Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-09
By H. B. MARRIOTT wATSOl

down the lid which gave access to the top of the tower and, turning, looked down upon the neither battlements. After an intellectual rally upon the stairs the assailants drew off and, huddling in group some twenty paces away. whispered together. heard the sounds of their voices stirring in argu- ment, and now and then syllable came to me, faintly familiar. Where had I heard it? Above the rest and lighted by the kindling sky lowered a form which took to be Sercombe's. For the space of three minutes or more this interval of rest continued, and then louder voice cried some thing from the terrace. I recognized it now. The language was Greek. and those strange and horrible creatures, that seemed somehow to my excited brain compact of all deformities, were Greeks-sailors also. as I conjectured from the smartness of the trick which had led to our discontinue. At this moment low whistle came from the farther corner of the tower, and i'm mediately two heads stole over the coping.
 ''It is l." said Montgomery. "What has happened:"
 We welcomed them with warmth and hastily unfolded the situation. but the words were scarce out of my mouth when noise of feet and a changing of iron proclaimed a renewed attack upon the tower. Upon those heights, as have explained, lay the wreckage and debris of centuries. Cropping in this. Montgomery found q large stone and, leaning over the para pet, hurled 1t down upon the crowd. Almost as quick as thought we follow ed his example and had the satisfac- tion of seeing the parties withdraw to a safer distance. It was now plain to me that Sercombe had issued an order against the use of firearms. If the business could be managed without un- due disturbance, he had decided that it was wiser. Indeed, the strange part of this remarkable encounter was that, saving the first shot and my own sig nal of distress, the conflict had been carried on in comparative silence.
 had also come to the conclusion that the fight was one to obtain pos session of ourselves. It was to secure our bodies that the attack was directed. Sercombe knew well enough and Hood knew even better that to gain access to the precincts of the castle meant very little provided we were still at liberty and able to resist forcible re- moval of the treasure. Bound and gagged or stunned or dead we should offer them no further. trouble, and the |, treasure, ,af, the Nyyians would be theirs to deport at their convenience.
 Sheppard clicked the trigger of his revolver. The first man that essays this position shall find the time has come for real warfare" he observed quietly.
 Do not be in hurry" answered. "We have still the upper hand.' He waited expectant. You know the drum tower down which I climbed? l think 1t would not be bad plan to venture that and take them in the rear"
 "The devils are plotting mischief" said Sheppard uneasily. ,.
 T wonder if we could manage that ascent" 1 said. ,..r..
 Montgomery moved forward. q will" he said.
 No. mo-" said Sheppard.
 "I think had better go." hazarded.
 "You're wanted here" said Mont gomery. T know the way" And ere I could speak or interfere he sprang away and was on the ladder leading to the southern battlements.
 "Come back, Come back" I called under my breath.
 "Ned. Ned. Don't spoil hts chances whispered Sheppard. and we watched his biz body vanishing in silence.
 ''That boy is going to his death," he murmured. Il hope you'll trust hi, now
 ''oh. hang your sentimentg' I an. swered uneasily.
 Il think wed better go back" he said after pause. and We returned to Williams. The man stood like a rock, his eyes riveted eagerly upon the dark figures of our antagonists. sShall I fire!' said he in his high Welsh voice.
 No said l. Hold yourself togeth- CT and fire if I tell you. We shall have blood on OUT hands soon enough"
 There followed another space of si. lence. broken only by the interjectel voices below murmuring in conference. For my own part was taken up with Montgomery and his hazardous ven ture. I blamed myself for not stop ping him at any cost. and in my minds eye I followed him in his perilous as- cent. IL was still too dark to watch his progress. for the drum tower was as yet shrouded in vagueDess. and no sound greeted us from the stiffness of 1. the breaking dawn. I think some five minutes passed in this dreadful stage of anxiety. and then observed a movement among the men below. Evi- l dently they had concerted some plan. ! and we were to resist a fresh attack. l Just at this point. and when our thoughts had been necessarily called l on Montgomery and were directed to the new development. there arose a loud wbooping on the battlenents. and q tall black body ran in the rear of the stormers and fell upon them rzH fr -h. r-.w IsrA. -unrnr4hfrr .u