Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-01-19

small noise and after that again pat tering feet receding I think some one has ind ge>tioh today in Sercombe's army
 Sheppard shouldered his gun and walked to the northern verge of the parapet. Stopping he funbied in the darkness. and tile next moment his voice sounded from below my feet. Follow me, Ned,' he called Cropping about with feet and bands, l came up- on an open hole ill the floor and, in sorting my legs cautiously, happened upon the first step in stone stairway. Diligently stepping down this through | sheer blackness. 1 came out upon Shep- pard,s heels into what by comparison seemed daylight. The stars glistened in the canopy of heaven. 1 was out upon the battlements.
 We might have known there was some communication between the keep and the bHtt!eHlent," said Sheppard "fou see the advantage. Eve been pacing this walk like q sentinel for the last two hours"
 Can you get right r9und:"
 I'll show you" he returned and led the, WaY along that lofty roadway The battleA1cnts naturally stretched across the width of the castle, running from wall to wall. The parapet stood some five feet high and wts broken with the manifestations of tEc design. There was ample space, therefore, for twenty men at arms to march abreast along
 
 his head just swinging clear of the par apet and the black darkness contained between the shadows of the ramparts The leaden roof was incumbered with rubbish. Presently Sheppard paused and there rose quickly before me out of the superintendent gloom the black CT mass of the drum towers Feeling his way, Sheppard hit upon an iron ladder connecting with the heights above. and presently we stood upon the topmost pinnacle of the castle and peered from it into the night. The noe turnal insts and blackness of the val ley below were slowly shifting The trees gradually grew black, showing against d vast and gray gloom. Yet there was no light visible in those
 
 seething changes of the elements. The night still hung about us.
 The southern drum tower looked down upon deeper shadows, and could not descry the wall below. turned to my companion for an eXpla- nation and smiled at the confusion of my own brain when he answered:
 That's tue south, Ned. You know the battements are in ruins there."
 Of course they were, but 1 was not to be deterred from q complete circuit of the walls by that small fact, and groped for the ladder.
 Be careful, Ned," said Sheppard. Better not Wait till it's light
 Now, I knew very we'll at the time that he spoke wisely and that I was merely taking rash hazard for no better purpose than to display to my self my own determination-or obsti- macy. if you will. But the feeling was strong upon me, and so, picking my steps down the ladder, I paid him no attention Presently my foot, descend ing, shot through empty air and coin cidently with that the iron bar to which was clinging with my left hand ceased abruptly. For a moment 1 had a sicllly sensation in my stom= ach, and went quite cold. But, brac- ing myself together, 1 kneeled upon the lowermost step and launched my body into space.
 I have no intention, as 1 say, of de- lending my foolhardiness, nor do I take any credit for my ultimate escape from what was undoubtedly deadly peril. My legs kicked aimlessly in the air and found no rest. l frightened my hold upon the iron of the ladder and strove to pull myself up. But my wrists had already weakened in that tedious and unavailing oscillation in space, and, to my horror, l realized that 1 could not get back.
 "Sheppard!' l called faintly.
 "Ned. Ned.' came Sheppard's whis per from above, and l was vaguely aware of a tiny spark of light shining as it were in heaven. The glow lit up the remnants of the iron ladder, and below this could see as 1 hung the
  and the gleaming light of water far away Yet this illumination proved my salvation. The ruins were over run with masses of Irish ivy, as l have said, and in the course of centuries this strongly growing creeper had clam bered over and beyond the proper linn its of decay and clothed with great twisted branches the wall of the drum tower at one side of me. Gasping from my exertions, I reached a hand toward these leaves and, catching at q thick stem like a cable clung to it desper- ately while dividing my weight be- tween the two supports. My only anx- iety was as to whether the ivy would hold. It's attachment to the stones of the wall must be precarious, and yet I had to trust it, and. poising an in- stant between the two. dropped slow ly upon the creeper. The friendly branches held, and I slipped carefully Hou,p until stood ,,nOn tho hrOEnO