Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-20

Sheppard, when they find there is no
entrance below
81 don't envy them the twelve feet of
water to start with" said /.
Il don't envy them IL they get here"
remarked Montgomery quietly.
Williams said nothing. He looked
from one to another curiously and then
crancd his neck over the castle wall
and scrutnjzcd the foreground Now
and then he grasped his shotgun almost
mechanically. as If to feel certain that
1t was there. agreed with Sheppard
that II any attack was to be delivered
ii would be upon the breach made by
time in the defenses. There was no
way into the castle by the gratings
above the moat, and 1t would take ar
tillery at least to shake the huge port.
cu!Iis. Yet 1t seemed Incredible that
any sane man should attempt to swim
the fosse and scale the battlements.
IL had been seen by that appalling
face, as l conceived. the enemy would
he aware TINT we were on the watch
aud ready for them. II SO, l consid.
ClGu II luolS biNSly NbSy
would retire and make the best Of tho
reconnaissance they had achieved.
Il don't Hike this Sheppard said.
What the mischief are they up to-?
Let me so and see"
/ considered To say the truth, did
not like it myself but would it be wise
to divide our forces?
After a rnomentary reflection l de-
cided to do SO, and, enjoining upon
Montgomery strict vigilance, crawl
ed after Sheppard toward the upper
battlements.
Once we had reached the ramparts
we proceeded more quickly, but still
with great caution, stopping at inter-
walls to reconnoiter the ground below
But there was nothing to be seen or
heard. and until we had passed the
keep and had got upon the western
wall we encountered no sign of the en-
envy. Here, however, Sheppard stop
ped short and pressed his hand on my
shoulder.
"Down!" he said.
simultaneously with his words a
whiz Of cold air passed my nose, and
small crack Of some firearm ensued
upon it.
That's by way of Introduction" said
Sheppard, land now the fight begins"
Keeping our heads below the para.
pet, we stumbled as fast as possible
along the roof, and presently after
rounded the corner to the northern
wall Here a sight met our eyes, even
in thut obscurity, which struck amaze
ment and even terror to my heart. l
have already spoken Of the sycamore
which stood outside my bedroom win
dow and beyond the mont 1t was
lofty tree, spreading very amply, and
mounted to within dozen feet of the
parapet. This the ingenious wits Of
some one--and had no hesitation In
naming the author Of the plan-had
utilized to scale the walls. AS found
afterward, a tough and serviceable
rope had been employed to connect the
peaks Of the battlement with the tree,
and over this, as we came into sight,
the black figures Of men were scram-
bling. l had little doubt on thinking
over 1t subsequently that my presence
in the basement revealed to the man In
the moat had given the signal for the
adventure, seeing that was not likely
to DO In my chamber and able to detect
them ere the enterprise had gone for
ward sufficiently.
Both of us sprang forward on the
instant, but ere we could reach the
spot the foremost Of the men, landing,
stood up and made at us with cut
lass. Taken aback by the shock, Shep-
pard, who was in front, gave way, and
the weapon, swinging heavily, cut the
air with formidable whistle and
struck the leads near my foot. leap
ed at the fellows throat, drawing my
revolver, and, borne back by the Inn
petus of my charge he stumbled
against the second man. But by this
time some half dozen Of the storming
party had gained tue ramparts and
without pause bore down upon us.
No shots were fred, and the struggle
that ensued was decided in silence
almost complete, save for the noise Of
our hurrying feet, the sound of blows
and the hard breathing of the COM
batants. I cannot but admit that II
the dawn had been little further adj
vanced and it had been possible to dis
tinguish between the various bodies
raging in the medley things would
have gone very badly with us. But
as it was the darkness fought for us
once more. as it had fought the pre-
vl.,.s evening l brought the butt Of
my revolver full upon the head of one
man, and he fell like u log. Shop
pard's arms were twisted round an
other. and the two, swaying together,
stood out for an instant against the
sky and We're then snapped up into
the confusion of the melee. Blows
rained upon us, and the warm gush of
blood started from my arm. With q
rush we were carried backward, and
the struggle seemed all over. At that
instant I bethought me Of Montgomery
and Williams, and, getting my finger
on the trigger Of my weapon, l fired.
The shot few aimlessly, but the noise
rang loud upon the heights and passed
from the courtyard in dwindling
echoes Then, throwing of the man
who was struggling with me, seized
Sheppard's arm, and. dragging him
from the kneeling posture into which
ha hoI honn %hr,1cf 7 RON QonAaa tho