Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 2.djvu/251

 barous cruelty, his belief in the providence of the benevolent ruler of the world soon gave way to atheistical principles, and his former desire for doing mischief returned with redoubled force, when he saw his sincere endeavours to become an useful member of human society were thwarted again in a most cruel manner: He began to think that he was doomed to be a villain, and being driven to despair by hard labour, and frequent blows, he concerted plans of effecting his escape.

One of his fellow prisoners, a most consummate ruffian, joined with him in devising means of regaining their liberty, and after many fruitless efforts they at length effected their escape, assisted by an impenetrable fog which covered their flight. As soon as their escape was known in the fortress, the cannons were fired, and the country roused: However they happily eluded their pursuers, and reached at the close of day a wood where they resolved to conceal themselves in the tops of the trees 'till the heat of the pursuit should have abated.