Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-06


 through the width of the easterly wing This passage. which was not more than ten feet across. was in effect a vault twenty feet high and thirty feet long It was here that the noise attracted me, and into this narrow channel ran, breaking unanimously upon the aggregated knot of men that seemed to struggle in the uncertain light. Stars lllumined the sky very faintly, but in that passage the gloom was heavy, and ; I could perceive very little. As 1 was casting about, tossing among the sway ing bodies. I saw immediately to my ] right the fair head of Sheppard rise, struck with the evening glow from without Forthwith I dashed the body nearest me to the ground and with my fist dislodged another man in front of me. Then I heard Sercombe's voice raised in angry remonstrance. I gathered nothing, neither words nor sense, from it, but, occupied merely with the physical lust of battle. drove right through the press of the melee to Sheppard. It seemed to me then that there were dozens of people crowded within those narrow walls, but believe, , as matter of fact, that there were only some eight of us. Sheppard rose and fell and rose again.
 "Nedi Ned.' he called, and at the sound, plunging upon human bodies, l lurched and went under A stampede of feet seemed to rush over me. 1 felt battered and bruised; the wind was all out of my lungs: but. slowly edging on my stomach toward the wall. drew out of the press. As did so heard a great dull noise thud, thud interven- ing upon the sounds of the struggle, and presently, my eyes being now ac- customed to the darkness, I caught sight of Montgomerys tall form, his arms uplifted and yielding heavy ! bar of iron.
 a. Bravo I cried and, struggling to my feet, pushed toward him.
 Turn. you fools! Curse you, turn!'' said Sercombe's voice.
 was conscious then of white teeth and grotesque screw neck that rose up before me, and even while put up my hands to choke it I felt the warm sting of knife in my shoulder blade. By some magical thought, dawning at the moment. I recalled Montgomery'a revolver. which carried in my breast pocket. and. producing it, fired at the bestial form before me There was a sharp cry. the enemy appeared to re coil, and then Montgomery's fail de scended in q pitiless shower of blows. Of Sheppard there was no sign. Seeing that the affray was turning Tin our favor, I sprang to the side, and, opening a small doorway in the south erly drum tower. rushed up the stairs It was fortunate that I had made SC complete a study of the castle I found the crank I wanted and turned the wheel. putting forward all the strength I had in my muscles Slowly the mighty portcullis descended, shriekine as it fell. but this. as had hoped. fol lowing upon the report of my revolver md accompanied as 1t was with Mont gomery's continuous and powerful blows, proved the turning point for our enemies. As the groaning gate de scended there were cries uttered in a foreign tongue and a rush ensued for the gateway. Leaving the machine tc revolve by its own impetus. l flew flown into the archway. Sercombe stood in the light expostulating. Mont gomery's weapon stretched some one Eat upon the stones as entered. and the man crawled of. I fired another cham ber of the revolver aimlessly. and the fash lit ID tho passage while the sound reverberated duly from tht y-oined vault. The portcullis fell low. CT and Serconlba was driven across tht drawbridge by his retreating allies.
 Dead CT living. they shall have him said some cae in my ear. and bcheld Sheppard. lis face smesred with blood, dragging body Tn his arms Togeth, CT we thrust it forth. and if lay half, way across the threshold. The port. cuilis dropped InVxorshly and was now within foot of The ground. The man '. lay under the range of its iron spikes The wheels crpaked above. and the distance shortened. Montgomery raH forward and showed the hndy 0utwar,i Rut it still hung halfway And then Sercombe came rapidly hack and stopping. hy a swift movement drew the inanlIaate form from beneath rhe iron spikes of tha drawhridge IT' said ID word. hrit merely glancri a' ua as we stood behind the grille.
 As Ser~ornlo's figure faded hIa@k.y f-.a the uf-h- I turned and peeTec nts the gloom Of tbe archway where Ey compani,1 stord
 Sheppard srr1ck match. and the tiny 6ame cast g. EvsF aIi0IS 7 gBt upon Ge tlrsr of --S Two EIraaks of blood erossei ShapTari's fareb-ad
 First lI -I sBd first hon1rs. he said.
 Moutggus-y bTesrted Ike a black smith
 ii uas mean tricz.- he ois<eTvei-
 An acute pafl >truek sg.iienly th-Ouza my <hoaiIeE. The foreigners zs their knIve- ap-Iy.- I remarked
 Eney ls that said Montgomery nsrcsiy- -gas G=vi h1s viery7st my s;5uzch filggz-l-
 Let us Ey is-c,s Ts tSe h5ysse.~ sad sri setfzl- Ilr eEzEpIe. turned Sze-7,anI7S EzEt E7st out auI e the fsua vzE-shal tEse I.iae-llseE darkness feiI EE- fzu z=za- Ws vaIEsI E,aek Into fae este
 -Wbzt sIgEt tt1s wound. MolJs5E