Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-21

their prey flash in the sun of morning as
they rise dripping from the dive.
In this place Sholto, MaiSe and the Lord
James Douglas were presently abiding.
1t was but a tiny cell originally formed
by two portions of marty rock fallen to-
gether in some ancient CONFUSION or drop
ped upon each other by floating iceberg.
In some former age the cleft had been the
lair OF wild beasts or the couch of some
marry savage hammeiing flint arrow heads
for the chase and drawing with sharp point
upon polished bone the yet hairer man.
moth he hunted. But this solitary lodging
in the wilderness had been enlarged in
more recent times until now the interior
was about eight feet square and of the
height of man of stature when he stands
erect.
dWellers were sick and sad, and of them
all the bitterest was the heart of Sholto
Mackim 1t seemed to his eager lovers
spirit as he climbed to the top of the sand
dunes and gazed toward the massive tow
ers of Machecoul rising above the green
woodlands that hitherto they had but wan
dered and done nothing. The sorcerer had
| enclrcled them about with his evil. They
had lost Laurence utterly. and for the rest
they had not even touched the outer de-
lenses of their arch enemy.
Thrice they had tried to enter the castle
| The first time they had taken by force two
wagons of fuel from the men who went
toward MachecOul, leaving the woodmen be-
hnd in the forest bound and helpless. But
at the first gate of the outer hall the mar
shaIs guard had stopped them and de-
manded that they should wait till the cars
We're unloaded and returned to them So
having received the money, the Scots re
turned as they went to the men whom they
had left in the forest.
After this repuse they had gone round
and round the vast walls of Machecoul
seeking place vulnerable, but finding none
en-, and the thanking towers were crowded
night and day with men on the watch
Hound the walls for the space of a bowshot
every way there ran green space fair
and open TO the view. but in reality full of
pitfalls and secret engines. From the bat
Elements began the arrow hail so soon as
any attempted to approach the castle along
any other way than by the thrice-defended
road to the main gate.
The wolves howled in the forests by night
ana more than once came so near that one
OF the three men had to take turns to keen
| watch in the caves mouth. But for a rea-
| son not clear to them at the time they were
| no more attacked by the wild beasts of the
woods >---
The third time they had tried to enter
the castle in their pilgrims garb. and the
outer picket courteously received them but
Wnen they were come to the inner curtain
one Robin Romulart, the officer of the
guard a stout fellow. suddenly called to
| his men to bind and gag them-in which en-
! terprlse, but for the great strength of Ma
Use, they might have succeeded For the
outer gates had been shut with a clang,
and they could hear the soldiers of the gar
flson hastIng from all sides in answer to
Robins summons.
But Malise snatched up the bar where
with the winding cogs of the gate were
| turned. and, having broken more than one
| mans head with it. he forced the massive
| doors apart by main force so that they
| were able all unframed to reach the shell
| ter of the woods. So near capture had
| they been, however, that they heard over
| and over again the shouting of the search
| parties who secured the woods in search of
| them.
| 1t was the worst feature of their situa-
| tion that the Marshal de Retz certainly
! knew of their presence in his territories
| and that he would easily be able to guess
/ ther errand and take measures to prevent
! its coeeding
Their last and most fatal failure had hap
Pened several days before, and the first
| eager burst of the search for them had
/ passed. But the Scots knew that the enemy
/ was thoroughly alarmed and that it be-
| hooved them to abide very closely within
| their hiding place.
| The Lord James took worst of all with
! the uncertainty and confinement Any re-
| straint was unsuited to his joyial temper
| and open-air life But for the present, at
| least, till they could gain some further in
formation as to the whereabouts of the
| maidens, IL was obvious that they could
do no better than remain in their seaside
shelter
Their latest plan was to abide in the
| cave till the marshal set out again upon
| one of his frequent journeys Then 1t
would be comparatively easy to ascertain
/ by an ambush whether he was taking the
1 captives with him. or IL he had left them
! behind. If the maids We're of his travelling
! company the three reseuers would be guild
4 ed by circumstances and the strength of
| the escort as to whether not they should
1 venture TO make an attack.
But If by any unhoped-for chance Mar
! garet and Maud were left behind at Ma