Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-24
CHAPTER K.
The Folly of q Soldier.


IT was not until he had some dis
lance along the lane that Ellerey stopped
10 listen. and fully to realize that his COM
panion was not beside him. There were
no sounds of hurrying feet In pursuit. He
could not have outdistanced his enemies
so completely in so short a time either
they had come no farther than -the door in
the wall. or had turned in the opposite
direction perhaps following his companion.
With his sword still in his hand. held
ready for deadly work at a moments no
tice. he retraced his steps. his senses sharp
set to detect the slightest sound move
ment near him. Heavy clouds had en-
quilted the moon now, the darkness was
extreme. and the silence of the night un-
broken. He went forward carefully; the
darkness might hold a legion of foes, and
the silence be a trap to catch him. Ellerey
found the door with difficulty. indeed by
chance for II was cunningly hidden What
ever the danger he must enter the garden
again in search for his comrade. The door
was shut and as he felt along it from top
10 bottom. touching no latch nor handle,
nor keyhole even. he realized that entrance
that way was barred. The door only
opened from within. He had stepped back
TO consider how, and at what point. he
could best scale the wall, when a slight
movement close beside him caused him to
stand on the defensive in a moment.
rs that you, Ellerey?"
You got out then? Thank heavenr
Yes: / didn't speak because 1 thought
you were one of them. and just now I'm no
match for a babe in arms ="
He was leaning against the wall few
feet from the gate. Ellerey had supposed
him farther off by the faintness of his
voice.
Are you hurt?
Nothing serious l think but I've a
good deal of blood let out of me. / should
have occupied that grave in the garden for
a certainty had II not been for the baron's
second, who stood over me when ! fell,
and, when the blackguards retreated from
the door, put me outside. This wasn't the
baron's doing"
Perhaps not" Ellerey answered. Can
you manage to walk
Yes. II you'll let me hang on to you
and We don't have to go far When / was
put outside something was said about going
TO the left"
We'll go to the left. then but ! haven't
an idea where are"
The wounded man was weaker than he
imagined Before they had gone fifty yards
he began to reel. and even as he suggested
that Ellery should go on and get help, he
tainted. Ellerey took him in his arms and
carried him. His one idea to get as
far away from the scene of the nights ad-
venture as possible. but his progress was
slow. His comrade revived presently. but
although he tried to walk again, the task
was beyond him. So Ellerey carried him,
resting at intervals, all through the night.
AS long as darkness lasted and they were
on the outskirts Of the city they were I'M
likely to be stopped and questioned but
with dawn II would be different Ellerey
was without his coat and cloak, there had
been no time to seize them as he rushed
from the garden, and he carried a griev-
ously hurt man In his arms. The first peas
ant trudging to his early toll, who caught
sight of them would run and tell the news
as he went Such publicity was to be
avoided at all costs, or there would be
small chance of his being at the Toison
dor. in the Bergenstrasse, to keep his ap
pointment. Already long. think streak
OF gray showed low down in the east, and
Elerey pressed forward as quickly as pos
sible TO ind asylum. He passed the
nrst scattered dwellings he came to, having
no desire to knock up some sleepy peasant
and have to combat his inqusitiveness, as
well as his annoyance. at being so uncere-
moniously disturbed Presently where two
crossroads met he espied small habita-
ton. from which thin wreath of smoke
was rising into the morning air and de-
cided to try his fortune here. He had set