Page:Rowland--The Mountain of Fears.djvu/171

  turned and made off toward the main gate. On the way they met the commandante, who, hearing their cries, rushed to the jetty and bawled at the steamer to stop.

"The place was deserted again and I softly entered the dungeon. I could see nothing in the gloom, but from the shadow I heard a deep, choking voice say:  'Jacob! Jacob! Ach, mein lieber Jacob! Mein kleiner, lieber Jacob!' 

" 'Isidore—mein bruder—Isidore!'  came the thin answer, and then there was a gurgle, a strangling cough, a sigh as of a soul exhausted, a body spent with vain struggling, and yet a sigh filled with promise of an infinite peace. I heard a rustling, such a sound as comes from a tired child as its head falls back upon its mother's breast. There was the sound of a multitude of kisses, a choked sob—then silence, which endured for many minutes.

Come, my friend,' I said, softly. 'We must go, if you wish to take Jacob away.'

"I led the way and Rosenthal followed me [ 155 ]