Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-07-19


where it sweeps under the road, sep
apating the old castle from 1t. A tree
stood on the edge of the bank, and
Sapt silently and diligently set to
make fast the rope. l stripped of my
boots. took q pull at flask of brandy,
loosened the knife in its sheath and
took the cudgel between my teeth.
Then | shook hands with my friends,
not needing last look of entreaty
from Fritz, and laid hold OF the rope.
I was going to have look at Jacobs
ladder.
Gently l lowered myself into the wa
ter. Though the night were wild, the
day had been warm and bright and
the water was not cold. l struck out
and began to swim round the great
walls which frowned above me. l
could see only three yards ahead. l
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
/ heard laughter and merry shouts. L
fancied l recognized young rupert
Hentzau's ringing tones and pictured
him flushed with wine.
Recalling my thoughts to the Dusl-
ness in hand, / rested moment. IL
Johann's description were right, must
he near the window now. Very slowly
T moved. and out Of the darkness ahead
doomed shape. 1t was the pipe, curv-
ing from the window to the wafer.
About two feet Of its surface was dis
PLAYED. 1t was as big round as two
men. I was about to approach 1t when
I saw something else, and my heart
stood still. The nose of boat protrud-
ed beyond the pipe on the other side,
/ and, listening intently, heard slight
shuttle. as Of man shifting his posi-
ton. Who was the man who guarded
MichaeTs invention? Was he awake or
was he asleep? / felt If my knife were
ready and trod water. AS did SO
found bottom under my feet. The foun'
dations of the castle extended some
fifteen inches, making ledge, and
stood on it, out Of water from my arm
pits upward. Then 1 crouched and
peered through the darkness under the
pipe, where, curving, it left a space.
There was man in the boat. A rifle
lay by. him. saw the CLEAN OF the
barrel. Here was the sentinel! He sat
very still. l listened. He breathed
heavily, regularly, monotonously. BY
heaven, he slept! Kneeling on the
shelf, l drew forward under the pipe
till my face was within two feet Of his.
He was big man, saw. 1t was Max
Holt, the brother of Johann. My hand
stole to my belt, and l drew out my
knife. OF all the deeds of my life
love the least to think Of this, and
whether it was the act Of a man or q
traitor will not ask. said to myself,
ut is war, and the kings life Is OF
stake" And l raised myself from be-
meath the pipe and stood up by the
boat, which lay moored by the ledge.
Holding my breath, marked the spot
and raised my arm. The great fellow
stirred. He opened his eyes-wide
wider. He gasped in terror at my face
and clutched at his rifle. struck home
And l heard the chorus Of love song
from the opposite bank.
Leaving him where he lay, a hud-
! died mass, 1 turned to Jacobs Lad
der" My time was short. This fell
lows turn of watching might be over
directly, and relief would come. Lean
ing over the pipe, 1 examined it from
the point it left the water to the top.
most extremity, where 1t passed, or
seemed to pass, through the masonry
of the wall. There was no break In
it, no chink. Dropping on my knees,
1 tested the under side. And my
breath went quick and fast, for on this
lower side, where the pipe should have
chung close to the masonry, there was
CLEAN of light. That light must
come from the cell Of the king! I set
my shoulder against the pipe and ex-
erted my strength. The chink widen
ed a very, very little, and hastily
desisted. I had done enough to show
that the pipe was not fixed in the
masonry at the lower side.
Then heard voice-a harsh, graf.
ing voice:
"Well, SIRE II you have had enough
of my society 1 will leave you to re-
pose but must fasten the little orna-
ments first"
1t was Detchard. caught the Eng
lish accent in moment.
"Have you anything to ask, sire, be-
fore we part"
The kings voice followed. 1t was
his, though it was faint and hollow,
different from the merry tones 1 had
heard in the glades Of the forest.
"Pray my brother" said the king, ito
kill me. am dying by inches here"
'"The duke does not desire your
death, sire-yet," sneered Detchard.
"When he does, behold your path to
heavenv
| The king answered:
$50 be II. And now, II your orders
allow 1t, pray leave me-"
"May you dream of paradise" said
the ruffian.
The light disappeared. heard the
bolts of the door run home. And then
I heard the sobs of the king. He was
alone, as he thought. Who dares mock
at him?
I did not venture to speak to 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 myselfsaway In safety
and to carry off the carcass Of the
| Joo1 ,,oo no Jaoua hin, fI,aro world