ions, of whom there appeared to be two or three. At length the
cart stopped, I heard a door unlocked and thrown open, and a few moments
afterward I was dragged from under the corn-sacks, carried up three
flights of stairs, and dropped brutally upon the floor till a light
could be procured. Directly one was brought, I was raised to my feet,
placed upright against a wooden partition, and staples having been
driven into the paneling, securely fastened in that position, with cords
passed through them, and round my armpits. This effected, an
authoritative voice--the now distinct recognition of which thrilled me
with dismay--ordered that I should be unblinded. It was done; and when
my eyes became somewhat accustomed to the suddenly dazzling light and
glare, I saw Levasseur and the clerk Dubarle standing directly in front
of me, their faces kindled into flame by fiendish triumph and delight.
The report that they had been drowned was then a mistake, and they had
incurred the peril of returning to this country for the purpose of
avenging themselves upon me; and how could it be doubted that an
opportunity, achieved at such fearful risk, would be effectually,
remorselessly used? A pang of mortal terror shot through me, and then I
strove to awaken in my heart a stern endurance, and resolute contempt of
death, with, I may now confess, very indifferent success. The woman
Jaubert was, I also saw, present; and a man, whom I afterward
ascertained to be Martin, was standing near the doorway, with his back
toward me. These two, at a brief intimation from Levasseur, went down
stairs; and then the fierce exultation of the two escaped convicts--of
Levasseur especially--broke forth with wolfish rage and ferocity.
"Ha--ha--ha!" shouted the Swiss, at the same time striking me over the
face with his open hand, "you find, then, that others can plot as well
as you can--dog, traitor, scoundrel that you are! 'Au revoir--alors!'
was it, eh? Well, here we are, and I wish you joy of the meeting.
Ha--ha! How dismal the rascal looks, Dubarle!"--(Again the coward struck
me)--"He is hardly grateful to me, it seems, for having kept my word. I
always do, my fine fellow," he added with a savage chuckle; "and never
neglect to pay my debts of honor. Yours especially," he continued,
drawing a pistol from his pocket, "shall be prompt payment, and with
interest too, scelerat!" He held the muzzle of the pistol to within a
yard of my forehead, and placed his finger on