Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-12
CHAPTER XIV.
~YE had now prisoner of war, ~ lawfully taken in the fla
 grant act, and must consider

was getting d distaste for the adven- ture. Ii implied too many hard knocks, too rough usage for a summer holi- day, and. what was much worse, it entailed on me grave responsibility.
 It seemed to me that the drift Of these lawless events was wholly in the direction of murder. The word was ugly enough. but it must be faced. Murder is what the jaw would call it. and murder was what it came near be- ing at the best The capture of Hood, then, opened road of escape, and I had already resolved to employ it. Of course it would have been possible still to Have surrendered the treasure .tb5the crown or to have handed it into sthe possession of Sercombes party; sbut, though l was reluctant to continue the bloody struggle, l was certainly Indisposed to haul down my flag If it Swere to be peace. It should be peace lwith honor. And the body of Hood sgave me my means.
 <. I was able after some argument to 7carry my point with the others. They @had both a kindly fancy for the fight ing and were inclined to take my an Snouncement in a chapfallen manner. sBut explained that was making no sdecision of myself: that I was one of three and that I had merely offered -the suggestion as my contribution to sthe counsels of war. Upon that I add Led the very cogent reasons. which had prepared in favor of my advice, and the end of the talk was that they ac- -scepted the plans I unfolded.
 To execute my scheme it was neces- sary to see Sercombe. But first I must pay visit to the prisoner, who by the time we had arrived atsa cons; clusion had lain in the baclsness of that abominable dungeon for five hours. Sheppard, indeed. had been eager to interview him, and upon, hearing of the capture had at once betaken himself to the keep. He was absent half an hour, but I did not inquire what he had been doing I merely looked at him interrogatively when he returned, which he did wearing a graver face than was usual to him. Noting the inquiry in my glance. be shook his head.
 That man is dangerous" he said "abnormally dangerous"
 Montgomery and have occasion to know that" replied. He is snake that is the substantive - and I doubt very much whether we can kill him.
 T have my doubts whether we can even scotch him." said Sheppard dryly and then dismissed the subject.
 Yet my conversation with Hood later was very commonplace and marked by no particular points. He kept his GUS tomary face of obsequiousness and gave me the briefest replies to my in 1. terrogations. was specially exercised in my mind as to the manner of his entrance into the castle. For all his dexterity and cunning. 1 could not see how, carefully watched as our fortress was, he had managed to gain admit tance over the drawbridge and through . the closed portcullis. At the question. $ "hi'h W" hNiiNtlfh punt uidHh, ut turned min0us eyes upon me and regar with shifty smile, the shadU smile. betOkening no anIi.Sc..a .t.
 E .s''I d'1't mind telling you. sir" he murmr"C ''fh9ugI it's not what l woulI s;y .rmoSr gentlemen. But you have been q gentleman. sir. throughout. and I should 3r proud tO have served you. I came with the party in the morning. sir"
 "What.' said |. "You were with the storming party?"
 ''Yes. sir Seeing you engaged. crept away know the house. sir be- ing with my poor master 90 long. And I don't hold with violence where you can do without if
 opened my eyes. Tue mans plans were conceived with excellent craft. IL would be tl" last thing I should have thought of and yet it WAS so simple to take advantage of the confusion and 7sccrete hilasnlf upon inc hattlements after his allies had fed
 "You arc q rascal. Hood returned. not without admiration. But you are a clever rascal
 Thank you. sir. said Hood
 "Ycs." I continued. you have had q smart shot for it. but your game is I'D. my man. clever as yon are. have you cagei and I think Captain Scr e9iuhe and his ~ooundrpls are further from the gDlI than ever
 Q: looks like Ir. sir admitted Hood PC I looked round upon tue dark and grimv walls. This is 2 mean hole for a man of your parts to lie fostering in. I said. but Soc DO clIoic. llefJ7e you Ton have made your own ts-,I and yJu must lie in it. \ man might r1f here and drop into the fsrD-s uf skeleton without sound or sense of the outSific world The lsal5rS of many caPtives have decayed within ihese gloomy walls
 Have they. in.ier,i- Sir=- said H0Ji politely He sat IIson ono of thc taken gases. his eyes l-ent uppn gre earnestly. his trpiy almost s7yuriIanr for a spring I could have EeIievesI tIse man vs< pra- parinS a sgfden assault UFsgn me but that [ knew he csrr5pyi ID veappn and Twas of strs1zsr and bizeeT build than he. But aVFarpurIy nothinz 0f the sort WIS in his mind It was me-riv tle deferpnse due ts my Pus5tion wh5eh he prorlziue,I in tat sttssfi1l- Tat mask of the trsfus-i servant ~gBresIeI his insIirhInaIiry ugu a< svnr- NeTe<
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