Despard, the Spy: Or, The Fall of Montreal — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

90 DESFARD, THE SPY. The hours passed in feverish anxiety. It grew dark and the jailer entered, accompanied by an officer, and they looked over the irons of the prisoners together. ‘‘ Where is your key ?” said the officer. The jailer took it from a pocket in his blouse and gave it to him. He fitted it into the lock of the fetters, satisfied himself that they were strong, and returned the key to the . jailer. “This is your. last visit to-night, is it not?” said the jailer. | “T come aguin at two in the morning,” replied the officer. “Then the prisoners had better try and get a little rest. They have not much time to waste, and what they have to do to close up their accounts must be done at once.” Despard understood the emphasis put upon the last two words. The two passed out and the jingle of the officer’s spurs sounded along the passage. Despard produced the key and unlocked the fetters upon Conrad’s hands and feet. . The deformed man then did the same kind office for his master. This had hardly, been done, when a slight sound in the rear of the room attracted their attention. Looking that way, Despard saw a large stone which formed part of the wall begin to move, and the next moment it. swung aside, revealing an opening large enough to admit the body of aman. The face of J ustin June appeared at this opening, and he beckoned them ‘tilently to come. They had already removed their boots and moved noiselessly over the floor, Conrad passed through the opening first, and was followed by. Despard. , They found themselves in a sort of alley between two cells. _ June seized » hand. of each, and led them away. Familiar with every inch of the building, in which he had been em- ployed for ten years, he led them on, To the surprise of Despard, he went toward the top of the building, . never loosening -his hold. of their hands, nor speaking a word. They, understood the necessity of caution and scarcely | breathed. A, sense of the danger kept. them silent. They knevr th t guards were posted in every part.of the building, at. only the skill. and knowledge of the prison possessed » Jailer, ould carry them safely through. the toils, At hey stood upon the roof of the prison. It was one of those flat-topped structures then in vogue, with a parapet conmichbooks.conn