The six sisters of the valleys : an historical romance - University Library

THE JAILEE. 159
and thej crept stealthily along until they de-
scended to a massive iron grating. Unlock-
ing this they traversed another underground
passage, whose sides were green with moss
and damp, and from the top of which the
water dropped through from the earth above.
This terminated in a small iron door. Un-
locking this they forced themselves through
a narrow aperture, and stepped outside
the convent walls into the fresh night air.
Martha seized Echard's hand, and pressed
it to her lips, breathing a fervent prayer
that God would bless her deliverer, and
oTiide him into all truth. E chard returned
immediately to the convent, and Martha
stood alone. She hesitated for a moment
as to what direction she should take. She
turned her eye with a feeling of horror on
the turrets of the gloomy convent. Her
sister had doubtless perished in that
place. She trembled as she considered her
own peril, had not the generous efforts of
that voung officer released her. She felt un-