Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-02-06

delight ] had missed nv not knowing
my Nais earlier! But She had a will
of her own through il all, and some
quaint conceits which made her all
the more adorable. She rallied me on
the new cleanncsS Of my chin, and on
the robe which ] had taken az a COW
ering She professed a pretty awe
for my kingship, and vowed that had
she known Of my coming dignities she
would never have dared to discover a
love for me.
Phorenicc. IL seemed. had more
rage against the Priests clan on the
mountain and more bright genius to
help her to a vengeance than I had
credited. Her troops stormed easily
the gates we had left 20 them. and
swarmed up till they stood where the
pathway was broken down. In the
fierccness of their rush the foremost
were thrust over the brink by those
pressing up behind before the ad-
vance could be halted, and these went
screaming to = horrid death in the
great gulf below. But il was no po-
sition here that a lavish spending Of
men could take, and presently all
were drawn off. save for some half
score who stood as outpost sentries
and lodged out Of arrow-shot behind
angles Of the rock
1T seems. too. that the empress
herself reconnoitered the place, using
due caution and quickness, and so
got for herself a full plan Of its re-
quirements without being obliged to
trust the measuring Of another eye.
With extraordinary nimhleness she
must have planned an engine such as
was necessary to suit her purposes,
and given orders for its making: for
even with the vast force and re-
sources at her disposal, the speed
with which it was built was pro-
digious.
There was very little noise made
TO tell of what was afoot. All the
wood work and metal-work was cut
and tongued and forged and fitted
first by skilled craftsmen below in
the plain at the foot of the cleft; and
when each pondcrous balk and each
crosspiece and each plank was
dragged up the steep pass through
the conquered gates. it was ready
Instantly for fitting into its appoint
ed place in the completed machine.
The cleft was straight where they
set about their building, and there
vas no curve or spur of the cllff to
hide their handiwork from those
Of the priests who watched from the
ramparts Above our one remaining
gate. But Phorence had coyness
lest her engine should be seen be-
tore it was complcted, and so to
screen it she had vast fire built
at the uppermost point where the
causewuy was broken off, and fed
diligently with wet sedge and green
wood. so that great smoke poured
out. rising like curtain that shut
out all view. And so. though the
priests on the rampant above the gate
picked off now and again some Of
hose who tended the Are. they could
80 the hesicgers no further injury,
hnd remained mp 70 the last quite in
norance of their tactics.
The passage up the cleft was in
shadow during the night hours. for,
though all the crest of the Sacred
Mountain was always lit brightly by
the eternal fires which made its de-
Tense on the farther side, their glow
threw no CLEAN down that Aank
where the cliff ran sheer to the plains
beneath. And so it was under cover
of the darkness that PhOrenice
brought up her engine into position
for attack.
Plhnking had been laid down for its
wheels. and the wheels themselves
well creased and il may be that she
hoped to march in upon us while all
slept. But there was certain
creaking and grooming Of timbers
and labored painting Of men which
gave advertisement that something
was being attempted, and the alarm
was spread quietly in the hope that,
il surprise had been planned, the
real surprise might be turned the
W HtT way.
A messenger came to me. running,
where | sat in the house al the side
Of my love. and she, like the soldiers
wife she was made TO be. kissed me
and bade me go quickly and care for
my honor, and bring back my wounds
for her 10 mend.
On the rampant above the gate
oil was silence, save for the faint
rustic Of armed men, and out of the
black darkness aherd, from the other
side of the broken cauSeway, came
he sounds OF which the messenger
had warned me.
The captain Of tho gate came TO
me and whispered: I'VE have made
no light till tho king came. not know
ing the kings will in the matter Is
II wis ned ] send some of he throw
ing-hre down yonder. on the chance
that it does some harm. and al the
same time lights mp the place? Or
is il willed that we wait for their sur
priSr?"
Send the fire." said "or we may
find that Phorenice's brain has been
one too many for MS"
The captain Of the gate took one
Of the balls in his hand. lit the fuse
and hurled il. The horrd thing
burst among mass Of men who were
laboring with huge engine, spatter-
ing them with its deadly FIRE. and
Lighting their garments. The plan
of the engine showed itself plainly.