The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26
CHAPTER xr-cOntinued

Hear me. SIRE" he said. a
man does not run such risk twice
except Tor his own blood You must
either come with me at once or give up
the idea that 1 shall ever help you 70
escape. The boy may be in danger, but
80 are you yourself. and your life Is
worth more 70 this unhappy empire
than his. Tonight tomorrow. at any
moment. your son Andronicus may send
the executioner here and there viii be
an end OF you and many hopes. You
must risk your younger boys life for
your cause. I see no other way"
The other way is this: will stay
here and risk my own. I would rather
die 10 deaths than let my child be tor
tured. blinded and murdered"
Very wei" answered zeno. then I
must go"
He let the knotted rope so ever the
sill again til it was all out. and he sat
sxtride the window nuIIicn ready 10
begin the descent
3 Cast on the rope when I whistle"
he said. and let II down by the line.
and the line after It By the twine"
he spoke 70 the big woman. who was
the wife OF the keeper. himself a trust
ed captain OF veterans. She nodded By
way OF answer.
>. For the last time" Zeno said. look
irg toward Johannes, will you come
with me7 There is stiu time
The emperor looked prenatureiy old
; n the faint light. and his figure waE
bent as he rested with one hand on the
heavy table. lis voice was weak. too
as Il he were very tired after some
great effort
7 an sorry. thank you with all my
heart''-t
Zeno did not wait for more. and his
head disappeared below the window al
most before the prisoner had spoken
the last word Five minutes had not
elapsed since he had reached the cham
" bar.
Below, Gorlias had been surprised
when he felt the second rope slack in
his hand. and when the basket and
block, which had been half way Up the
wall began to come down again. The
:astroIoger could only suppose that
there was an alarm within the tower.
and that Zeno was getting away as
last as he could. The last written
message. lowered by the yarn at dusk
that evening. had been to say that the
emperor was ready, and that q red
light would be shown when the cap
tain was asleep. under the influence Of
the drug his wife had given him It
could not possibly occur 20 the sstrol-
oyer that Johannes would change his
mind AT the very last moment
!: :'-:eTake care" Gorlias whispered quick
IL 10 the woman at his elbow. as soon
as he was sure OF what was happening.
He is coming down again"
- -Alone2' The anxious inquiSy an
:1swered bis words in the same breath
r -AIone-yes. He IS On the rope now;
he is coming down. hand under hand"
The woman slipped down the inclined
surface. almost fell. recovered her foot
hold and nearly fell again as she spraag
into the boat and threw herself at full
length upon the bottom boards. Zeno
was half way down. and before she COW
cred herself with the canvas she
glanced Up and distinctly saw his dark
nEure descending through the gloom
She had scarcely stretched herself out
when she was startled by q loud cry,
close at hand
4Phylake! Aho-ho-ol Watch. no
Watch. ho.'
A boat had shot out OF the darkness
20 the edge OF the pier. In an instant
three men had sprung ashore. and were
ciau'bering up the sloping masonry to-
ward Gorlias. The woman stood up in
Zeno's skin. almost upsetting II. and
her eyes pierced the gloom TO see what
was happening.
Gorlias threw himself desperately
.sxainst the three men with out
stretched arms. hoping to sweep them
altogether into the water from placs
. where they had so little foothold. The
woman held her breath One OF the
three men. active as monkey, lodged
psst the astroIoger. caught the knotted
rope and began climbing It The other
two fell, their feet entangied IN the
line rove through the tail block. and
with the strong mans weight behind
them they tumbled headlong down tn,
incline. with heavy splash, and
scarcely more than one for all three
Goriias ana his opponents fell into the
, water
There was silence then, while thu
other man climbed higher and higher
The woman watched IN horror In
falling the men had struck against thu
stem OF the skff. dragging the painter
from the peg. The other boat was
not moored at all, and both were now
adrfft on the sluggish stream. Til
woman steadled herself and tried e
see
The man climbed fast. and above hin
the dark figure moved quickly upward
But Zeno's pursuer was fresher thar
he and as quick as cat and gained or
hin II he caught him he might croot