Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-09-08


served considerable stir, many fig
ures of the buccaneers passing and
repassing. and some pushing forward
little groups of unarmed people, who
must be captives. Not few women
were among them. for ] could see the
fullness of their garments and the
bright colors of their scarfs and other
like decora tions.
At last we drew nigh and climbed
the plateau to the gate. j was now
able to observe with more eXactness
the things we had till now seen at a
distance, but l confess that my head
was so full of our especial business that
i took no close notice of them, though
at another time 1 had not failed to
do so. My mind was now more and
more on edge to discover the fate of
the poor Lady Carmen. At last it was
our turn, and we hastily passed the
guard and entered the court. I must
pause here to say that the interior
parts of the castle were in some ways
peculiar, since the chief hall was upon
the neither floor, and was reached at
once after passing through strong
arched gateway and a little passage.
The Offices and lesser rooms were be-
JOHO tHlS nail, anu the dungeons
Though this learned afterward) were
directly beneath it. The quarters for
the soldiers were meant to be in a
rearward wing, but the present gar
rison. having no strict discipline, were
making a billet of whatsoever places
they saw fit. These things had best be
| mentioned here, as they will make
clearer the parts of the narrative to
follow.
When we had gotten into the court
we found much stir, many pushing
about intent on disposing of their
booty, and others making for the
kitchen, whence we caught the smell
| of cookery. We had scarce landed
within the gate when I espied Paul
CRADLE, by the piece of raw meat in
his hand bound for his dinner.
''Yonder goes Cradde," [ said to my
companions. "Can we find more suit
| able person to give US the news?"
Without waiting for their answer. I
hailed him and brought him to.
IF you are not in haste,'' 1 said,
carelessly, 81 will fetch you piece of
the meat. and we will mess with you.
1t would seem like old times, and,
! moreover-to be out with tive would
have a little talk with you.
81 have no objection" he answered.
Fetch the meat and what else you
wish. I will wait"
1 lost no time in doing this, and,
possessed of a good slab of the beef
and two or three Ioaves of bread,
signed to my companions, and we fell
into his wake. He led us across the
| court to the kitchens, where we roast
ed the meat. and thence, having first
procured some wooden trenchers and
n little salt, we passed through a
postern gate and established our
selves at the foot of the wall. Here
was comparative seclusion, as well as
some escape from the heat, which was
now intense.
AS soon as we were established !
made CRADLE acquainted with Capt.
Sellinger, relating at the same time,
though in brief. the captains story.
did this, meaning in the first place,
to establish better fellowship, and
also that could (by indirection) give
some coloring to the mornings adven-
ture. In short, I made it appear that
our business at the don's was legiti-
mate-that is, from the buccaneers
standpoint-and that the matter was
fetched about by the captain, who
hated his late master.
CRADLE was no very deep fellow, and
easily swallowed this yarn, which
when he had done he was in the state
OF mind that desired.
WELL" said I, feigning an indiffer-
emit air, 81 fancy none of us are the
richer by the mornings undertaking.
I see you make no brags of the
wealth you found"
For a good reason he said, with
grunt. 1--WE found only some gar
ments and household gear. No great
of that, either. L fancy the old ras-
cal must have hidden the chief part"
II believe he did," put in the cap
tain, cor that was the notion of the
servants, though I am not quite able
to confirm it,"
las to the Slaves" 1 began again,
ave Jared no better. Not a soul was
in the house. The servants, indeed,
the captain told US, had already fed,
but we thought to find at least some
of the family"
Now that" said CRADLE, with a
puzzled look, sis passing strange.
They could barely have vacated the
place when you entered. Indeed, they
were caught but a pebbles toss from
the water side. Had you but peeped
from the rearward door I think you
must have seen them"
"Ah, how stupid" cried. But. In
truth. we thought only of the house.
And SO they were captured? Was it,
then, the entire family?'
Aye" answered CRADLE, with a
- f,,I Il
Would I had been the captor!"
Niece corrected the caDfain