Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-04-06
CHAPTER XVII. (continued.)

Ill WAS supposed TO De empty. ana the
slightest sound might be overheard
by the sentry and lead him to ask
what had caused it.
With the utmost care | raised the
sash of the little window. bent down
my ear and listened. The regular
tramp of the sentry sounded nearer
aud nearer, rs he approached the cor
nrr of the house. His footsteps paused
an instant and then recommended, the
sound this time gradually decreasing
as he drew near the main entrance to
the villa. l saw that l must take the
opportunity to lower myself to the
ground when he was at the other end
of his beat.
Outside the window there was a
scroll OF ornamental iron work, for
holding Il box of flowers in position on
the sill. l passed my cord around one
of the leaves of this ironwork. and
drew it through until the iron leaf held
the cord by the middle. l did not dare
to facten it, as it would be necessary
to carry the cord away With me. If |
left it hanging there. it would infalli-
bly, attract attention as soon as anyone
passed round that end of the villa. or
sides | might need it in sealing the
park wall.
AS soon as the sentry's footsteps be-
gan once more TO recede | got through
the window, pushed down the sash as
gently as l could. and grasping the
cord tightly With both hands l let my
self over the ledge and began to slide
down the hope.
was, perhaps. halfway down. when
I felt something give; sckening fear
shot through my mind. and the next
moment l was falling through space.
Even in the act of falling. had time
to remember that the sentry must be
just about the other end of this short
beat. and that it was possible that the
noise of the fall might not be heard.
The fall shook me considerably but
no bones were broken, and I splang to
my feet. In picking up the cord. my
hand came in contact With a rough.
Geld object close to it. and l recognized
it rs the metal leaf to which had in
trusted my weight. 1t was foolish of
me to do such Il thing, for it was Il
wonder ! did not break my leg or my
neck But | was in such a hurry to
escape that l took the first opportunity
that offered.
l he sentry was now returning. and
his steps sounded unpleasantly near. |
felt as if l could have touched him by
stretching out my hand. But again
the footsteps receded, and | stole eau
1iously away. taking slanting drec-
lion so that the sentry could not see
me on his return journey.
AS soon as l had got a fair distanc,
from the house quickened my pace to
a run, and very soon | found myself at
the bottom of sunk fence which |
had not noticed in the darkness. No
harm was done. however | GOT out.
and ran on.
In a little while l heard the noise OF
running Water-not the sound of the
ordinary stream. but much more full
and harmonious; and on emerging
from the shrubs l had been passing
me a great white sheet, as it WERE
sloping upwards: and the water was
rolling down this slope and making
the most majestic music l ever heard
Then | remembered that this must be
the famous marble stairway-surely
the noblest water course in the world.
Hut had no time to stay and watch
tlA1. rushing waters. For the moment
] wished it had been !: moonlight
night. that might see the waterfall in
all it's beauty but it was lucky for me
tl6t there was no moon, and that the
clouds were thick in the sky.
Judging that the most llnfrequented
parts of the park must he at distance
from the marble stairway and remote
from the sea. turned to the south (as
nearly as | could judge and went on
past silent avenues ornamented With |
cleaning statues. along which the |
leaves were whirling. driven by the
wind. Keeping the same
direction as carefully as 1 could, I
reached at length the high wall that |
shuts in the park on every side. and in !
sureS the almost absolute privacy OF |
the Car and his family when they are
at Teterhof.
The wall was very higll--at that part
thought about twelve feet-and. to
my dismay, l found no trees growing
within some yards of it. 1t seemed as J
though they had been removed On pur- /
pose, so that no one could enter OF
leave the park by the means / had in !
my mind.
What was l to do? There was cop
ing on the top of the wall. but l had
no hook on the end of my rope, or any
thing wf,ick could use as grapnel. |
Turning to the east. ran parallel to
the wall for a long way, in the hope !
that ] might come to a tree with |
brancl es overhanging the wall. Or pos
>ibly snail door which might force
open. But I found neither, though l
went so far that l knew l must be get
ting near the villa again. There was /
nothing for it but to go back and try
in the opposite direction.
This I did, and went long way to
the westward: but without seeing any
way of escape.
When l reached the corner. where
the wall turned and ran back towards
the sea-that is. to the north, was in
despair. Already the dawn was begin
hing to show in the east: in another
hour it would be broad daylight, and
then what should l do? l might as
well walk up to the sentry at the great
gate and give myself up.
AS stood there, likely to drop with
fatigue, and unable to think of any
means of getting out of the park, the