Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-04-26


trust the measuring of another eye.
With extraordinary nimbleness she
must have planned an engine such as
was necessary to suit her purposes,
and given orders for it's 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
woodwork 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 ponderous 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
was no curve or spur of the cliff to
hide their handiwork from those
of the priests who watched from the
ramparts all owe our one remaining
gate But Phorenice had coyness
lest her engine should be seen be-
fore it was completed, and so to
screen it she had a vast fire built
at the .uppermost point where the
causeway 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
those who tended the fire, they could
do the besiegers no further injury,
and remained up to the last quite in
ignorance 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 it's de-
Tense on the farther side, their glow
threw no CLEAN down that flank
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.
Planking had been laid down for its
wheels, and the wheels themselves
well CREASED, and it 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,
if surprise had been planned, the
real surprise might be turned the
other way.
A messenger came to me, running,
| where / sat in the house at the side
of my love, and she, like the soldiers
wife she was made to be, kissed me
and babe me go quickly and care for
my honor. and bring back my wounds
| for her to mend.
On the rampant above the gate
all was silence, save for the faint
rustic of armed men, and out of the
black darkness ahead, from the other
side of the broken causeway, came
the sounds of which the messenger
had warned me.
The, captain of the gate came to
me and whispered: "We have made
no light till the king came, not know
ing the kings will in the matter. Is
it wished l send some of the throw
ing-fre down yonder, on the chance
that it does some harm, and at the
same time lights up the place? Or
| is it willed that we wait for their sur
prise?"
"Send the fire. I said, cor we may
find that Phorenice's brain has been
one too many for u.s."
The captain of the gate took one
| of the balls in his hand, lit the fuse
| and hurled it. The horrid thing
burst among a 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.
They had built them vast great
tower, resting on wheels at its base,
so that it might be pushed forward
from behind, and slanting at its foot
to allow for the steepness of the path
| and leave it always upright.
1t was stored inside, with ladders
joining each floor, and through Sits
in the side which faced us bowmen
could cover an attack. From its top
great bridge reared high above it,
being carried vertically till the tower
was brought near enough for its use.
| The bridge was hinged at the third
story of the tower. and fastened with
| ropes to its extreme top; but, once
| the ropes were cut, the bridge would
| fall, and light upon whatever came
| within it's swing, and be held there
| by the spikes with which it was stud
ded beneath.
| 1 saw, and inwardly felt myself
| conquered. The cleverness of Pho
renice had been too strong for my
| defense. No war-engine of which
we had command could overset the
| tower. The whole of It's massive
| timbers were hung with the wet new
stripped skins of beasts, so that even
the throwing-fre could not destroy
it, What puny means we had to i'm
pede those who pushed it forward
would have little effect. Presently it
would come to the place appointed,
and the ropes would be cut, and the
bridge would thunder down on the
rampant above our last gate, and the
stormers would pour out to their
final success.
Well, life had doomed very pleasant
for me these few days, with a warm
and loving Nais once more in touch
of my arms, but the high gods in
their infinite wisdom knew best al
| ways, and / was no rebel to stay
stiff-necked against their decision.
But it is ever soldiers privilege,
come what may, to warm over fight,
and the most exquisitely fierce joy
of all is that final fight of man
who knows that he must die, and who
luStS only TO make his he'd of slain