The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-11-28


guard. The Quinnoxes have guarded
0raustark's rulers for 1 don't know
how many generations History does
not go back so far. 1 fear. You may
depend on II. there Will be no living
guardsmen inside these walls when
Marlanx lays his hands on the prince. -
That night recruits from the farms
and villages began to straggle into the
camp. They were armed with rifles,
ordinary shotguns and antique blum
derbusses, swords, slaves and aged
lances. All were willing to die In the
service OF the little prince; all they
needed was a determined. capable lead
er to rally them from the state OF utter
panic. They reported that the crown
foragers might expect cheerful and
plenteous tribute from the farmers and
stock growers. Only the moultaineers
were hostile.
The army now grew with astonishing
rapidity. The recruits were not fighting
men in a military sense. but their
hearts were true and they hungered for
the chance TO stamp out the evil that
lay at their feet BY the close Of the
second day nearly three thousand men
we're encamped above the city. Late
that night John Tullis rode into camp
AZ the head OF a great company from
the Ganlook province. He had Tetaken
the town OF GanloOk, seized the fortress
and recruited the entire fighting
strength OF the neighborhood. More
veyed TO the provisional camp two OF
the big guns that stood above the gates
At the fortress. There had been a dozen
skirmishes between the regulars and
rowing bands Of desperadoes. A savage
fight took place at GanloCk, and an
other in the gap below the witch's hut
In both Of these sanguinsry affairs the
government forces had come of VIC
torious, splendid omens that did not
fsil TO put confidence into the hearts Of
the men.
Marlanx trained two Of his big guns
on the camp in the hills From the
fortress he threw many futile shells
toward their place Of shelter. They dId
no damage; instead OF death. they
brought only laughter 10 the scornfui
camp. Under cover Of nighI. the two
Ganlook cannon were planted in a posi-
ton commanding the southeastern CITY
gate. II was the plan OF the new he
siegeTs 20 lombard this gate, tearing
It 10 pieces with shot. When their force
was strong enough extensively an as
sault would be flung against this open
ing, Drill and discipline were neces-
sary. however, before the attempt could
be made In the present chaotic. I'M
trained condition OF their forces an as
sault would prove not only Intellectual,
but disastrous. Day after day the re-
cruitH were pat through hard drill nm
der the direction OF the regular officers
Every day saw the force increased.
rms MADE hard work for the drill
p
cruits. however. lesBened the task con
siderably.
The knowledge that Marlaux had no
Dig gune except those stationed IN the
fortress was most cOnsOling 70 Tullis
and his friends He COulG not destroy
the castle gates with shells, exceDt bv
purest chance. He could drop Shells
into the castle. but TO hit gate twenty
feet wide. Never7 Field ordnance was
unknown TO this country Of mountains
The iron counts inability 10 destroy
the castle gates made II feasible for
the men In the hills 10 devote consid-
cradle more time 20 drill and prepara-
Ton than they might have sacrificed II
ne conditions were the reverse They
we're confident that Quinnox could hold
The castle for many days. with all this
in mind, Captain Haas and Prince Dam
tan beat down the objections OF the i'm
patient Americans: the work OF preDar-
alton against ignominous failure went
on as rapidly as possible. Haas would
not attack until he was ready, or IL he
came absolutely certain that the men
at the castle were IN dire need
signaling between the castle and tho
hills had been going on Tor DAYS The
absence OF the ''wigwag" system made
81 impossible 10 convey ineligible mes
sages
Truxton King was growing haRRard
from worry and loss Of sleep. He could
not understand the abominable. crfrni-
nal procrastinatiOn He was of a race
that did things with dash and on The
spur OF the moment His soul sick
e1ed day 10y day. John Tullis, equally
unhappy, but more philosophical, often
top Of the rayine, an unlighted pipe in