Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-09-15

seem consistent, having declared that
I had some small curiosity about these
places. From the dungeons / came
again to the hall and thence ventured
to peep above-stairs. where I found a
man on guard. and so turned back.
The fellow did not observe me. as
lad approached softly and his atten-
ton was elsewhere, and this / was
glad of. as did not wish to arouse his
suspicious. 1 could think Of nothing
more that might profitably be done.
and so I returned hither."
'Why. count that excellent" said.
Indeed. it is beyond our reasonable
expecta ton"
81 grant YOU" said Mr.. Tym. But
how, since we have made an end here,
let US see if we can learn how it fares
with the captain. In truth, l have
some anxiety"
So, indeed. did Mac Ivrach and l, and
may say that this matter was now
uppermost in my mind since the other
was concluded. We therefore dropped
the discourse and set off once more for
the water.
AS yet the captain was not in sight,
though we scanned the water in all di
rections for him; wherefore we judged
that he had not yet succeeded in his
undertaking.
At last, just as we were beginning to
feel some disquiet, small boat popped
out of the concealment of the neigh
Dor jetty, and there, to be sure. was
the captain.
He shot his craft up to the beach
md loaned ont and we for
ward gave US a cheerful nod.
81 have secured an Indifferent little
sloop." he said. How Jared you?''
We had him into the shade, and in a
few words made him acquain ted with
our success. Then he gave us his ac-
count. It seemed that he meant to
have no commerce with the buc-
cancers, fearing lest he might rouse
suspicion, but instead watched for a
native fisherman, and was at last for
tunate enough to bring one to. With
him. after little bantering leach had
some trouble in understanding the
other), he managed to conclude a bar
gain. The craft was clumsy affair. it
seemed; in length it might be and 90
feet. by above eight in the beam. and
was unlocked, though it had a rude
sort of cuddy. The single sail was old
and patched, but looked to be fit for
moderate service, and was set to a
boom and short gaff. She had no
vessels or any kind of tools or imple-
ments aboard, being furnished solely
with pair of rude oars. Nevertheless
she appeared stanch, and would he
thought, be likely to do the work re-
quired of her.
Very well, then" said Mr.. lynn,
when the matter had reached this
stage, 1--WE seem to want nothing now
but to complete the details of our
plan. Let us go at once about it,"
We were at good deal of pains here,
debating many things, but. after all.
the matter sifted down to this: To-
ward the middle of the night, before.
the moon should rise-which it did
now very 1ate-we were TO slip up to
the passage leading to the senorita's
room, beguile and overpower the
guard, gag and bird him, and force
the senorita's door. A few words from
me would explain what was afoot, and,
having thrust the guard into the
chamber and secured him there, we
would quietly descend to the hall and
boldly pass out. OF course, our main
reliance must be upon the general
carelessness and disorder, and upon the
fact that nothing of the business was
suspected. AS for the minor details, it
seemed best that Mr.. lynn should lead
off, and at the point where he wished
US to fall upon the soldier should make
q certain prearranged sign
By this time 1t was close upon sun
down, and late enough for us to be
thinking of returning to the castle. In
fact. we had still some preparations to
make, such as bringing down the
stores-not forgetting a breaker of
water-and an extra supply of clothing
and weapons. Included in the cloth
ing must be some for the poor lady,
though I was sorry that none of it
could be Of sort suita BILE to her sex.
We likewise thought of an iron bar,
or pry, with which to force the cham
Der door. All these matters, will say
in brief, we attended to, in no way
encountering any mishap or seeming
to arouse any suspicious. Finally, we
hid the little skiff, and returned for the
last time to the castle. 1t was now
quite dark. the twilight in those parts
being exceeding brief, and wanting
no great while Of the hour we had
set for our undertaking. This, 1t will
be remembered, was the early part of
the night, before the confusion and
disorder were like to have abated, and
ere yet it was moonrise. At last it
wanted only a few minutes of nine,
and as we deemed that nothing was
to be gained by waiting longer, we
saw to our weapons and made along
to the arched gate.
The door at the end of the passage
stood open. and we caught a small
glimmer of light and heard voices.
Pushing on. though I confess with