[figure description] Page 022.[end figure description]

It was midnight, and all slept in the vast cabins, all on board the
immense steamer, save the watch on deck. But Louise and Genevieve
were awake, and so was the prisoner. Beside his door heavily
slept the officer, trusting to the chains to bind, and the waters to keep
his charge in safety. Softly Genevieve opened the door of her state-room
and stole forth into the cabin. The swinging lamp burned dimly
and cast a pale glare around. She crossed to the state-room of the
prisoner. She looked down and stealthily watched the stern countenance
of the slumbering guardian. His sleep was not feigned, it was
deep and heavy. She reached her arm across him and slipped a paper
up between the blinds, and hastily retreated.

Preston was sitting with his hands on his knees and his face buried
in his hands in deep and painful thought. He was calmly contemplating
suicide. He heard the paper fall at his feet. Hope gleamed
through the darkness of his destiny. He gathered his chains carefully
together that they should not clank, and picked it up. It read as
follows, in a delicate female hand.

`Guilty or innocent, thou art unhappy! There are friends near
thee who will aid thy escape. Prepare to receive whatever instruments
may be passed through the blinds, lest they fall, and the noise
wake your guardian.'

He pressed his lips to the note, and hope revived in his heart. In
a few moments afterwards, Louise Claviere was seen traversing with a
light step the silent cabins, wrapped in a cloak and hat she had taken
from one of the tables. She descended to the engine-room and secretly
obtained two files. With these she returned to her state-room,
having met only the watchman, who took her for one of the gentlemen
passengers who preferred walking on the guards to sleeping.

[figure description] Page 023.[end figure description]

`Genevieve, I will take these to him,' she said to her cousin, who
felt almost as much interest in his escape as she did. `You will see,
that, if the officer wakes, he listen to you, rather than to us.'

`Yes,' said Genevieve, laughing, `I will try and amuse him if need
be—but let us be cautious and he may not wake. His sleep is that of a
tired man.'

Louise crossed the cabin lightly. Genevieve took a book and sat
on an ottoman close to the head of the officer. Louise softly opened
the door across his body, and entered the state-room of the prisoner.
He started with surprise. She laid her hand impressively upon his
arm, and placed a file in his hand. She closed the door and seated herself
silently at his feet, and commenced filing his iron fetters. She was
calm, quiet, resolute. Her look was elevated with high purpose. Was
it real? Was it a spirit that had come to aid his escape? He pressed
her hand gratefully to his lips, and took the other file and applied it to
the steel band of his manacles.

In two hours one of his manacles and a fetter released a hand and
foot. In two hours more he was freed from his chains! They were
then filed from the bolt. He knelt at the feet of his liberator. There
was an hour yet to day, and she asked him to tell her his crime. Briefly
he related to her what has already been narrated.

`Enough,' said she, `I knew thou hadst been greatly tempted. The
way is open before thee. Escape! If you do not swim, here is a life
preserver I have prepared for you. Let me buckle it about you. Now,
while it is yet dark, spring with your chains in your hands, and with a
loud clanking sound of them into the water, and swim ashore. It will
be thought you are drowned, as no man could swim with such a weight.
There will no pursuit be made for you, and under an other name, and
in another clime, you may live and be happy.'

`And to what glorious being am I indebted for life, liberty, and happiness?
' he said, kneeling at her feet.

`It matters not! Fly! If hereafter you should feel an interest
awakened in your breast for her who has liberated you, come on next
St. Mary's eve, and ask at the convent of the Sacred Heart for Louise
Claviere!'

With these words she opened the door, and pointed to the way of
escape ever the body of his sleeping keeper, and through the cabin to
the outer `guard.'

He pressed her hand to his heart, and that of the noble Genevieve—

[figure description] Page 024.[end figure description]

who extended it to him—to his lips; and taking up his chains, as he
saw them both vanish into their state-room, he fled through the cabin
to the outer guard. The officer, awakened by the clanking, sprung
up, looked first into the state-room after his prisoner, then beheld him
flying along the cabin. He started in pursuit, giving the alarm, and
only reached the guard to see his prisoner spring with his chains into
the dark flood.

`Stop the boat!' he shouted aloud; but as she was already far beyond
the spot, he immediately countermanded the order; `no, no, it's
of no use; with twenty pounds of iron on him, he is gone to the bottom
like a stone!'

The boat kept on her way, and ere we reached Louisville, the prisoner
was forgotten. That some of the females in the cabin had connived
at his escape, and furnished him with the files, was very generally
believed, but suspicion was not fastened on the right persons.

Previous section

Next section