The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 285: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

282 THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. his ear; he paused a moment, and then said something more. The monk started. and looked pale. ‘Are you convinced ?” inquired Sternholde. ‘“‘T am—I am—quite.” ‘‘T am your brother in the college, and you are bound by your vow to aid me in my great object; you see it is not yet com- pleted. I call upon you to assist me.” | ‘‘In what can Il advantage you?” ‘‘In providing me the means of escaping from this place. If I once get outside the walls, and unencumbered by these fet- ters, I will insure you that I will get clear of them. I know this city too well.” ‘¢ What do you require ?” . ‘‘ Saws and files—the best and most portable you can find.” ‘*T will go and seek them.” - Then hasten, brother, hasten.” The Jesnit arose. and, knocking for the turnkey, left the cell, aiter the other had seen it was all right, and then secured the prisoner. ‘IT shall be back again to visit him in an hour,” said Father Andrea to the turnkey; ‘‘I bave a dying penitent to whom [I must pay some attention. for our people require our aid at such a time more than any other, for they are pleased to see the face of the priest at such moments; it is a sign that Heaven smiles. upon them.” The turnkey said nothing, for he bad nothing to say, merely to have expressed his notion of a Catholic, which was, that it was all mere sheer gammon—mere humbug. The priest returned in less time than be had said, and was again conducted to the cell, and, when about to leave them, the turnkey said to him,— ‘T will call vou, sir, when the time is up.” ‘‘ You may call me, and I will tell you if I can leave my peni- tent; if not, you must not disturb the confession of this man. I will tell you if we are ready—I will come; but woe to you if you disturb me in the performance of my ministry.” ‘*Oh! bless my soul,” said the turnkey, ‘‘ nobody is a going to disturb you; only I sha’n’t be within call, and then you will not like to be left all night with the prisoner, I suppose ?” The priest entered ihe cell, and the door was opened and’ closed upon him, and when the footsteps of the turnkey were heard to die away, the whole scene was changed. The priest was busily engaged in filing off the fetters of the prisoner, who held out his hands, while the other worked with good will to get them off. In less than ten minutes they were off. ‘*Now,” said Sternholde, ‘‘ my hands and feet are free.” ‘‘But bow will you get out of this place?” ‘Through that window. I will saw the bar, and, when that. is done. I can get through anything that may interpose itself as. a barrier.” | ‘* And, as to myself, I shall be detained!” ‘You can seize him by the throat and knock his brains out,- comicbooks. com