Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-08-02


- such as had favored my pre-
ksy vious voyage in the moat but
fortune was this time against me.
Still, reckoned that by keeping close
under the wall and in the shadow l
could escape detection from the win
dows Of the chateau that looked out
on the scene of my efforts. If they
searched the moat, indeed, my scheme
must fail but l did not think they
would. They had made Jacobs ladder
secure against attack. Johann had
himself helped to fix it closely to the
masonry OH the underside so that 1t
could not now be moved from below
any more than from above. An as
sault with explosives or long batter
ing with picks alone cod displace 1T,
and the noise involved in either Of
these operations put them out OF the
question. What harm, then, could
Black Michael, putting this query to
himself, would answer confidently,
None" while even if Johann meant
treachery he did not know my scheme
and would doubtless expect to see me
at the head of my friends before the
front entrance to the chateau. There,
said to Sapt, was the real danger.
"And there" I added, you shall be.
Doesn't that content your"
But it did not Dearly would he have
liked to come with me had not utter
" refused to take him. One man
might escape notice. To double the
party more than doubled the risk, and
when he ventured to hint once again
that my life was too valuable 1, know
Ing the secret thought he chung to,
sternly babe him be silent, assuring
him that unless the king lived through
the night 1 would not live through 1T
either
At IL o'clock Sapt's command left the
chateau of Tarlenheim and struck OF
to the right, riding by unfrequented
roads and avoiding the town of Zen
da. If all went well, they would be in
front of Zenda by about a quarter to 2.
Leaving their horses half mile off,
they were to steal up to the entrance
and hold themselves in readiness for
the opening of the door. If the door
were not opened by 2 they were to
send Fritz Won Tarlenheim round to
the other side of the castle. would
meet him there If I were alive, and
we would consult whether to storm the
castle or not If / were not there,
they We're to return with all speed to
Tarlenheim, rouse the marshal and
march in force ON Zenda, for If not
there 1 should be dead and / knew
that the king would not be alive five
minutes after had ceased to breathe.
I must now leave Sapt and his
friends and relate how myself pro-
ceeded on this eventful night I went
out on the good horse which had car
ried me on the night Of the coronation
back from the shooting lodge to Strel-
sau. carried revolver in the saddle
and my sword. l was covered with a
large cloak, and under this wore a
warm, tight fitting wooden jersey, a
pair of knickerbockers, thick stockings
and light canvas shoes. l had rubbed
myself thoroughly with oil, and l car
ried large flask Of whisky. The
night was warm, but might probably
be immersed a long while, and 1T was
necessary to take every precaution
against cold, for cold not only saps
mans courage If he has to dieS but
impairs his energy If others have to
die and finally gives him rheumatics If
1t be- Gods will that he lives. Also
tied round my bods length OF thin
but stout cord, and did not forget M