Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-03-08

strove to pull myself UP. But my
wrists had already weakened in tlat
tedious and uuavailing oscillation i'll
space, and, to my horror. l realized
that | could not get back.
"ShcppurG,,' | called family.
"Ne0! Ned came Shcppard's wills
pcl from above. and ! was vaguely
aware of Il tiny spark of light shining
as il were in heaven. The glow Lit up
The emnan of the iron ladder. anu
below this | could see as | hung the
imminent brows OF the ruined wall
and the cleaning light of water far
away. Yet this illumination proved
my salvation. The ruins were owe
run with masses of Irish ivy. as | have
said, and in the course of centuries this
strongly growing crccper had clam
bered over and beyond the proper linz
Its of decay and clothed with great
twisted branches the wall of the drum
tower at one side of me. Gnsping from
my eXertionS. l reached Il hand toward
these leaves and. catching at a thick
stem like a cable, chung to it desper-
ately while dividing my weight be-
tween the two supports. My only anN-
iety was as to whether the ivy would
hold. Its attachment to the stones of
the wall must be precarious. and vet
I had to trust it, and, posing an in
slant between the two, l dropped slow
~ upon the creeper. The friendly
branches held, and slipped carefully
down until I stood upon the broken
stones of the ruined wall. High above
I saw Sheppard light another match
and heard his voice calling to me, but
I had no strength to reply. He flung
the light from him. and, descending in
an arc, it passed before my eyes and
went out with a fizzle below. l leaned
over, and the grayness of the coming
dawn lay in the water thirty feet be-
tached by my movement, rumbled yer
the margin and fell with a great blob
into the moat. There were twelve feet
of water in the fosse. I shuddered and
called back to Sheppard.
g" was afraid something had hap
pened to you,' said he. care you all
right?'
l explained the position. wait
there, and I'll join you from the other
side. You old fool, Ned!"
I accepted the criticism meekly and
retained my place upon the ivy covered
ruins until l heard the sound Of feet
upon my right and presently perceived
Sheppard crawling over the stones to-
ward me. He sat down near me, pant
ing.
"Iou a get down from the other
side pretty easily" he declared. Its
we'll to remember that"
II don't quite see why you have done
So" I answered, rather ungratefully.
"You would be better asleep"
"Oh, ~nonsense!.' he exclaimed; then.
after a pause, The dawn will be up di-
rectly, Ned"
Presently his head nodded upon his
shoulder. I let him sleep. He must
have been Worn With his long vigil and
the longer toll. l knew that he would
not go to bed and he had better take
'H'' N't "a IoS' Il LILO lllcSll-
mate way. The stars 1iared and went
out, Yet the dawn seemed long in COM
ing. ! pulled u my watch and, strih-
ing Il match. consulted it. Ii was half
past 3. Shepparl's head lurchcl for-
ward, and his breath grew st~ertorous.
A thin fine line of light cut across the
eastern horizon, and then suddenly q
stick cracked below me. | started.
alert, intent. the drums roaring in my
ears. A soft sibilation as of voices
exchanged below the breath caught my
eager senses. Surely l could discern
the noise of footsteps falling quietly
upon the grass. l strained my sight to
pierce that g%ray-black cloud of gloom.
but there was nothing visible. and,
leaning softly forward, 1 touched Shep-
pard upon the shoulder. He was
awake in an instant and ere knew it
whispering at me under his breath:
What IS it: Are they Gomez"
Listen" l murmured. Sheppard
turned to me, motioning with his hand.
Reaclling close, he put his lips to my
ears.
They're down by the moat, explor-
he said-'several. I think. Shall
] hre:"
l grasped his hand in return. mo,
no. murmured back. You stay
here and keep quiet with your shot
gun. I'm going down to find out
With which 1 slipped noiselessly on
hands and knees until I reached the
back parts Of the wall. From here it