Gunnison news-champion., 1909-04-02


vious voyage in the moat, bat
fortune was this time against me-
Still. l reckoned that by keeping close
under the wall aud in the shadow Z
could escape detection from the win
dOws Of the chateau that look ed out
ON the scene of my efforts. II they
searched the moat. indeed, my scheme
must fail. but I did not think they
would. They had made Jacobs ladder
secure against attack. Johann had
himself helped to fix it closely to the.
masonry ON the underside SO that Ii
could not now lie moved from below
any more than from above An as
sault with explosives or long batter
ing with picks alone could displace 1t.
and the noise involved In either Of
these operations put them out OF 4 he
question. What harm, then, could q
man do in the moat? I trusted that
Black Michael. putting this query to
himself. would answer confidently.
None while even IL Johann meant
treachery he did not know my scheme
and would doubtless expect to wee me
front entrance to the chateau. There,
! said TO sapt. was the real danger.
And there" ! added, you shall be
Doesn't that content your"
But it did not. Dearly would he have
liked to come with me had I not utter
ly refused to take him. One man
might escape notice. To double the
party more than doubled the risk, and
when he ventured to hint once again
that my life was too valuable I. know
ing the secret thought he chung 70.
sternly bade him he silent. rs surfing
him that unless the king lived through
the night ! would not live through II
either
At IL O'Clock sapt's command Ieft the
chateau Of Tarlenheim and struck OF
TO the right riding by unfrequented
roads and avoiding the town Of Zen
da. III all went well, they would be in
front Of Zenda by about a quarter to ..
Leaving their horses half a mile Oh,
they were 10 steal up to the entrance
and hold themselves in readiness for
the opening of the door II the door
were not opened by . they were to
send Fritz Won Tarlenheim round to
the other side of the castle. I would
meet him there IL 1 were alive. and
we would consult whether to storm the
castle or not II l were not there.
they were to return with all speed to
march in force on Zenda, for II not
there l should be dead. and I knew
that the king would not he alive five
minutes after had ceased to breathe
1 must now leave Sapt and his
friends and relate how I myself pro
ceeded on this eventful night I went
out on the good horse which had car
back from the shooting lodge to Strel-
sau. l carried revolver in the saddle
and my sword. l was covered with n
large cloak. and under this | wore n
warm. tight fitting wooden jersey. q
pair of knickerbockers. thick stockings
and light canvas shoes. l had rubbed
myself thoroughly with oil. and I car
ried a large flask of whisky. The
night was warm. but I might probably
be Immersed a long while, and it was
necessary to take every precaution
against cold. for cold not only saps n
mans courage If he has to die. but
impairs his energy if others have to
die and finally gives him rheamatics II
II be Gods will that he lives. Also
tied round my body length of thin
but stout cord and did not forget my
ladder. I. starting after Sapt. took q
shorter route. skirting the town 70 the
left, and found myself in the outskirts
"f fhN forest AT about half past Il.