A SAK QUENTIN ESCAPE. 423
and a gang of over 100 convicts is marching through the gate in the rear of the prison, when suddenly some fifteen separate from the rest and rush for the front gate, securing the guard. Lieutenant-governor Cheh lis notices the movement from his office, and hastens for safety to the adjoining bedroom, but the door is broken in, and he is brought forth to give orders to the gate-keeper to surrender the keys. The order is given but the keeper bravely refuses to comply, as- serting that they are not in his possession, but the convicts are not to be deceived ; a struggle ensues ; the keys are snatched fr-nn him and the gates thrown open amidst shouts of liberty. The cry is echoed by the crowd, amidst a general rush to join the leaders regardless of the volleys from the guards. The men from the workshops bring their axes, files, and other tools, while others storm the armory, overlooking a case of sabres in their hurry, and obtaining only one loaded revolver, besides uncharged pistols and some other arms.
Two to three hundred convicts have now passed the gate bearing the governor of the prison with them, but of these fifty are quickly secured by the captain of the guard, while the rest proceed in a body alono^ the wall to station 5 on the hill. The o-uard stands ready to sweep their column with grape- shot; but the convicts are prepared; the captured governor is placed at the front to serve as shield, with a loaded pistol at his head to remind him of the func- tion. "For God's sake don't shoot!" exclaims the victim with uplifted hands. There is no time for hes- itation ; the guard turns the gun, discharges it into the water, and spikes it. This is more than they had expected, for the gun had been counted upon to silence the next one upon the adjoining hill. In their exas- peration they reproduce the Tarpeian tragedy, and gun with carriage follow the guard in his whirling de- scent.
Their path now lies across the brickyard to
