Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-21

PROTECTOR.
wind blew with such terrific violence that tbs
tower shook and trembled. After a time
heard tremendous crash as OF falling walls
and then another. and now / felt the vino
blowing into my prison.
There was no further sleep for me- Trem-
bling with a fearful apprehension of wha,
might happen next, l covered against the wal
until the day broke; then perceived that in
front OF me was a great hole in the wall OF
the dungeon, which extended for more than a
yard above the floor. sat and looked at this
until the light became stronger, and then
cautiously approached the aperture and looked
out. Nearly the whole of the castle lay in ruins
before mel
lit was easy to see what had happened. The
storm had demolished the crumbIing walls OF
the old building and the tower, itself frail and
totterlng, stood alone. high above the PROSTATE
ruins. IL the winds should again arise il must
fall, and at any moment its shaken foundations
might give away beneath it.
Through the hole in the wall, which had
oeen caused by the tearing away of some OF
the connection between the lower and main
buildings, / could look down on the ground he.
low, covered with masses Of Jagged stone but
there was no way in which could get down.
could not descend that perpendicular wall. II
l Ieaped out death would be certain
'As crouched at the opening I felt tba
head Of dog pushed against me- A spasm OF
terror ran through me, but the moment the
creature began to lick my hands knew that 7
had nothing to fear from him. Instantly INV
courage returned. l felt that he was nv pro.
tector. patted his head and he renewed his
caresses.
Passing my hand over him found he was
holding himself in his present position by
means OF his fore legs. which were stretched
out upon the floor. What dog this must be.
who could climb wall! But gave no time to
conjectures of this sort. How could I avail
myself Of his assistance? In what manner
could he enable me to escape from that dan
gerous tower?
suddenly thought came to me. Iremem.
oered the snake part of him. Judging from
the ratio OF diminution, which 1 have men,
TONED before, that part, if hanging down.
must reach nearly, if not quite. to the ground.
BY taking advantage of this means of descent
L might be saved, but the feat would reouire
great dexterity and an immense amount of
iaith. Tins serpent-like portion of the ami
long it wasl
But there was no time for consideration
the WIND had again arisen and was blowino
with fury. The tower shook beneath me. AZ
any moment it might fall. II 1 should again
escape from death, through the assistance of
assistance instantly.
Il stopped and felt the animal He still bnno
by the fore part of his body, and by his FORE
legs to the floor Of the dungeon. and by reach.
ing out could feel that the rest of him ex.
tended downward / therefore seized his hodv
in my arms, threw myself out Of the apertnrs
and began to slide down.
In very short time ! found that had
reached the snake portion of the creature. and
throwing my arms and legs around it, en-
deavored with all my strength to prevent too
IsP'd descent, but in spite OF all my efforts INV
downward progress was faster than vonid
have wished II to be, but there was no stonning
/ must slip down.