The Washington times., 1904-07-10
Story of the Rock the Grim Guardian the Portals of the
Mediterranean and Employing Romance IN Which Cupid
and Mars Played Equal Parts. y ~ q ~ ~

1t was acknowledged as a certainty
that, except for the unusual precau-
tons adopted by Colonel Hardxicke. IL
Spanish assault would have been com
pletely successful.
The redoubtable coup by which the
British had secured control of Gibraltar
would have been forgotten I'm the subse-
quent ingiorious defeat
A thorough inquiry was at once set
on foot to ascertain how II had happened
that the Spaniards had been able 10
gain access to the keystone OF the whole
system of Notifications. and to capture
the signal station upon the very sum-
nit of the Rock. without encountering
more than the merest pretense Of
defense.
The officers in charge Of the inquiry.
ignoring the fact that the existence of
the path up the cIfffside had bcc--
wholly unknown until the Spaniards
made use of 1t for reaching the height,
gave heed only to two indisputable
facts.
The first OF these was that the attack
had been a complete surprise so far as
the men In the signal station were con-
cerned. The second was that the as
sault had taken place within the dis
trict commanded by Lieutenant Cal
thorpe. Therefore, the inquirers direct
ed that the lieutenant should be tried
by court-martlal for neglect of duty.
Such an event as a court-martial, or.
indeed. trial of any sort. was nov
city for most of the inhabitants of Gil
braltar The news that an English lieu
tenant was TO be tried, and perhaps 10
be shot. for permitting the Spaniards to
come upon the Rock. aroused the great
est interest among the residents of the
town. The trial itself, which was held
in one of the buildings connected with
the generals palace, attracted not only
the military men attached to the gar
rison. but a large number of the towns
people as well. the latter lured .thither
| by the promise OF a spectacle.
AS for Calthorpe himself the prospect
was not encouraging. On recovering his
senses after his encounter with the
! Spaniard's musket stock, he had prompt
/ ly been put under arrest, and since that
! time had been under close surveillance.
! The most that could happen TO him
was likely to be suspension or depriva-
! ton of his rank. but either of these pos
I sibilities was serious enough. coming at
a time when the prospect Of active SER
vice and consequent promotion was so
excellent
! Calthorpe consoled himself with the
thought that he had acted as any other
officer would have acted in the same
position. No man not gifted with super
nal powers could have been expected %
know OF the existence OF path Of which
even the oldest inhabitants OF the Rock
I were unaware.
| And yet he understood perfectly that
| this palliation, while sufficient in his
own eyes and those OF his friends, would
not be accepted by a military tribunal
| II was therefore with no pleasant an
| ticipation that he entered the room
where his case was to be decided The
court was crowded with curious onlook-
ers. who gazed at him as though ex-
| pecting 10 find something strange and
unusual in his very appearance
The trial advanced along the ordinary
lines and with all due soIemnity.
1t was shown that Lieutenant Cal
thorpe was the officer in command OF
the signal station at the summit Of the
Rock and of the heights Immediately
surrounding; that on the occasion of the
Spanish attack no guard had been sta
| toned at the summit OF the path, mol
between that point and the station It.
self. AS a consequence Of this fact the
Spaniards had been able 10 seize the
| station and had narrowly been prevent
| ed from taking the Rock Itself
In the midst OF the trial when thu
evidence OF the prosecuting officer haS
been handed in and at the point wher'
| the prisoner was about to be aslxeS
what he had TO say in his own defense
a buzz Of interest arose In the rear OF
the room. A moment later Anita, push.
ing through the lines of spectators. ad
vanced 70 the bar and addressed tht
judges.
At the moment of her appearance Cal
thorpe leaned forward in eager expec
fancy. He had no notion of her errand
but the mere fact of her coming to tbs
place was a matter CT intense Interest
TO him.
The judges. too, displayed curiosity e
learn the object of this unexpected in
terruption. A silence fell upon the cour
room while Anita explained in a fev
words her desire to be heard as a wit
ness.
As soon as she was placed upon tn.
witness bench Anita explained her con
nection with the attack OF the Spanish
upon the Rock.
She had shown them the secret pail
I'D the mountainside. She alone wal
responsible for the surprise OF the Eng
fish station upon the height.
The assemblage listened with breath
less interest to the recital which AMT;
addressed directly to the presiding Off
Ger of the court When she had finished
the latter. with a few well directed ques
lions. brought out some further fact
regarding her undertaking.
And do you mean TO say that YOU
went alone down the moUntain-side t.
give this information to the Spanish
officers?" he asked.
Yes. your highness. replied Anita
simply.
III was brave act" he said, kindly
however mistaken its purpose Were
you not afraid?
Yes. your highness." replied Anita
but I went IN spite of the fear"
That is I'LL that the bravest hero
ever does" continued the officer. AND
lnow will you tell me why you chose Il
do this for the Spaniards-men who art
not Of your own racer
Anita hesitated for a moment; ther
she said, proudly, her face flushing witt
the confession:
II went for the love that was I'm ny
l.. 49, faN har