Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-08-02
"They are, SIR"

"They are, sir" EsylzSSsEE
II need you no more"
"Nay, I'm not oppressed with IA.
.igue," said Rupert.
"Pray, sir, leave u.s." said Michael
more impatiently. SIN ten minutes the
lrawbridge will be drawn back, and
presume you have no wish to swim to
your bed"
Rupert's figure disappeared. ! heard
the door open and shut again. MI
ehaei and Antoinette de Mauban were
left together. TO my chagrin, the duke
laid his hand on the window and closed
it. He stood talking to Antoinette for
a moment or two. She shook her head,
and he turned impatiently away. She
left the window. The door sounded
again, and Black Michael closed the
shutters.
"De Gautet, De Gautet, manw sound
ed from the drawbridge. "Unless you
want a bath before your bed, come
alongw
1t was Rupert's voice, coming from
the end of the drawbridge. A moment
later he and De Gautet stepped out on
the bridge. Rupert's arm was through
De Gautet's, and in the middle OF the
bridge.he detained his companion and
leaned over. dropped beside the shell
ter of Jacobs ladder.
Then Master Rupert had little
sport. He took from De Gautet a bot
tie which he carried and put 1t to his
lips.
Hardly dropv' he cried discomfort
edly and flung it in the meat.
It fell, as 1 judged from the sound
and the circles on the water, within
yard Of the pipe. And Rupert, taking
out his revolver, began to shoot at 1t.
The first two shots missed the bottle,
but hit the pipe. The third shattered
the bottle. / hoped that the young
ruffian would be content, but he emp
tied the other barrels at the pipe, and
one, skimming over the pipe, whistied
through my hair as crouched on the
other side.
..Ware bridgew a voice cried, to my
relief.
Rupert and De Gautet cried, "A mo-
mentw and ran across. The bridge
was drawn back, and all became still.
The clock struck quarter past /. l
rose and stretched myself and yawned.
think some ten minutes had passed
when / heard a slight noise to my
right. 1 peered over the pipe and saw
dark figure standing in the gateway
that led to the bridge. 1t was a man.
BY the careless, graceful poise guess
ed it to be Rupert again. He held
sword in his hand, and he stood mo-
tionless for a minute or two. Wild
thoughts ran through me. On what
mischief was the young fend bent
now? Then he laughed low to him.
self: then he turned his face to the
wall, took step in my direction and,
to my surprise, began to climb down
the wall In an instant l saw that
there must be steps In the wall; 1t was
plain. They were cut into or affixed
to the wall at intervals Of about eight
cen inches. Rupert set his foot on the
lower one, then he placed his sword
between his teeth, turned round and
noisele ssly let himself down into the
water. Had it been a matter Of my
life only I would have swan to meet
him. Dearly would have loved to
fight 1t out with him then and there
with steel-on fine night and none to
come between us. But there was the
king. restrained myself, but l could
not bride my swift breathing, and I
watched him with the intensest eager
ness.
He swan leisurely and quietly across.
There were more footsteps up on the
other side, and lie climbed them. When
he set foot in the gateway, standing on
the drawn back bridge, he felt In his
pocket and took something out. l
heard him unlock the door, / could
hear no noise Of its closing behind him.
He vanished from my sight.
Abandoning my ladder-I saw l did
not need it now-I swan to the side
Of the bridge and climbed halfway up
the steps. There hung, with my
sword In my hand, listening eagerly.
The dukes room was suffered and
dark. There was light In the win
dow Oh the opposite side of the bridge.
Not sound broke the silence till half
past 1 chimed from the great clock In
the tower of the chateau.
There were other plots than mine
afoot in the castle that night.