The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-04-05

IOOui there lay always, day and night
three of the Six, and the instructions
Of Duke Michael were that ON any Mt.
tack being made on the outer room
the three were to defend the door of
1t so long as they could without risk
to themselves. But so soon as the door
should be in danger of being forced
then Rupert Hentzau or Detchard for
one OF these two was always there)
should leave the others to hold 1t as
long as they could and himself pass
into TIE inner room and without more
ado kill the king, who lay there, well
treated, indeed, but without weapons
and. with his arms confined in fine
steel chains, whichsdid not allow him
to move his elbow more than three
inches from his shoulder. Thus he
fore the outer door were stormed the
king would be dead. md his bodyr
For his body would be evidence ms
damning rs hinself.
"Nay, sir" said Johann, Ibis high.
ness has thought Of that. While the
two hold the oI,er r3om the one who
has killed the king unloeks the bars
In the square window they turn on a
hinge. The window now gives no
light, for its mouth Is ch0ked by a
great pipe of earthenwale. and this
pipe, which Is large eaOngh to let pass
through il the body OF a man. passes
into the nloat, coming to an end i'm
mediately above the surface OF the
water, so that there Is no perceptible
interval between water and pipe. The
king being dead, his murderer swiftly
ties weight to the body and. dragging
II to the window, raises il by a pulley
flor lest the weight should prove too
great Detchard has provided one till
X Is level with the mouth of the pine.
He inserts the feet in the pipe and
pushes the body down. Silently, with.
out splash or sound, 1t falls into the
water and thence 20 the bottom of the
moat. which Is twenty feet deep there
abouts. This done, the murderer cries
loudly, AIS wellg. and himself slides
down the pipe; and the others, IL they
can and the attack Is not too hot.
run 10 the inner room and, seeking a
moments delay, bar the door and In
their turn slide down. And though the
king rises not from the bottom, they
rise and swim round TO the other side.
where the orders are for men to wait
them with ropes. to haul them out. and
horses. And here, II things go III. the
duke win join them and seek safety
by riding; but II all goes well they win
return 10 the castle and have their
enemies in trap. That, sir. Is the
plan OF his hlghness for the disposal
Of the king in case or need. But ii Is
not TO be used till the last. for. as We
all know. he is not minded to kin the
king unless he can, before or soon aft,
er, kill you also, sir. Now, sir. have
spoken the truth. as God Is my wit
ness, and J pray you to shield me from
the vengeance OF Duke Michael; FOR II,
after he KNOWS what have done, 1
fall into his hands I shall pray for one
thing out Of all the world-a speedy
death, and that shall not obtain from
him."
The fellows story was rudely told.
but our questions supplemented his
narrative. What he had told Us ap-
piled 10 an armed attack, but II sus-
PIGEONS were aroused and there came
overwhelming force such. for in
stance. as 4. the king, could bring-the
Idea OF resistance would be abandoned.
The king would be quietly murdered
and slid down the pipe. And-here
comes an Ingenious touch-One Of the
Six would take his place in the cell and
on the entrance Of the searchers loud
~ demand release and redress. and
Michael, being summoned, would con.
fess to hasty action, but he would say
the man had sngere1 him by seeking
the favor Of a Indy in the castle CthIs
was Antoinette de MaubanD. and he
had confined him there. as be conceived
be rs Lord Of zenda had right 10 do.
But be was now on receiving his apol.
ogy content 10 let him 20 and so end
the gossip which. 70 his hIghness' an.
noyance, had arisen concerning a pris-
oner In Zenda and had given his WIS.,
ltors the trouble Of this inquiry. The
visitors, bafiied, would retire. and BfI-
chael could at bis leisure dispose Of the
body Of the king.
sapt, Fritz and IN my bed looked
round on one another In horror aud be.
wllderment at the cruelty and cunning
Of The plan. Whether I went in peace
or IN war. openly at the head OF a
corps or secretly by a stealthy assault,
the king would be dead before I could
come near him II Michael were
stronger and overcame my party there
would be an end. but II I were stronger
I should have no way 10 punish him. no
means Of proving any guilt in him
without proving my own guilt also
On The other hand. ! should be left rs
king (ah. Tor q moment my pulse quick.
ened), and II would be for the future
10 witness The final struggle between
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