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<bteHiGOLDEN DAYS:se=—>
November fl, 1882.
Miss Gardner read to us out on de
yuther night; de smoke ob his ruined
habitashun am descending up to’ds de
element. Nobson, bring forward de
treacherous vilyen!”
Nob, who had captured Bose, led him
up to the place of execution.
*« Nobson,”’ said Erv, ‘*I’s feared yo’
. Won't hol’ him firm. I ’spect I had bet-
ter hol’ him myse’f, en let you fire de
un.”
5 Nob assented to this, and Erv placed
Bose in proper position over the onion-
stalk. He then lighted along twist of
aper with aimatch, and handing it to
Rap. addressed Bose in these words:
** Bose, dis day is yo’ las’— Bose, to-day
you die. De train am laid, de slow
inateh am prepared. Nobson, apply de
flambeau.””
Nob held the blazing twist of paper
down to the onion stalk, but at this junc-
ture, Bose, having all along conducted
himself with all the dignity that could
be expected of the most sedate dog on
the day of his execution, feeling the
burning paper beneath his nose, gave a
how! and a spring, knocking the torch
from Nob's hand, throwing Ervon his
back with his head in close proximity to
the onion-stalk, and was gone. .
The fire had by this time reached the
powder, and_ the onion-stalk went off
with an explosion that Erv said, after-
ward, ‘‘ Beat enny thunner en lightnin’
dat I eber seed.’’
“Erv,’’ cried Nob, in great terror, ‘tis
ye dade?”
No.response from Erv. He lay upon
his back, his great eyes rolling and blink-
ing at the sky.
“Ery, is you sho’ ’nuff dade?” cried
Nob.
**No,”’ said Erv, recovering his speech
at last, I hain’t dade, but I reckon I’m
moughty bad swinged.””
This was the last of old Bose’s narrow
escapes, and, like many a brave hero
who has encountered many perils, he
lived toa good old age, and died a na-
tural death at last.
Bess and I buried him under a weep-
ing willow, where he used often to lie
on the warm summer days and watch
the wagons passing up and down the
road.
She erected a pine-board at the head
of his grave, on which I carved for her
these words:
“Here Lizs Dear OLp Bosz,”
Roy Barton's Adventure
ON THE MEXICAN BORDER.
BY LIEUT. JAS. K. ORTON.
CHAPTER XXXIV,
FREE AT LAST.
It was not until Roy and Dick were
once more in the narrow tunnel the
former had made that they fully under-
stood how slight was the foundation
upon which they had built their hopes.
The sinall supply of air which came in
around the loosened stone in the cell-
floor was all too little for their actual ne-
cessities, and each moment that they
were there increased the difficulty of
breathing.
If the wall which the tunnel led to
should prove other than what they hoped
it was, their chances of escape were in-
deed slight, since it was positive that
they could not Jive many hours in the
confined space where they were packed.
“Show me the wall,” Dan had said,
when he first entered the tunnel, and
worked his way, after much difficulty,
ahead ot the others, and Roy had simply
allowed bim to go on, since the tunnel
terminated at the masonry which had af-
forded him so uch delight at meeting.
Dan went to work in the most method-
ical way possible, even though tbe time
was so limited. He knew that in the
situation they were then every moment
had its value, but at the same time he
also knew that haste might make waste,
and waste of time just then was exactly
what they could not afford.
“It isa wall, an’ no mistake,” he said,
after he had carefully felt over the sur-
face which Roy’s labors had exposed;
“and now the Sooner we know where it
leads to, the better.”
us, even as he spoke, he began
working away at the obstacle to force a
passage through, but the labor was not
to be so slight. ©
It was in vain that he kicked at it with
his heels, in vain that he pushed with
his hands. The mortar must be loosened
before he could hope to gain an entrance
to whatever might be on the other side,
and he went to work methodically, well
knowing how precious the moments
were to them just then.
The pocket-knives which almost every
man or boy carries with him had been
taken away when they were first con-
signed to the jail, but the iron spoon
still remained, and although Roy had
worn the bowl away, the handle was
still intact.
With this Dan worked at the mortar
which held the bricks in position, and
after a great deal of labor, during which
each second seemed a minute, and each
minnte an hour, the hardened material
was finally dislodged from its long rest-
ing-place, and the first brick yielded to
his efforts. -
After that the work was comparatively
easy, and when one from the second row
of bricks was removed, the cool, if not
pure, air pouring in from the aperture
thus made, each one was revivified by
the dratt of air which had been thus let
in,
‘“‘Itis the vaults, and we are saved!”
eried Dan, in a tone such as his com-
panions had not heard for several days;
and ‘by the way in which he spoke, both
Roy and Dick were electrified at the op-
portunity for escape which was opened
to them,
The way to the vaults had been open-
ed. Dan had not been mistaken as to
the subterranean chambers, and since
this was the case, the passage which he
had counted on must be found,
were saved, or at least they
thought they were, and this animated
them to a desire to aid in the work,
The air they were then breathing was
at least much purer than that which they
had breathed from the time they had
first entered the tunnel, and this, if no-
thing more, would have aroused thein to
increased exertions,
The opening, which at first had been
but the size of one brick, was soon made
so large that each one could put his head
through in turn to look upon an empty
space of darkness; but it was a space,
and this was as much as they cared to
know just then.
In ten minutes more, during which
Dan had the eager assistance of the two
boys, the opening was made so large in
the brick wall that the old sailor could
force his way through, which he did at
once, and, as he disappeared from the
tunnel Roy had imade, he cried in tones
mingled with hope and triumph:
“Come on, my boys. It’s all right.
This is one of the vaults, and ef we don’t
tind a smugglers’ passage outer this,
then my name hain’t Dan I’ernald, which
I think it is.”
There was no necessity for a second in-
vitation, and almost -before he had ceased
speaking both Dick and Roy were be-
side him, trembling with the excitement
at having worked their way thus far to-
ward freedom
By groping along at the sides of the
walls, it was soon ssible for them to
learn that they had emerred in asmall
subterranean chamber, and before they
had completed their survey of it, Dan
shouted:
“* Hlere’s a way out, boys, an’ now let
ther greasers ketch us, if they can.”
To Da ick, who had been ac-
customed to the light, nothing more
could be seen in this second vault than
in the first; but to Roy, whose eyes had
been so long accustomed to the dark-
ness, everything was different. Hecould
see objects around him quite as well as
if he had been in the glare of the noon-
day sun, and considerably better, since
in the perfect light of day he could have
seen nothing, while here everything was
plain to him,
Roy saw that this second chamber,
which was filled with bottles and staves
of casks, as if it had once served as a re-
eeptacle for smuggled liquor, had an
opening, through which the light shone,
as if it led to the open air, and to this he
conducted his companions at once,
“ That’s right,” said Dan, in a satisfied
way. ‘Roy has been underground so
long that he can see in the dark jest as
well as a cat, an’ all we’ve got ter do
now is ter foller him.”
And they did follow Roy, for he was
leading the way tothe open air and to
reedom,
As well as if the passage had been
lighted by the snost glaring lamps, Roy
led the way first through one chamber,
and then through another, until at last
he stood in a narrow, vaulted passage, in
which if was impossible to stand up-
right, but at one end of which a dim
light could be seen, as if it led to the
open air. ee ty aes
“We've struck it at last!” cried Dan,
in triumph; and it is just possible that
he executed a few steps of the sailor’s
hornpipe then and there for very joy.
“This is one of them smugglers’ pass-
ages, an’ ef that end don’t lead us to the
water, then my name hain’t Dan Fer-
nald, which I think it is.”
vas not to be long before Dan’s
statement was to be veritied, for Roy led
the way to the narrow thread of light as
rapidly as if the Mexicans were close be-
hind him, ready to make him again a
prisoner the first instant his steps should
falter, and some moments before he had
reached the aperture, through which the
morning light was streaming, he was
wading knee-deep in water.
“This is the RioGrande!” he shouted,
as if careless as to who should hear him;
‘and on the other side is Brownsville and
liberty !””
The dawn was just breaking as he
spoke—the dawn of the day on which
Dick and Dan were to be tried for their
lives, and as Roy pushed aside the bushes
and debris which barred the entrance, he
could see the river, on one side of which
was liberty, bright hopes with every
possibility of fruition, and where they
were, captivity, cruelty and a horrible
eath.
A hundred yards of water at the most,
separated them from everything which
was bright in life, while they lingered
beneath the shadow of a felon’s death.
“Ttisthe Rio Grande!” cried Dan, as
he, too, advanced to the opening and
looked out upon the placid waters which”
separated Jaw and order from rapine and
cruelty; ‘and it hain’t sunrise yet. Ef
we can it across the riverin half an hour,
we shall be saved, for nobody will think
ter go inter our cell until daylight.”
If they could cross? Ilad it been a
raging torrent instead of a quiet river,.
no one would have hesitated to venture
in with such a goal before them, and
Dick pressed, forward, as if urging his
companions to make the attempt at once.
_ But placid as the river was, there were
signs of life upon its quiet bosom; boats,
whose occupants were taking advantage
of that cool hour before sunrise, were
being propelled in every direction, while
both sides of the pontoon bridges
could be seen soldiers; on one side the
uniform loved, and on the other the uni-
form feared by the fugitives.
“We can’t get across without being
seen,” said Dan, as he started to make
the attempt at swimming, and then drew
back at the many signs of life.
“Tt will be worse in an hour from
now,” said Dick, as he urged the old
sailor forward.
**T know it,”’ replied Dan, hesitatinely:
“an’ IT know that in an hour more
shall have ther greasers close behind us,
but I don’t see how we're goin’ ter get
over without runnin’ a good many
chances of a Mexican bullet.”
he greasers were much nea
than he had imagined, for, oven ge a
spoke, a noise could be heard in the rear
and in another instant the sound of
voices from one of the underground
chambers they had just left told that
they had been followed even closer than
they had expected.
heir flight had been discovere
the guards of the jail were close Sein
em.
“We've got tecrisk it,” sai
he threw off all his clothing ras
trowsers and shirt, followed by Dick
only, for Roy had already discarded his
clothing ten days before. “Come on
boys, an’ swim the best you know how.
fur we've got our choice now betwixt a
bullet an’ the hangman’s noose,’an’ I'd
rather have the bullet, a hundred times
- As Dan spoke, he plunged in
water, pushing the bushes and othe’
floating stuff aside, followed by both the
peys, pntil one ould have said that
hree large frogs had jus
their perches. — Just tumbled off
twas for life they were i i
and they forced their way through 3
oenat arate of speed they would have
nought impossible un i
stances, po: der other cireum-
Behind them were their purst
running down the tunnel at Tall speed,
and on the left of them the Sentries, soo; 1
to be aroused by the guards of the jail a
they pushed aside the debris at the open-
ing, and saw only the heads of their late
prisonersas they clove through the water
at full speed toward the shore which
was to them a haven of safety.
Twenty muskets belched forth a lurid
glare, which lighted up the gray of the
waters, and twenty musket-balls struck.
in the river witha hissing savageness,
but neither one struck the living mark
at which it was aimed. .
The swimmers, knowing full well
that life depended upon every effort,
struggled on until at last the solid earth
was felt beneath their feet, and they
stood upon American shores, saved and
free.
CHAPTER XXXYV.
HOMEWARD BOUND.
The inmates of Mr. Blake’s house, in
Brownsville, were wrapped in that
sound slumber which ways comes,
even to the wakeful, in the morning
hours, when three haggard, wet, but tri-
umphant persons stood before the door
of the building, knocking for admit-
tance,
In that house, where each one of the
inmates, even tothe servants, had been
in a state of anxiety impossible to de-
scribe, this early sunimons was not long
disregarded, and it is hardly necessary
to say how the applicants for admission
were received.
During the ten long days in which no-
thing could be heard of or from the
prisoners, every one of that household
had been in the most terrible state of
mental anxiety. The news had been
brought to them that the two remaining
prisoners were to be tried on the same
day which was then being ushered in,
and even though the opinion of the pub-
lie regarding the guilt of the prisoners
had changed considerably since the day
on which Roy was tried, but little conso-
jation could be derived from that fact.
_ During theten days which had elapsed
since the disappearance of Roy, not a
word about the other two had been
heard by the little party of Americans,
who, with heavy hearts, were awaiting
the result of all the troubles, and when
the three entered the house free, it is lit-
tle wonder that the most joyful scenes of
thanksgiving were there enacted. —
Roy was so completely prostrated by
his labors in‘the tunnel that it was not
until the next day after his escape that
he was able to hold any lengthy conver-
sation, much Jess tell of all the horrors
that assailed him when it surely seemed
as if he had dug and voluntarily entered
his own grave.
But. the knowledge that he was out of
Mexico at last, and free, helped to bring
the color back to hischeeks more quickly
than anything else could have done.
In the short time he had been away
from home he'had twice stood very near
an ignominious death, and that, together
with all he had suffered, had taught him
such a lesson as he could never forget.
Everything that was terrible in the trip,
where nothing was bright, could be at-
tributed to his refusat to listen to the ad-
vice of those who knew better than he
what he should have done; since, if he
had taken the advice Dan oflered, or
asked some from Mr. Blake, before ven-
turing to see a country convulsed by
civil war, he would have escaped his
unpleasant adventures and experiences
in Mexico. .
Roy fully realized that he was not the
only one who had been made to suffer
by his being so headstrong. Dan had
through affection for him, been forced
to brave all the dangers that. had stood
in his path, and the boy needed but one
glance at his father’s face to understand
what misery had been his.
All this would have been avoided had
he stopped to fully consider his courso
atter he left the good brig Nancy, or had
he listened to others.
“Tt has been a terrible lesson, father}
but I shall not forget it,” said Roy, as
he gently put his hand in his father’s,
and received a warm, loving pressure by
way of answer, .
“An’ hope you've explored Mexico all
er want ter,’? added Dan
nardly left Roy since the moment they
had arrived at the house after their
narrow and timely escape, for if they had
been delayed even ten minutes they
would surely have been recaptured.
“Indeed I have, Dan,” said Roy, with
a low, happy laugh; “but. if we ever
should come—”
“There’s no buts about it, my boy.
There hain’t any more chance Se m5
showin’ my nose down here ag’in than
there is of my flyin’, an’ so long as I kin
jl