Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/435



A SAK  QUENTIN  ESCAPE. 423

and a  gang  of  over  100  convicts  is  marching  through the gate  in  the  rear  of  the  prison,  when  suddenly  some fifteen separate  from  the  rest  and  rush  for  the  front gate, securing  the  guard. Lieutenant-governor Cheh lis notices  the  movement  from  his  office,  and  hastens for safety  to  the  adjoining  bedroom,  but  the  door  is broken  in,  and  he  is  brought  forth  to  give  orders  to the  gate-keeper  to  surrender  the  keys. The order  is given  but  the  keeper  bravely  refuses  to  comply,  as- serting that they  are  not  in  his  possession,  but  the convicts are  not  to  be  deceived  ;  a  struggle  ensues  ; the keys  are  snatched  fr-nn  him  and  the  gates  thrown open amidst  shouts  of  liberty. The cry  is  echoed  by the  crowd,  amidst  a  general  rush  to  join  the  leaders regardless of  the  volleys  from  the  guards. The men from the  workshops  bring  their  axes,  files,  and  other tools, while  others  storm  the  armory,  overlooking  a case  of  sabres  in  their  hurry,  and  obtaining  only  one loaded revolver,  besides  uncharged  pistols  and  some other arms.

Two to  three  hundred  convicts  have  now  passed the gate  bearing  the  governor  of  the  prison  with them, but  of  these  fifty  are  quickly  secured  by  the captain of  the  guard,  while  the  rest  proceed  in  a  body alono^ the  wall  to  station  5  on  the  hill. The o-uard stands ready  to  sweep  their  column  with  grape- shot; but  the  convicts  are  prepared;  the  captured governor is  placed  at  the  front  to  serve  as  shield,  with a loaded  pistol  at  his  head  to  remind  him  of  the  func- tion. "For God's  sake  don't  shoot!" exclaims the victim with  uplifted  hands. There is  no  time  for  hes- itation ; the  guard  turns  the  gun,  discharges  it  into the water,  and  spikes  it. This is  more  than  they  had expected, for  the  gun  had  been  counted  upon  to  silence the next  one  upon  the  adjoining  hill. In their  exas- peration they reproduce  the  Tarpeian  tragedy,  and gun with  carriage  follow  the  guard  in  his  whirling  de- scent.

Their path  now  lies  across  the  brickyard  to