Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-03-15

sWered unenSily.
Il him we'd better so back" he
said after a pause. and we returned to
Williams. The man stood like a rock.
his eyes riveted eagerly upon the dark
figures Of III antagonists. Shall l
hre!" said he in his high Welsh voice.
NO." said l. Hold yourself togeth-
er and fire if 1 tell you. We shall have
blood on u hands soon enough"
There followed another space OF ST.
lence, broken only by the intcriectcd
voices below murmuring in conference.
For my own part I was taken up with
Montgomery and his hazardous ven
ture. l blamed myself for not stop
ping him at any cost, and in my minds
eye | followed him in his perilous as
cent. 1t was still too dark to watch
his progress. for the drum tower was
as yet shrouded in vaguenesS. and no
sound greeted Us from the stiffness Of
the breaking dawn. l think some five
minutes passed in this dreadful stage
Of anxiety. and then I observed u
movement among the men below. Evil
IDENTITY they had concerted some plan,
and we were to resist a fresh attack.
Just at this point, and when our
thoughts had been necessarily called
OF Montgomery and were directed to
the new development. there arose a
loud whooping on the battlements. and
q tall black body ran in the rear Of
the stormers and fell upon them. I
saw in the gray light something as q
fail rise and fall, and l heard the as
tonished cries of the enemy.
down. Down! Follow me-" l said
sharply and, scrambling by the stair
way, few out upon the b~attlements,
with Sheppard and Williams at my
heels. I had only my revolver for the
attack, but l used the heavy butt free
y, and cries and curses arose from the
pack Of Greeks. They scattered like a
flight Of sparrows. and Montgomery
almost fell into my arms In the ardor
OF his onset. Then we pursued, and
as they raj 1 fred some barrels Of my
revolver in the air. The alarm in
creased their panic, and, turning the
corner, they flung themselves in con-
fusion on the ropes that connected
with the sycamore. heard ~Sercombe's
voice cursing. but where in the melee
he was l had no notion, for at that
moment there arose before US. | can
not say whence, a tall figure. very
1.-THE and active. that grapp!ed With
me, gurgling strange oaths. Two strong
arms were braced about my back, and
it was with the utmost difficulty that
l kept my feet. Together we swayed
and rocked, drawing nearer to the edge
Of the parapet.
With all the strength at my com
mand I flung my body forward. and,
twisting my legs about my opponents,
l bore him sideways toward the roof.
AS l did so he wriggled a hand free
and snatched it to him. fumbling in
his coat. I bent him backward. and
suddenly his hand stood out before
my eyes, with all the light OF the gray
tainly afronted me in that second, but
l hardly knew it, for quickly an arm
was thrust owe mine. where it gripped
the rufflan round the loins, and the
next instant his hand fell and his head
went back, and, slipping through my
grasp, the body rolled over the para
pet and dropped, With a splashing
plunge. into the waters of the moat.
1t was some seconds ere l could look
round, and when l did Sheppard was
standing by my side, a long Persian
dagger in his hand, gazing vacantly
oyer the stone coping, and the ram
parts were clear of the enemy.
you saved my life, old man" l
gasped.
II believe l did" he returned slowly,
but seemed to be bordering something.
SO remote and a~bstracted was his air,
he stepped forward and severed with
his knife the ropes which bound the
sycamore.
You must chop that down" he said.
Suddenly q great glow lit up the
eastern heavens, and the trees and the
time worn ramparts rose green and
gray in the morning. The dawn broke
over US. No living soul was visible in
that early light, and only the water
rocked family against the masonry Of
the castle, carrying on its surface that
inert body.
S~hepparl's hand opened in a spasm,
and the knife fell, cutting an arc Of
light. He looked up at NE and smiled
YEARLY. Il think III go to bed, old
chap"
You have had no rest for forty-eight
hours" said /. Don't be a fool; sleep
before you think"
yes; l believe I'll take your ad-
vice he replied mechanically and.
turning slowly. marched with a dull
and sober step toward the drum, tower.
watched him go. and then / turned
to the others.
"Any dnmage?' 1 asked.
Montgomery showed his teeth.
Pooh" he said. They didn't show
fight
Williams shook his head. II have a
had knuckle,' he said.
l positively yelled with laughter.
Hometown the llilarity would not be
denied. Il W 0 both thanks l
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