sitting together on our only chair, conversing about home and recalling
to memory the transactions of our childhood, when parents, brothers,
sisters, and the companions of our juvenile amusements alternately
occupied our attention. From them the conversation turned to the land
of our nativity, and there was something so peculiar in Robinson’s
manner when speaking of his country, as to excite painful sensations
in my mind. His spirits were exceedingly dejected, though at times
an enthusiastic expression of devoted attachment to his king and his
profession lightened up his pale features with a glow of animation;
but it would presently sink again, and grasping my hand, while a tear
trembled in his eye, he uttered, ‘You will see them again, you will
once more tread on British soil, whilst I--yes, my grave will be made
in the land wherein I am a stranger. Yet tell them,--tell my parents
that Robinson never disgraced his cloth, or committed an act for which
they could blush.’ I endeavoured to divert his thoughts from such
ideas, but my efforts were useless. I know not whether there is any
thing like presentiment; but in many events which occur in our journey
through life, there are some strange mysterious coincidences that would
almost prompt the credence of it, and thus it proved with poor Robinson.
“The heavy bell of the citadel tolled four, and in a few minutes we
heard the relief-guard beneath our windows. The officer and his men
passed on; we listened to the measured tread, as their steps receded,
and then cautiously advanced; but the sentry was in his box, and again
we resumed our seat. The theme of our conversation turned upon the dear
girls, who had risked so much for the poor prisoners; and here Robinson
was again sad and melancholy, conjuring me, if my life was spared, to
give his last and tender farewell to the amiable Euphemia.
“At this moment a noise was heard, like the fall of a firelock on the
pavement, but it passed unnoticed; however, when a short time had
elapsed, it was repeated, and on going to our grating to ascertain
the cause, we saw our faithful old soldier on the post. The rain was
pouring down in torrents, and the weather was excessively cold, so that
most of the other sentinels were glad to keep under shelter. After
taking two or three turns without looking up, he suddenly halted,
raised his bayonet to the window, and we received a small scrap of
paper, which contained these words, written in a hand we did not
remember to have seen before. ‘At ten o’clock to-night, when the relief
comes round, be ready to remove your grating and descend. Upon the
ramparts, under the muzzle of the third gun from the sentry-box, you
will find materials to assist in your descent, and below are disguises
to put on. Be firm and resolute.’
“There was a something in the manner of this note that did not
altogether please me; it raised suspicions I found it difficult to
suppress; but to give any information of this to the grenadier was
impossible; he returned to the spot no more. The next consideration
was, how we were to descend; but that was readily suggested, by tearing
our blankets into slips, and then twisting them together. To tell
you the torturing suspense we endured, while the time passed heavily
on, is beyond my power, but there was a novelty in our situation
which lifted us to hope. Nine o’clock came, and our hearts beat in
tumultuous disorder; we listened to the chiming of the quarters, and
silently prepared for our removal. At last, we heard the first warning
for ten, and we grasped each other’s hand with convulsive agitation.
Every stroke of the sonorous bell vibrated on our hearts with sickly
apprehension; it ceased, and all was silent, except the howling of
the wind and the pelting of the rain. Shortly afterward, the sentinel
challenged the relief, and hope and despair alternately took possession
of my breast, but both urged me on in the same determined course.
“The night was uncommonly dark, tempestuous, and dreary, so that we
could not discover the fresh sentry as he paced his post. After walking
backwards and forwards several times, the noise of his footsteps
ceased, and we heard the butt of his firelock brought to the ground as
he entered the box. Another quarter of an hour elapsed, when we removed
the bars, and secured our blanket rope. I descended first, without
making the slightest noise; but poor Robinson slipped and struck the
loose grating above, which instantly fell into the room. The sentinel
started from his box, we heard the rattle of his arms, but all was
instantly hushed, and the howling of the gale deadening the sound, he
did not advance. Stretched on the wet pavement, while the rain poured
down with impetuous fury, we remained motionless for nearly half an
hour; when finding the sentry had returned to his box, we cautiously
crawled away upon our hands and knees, till having attained a proper
distance and rising on our feet, we slowly and silently followed the
directions which had been given.
“Again the bell tolled eleven, as unseen we reached the spot; but
the sentry here was on the alert, and we had time just to secrete
ourselves, by laying at full length on the sloping descent of the
rampart, when he passed the place; this he continued to do repeatedly,
and we could distinctly hear his movements at every turn. At last,
after a painful suspense, the heavy tread ceased; and stretching our
hands out in various directions, we found beneath the muzzle of the
gun, a rope coiled up. To secure one end to the carriage and pass
the other down through the embrazure, was the work of a few minutes,
and sliding over the battlements, the cord passed swiftly through
my glowing hands; but what was my distress, on reaching the lower
extremity, to find it was too short to allow of my touching the ground,
and the darkness prevented my seeing what distance there was to fall.
It was impossible to apprize my companion, for just at this instant I
felt the rope violently agitated from above; the next moment it gave
way, and I was precipitated down the rocks. How long I laid insensible,
I cannot tell; a confused recollection sometimes passed across my
mind of a piercing shriek mingling with the gale; but the fall had
completely stunned me. Dreadful indeed were my feelings, on recovering
from the shock to see, by the light of glistening flambeaux, two _gens
d’armes_ standing over me. I stretched out my hand to raise myself up;
but oh, horror, horror! it fell upon the death-cold cheek of poor
Robinson. Yes, there he lay by my side a mangled corpse--literary
dashed to pieces by the fall. I tried to rise, but found every effort
ineffectual; in short, both my ankles were dislocated. The barbarous
wretches lifted me on my feet; but I again fell, and received another
severe contusion on my head. Finding I was unable to walk, they
extinguished their torches and carried me on their shoulders through
the gates, till they stopped before a heavy grated door; here they
were joined by a third person, closely wrapped in a horseman’s cloak.
He opened the door, and taking from beneath his cloak a dark lantern,
I was rapidly borne forward to those horrid dungeons, where a ray of
daylight had never been admitted.
“After passing several massive entrances, they halted at a low door,
and it swung upon its hinges; here they threw me down with bitter
imprecations, and the _gens d’armes_ withdrew. The individual who
carried the lantern then approached me, and purposely turning the light
upon his face, I beheld the fiend-like countenance of Wirrion; it was
like a blasting vision to my sight, and the powers of utterance were
denied me. He tried to laugh, but it resembled the yell of a demon. He
gnashed his teeth, exclaiming, ‘Remember Adele!’ and turned the key
upon his wretched captive. Oh, what was my agony as the last feeble
glimmering of the lamp disappeared, and all around became the darkness
of the grave,--still living--still breathing, yet, as I thought,
entombed for ever! Happily insensibility crept over me for a time,
but of its duration I am unable to speak. I was awoke to recollection
by a confused sound which appeared to come from a distance, and then
died away. Again the clashing of bayonets and the heavy tread of armed
men seemed to approach, but my head was strangely bewildered. In a
few minutes, however, I could distinctly hear voices, and recovering
in some measure from my stupefaction, as they drew near, I gathered
sufficient from their impetuous language to ascertain that another
victim was about to be incarcerated in the dreary dungeons, and that
victim our faithful friend--the grenadier. When they had reached my
dungeon, he refused to proceed,--reproached them with their cruelty
to an old man, and added, ‘Life at the longest, must be of short
date to me; here satisfy your brutal malice!’ A heavy rush and the
rattling of bayonets instantly succeeded, mingled with the curses of
the guard; a yell--a wild yell followed, and something fell like a
leaden weight, against the door of my dungeon; a bitter groan, as when
the heart-strings break, vibrated through the vault, and a convulsive
struggling noise, as if some poor wretch lay quivering in his last
death-pang.
“The brutal soldiers exulted over their victim, and then slowly
retraced their steps. Hitherto I had been silent, but now wrought up
to a pitch of frenzy, I raved with desperate madness, entreating them
to return and release me from my misery. In a few minutes they halted,
and a dead silence ensued. Again I shrieked, and the rocky vaults
prolonged the sound, as if a thousand voices joined my cries. The guard
growled out their imprecations and departed. In vain I tried to get
upon my feet; every effort increased my anguish, and as I extended
my hands upon the stone floor of my cell, they fell upon some slimy
reptile that filled me with abhorrence and with disgust. After repeated
painful struggles, I crawled to the door; but receded on finding my
hands immersed in what I first imagined to be water, but a heavy groan
and then the tremulous gurgling of the breath in the throat of the
dying man, convinced me it was blood. I called to him, but no answer
was returned; I spoke with tenderness, mentioned who I was, but still
all was silent except the groans of the wretched sufferer. Oh! how
did I pour out my heart in prayer, for heaven to support me under the
accumulated load of horror, or to remove me from existence.
“In about an hour afterwards, as near as I can conjecture, the door was
violently shaken by his struggles; a sudden shriek, with the grinding
of the teeth, and then a heavy deep-drawn sigh, told me the last
efforts of frail mortality were over.
“But why need I enumerate the trials I underwent, the sufferings I
endured. My daily scanty pittance was brought by an individual, upon
whom every attempt to gain a single word was unavailing; so that at
last I refrained from speaking. Often have I been compelled to wait
hours beyond my time, racked with hunger and burning with feverish
thirst. Once in rising too eagerly, I dashed the jug from the jailer’s
hand, and no entreaties could move him to supply me with more. My
raging thirst brought on delirium, and I fell into a lethargic stupor.
Well do I remember it,--sweet dreams came over me, and I fancied I
was ranging through some lovely meadows, where the eddying streamlet
murmured over its shingly bed, clear and transparent as crystal. All
the friends of my youth were surrounding me, and I heard their sweet
welcomes to my home; my mother pressed me to her heart; my father
grasped my hand with joy, whilst sisters and brothers hung in my
embrace, and wept with rich delight. Then we sat down to the feast, and
every luxury which could refresh the grief-worn prisoner was eagerly
devoured. Oh! the agony of awaking from such a dream! Scorched with
fever, and parched with burning heat,--it is impossible to picture it.
“How long I had remained in confinement was unknown to me. I had
endeavoured to keep some trace upon my memory by the return of my food,
but that was soon lost in the number. By almost constantly sitting
with my legs extended, I recovered the use of my feet; but the cell
was so low and contracted, that walking was impracticable. My clothes
were in tatters; I was unwashed and unshaven, and my hair hung down in
thick and matted flakes. How many victims of sanguinary malice have I
heard in their last dying agonies! how many secret murders have been
perpetrated in those vaults,--even at this moment I shudder at the
recollection!
“When I was in a state bordering on brutalized indifference, my keeper
was changed, and one of milder manners brought my food; this too was
augmented, and I was indulged by many little acts of kindness to which
I had long been a stranger. I had been sitting anxiously waiting
his appearance, when sleep overpowered me, and the luxury of clean
straw contributed to the sweetness of repose. I was awoke by some one
gently shaking my shoulder, and raising myself beheld--oh! what were
my sensations--it was Adele. ‘I am mistaken,’ said she, gazing at my
haggard looks, and trembling with alarm. But when I called her by name,
she sunk senseless by my side. What a moment was that, when after every
hope had vanished, when those sweet feelings which are best and dearest
to man were dying in my heart, thus to be recalled to life,--to be
awakened to the world, and once more to hold in my arms the dear
treasure which bound my spirit down to earth!--Forgive me, my friend,
for I cannot restrain my feelings.
“When she recovered, she stared wildly upon my emaciated face, and
then springing up, tore herself away. ‘Rise!’ said she in a tone of
bitterness, ‘rise! and follow me!’ But this was no easy task, and the
voice of command from Adele struck heavy on my heart. I had been so
little used to exercise, that walking was almost death to me. Adele
perceived it, and in a tone of softened tenderness she implored me to
lean on her, and burst into tears. ‘Why are you here, Adele?’ exclaimed
I; ‘why are you my deliverer, and how could you discover my prison?’
She indistinctly murmured the name of Wirrion, and the truth instantly
flashed upon my mind. ‘You are--Adele, can it be?’ and I felt a
suffocating weight upon my breast. ‘Adele you have sacrificed yourself
for me!’ The exertion overpowered my weakness, and I sunk senseless at
her feet.
“On recovering my recollection, I found myself in a comfortable
apartment, and an attendant sitting by my side. ‘Where is she?’ said
I, ‘where is Adele?’--‘Alas! alas!’ replied the man, shaking his head,
‘_monsieur est tres mal au tete_.’ ‘Tell me,’ exclaimed I, ‘tell me,
I conjure you, where I am, and where is--but no, no, I recollect it
now.’ The man again shook his head and repeated his observation. At
this moment an aged female entered the room, and finding me rational,
she sat by my side, and from her conversation I learned that I was
in Germany, having been brought thither about a fortnight before in
a state of insanity by some French troopers. That since then the
fever had been very powerful, and my life had been despaired of. ‘And
Wirrion?’ said I. She made no answer, nor did she appear to comprehend
the question;--indeed I afterwards found that she was totally
unacquainted with my history, but that a sum of money had been left to
provide for my maintenance.
“By wholesome food and kind treatment my recovery was rapid, and I was
soon enabled to return to my native land. But misery seemed to follow
me still; my parents were numbered with the dead, and the report of my
untimely fate had hastened their departure. Their property was divided
amongst my brothers and sisters, who were most of them married, and
they now treated me as one who had risen from the grave to rob them of
their rights. Disgusted and sick at heart, I once more embarked in the
service of my country, and received the reward dear to every British
officer’s heart,--promotion.
“Fortune now smiled upon me, and her golden favours were showered with
an unsparing hand. Still Adele, the beautiful, tender, self-devoted
Adele, constantly occupied my mind; in dreams, in visions of the night,
Adele was ever present to my memory, and through the duties of the day
the debt of gratitude was never banished from my heart. I heard that
Wirrion had been summoned to give an account of his stewardship; but
unable to meet the frowns and sentence of Napoleon, had done justice
upon himself and perished by his own hands. But all inquiries after
Adele had been useless; yet I had sworn never to love another, and my
oath was kept inviolate.
“As soon as peace between the two countries was declared, I crossed
the Channel, and from thence hastened to Verdun. The vineyard still
remained, though in ruins, and the ashes of the cottage were strewed
upon the plain. No one could tell me of Adele. The inhabitants of the
house at which I had lodged were mourning for the loss of their brave
sons, whom Bonaparte had compelled to enter the army; age had dimmed
their sight, but sorrow more. I told them who I was, and they recoiled
from me in doubt and perplexity. However, I soon convinced them, and
then I heard that Wirrion had buried poor Robinson, and reported that
both our remains were contained in the same coffin, and interred in the
same grave. I inquired for Adele and Euphemia; the latter was dead, but
of the former they could give me no information, and after a fruitless
search I bent my way to Paris.
“One day having dined with several British officers, we took a stroll
in the evening through the city, and on arriving at the _Palais
Royale_, a number of persons had assembled round an itinerant singer;
but as she was not then engaged, we were passing on, when our steps
were suddenly arrested by a sweet plaintive voice, pouring forth those
thrilling notes which, like inspiration, almost enchant the soul.
We drew near the crowd, but how shall I describe my agitation when
I heard the self-same _chanson_ which Adele had sung so exquisitely
when I first beheld her? Old remembrances rushed upon my mind, and
unconsciously putting aside those who opposed my progress, I advanced
close to the singer. Her back was toward me, and her voice seemed
faltering as if shaken by bitter recollections; but when she arrived
near the close, her tones were scarcely audible. At that moment she
turned; I gazed upon her features, and the next instant she was in my
arms,--it was herself--it was Adele!
“Why need I repeat every transaction? Together we returned to England,
and she became my wife;--yes, mine by every tie, both human and
divine. She told me her tale of sorrow, but I cannot relate it now.
Her sufferings had been on my account, and I was determined to heal
the wounded spirit and bind up the broken heart. The world condemned
and shunned me, but what had I to do with the world? Adele was all to
me, and in her dear society I forgot my sorrows. Not but that she was
changed: circumstances had much altered the natural sweetness of her
temper, and the mode of life she had pursued contributed to deaden the
finer feelings of the heart; but she was the deliverer who saved me
from destruction, and I thought only of our meeting at the gathering in
of the vintage.
“We lived happily together, away from the bustle, the turmoil, and what
is falsely called the pleasures of life. A small cottage in the country
was our home, and there we enjoyed peace and contentment. My fortune
was ample, with but few desires to be gratified; and I have deeply to
regret that I was unacquainted with your residence in my neighbourhood,
for your society would have been an additional happiness.
“But ah! how fleeting are all our joys. It was on the early part of
that day, when you saw me kneeling over a new-made grave, that I had
consigned the last remains of my Adele to the narrow home appointed as
a resting-place from earthly trouble. Yes, she is gone, I trust, to the
realms of everlasting bliss, where no sorrow can disturb; no pain be
felt; but where there is fulness of joy for evermore?”
THE CONVICT.
“Alas! the constancy of my sad mind
Is put to dreadful proof.”
It was some short time after the storming of Monte Video by the British
troops, when the guerilla bands were formed in the neighbourhood of
the city, that a party of young men took it into their heads to ride
into the adjacent country; and though the inhabitants were decidedly
hostile to the English, yet with the carelessness and impetuosity
natural to youth, they resolved to _seek_ adventures, cost what they
might. With hearts elate, and mounted on swift horses, they passed the
city gates and swept round the bay that forms the extensive harbour.
After riding through some villages, they considered it as not accordant
with their plan to keep the beaten road,--nor indeed was there any
road which merited the name, after they had gained a certain distance
from the town. The meridian sun saw them scouring across the plain,
where neither tree nor shrub could mark their track, or serve as guides
for their return. Frequently, from behind the jutting rock, the
_paysáno_[6] would display his hardened and ferocious features, and
muffling himself in his _poncho_, or long robe, grin defiance at the
adventurers. His long fusee held in one hand, with his _lasso_ coiled
at his side and a terrific knife stuck in his girdle, the marauder
stood undaunted by danger and undismayed by the fear of death. The
young men had frequently been led to pursue the wild ostrich in its
course, and to chase the numerous deer; but this hunting produced
consequences which might have terminated seriously, for it scattered
the number into parties of two or three, who might easily have been cut
off and destroyed by the enemy:--and now for my own individual portion
of the excursion. Having been, with one other, separated from the rest,
we used every possible exertion to discover them, but without effect.
Whenever we shouted, our voices reverberated from the rocky piles that
reared their heads upon the plain like monuments of ancient grandeur,
and seemed to revive recollections of the field of graves.
The sun, whose journey was even more rapid than our own, threatened
to leave us in obscurity and darkness; and when once his beams had
disappeared, we had no certain direction to ascertain our way. It was
in the month of June, and consequently winter in that part of the
world; but accustomed to privations of almost every kind, we cared but
little for the season, and as for attacks--we had weapons of defence.
Yet still, at times, an indescribable emotion agitated my heart. The
countenances of the _paysános_, and the certain death which awaited
capture--death, too, the tortures of which might be increased by
malignity and rendered lingering in the extreme, left no very pleasant
sensation on the mind. The recollections of home crowded upon me--for
the delights of domestic society never come more sweet to the memory
than when they threaten to be torn from us for ever. Still we had come
out for adventures, and the buoyant spirit of sailors urged us on. We
had already travelled, at a moderate calculation, upwards of twenty
miles without seeing a habitation, or the least trace of civilized
society, when the bright luminary of day disappeared from the western
horizon, and all became murky gloom and darkness. To have continued on
without knowing whither we were going, (for not a star was visible to
act as a friendly pilot in our navigation,) would have been downright
madness; so reining in the horses, we suffered them to pursue their own
way. Often could we hear the jaguar growling near us, and the enraged
buffalo would dart across our path, while the bellowing of the wild
cattle from the distance floated on the breeze. Frequently misled by
the false light above the fen, we had nearly plunged into irretrievable
destruction, and then imagination would (as the bleak wind passed
across our eyes) make us fancy that we saw some dwelling near at hand
of safety and security. Hunger, too, attacked us, for we had tasted but
little food since our departure.