fternoon, as I stood looking out from my window upon an open
square, where hundreds of people, young and old, high and low, were
amusing themselves by flying kites, I observed, among the monsters that
filled the air,--dragons, griffins, cormorants, sharks, and numberless
other fantastic shapes,--one kite that arrested my eye and fixed my
attention. It was in the form of an American eagle, with red and white
stripes on the wings, and brilliant stars all over the body. From the
peculiar movements of this kite, I was led to believe that it was an
omen of hope for me, and that whoever held the string intended to do me
a service. In the course of half an hour, the kite was floated directly
across my window, and I saw that there was a paper pinned on the back.
As soon as it came within reach, I thrust my hands through the bars, and
in an instant tore the paper off. Unfolding it, I found in the inside
three steel-spring saws, and read these words: "As soon as you have
sawed away the bars, tie a white rag on the grating. On the first
evening after this, when the wind is favorable, a kite will be flown to
the window. Pull in the string very carefully, and you will come to a
larger cord. Keep pulling until a rope-ladder reaches you. Fasten this
securely to the window, and follow the ladder down over the wall. You
will there find your old pony fastened to a tree: jump on and be off.
Strapped on his back you will see a can of condensed food and a jar of
water, enough to supply you for some days. Success to you!" This paper I
at once tore into small pieces, and, as soon as it was dark, threw the
fragments out of the window. I now went to work with a light heart to
saw away the iron bars, preserving the filings, which I moulded up with
a bit of bread, to fill the gaps that I made with my saws in the
grating, in order to avoid detection in case the room should be
examined. In the course of about a week, I had cut through the iron so
far that I knew it would be easy with one good wrench to tear away the
grating; and then, with a throbbing pulse, in the afternoon I tied a
piece of white cloth on the sash, as I had been directed. That night
there was not a breath of wind, and I knew that I had no hope of rescue
at present. I tried to sleep, but found myself constantly rising up and
listening for the breeze. The next day the kites were flying merrily;
and among them I saw the good old eagle, with a large round white spot
on his back, which