The Washington times., 1895-03-03

came near Baratesta, they were not more
than mile behind Lepardo's company. But
Lepardo, when he had detached the six men
to watch Antonio, rode in hastily TO find the
syndic and learn from him the meaning of
what he had seen, and thus Tonmasno,
coming opposite to the mouth OF the hermit s
cave. saw no more than SIX horses tethered
on the river bank, having the dukes
escutcheon wrought on their saddle cloths.
Then heleaped down, and running L the edge
or the bank, saw a man disappearing into
the mouth OF the cave dripping wet and
this man was the last of the six who had
swum the river and were now cropping their
way with great caution along the narrow
track that the hermit mad made Now
Iommasno understood 10 more than
Lepardo that there was any opening from
the cave to the VAULT, but he thought that
the dukes men did no tsw i'm the river for
their pleasure, and he fbade Bena take five
ana watch what should happen, while he
rode on with the rest.
IF they cCme out again Immediately. -
he said, You will have them at a disadvan-
tage; but If they do not cope out, goin after
them; for know not what they are doing
unless they are seeking my cousin or laying
some trap for him. - -, n
Then Tommasino rode after Lepardo. and
Bena, having given the dukes men hut the.
briefests pace in which 70 come out q ainfrom
the dukes men were, inpW much alarmed;
for the Eastman told them 3f the armed men
ON the bank oppoSite, and, that they did not
wear the duke S badge; sqstEe SIX retreated
up the passage very silently and they could
not find any opening. for it grew darker at
every step: and they became much out of
heart. But Bena s men crossed The river
and entered the mouth or the cave after
them. Thus there Yves fair likelihood OF
good fighting both III the passage and by the
gate of the vault
But the Goaht Antonio. not Knowing that
any of his band WAS near. had ceased tohope'
for his life, and he sat calm and ready.
sword III hand, while the hermit withdrewto
acorner of tlTeyault and crou ched there, NUT
tering his mad answers and questions.and
ever and again hailing some one of tho dead
PeSchelti by name, as though he saw him.
Then suddcnly coffin fell with loutlcrash
on top of the heap on to the floor: for
the dukes men had found the opening and
were pushing at it with hand and shoulder.
Then Antonio sprang TO his feet and left the
gate and went and stood ready by the pile of
coffins. But again on sudden came a tu-
multi beyond the opening, for Bena andhisfive
also were now III the passag and the fore
most of them-who indeed was Bena hims elf
had come upon the hindmost of the dukes
men, and the SIX, finding an enemy behind
them, pushed yet more fiereely and siren
uously against the coffin And nomanin the
passage saw any man. it being utterly dark;
and they could not use their swords forlack
of space, but drew their daggers and thrust
fiercely when they felt mans body near.
So in the dark they pushed and wrestled.
and struggled ana stabbed and the sound of
their tumult filled all the vault and spread
beyond, being heard outside; andnany out
side crossed themselves for fear, saying:
Hell is broke loose. God save us!'' But at
that nome nf came q n nj n is CornnaI,v.
and he having leapt from horse and heard
from the syndic that Antonio was in very
truth in the vault, drew his sword and came
at the head of his men to the door, andhear-
ing the tumult from Within he cried insoorn:
These are no ghosts!n and himself, with