Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-25


fortune was this time against me.
Still, I reckoned that by keeping close
under the wall and In the shadow L
could escape detection frem the win
dows OF the chateau that looked out
on the scene OF my efforts. II they
searched the moat, indeed, my scheme
must fail, hut I did not think they
would. They had made Jacobs ladder
secure against attack. Johann had
himself helped 70 fx IL closely to the
masonry on the underslde 50 that Il
could not now De moved from below
any more than from above. An as
sault with explosives or a long batter
Ing with picks alone could displace II.
and the noise involved in either OF
these operations put them out OF the
question What harm, then. could n
man do in the most2 I trusted that
Black Michael, putting this query 10
himself would answer confidently.
None" while even IL Johann meant
treachery be did not know my scheme
and would doubtless expect to see me
az the head OF my friends before the
front entrance to the chateau. There.
/ said 20 Sapt was the real danger.
and there" ] added ''you shall be
Doesn't that content youf"
But IL did not Dearly would he have
liked 70 come with me had 7 not utter
y refused TO take him. one man
might escape notice To double the
party more than doubled the risk. and
when he venturcd 90 hint once again
that my life was too valuable I. know
Ing the secret thought he chung 70.
Bternly hade him be silent. assuring
him that unless this king lived through
the night I would not live through II
either.
at y o'clock Sapts command left the
chateau OF Tarlcnhelm and struck or
20 the right riding by unfrcquented
roads and avoiding the town Of Zen
da- n an went well. they would be IN
front OF Zenda by about a quarter TO ..
Leaving their horses half n mile or,
they were % steal up 10 the entrance
and hold themselves In readiness for
the opening OF the door. II the door
were not opened 10y . they were TO
send Fritz Won Tarlenheim round 10
the other side OF the castle. would
meet him there II were alive. and
we would consult whether 20 storm the
castle or not. II I were not there.
they were 10 return with all speed TO
Turlenheim. rouse the marshal and
march in force on Zenda. for II not
there ] should be dead. and knew
that the king would not be alive five
minutes after had ceased 10 breathe.
must now leave Sapt and his
friends and relate how I myself pro
ceeded on this eventful night / went
cut oB the good horse which had car
ried me on the night or the coronation
back from the shooting lodge 10 Strel-
sau. I carried a revolver In the saddle
and my sword. I was covered with
largo cloak. and under this 7 wore
warm, tight fitting wooden jersey.
pair OF knickerbockers. thick stockings
and light canvas shoes. I had rubbed
myself thoroughly with oil. aud I car
sled a large flask or whisky. The
night was warm. but might probably
be immersed a long while, and 70 was
necessary TO take every precaution
against cold, for cold not only saps
mans courage III be has 10 die. but
lmpalrs his energy III others have 10
die and finally gives him rheumatics r.
IL be Gods will Thar ne lives. Also I
tied round wy holy q length of thin
but stout co-t. and / did not forget my
ladder. ], starting after Sapt. took
shorter route, skirtlng the town 20 the
left and found myself In the outskirts
Of the forest at about half past -.
/ tied my horse up in thick clump
OF trees, leaving the revolver ia its
pocket in the saddle-it would be no
use 10 me-and, ladder IN hand, made
my way TO the edge or the moat. Here
] unwound my rope from about my
waist, bound IL securely round the
trunk OF tree on the bank and let
myself down. The castle clock struck
a quarter 10 ! as felt the water under
me and began 10 swim round the keep.
pushing the ladder before me and hug
ging the castle wall. Thus voyaging.
I came TO my old friend, Jacobs lad
der, and felt the ledge Of masonry
under me. crOuched down In the
shadow OF the great plpe-I tried to
stir IT, but IL was quite immovabIe-
and waited / remember that my pre-
dominant feeling was neither anxiety
for the king nor longing for Blavia,
but an intense desire TO smoke, and
this craving. OF course, 1 could not
crafty.
The drawbridge was still in its place.
I saw It's airy. light framework above
me. some ten yards to my right, as
crouched with my back against the
wall OF the kings cell. / made out
window two yards my side OF IL and
nearly on the same level. That, IL
Johann spoke true. must belong to the
dukes apartments, and on the other
side. In about the same relative posi-
ton, must be Nine. de Mauban's win
dow. Women are careless. forgetful
creatures. l prayed that she might
not forget that she was TO be the vic
tin or a brutal attempt at 2 O'Clock
precisely. / was rather amused at the
part had assigned TO my young friend
Rupert Hentzau. but 1 owed him a
stroke, for, even as sat, my shoulder