The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-03-12

l at once proceeded to real
ize it. AS l walked from the draw
bridge along the moat to the back of
the castle i wondered if it was prac
ticable; but, remembering what old
Kesteven had said of his predecessors
experiment some forty years before,
had great hopes that the sluices would
still work. The brook ran, as you will
remember, behind the castle, al a little
distance from it, and / found without
difficulty the mouth of the conduit
which had been formerly used to feed
the fosse. l inserted my arm as far
as possible, and the space seemed fair
~ clear, though the earth had crept in
and lay along the bottom, grown with
Still l had no fear that the flow Of
water would not wash this sediment
away, provided always l could get the
sluices up. To find these sluices was
my next thought l moved along the
turf in the direction in which it seemed
that the culvert must run, scrutiniZing
very carefully every inch of the
ground. About three feet from the
stream was a noticeable elevation,
grass plot rising in a mound two feet
high. Here was obviously what
wanted. and so. taking spade, l dug
with will and soon had the turf re-
moved and the floor of stone erection
laid Dare. 1t was good hours work
ere 1 had cleared the rubbish away
sufficiently to free the sluices; then
laid hands on them and pulled vigor-
ously, but fruitlessly. l must plainly
have assistance, and accordingly, well
enough content with my labors so far,
I went back to the house. At break
fast l revealed my scheme, much to
the delight of Sheppard. who roundly
declared that he would give five years
of his life for this adventure. Support
ed by two enthusiastic assistants, re-
turned to work, fetching with me
heavy iron bar for use as a lever
"a little more beef. Montgomery"
shouted Sheppard. and himself grew
as red as a turkey cock with his eff
forts. Montgomery flung his heavy
body upon the extremity of the bar,
and with crack something came up
with a. jerk. At the same time I heard
below faint rumbling and rushing al
Of water
We've done it, l shouted, and ere
the words were out Of my mouth Shep-
pard and the other We're racing for the
moat, whittier they presently waved
me with wild hands.
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 tbs 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"
Wen have the castle a medieval
fortress in Il tWinkiing," said Shop
pard
The heavy chains of the drawbridge
were intact, but the machinery was in
a very bad way, and without more ado
we set TO work upon it. | called my
man Williams into requisition. and I
think it took the four of us till 6 or
o'clock in the evening ere we pro
nounced ourselves satisfied. After
that we had rehearsal with both port
cullis and drawbridge. BY this time
the moat was swimming with water.
which Tapped under the shoulders of
the bridge There must have been full
ly twelve feet of water i'll the fosse.
This won't do. Well have an inun-
dation." said Montgomery, and he let
the sluices down. When all was done we
surveyed our handiwork and were con.
tent 1t was now close upon 5 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 8 as we entered.
Watch time" said l. "Who goesw
We looked at each other, laughing.
Its my turn" said Sheppard, with
grimace, but stopped him.
No; let Montgomery" l said mean
ingly.
Right you are" responded Mont
gomery cheerfully, and, taking his
brace of pistols, he vanished along the
corridor.
''How's thisT' asked Sheppard. Il
think the poor boy has earned his din
ner."
Bless you, he shall have his dinner"
l answered Only the danger is going
to be later. and I'd rather Montgomery
were asleep in bed than asleep on the
tower
no I,Lt C,llNffItINIIrIrI