The National tribune., 1881-10-15


but they resolved to execute their design against
the others The three colonels lilo, Terzky, and
William Kinskv. came in with careless conf
dence. and with them Captain Neumann, an Off
Ger liability. whose advice Terzky sought in every
| intricate affair Previous to their arrival trusty
soldiers of the garrison to whom the plot had been
communicated were admitted into the castle, all
the avenues leading from it guarded and six of
ButtIers dragons concealed IN an apartment close
to the banqueting room, who, on concerted sig
nal were to rush in and kill the traitors. Without
suspecting the danger that hung over them the
quests gaily abandoned themselves to the pleas
ures of the table, and Wallenstens health was
! drunk in full bumpers, not as a servant Of the
Emperor, but as sovereign prince The wine
opened their hearts and lilo, with eXultation,
! boosted that in three days an army would arrive
such as Walenstein had never before been at the
head of. Yes cried Neumann, and then he
hopes to battle his hands in Austrian blood
During this conversation the dessert was brought
in and Leslie gave the concerted signal to raise
the drawbridges while he himself received the
keys of the gates. In an instant the hall was
filled with armed men, who with the unexpected
greeting of Long live Ferdinand" placed them
s.
Surprised and with a presentiment of their fate
they sprang from the table. Kinsl1y and Terzky
We're killed upon the spot and before they could
put themselves upon their guard. Neumann dur
ing the confusion in the hall escaped into the
court where however, he was instantly recos-
nized and cut down. lilo alone had the presence
Of mind to defend himself
He placed his back against a window. from
whence he poured the bitterest reproaches upon
Gordon and challenged him to fight him fairly
and hOnOrably. After a gallant resistance in
which he slew two of his assalants he fell to the
ground overpowered by numbers and pierced
with ten wounds. The decd was no sooner ac-
complished than Leslie fastened into the town to
prevent tumult. The sentinels at the castle
gate seeing him running and out of breath and
believing he belonged to the rebels fired their
muskets after him, but without effect. The
firing. however, aroused the town guard and all
! Leslies presence Of mind was requisite to allay
the tumult He hastily detailed to them all the
circumstances of Wallensteins conspiracy. the
measures which had been already taken to coun-
teract it. the fate of the four rebels as well as
that which awaited their chief Finding the
troops well disposed, he eXacted from them new
oath of fidelity to the Emperor and to live and
die for the good cause. hundred Of Buttler's
dragons were sent from the castle into the town
to patrol the Streets to overawe the partisans of
the Duke, and to prevent tumult. All the gates
of Egra were at the same time seized and every
avenue to Wallenstein's residence which adj
joined the market place, guarded by a numerous
and trusty body of troops, sufficient to prevent
from without.
But before they proceeded finally to execute
the deed, long conference was held among the
cOnspiratOrs in the CASTLE whether they should
kill him or content themselves with making him
prisoner Besprinkled as they were with the
blood and celebrating almost over the very
cOrpses of the murdered associates even these
furious men yet shuddered at the horror of tax
ing away so illustrious life They saw before
their minds eye, him, their leader in battle in
the days Of his good fortune, surrounded by his
victorious army, clothed with all the pomp of
military greatness and long-accustOmed awe
again seized their minds. But this transtOry
emotion was soon effaced by the thought of the
immediate danger. They remembered the hints
which Neumann and lilo had thrown out at
table, the near approach of formidable army of
Swedes and Saxons, and they clearly saw that
the death of the traitor was their only chance of
safety. They adhered, therefore, to their first
resolution, and Captain Deveroux an Irishman,
who had already been retained for the murder
Gus purpose received decisive orders to act.
While these three officers were thus deciding
upon his fate in the Castle of Egra Wallenstein
was occupied in reading the stars with Semi.
1.-The danger is not over yet" said the astrooger,
with prophetic spirit 1T isl replied the Duke,
who would not give the law even to heaven
But" he continued with equally prophetic
spirit, that thou friend Semi thyself shall soon
be thrown into prison, that also is written in the
stars" The astrologer had taken his leave and
Wallenstein had retired to bed, when Captain
DeverOuX appeared before his residence with six
halberdiers and was Immediately admitted by
the guard, who were accustomed to see him visit
the general at all hours. A page who met him
upon the stairs and attempted to raise an alarm
was run through the body with a pike. In the
ante-chamber the assaSsins met servant who
had just come out of the sleeping room of his
master and had taken with him the KEY Put
ting his finger upon his mouth the terrified do
nestle made sign to them to make no noise, as
the Duke was asleep. Friend" cried Deveroux
1T is time to awake him." and with these words
he rushed against the door, which was also bOlted
from within, and burst it open.
WallenStein had been rOuSad from his fret