The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-03-02
CHAPTER VI.-CoNTINUEp.

The men rode by us slowly, one of
them carrying a torch. and, taking a
turn to the right, trotted off into the
forest, cursing the orders they had re-
ceived to go forth after the horn
winder.
"Now," 1 whispered, "for the win
dow"
1--WE must get to the terrace" he an
swered. From there it might be DONE"
and with q hurried look behind him, at
which l began to laugh in q low tone of
mcckery, he crawled forward rapidly.
l followed with equal speed and eau
tidn, and in half minute we had
gained the shadow of the terrace, and,
working, along it's UNCOVERED wall, got
30 the main building. Here we cast
about for some means to get up. 1t
was not possible to do this by holding
On to the ivy, as, if it came away, there
would be a fall, and all our fat would be
in the fire. The ascent had to be made
noiselessly, and as looked at the high
wall before us / began to think it was
impossible. Running my eye on the
= lichen-gray face of the main building,
however, L noticed something that
lookedlike a series of huge monograms,
with q crescent above each, cut in high
relief on the stones, beginning about
ten feet from the ground.
'We might get up that way" whis-
pered.
Nicholas nodded, with q pale face. In
his excitement he had forgotten the
Wild huntsman, much to my satisfac-
ton.
Bend, then, and will ascend from
your back"
He leaned forward against the wall,
and, climbing on his shoulders, /
found that | might possibly raise my
self by the monograms, which l discov-
cred to be the letters II. ID. interlaccd in
one another, the initials of the second
Henry and Diane de Poitiers; and the
crescent was, as is well known, Madame
Danes crest. Taking long breath,
lifted myself slowly-there was but an
iEch or so to hold on to-and at last
found a crevice in which / could put
the point of my boot. This was enough
for me to change my hold to the next
higher monogram, and finally ] came
to level with the parapet of the ter
race. Here was difficulty. Every time
i stretched my hand out to grasp the
parapet l found that could not each
over. and that my fingers slipped off
from the slime and moss on the stones.
Three times / made the attempt, and
swung back three times, until | began
TO feel that the effort was beyond me-
There was, however, one chance. and,
quietly thrusting my boot forward,
began to feel amidst the ivy for pos
sible foothold, and to my delight found
it rest at once on a small projecting
ledge that ran around the terrace. The
remainder of my task was easy, and
the next moment found myself lying
fat on my face beneath the oriel win
dow.
Here paused to recovc
ing down at Nicholas, who was making
an attempt to raise himself by his
hands to reach the monograms and
climb to me. STEADY" l whispered
''and catch this" Rapidly unwinding
a silken sash wore round my waist, in
the fashion had learned when serving
in Spain, dropped one end toward him,
and after moment or two he managed
10 seize it. Then looped fold of the
elk around buttress of the parapet,
and holding on to the other end told
Nicholas TO climb.
Now for the window" / said. II will
rise slowly and find out what / can.
You keep your pistol ready, and your
eyes open-do not rise, and remember
my orders"
There is broken pane to the left, it
is half hidden by the curtain-you can
hear and see from there,
AS he said this rose softly to my feet
and, finding the broken pane without
any difficulty, peered in.
The room was bright with the light of
candles, and, at table, covered with
papers, were seated two men, whilst a
third was standing, and pointing with
his fingers at scroll. In the man with
his back to me / had no difficulty in
recognizing de Gomeron, the one look
ing toward me was assuredly Biron, for
his was a face that once seen could
never be forgotten. As for the man who
was standing beside him. knew him
not. though subsequently-but antic-
ipate.