Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-09
CHAPTER XI.

q don't envy them the twelve feet of
 water to start with" said l.
 T don't envy them if they get here.'' remarked Montgomery quietly.
 Williams said nothing He looked from one to another curiously and then craned his neck over the castle wall and scrutinized the foreground. Now and then he grasped his shotgun almost mechanically. as if to feel certain that it was there. I agreed with Sheppard that If any attack was to be delivered 1t 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 it would take ar tillery at least to shaAe the huge port cullis. Yet it seemed incredible that any sane man should attempt to swim the fosse and scale the battlements. If I had been seen by that appalling face, as I conceived, the enemy would be aware that we were on the watch and ready for them. If so, I consid- cred it more than likely that they would retire and make the best of the reconnaissance they had achieved.
 q don't like this," Sheppard said. "What the mischief are they up to? Let me go and see"
 I considered. To say the truth, did not like it myself, but would it be wise to divide our forces? -.
 After a momentary reflection I 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 vals 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- emy. 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 a small crack of some firearm ensued upon it.
 That's by way of introduction" said Sheppard, and now the fight begins"
 Keeping our heads below the para pet, we stumbled as fast as possible along the roof. and presently aften rounded the corner to the northern wall. Here sight met our eyes, even in that obscurity. which struck amaze ment and even terror to my heart. I have already spoken of the sycamore which stood outside my bedroom win dow and beyond the moat. It was a lofty tree. spreading very amply, and mounted to within dozen feet of the parapet. This the ingenious wits of some one-and l had no hesitation in naming the author of the plan-had utilized to scale the walls. As found afterward, 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 1 had little doubt on thinking over it subsequently that my presence in the basement revealed to the man in the moat had given the signal for the adventure, seeing that I was not likely to be 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 a formidable whistle and struck the leads near my foot. I leap d at the fellows throat, drawing my revolver, ard. 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 the ramparts and without a pause bore down upon us. No shots were fired. and the struggle that ensued was decided in a silence almost complete. save for the noise of our hurrying feet. the sound of blows md the hard breathing of the com Datants. I cannot but admit that if he dawn had been a little further ad- rancsc and it had been possible to dis inguish between the various bodies aging in the medley things would nave gone very badly with us. But IS it was the darkness fought for us ,nce more. as it had fought tte pre- vious evening. l brought the butt of my revolver full upon the head of one nan. and he fell like a log. Shep- Dard's arms were twisted round an- yther, and the two. swsyins kgether. I 'tood out for an instant aeknst the ky and were then snappei up into he confusion of the melee. Blows . aimed upon us. and the warm gush of \ 'locd started from my arm. With a ush we were carried backward. and I he struggle seemed all over. At that } instant beilbougii me of Montgomery md Williams. and getting my finger n the trigger of my weapon. I fired he shot iev aimlessIy. but the noise sng loud upon the heights and passed rom the courtyard in dvindling 'choes. Then. throwing o1 the man rho was struggling with ne. I seized 'heppard's arm. and. dragging him rom the kneeIing posture Into which e hsd been thrust. I ran across the szds toward the rOund tower of the ssr- Sheppard rsced with me. pant