The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-23


friend, tell YOU men TO leave the stable
open, as we start at dawn, and be 30 good
as TO give me that lamp
Il cannot spare the lamp, he said Bulkny,
with his foot already on the f1rSt step.
Peter etrode to him and grasped his arm
with one hand, while With the other he
seized the lamp. The man cursed and
began TO tumble at his belt as though for a
knife, whereon Peter, putting out his
strength, twisted his arm TO heroely that
In his pain he looeed the lamp, which re-
manned in Peters hand. The innkeeper
made a grab at 1t, missed his footing and
rolled down the ladder, falling heavily
on the floor below.
Watching from above. TO their relief
they saw him pick himself up, and heard
him begin to revile them, shaking his fist
and vowing vengeance. Then Peter smut
down the trapdoor. 1t was III fitted, 30
that the edge OF it stood above the flooring;
also the bolt that fastened IL had been
removed, although the staples in which IL
used 10 work remained.
Peter looked for some stick or piece of
wood to pass through these staples, but
could find nothing. Then he bethought
him OF a short length OF cord that he had
in his pocket which served to tie n OF
the s~addlebags in it's place on his mule.
This he fastened from one staple to the
other, 30 that the trap door could not be
lifted more than an inch OF two.
Rejecting that this might be done and
the cord out with a knife passed through
the opening he took one OF h chairs
and stood II 30 that two Of it's legs rested
on the edge Of the trap door n the other
two upon the boarding OF the floor. Then
he said to Castell:
I'VE are shared birds. but they must get
into the cage before they wiring our necks.
That wine wal poisoned. and II they can
they will murder us for our money-or
because they lave been told to do 80 by the
guide. We had best keep awake
Il think 30, answered Castell, a%nxiously.
Listen; they are talking down below
Talking they were. as though they do
bated something, but after a while the u
Of voices died away. When all was silent
they hunted around the attic but could
find nothing that was unusual to such
places.
Peter looked at the window hole and as
il was large enough for a man to pass
through tried to drag one Of the beds be-
nOdlH ~, ItlllhllB trot ~ IA obNh NSShAFS
were made he who lay thereon would have
the thief at his mercy, only to find. how
ever, that these were screwed TO the floor
and immovable. As there was nothing
more that they could do they went and
sat upon these beds, their bare swords in
their hands, and waited q long while, but
nothing happened.
At length the lamp, which had been
pickering feebiy for some time. went out
for lack Of oil, and except for the light
which crept through the window place,
for now they had torn away the sacking
that hung over it, they were in darkness,
A little while later they heard the sound
OF a horses hoofs and the door Of the house
open and shut, after which there was more
talking below, and mingiing with it a new
voice, which Peter seemed to remember.
+ Il have it, he whispered TO CasteI.
That is our late host, Father Henriques,
come to see how his guests are faring.'
Another half hour and the waning moon
rose, throwing a beam Of light into their
chamber; also they heard horses hoofe
apain, Going to the window Peter looked
out OF it and saw the horse. a fine beast.
being held by the landlord, then a man
came and mounted it n at SOM remark
Of his turned his face upward toward
their window. 1t was that Of Father Hem
riques.
The two whispered together for q while
ill the priest blessed the landlord In Latin
words and rode away, and again they heard
the door Of the house close.
He ia of to Granada to warn Morella
az our coming" said Castell az they re-
seated themselves upon the beds.
ITO warn Morella, his master. that we
shall never come. perhaps; but We will beat
him yet replied Peter.
The night wore on, M Castell, b was
very weary, sank back Upon the bolster
and began to doze. when suddenly the
chair that was set upon the trapdoor fell
over with a great clatter and he sprang
up asking what that noise might be.
"Only a rat answered Peter. who saw
no rood in telling him the truth-namely.
that thieves or murderers had tried to
open the t~rapdoor.
Then he crept down the room and felt
the cord, TO find that it was still uncut.
and replaced the chair where il had been
This done, Peter came back TO the bed
and threw himself down upon it as though
he would slumber. though never was he
more wide awake. The WEAKNESS OF
Castell had overcome him again, however,
for he snored at his side.
For a long while nothing further hap
pened, although once the ray Of moonlight
/ was cut of, and for an instant Peter thought
that he saw a face at the window. IL 30
il vanished and returned no more.
Now from behind their heads there
came faint sounds like those Of stif1ed
breathing. like those Of raked feet. then
a slight creaking and scratching in the
wall "A mouse's tooth might have caused
| it and suddenly, right in that ray Of moon
light, a cruel looking knife and a naked
arm protested through the panelling.
The knife fickered for a second over
the breast Of the sleeping Castell as though
it we're a living thing that chose the spot
where il would strike. One ~second-only
one for the next Peter had drawn him
self up ard with q sweep Of the sword that
Law unscabbarded at his side had shorn
that arm of above the elbow, just where
il projected from the panelling.
What was that?' asked Castell again. as