Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-03-08

The water was pouring from the con-
duit in a strong stream fully one foot
in thickness. That was enough. 1t
would take some hours TO fill the moat.
but it might take all day so long as we
were secured by the fall Of night. We
left the sluices up and went back.
The next thing" said l. lis to attack
the ~drawbridge. The portcullis wants
Oil, but that will do later"
Well have the castle a mediaeval
fortress in a twinkling.' said Shep-
pard.
The heavy chains OF the druwbridge
were intact, but the machinery was in
a Very bad way. and without more ado
We set TO work upon it. l called my
man Williams into reQuisition, and l
think 1t took the four of us till 8 or Z
o'clock in the evening ere we pro-
nounceu ourselves satisfied. After
that we had Il rehearsal with both port
culliS and drawbridge. BY this time
the moat was swimming With water,
which Tapped under the shoulders Of
b e bridge. There must have been full
ly twelve feet of water in the tosse.
This Won't do. Well have an inun-
dation." said Montgomery. and he let
b sluices down. When all was done we
surveyed our handiwork and We're on
tent. 1t was now close upon s o'clock.
Dinner had been ready for more than
half an hour, SO we were informed by
Mrs. Main. who must have regarded
US as lunatics. The clock in the hall
struck s as we entered.
watch time" said l. Who goes:"
We looked at each other, laughing.
Its my turn" said Sheppard, with Il
grimace, but l stopped him.
mo; let Montgomery 1 said mean
ingly.
Right you are" responded Mont
gomery cheerfully, and, taking his
brace of pistols. he vanished along the
corridor.
Flows this" asked Sheppard. Il
think the poor boy has earned his din
ner."
BLESS you. he shall have his dinner
I answered. Only the danger is going
to be later, and I'd rather Montgomery
were asleep in bed than asleep on the
tower"
We had arranged that Williams
should stay the night in the castle and,
imbuing him with the fear of burglars,
had armed him with L shotgun in case
we should come to the worst. As Shep-
pard remarked. we could readily tan
gle the Welshman's brains if he DO
came suspicious. and if his g%arrulity
should bring lis the sympathetic as
sistance of the law l think We could
be stupid enough and vague enough
to confound his kindly efforts. Mrs.
Main was by this time bound to US
by iron ties through Sheppard's con-
trivance. nor do l know to this day ex-
actly how he managed it or in what
directions he used his amiable and
soothing tictions. The housemaid was
Mrs. Mains hlreling. and we need
scarcely include her in our calcula-
tons.
We We're now. as 1 conceived. ade-
Quately fortified against a surprise.
From s O'Clock until dawn upon the
next morning we should be stretched
upon the rack of suspense, but each of
US was sturdily resolved to accomplish
his duty at all hazards. That an attack
would be delivered l had few doubts.
but my anxiety lay rather as to the
watch in which it would be delivered.
had sent Montgomery to his post
early, as it seemed wiser for more re-
sponsible heads than his to axe the
deeper and darker hours of the night.
From $ till II his time ran. and vet
they might be upon us ere that. He
was fed with some sandwiches and
cheercd with a little wine. while be-
low Sheppard and l waited in a cond-
ton Of tension.
"Oh. hang it" exclaimed Sheppard
presently. after dinner, Il can't stand
this. Let us go and join him"
You would be much wiser" said l.,
Ito get an hours Sleep
Sheppard shrugged his shoulders.
It's M ,ir2 next, you say. and I'm
hot used 10 be awakened i'll my beauty
sleep. It's bad for me. No: III go to
bed when you relieve me. But l rec
ominend Your own advice to Yourself"
And l will take it." l answered.
See that Montgomery gets his supper
and goes to bed like a sensible person.
LII be with you 1T 9 p~unctually."
l cannot say that l enjoyed q peace
full sleep. Although I was dog tired.
partly from the cxertion of the days
work and partly because had had no
rest the previous night, I still SUM
bered very itfully. Finally awoke in
a fever and. throwing the hot blankets
from me, stepped to the open window.
Ny bedroom faced the north, and the
cool airs that heralded the dawn wan
derel over me. reducing the fume and
fire OF my nerves. Far away some
FOSTERING bird was calling. not in his
spring notes. but raucous now with the
so1nber heat of autumn. The curtain
Of the dawn was lifting. 1t was time
for me to relieve Sheppard. Ny watch
marked Il quarter to 9. Having dress
ed, l went down to the great hall and,
thrusting the western windows open.
looked out. Trees. like great ghosts,
invisible. whispered in the night TO-