Down -- steadily down it crept frenzied pleasure in contrasting its downward with its lateral velocity right -- left -- far and wide -- shriek of damned spirit; to my heart stealthy pace tiger ! I alternately laughed and howled one or the other idea grew predominant

Down -- certainly, relentlessly down ! It vibrated within three inches bosom ! I struggled violently, furiously, to free my left arm free only elbow hand reach the latter, platter beside me, to my mouth, with great effort, but no farther Could broken the fastenings above the elbow, seized and attempted to arrest the pendulum have attempted to arrest an avalanche !

Down -- still unceasingly -- still inevitably down ! I gasped and struggled at each vibration I shrunk convulsively at its every sweep My eyes followed its outward or upward whirls eagerness most unmeaning despair; they closed themselves spasmodically descent, although death relief, oh ! how unspeakable ! Still I quivered in every nerve how slight sinking machinery would precipitate that keen, glistening axe upon my bosom prompted the nerve to quiver -- the frame to shrink hope -- the triumphs rack -- that whispers death-condemned even dungeons Inquisition

that some ten or twelve vibrations would bring the steel in actual contact with my robe, and observation there suddenly came over my spirit all the keen, collected calmness of despair first time during many hours -- or perhaps days -- It now occurred bandage, or surcingle, which enveloped me, was unique tied by no separate cord The first stroke razorlike crescent athwart any portion band, would so detach it unwound from my person But how fearful, case, the proximity steel ! The result slightest struggle how deadly ! likely, moreover, minions torturer foreseen and provided possibility ! probable bandage crossed my bosom track pendulum ? Dreading my faint, and, as it seemed, in last hope frustrated, I elevated my head obtain distinct view breast The surcingle enveloped my limbs and body close in all directions -- save path destroying crescent

Scarcely had I dropped my head back into its original position, when there flashed upon my mind what better describe than unformed half idea of deliverance previously alluded, and moiety only floated indeterminately through my brain when I raised food to my burning lips The whole thought was now present -- feeble, scarcely sane, scarcely definite, -- but still entire I proceeded at once, nervous energy of despair, to attempt its execution

For many hours the immediate vicinity low framework I lay, literally swarming with rats They were wild, bold, ravenous; their red eyes glaring upon me as waited but for motionlessness on my part me their prey "To what food," , "have they been accustomed well ? "

They had devoured, of all my efforts them, all but small remnant contents dish I had fallen into an habitual see-saw, or wave hand platter: and, , the unconscious uniformity movement deprived it of effect In their voracity the vermin frequently fastened their sharp fangs in my fingers particles oily and spicy viand which now remained, I thoroughly rubbed the bandage wherever reach it; then, raising my hand floor, I lay breathlessly still

At first the ravenous animals were startled and terrified change -- cessation of movement They shrank alarmedly back; many sought the well But only for moment I counted in vain upon their voracity Observing that I remained without motion, boldest leaped frame-work, and smelt surcingle This seemed the signal for general rush Forth well they hurried in fresh troops They clung wood -- they overran it, and leaped in hundreds upon my person The measured movement pendulum disturbed them not at all Avoiding its strokes they busied themselves anointed bandage They pressed -- they swarmed upon me in ever accumulating heaps They writhed upon my throat; their cold lips sought my own; half stifled by their thronging pressure; disgust, the world has no name, swelled my bosom, and chilled, with heavy clamminess, my heart Yet one minute, and struggle over Plainly I perceived the loosening bandage that in more than one place it already severed With more than human resolution I lay still

Nor had I erred in my calculations -- nor had I endured in vain I felt that free The surcingle hung in ribands from my body But the stroke pendulum already pressed upon my bosom It had divided the serge robe It had cut linen beneath Twice again it swung, and sharp sense of pain shot through every nerve But the moment of escape had arrived At wave hand my deliverers hurried tumultuously away With steady movement -- cautious, sidelong, shrinking, and slow -- I slid embrace bandage and beyond the reach scimitar moment, , free

Free ! -- and grasp Inquisition ! I had scarcely stepped from my wooden bed of horror stone floor prison, motion hellish machine ceased and I beheld it drawn up, by some invisible force, ceiling lesson which desperately to heart My every motion was undoubtedly watched Free ! -- I had but escaped death in one form of agony, delivered unto worse than death in some other thought I rolled my eves nervously around barriers of iron that hemmed me in Something unusual -- some change which, at first, appreciate distinctly -- obvious, had taken place apartment For many minutes of dreamy and trembling abstraction, I busied myself in vain, unconnected conjecture During this period, I became aware, first time, origin sulphurous light which illumined the cell It proceeded from fissure, about half an inch in width, extending entirely around the prison base walls, which thus appeared, and were, completely separated floor I endeavored, but in vain, to look aperture

As I arose attempt, the mystery alteration chamber broke at once upon my understanding observed that, although the outlines figures walls were sufficiently distinct, yet the colors seemed blurred and indefinite These colors had now assumed, and were momentarily assuming, startling and most intense brilliancy, that gave spectral and fiendish portraitures an aspect that thrilled even firmer nerves than my own Demon eyes, of wild and ghastly vivacity, glared upon me in thousand directions, where none visible before, and gleamed lurid lustre of fire that force my imagination to regard as unreal

Unreal ! -- Even while I breathed there came to my nostrils the breath vapour of heated iron ! suffocating odour pervaded the prison ! deeper glow settled each moment eyes that glared at my agonies ! richer tint of crimson diffused itself over the pictured horrors of blood I panted ! I gasped for breath ! There design tormentors -- oh ! most unrelenting ! oh ! most demoniac of men ! I shrank glowing metal centre cell Amid the thought fiery destruction that impended, the idea coolness well came over my soul like balm I rushed to its deadly brink I threw my straining vision below The glare enkindled roof illumined its inmost recesses Yet, for wild moment, did my spirit refuse to comprehend the meaning of what it forced -- it wrestled its way into my soul -- it burned itself in upon my shuddering reason -- Oh ! for voice ! -- oh ! horror ! -- oh ! any horror but this ! With shriek, I rushed margin, and buried my face in my hands -- weeping bitterly

The heat rapidly increased, and once again I looked up, shuddering as with fit ague There second change cell -- and now the change was obviously form As before, in vain that I, at first, endeavoured to appreciate or understand taking place But not long was I left in doubt The Inquisitorial vengeance hurried by my two-fold escape, and no more dallying King of Terrors The room square that two iron angles were now acute -- two, consequently, obtuse The fearful difference quickly increased with low rumbling or moaning sound In an instant the apartment had shifted its form into that of lozenge But the alteration stopped not here-I neither hoped nor desired it to stop clasped the red walls to my bosom as garment of eternal peace "Death," , "any death but that pit ! " Fool ! might known that pit it object burning iron to urge me ? Could I resist its glow ? or, if even that, could I withstand its pressure And now, flatter and flatter grew the lozenge, with rapidity that left me no time for contemplation Its centre, and , its greatest width, came just over the yawning gulf I shrank back -- but the closing walls pressed me resistlessly onward seared and writhing body no longer an inch of foothold firm floor prison I struggled no more, but the agony soul found vent in one loud, long, and final scream of despair that I tottered brink -- I averted my eyes --

discordant hum of human voices ! loud blast as of many trumpets ! harsh grating as of thousand thunders ! The fiery walls rushed back ! An outstretched arm caught my own as I fell, fainting, abyss It of General Lasalle The French army had entered Toledo The Inquisition was hands enemies