The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-05-18

bringing myself up with a jerk. While yet
hung clawing, / heard footstep coming
through the gateway between che two wards.
Here was fix With oil speed and silence
1 drew myself up to the beam, found hold
with one knee upon it, got astride, and lay
down at length, hattening my body down
against the timber. Yet all the while felt
sure must have been heard.
The footsteps drew nearer and passed al
most under the gallows Twas an officer,
fer as he passed he called out:
'sSergt. Downs! Sergt. Downs"
A voice from the guard room in the barbi-
can answered him through the Darkness
''Why is not the watch set?'
SIN minute, sir; it wants a minute to 6.r
81 thought the colonel ordered it at half
past 5F'
In the silence that followed the barbican
clock began to strike, and half dozen troop
ers tumbled out from the guard room, some
laughing, some grumbling at the GOODNESS OF
the night The officer returned to the inner
ward as they dispersed to their posts; and
soon there was silence again, save for the
tramp. tramp of sentry crossing and re-
crossing the pavement below me.
All this while l lay flattened along the
beam, scarce daring to breathe But at
length, when the man had passed below for
the sixth time, 1 found heart to wriggle my
self towards the doorway over which the gaf-
lows protrpded. By slow degrees, and paus-
ing whenever the fellow drew near, L crept
close up to the wall; then, waiting the proper
moment, cast my legs over, dangled for
second or two swinging myself towards the
sill, flung myself off, and, touching the ledge
/ with one toe, pitched forward into the room.
! The effect of this was to give me sound
crack L struck the loorins,Nwhic lay
about foot below the level OF the sill. I
picked myself up and listened. Outside, the
regular tramp of the sentry proved he had
not heard me; and 1 drew long breath, for
knew that without lantern Re would never
spy, in the darkness, the telltale rope dang
ling from the tower.
In the room where stood all was right.
But the flooring was uneven to the foot, aud
scattered with small pieces of masonry.
Twas one of the many chambers in the castle
that had dropped into disrepair. Cropping
my way with both hands, and barking my
shins on the loose stones, l found low vault
ed passage that led me into a second cham
Der, empty as the first. To my delight, the
door of this was ajar, with a glimmer of
light slanting through the crack. 1 made
straight towards it, and pulled the door
softly. 1t opened, and showed a lantern
dinly burning, and the staircase Of the keep
winding past me, up into darkness.
My chance was of course, to descend;
which l did on tiptoe, hearing no sound. The
stairs twisted down and down, and ended by
stout door with another lamp shining above
it. After listening moment decided to be
bold, and lifted the latch A faint cry sa-
luted me.
l. Tctr. m oo fha iai1
ter.
The room was a small one, well Lit, and
lined about the walls with cups and bottles.
Twas, as 1 guessed, a tap room for the sol
diers; and the girl had been securing one Of
the pewter mugs when my entrance startled
her. She stood up, white as if painted, and
gasped:
''Quick-quiclll Down here behind the
counter for your life!'
There was scarce time to drop on my knees
before couple Of troopers lounged in, de-
manding mulled beer. The girl hustled
about to serve them, while the pair leaned
their elbows on the counter, and in this easy
attitude began to chat.
ga shrewd nightr
cay very freezing frostI Lucky thai
soldering is not all sentry work, or for one
'ud ensue my natural trade o. plumbing. But
let's be cheerful, for the voice o. the turtle is
heard i the land"
"Hey7"
The man took pull at his hot beer before
explaining.
''The turtle signifeth the Earl o. Stamford,
that is tonight visiting Col Essex in secret;
an this is the import-war, bloody war.
Mark me-"
STIRRING, striving timesI'
L
: sand men, the earl, no farther off than Taun-
ton-why, my dear, how pale you look, to be
: sure!"
S H'Tis nv head that aches.n answered the
girl
The men finished their drink and sauntered
/ out. l crept from urNler the counter and
S looked at her.
'Father1l kill me for thisI"
4 ''Then you shall say: Is it forward or back
l must gog'
4 Neither" She pulled up q trap close be-
9 side her feet and pointed out ladder leading
l down to the darkness ''The courts are full
/ of troopers" she added.
r ''The cellar7'
l She nodded.
i Quick There's door at the far end. II
leads to the crypt of st. Johns chapel. You'll
i find the key beside it and lantern. Here is
}, flint and steel" She reached them down
/, from shelf beside her. ''Crouch down, or
Il they'll spy you through the window. From
the crypt passage takes you to the COVER
l nor's house. How to escape then, God knowsi
4 IT'S the best can think on" go -{
:. | thanked her and began to step down the
}. ladder. She stood for a moment to watch,
It leaving the trap open for better light. Be-
. tween the avenue of casks and bins / STUN
o bled towards the door and lantern that were
|, just to be discerned at the far end of the cell
Il lar. As struck steel on flint L heard tins
|. trap close, and since then have never set eyes
d ON that kind hearted girl
e The lantern lit, took the key and fitted it
to the lock. 1t turned noisily, and cold
&c Whit of air struck my face. Gazing round
II this new chamber | saw two lines of squat
: pillars, supporting :. low, arched roof. Twas
II the crypt beneath the chapel, and srnelt yiely.
f A green moisture trickled down the pillars,
% and dripped on the tombs beneath them.
"a At the end of this dreary place was broken
N door, consisting only of plank or two, that
I easily pulled away; and beyond, a narrow
% passage, over which 1 heard the tread OF
troopers plainly, as they paced to and fro
:. also the muffled note of the clock, sounding Z
- The passage went fairly straight, but wa!
= blocked here and there with fallen stones
:, over which scrambled as best could AnC
g then, suddenly, was near pitching down
~ short flight of steps. held the lantern alof
. and looked