The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-03-14

Rch, and | went quite cold. But, brac-
ing myself together, | kneeled upon
the lowermost step and launched my
body into space.
| have no intention, as l say, CT de-
| Tending my foolhardiness, nor do
take any credit for my ultimate escape
from what was undoubtedly a deadly
peril. My legs kicked aimlessly in ths
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 could not get back.
"Sheppardv' | called family.
Med! Ned." came Sheppard's whis-
per from above, and l was vaguely
aware of 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 l 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 over
run with masses of Irish ivy, as have
said, and in the course of centuries this
strongly growing creeper had clam
bered over and beyond the proper linz
it's of decay and clothed with great
twisted branches the wall of the drum
tower at one side of me. Gasping from
my exertions, reached hand toward
these leaves and, catching at thick
stem like cable. chung 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
| had to trust it, and. posing an in
slant between the two, dropped slow
~ upon the creeper. The friendly
branches held, and l slipped carefully
down until | stood upon the broken
stones of the ruined wall. High above
saw Sheppard light another match
and heard his voice calling to me, but
/ had no strength to reply. He flung
the light from him. and, descending in
an are, 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-
meath me. A fragment of stone, de-
tached by my movement, rumbled over
the margin and fell with great blob
into the moat. There were twelve feet
of water in the fosse. l shuddered and
called back to Sheppard.
81 was afraid something had hap
pened to you" said he Are you ali
right?''
l explained the position. wait
there, and I'll join you from the other
side. You old fool, Ned."
l 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
You can get down from the other
side pretty easily" he declared. It's.
we'll to remember that"
Il don't quite see why you have done
So l answered, rather mgratefully.
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. let him sleep. He must
have been worn with his long vigil and
the longer toll. | knew that he would
not go to bed and he had better take
what rest was possible in this illegiti-
mate way. The stars fiared and went
OUT, yet the dawn seemed long in com
ing. | pulled out my watch and, strik-
ing match; consulted it. 1t was half
past 3. Sheppards head lurched for
ward, and his breath grew stertorous.
A thin fine line of light cut across the
eastern horizon, and then suddenly a
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 I could discern
the noise of footsteps falling quietly
upon the grass. l strained my sight to
pierce that black cloud of gloom,
but there was nothing visible, and,
leaning softly forward, touched Shep-
pard upon the shoulder. He was
awake In an instant and ere l knew it
whispering at me under his breath:
what Is it? Are they Gomez"
Listen | murmured. Sheppard
turned to me, motioning with his hand
Reaching close, he put his lips to my
ears.
They're down by the moat, explor-
ing" he said-"several, I think. Shall
/ fre?"
ORG Snad his hand In return sNn |