Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-18
e ':;!|:''s prlsoner
sy;ii Of 81 Zenda|
HOPE
by Henry, e Company


Gently I lowered myself into the wa
/ fer. Though the night were wild. the
/ day had been warm and bright and
the water was not cold. I struck out
and began 70 swim round the great
walls which frowned above me.
could see only three yards ahead
had then good hopes OF not being seen
as crept along close under the damp.
moss grown masonry. There were
lights from the new part OF the castle
on the other side. and now and again
I heard laughter and merry shouts. I
fancied L recognized young Rupert
Hentzau's ringing tones and pictured
him flushed with wine
Recalling my thoughts 20 the bust
ness in hand 7 rested a moment II
/ Jobann's description were right. must
/ be near the window now Very slowly
] moved. and out of the darkness ahead
! l0omed a shape IL was the pipe. curry
\ Ing from the window 90 the water
| About two feet OF it's surface was dis
1 played. II was as big round as two
1 men. I was about 10 approach it when
/ ] saw something else. ana my heart
/ stood still The nose OF n boat protrud-
ed beyond the pipe on The other side.
and. listening .ntcntly. I heard q slight
shuttle. MS Of man shifting bis posi-
, ton. Who was the man Who guarded
Mlchaers invention: y he awake or
was De asleep I fcit II uy knife were
ready ana trod water AS did so
found bottom under ny f,ct The foun-
dat.ous ~ tle c1-tie extended some
hftcen inches. mab.ug "a ledge. aud
stood on &c. out CO water frou my arm
pits upward Then I cr0ucheI and
peered through the darkness under the
pipc whore. curr.nr. it lcft space.
There was man .u the boat A rifle
Wy hy h.w saw the CLEAN OF the
bir-cL Herc was DE sentinel lie sat
very suiL listened. Tie brcathcd
heavily. regularly. unanimously. by
| heaven. Dec si.rt EuccIu- on the
shelf. ] drew forward under The pipe
TN my face was wIth.u two feet OF his
He was h.E man. I saw. 10 was Max
Holt. the hro,hcr of Johann Ny hand
stole 70 nay boit ANA I drew out my
knife. OF uil the deeds OF my life
love the least % think Of this. and
whether it was the act OF a man or
ut is war, and the kings life is ut
stake" And raised myself from be
meath the pipe and stood up by the
boat. which lay moored by the ledge.
Holding my breath. I marked the spot
and raised my arm. The great fellow
stirred He opened his eyes-wide.
wider. He gasped in terror az my face
and clutched at his rifle. / struck home.
And heard the chorus OF a love song
from the opposite bank.
Leaving him where be lay. a hud-
died mass. / turned 90 Jacobs Lad
der" Ny time was short. This Tel
lows turn OF watching might be over
! directly and relief would come. Lean
ing over the pipe. ! examined il from
the point 10 left the water 90 the top
most extremity, where IL passed. or
| seemed 10 pass through the masonry
Of the wall There was no break IN
| it no chiuk. Dropping on my knees,
| ! tested the under side And my
| breath went quick and fast. FOR on this
lower side. where the pipe should have
| clunE close % the masonry, there was
a CLEAN OF light That light must
| come from the cell OF the king! set
my shoulder against the pipe and ex-
erted my strength. The chlnk widen
Ell very. very little, and hastily /
desisted. had done enough to show
that the pipe was not fixed In the
masonry at the lower side.
Then I heard a voice-a harsh. graf.
ing voice:
well, sire, II you have had enough
or my society I viii leave you 70 re-
pose, hut ] must fasten the little orna-
ments first"
II was Detchard. caught the Eng
iish accent in a moment
Have you anything 10 ask, sire, be-
fore we partT"
The kings voice followed. II was
bis. though IL was faint and hollow.
different from the merry tones had
heard in the glades OF the forest.
Pray my brother" said the king 'ato
Kill me. I am dying by inches here"
THE duke does not desire your
death, sire-yet," sneered Detchard.
"When he does, behold your path to
| heaven
The king answered:
so be IL And now. II your orders
allow II, pray leave me-"
May you dream OF paradise" said
the ruffan
The light disappeared. I heard the
bolts OF the door run home. And then
] heard the sobs OF the king. He was
alone, as he thought. Who dares mock
at him?
did not venture 10 speak 70 him.
! The risk OF some exclamation escaping
him In surprise was too great I dared
do nothing that night, and my task
now was TO get myself away in safety
! and 20 carry or the carcass OF the
dead man To leave him there would
tell too much. Casting loose the boat,
got In. The wind was blowing a
gale now. and there was little danger
OF oars being heard. rowed swiftly
round to where my friends waited. I
had just reached the spot when a loud
whistle sounded over the moat be
hind me.
"Hello. Maxi / heard shouted.