The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-11-29
CHAPTER XXI (Cont'd)

with wide open ears. As she FIN
ished this dreary prediction hc
silently arose TO his feet, and
without a word to any one, stalked off In
the darkness. Tullis looked after him
and shook his head sadly.
IN be happy on that fellows ac-
count when daybreak comes and we
are really at IT," he said to Prince
Dantan, who knew something Of King s
affliction.
But Truxton King was not there at
daybresk. When ne STROBE out Of camp
that night. he left il benlnd forever.
The unfortunate lack Of means 10
communicate with the occupants OF the
castle had been the source OF great dis
trcss TO Captain Haas. II the defenders
could be Informed IS TO the exact hour
OF the assault from the outside, they
could do much toward It's speedy sue
cess by making a fierce sOrtie from
behind their own walls. A quick dash
from the castle grounds would serve 70
draw MarlanN's attention In that direc-
fiOn. diminishing the force that he
would send 10 check the onslaught az
the gates. But there was no means OF
getting word 10 Colonel QuinnOx. His
two or three hundred men would be
practically useless at the most critical
period Of the demonstration.
TruXton King had all this I'm mind as
he swung of down the mountain road.
having stolen past the scntrics with
comparative ease. He was smiling to
himself II an went well with him.
Colonel QuinnOX would be able 10 rise
10 the occasion. II he failed IN the
daring mission he had elected to per-
form. the only resulting harm would
be 20 himself. the plans Of the be
siegers would not suffer.
he knew his ground well by this
time. He had studied Il thoroughly
from the forlorn boulder al the top
OF the ravine Ply sldrting the upper
walls on the mountain side he might
IN a reasonably short space Of time
reach the low woodlands north Of the
castle walls. The danger from Mar
iauX's scouts outside the city was not
great. they had been scattered and
beaten by Haas recruiting parties. He
stood In more danger from the men
NJ would help. they who were the
Watchful defenders Of the castle.
II must have been o'clock when he
crossed the Kings highway. a mile or
more above the northern gates and
struck down into the same thick under
growth that had protected him and
Hobbs on memora bic night not long
before.
At O'Clock a dripping figure threw
up his hands Obligingly and laughed
with eXultation when confronted by a
startled guardsman inside the castle
walls, and not more than fifty yards
from the water gates
He had timed his entrance by the
SOUND Of the guardsman'E fOOtstep on
lNf stone protecting wall thaf lined the
little stream. When he came 70 the
surface inside the water gate the senfr,,
was AT the extreme end OF his heat
He shouted a friendly cry as he adj
vanced toward the man. calling out hig
own name.
Ten minutes later no was standing
IN the presence OF the haggard. nerve
racked QuinnoX, pouring into his aston
J. hed ears the news Of the coming at
Z ok. While he was discardiug his wet
clothing Tor others, preparations for the
sortie were getting under way Tie
colonel lost no time IN routing out the
sleeping guardsmen and reserves. and
IN sending commands 10 those already
on duty al the gates. The ouIck rsftis
OF arms. the rush Of feet the low cries
Of relief, the rousing Of horses. soon
usurped the place Of dreary. deadly
calm.
When the sun peeped over the lofty
hills, he saw inside the gates n rest
less WaiunC company OF dragons
ready foT ire command to ride forth
Worn. haggard fellows who had silent
but little and who had eEen scarcely
anything for three days: men who
would have starved To death Now they
were forgetting their hunger and m
tiEue IN the Wild. exultant ioy Of the
prospect ahead.
Meantime, King had crossed the
grounds with Colonel Quinnox. on fbe
way 10 the castle He was amazed
almost stupehed. by the dovastafion
that already had been wrought. Trasg
were down: great. gaping moles in tho
ground marked the spots where shells
had fallen, the plaza was an almost
iWpsssable head of masonry and soil
torn and rent by huge projectiles. But