These logs were quite loosely fitted.

I took them out easily one by one, and then came upon a close pile of brushwood.

As I gradually cleared this away a large aperture disclosed itself wide enough for any man to pass through without trouble.

My heart beat with the rapture of expected liberty; I clambered up--I looked--thank God! I saw the landscape--the sky! In two minutes I stood outside the vault on the soft grass, with the high arch of heaven above me, and the broad Bay of Naples glittering deliciously before my eyes! I clapped my hands and shouted for pure joy! I was free! Free to return to life, to love, to the arms of my beautiful Nina--free to resume the pleasant course of existence on the gladsome earth--free to forget, if I could, the gloomy horrors of my premature burial.

If Carmelo Neri had heard the blessings I heaped upon his head--he would for once have deemed himself a saint rather than a brigand.