The San Francisco call., 1901-11-17
CHAPTER vIII-Contlnued.
THE ABDUCTION OF A PRINCES


THE ABDUCTION OF A PRINCESS.
T wO? There are at least ten of
You fool. The three guards are
disposed of in advance. two of the
4 Viennese are left with the horses.
two are chucl3ed eff under the Princess
window. and one stands at the gate. We
can slug the man al the gate. the fellows
l.nder The window are harmless. and that
leaves but our two friends and the cook.
We have every advantage in the world.
Can't you see?"
You are right Come on. I'll risk it
with you. We will save the Princess Of
Graustark."
Don't you see it will be just as easy
for US to enter the castle as for these rob-
bers? The way viii be clear, and will be
kept clear. Jove, man, We need not be
more than thirty seconds behind them.
Is your pistol all right?"
BY this time TIE two men were speeding
along the grassy patch toward the road
that ran beside the wall They looked to
their pistols and placed them carefully in
outside coat pockets.
I'VE must throw away these heavy
cares whispered the painter to his
friend. who was q pace or so ahead.
Keep them Wen need one of them to
crack that fellows head at the gate.
Cad. it's dark along herer'
How the devil are We to know where
to go?"
Wen stop when we come to The gate
where we climbed up the wall to-day.
That is the only entrance L saw along
the west wall and it is near the castle
Just as soon as the gang enters that gate
We'll crawl Up and get rid of the fellow
who stands watch.
1t was so dark that they could barely
see the roadway. and they found it neces-
sary to cease talking as they skunk along
beside the fall Occasionally they paused
to listen, fearing that they might draw
too close upon the men who had gone be-
fore. At last they came to a big gate
and halted.
rs this the gate?" whispered Anguish
Ssh Yes, I'm quite sure. We are un-
doubtedly near the castle. judging by the
distance we have come Let us cross the
road and lie directly opposite. Be care
fulr'
Like panthers they stole across the road
and down a short grassy embankmert
At Anguish's suggestion Lorry wrapped
his handkerchief tightly about the heavy
end of his cane. preparing in that way to
oeaden the sound of the blow that was
to fall upon the Vienna mans head. Then
they threw aside their hats, buttoned
their coats tightly and sank down to wait.
with bounding hearts and tingIing nerves
the arrival of the abductors. mutely prav-
ing that they were at the right gate.
IX-THE EXPLOIT OF LORRY AND
ANGUISH
During the half hour spent in the
grassy ditch or gutter, they spoke not
more than half dozen times and in the
faintest of whispers. They could hear
the guard pacing the driveway inside the
Tonderous gate, but aside from his foot
steps 70 sound was distinguishablc A
sense of oppression came over the two
watchers as the minutes grew longer and
more deathlike in their stiffness Each
found himself wondering why the leaves
did not stir in the trees, why there were
no night birds, no crickets, no croaking
frogs. no sign of life save that stes dy,
clocklike tread inside the wall So dark
was it that the wall itself was but a
deeper shadow against the almost opaque
biackness beyond. No night, it seemed to
them, had ever been so dark, so still.
After the oppression came the strange
feeling Of dread, the result of an en-
forced contemplation of the affair in
which they were to take a hand, ignorant
OF everything except the general plan
They knew nothing of the surround
ings- If they failed, there was the danger
of being shot by the guards before an ex-
PLANTATION could be made. If they sue
ceeded, it must be through sheer good
fortune and not through prowess of mind
or muscle. Once inside the castle. how
could they hope to follow the abductors
at safe distance and still avoid the
danger Of being lost or of running into
trusty guards? The longer they lay there
the more hazardous became the part
they had so recklessly ventured to play.
In the heart Of each there surged a
growing desire to abandon the plan, vet
neither could bring himself to the point
Of proposing the retreat from the inspired
undertaking. Both knew the sensible. iu-
oicious act would be to alarm the guards
and thus avoid all possible chance of a.
hasco. With misgivings and doubts in
their hearts the two self-appointed
guardians of the Princess lay there upon
the grass. afraid to give up the project
yet fearing the outcome
The dickens viii be to pay, Lorrv If
they dispose Of this guard on the inside
and lock the gate. Then how are we TO
follow?" whispered Anguish.
Lorry was thoughtful for a while. He
felt the chill OF Encouragement in his
heart.
In that case we must lie outside and
wait TIL they come out with the Princess.
Then make q sudden assault and rescua
her. In the darkness we can make them
think there are dozen rescuers," he
whispered az length. After while An
guish asked another appalling question.
the outgrowth Of brain-racking study:
Suppose these fellows. who will be in
guards uniforms, should turn about and
rapture US. What then? We are
strangers, and our story would not be be-
lieved. They could slip away in the ex-
citement and leave US in a very awkward
position"
Harry, IL we are going to hatch I'D all
sorts Of possibilities, let's give up the
thing right now. I have thought of 2
thousand contingencies, and realize now
desperate the job is to be. We must either
cast discretion to the winds or we must
retreat. Which shall we do?"
Cast aside discretion and hang orr
fears" said the other, once more Inspired
wen take chances and hope for the
best. It we see we are going to fail we
can then call for the guards. The grounds
are doubtless full of soldiers. The only
part I'm worried about is the groping
through that strange dark castle