The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-11-27
CHAPTER XXI.
THE RETTRN.

L ROM the highlands below the mon
i astery Captain Haas and mis- men
were able TO study the situation Inthe city
The impraCticability of an assault on
any one Of the stubborn, welI-guarded
gates was at once recognized A force
of seven hundred men, no matter how
well trained or determined, could not be
expected 30 suTTmOunt walls that had
often withstOod the attack of as many
thousands. The wisdom of DELAYING un-
til "A few thousand loyal, though poorly
armed cOuntrymen, could be brought
INTO play against the city appealed at
crce to Prince Dantan and Iohn Tullis.
Withdrawing to an uneXpOSed cut in
the hills. safe from the shells that might
be thrown up from the fortress. they
Established their camps, strongly in
| trenched and practically invulnerable
! against any attack from below Squads
CT men were sent without DELAY into
The hills and valleys to call the panic
stricken, wavering farmers into the fold.
| John Tullis headed the company and
struck Off into the Well-pOI ulated Gan
| look district.
MarIanx, as if realizing the nature OF
| the movement in the hills. began a
furious assault on the gates leading to
| the castle. The watchers in the hills
could see as well as hear the conflict
that RACED almost at their feet 500 tn
speak. They cheered like mad when the
motley army of the usurprr was frus-
/ trated in the attempt TO take the main
gates. From the walls about the park
QuinnOX'S men, few as they were, sent
such deadly vOlleys into the streets be-
] low that the hOrdes fell back and found
! shelter behind the homes of the rich.
J With half an eye one could see that the
TascalS were lOOting the PALACES, secure
from any opposition on the part Of the
| government forces; through the glasses
/ scattered crowds of men could be seen
carrying articles from the houses; more
/ than one Of the mansions went uD IN
Ia as I'm
! of the 2ilagers Increased.
The next morning Captain Haas an
| nounced to his followers that Mar
] lanx had begun to shell the castle Big
shells over the city, dropping them in
/ the park. On the other hand, Colonel
Quinnox during the night had swung
| three gatling guns 10 the top of the
! along the wall, commanding every point
/ from which an assault might be eX-
peCted. II was a well-known fact that
/ there was no heavy ordnance at the
/ castle. All day long Marlanx's men,
stationed in the upper stories Of houses
| close 10 the walls, kept up a constant
! rifle fire, their bullets being directed
| against the distant windows OF the
! castle. That this desultory fusillade
met with scant response at the hands
| OF Quiunox was quite apparent TO the
/ uneasy. champing watchers near the
monastery.
Z MdrlduN VIII uol Deslu llle dCLudl
/ Commandment until he knows that Tullis
[ Is drawing together a formidable force,
| prophesied Prince Dantan-
| But when he does begin the real
shelling," moUrned Truxton King, chat
/ ing like a lion under the deadly mac
/ ton IT can't bear the thought of what
! Il means 10 those inside the castle.
, He can blow IT to pieces over their
| heads. Then, from the house tops, he
can pick them OF like blackbirds. It's
awful Is there nothing that we can
| do. prince2 Damn Il all, 7 know we
! can force a gate. And If we once get
| in where those Cowardly dogs are
| lording II you'll see 'em take the walls
| like steeple-chasers."
| The Continuation of This story VIII
Be Found in TOmOrrOw's
Issue OF The TImea.