Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-02


door open, and the slave before him
into the bedchanber. The second slave starte
to his feet, uttering sharp cultural cry.
Some one struck him over the head with the
butt of pistol, but Cressingham did not wait to
observe results, for the Count dAttala, though
not entirely aroused, was stirring restlessy. The
young man hurried TO the bed and waited cock
ing his revolver
The Count thrust his lxnuclsles in his eyes and
half raised himself What is the matter?" he
demanded testify; then seeing Cressingham, and
marking too his attendants in the hands of such
hostile numbers, his face slowly banched, and
he sat upright in bed. what does this mean ?"
he stammered angrly.
1T means-you are my prisoner" said Cres,
hhgham. Don't move, Count, and keep silence
II you value your life. Orsinil Vincenzo! your
assistance, please"
The two gentlemen named rapidly approached,
each provided with stout roll of cord
Bind the Count" continued Cressingham; his
hands behind his baclx--so; now his feet~ah,
thanksi Now, if you please, Count, you will
give your ordinary signal for summoning your
servants"
The Count smiled, and shook his head. Cres-
singham eyed him sternly.
"You refuse?"
do you take me for foolY
once clapped his hand over the old mans mouth
Next moment he was so securely gagged that ne
could not have uttered the least sound had ne
been ever so disposed
Cressingham searched the walls OF the room
and presently discovered bell rope, which he
sharply pulled. Two minutes afterwards knock
sounded on the door, and negro entered the
room He was instantly stunned by a pioW
from club, bound and gagged.
Cressingham rang the bell again, and again re-
peated the process, until. eleven OF the CoNnts 8
servants had been thus happily disposed OIL
Tbereaf fter no answer was vouchsafed his sum-
mons.
Leaving the Count d'Attala in charge of two
gentlemen, whom he gave strict orders to snoot
the old man should any rescue be attempteo
Cressingham then sailed forth at the head OF ms
thirteen remaining comrades to explore the castle
room by room. =,
Every apartment on the ground floor was de
serted Ascending the staircase, they found
similar condition to prevail; no sign couia they
find off Madame or Miss Elliott, and Cressing
ham, in regard to the latter, became nleu WIN
the gravest anxiety. 1t became necessary TO ap-
proach the basement, and after little search
thew discovered staircase leading downwaras
from the first floor. Daylight had already pFok-
en- by this and they were able to discard tneir
lanterns as useless lumber.
A few moments suffaced to explore everything
and Cressingham constrained TO pause ZOE
the moment entirely baffied
One of his companions, however, pointed 10
thin trail of smoke that issued from the rock
below the sheer ledge upon which the garuen
jutted. Waiting there in silent speculauon, an
heard the muffed thud of engines, the talnt
whirr of machinery beneath their very teet.
Another search was Immediately instituted,
and this revealed trap-door in the very centre
of the basement. Opening this, the roar OF ma
chinery instantly grew louder, but the darkness
below was intense.
they found themselves in an immense apartment
similar to the basement, only this was entirely
shut in by the solid framework of the mountain.
Their lamps showed them at one end large
dynamo and steam engine, both OF whIch were
in motion: at the other, mass OF different ma
cbinery and telcgraphists operating table, upon
which an instrument monotonousy tucked
Against the central wall reposed large printing
press and long fonts of type The place was
further occupied by quite score OF men, some
white, some black. All were restihg on INC nooi'
half were asleep. a.
Those awake turned and glanced at the intrudt
ers. but with an indifference which was at frst
startling from its utter unexpectedness But the
reason was soon made manifest.
Each movement that they made was accom-
panied by the clanking of iron, and hasty ex-
animation informed Cressingham that they were
one and all gyved and fettered with the most su-
,,erIative care their heavy chains in every case
being riveted to- ring bolts in the floor. While
tbe gentlemen stood then endeavoring to recover
from their astonshment, two men got slowly to
their feet, and after careless glance into the
furnace of the engine, unscrewed tap and pour.
ed into funnelshaped opening quantity OF
oil from cans which stood within their range of
action.
Cressingham's first thought was that these men
must all be suffering victims, unfortunate crea-
lures whom the cruel Nihilists had possibly kid
mapped from ther> homes, printers telegraphists,
engineers, perhaps of special ability, who had
been stolen into such vile slavery, and thence
forth compelled TO serve their inhuman task
roasters bitterly against their will. With this
;dea he started forward to examine them.
The Young man was, however, soon disabused
of his imaginings and his kindly intention to
immediately release them perished almost as
soon as it was born. They possessed, without ex-
ception, countenances unmistakaby vicious and
criminal, and it needed no rhysognomist to dis
Germ as desperate and abandoned a set of rogues
and scoundres as the gaols Of Europe could
readily produce in rivalry.
Ten minutes Of vigorous and systematic search
failed to discover any means Of egress from the
cavern except the door by which they had en-
tered. Cressingham then gave the word to de.
mart. and they mounted again to the basement,
leaving for the time the slaves to their de.
vices
There he held short council Of war, and it
was arranged that the force should be divided;
six should 20 and reinforce the Counts guard,
two should proceed to the lookout which com
,nanded complete prospect of the island, four
should guard the main entrance to the Castle,
and the remaining four, including Cressingham
himself, should carefully reexamine the ground
Aoor. with the view to discover an opening which
~ int foh he