remaining in the lock! Hope now filled her breast and gave her courage
to surmount all difficulties, which might befall her in effecting her
escape. With trembling hands she opened the door, and, listening a
moment, she passed on through the entrance leading from the chamber.
She then noiselessly descended the stairs, and after convincing herself
that all was silent, she groped her way through the midnight darkness,
until she reached the door of the hall, which she found unclosed. She
hastened through, now fearing that the door of the entrance was in all
probability closely secured. On approaching it, she found, to her great
delight, that it was bolted on the inside; she listened again, but no
sound was heard; then sliding the bolt, she opened the door and stepped
forth into the open air.

Fostina now felt herself free from the iron grasp of her enemies; but
should she be overtaken!--the thought startled her. She gazed wildly
around, but no one was to be seen or heard in the village, and
hastening to the street she walked with hurried steps in the direction
of the Mountain. She knew, from the conversation the evening previous,
that her uncle's family were at the house of their friend, and, that if
she succeeded in reaching the cottage, she might effect her escape
without fear of being discovered.

Urged on by necessity and the feeling of hope which now filled her
breast, the courageous girl fled swiftly on until she reached the
cottage, without encountering any dangers. She hastened to the door,
which she found was closely barred; then going to the window of her
apartment, she succeeded in raising it far enough to gain admittance.
But her situation grew still more alarming; it would not be safe for
her to remain at the cottage, for she well knew that her uncle, as soon
as they discovered that she had made her escape, would probably return
to the cottage, and if there, she must again fall a victim to their
treachery.

The idea now flashed across her mind, that if dressed in disguise, she
might possibly escape her pursuers. With this bold determination, the
heroic girl hastened to her brother's wardrobe, and taking a suit of
clothes, soon perfected her disguise. She then procured a valise
belonging to one of her brothers, and hastily packing a suit of her own
apparel, together with a few valuable articles which had been given to
her by Lewis, took the portrait of her departed mother, and placed it
in her bosom.

She