Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-02-14
Continued.

branch, with his back against me
trunk, ard the foot OF the wounded
limb supported upon lower Dough,
and he gave n sigh Of deep relief, and
reflected that he was ut last, after all
those dreary years OF bondage, free
Balfour could do nothing till he was
off guard, which would happen In an
other half hour. Nothing could be
done during the next sentry's guard
because It would be impossible to get
Mt him TO see how far he could be
trusted; but If any subsequent sentry
proved manageable, and IF Balfour
could get pass for the night, he
might bring him some sort OF cloth.
ing, ana then, under favorable circum-
stances, he might get Off. And them
The storm abated, the last low nut
terings of thunder died away In the
distance, the rain ceased, and the
evening sun shone out with golden
clearnGss. Some Of the long slnntlng
beams pierced the green roof Of his
airy prison, and fell hopefully upon
the fugltlye's face. He heard the SEN
try's measured tread below, and then
the change Of guard; the hum OF the
town, and the noises from the vessels
at anchor, came mingled with distant
bugle. calls, to his lonely tower. The
light faded the sun went down In
glory the gun Oh the bastion fired the
sunset, the parish church chimed half
past eight, the sounds from sea ana
shore came more distinct on the quiet.
Ing night air, and he heard the band
of n Highland regiment begin Its sklrl
OF pipes on the Clarence Pier. II was
probably Balfour's regiment
Poor Balfour He fell to thinking
of his unfortunate lot, much as he
had to occupy his thoughts with regard
to his own immediate destiny. only
that week, Balfour's father, General
Sir Ronald Balrour, x. 9. b., as gen.
era'l commanding mt Portsmouth, had
reviewed the troops, Balfour himself
being more than once face to face with
his father This he told Everard, add
Ing that Oh n recent foreign royal visit
to Portsmouth, the 170th had formed
a guard Of honor to the royal guests,
and that Admiral Everard had walked
down the lane OF which he made II
part, In the wake of the royal party
CHANGING to come to full stop just on
his level.
Balfour, the star of the Debating 80.
ciety, the man whom they had hoped
to see on the Woolsack; what fan
was here! "Unl,rciy beggar!' was
the phllosophic Highlander's sole com
ment on his III starred destiny. \
good fellow, and man without vice.
lNle air was chill after sunset. Ever.
ard, motionless on his airy perch, bare
headed, and in his shrt-slecves, was
wet to the skin, and shvercd with n
double chill after the heat Of his hard
labor In the sultry afternoon. Ills
wound nched till he began to fear 1t
might lame him, and his hunger
waxed keener as the night dccpencd
and the cold increased. The stars
came out and looked at him with
their friendly, quletIng gaze. He
could see the sparkle of lights in the
water and In The town; he could make
out the lights of the adnaral's signal
station on his housctop above the
dock-yaiI,
Which man-of-war was kcppel's? he
wondered. knowing nothing even Of
the outside world that was SO near
him. The chimes of the parish told
him the hours and he knew when the
guard would be relieved.
1t was II weary night; It's minutes
Jagged by leadenpaced. lie thought
their long procession would never end;
and yet there was a strange, delicious
enchantmcnt In the feeling that he had
at last broken the bars of that iron
prison, with Its terrible bondage of
unloading routine and drudgery. The
thick foliage of the elm still held the
wet, which every passing breath OF
the night wind shook on to the grass
below In II miniature shower. The
moon rose and wandered In pale maj
esty across the sweet blue sky such
II free, broad night sky ms had not
blessed his eyes for years and years:
II beams hung his green fortress roof
with pearls and trembling diamonds,
falling ever ami anon to the earth.
Sentinel after sentinel came on guard
below, but there was no friendly slg.
nal from beneath. He had descended
to the lowest bough to catch the
slightest sound. The watch was pass
Ing; the early dawn would shine on
the next watch. and, II help did not
come before the sunrise, he would
have to wait till the following night,
wet, starved, suffering rs he was. But
no; there is the welcome signal Mt
last.
Quickly he gave the answering sig
nal; and, Bonding down in the dark,
ness, heard the following sentence
above the sound of the scn,inels back
ward and forward steps sentry
blind and deaf sneak OIL TO right
Catch"
Something flew NJ to him In the
dark, and, after two misses, he caught
1t; and then, rising to where rift
In the foliage let In Il shaft Of rays
from the waning moon, untastencd
IL NJ. ~.