University of Virginia Library

20. CHAPTER XX.

We will anticipate the arrival of Hugh
Ogilvie, in his father's cell.

The room in which the condemned prissoner
was confined was known as the “condemned
cell.” It was situated at the extremity
of a narrow passage from which it was
cut off by a thick wall. It had no window
save a narrow and thick grated lattice above
the door. The cell was but eight feet square.
Its only furniture a truck bedstead containing
a straw mattrass, a chair without a back,
and a sort of bench which served as a table.
In the centre of the room was a huge iron
ring set into the stone, to which prisoners
were sometimes chained for greater security.
But the ring was now vacated, and Colonel
Ogilvie, was seated upon his cot-bed with his
face buried in his hands, and in deep
thought. A faint lamp which the keeper had
suffered him to keep burning, cast its lurid
glare upon his person. He was a large well-built
man, with a noble person, and the air of
a gentleman. His hair was very grey,
though his age was but eight-and-forty, but
grief and shame had frosted his locks prematurely.
His noble forehead was knitted with
painful thought, and his find features looked
pale and were sad in their expression.

Suddenly the clock in a neighboring
chuch tower tolled eight. He started to his

feet and two or three times rapidly traversed
the floor of the cell. His countenance expressed
the keenest anguish.

`Lo! The hours fly like eagles to their
prey! It seems but five minutes and less
since that bell tolled seven. I have one less
hour to live! I am one hour nearer my infamous
end! Oh, this is fearful, fearful!' he
cried clasping his hands together. `It is not
death merely I shrink at! The pang is soon
over! But it is its ignominous form. To
be hanged! To be made infamous to all
men! This, in very anticipation maddens
me! And my poor boy! My noble minded
Hugh! How his heart will be torn! I tear
me his proud spirit will not survive the disgrace
entailed upon him! Oh, that unfortunate
night! How little did I anticipate such
evil to follow my efforts to possess myself of
Parchsnip's papers. My motives were good
and honorable and benevolent, but the result
has brought me to the gallows. It is in
vain, I try to reconcile myself to my fate!
Were I alone to suffer I could bear it better!
But my boy suffers with me! My infamy is
his infamy! Hark! what is that? They are
at the door! Have I miscounted my time
and the hours, and are they come to bid me
prepare to die? The locks turns—the iron
bar falls! what can mean this visit at this
hour? Who comes to my cell?' he called
through the grating.

Before he could receive a reply the door
was swung back and Hugh with the lantern
in his hand stood in the opening.

`My dear father!' he cried clasping him
to his boson.

`Is it my son? Oh, joy to meet thee once
more ere I suffer!' cried his father, overwhelmed
with surprise and joy. `How is it
you are permitted to come and see me? And
why this dress—what is—?'

`This is no time to ask or answer questions,
my dear father,' replied Hugh hurriedly.
`I rejoice that I have found you! Follow
me without a word.'

`Whither?'

`To life and freedom! Come, sir.! Press
closely after me. The doors are all open before
us! Now swiftly and silently.'

Without a word more Colonel Ogilvie,
feeling like one in a dream, strode after his
son who took his way straight for the keeper's
lodge. Here Colonel Ogilvie's face showed
his surprised on seeing the keeper bound in
his chair and insensible. But he had no
time to express his amazement, for Hugh
throwing down the keys at his feet set the
lamp upon the table and then carefully unlocking
the street door looked out.

`All is quiet, sir! Now follow me without
uttering a word.'

He opened the door and letting his father
out, was closeing it when he saw the keeper
struggle and heard him groan.

`In good time,' he cried, as he closed the
door and locked it with the key which he
had removed from the inner-side of the lock.
`One moment later and he would have given
the alarm. Across the street, sir! Keep
closely in my steps, my dear father. You
will soon be free! We pass through this alley,'
he added as after crossing the street he
entered the narrow passage between the
houses opposite the prison leading to another
street. The alley was dark and tortuous,
but Hugh taking his father's arm drew him
rapidly forward.

`Am I in a dream? Am I indeed without
the prison!' he asked as they passed around.

`Yes, dear father; in one minute more
you will be in safety. Are you strong
enough to take the saddle?'

`Yes! The hopes of escape will give me
new vigor.'

`At the outlet of this passage we shall find
two horses. One of them is for you, the
other for myself. You will mount and keep
close after me. Do not let any pursuit lead
you to lose sight of me. We must both ride
for life, sir. Here they stand with the faithful
black in charge! Thus far we have
safely come ere alarm given or pursuit is
made.'

They now emerged from the narrow alley
directly in front of the outlet of which stood
Cæsar holding the two horses. He had
heard them coming through the passage, and
suspecting it might be the party he waited
for, he loosed the bridles and prepared the
horses to be mounted at once.

`Cæsar, the horses quick!' cried Hugh.

`What de word, massa! I hab to hab a
word afore I let's em go.'

`True. It is “The Shallop.”'

`Berry good, massa. I help de old gemman
up while you mount dis one. I am most
overjoyed you get him out ob prison, massa!
Dis rein, massa colonel.'

Hugh was already in the saddle as his father
securing his feet in the sturrups received the
bridle from Cæsar.

`Now forward and keep by my horse's
head!' cried Hugh, as he shook the reins
and pressed his horse onward. Away they
went, father and son at the top speed down
the street, and in a few seconds were out of
sight.

Dat old massa colonel break him neck
ridin' dat horse, so it do him no good to
'scape hangin', ony for de pride ob de ting!
Wall, how de leftenant got him out ob prison
is a berry markable incidence. But dis ant
no place for dis child, sure. Dey find out
afore long de chicken is out ob de coop and
den dis be a berry hot part ob de town for a
strange nigger to be cotch'd in. So I'll just
hasten down to the pier and take de horses
as massa Gordon told me to do. I hope dey
get dere afore any pursuit is—Bress me!
What dat! Prisin bell is going like mad!
and dar springs de watchman's rattles, and
bang and clatter go their clubs on de stones.
Dare is fast getting up a berry general fussation
ober in de next street. Dey found out
de gemman as wos going to be hanged has
'scaped. I'll keep out ob de way sure ob
danger.'

With these resolutions Cæsar began to
make his way towards the harbor by the
street taken by the two horsemen.

Gordon had waited in his covert at the angle
of the building when we left him until he
had the satisfaction of seeing Hugh appear
followed by his father. He lingered only
long enough to see them cross the street
and enter the passage opposite, and then with
a heart leaping for joy he hastened to rejoin
Jennette at the carriage.

`Upon your box at once, and drive whence
you came, and don't spare your whip!' he
cried to the coachman as he sprung into the
hack.

`What news Gordon?' eagerly asked Jennette
who was now in her ordinary attire,
having divested herself of the strawberry-girl's
disguise.

`Most happy! Hugh has succeeded! I
saw him leave the keeper's lodge followed by
his father. By this time they are in the saddle
and on their way to the harbor-side.'

`I am so thankful!' cried the maiden with
joy.

`And we owe all to you, dearest Jennette.
Your judgment and courage have been admirable.
What a treasure I shall have in
you.'

He pressed her hand, and as the carriage
rolled past a light in a window, he saw that
there were tears in her eyes. They were
tears of happiness at being beloved by him.

The coach rattled swiftly onward and as
they were crossing a square that was midway
between the prison and the harbor, Jennette
saw two horsemen riding across it at
full speed.

`See! It must be Colonel Ogilvie and his
son!' she cried, pointing them out to Gordon.

`Without doubt. There they dash down the
narrow lane towards the pier, and are already
out of sight. Fortune favor them but for a
few minutes more. Hugh has done his part
bravely and successfully. How he has succeeded
so soon has surprised me. Hark!'

`It is the ringing of bells!' cried Jennette
with a pale cheek. `Can it mean any
thing.'

`It is a fast toll like an alarm. It comes
from the goal. There go the rattles and the
watchmen are ringing their clubs on the
pavements. The alarm is given. I trust
they may reach the shallop in time to elude
pursuit.'

As they drove on Gordon could see the
watchmen running in the contrary direction
to gain intelligence of the cause of the alarm.
He spoke to the coachman to drive at a more
rapid pace; and in three minutes more the
coach wheeled round the corner of the wharf
and went rattling away towards the extremity
of the pier.

`Ho! What is this! Stop! Stop!' shouted
a watchman, endeavoring to arrest the
horses as they went by him. `Stop! The
alarm bell is tolling!' he muttered as the hack
flew onward, `and two men on horses have
just gone past me like lightning, and now
comes this carriage driving as if it was run
away. There is mischief afloat in the city
somewhere, Burbank,' he called out to a
comrade, who came up, `and I shouldn't wonder
if this coach and the horses that galloped
by so like mad with a man on each, had
something to do with it. Let us pursue.'

They sprung their rattles and began running
towards the end of the old wharf.
Already Gordon had arrived there in
the coach, and springing out ere the wheels
ceased revolving, he beheld the shallop with
its sails hoisted at the end of the wharf, by
it two horses and the figures of two or
three men. Without a moment's delay he
took Jennette almost in his arms from the
coach and hurried with her to the boat.

`We are pursued! The town is up!'
he cried. Not a moment's delay, Hugh.'

`My father is on board, and I am casting
off. I hear the fellows running this way.
Go with us.'

`I mean to! Spring on board Jennette.'

`But my father!'

`I am here, daughter. I will go to; for
I may get into trouble if I stay.'

`All aboard! cried Hugh. The horses
will find their way back to their stables.'

`Cæsar is not here.' said Jennette and
Gordon. `He must not be left.'

`Here I am, massa,' answered the negro,
as he appeared suddenly upon the wharf
having got ahead of the pursuing watchmen.
`Shall I take de horses.'

`No. They will take you. Leave them
and spring for your life!'

Cæsar had just time to gain the gunwale
of the shallop by a wide leap when her canvas
caught the breeze and pressed her off
from the shore. Hugh grasped the helm,
and steered her straight away from the pier,
But the shallop had scarcely got under head-way
ere the watchmen were at the end of
the wharf, shouting and talking and making
great to do at finding the horses there without
keepers and the shallop putting off from
the land.

`We have been fortunate in distancing
pursuit, Gordon,' said Hugh. `Those fellows,
although they don't know what has
happened, know something is in the wind
from the uproar of the bells and rattles, and
without being sure we were the authors of
the confusion might have given us trouble.'

`We have been truly successful. We are
safe now, Colonel Ogilvie,' added Gordon,
`let me congratulate you upon your escape,
sir.'

`I can hardly realize it. I seem to be in a
dream. But it must be real. Let me emembrace
you. You and all here I feel have
been one in heart and hand in contributing
to this happiness. You all have my thanks.
My heart swells with gratitude that words
cannot express. All is mystery to me yet.
My son has not had time to give me one
word of explanation. I can only realize that
I am free and among friends.'

`The uproar in the city seems to increase,'
said Captain Alison, who had been waiting
on the pier for the horsemen, and got on
board with the colonel, not with the object of
staying, but merely to congratulate him while
the shallop was getting under weigh.

`Yes,' answered Gordon, `no doubt every
carriage is stopped and examined, and that
officers are dispersing in all quarters. We
have not been a moment too early. See how
the shallop cuts her way through the water
with this fine breeze. We shall soon be out
of all danger.'

`The pier head is no longer visible,' observed
Hugh. I begin to breathe freely now.
Come, my dear father, sit here and do not
fear pursuit. Let us enjoy this happy hour.'

`Now tell me, my son, how it is my escape
has been effected?' asked Colonel Ogilvie,
with emotion.

`Gordon will tell you, dear father, while I
give my attention to steering the shallop. I
wish to get outside the castle before I give
up the helm.'

Gordon then proceeded to explain to the
colonel the several steps whereby his escape
had been achieved; and in his recital he did
not fail to give full credit to Jennette, `without
whose co-operation,' he said, `we could
never have succeeded.'

`My noble girl,' said the colonel, pressing
her hand in his, `I can never reward you.'

`I am sufficiently repaid, sir,' answered
Jennette, modestly, `by seeing you at liberty.'