. But -this check was only a temporary one. A person at that time in the fort, -whom Ramel does not otherwise specify, gave them much information as to -the road they should take, and as to the proper means of insuring their -flight. They procured passports under supposed names, and ripened their -plans, without divulging them to those of their companions who were not -in the plot, and several of whom inspired them with a not unfounded -mistrust.</p> - -<p>A pirate captain, named Poisvert, having captured an American ship, -commanded by a certain Tilly, the owner of the cargo, brought his -capture to Sinnamary, and lodged the crew and their captain in the fort. -The American captain soon found out Pichegru, Ramel, and their -companions, with whom he was well acquainted, and gave them news of -their families and friends. They informed him of their plans, and showed -him the boat. After trying to convince them of the impossibility of -putting out to sea, and attempting a journey of several days in such a -vessel; and seeing, at last, that they were fully determined to perish -rather than remain at Sinnamary, the brave Tilly resolved on joining his -fate to theirs. “I give up all,” he said, “to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_244" id="page_244"></a>{244}</span> save you. I will take my -pilot, Barrick, with me, and we will set out together.”</p> - -<p>Everything was settled, when they learnt that Tilly was to be -immediately transferred to Cayenne. He went away, leaving them Barrick -in his place, who soon disappeared, and remained hidden in the wood near -by for thirty-six hours, perched on a tree, to escape from the serpents. -“It had been agreed that the following day, the 3rd of June, at nine in -the evening, he should go down to the edge of the river near the fort, -and should jump into the boat on seeing us appear.”</p> - -<p>Everything seemed in favour of the fugitives. Captain Poisvert gave a -dinner on board the American capture to the commander of the place; and -the wine soon began to flow freely both on the ship and in the -fort—soldiers, officers, convicts, even, were at the feast. All were -soon drunk, except the eight conspirators, who simply feigned -intoxication, and quarrelled, to ward off suspicion.</p> - -<p>“Night came on. We saw the commander taken home quite insensible, and -carried as if he were dead. Silence had succeeded to songs and drunken -shouts; soldiers and slaves were lying here and there; the service was -forgotten; the guard-house left empty.</p> - -<p>“The final hour of our stay at Sinnamary rang at last. At nine o’clock -Dessonville, who was watching, warned each of us. We went out and met at -the gate of the fort, the bridge of which was not yet taken up. -Everything was profoundly quiet. I went with Pichegru and Aubry to the -top of the guard-house, and walked straight to the sentinel. He was a -wretched drummer, who had worried us to his utmost. I asked him what -time it was; he raised his eyes to the stars; I sprang at his throat; -Pichegru disarmed<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_245" id="page_245"></a>{245}</span> him; and we dragged him away, tightening our hold to -prevent his crying out. We were on the parapet; the man struggled -violently, slipped from us, and fell into the river. We joined our -companions at the foot of the rampart, and seeing no one in the -guard-house, we ran in and took out arms and cartridges, left the fort, -and flew into the boat. Barrick was there, and carried us into the -skiff. Barthélemy, an infirm man, and not so active as we were, fell and -stuck in the mud. Barrick, with his strong arm, caught him, pulled him -out, and placed him in the boat. The cable was cut; Barrick took the -helm; motionless and silent we drifted with the current. The tide and -the current together impelled our frail vessel. We listened, but could -hear nothing but the murmur of the waters, and the land breeze, which -soon swelled our little sail. We were then unable to distinguish the -tower of Sinnamary. On approaching the watch on the point we took down -the sail, so as to make ourselves less visible. We knew that the eight -men on guard there had received their full share of the captain’s -bounty, and that, consequently, they must be as drunk as their comrades. -We were not hailed; the tide carried us across the bar. We left on our -right our brave friend Tilly’s ship, and passed close to <i>The Victoire</i>, -just come from Cayenne, and commanded by Captain Brochet, who was much -pleased at our escape, and who certainly would not have opposed it.</p> - -<p>“The breeze freshened, the sea was calm; but in going out far we ran the -risk of losing ourselves; while, hugging the coast too closely, we were -in danger of wrecking the ship on the rocks, which extend as far as -Iracouba. The moon shone out suddenly, as if to light up our path. The -moment was delicious; we congratulated ourselves; we thanked Providence<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_246" id="page_246"></a>{246}</span> -and our generous pilot, Barrick, who was in a dreadful state from the -mosquito bites. We sailed safely on for about two hours, when we heard -three cannon-shots—two from the Sinnamary fort, and one from the Point. -Soon after the watch at Iracouba repeated the three reports. We could no -longer doubt of our escape being discovered. We did not now fear direct -pursuit from Sinnamary, where there was not a single boat they could -arm; besides, we had a good start. The only thing we dreaded was the -detachment from Iracouba, composed, as we knew, of twelve men. They -could only have met us in a boat similar to ours, with eight or ten men. -We kept sailing on near the coast, all the while preparing our arms, and -fully determined on defending ourselves if they attacked, or attempted -to bar the passage under the fort of Iracouba.</p> - -<p>“At four in the morning two cannon-shots were heard towards the east, -and were immediately responded to by a report close to our ears. We were -in front of the fort. It was still dark; but at daybreak we found -ourselves to windward of Iracouba. We had nothing more to fear from -pursuit; the dangers of the sea were all we had to overcome.”</p> - -<p>In such a vessel, which was so small, and so light that the waves filled -it at every moment, and had to be baled incessantly with a gourd, the -fugitives were in imminent danger of perishing. A movement of Ramel’s, -who wished to catch his hat, which fell in the water, almost upset the -boat; and Pichegru, who had been unanimously chosen captain, severely -reprimanded him. Without a compass, and without the necessary -instruments to show them the way, without food, and with two bottles of -rum as their sole sustenance, if Ramel is to be believed, they suffered -acutely<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_247" id="page_247"></a>{247}</span> from hunger for eight days. But their moral strength kept them -up, and they even had the courage to joke about their misery and their -hunger, which they bore with great patience.</p> - -<p>After being fired at on their passage in front of fort Orange, because -they would not hoist their flag, they were thrown by a storm upon the -coast. On the following day they were reconnoitred by some Dutch -soldiers. There was at first some slight difficulty as to their -admission to the Dutch territory; but that being soon settled, they -found themselves the objects of the most generous -hospitality.—(<i>Journal of the Adjutant-General Ramel.</i>)</p> - -<p>According to Delarue, the convicts enjoyed great liberty at Sinnamary: -they could go about, so long as they kept within certain limits; they -had guns and ammunition, and could shoot. The post of Sinnamary, guarded -by a few soldiers, had no resemblance whatever to a fort; it was only a -poor village, inhabited by Indian or Creole fishermen; and the boat they -used for their escape belonged to a German, whom they knew to be engaged -in smuggling between Surinam and Cayenne. It was thought that such a -state of things did not guarantee much for the security of the convicts, -and it was decided to transport them to a much less healthy part of -Guiana. By the advice of Tilly, who could not accompany them, as he was -being transferred to Cayenne, and with the certainty of the help of -Barrick, his pilot, they determined to escape. They quietly went one -night with their firearms to a wood, where Barrick awaited them, without -all the attending circumstances of revelling Ramel speaks of. They had -no sentinel to disarm, but only to give help to a negro, who was trying -to master a turtle. The boat contained provisions—scanty, it is true, -but still<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_248" id="page_248"></a>{248}</span> more than sufficient to last them till their arrival in the -Dutch possessions. So they did not suffer a week from hunger, as Ramel -says: they heard no cannon fired, to signal their departure; in short, -they escaped without most of those episodes with which Ramel has thought -proper to embellish his recital.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="COLONEL_DE_RICHEMONT" id="COLONEL_DE_RICHEMONT"></a><i>COLONEL DE RICHEMONT.</i></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">In</span> the year 1807 the Baron de Richemont, a French colonel, was taken by -an English privateer in the ship bringing him from the Mauritius to -Europe. The town of Chesterfield was assigned to him for a residence. -Richemont had been in England about eighteen months, and every proposal -of exchange had been refused, when one morning he saw something in his -newspaper which made a deep impression on his mind. “I had just been -reading,” he says in his memoirs, “an account of Colonel Crawford who -had escaped from Verdun, where he was a prisoner on parole, and who, not -being willing to take the command of his regiment, until his conduct had -been approved of, had appealed to a jury. The jury had declared, that he -being detained prisoner against the law of nations, had acted rightly in -breaking through the obligation imposed on him. This narrative -interested me very much, and I read it several times over with deep -attention. I found all the details of the escape plainly set forth, with -an account of the ruse to which he had recourse to ensure without fail -the success of his plan. He had petitioned the French Government for -permission to drink the waters of Spa, promising to return and deliver -himself prisoner again at Verdun,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_249" id="page_249"></a>{249}</span> and he had taken advantage of this -favour, granted with the confidence always inspired by the word of a -gentleman, to return to England.</p> - -<p>“The various thoughts that such a recital gave rise to in my mind are -more easily felt than described. I also was detained against the law of -nations, and my position admitted of a far different statement from that -of the English colonel’s, a decree of the high court of admiralty having -declared neutral the ship on which I had been arrested. I had officially -protested against the injustice of my detention. I was moreover free -from any kind of engagement by the declaration of the jury who had -pronounced the acquittal of Colonel Crawford. I was not troubled now -with the slightest scruple of delicacy.”</p> - -<p>Having made up his mind, Richemont joined himself to a Frenchman, a -marine officer who had already proposed to him to escape. They first -decided on their plan, and then Richemont wrote a letter to the -gentlemen of the transport-office, in which he declared his intention of -leaving England, at the same time giving his reasons, and reminding his -gaolers of the verdict of their own countrymen in the Verdun case. “This -letter, posted two hours after my departure from Chesterfield, reached -the gentlemen of the transport-office on the day that I arrived in -London, and I only left England eight or ten days afterwards. I -evidently gave them all the necessary time to make their search; but in -all conscience they could not expect me to surrender myself to their -generosity.” The two fugitives, calling themselves Spaniards, and having -a well-filled purse, reached the capital without any difficulty. They -then immediately posted to Folkstone to the house of a certain smuggler, -about whom Richemont had very<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_250" id="page_250"></a>{250}</span> precise information. “I knocked, and went -in. The girl who had opened the door showed me into a very clean and -comfortably furnished parlour, where I found the man alone, smoking his -pipe, with a glass of grog before him. I nodded to him, and asked if I -had the honour of speaking to Mr. W. G——.</p> - -<p>“ ‘Yes sir,’ he said; ‘I am the man.’</p> - -<p>“Then going straight to the subject, I told him that we were two -Frenchmen, who looked to him for the means to return to France.</p> - -<p>“ ‘What do you take me for?’ said he in an angry tone.</p> - -<p>“ ‘Master,’ I answered directly, ‘don’t let us get angry; talk coolly. If -you have to complain of me in any way, you will always be free to do as -you please, but listen to me first. We are two honourable and discreet -gentlemen, who only wish to deal pleasantly with you; but I ought to -tell you, that I have taken measures to make you pay dearly, if -necessary, for an obstinate refusal, for I have about me all the -documents to prove that, at such a time, you came to Chesterfield, took -Captain X—— away in your post chaise, kept him hidden so many days in -your house, and at last carried him in your vessel to the other side of -the channel. I have now to offer you one hundred pounds sterling, and -the gratitude and friendship of two men of heart and loyalty besides.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘A man that talks in that way,’ said he, taking my hand, and shaking it -vigorously, ‘is served in every country. Your manner suits me; there is -frankness and resolution in your words. You are welcome; I am your man; -you shall always have reason to think well of me. Don’t fear; <i>we</i> are -the real kings of the sea, and not those upstarts of the royal navy.’<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_251" id="page_251"></a>{251}</span></p> - -<p>“ ‘Quite true,’ said I, and shook his hand cordially. ‘That’s a bargain,’ -I added; ‘and now we must agree as to the carrying out of the plan.’ I -then told him where we had put up, and that the important thing was to -be able to wait in safety for decidedly favourable weather, and to -provide for everything during our stay.</p> - -<p>“ ‘All right,’ said the master; ‘everything shall be done, and well done. -At such a time to-night, come to me here, and I will take you to a place -of safety, where you can drink, smoke, and sleep at your ease, without -thinking about anything.’</p> - -<p>“At the time mentioned we went to the smuggler, who was expecting us. I -put into his hands the hundred pounds agreed on, telling him he must -expect to see on the walls, a notice of the transport-office, promising -a reward to whoever should arrest us.</p> - -<p>“ ‘Never mind,’ said he quickly; ‘I might be offered the crown of -England, but never shall an act of cowardice or treachery be laid to my -door.’</p> - -<p>“We started, and entered rather a mean looking place, a regular den of -smugglers, a house with innumerable doors or traps. Had they come to -arrest us here, we might have escaped in a dozen different directions. -The house was lighted, and consequently inhabited. We found in it a -woman, no longer young, who was introduced to us as our servant and -cook; we saw in the sitting-room a side table, laid out with plenty of -china. As for the kitchen, it was arranged <i>à l’anglaise</i>, with iron -ovens.</p> - -<p>“ ‘You will only have to give your orders,’ said Master G——. ‘The -pantry is well furnished; beer, tobacco, and eatables are there in -abundance, and you can choose the best.’<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_252" id="page_252"></a>{252}</span></p> - -<p>“He showed us two bedrooms, each containing a bed, a table, and a few -chairs. In one was a writing table, with paper and ink. Installed thus, -and treated with more care and attention than even the strictest -hospitality demanded, when we could only expect security in the most -humble retreat, we thanked and shook hands with our liberator, who took -leave of us laughing, and wishing us a good night.</p> - -<p>“We had already passed seven or eight days trying to kill time in this -solitude, when the smuggler suddenly came and told us that the wind had -changed most favourably; that there was every chance of it remaining in -its present quarter, and that at about ten that night, he would come -with some sailors’ clothes, and we should set sail under the best -auspices. Happy news! We paid all our scores; we thanked and rewarded -our cook as she deserved; in short, we satisfied all the exigencies of -equity, and even the most generous liberality, and awaited the solemn -moment. It came at last. We put on our clothes, the pantaloons and large -sailor waistcoats brought for us, and we went out with cutlasses at our -sides. We reached the beach, where we found a pretty little skiff of 15 -or 16 feet long, without a deck, and launched her. We put up the mast, -unfurled the sail, fixed the helm, and jumped in with the two sailors -given us by Master G——. We pushed off, the sail swelled to the breeze, -and we were gone. A custom-house ship was on guard in the harbour, and -made signs for us to go alongside of it; we did not pay any attention, -and before it had time to lower and arm its boat, we were far ahead, for -our skiff was a swift one, and the darkness shrouded us. We were all -four sailors, and each had his post; one at the helm, another managing -the sail, the third<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_253" id="page_253"></a>{253}</span> in the front of the boat, and the fourth, furnished -with a night-glass, was commissioned to explore the horizon. A good -breeze was blowing, but the sea was calm; in less than two hours we had -passed Cape Grisnez. We steered a southward course, and each time we -heard a signal of recognition, we answered it in a friendly manner, for -we were provided with all the signals corresponding to those of the -coast. We kept close in shore, so that at the least suspicious movement, -we might be able to reach the coast and land in spite of all the small -boats. At daybreak we boldly entered the little harbour of Vimerene, and -I jumped lightly on land.</p> - -<p>“The commander of that post making his usual morning rounds, came up the -moment after, and said with some temper: ‘If I had been present, you -would not have landed, monsieur.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Sir,’ I answered, ‘even if the emperor, to whom I am devoted body and -soul as much as any man in France, had wished to forbid my touching the -soil of my country, I should have done so in defiance of him and his -valiant guard, in defiance of you and your garrison. I am Colonel -Richemont; make your report.’ ”</p> - -<p>Richemont proceeded direct to Boulogne, and there obtained the liberty -of the two English sailors, who had been temporarily detained, and -rewarded them generously.—(<i>Mémoires du Général Camus, Baron de -Richemont.</i>)<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_254" id="page_254"></a>{254}</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="CAPTAIN_GRIVEL" id="CAPTAIN_GRIVEL"></a><i>CAPTAIN GRIVEL.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1810.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Admiral Rosily</span> having taken refuge in the port of Cadiz with four ships, -the poor remnants of Trafalgar, was, after a gallant struggle, obliged -to surrender to overpowering numbers. The infamous capitulation of -Baylen singularly increased the number of prisoners condemned to the -tortures of those plague-stricken prisons, the guardships. Still, one of -these vessels, the <i>Vieille Castille</i> was a privileged abode. Specially -set apart for the officers, whose daily pay allowed them to live very -comfortably, the <i>Vieille Castille</i>, was not ravaged by typhus fever, -nor were the unhappy prisoners there afflicted with the agonies of -hunger. Still, they felt themselves prisoners, and only dreamt of -freedom, the more especially when, on the French army approaching Cadiz, -they discovered their comrades encamped at only an hour’s distance from -their prisons. Many plans were formed, and then abandoned, for peace and -amity did not precisely reign among the prisoners, who kept reproaching -each other with their prudence or temerity. At last, the boldest of -them—Grivel, then captain of the sailors of the guard, now rear-admiral -and senator, agreed with his friends to carry off the first boat -approaching in a high wind. On the 25th February, 1810, the <i>Mulet</i>, a -small Spanish ship carrying water barrels, came alongside the <i>Vieille -Castille</i>. The breeze was a favourable one; under pretext of helping to -transport the barrels, the chiefs of the plot were lowered into the -boat, and there gained the sailors. The sail was unfurled and spread, -without loss of time. While they were getting under way in great haste, -an English boat left the admiral’s ship, and saluted the fugitives with -a discharge of musketry; the guard on<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_255" id="page_255"></a>{255}</span> shore, answered the signal, and -soon cannons, muskets, pistols—everything in short, was turned against -the little boat. Only one man, however, perished, a sailor. Captain -Grivel and his companions headed straight among the merchant ships -anchoring near Cadiz, and made a bulwark of them. The greatest interest -was shown in their success. “Hurrah! Hurrah;” cried the different crews. -“Courage <i>Frenchmen</i>!” Encouraged by these signs of sympathy, the -fugitives profited by the favourable breeze, and landed, to the number -of thirty-four, on the coast of Andalusia, after an hour of constant -anxiety and danger. Marshal Soult expressed the highest admiration of -their courageous conduct. “<i>Bah! Marshal</i>,” answered Grivel, “<i>it is -only a sailor’s trick!</i>”</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="LAVALETTE" id="LAVALETTE"></a>LAVALETTE.<br /><br /> -<small>1815.</small></h2> - -<p>Arrested on the 18th June, 1815, and imprisoned at the Conciergerie, -Count Lavalette had been condemned to death, for having taken an active -part in the return from Elba. In vain his wife endeavoured to soften -Louis XVIII., who would not forego his revenge; in vain she hoped to -find mercy in the Duchess d’Angouleme. She was cruelly repulsed on every -side. “Literally worn out,” says Lavalette in his Memoirs, “she sank -down on the stone steps of the palace, and stayed there for an hour, -still hoping against hope that she would be allowed to enter. She -attracted the notice of all the passers by, especially of those going to -the chateau; but none dared show her a sign of compassion. At last she -decided on leaving the palace, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_256" id="page_256"></a>{256}</span> returning to my prison, where she -soon arrived, weary and heart-broken.”</p> - -<p>The hours of Lavalette were numbered; by dint of questioning his -jailers, he had discovered that the execution was fixed for Thursday -morning, and it was then Tuesday evening. “At six,” says he, “my wife -came to dine with me, and when we were alone, she said, ‘It appears only -too certain that we have nothing now to hope for. It is time then to -decide on something, and this is what I propose: at eight o’clock you -will go from here, in my clothes, and, accompanied by my cousin, you -will step into my sedan chair, which will take you to the Rue des -Saints-Pères, where you will find M. Baudus in a gig: he will take you -to some place prepared for you, and you will wait there till you can -leave France without danger.”</p> - -<p>This plan seemed at first quite impracticable to Lavalette; but his wife -urged it so strongly, that he feared to increase her grief, and perhaps -endanger her life by a refusal. He only suggested, that the gig being so -far away, he should not be able to reach it before they had discovered -his escape, and that then he could be easily taken prisoner again. They -then agreed to modify and somewhat change the plan. The next day was -spent in heart-rending adieux.</p> - -<p>“At five o’clock, Madam de Lavalette arrived, accompanied by Josephine, -whom I recognised with as much surprise as joy. ‘I think it better,’ -said she, ‘to take our child with us, she will now easily follow out my -idea.’ She had put on a dress of merino, lined with fur, and she carried -a black silk skirt in her bag. ‘Nothing more is needed,’ she said, ‘to -disguise you perfectly.’ She then sent her daughter to the window, and -said in a low tone: ‘At seven exactly you will be ready dressed, -everything is well<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_257" id="page_257"></a>{257}</span> prepared: you will walk out, giving your arm to -Josephine. Mind and walk slowly; and when you cross the large hall, put -on my gloves, and hold my handkerchief to your face. I had thought of -bringing a veil, but unfortunately I have not been accustomed to wear -one during my visits here, so it must not be thought of. Take great -care, when passing under the doors, which are very low, not to knock off -the flowers on your bonnet, for all would be lost then.’ ” Madame de -Lavalette next proceeded to give the necessary instructions to her -daughter, and had almost finished, when there entered a friend of -Lavalette’s, M. de Sainte-Rose, who came to bid him adieu. It was -important that he should be dismissed as soon as possible. This -Lavalette did under the pretext that his wife was still ignorant of the -fatal hour. He treated in the same manner Colonel de Bricqueville who -had quitted his bed, where he was kept by several serious wounds, to -come and take leave of his friend. “At last dinner was served up. This -meal which perhaps was to be the last in my life, I found horrible. We -could not swallow a morsel; we did not exchange a word, and we were -obliged to pass nearly an hour in that manner. At last the clock struck -the three quarters past six, and Madame de Lavalette rang the bell. -Bonneville, my valet, entered the room; she took him aside, said a few -words in his ear, and added aloud, ‘Be sure to have the porters ready; I -am going soon. Come,’ she said to me; ‘it is time for you to dress now.’ -I had had a screen placed in my chamber, so as to form behind it a small -dressing-room; we then went behind this screen. While dressing me with -charming quickness and skill, she never ceased repeating, ‘Don’t forget -to bend your head as you pass under the doors. Walk slowly through the -outer room, like a person worn out<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_258" id="page_258"></a>{258}</span> by much suffering.’ In less than -three minutes my toilet was completed. We all advanced in silence -towards the door. ‘The porter,’ I said to Emily, ‘comes every night -after you leave. Mind and stay behind the screen, and make a slight -noise by moving some piece of furniture. He will think I am there, and -will go out for the few moments that will give me the necessary time to -escape.’ She understood me, and I pulled the bell rope. We heard the -jailor’s footsteps; Emily sprang behind the screen, and the door was -opened. I passed out first, my daughter next, Madame Dutoit (an old -servant of Madame de Lavalette’s) closed the march. After crossing the -passage I came to the door of the outer room. There I was obliged to -lift my foot on account of the doorstep, and at the same time to bow my -head so that the feathers of the bonnet should not touch the ceiling. I -succeeded; but on raising my head, I found myself opposite to five -jailors, sitting, leaning, standing, the whole length of the way. I held -my handkerchief to my eyes, and waited for my daughter to place herself -near me, as was agreed. The child took my right arm, and the porter -coming down the stairs from his room, which was on the left, advanced -towards me, and placing his hand on my arm, said, ‘You are leaving -early, my lady.’ He seemed very agitated, and probably thought the wife -had bidden the husband adieu for ever. They afterwards said that my -daughter and I cried aloud, though we scarcely dared sigh. At last I -came to the end of the hall. Day and night a turnkey sits there in a -large armchair, in a space narrow enough to allow him to place his hands -on the keys of the two gates, one an iron gate, the other made of wood, -and called the first entrance. The jailor kept looking at me, but did -not open; I therefore passed my hand between the bars to</p> - -<p><a name="ill_XXIII" id="ill_XXIII"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p258a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p258a_sml.jpg" width="279" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: I held my handkerchief to my eyes." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">I held my handkerchief to my eyes.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_259" id="page_259"></a>{259}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">make him aware of our presence. At last he turned his two keys, and we -walked out. Once outside, my daughter did not forget, but took my right -arm. There are twelve steps to mount before you get to the court, but -the guard of gendarmes is stationed at the foot of them. About twenty -soldiers headed by the officer, stood three paces from me to see Madame -de Lavalette pass. I at length reached the last step, and entered the -chair which stood two or three yards off. But there were no signs of -porters or servants. My daughter and the old servant were standing near -the chair, the sentinel ten paces off motionless and turned towards me. -To my astonishment succeeded a feeling of violent agitation; my eyes -were fixed on the sentry’s gun, as those of a serpent on its prey. I -felt, so to speak, the gun between my clenched hands. At the slightest -movement, the slightest noise, I felt myself springing on this arm.... -This terrible situation lasted about ten minutes only, but to me it -seemed the length of a night. At last I heard Bonneville’s voice, saying -in a low tone: ‘One of the porters was missing, but I have found -another.’ I then felt myself lifted. The chair crossed the great court, -and turned to the right on going out. We proceeded in that way to the -Quai des Orfévres, opposite the little Rue du Harlay. There the chair -stopped, the door opened, and my friend Baudus, offering me his arm, -said aloud; ‘You know, madame, you have still a visit to pay to the -president.’ I stepped out, and he pointed out to me a gig a short -distance off in the small, dark street. I sprang into this carriage, and -one touch made the horse start at a good trot. Passing the quay I saw -Josephine, her hands clasped, and praying to God with all her heart. We -crossed the Pont St. Michel, the Rue de la Harpe, and were soon in the -Rue Vaugirard<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_260" id="page_260"></a>{260}</span> behind the Odéon, where I began to breathe. I then looked -at the coachman, and what was my astonishment to recognise the Comte de -Chassenon! ‘What! you here!’ said I. ‘Yes; and you have behind you four -double-barrelled pistols. I hope you will use them.’ ‘No; really I do -not wish to endanger you.’ ‘Then I’ll set you the example; and woe to -any who tries to stop you!’ We went as far as the boulevard, at the -corner of the Rue Plumet, where we stopped. On the way I had thrown off -all my feminine attire, and put on a postillion’s coat, with the round -gold-braided hat.</p> - -<p>“M. Baudus soon came up. I took leave of M. du Chassenon, and modestly -followed my new master. It was eight in the evening; the rain fell in -torrents, the night was dark, and the solitude complete in this part of -the Faubourg St. Germain. I walked with much trouble, and it was with -great difficulty I followed M. Baudus, whose pace was very rapid. I soon -lost one of my shoes, but still had to go on. We met some gendarmes, -running fast, and little thinking I was there, for they were probably in -search of me. At last after an hour’s march, tired out, one foot in my -shoe, the other naked, I saw M. Baudus stop for an instant at the Rue de -Grenelle near the Rue du Bac. ‘I am going,’ he said, ‘into an hotel; -while I am talking to the porter, enter the court. On the left you will -find a staircase; go up to the last story, and follow the dark passage -on the right; at the end of that is a pile of wood,—stay there and -wait.’ We proceeded a few steps farther along the Rue du Bac, and a sort -of giddiness came over me when I saw him knock at the door of the -minister of foreign affairs. He entered first, and while he stood -talking with the porter, whose head was out of his lodge, I passed -quickly by. ‘Where’s that<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_261" id="page_261"></a>{261}</span> man going?’ cried the porter. ‘He is my -servant.’ I went up stairs to the third story, and came to the place -mentioned. I had scarcely reached it, when I heard the rustling of a -stuff dress, and felt myself gently taken by the arm, and pushed into a -room, the door of which was closed after me.”</p> - -<p>A fire was burning, and on a small table Lavalette saw a candlestick and -some matches, from which he concluded that the room could be lighted -without danger. On the bureau was a paper, containing these words: “No -noise, open the window at night, only wear soft shoes, and wait -patiently.” Near this paper was a bottle of excellent Bordeaux wine, -with several volumes of Molière and Rabelais, and a small basket -containing some elegant toilet fittings.</p> - -<p>M. Baudus shortly came in, threw himself in his friend’s arms, and told -him he was in the apartment of M. Bresson, cashier at the office of -foreign affairs. Proscribed under the Reign of Terror, M. Bresson and -his wife had found shelter with some kind people who had concealed them -at the peril of their lives. Lavalette shared this shelter with them for -eighteen days, during all which time he heard the criers in the streets, -threatening severe punishment to any person harbouring him.</p> - -<p>Madame de Lavalette was soon discovered by the jailor behind the screen. -The alarm once given, this heroic woman found herself a butt for the -insults of those wretches who were not capable of appreciating her -courage. The procureur général Bellart, ordered them to cease their -noisy rudeness, but assaulted Madame de Lavalette with ribaldry and -abuse, and put her in a room overlooking the court of the women, whose -shouts and coarse talk were a martyrdom for her. After studying with -great care the best means<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_262" id="page_262"></a>{262}</span> of getting Lavalette out of the kingdom, his -friends took counsel of a young Englishman, Mr. Bruce, who accepted the -proposal with joy, and entrusted it to General Wilson. This latter, -whose efforts to save Marshal Ney had proved so vain, wished to take his -revenge. Everything was settled, every event well provided for, and in -spite of gendarmes, custom-house officers, and all the difficulties of -such a journey, Lavalette, in the uniform of an English officer, was -conducted by General Wilson on to Belgian ground. “On shaking hands with -the general, I expressed with deep emotion all my gratitude; but he, -still preserving his imperturbable calm, only smiled without answering. -Half an hour after, he turned to me, and said very seriously: ‘Now, my -dear fellow, give me your reasons for not wishing to be guillotined?’ I -was surprised, and looked at him without answering. ‘Yes,’ he went on; -‘I was told that you had requested as a particular favour that you might -be shot.’ ‘Because,’ I said; ‘the prisoner is dragged in a cart with his -hands tied behind his back; he is attached to a plank’—— ‘Oh, I -understand; you did not wish to die like a calf.’ A few hours -afterwards, the two friends separated: one proceeding to Germany, the -other returning to Paris, where he underwent several months’ -imprisonment for his generous conduct.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="GIOVANNI_ARRIVABENE_UGONI_AND_SCALVINI" id="GIOVANNI_ARRIVABENE_UGONI_AND_SCALVINI"></a><i>GIOVANNI ARRIVABENE, UGONI, AND SCALVINI.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1822.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">During</span> his campaign of Guaita, in 1820, the Count Giovanni Arrivabene -had had the hardihood to receive Pellico, his two pupils, and their -father, Count Porro,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_263" id="page_263"></a>{263}</span> men who, to use the expression of Lamennais, had -dared to pronounce the word country. This crime incurred the penalty of -death, though the tender mercy of Austria sometimes commuted it to -fifteen or twenty years of hard labour. Porro being pursued, and Pellico -arrested, their host could not expect less; and he was, in fact, seized -and arraigned. He was, however, released, but shortly after he found out -that the Austrian police regretted their clemency. He accordingly left -his home one day in the greatest secrecy, crossed Brescia, and came to -the house of his two oldest and most devoted friends, Camillo Ugoni and -Giovita Scalvini, whom he informed of his determination to fly, and of -their own state of insecurity, offering them at the same time places in -his carriage. They did not hesitate a moment, but their preparations for -departure occupied some little time, and they were, of course, anxious -to maintain the greatest secrecy. It being then four in the afternoon, -they decided to wait till daybreak. Scalvini took Arrivabene home with -him, and put him in the bed usually occupied by his mother. The good -lady, from whom they wished to conceal the real state of affairs, was so -effectually kept in the dark, that, without knowing anything of their -secret, she was made instrumental in giving the alarm in case of a visit -from the police. On the 10th of April, 1822, the fugitives and one of -Arrivabene’s servants left Brescia; and choosing the roads along the -valley, they soon dismissed the carriage, and pursued their way on -horseback. They passed three days and three nights in the labyrinth of -valleys, constantly changing guides, and they were received everywhere -with the attention and respect worthy of the most ancient times. At -Edolo, a village on the Adda, twelve hours from Tirano, they saw the -uniforms of some gendarmes hung over a large<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_264" id="page_264"></a>{264}</span> fire in an inn. “What’s -this?” “Hush! they are asleep! poor wretches, it would be a pity to wake -them!”</p> - -<p>The gendarmes had been pursuing three fugitives, and half dead with the -long ride and with the drenching rain, they had taken shelter in the -inn. The three outlaws were too charitably disposed to disturb them; but -one of them, touching the pockets of a sleeping soldier, called out, -“This, perhaps, contains the order for our arrest; let us leave the den -before the lion roars!” In spite of all the kind offers of those around, -they could only procure two horses. The man walked; Ugoni rode one -horse, and Scalvini and Arrivabene mounted the other as best they could. -The gendarmes slept on. At daybreak the fugitives crossed the heights of -the mountain called the Sapei della Briga, where they found some -gendarmes quartered; but the good angel who had sent the men at Edolo to -sleep, did the same for their comrades, and Arrivabene and his -companions passed them unseen. There still remained the most difficult -place to pass,—the frontier. They called themselves cattle drivers, -going to the fair, and quietly crossed the line of Austrian custom-house -officers. The fugitives uncovered their heads, but scarcely had they -passed the boundary mark when they fell exhausted to the ground. The -effect was indescribable. On one side the officers, blaspheming and -threatening, furious at the trick played upon them; and on the other, -the poor exiles, leaving country, fortune, friends, and all they held -most dear; but blessing Heaven for their safety, and only answering the -insults heaped on them by a quiet indifference. The innkeeper of Edolo -was imprisoned for a long period; and his poor wife, whom they had told -that her husband would be hanged, died suddenly of fear and grief. (<i>My -Prisons.</i> Silvio Pellico.)</p> - -<p><a name="ill_XXIV" id="ill_XXIV"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p264a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p264a_sml.jpg" width="450" height="281" alt="Image unavailable: They fell exhausted to the ground." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">They fell exhausted to the ground.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_265" id="page_265"></a>{265}</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="MARRAST_GUINARD_GODEFROI_CAVAIGNAC_AND_OTHER_POLITICAL_PRISONERS" id="MARRAST_GUINARD_GODEFROI_CAVAIGNAC_AND_OTHER_POLITICAL_PRISONERS"></a><i>MARRAST, GUINARD, GODEFROI CAVAIGNAC, AND OTHER POLITICAL PRISONERS.</i><br /><br /> -<small><span class="smcap">July, 1834.</span></small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Soon</span> after the riots of April, 1834, at Paris and at Lyons, many men, -whose hostile opinions to the Government were well known, were arraigned -before the court of peers, and accused of having taken part in those -movements. Among those accused were MM. Guinard, Marrast, Godefroi -Cavaignac, brother to the great general of that name, Berrier-Fontaine, -etc.</p> - -<p>The trial went on, but on the night of the 12th July, news was brought -that twenty eight of those imprisoned at Sainte Pelagie, formerly the -prison for debtors, had managed to escape.</p> - -<p>The watch kept over them was purely nominal, they had communication with -persons outside, and passed the whole of their time either in their own -rooms or in the court provided for them to walk in. The door of a cellar -opened on to this court, and the cellar itself extended as far as the -centre of the prison, so that the end of it was only separated by a very -short distance from the garden of a neighbouring house. To enter this -garden they had only to pierce the wall of the cellar, and to form a -gallery passing under the sentinel’s post and the two exterior walls, -which they accomplished. They hollowed out a passage, about ten yards in -length, by one yard in diameter, and so constructed that its extremity -touched the ground of the garden, belonging to a house situated at 7, -Rue Copeau. Maintaining their communications with those outside, they -found everything in this house that could aid their flight, all matters -being so arranged as not to compromise any person.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_266" id="page_266"></a>{266}</span> About nine at night -they pierced through the thin crust of earth that still divided their -passage from the open air, posted in that way from Sainte Pelagie into -the garden, and from there hurried away singly or in twos and threes. -The ministerial newspapers declared that they had managed to obtain a -false key for the cellar door. According to the <i>National</i>, this cellar -was always given up to the prisoners. Some twenty-eight of them escaped -in this way, but, about fifteen others refused to follow them from -various motives, or were hindered from doing so by illness. Those, -however, who were not kept to their rooms, stayed in the court, as they -were accustomed to do till ten o’clock every night, and their presence -in that place, their conversation, and their noise, prevented the -keepers from suspecting the flight of the rest. In short, this escape -was so easy, and so favoured by circumstances, that it was even said -authority had lent its aid, in order to escape the difficulties of a -trial very hard to terminate. Those prisoners who went abroad found very -few obstacles on their way out of the kingdom. Still Armand Marrast and -his travelling companions were arrested by gendarmes at only forty -kilometres from the frontier, and on a cross road which they fancied -very secure. For two hours they were detained by a brigadier of -gendarmes, when fortunately for them, a civil officer came up. Marrast -quickly addressed him: “Sir, I will make you responsible for the -consequences of this delay; for two hours I have been awaiting your -presence to get rid of the absurd mistakes of these gendarmes, who take -me for I don’t know what.” The official, rather confused, carefully -examined the passports of the two travellers, which of course were in -perfect order, and allowed them to go. That same night, Marrast, guided -by some smugglers, passed the frontier without difficulty. M.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_267" id="page_267"></a>{267}</span> Guinard -had the same good fortune. He went to dine at Compiegne with a friend, -who, to make matters safer, brought the fugitive and the procureur de -roi together at dinner. The magistrate who had within his grasp a -splendid opportunity for promotion, had no suspicion whatever of his -agreeable <i>convive</i>. At the close of the evening, the friend carried off -his guest in a gig, conducted him to the frontier, and gave him over to -the care of a smuggler, whom they had bribed, and who took him safely -across the custom-house lines.</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="MONSIEUR_RUFIN_PIOTROWSKI" id="MONSIEUR_RUFIN_PIOTROWSKI"></a><i>MONSIEUR RUFIN PIOTROWSKI.</i><br /><br /> -<small>1846.</small></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">Of</span> all the innumerable victims transported during the last century by -the Russian government to Siberia, two alone were able to escape from -that dreadful place; their names are Beniowski, whose escape we have -already related, and M. Piotrowski. If, on one side, the adventures of -the Hungarian magnate are as full of interest as any novel, on the -other, the simple story of the modest and intrepid Polish soldier -inspires one with quite a different feeling. There we have all the -emotion excited by a pompous show; here the hidden drama, the laceration -of every fibre of a heart tortured by slow and almost secret anguish. -Beniowski, as a general and a prisoner of war, was treated according to -his rank, and even among exiles was allowed a certain liberty and the -privileges of his order. Piotrowski, the veteran warrior of 1831, being -only the simple emissary of his exiled countrymen in France, was sent to -Siberia, thrown into a convict’s den, and forced to obey the orders of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_268" id="page_268"></a>{268}</span> -a scoundrel himself condemned for theft. The half-savage population of -the country gave the infamous appellation of “Varnak,” as well to the -noble Pole transported for patriotism, as to the vilest forger and -assassin. Rufin Piotrowski is in fact the Silvio Pellico of Poland. The -book of Silvio Pellico raised against Austria the indignation of all -civilized nations. Beaten at Solferino, annihilated at Sadowa, the -jailors of Spielberg have nowhere met a look of pity. The “Memoirs of a -Siberian” are a terrible witness against the jailors of Siberia.</p> - -<p>M. Piotrowski being sent to Russia by the Polish Emigration Society, -went in 1843 to Kamiéniec, in Podolia, under the supposed name and title -of Catharo, an English subject. He had remained there about nine months -as a professor of languages, when he was recognised as a Pole, arrested, -and condemned to hard labour in Siberia. Transported in 1844 to the -place of his exile, he was sent to the distillery of -Ekaterininski-Zavod, three hundred kilometres north of Omsk, and for a -year was obliged to perform the hardest and most repulsive labour. A -word or sign on his part, or only a fit of ill temper on the part of -those over him, would have exposed him to the bastinado or the knout; -but being resolved on suffering everything rather than be struck, and -cherishing always in his heart the hope of escape, he learnt to control -himself sufficiently to show great docility, and a constant care to do -thoroughly the work imposed on him. He so succeeded by this means in -raising himself, that he was allowed to enter the distillery. “My -office,” said he, “was the rendezvous for many travellers who came -either for the sale of grains or for the purchase of spirits; peasants, -townspeople, tradesmen, Russians, Tartars, Jews, and Kirghis. Of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_269" id="page_269"></a>{269}</span> -passing strangers I inquired with a curiosity that never flagged -concerning Siberia. I talked with men who had been, some to Berezov, -others to Nertchinsk, to the frontiers of China, to Kamtschatka, among -the steppes of Kirghis, and in Bokhara, so that without leaving my -office I learned to know Siberia intimately. This acquired knowledge was -in the future of immense use to me in my plan of escape. A circumstance -that much softened my fate was the permission I obtained from the -inspector to leave the barracks; by this means I was able to quit the -ordinary dwelling-place of the convicts, and live with two of my -countrymen in a house belonging to Siesicki.</p> - -<p>“This man had succeeded little by little in building for himself a small -wood cabin; thanks to his long stay at Ekaterininski-Zavod, and to the -savings made out of his small pay. The house was not yet completed; in -fact there was then no roof, but we nevertheless carried in our goods -and chattels. The wind entered by every crack, but wood costing very -little, we lit a large fire on the hearth every night. In spite of these -inconveniences, we felt ourselves at home, and were relieved of the -disagreeable companionship of the convicts; the soldiers alone, whom we -had to pay, never leaving us. We spent the long winter evenings in -thinking about those dear to us, and even in making plans for the -future. Ah, if that house still exists, and if it shelters some -unfortunate exiled brother, let him remember he is not the first who has -wept in it, and invoked his absent country! I had quickly risen from the -lowest to the highest degree which a convict of our establishment on the -banks of the Irtiche could attain. In 1846, I could almost fancy myself -a simple recruit, banished to distant shores, and under an inclement -sky. How different was<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_270" id="page_270"></a>{270}</span> this to that terrible winter of 1844, when I -swept out gutters, carried or split wood, and lived under the same roof -with the scum of humanity! How many of my brethren, alas! were now -groaning in the mines of Nertchinsk! How many even who had been -condemned to a less severe punishment than mine, would have thought -themselves happy in my position, though I had resolved on flying from it -even at the risk of the knout, and the mysterious dungeons of Akatouïa!</p> - -<p>“In 1845, the Emperor Nicholas had issued a decree, by which the -situation of those exiled to Siberia was considerably aggravated. -Commissions visited the penitentiary establishments with the object of -proposing new measures of severity. The forced residence of all the -convicts in the barracks was the first point conceded to the suspicious -despotism of the czar. All this necessarily made me persist in a plan -conceived long ago.</p> - -<p>“During the summer of 1845, I had already made two attempts, rather -hasty and thoughtless ones, and both having the same result, though -neither, fortunately, creating any suspicions. In the month of June I -had noticed a small skiff often left by carelessness on the banks of the -river; I had thought of using this skiff to carry me down the river to -Tobolsk; but scarcely had I loosed the boat, one dark night, and rowed a -little way, when the moon shone out, lighting the country most -dangerously, and at the same time I heard from the shore the voice of -the inspector who was walking with some employés. I landed with as -little noise as possible, thinking how fruitless that attempt had -proved. The following month I perceived that the same boat had been left -in a more advantageous place, on a lake leading, by a canal and the -Irtiche, to a rather distant point<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_271" id="page_271"></a>{271}</span> of our establishment. A phenomenon -pretty frequent on the waters of Siberia during this season formed an -insurmountable barrier to this second attempt of mine. Caused by the -sudden chill of the air at nightfall, there rise from the earth great -columns of vapour, so thick as to make even the nearest things quite -indistinguishable. It was in vain that I kept pushing my boat in all -directions during the long mortal hours of that night of anxiety; the -fog prevented my finding the canal which would have led me to the -Irtiche. It was only at day-break that I at last discovered the -long-sought issue, but it was already too late to proceed, so I returned -home, rejoiced to be able to do that without mishap. From that time I -gave up all thought of flight by the inclement waves of the Irtiche, and -began in earnest to ripen my first plan of escape.”</p> - -<p>After long and due meditation on all the different and possible ways of -quitting the Russian empire, he resolved on effecting his escape by the -north, the Oural Mountains, the steppe of Petchora, and Archangel.</p> - -<p>“Slowly and with great difficulty I collected the necessary things for a -journey, the first and chief of which was a passport. There are two -kinds of passports for the Siberians; one being a sort of pass ticket, -granted for a very limited time, and for places not far distant from -each other; the other being a much more important document, given by the -high authorities on stamped paper. I succeeded in forging both. I -managed slowly also to get the clothes and other things necessary for my -disguise. I endeavoured to transform myself into a native, ‘a man of -Siberia’ (Sibirski tchèlovieck), as they say in Russia. Ever since my -departure from Kiow, I had purposely allowed my beard to grow, and it -had then reached quite a respectable and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_272" id="page_272"></a>{272}</span> orthodox length. By great -perseverance, I also became possessor of a wig,—a Siberian wig, that is -a wig made of sheepskin turned inside out. Thanks to these various -means, I was pretty sure of not being recognised. I had also 180 roubles -(about 200 francs) left, a small enough sum for so long a journey, and -which was destined by a fatal accident to become still much smaller. I -was in no way blind to the difficulties of my enterprise, nor to the -many dangers to which I was exposed at each step. One thing alone -sustained me, and while aggravating my situation, at all events eased my -conscience: it was the oath I had sworn to myself never to reveal my -secret to any one till I was in a free country; to ask neither help, nor -protection, nor advice of any living being, so long as I had not passed -the limits of the czar’s empire; and rather to give up my own liberty -than to endanger any one of my brethren. I might have brought my own sad -fate on many of my poor countrymen by my stay at Kamiéniec, when I -imagined I was fulfilling a mission of general interest. Now, my own -personal safety was the only thing in question, therefore I ought to -look to none but myself. God gave me grace to keep this resolution to -the last, which after all, was simply an honest one; and who knows that -it is not in consideration of this oath, which I swore on the outset of -my attempt, that He has always stretched over me His protecting arm!</p> - -<p>“About the end of January, 1846, I had finished my preparations, and the -opportunity seemed all the more favourable to me from the fact of it -being near the time for the large fair of Irbite, at the foot of the -Oural Mountains,—one of those fairs only seen in eastern Russia. I -thought I should be lost among such a migration of people, and hastened -to profit by the occasion.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_273" id="page_273"></a>{273}</span></p> - -<p>“On the 8th February, I started. I had on three shirts, one of which, a -coloured one, was put over the trousers of thick cloth, and over all, a -small burnous (armiack) of sheepskin, well greased with tallow, and -coming down to my knees. Large riding boots, well tarred, completed my -costume. Around my waist I wore a large sash of white, red, and black -wool, and on my wig a round cap of red velvet, trimmed with fur, such as -is worn by a well-to-do peasant of Siberia on holidays, or by a -travelling merchant. I was moreover well wrapped in a large pelisse, the -collar of which being turned up and fastened by a handkerchief tied -round it, had as much the effect of keeping out the cold as of hiding my -face. A small bag which I carried contained a second pair of boots, a -fourth shirt, a pair of blue summer trousers, according to the custom of -the country, some bread and some dried fish. In the leg of the right -boot, I had concealed a large dagger. The money, which was in notes of -five or ten roubles, I placed in my waistcoat, and in my hands, which -were covered with large skin gloves, with the hair outside, I carried a -formidable, knotty stick.</p> - -<p>“So rigged out, at night I quitted the establishment of -Ekaterininski-Zavod, by a small by-path. It froze very hard, and the -flying sleet glistened in the moonbeams. I had soon passed my Rubicon, -the Irtiche, and hurrying rapidly forward, I took the road to Tara, a -village twelve kilometres distant from my place of detention. ‘Winter -nights,’ I thought to myself, ‘are very long in Siberia: how far can I -go before day-break, and before my escape is signalled? What will become -of me afterwards?’</p> - -<p>“I had scarcely passed the Irtiche, when I heard behind me the sound of -a sleigh. I shivered, but resolved on waiting for the nocturnal -traveller, and, as it has happened<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_274" id="page_274"></a>{274}</span> to me more than once during my -dangerous peregrination, what I most dreaded as a peril, became a quite -unexpected means of escape.</p> - -<p>“On the peasant asking me where I was going, I replied ‘To Tara.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Where are you from?’</p> - -<p>“ ‘The village of Zalivina.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Give me sixty kopeks (ten sous), and I will take you to Tara, where I -am going myself.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘No, it’s too much; fifty kopeks if you like.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Very well; get up at once.’</p> - -<p>“I took my place next to him; we started at a gallop, and in half an -hour were at Tara. Left alone, I asked, according to the Russian custom, -at the first house I saw, if I could get any horses.</p> - -<p>“ ‘Where for?’</p> - -<p>“ ‘For the fair at Irbite.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘There are some.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘A pair?’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Yes, a pair.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘How much the verst?’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Eight kopeks.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘I wont give so much. Six kopeks. What do you say to that?’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Very well, then.’</p> - -<p>In a short time the horses were ready and harnessed to the sleigh.</p> - -<p>“ ‘And where are you from?’ was asked of me.</p> - -<p>“ ‘From Tomsk. I am the employé of N. (I gave the first name that -occurred to me); my master has gone on before me to Irbite. I had to -stay behind for some small matters, and am horribly late; I fear he will -be angry. If<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_275" id="page_275"></a>{275}</span> you will take me there quickly, I will give you something -more for yourself.’</p> - -<p>“The peasant whistled, and the horses started like arrows. All at once -the clouds gathered, the snow began to fall thickly, and the peasant -lost his way, and after wandering about a good deal, we were obliged to -halt, and pass the night in the forest. I pretended to be greatly -enraged, and my guide humbly begged my forgiveness. It would be -impossible to describe the terrible anxiety of that night, spent in a -sleigh in the midst of a snowstorm, scarcely four miles distant from -Ekaterininski-Zavod, and expecting every minute to hear the bells of the -<i>kibitkas</i> sent in pursuit of me. At last the day began to dawn.</p> - -<p>“ ‘We will return to Tara,’ I said to the peasant, ‘where I shall engage -another sleigh. As for you, fool, you may expect nothing. I will take -care, moreover, to give you up to the police for making me waste my -time.’ The poor peasant, quite ashamed, started to return to Tara, but -scarcely had he gone a verst, when he stopped, looked round, and showing -the vestige of a pathway under the drifts of snow, said, ‘That is the -road we should have taken!’ ‘Follow it then,’ I said, ‘and God speed -us.’ He then did his utmost to make up for lost time. A most horrible -idea struck me just then; I remembered how our unhappy Colonel Wysocki -was, like me, detained in the forest for a whole night, and was given up -to the gendarmes by his guide. Vain terrors! The peasant took me to a -friend’s house, where I managed to get tea and some fresh horses. So I -went on, changing my horses at very moderate prices; when having arrived -late one night at a village called Soldatskaïa, and not having -sufficient money to pay my guide, I went with him to an inn filled with -a number of drunken wretches.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_276" id="page_276"></a>{276}</span> I had taken from under my waistcoat a few -notes, intending to have one or two changed by the landlord, when a -movement of the crowd, done purposely or not, I cannot tell, pushed me -from the table where I had spread my papers, which were quickly seized -by some clever hand. In vain I made my loss known: I never could -discover the thief, nor seriously think of calling in the gendarmes; so -I resigned myself to my misfortune. I was in that manner deprived of -forty-five roubles in notes; but what greatly increased my regrets, and -even my terror, was the fact that the thief had taken at the same time -two papers of the greatest worth to me: a small sheet on which I had -inscribed the towns and villages I must pass through on my way to -Archangel, and my passport, the one on stamped paper, the making of -which had cost me so much pains. Thus at the outset I lost almost a -quarter of the modest allowance for my journey, the note that was to -have been my guide, and the only paper capable of satisfying any curious -people. I was in despair.”</p> - -<p>Still the fugitive was obliged to go on: each step taken brought him -nearer to freedom; but whether he was taken at only a few miles’ -distance from the place of his exile, or on the Russian frontier, his -fate would be the same. Lost in the immense morass which covered the -road to Irbite he did not reach the gates of that town, till the third -day of his escape, having travelled, thanks to the celerity of -sleigh-riding, 1000 kilometers since his departure from -Ekaterininski-Zavod.</p> - -<p>“ ‘Halt, and show your passport!’ shouted the sentinel; fortunately he -added in a low tone, ‘Give me twenty kopeks, and be off with you.’ I -yielded with great satisfaction to the exigencies of the law so -opportunely modified in my favour.”</p> - -<p>Having passed one night at Irbite, M. Piotrowski hastened to leave it -next morning; but the expenses of his journey,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_277" id="page_277"></a>{277}</span> and his losses by theft -having reduced his purse to seventy-five roubles (about eighty francs), -he could only proceed on foot.</p> - -<p>“The winter of 1846 was extremely severe; still on the morning I left -Irbite the atmosphere softened, but then the snow fell so thickly that -it quite obscured the light. Walking became almost impossible among -these white masses, which grew higher and thicker at every step. About -midday the sky cleared a little, and my journey grew easier. I generally -avoided villages, if possible; but when I found myself obliged to cross -one, I went straight along as if I belonged to the neighbourhood, and -needed no directions. Only at the last house of a hamlet did I venture -sometimes to ask a few questions, and then not until I had great doubt -as to which road I was to take. When I felt hungry, I took from my bag a -piece of frozen bread, and ate it while walking, or sitting at the foot -of a tree in some retired spot in the forest. To appease my thirst I -looked eagerly out for the holes made in the ice by the people of the -country to water their cattle. I was sometimes obliged to content myself -with letting snow melt in my mouth, although that means was far from -satisfactory.</p> - -<p>“My first day’s march after leaving Irbite was very hard, and at night I -found myself quite worn out. The heavy clothes I wore added to my -fatigue, and still I did not dare throw them off. At nightfall I ran to -the thickest part of the forest and began to prepare my bed. I knew the -method used by the Ostiakes to shelter themselves in their deserts of -ice; they simply hollow out a deep hole under a great heap of snow, and -in that way find a bed—a hard one in truth, but a good warm one. I did -the same, and soon found the repose of which I stood greatly in need.”</p> - -<p>On the morrow he lost his way, and after wandering about<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_278" id="page_278"></a>{278}</span> almost the -whole of the day, he found himself at nightfall on a road which -fortunately happened to be the right one. Seeing a small house not far -from a hamlet, he resolved on asking shelter there: it was not denied -him. He gave himself out for a workman seeking employment in the iron -works of Bohotole, in the Oural. He played his part to the best of his -ability, but was thought to be too well clothed and furnished with linen -for a workman, and was woke from his first sleep by peasants asking for -his passport. With the greatest coolness he showed them the pass ticket, -the only one he had left; fortunately the sight of the seal was -sufficient for these self-appointed gendarmes, who begged his pardon for -having taken him for an escaped convict.</p> - -<p>“The rest of the night I spent very quietly, and the next day took leave -of those whose hospitality was so near growing fatal to me. This -incident carried a sad conviction to my mind that I could never ask -shelter for the night of any human being without exposing myself to the -greatest risks, and the Ostiake bed must be, until further notice, my -only place of repose. I had, in short, to put up with this Ostiake style -of sleeping during the whole of the time I was crossing from the Oural -mountains to Veliki-Oustioug; that is, from the middle of February to -the beginning of April. Three or four times only dared I beg hospitality -for the night in some isolated hut, worn out by fifteen or twenty days’ -march in the forest, almost exhausted, and scarcely knowing what I did. -Every other night I was satisfied with digging out a hole to lie in, and -by degrees became accustomed to that way of sleeping. Sometimes at -nightfall I even found myself going towards the thick part of the wood, -as to a well-known inn; at other times I confess this savage kind of -life became intolerable to me. The absence of any</p> - -<p><a name="ill_XXV" id="ill_XXV"></a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<a href="images/i_p278a_lg.jpg"> -<img src="images/i_p278a_sml.jpg" width="284" height="450" alt="Image unavailable: The sight of the seal was sufficient." /></a> -<br /> -<span class="caption">The sight of the seal was sufficient.</span> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_279" id="page_279"></a>{279}</span></p> - -<p class="nind">human habitation, the want of hot food, and even of frozen bread, my -only nourishment for whole days sometimes, made me face in all their -terrible reality those two hideous spectres called cold and hunger. In -moments like these I dreaded specially the fits of drowsiness that -suddenly came over me, for they were evident invitations to death, -against which I fought with the little strength I had left. And now and -then the craving for hot food became so strong in me, that it was with -the greatest difficulty I resisted the temptation of begging in some hut -for a few spoonfuls of the root soup of Siberia.”</p> - -<p>After slowly climbing the heights of the Ourals, he at last crossed them -on a fine night; but his troubles were precisely the same on the western -side of the mountains. On one occasion, during a snowstorm he lost his -way, passed a horrible night in the agonies of hunger, and at daybreak, -while trying to find the path, he fell exhausted at the foot of a tree. -The sleep, which in these regions is the forerunner of death, had -already fallen on him, when he was saved by a trapper who was crossing -the forest. This kind man gave him a little brandy and a few mouthfuls -of bread, told him to take heart, pointed out to him a house of refuge, -and disappeared in the woods.</p> - -<p>“When I saw the house in the distance, my joy was beyond all -description; I would have gone to it, I think, even had I known it to be -full of gendarmes. I got as far as the door; but no sooner had I crossed -the threshold, than I fell down and rolled under a wooden bench.”</p> - -<p>After a few minutes of complete insensibility, he came to himself, and -not being able to touch the food offered him by his host, he fell into a -sleep which lasted twenty-four hours; kindly taken care of all the while -by the landlord, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_280" id="page_280"></a>{280}</span> became doubly attentive when he found the -traveller to be a pilgrim going to the holy island of the White Sea. -That was the character taken by the fugitive; he had transformed himself -into a <i>bohomolets</i> (worshipper of God) going to salute the holy images -of the convent of Solovetsk, near Archangel. Protected by the respect -and sympathy with which this title inspires a Russian peasant, M. -Piotrowski managed, without much trouble, to get to Veliki-Oustioug, and -was well received there by his brethren the <i>bohomolets</i>, who were -waiting in large numbers in that town for the thaw which would permit -them to embark on the <i>Dwina</i> for Archangel. After a month’s stay in the -midst of them, during which he established his reputation as a good -pilgrim by the punctuality with which he performed all his duties, he -embarked on one of the many boats collected for that special service, -and hired himself to the captain as a rower during the crossing, for the -usual sum of fifteen roubles in notes, that sum being exactly what he -had spent during his journey from Irbite. About a fortnight after his -arrival at Veliki-Oustioug, he landed at Archangel, the point on which -all his expectations were centred; for he hoped that in the port, which -was much frequented by ships of all nations, he should find one vessel -that would bring him over to France or England. Without neglecting the -religious duties which the title of pilgrim imposed on him, nor the -precautions the neglect of which might endanger him, he sought in vain -during two long days for this saviour ship. On the deck of each vessel -stood, night and day, a Russian sentinel; and along the whole length of -the quays, to be able to cross the line of sentinels, it was necessary -to give explanations and papers, a demand which the fugitive could not -dream of subjecting himself to. Relinquishing then, not without grief, -his long<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_281" id="page_281"></a>{281}</span> cherished hopes, he took the road to Onéga, as a pilgrim who -having visited the holy images of Solovetsk, was going to Kiow “to -salute the sacred bones.” After many adventures, more or less agreeable, -he arrived at Vytiegra. He was accosted on the quay by a peasant who -asked him where he was going, and proposed to take him in his boat to -St. Petersburg. He engaged himself to the man as a rower, and on the -passage had occasion to render some services to a poor old peasant woman -also going to St. Petersburg. On entering the harbour the unhappy -fugitive felt great anxiety as to how he could avoid the police on -landing, and where he should lodge, etc. All at once his protégé, the -old peasant woman, said, “Stay near me. My daughter, who knows of my -arrival, is coming to meet me, and will find you a good lodging-house.” -He landed, and carrying the old woman’s trunk, went to the same inn with -her. There still remained the difficulty about the passport and police. -He much feared that his hostess would prove exacting on this point; but, -on being questioned by him as to the formalities to be gone through, she -said, he need not trouble to call on the police for two or three days. -Being easy on this score, he went the next day towards the harbour, -furtively scanning as he walked,—for a Russian peasant ought not to -know how to read,—the advertisements on many steam packets announcing -the time of their departure.</p> - -<p>“All at once my eyes fell on an announcement in large letters placed -near the mast of one of the steamers, to the effect that this ship was -to leave for Riga the next day. I saw a man walking on the deck with his -red shirt worn over his trousers, <i>à la Russe</i>, but not daring to speak -to him, I remained satisfied with devouring him with my eyes.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_282" id="page_282"></a>{282}</span> In the -meantime the sun went down; it was already seven in the evening, when -suddenly the man with the red shirt raised his head, and called to me:—</p> - -<p>“ ‘Do you happen to want to go to Riga? If you do, come here.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘I do certainly want to go; but what means has a poor man like me of -taking the steamboat? It must cost a great deal, and is not for such as -I am.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘And why not come? We won’t ask much from a <i>moujik</i> like you.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘How much?’</p> - -<p>“He mentioned some price which I do not quite remember now, but which -astonished me—it was so small.</p> - -<p>“ ‘Well, does that suit you? Why do you still hesitate?’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Why, I have only just arrived to-day, and I must have my passport -looked to by the police.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Oh, your police will detain you three days, and the boat starts -to-morrow morning.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘What’s to be done?’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Why, start without having it looked at.’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Yes; and if some misfortune happened to me?’</p> - -<p>“ ‘Fool! you, a <i>moujik</i>, teach me what I have to do! Have you got your -passport with you? Show it.’</p> - -<p>“I pulled from my pocket my pass-ticket, carefully wrapped in a silk -handkerchief, after the fashion of all the Russian peasants; but he -spared himself the trouble looking at it, and said,—</p> - -<p>“ ‘Come to-morrow morning at seven; and if you don’t see me, wait for me. -Now, be off with you.’</p> - -<p>“I joyfully returned home, and the next morning was punctual at the -rendezvous. The man soon perceived me, but only said, ‘Give me the -money!’ He went off, but immediately<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_283" id="page_283"></a>{283}</span> returned, bringing me a yellow -ticket, which of course I pretended not to know anything about: a -circumstance which occasioned another gracious observation,—‘Hold your -tongue <i>moujik</i>, and don’t trouble yourself.’ The bell rang three times, -the passengers crowded together, a rough blow from my companion drove me -after them, and the ship was in full motion. I thought I was in a -dream.”</p> - -<p>From Riga, M. Piotrowski, still travelling on foot, soon reached the -frontier without difficulty. He had slightly modified his costume, but -still kept the distinct garment of a Russian—the little bornous of -sheepskin. He called himself a pork merchant, which allowed of his -asking on the road all necessary information. Having once ascertained -all the obstacles he could possibly encounter on his way from Russia to -Prussia, he succeeded in crossing the frontier in open daylight, in -spite of the shots fired at him; and taking refuge in a wood, where he -cut off his beard, and transformed his costume, leaving behind him all -the signs of a Russian peasant, he arrived at last at Kœnigsberg. But -when he thought himself all but saved, a circumstance occurred that -nearly proved his ruin. He had resolved on journeying by steamer to -Elbing, and towards evening he sat down on some ruins, thinking of going -at nightfall in the fields to sleep on some hay, while waiting the time -for departure; but, quite tired out, he fell asleep, and was woke by a -night guard, who, not satisfied with his answers, took him to the first -police-station. He at once volunteered the statement that he was a -French workman, who had lost his passport, but he was put in prison. A -month afterwards he was called again before the police, his statements -were proved to be false, and he was clearly allowed to see that the -grossest suspicions were afloat concerning him. Tired of concealment, -and especially irritated<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_284" id="page_284"></a>{284}</span> at being taken for a malefactor in hiding, he -at last declared himself. A recent treaty between Prussia and Russia -obliged these two countries mutually to give up their fugitives. The -Prussian authorities on hearing the declaration of M. Piotrowski, were -mute with consternation; thinking it quite impossible to elude the -convention. But steps were taken by the principal inhabitants of -Kœnigsberg, and by many persons of high rank, which Government itself -evidently shrank from opposing. M. Piotrowski soon after was informed -that an order had come from Berlin, enjoining his being given up to the -Russians, but that time would be allowed him to escape at his own risk; -and by the help of his generous friends, he was next day on his road to -Dantzic.</p> - -<p>“I had, he says, letters for different people, in all the towns of -Germany I had to cross, and everywhere I found the same zeal to render -my journey more comfortable. Thanks to all the help, that failed me in -no place, I had very quickly crossed the whole of Germany, and on the -22nd September, 1846, I found myself again in that Paris that I had -quitted four years ago.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="ESCAPE_OF_PRINCE_LOUIS_NAPOLEON_FROM_THE_FORTRESS_OF_HAM" id="ESCAPE_OF_PRINCE_LOUIS_NAPOLEON_FROM_THE_FORTRESS_OF_HAM"></a><i>ESCAPE OF PRINCE LOUIS NAPOLEON FROM THE FORTRESS OF HAM.</i></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">In</span> the summer of 1840, Prince Louis Napoleon, afterwards Emperor of the -French, landed with a number of adherents at Boulogne, to assert his -claim to the French throne, as the nephew and heir of the first -Napoleon. It had been represented to the prince by his friends that the -people were everywhere ill-affected, and would rise in insurrection -against King Louis Philippe, as soon as any one bearing the great name -of Napoleon<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_285" id="page_285"></a>{285}</span> appeared on the soil of France. Events, however, proved -that these councillors were wrong; the people did not rise, and the -prince and his followers, to the number of fifty-three, were captured -and sent to Paris. After a trial, which attracted the attention of -Europe, on account of the eloquence of the advocates on both sides, and -the great names and issues concerned, thirty-three of the prisoners were -discharged, nineteen received sentences ranging from a few months to -twenty years’ imprisonment, and the prince was ordered into close -confinement for life.</p> - -<p>The sentence was read to his highness in his solitary cell in the -Conciergerie at four o’clock in the afternoon of October 26th; and -without exhibiting the least emotion, he remarked, “Then I shall at -least die on the soil of France.” A few hours afterwards, in speaking of -the sentence, he said, “You say <i>perpetual</i> imprisonment; but just as -‘impossible’ used to be a word unknown to the French, so I suspect it -will be with the word <i>perpetual</i> in this instance.” It is needless to -add that the prince’s prophecy was fulfilled; for instead of lasting for -life, his imprisonment endured some five years and nine months, when it -came to an end in the manner we shall hereafter relate. It will be -necessary to say a few words upon the prison itself, and some of the -prince’s fellow-captives, to make the narrative more easily understood.</p> - -<p>The prince was removed, after sentence, to the fortress of Ham. This -fortress is about ninety miles to the north-east of Paris; and with the -exception of a few houses which have sprung up around it in the form of -a very small town, the gloomy building stands almost in the centre of a -great treeless plain. The greater part of the castle was rebuilt between -four and five hundred years ago, but there are still portions of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_286" id="page_286"></a>{286}</span> the -wall which date from the seventh and eighth centuries. In the interior, -at the time of the prince’s incarceration, there were two low, -dilapidated brick buildings, serving as barracks for the garrison, which -consisted of 400 men. It was at the end of one of these that the state -prisoners were kept, in two or three rooms which the friends of the -captives declared were dirty, damp, and dark; and as they were only -removed from the old ivy-covered walls of the fort by a few feet, it is -not to be wondered at if they were not particularly dry. In these -apartments lived the prince, Dr. Conneau, his physician (who had been -sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for his share in the invasion of -Boulogne), and the Count and Countess Montholon; the former undergoing a -term of twenty years for the same reason as Dr. Conneau, and the latter -having received permission to reside with her husband. Besides these, -there was a faithful manservant named Thelin, who had followed the -prince’s fortunes in various countries, and had been tried with the -rest, but was acquitted. With much trouble this man had obtained leave -from the minister of the interior to share his master’s imprisonment. We -must not forget to mention a large dog to which the prince was much -attached, which was named after the prison, “Ham.” The reader has now -before him the entire household, the members of which passed so many -dreary years and months together.</p> - -<p>The guard kept over the prisoners was a very careful one. The -commandant, M. Demarle, although a kind-hearted man, was a strict -disciplinarian; and took every precaution, in accordance with his -instructions, to keep his captives safe. Sixty soldiers, besides a -number of warders, were constantly on duty; one keeper was always -stationed at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_287" id="page_287"></a>{287}</span> door of the prince’s room, and two at the bottom of -his stairs; and he was never allowed to either walk or ride around the -courtyard of the fortress without armed attendants.</p> - -<p>It should be stated, however, that the servant Thelin, as he was only -residing in the castle of his own free will, was allowed to go in and -out on errands; but this only with a pass from the governor. Nor were -all these precautions unnecessary; for before the prince had been long -in confinement, there were rumours that the working men of Paris, and -some of the other large towns, among whom the Bonapartes were at that -time very popular, were about to march on Ham to release their friend.</p> - -<p>At one time it was stated that a body of 2000 had actually started on -the expedition; and the Government, in a panic, hastily sent down -several regiments of horse and foot to strengthen the garrison.</p> - -<p>These energetic measures either frightened the revolutionists, or they -changed their plans; for it is certain that beyond a few little groups -who used occasionally to cheer the prince when he appeared with his -keepers on the walls, no demonstration of any kind was ever actually -made.</p> - -<p>As with most men of education undergoing state imprisonment, the prince -passed his time chiefly in study and in writing to his friends outside -and to the newspapers. Every letter, however, either to or from the -prisoner, had not only to pass through the governor’s hands, but to be -read by him. He also occupied himself in gardening, of which he was very -fond; and now and then, by the direct permission in writing of the -minister of the interior, a visitor was allowed to enter the castle, but -this was a privilege very rarely afforded.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_288" id="page_288"></a>{288}</span></p> - -<p>The following systematic division of the day was rigidly adhered to by -the prince. He rose early, and studied until ten. Then breakfasted and -walked half an hour for exercise around the parapet of the fort, where a -space of 100 feet by 60 had been allotted for the purpose. He then -retired to his room, and read and corresponded with the outside world -until dinner, which was between seven and eight. In the evenings, there -was usually conversation and a game at whist, in which the governor -frequently joined, after seeing that all the doors were locked, and the -guards properly posted for the night. In this quiet manner the little -household passed their days, waiting and watching for events which -should either induce the Government to grant a pardon, or afford the -prince an opportunity of effecting his escape.</p> - -<p>Louis Napoleon, however, did not allow any chance of exciting the -sympathy of the people in his behalf to pass by. In spite of the -precautions which were adopted, he several times got spirited literary -articles smuggled out of the prison by his friends, and published in -Paris. These were usually in the form of comments upon passing events, -but were so written that the object was only transparently veiled. For -instance, when the remains of the first Napoleon were brought back to -France from St. Helena, on the 15th of December, 1840, we find him -dating a touching letter from his “prison at Ham,” addressed “to the -manes of” his “uncle.” In this, approaching the dead emperor, he says:—</p> - -<p>“Sire,—You return to your capital, and the people in multitudes hail -your return; but I, from the depths of my dungeon, can discern but a ray -of that sun which shines upon your obsequies. Be not displeased with -your family<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_289" id="page_289"></a>{289}</span> because they are not there to receive you. Your exile and -your misfortunes have ceased with your life, but ours continue still.</p> - -<p>“You have died upon a rock, far from your country and kindred; the hand -of a son has not closed your eyes.</p> - -<p>“Even to-day no relative will follow your bier!</p> - -<p>“Montholon, whom you loved the most among your faithful companions, -rendered you the service of a son. He remains faithful to your thoughts, -to your last wishes. He has brought to me your last words. He is in -prison with me.</p> - -<p>“A French vessel, conducted by a noble young man, went to claim your -ashes; but it is in vain you would seek upon the deck any one of your -kindred—your family were not there.</p> - -<p>“In landing upon the soil of France, an electric shock was felt. You -raised yourself in your coffin. Your eyes for a moment re-opened, the -tricolour flag floated upon the shore; but your eagle was not there. The -people press, as in other times upon your passage; they salute you with -their acclamations as if you were living; but the great men of the day -in rendering you homage, in suppressed voice say, ‘<i>God grant that he -may not awake</i>.’ ”</p> - -<p>When nearly six years had elapsed, the prince had received letters -containing news of the critical state of his father’s health, and -accordingly made great efforts to obtain permission to visit him. To -this end he wrote several times to the ministers, and even to the king -himself, promising on his word of honour to return and place himself at -the Government’s disposal, whenever called upon to do so. All his -efforts however were unsuccessful. The king was said to favour his -release, but the ministers were firm in their refusal. Finding therefore -that escape was his only remedy, the prince resolved upon making the -attempt. After several long and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_290" id="page_290"></a>{290}</span> earnest conferences with his faithful -friends, it was decided that the effort should be made in May.</p> - -<p>The first thing to be done was to throw the governor off his guard as -much as possible; for which purpose letters were written from various -persons in Paris to the prisoners, telling them that the Government was -shortly about to grant a general amnesty, and congratulating them upon -it. These being carefully read by M. Demarle, were of course calculated -to make him less apprehensive of any attempt at flight, than from his -knowledge of the failure of the prince’s effort to procure permission to -visit his father, he would otherwise have been. About this time, too, -fortune favoured the plot in a way that the actors in it had scarcely -ventured to reckon upon.</p> - -<p>The illustrious captive had for years been making representations to the -authorities in Paris upon the subject of the dilapidated state of his -rooms. Again and again had he begged that something might be done to -render the place at least safe and wholesome. The staircase was rickety, -and the whole of that part of the building in which he was confined as -unsafe as it could possibly be. But a deaf ear had as usual been turned -to all his remonstrances, and the matter had been allowed to drop. It -was therefore with no small pleasure that one evening the captives -learnt from their kind hearted governor, over a game at cards, that the -order had come down for the necessary repairs to be done, and that the -workmen would set about them in a few days’ time. From this moment it -was resolved that the prince should endeavour to leave the place in the -disguise of a joiner, and a suitable dress for the purpose was -accordingly procured from friends outside. Dr. Conneau, who although the -five years of his sentence had<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_291" id="page_291"></a>{291}</span> expired, still stayed with the others, -was now allowed to go in and out occasionally, just as the servant -Thelin was, and the two made all necessary arrangements for the flight. -The day of departure was originally fixed for Saturday, the 23rd of May, -but the unexpected arrival of some English visitors made it necessary to -wait until the Monday. With his usual careful attention to details, the -prince had ascertained both from his own and reported observations of -his friends, the movements of every workman and guard about the place. -It was found that the greatest precautions were taken to have the -unfrequented parts of the fort well watched. If a workman was seen in -any retired spot he was immediately challenged; but beyond the usual -measures of causing the men to pass in single file through a serjeant’s -guard when they left, there were no extra pains taken to hinder them -passing out through the gate. By a strange fatuity all the Government’s -anxiety seemed to be centred in preventing people coming <i>into</i> the -prison, for there had always been some fear of a possible rescue. The -walls were also narrowly watched within and without; but it had not -apparently occurred to anybody that the captive might coolly walk -through the door and politely wish his gaolers good day, as eventually -he did.</p> - -<p>As may be imagined, the Sunday before their departure was a very anxious -day. The smallest accident might bring failure, and with it all hope of -liberty and the certainty of universal ridicule; for people would have -all shaken their heads, and said a man must have been destitute of the -most common sense to believe he could walk out of prison, through men -who had known him for a half a dozen years, in the flimsy disguise of a -journeyman carpenter. The friendly ostrich would have been severely laid -under contribution to point innumerable morals and adorn no end of -tales.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_292" id="page_292"></a>{292}</span></p> - -<p>A passport had been procured from Paris by which the prince was to -travel, of course under an assumed name; and the fact of the faithful -Thelin not being similarly supplied, caused much anxiety to the little -circle; but the accident of the English visitors’ arrival, was turned to -good account in this matter. Telling his friends that he wished his -valet to take a journey, the prince begged that one of them would be -good enough to let his courier give the man his passport, which was -immediately done. It is curious to note that afterwards, when in power, -as if the emperor had remembered this small favour, he passed a law to -the effect that English people might travel through France without a -passport.</p> - -<p>Very early on the Monday morning, the prince, Dr. Conneau, and Charles -Thelin stood, without their shoes, watching the courtyard from behind -the window curtains, for the arrival of the workmen. “St. Monday” is -kept in France as religiously as it is here by certain classes of -operatives; and to their great vexation they saw but very few of the men -come in, and those were in cleaner blouses than the “Saturday” one which -was to form the prince’s disguise. Again: by an unfortunate chance, the -only sentinel they were particularly anxious to avoid happened to be on -duty just outside. The prince had noticed that this man had been -extremely zealous in his inspection and cross-examination of the -workmen, every one of whom, as he was a keen, eagle-eyed fellow, he knew -at sight. However, this man was relieved at six o’clock, and one who was -considered less active took his place. The danger of discovery was, of -course, chiefly to be apprehended from two sources—from the soldiers -and keepers, and from the workmen themselves, who, seeing a stranger -among them, would be sure to give an alarm. To lessen the chances from -the latter, as soon as<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_293" id="page_293"></a>{293}</span> the workmen were all in, Thelin, having clipped -his master’s moustaches, went out and invited them into the dining-room -to have a morning dram; and while he was pouring it out and detaining -them with light conversation, the prince slipped down the first stairs, -and picking up a plank, waited coolly for his man to rejoin him; for as -the two keepers at the bottom of the stairs knew him well, it was -necessary for Thelin to be there to take off the attention of one, while -his highness’s face was covered from the other by the plank on his -shoulder. Here another difficulty arose. The prince being much below the -middle stature, and therefore smaller than any of the workmen, his -friends had provided a pair of high-heeled boots, which gave him the -appearance of being four inches taller than he really was, and the feet -of these were hidden from observation by being placed in a pair of -clumsy-looking sabots. But as it was Monday, and the weather was fine, -it was noticed that not one of the men had sabots on, so that at the -last moment a whispered consultation became necessary upon the subject -of sabots or no sabots. The prince was for kicking them off; but Thelin -insisted upon their retention. So, with plank and sabots, and a -much-soiled blouse, with a short, common clay pipe between his lips, the -future Emperor of the French marched out of Ham.</p> - -<p>Going down the stairs, the prince was alarmed to see that one of the -workmen, who was probably a teetotaller, and had resisted Thelin’s -invitation, was already at his work on the baluster; but fortunately he -did not look up as the man with the plank went by. At the bottom, the -fugitive heard the workmen come pouring out of the dining-room overhead, -just as he was rejoined by Thelin; and with great presence of mind Dr. -Conneau called out to the workmen<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_294" id="page_294"></a>{294}</span> that he had something to say to them, -and so delayed them until the others had passed between the keepers.</p> - -<p>“Good morning, Thelin,” said Dupin, one of these, stooping to pat the -prince’s dog, which went with them: “so you are off on a journey, eh?” -seeing the great coat on his arm.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I am off for a short drive with master doggy here,” replied -Thelin, making room for the awkward man with the board, who walked -straight through.</p> - -<p>“Well, good-bye, take care of yourself,” replied Dupin; while Issali, -the other keeper, walked on in conversation with Thelin as far as the -gate of the fort. Here, as they went out, the soldier on guard would -have taken no notice had not the prince dropped his pipe right at the -man’s feet, which attracted his attention, and he looked him straight in -the face as he stooped to pick it up. That must have been a moment long -after remembered by the ruler of the French. Recovering his pipe, he -passed out through the serjeant’s guard, and being narrowly scanned by -one of the soldiers, he shifted the plank as if he were tired, and -managed so as very nearly to knock his examiner on the head. With an -exclamation of impatience the man turned aside, and the prince was free!</p> - -<p>The fugitives had not gone far, however, when they met two workmen, who -looked very hard at the prince, who had once more to shift his board so -as to hide his face. As they passed, one of them exclaimed, “Is that -Bertou?” To which, with almost pardonable disregard of truth, his -highness gave a laconic “<i>Oui!</i>” and passed on.</p> - -<p>The moment they were out of sight of the fortress, the board was thrown -into a ditch, with the dirty blouse; and as the prince was disguised as -a cabman, he waited outside the cemetery of St. Sulpice, two miles from -Ham, while his companion<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_295" id="page_295"></a>{295}</span> went for the cab in which the master was to -drive the servant to St. Quentin, on their way to Valenciennes.</p> - -<p>When Charles Thelin returned with the cabriolet, he found the prince on -his knees before a large crucifix, returning thanks for his delivery.</p> - -<p>As they drove towards St. Quentin, an old woman who knew Thelin passed -them, and afterwards told her friends that she had never before seen him -in such disreputable looking company, for she had always regarded the -valet to the good prince as a very respectable young man. At St. Quentin -the prince walked round the outskirts of the town to the opposite side -to that on which he had entered, while the valet drove to the post-house -to get a chaise to take them to Valenciennes.</p> - -<p>Thelin being a great favourite with Madame Abrai, who kept the inn from -which the chaise had to be obtained, had much trouble to get away. She -insisted upon his taking some breakfast, and to tempt him, brought out a -pie of her own making, which she declared he must taste or never speak -to her again. Always ready to improve the occasion, her guest not only -ate some, but in a jocular way declared that the pasty was so good that -he should steal it and take it with him to eat on the journey. The good -soul consenting, it was taken to his highness, who, being very hungry, -condescended to finish it.</p> - -<p>Owing to the pressure put upon him at the inn, Thelin was so long that -the prince feared he had mistaken the rendezvous. As he sat in great -suspense on a bank by the roadside, a fussy-looking little gentleman -passed and scanned him somewhat narrowly.</p> - -<p>“Have you seen a postchaise on the road you have come, sir?” said the -prince.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_296" id="page_296"></a>{296}</span></p> - -<p>“I have not, sir!” replied the little man, pompously. This was the -Procureur du Roi, who would have been charged with the prosecution of -the prince if he had been recaptured.</p> - -<p>After the postchaise arrived, there were no further adventures until -Valenciennes was reached a little before two. The train for Brussels did -not leave till four, so for two weary hours the travellers sat together -in the waiting room of the station talking over the events of the -journey, and wondering how it fared with poor Dr. Conneau, who, although -free to walk out of the prison when he liked, had insisted upon -remaining to cover their retreat. While they sat there, a gendarme from -Ham suddenly appeared, and clapped Thelin on the shoulder. The -consternation of the travellers may be easily imagined.</p> - -<p>“How goes it, Thelin?” said the man, in cheerful accents which speedily -reassured them. “Who would have thought now of meeting anybody from Ham -all this way off?”</p> - -<p>“Good morning, neighbour,” said Thelin. “I am off to Belgium.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! and how is the good prince?”</p> - -<p>“He was very well when I last saw him. I have left his service now.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, indeed! That gentleman with you is not from Ham, is he?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, dear no! he is a man whom I have known years ago, and we have met -again on the journey.”</p> - -<p>“Ah, well, good-bye; my train is going, and I cannot stop any longer -with you. Bon jour, monsieur” (to the prince). Hats raised.</p> - -<p>“Bon jour, monsieur.”</p> - -<p>And so the two fugitives got safely into Belgium. From<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_297" id="page_297"></a>{297}</span> Brussels they -went to Ostend, and from Ostend to London, where, as soon as the prince -arrived, he wrote a letter to the premier, Lord Aberdeen, to acquaint -him with the facts of his escape, and to assure Her Majesty’s Government -that he did not intend to conspire against the Government of France, but -was merely desirous of attending to his private affairs. In reply, Lord -Aberdeen wrote a polite letter, telling him that, under the -circumstances, he was welcome to remain in England as long as he -pleased. Thus ended one of the most memorable flights in history.</p> - -<p>As the reader may like to know how the faithful Dr. Conneau fared, we -will just state that, by various pretences he delayed the discovery of -the prince’s departure for more than twelve hours. As the governor -always made a point of seeing the prince at frequent intervals during -the day, it was necessary to give it out that he was ill, and wanted -repose. To aid in the deception the doctor made up a stuffed figure, -dressed it in the prince’s clothes, and placed it on his bed; then -leaving his door ajar, he allowed the governor to peep in and satisfy -his mind that his prisoner was still there. Towards eight o’clock at -night, however, M. Demarle’s suspicions were aroused, and he insisted on -entering the prince’s room with the doctor, when, of course, the ruse -was discovered.</p> - -<p>“When did the prince go?” said he, turning round sharply to Dr. Conneau.</p> - -<p>“At seven this morning.”</p> - -<p>“You are under arrest, Doctor.”</p> - -<p>“Good.”</p> - -<p>The worthy doctor was afterwards sentenced to three months’ -imprisonment, for his share in the transaction.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_298" id="page_298"></a>{298}</span></p> - -<hr /> - -<h2><a name="THE_CAPTURE_AND_ESCAPE_OF_THE_FENIAN_HEAD_CENTRE_JAMES_STEPHENS" id="THE_CAPTURE_AND_ESCAPE_OF_THE_FENIAN_HEAD_CENTRE_JAMES_STEPHENS"></a><i>THE CAPTURE AND ESCAPE OF THE FENIAN HEAD CENTRE, JAMES STEPHENS.</i></h2> - -<p class="nind"><span class="smcap">After</span> the seizure of the Fenian newspaper, the <i>Irish People</i>, in the -summer of 1865, the British Government made great efforts to capture a -number of the leading members of the “brotherhood,” which had caused -them so much trouble in Ireland. Among those who were thus “wanted,” -there was nobody whose presence in a court of justice was felt to be -more desirable than Mr. James Stephens, <i>alias</i> Power, the chief centre, -and indeed, prime mover of Fenianism. The available detective force of -the three kingdoms were in active pursuit, and spies and informers were -being anxiously interrogated concerning the antecedents and personal -habits of their enterprising enemy. Wonderful were the tales told to the -authorities of this Mr. Stephens. He had for years, ever since 1848, it -was said, been carefully educating the Irish peasantry in the art and -mystery of treason, having travelled for the purpose in all sorts of -disguises through every town and hamlet of the country. At one time he -would be met with in the dress of a parish priest; then he would hobble -past police barracks on crutches; again, he would assume the character -of a rollicking farm servant on his way to a country fair, and so on, -<i>ad infinitum</i>. Whether all or any of these tales were true or not, it -is certain that, by some means or other, the organization which the -Government was determined to put down was not only widely spread but -continually increasing, and had members in every corner of the land; and -although the police felt quite certain that James Stephens had not left -the country or ceased from his labours, he somehow or other did for -months manage to baffle his innumerable pursuers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_299" id="page_299"></a>{299}</span></p> - -<p>The Government knew the man’s history. He had been connected with the -abortive attempts at insurrection with Smith O’Brien in 1848; was -present at the “battle” in the cabbage garden, and had escaped to the -Continent, where he had for a year or two made a precarious living as a -teacher of English and drawing. In Paris he had, with two friends, John -O’Mahoney and Michael Doheny, invented and drawn up the plans for the -conspiracy of which the world has since heard so much. The organization -was to be called the “Fenian Brotherhood,” after the Fenians, a -semi-mystical body of militia, celebrated for its deeds of chivalry and -prowess in ancient Irish history. Among other modest achievements set -down to the credit of these old warriors, in ballads still sung in the -wilds of Connemara and Mayo, it is recorded that each of them singly was -in the habit of conquering any nine men who had the temerity to engage -with him in mortal combat; in fact, it appears not to have been allowed -by the rules of the order for a private in that distinguished corps to -fight less than nine ordinary mortals, save under exceptionally -provoking circumstances. In fixing upon the title, “Fenian,” therefore, -the conspirators showed an intimate knowledge of the weakness of -thousands of their poorer fellow-countrymen, who are to this day as -proud of the doings of the old Fenian heroes, as English schoolboys are -of the self-reliance and wonderful performances of Robinson Crusoe.</p> - -<p>The cleverest part of the programme, however, was that by which it was -determined to carry on the organization simultaneously in Ireland and -America. Two of the sedition farmers were to proceed to the United -States, and one to his native land; so that as fast as the treason -plants were sufficiently grown in the one country to bear -transplantation<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_300" id="page_300"></a>{300}</span> to the soil of the other, an experienced nurseryman -might be on the spot to receive them. Of course, the post of honour and -danger being the Irish one, there was a friendly contest in which each -of the conspirators endeavoured to secure it for himself. Each urged his -claims, but as no one would yield to the others, it was decided to toss -for it with a golden coin, for in such a sacred cause it was unanimously -agreed that neither silver or bronze was pure enough for use. This -decision caused some little delay, owing to the fact that among the -three original members of the brotherhood there did not happen to be as -much as five and fourpence; and as there is no French gold coin of less -value, the settlement of the momentous question was deferred. Mr. -Stephens soon after this obtaining some money from one of his pupils, -won the toss, and after seeing his friends off for New York, went to -Ireland, where, obtaining a living, first in a situation as teacher, and -afterwards as a commercial traveller, he devoted himself to his -enterprise with a zeal and devotion which as loyal citizens we must -regret were not applied in a worthier cause.</p> - -<p>Among his other studies, Mr. Stephens had with much foresight included -the internal economy of the gaols of his native land. It was said, and -probably with some truth, that under various pretences he had made -himself tolerably well acquainted with the arrangements for the -detention of prisoners in most of the leading strongholds of the -country. He had evidently become imbued with the belief that the battle -of Irish liberty would have to be fought out in Her Majesty’s gaols, and -the sequel has proved the soundness of his conclusion. This was the man -whom the Government was so desirous of capturing all through the summer -and autumn of 1865.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_301" id="page_301"></a>{301}</span></p> - -<p>Towards the end of July, 1865, a gentleman, named Herbert, with his wife -and daughter, went to reside in a handsome residence, called Fairfield -House, at the corner of Newbridge Avenue, Sandy Mount, Dublin. The -arrival of the family was hailed with much satisfaction among the -tradesmen of the neighbourhood; for the new comers evidently had not -only expensive tastes, but what was more important, plenty of money to -gratify them. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert laid out considerable sums, not only -in the embellishment and furnishing of Fairfield House, but in the -adornment of the grounds which were rather extensive; and although it -was observed that they kept very little company, yet, as they always -paid punctually for what they had, they soon became much respected in -the neighbourhood. The gentleman seldom went out and was therefore but -little known; but Mrs. Herbert, from her kindly manner and frequent -purchases, was a general favourite with the shopkeepers. So this quiet -household pursued the even tenor of its way until one dark winter’s -morning, when an accident happened to them, which as it has an immediate -bearing upon our narrative, we shall now relate.</p> - -<p>Between five and six o’clock, on the 11th of November, a body of about -thirty well-armed policemen surrounded Mr. and Mrs. Herbert’s premises, -and three inspectors with cocked pistols in their hands scaled the wall -and effected an entrance. Of course, the peaceable inhabitants of the -house were all wrapped in slumber, from which Mr. Herbert was rudely -awakened by a loud knocking at his bedroom door.</p> - -<p>“Who is there, and what is the matter?” were the questions which that -gentleman naturally put to his disturbers, who, commencing to break in -the door, replied as follows:<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_302" id="page_302"></a>{302}</span></p> - -<p>“Come, Mr. Stephens, open the door, we know you, and resistance is -perfectly useless.” To which summons Mr. Herbert, <i>alias</i> Power, <i>alias</i> -Stephens, responded by opening the door and letting his captors in. One -of the inspectors stayed with Mr. Stephens while he dressed, and the -others searched the house, where, in an adjoining bedroom they found two -gentlemen in bed together, and one lying on a mattress on the floor. -These were Messrs. Brophy, Duffy, and Kickham, who were immediately -arrested upon the same charge as Stephens. In the other parts of the -house provisions enough to last the inmates six months, a quantity of -arms, and nearly £2000 in gold and cheques were found; one draft -recently received from New York being drawn in favour of a “Mr. Hooper,” -for no less a sum than £1525 8<i>s.</i> 6<i>d.</i></p> - -<p>Mrs. Stephens had been tracked by female detectives during one of her -numerous shopping excursions, and thus the discovery of her husband’s -whereabouts had been effected. Without the least trouble the whole party -were conveyed to a police court, and after several preliminary -examinations were committed to Richmond Bridewell, to take their trial -before a Special Commission convened by Government for the purpose.</p> - -<p>It was observed that Mr. Stephens bore himself with great composure -during his examination. Upon being called upon to make a defence, he -handed in a written protest as follows:</p> - -<p>“I deliberately and conscientiously repudiate the existence of British -law in Ireland. I despise and defy any punishment it may inflict upon -me.</p> - -<p class="r"> -(Signed)<br /> -<br /> -“<span class="smcap">James Stephens.</span>”<br /> -</p> - -<p>During the proceedings his cool and even defiant manner<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_303" id="page_303"></a>{303}</span> were calculated -to impress the by-standers with the belief that he was an attorney -watching a case, rather than a prisoner expecting the loss of his -liberty, and perhaps life. He seemed fully conscious of the goodness of -his cause and his superior ability, and appeared to feel a sovereign -contempt for “the other side.” He is described as being a “smart” -looking man, very neatly dressed, rather below the middle stature, with -smooth cheeks, a fair complexion, a fine large auburn beard, and hair of -light brown colour curling round the back of the head, the front and top -of which was entirely bald, and showed a very good development of the -intellectual and moral faculties, “firmness” being remarkably large. The -eyes small, lively, and restless. Temperament evidently sanguine and -nervous, indicating quickness of perception, energy, and determination. -He spoke fluently and correctly, with a slight Yankee accent (acquired -during his frequent visits to America which he had made to report -progress to his friends there). His manners were described as being -gentlemanly, savouring of a certain degree of abruptness and impatience. -This is the description which by general testimony applied to one who -was certainly the ablest man ever before the public in connection with -the Fenian conspiracy. As we have said before, the prisoners were kept -for safety in the Richmond Bridewell, one of the strongest prisons in -Ireland.</p> - -<p>A portion of the gaol was selected which could not be approached without -passing through a number of doors composed of iron, and double locked. -The cell occupied by Stephens was in the corridor leading to the eastern -wing of the building, and adjoining the chapel where he was in the habit -of attending mass. His cell door was composed of strong hammered iron, -and secured,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_304" id="page_304"></a>{304}</span> by a massive stock-lock and a huge padlock, to a staple -and thick swinging bar. The corridor on which the cell door opened was -guarded by another ponderous iron door of great strength and thickness, -and also double locked. But these were only the commencement of the -obstacles which would prevent escape by the doors, and escape from the -windows was absolutely impossible. No persons were permitted to see the -Fenian prisoners save the officials of the prison and the prisoners’ -legal advisers; and it is stated that Stephens only saw a legal -gentlemen once, and that for a short time since his committal. The -instructions of the governor of the gaol to the officials under his -command were most stringent, and were apparently most strictly carried -out; and with the view of having a sufficient force on the premises, in -case it should be required, some of the metropolitan police were kept -constantly on duty in one of the outer corridors of the prison. All -communications to the prisoners were opened and read before they were -delivered, and also all letters written from them to their acquaintance.</p> - -<p>Every article of food, clothing, etc., brought in was closely -scrutinized, and in fact, everything which foresight and precaution -could suggest was adopted, and a perfect control kept over any -communication with the prisoners’ friends outside.</p> - -<p>At ten o’clock on a certain Thursday night, when the warders made their -last rounds, the cell in which James Stephens was confined was locked. -The keys had been at five o’clock duly handed over to the governor, who -had had them deposited in their proper order in the case in his office.</p> - -<p>The watchman for the night was Daniel Byrne, who went on duty at ten -o’clock; and nothing occurred to disturb<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_305" id="page_305"></a>{305}</span> the ordinary routine of the -prison until a quarter to four the following morning, when Byrne gave an -alarm that he had discovered two tables placed one above the other, near -the south-western wall adjoining the governor’s garden. Mr. Philpots, -the deputy-governor and manager, and the gate warder, went quickly to -the place and found the two tables to be as Byrne had described them. -These tables belonged to the lunatic dining-hall and had to be brought a -long distance; but strange to say, there were no footprints on the upper -table, which there would have been if it had been stood upon by any -person who had walked through the open passages which were muddy, as -torrents of rain were falling. The wall bore no marks whatever of -persons having escaped by climbing over it. The night was particularly -dark and tempestuous.</p> - -<p>When the governor and his assistants went to the section of the prison -in which Stephens had been confined, they found the doors of the -corridor open and also the door of his cell. His bed looked as if he had -not recently slept in it, and as if he had only rolled himself up in a -railway rug (found on the floor), and had waited for his deliverance.</p> - -<p>A master key, quite bright, as if only recently made, was found in the -lock of the corridor door.</p> - -<p>Byrne was accused of being an accomplice; and he certainly was a very -unfit person for so responsible a trust, seeing that he had been one of -the Irish legion at Castelfidardo, and was believed to be a captain in -the Fenian conspiracy. The patronage of the gaol appeared to be vested -in a body closely connected with the Dublin corporation. It is further -alleged that there were only three policemen employed in the prison, and -that while the barracks of Dublin were full of troops, there was no -guard<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_306" id="page_306"></a>{306}</span> to protect a building in which so many prisoners charged with -such serious offences were confined. There was a theory, which however -was not believed by the police, that Stephens was conveyed at once on -board a Cunard steamer, on his way to America, to relate to his brethren -there an account of the most brilliant achievement of the militant -branch of the order resident in Ireland.</p> - -<p>As may be imagined, the escape caused immense excitement all over the -three kingdoms. Indignant leading articles appeared in the chief English -newspapers, blaming the police, Government, and everybody concerned in -what was felt to be a most disastrous business.</p> - -<p>The Lord Lieutenant immediately caused the following proclamation to be -issued.</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> -<p class="c">“A PROCLAMATION.”</p> - -<p class="nind"> -“<span class="smcap">Wodehouse.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>“Whereas, James Stephens, has been an acting member of a -treasonable conspiracy against the Queen’s authority in Ireland, -and has this morning escaped from the Richmond prison:</p> - -<p>“Now, we being determined to bring the said James Stephens to -justice, do hereby offer a reward of £1000 to any person or persons -who shall give such information as shall lead to the arrest of the -said James Stephens.</p> - -<p>“And we do hereby offer a further reward of £300 to any person or -persons who shall give such information as shall lead to the arrest -of any one whomsoever who has knowingly harboured, or received, or -concealed, or assisted, or aided in any way whatsoever in his -escape from arrest the said James Stephens.</p> - -<p>“And we do also hereby offer a free pardon, in addition<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_307" id="page_307"></a>{307}</span> to the -above-mentioned reward, to any person or persons concerned in the -escape of the said James Stephens, who shall give such information -as shall lead to his arrest as aforesaid.</p> - -<p>“Given at Her Majesty’s Castle of Dublin, this 24th day of -November, 1865.</p> - -<p class="r"> -<span style="margin-right: 5em;">“By his Excellency’s command,</span><br /> -“<span class="smcap">Thomas A. Larcom</span>.”</p></div> - -<p>Mr. Stephens was only too successful in eluding the vigilance of the -police; for finding that he was an exception to the rest of their -leaders, whose chief characteristic appeared to be to utterly fail in -everything they undertook, the Fenians began to suspect that their -head-centre had betrayed them to the Government, who had let him off as -the price of his treachery; and this in spite of the declarations of the -warder Byrne, who, after his acquittal from want of proof, went to -America, and told the story of the escape; how Col. Kelly and friends -were outside, and received the prisoner after he had let him out. There -were so many believers in the “treachery” view of the question, that -Stephens was deposed from office, and has never since been held of the -least importance in connection with the movement. It is only fair to -state, however, that of late years there has been a growing belief, as -expressed in the columns of the so-called “National” press, among the -Fenians, that Mr. Stephens was most unjustly accused. After his escape -he spent a few months in Ireland, and then visited New York, from -whence, disgusted with his reception, he departed for Paris, where he -lived for several years in great poverty. A story is told of his meeting -with an English detective at the Paris Exhibition, which, if true,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_308" id="page_308"></a>{308}</span> -would appear to show that he was at least innocent of the “betrayal of -his companions for gold,” as was alleged against him by his American -accusers. The detective officer in question was enjoying a few weeks’ -holiday in Paris, and being unable to speak French at the bar of one of -the refreshment rooms in the exhibition, got in dispute with a waiter. -After some time, he was helped out of the difficulty by a -shabbily-dressed but good-looking gentleman with a bald head.</p> - -<p>“Why, you are Mr. Stephens, I believe!” said the policeman, in some -amazement, when he had time to take a good look at his new friend.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I am indeed,” said the proprietor of the bald head, with a good -natured laugh; “and as one good turn deserves another, you shall stand a -dinner for old acquaintance sake; for to tell you the truth, I have not -been able to dine yet.”</p> - -<p>“Why, Mr. Stephens, they say you are doing remarkably well here,” said -the other with a knowing wink.</p> - -<p>“Ah! they do say so, but they are wrong. I was doing pretty well when I -was on here as interpreter, but your good friends in Scotland Yard have -got me out of that berth by their kind intercession on my behalf with -the French Government here; so make no more fuss about it, but stand -treat like a man;” which the correspondent of the respectable English -journal who related the story at the time was happy to inform his -readers the detective did.</p> - -<p>Mr. Stephens is said to be at the present time in Russia.</p> - -<p class="c">THE END.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_309" id="page_309"></a>{309}</span></p> - -<hr style="width: 95%;" /> - -<p class="cb"><span class="eng"><big>Charles Scribner & Co.,</big></span></p> - -<p class="c">654 Broadway, New York,</p> - -<p class="c"><small>HAVE JUST COMMENCED THE PUBLICATION OF</small></p> - -<p class="cb"><span class="eng"><big>The Illustrated Library of Wonders.</big></span></p> - -<p>This Library is based upon a similar series of works now in course of -issue in France, the popularity of which may be inferred from the fact -that</p> - -<p class="c"> -OVER ONE MILLION COPIES<br /> -</p> - -<p class="nind">have been sold. The volumes to be comprised in the series are all -written in a popular style, and, where scientific subjects are treated -of, with careful accuracy, and with the purpose of embodying the latest -discoveries and inventions, and the results of the most recent -developments in every department of investigation. Familiar explanations -are given of the most striking phenomena in nature, and of the various -operations and processes in science and the arts. Occasionally notable -passages in history and remarkable adventures are described. The -different volumes are profusely illustrated with engravings, designed by -the most skilful artists, and executed in the most careful manner, and -every possible care will be taken to render them complete and reliable -expositions of the subjects upon which they respectively treat. For THE -FAMILY LIBRARY, for use as PRIZES in SCHOOLS, as an inexhaustible fund -of ANECDOTE and ILLUSTRATION for TEACHERS, and as works of instruction -and amusement for readers of all ages, the volumes comprising THE -ILLUSTRATED LIBRARY OF WONDERS will be found unexcelled.</p> - -<p>The following volumes of the series have been published:—<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_310" id="page_310"></a>{310}</span></p> - -<p class="cb"><span class="eng"><big>Optical Wonders.</big></span></p> - -<p>THE WONDERS OF OPTICS.—By <span class="smcap">F. Marion</span>. Illustrated with over seventy -engravings on wood, many of them full-page, and a colored frontispiece. -One volume, 12mo. Price</p> - -<p class="rt"> -$1 50<br /> -</p> - -<p class="c"><i>For specimen illustration see page 13.</i></p> - -<p>In the <i>Wonders of Optics</i>, the phenomena of Vision, including the -structure of the eye, optical illusions, the illusions caused by -light itself, and the influence of the imagination, are explained. -These explanations are not at all abstract or scientific. Numerous -striking facts and events, many of which were once attributed to -supernatural causes, are narrated, and from them the laws in -accordance with which they were developed are derived. The closing -section of the book is devoted to Natural Magic, and the properties -of Mirrors, the Stereoscope, the Spectroscope, &c., &c., are fully -described, together with the methods by which “Chinese Shadows,” -Spectres, and numerous other illusions are produced. The book is -one which furnishes an almost illimitable fund of amusement and -instruction, and it is illustrated with no less than 73 finely -executed engravings, many of them full-page.</p> - -<p class="c">CRITICAL NOTICES.</p> - -<p>“The work has the merit of conveying much useful scientific -information in a popular manner."—<i>Phila. North American.</i></p> - -<p>“Thoroughly admirable, and as an introduction to this science for -the general reader, leaves hardly anything to be desired."—<i>N. Y. -Evening Post.</i></p> - -<p>“Treats in a charming, but scientific and exhaustive manner, the -wonderful subject of optics."—<i>Cleveland Leader.</i></p> - -<p>“All the marvels of light and of optical illusions are made -clear."—<i>N. Y. Observer.</i></p> - -<p class="cb"><span class="eng"><big>Thunder and Lightning</big></span>.</p> - -<p class="nind"><b><big><big><big>T</big></big></big><big>HUNDER AND LIGHTNING</big></b>. By <span class="smcap">W. De Fonvielle</span>. Illustrated with 39 -Engravings on wood, nearly all full-page. One volume. 12mo</p> - -<p class="rt"> -$1 50<br /> -</p> - -<p class="c"><i>For specimen illustrations see page 14.</i></p> - -<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Thunder and Lightning</i>, as its title indicates, deals with the -most startling phenomena of nature. The writings of the author, M. -De Fonvielle, have attracted very general attention in France, as -well on account of the happy manner in which he calls his readers’ -attention to certain facts heretofore treated in scientific works -only, as because of the statement of others <span class="pagenum"><a name="page_311" id="page_311"></a>{311}</span>often observed and -spoken of, over which he appears to throw quite a new light. The -different kinds of lightning—forked, globular, and sheet -lightning—are described; numerous instances of the effects -produced by this wonderful agency are very graphically narrated; -and thirty-nine engravings, nearly all full-page, illustrate the -text most effectively. The volume is certain to excite popular -interest, and to call the attention of persons unaccustomed to -observe to some of the wonderful phenomena which surround us in -this world.</p></div> - -<p class="c">CRITICAL NOTICES.</p> - -<p>“In the book before us the dryness of detail is avoided. The author -has given us all the scientific information necessary, and yet so -happily united interest with instruction that no person who has the -smallest particle of curiosity to investigate the subject treated -of can fail to be interested in it."—<i>N. Y. Herald.</i></p> - -<p>“Any boy or girl who wants to read strange stories and see curious -pictures of the doings of electricity, had better get these -books."—<i>Our Young Folks.</i></p> - -<p>“A volume which cannot fail to attract attention and awaken -interest in persons who have not been accustomed to give the -subject any thought."—<i>Daily Register (New Haven).</i></p> - -<p class="cb"><span class="eng"><big>HEAT</big></span>.</p> - -<p class="nind"><big><big>T</big></big><big>HE WONDERS OF HEAT</big>. By <span class="smcap">Achille Cazin</span>. -With 90 illustrations, many of them full-page, and a colored -frontispiece. One volume, 12mo</p> - -<p class="rt"> $1 50<br /> -</p> - -<p class="c"><i>For specimen illustration see page 15.</i></p> - -<p>In the <i>Wonders of Heat</i> the principal phenomena are presented as viewed -from the standpoint afforded by recent discoveries. Burning-glasses, and -the remarkable effects produced by them, are described; the relations -between heat and electricity, between heat and cold, and the -comparative effects of each, are discussed; and incidentally, -interesting accounts are given of the mode of formation of glaciers, of -Montgolfier’s balloon, of Davy’s safety-lamp, of the methods of -glass-blowing, and of numerous other facts in nature and processes -in art dependent upon the influence of heat. Like the other volumes of -the Library of Wonders, this is illustrated wherever the text gives an -opportunity for explanation by this method.</p> - -<p class="c">CRITICAL NOTICES.</p> - -<p>“From the first to the very last page the interest is -all-absorbing."—<i>Albany Evening Times.</i></p> - -<p>“The book deserves, as it will doubtless attain, a wide -circulation."—<i>Pittsburg Chronicle.</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="page_312" id="page_312"></a>{312}</span></p> - -<p>“This book is instructive and clear."—<i>Independent.</i></p> - -<p>“It describes and explains the wonders of heat in a manner to be -clearly understood by non-scientific readers."—<i>Phila. Inquirer.</i></p> - -<p class="cb"><span class="eng"><big>Animal Intelligence.</big></span></p> - -<p class="nind"> -<big><big>T</big></big><big>HE INTELLIGENCE OF ANIMALS</big>, <span class="smcap">with -Illustrative Anecdotes</span>.—From the French of <span class="smcap">Ernest -Menault</span>. With 54 illustrations. One volume, 12mo.</p><p class="rt"> $1 50<br /> -</p> - -<p class="c"><i>For specimen illustration see page 16.</i></p> - -<p>In this very interesting volume there are grouped together a great -number of facts and anecdotes collected from original sources, and -from the writings of the most eminent naturalists of all countries, -designed to illustrate the manifestations of intelligence in the animal -creation. Very many novel and curious facts regarding the habits of -Reptiles, Birds, and Beasts are narrated in the most charming style, and -in a way which is sure to excite the desire of every reader for wider -knowledge of one of the most fascinating subjects in the whole range -of natural history. The grace and skill displayed in the illustrations, -which are very numerous, make the volume singularly attractive.</p> - -<p class="c">CRITICAL NOTICES.</p> - -<p>“May be recommended as very entertaining."—<i>London Athenæum.</i></p> - -<p>“The stories are of real value to those who take any interest in -the curious habits of animals."—<i>Rochester Democrat.</i></p> - -<p class="cb"><span class="eng"><big>EGYPT</big></span>.</p> - -<p class="nind"> -<big><big>E</big></big>GYPT 3,300 YEARS AGO; <span class="smcap">or, Rameses the -Great</span>. By <span class="smcap">F. De Lanoye</span>. With 40 illustrations. One -volume, 12mo.</p> -<p class="rt">$1 50</p> - -<p class="c"><i>For specimen illustration see Page 17.</i></p> - -<p>This volume is devoted to the wonders of Ancient Egypt during the time -of the Pharaohs and under Sesostris, the period of its greatest splendor -and magnificence. Her monuments, her palaces, her pyramids, and her -works of art are not only accurately described in the text, but -reproduced in a series of very attractive illustrations as they have -been restored by French explorers, aided by students of Egyptology. -While the volume has the attraction of being devoted to a subject -which possesses all the charms of novelty to the great number of -readers, it has the substantial merit of discussing, with intelligence -and careful accuracy, one of the greatest epochs in the world’s history.</p> - -<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> Charles mistook the name, which was Whitgreave. He was -thinking of the field called Pitchcroft, near Worcester, where his army -was encamped the night before the memorable battle.—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span></p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_B_2" id="Footnote_B_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_2"><span class="label">[B]</span></a> The floor of the lowest storey of the palace is only about -6 metres (19½ feet) below the top of the roof.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_C_3" id="Footnote_C_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_C_3"><span class="label">[C]</span></a> The word cubit here evidently corresponds with the -cordwainer’s cubit. And if so the ladder measured 247 yards. But there -never was a ladder of this length. The longest are not more than 130, -and the strongest man cannot manœuvre such a one, nor even carry it. -Supposing the cubit here to mean the same as the Italian <i>braccio</i>, the -ladder would even then be 91 yards long, and it would have been -difficult for Cassanova to move such a ladder, as he relates. We must -set it down to exaggeration, and let him go on with his story.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_D_4" id="Footnote_D_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_D_4"><span class="label">[D]</span></a> Latude found all these things again on the 15th July, -1789—the day after the capture of the Bastille. They were in the -Archives with a <i>procès-verbal</i>, dated the 27th February, 1756, and -signed by the major of the Bastille and the Commissary Rochebrune.</p></div> -</div> - -<p><a name="transcrib" id="transcrib"></a></p> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="" -style="padding:2%;border:3px dotted gray;"> -<tr><th align="center">Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber:</th></tr> -<tr><td class="c">Duguay Tronin=> Duguay Trouin {pg iii}</td></tr> -<tr><td class="c">to Magdebourg to a hold a review=> to Magdebourg to hold a review {pg 146}</td></tr> -<tr><td class="c">but to out the whole door=> but to cut the whole door {pg 152}</td></tr> -<tr><td class="c">dressed, everything is well=> dressed, everthing is well {pg 256}</td></tr> -<tr><td class="c">wai-patiently=> wait patiently {pg 261}</td></tr> -<tr><td class="c">This man had suceeded=> This man had succeeded {pg 269}</td></tr> -<tr><td class="c">fastened by a handkerhief=> fastened by a handkerchief {pg 273}</td></tr> -<tr><td class="c">been making repretentations=> been making representations {pg 290}</td></tr> -<tr><td class="c">selling them that=> telling them that {pg 293}</td></tr> -</table> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Wonderful Escapes, by Frédéric Bernard - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WONDERFUL ESCAPES *** - -***** This file should be named 52304-h.htm or 52304-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/3/0/52304/ - -Produced by deaurider, Chuck Greif and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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