The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-11-05

almost of madness.
He said nothing, however. He was
embarked upon this adventure, and
he stood to win all that he held dear
in life in carrying it out to a successful
conclusion, and, come what might, let
whatever fear possess him. he was
determined not to fail. Nevertheless,
he reflected softly to himself, and al
most with a humorous smile upon his
face, how the varied dangers of life
appeared to different men. At any
rate, where Basil Marriott led, he
would follow-if 1t were to death it.
self.
He heard a little click at his side,
and suddenly saw a movement of the
engineers arm in the dark. Then a
bright green spot Of light, as big as
a shilling, and which reminded him
of a gigantic glow-worm, shone in the
Germans hands. 1t shone for a Sec
ond or two, then went out. There
was a click, and it appeared again,
flashing in quick light and occultation.
"S-s-s-s!" came from Basil. 1T IS
answered"
Grant stared upwards through the
frowning gloom, and hanging above
his head he saw a similar light Of
green, answering the flashes of the
apparatus in the hands of the engi-
neer.
Dietrich breathed a great sigh of re-
lief. ZACH! ach!" he said. ut is we'll.
We are in good time-the beginning
of our enterprise is good"
Basil, with the silent quickness of a
monkey, had already crossed to the
other side OF the deck, and was wait
ing expectantly.
Dietrich nodded to G rant, and
nudged him on the arm. He is won
derful, is he not?" he whispered, this
sailor friend of yours. See, he is all
ready for e~verything!"
Grant returned the nudge, thinking
SO himself. with that humility in the
presence of a c%leverness which is not
his WI that all generous minded,
fine, and executive natures have.
The three men listened intently.
There was a soft, slithering sound,
and q tiny tap-tap, as the rungs of the
ladder hit against the projecting stone.
A moment or two of suspense, and
then Basil grasped the two leather
bags of shot which weighted the end
Of the descending ladder.
In q second or two more the sway
ing, sinuous thing, which had come
down to them from the heights above,
was made fast, to the deck with two
wreaths Of rope. which stretched 1t
out a little from the wall of the preci-
pice, but allowed also for a slight
~looseness of play.
Good" Dietrich whispered. II re-
main here, awaiting the issue! God
speed you, gentlemen"
Nov, then, Grant," Basil said, "you
have got your revolver all right. Are
you ready? Then come on! l think
l had better go first, because / am
more used to this sort of thing than
you are. When we get to the top u
confederate will be waiting to help
me over the battlements, and then, If
you find any difficulty. the two of us
a pull you in"
"Right-O!" Grant replied, though
though even In his whisper he recog-
mixed that q curious hoarseness had
come.
Basil pulled a piece Of resin from
his pocket and rubbed it vigorously
upon his hands. you do the same,
Grant," he whispered. 1T will help
you to stick" And then. without
further ado. he sprang upon the lad
der and began to mount.
Grant rubbed the dry, sticky sub
stance upon his hands and stood wait
ing while the ladder creaked above.
and he saw the big. black shape going
up away from him into the air. Then,
with the courage born of desperation,
and in answer to . low hiss from Ba-
sil, VINO was already some fourteen
feet ur the ladder, he also grasped
the ropes and stood upon the first taut
rung.
For q moment he hesitated, and
then, with an effort such as he never
remembered to have made In his life
before, he dragged his unwilling limbs
into action and began the frightful
climb.
For the first few feet his heart
seemed to sicken and dissolve within
him, and then quite suddenly conf
d@nce returned to him.
It was begun. 1t was not so dread
full after all. Nothing, he reflected, is
so dreadful as one imagines 1t to be,
when once 1t has begun.
On and up he went, following his
agile, cat-like leader until the ladder
grew nearer and nearer to the wall,
and rasped his fingers, which could
no longer grasp the side, Of the ropes.
but must grip the rungs alone.
His toes also began to have less
and less foothold. and he was IL rally