Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-26
height, and I was obliged to walk wi

a slight stoop. To add to my discom.
fort the roof, which was rudely put to.
gether of huge stones, was very wet,
and water trickled at intervals on my
head. Moreover was being grad.
ually coated with filth from the sticky
nature of the clay through which tho
gallery was driven and which had. in
the course Of time, percolated between
the stones. But l was now resolved to
see the end of the adventure, and SO
pushed on, undeterred by the incon.
yeniences and almost oblivious Of my
fears
A sense Of sufTocation accompanied
me, but soon that feeling wore of, and
| strobe along at q sharper pace, light
ing my way as we'll US could with tho
lantern and stumbling at intervals over
the debris OF earth and stone which
numbered the footway. l must have
gone some 800 yards In this fashion
when began to find the passage grow
ing lighter Some time afterwnrd l
discovered ahead, but shining as 1t
seemed frum great distance, a point
of brightness that grew us l advanced.
This was undoubtedly the mouth of the
tunnel, and. assured now Of reaching
some goal and no longer oppressed by
the terror of that dismal alley, In
creased my pace, moving forward to
the light with cheerful alacrity.
Thus drew near to the jaws Of that
exit and came presently from the gal
lery itself into wider space OF cavern
facing the heavens and rnined upon by
stars. About me the hollow, shadowed
and bidder. under the thick autumn To-
liage, was very gently luminous.
had now to determine my position,
and I will confess that could not
make the least guess of my where
abouts. A. noise Of water ran In my
ears. coming from my right hand, and
toward this l pushed my way. The
trees were close, and the underground
of bracken and bushes rendered my adj
vance very gradual, but by degrees
arrived at my point and found, what /
had lately begun to suspect, that tho
sound rose from the little brook, which
here descended the face Of steep
slope in pleasant gushing waterfall.
A great govt of water, flung from the
stones. dashed in my face quite mer-
rily, and, heated with the confinement
of the gallery and my long and trouble
some passage, stopped and bnthed
my face and hands in the running
stream. now began to see where
was. This was point In the Gwent
below the castle where the brook left
the park and where the hill fell sud
denly away into the valley, clothed
with a dense forest and traversed by
few save charcoal burners.
I reflected that this was valuable
adit to the castle, and then upon that
fell like blow the second thought
that Hood might have chosen this mode
of escape, in which case the gallery
was drawback to us rather than an
advantage. And yet 1t appeared ride
ulous to suppose that fugitive would
hunt about to follow the longer and
more arduous route Of flight. On tho
whole, decided that Hood must have
fed by the sally port and across the
moat Anyhow, he was gone, and 1t
behooved III to renew our defenses and
concert our plans afresh.
As l reached this conclusion In my
reverie, with the sound Of the waters
pleasantly dulling my ears, seemed
to catch sight Of reflection flashing
black among the tangled lights Of the
pool below me. The next moment
was hurled headlong, and when was
awake to my position ten seconds lat
er the blood was drumming in my
ears, my temples throbbed with pain,
and two men were kneeling on my
chest.
LET him be, Charaxos! Loose his
throat, you fool!' said voice which
had familiar effect upon me. stag
gered to sitting position, the two ruff
fans holding me- and stared about me.
Every sorry, sir" said Hood. Hope
they didn't choke you too much, sir.
Twas near 60"
gasped, considering him. II came
to bring your supper, Hood" STAN
mered, and to this day l am glad to
think took the reverse with so much
GOODNESS. For it was no mean feat,
can assure you, with the breath out Of
my body and my wits wandering and
my head ringing from an ugly blow
"Thank you, SIR" said Hood, with his
usual effrontery. THANK you kindly,
sir, I'm sure"
fro Ra contlpueA.N