Gunnison news-champion., 1909-03-12


tie l~-se and sAaf HzESf - l-is ID
p.ay ~ game VIII Nichasi rsS e~H
way
Late ncx1 ui-ai r,s~s freaa tsiiss''-
ul.rc flzv5a Eaa ~af - uis- AID ess,-
a..si u ksr - taa aaor ~ Esr ai''as'
s..s.sss. Tasrs / ki-~cd As'r haas. %aa
easls her sis,.,s sound aHa wake % hap
IN A1ys Thea ca4zn-ed nay css'sias~
a. vest euz sapi aaa irisz Were
wast.nS fos n4e xisH tarec .Isca .as.s ts.s
h.srss--- ever hi- saddle saI's e-rrsrSa
q loe~ coii ~ rsi-. and 18th ~sse
hcaviiy ars.e. l had With Bs
sb,r, stout csaSci and a isa< knife.
Aak.nx q circuit We avoided the town
and ia aa hour found or.siss.. slowly
mounting the LiI that he'd to 'sc cas-
sle of zcaaa- The night was saarA and
very saoruy. gusts os wind and ss'sss
u rain caught US as We breasted the
incline. and the great trees IA"an<d
and ssShcd Nhcn We came 10 . thick
clump st.,u; a quarter VI mise from
the castle We bade our three freud~
hiSls there With the horpss. SaPt had
Q ~lAsstic and they could rcjosa " IN
Q feU moments IL danger came. but w
tin ncw we had met lo one. ! hotsd
that Aschaei was still cd his guard
lsclicvlng me to ts safe in he'd AoN-
ever that might he. we gained the top
u the Hill without accident and found
ourselves on the edge Of the moat
where IL swceI,s under the road. sep
arating the old castle from H. A tree
stood ON the edge Of the bank. and
Sapt silently aud diligently set to
make fast the rope. | stripped on my
boots. took a pull at n flask of brandy.
loo~ened the knife in its sheath and
took the cudSel between my teeth
Then I shook hands with my friends.
not needing a last look Of entreaty
from Fritz and laid hold of the rope.
| was going 10 have look at Jacobs
ladder.
Gently I lowered niyself into the wa
ter Though the night were wild. the
day had been warm and bright and
the water was not cold. struck out
and began to swim round the great
walls which frowned above me. !
could see only three yards ahead. !
had then good hopes Of not being seen
as I crcpt along close under the damp
moss grown masonry. There were
lights from the new part Of the castle
on the other side. and now and again
I heard laughter and merry shouts. l
fancied | recognized young Rupert
IIentzaus ringing tones and r.Ss2red
him flushed with wine.
Recalling my thoughts to the busi-
Aess In hand, l rested a moment. II
Johann's description were right. I must
he near the window now. Very slowly
! moved. and out of the darkness ahead
loomed shape. 1t was the pipe. curv-
ing from the window to the water
About two feet OF its surface was dis
played. 1t was as big round as two
men. I was about to approach it when
I saw something else. and my heart
stood still. The nose u boat protrud-
I'd beyond the pipe ON the other side.
and. listening intently, heard a slight
whufiie. as Of man shifting his posi-
ton. Who was the man who guarded
Michaers invention? Was he awake or
was he asleep? felt if my knife were
ready and trod water As ] did SO
found bottom under my feet. The foun,
dations of the castle extended some
6ftecn inches, making ledge, and
stood on it, out Of water from my arm
pits upward. Then I crouched and
peercd thr3I,l the darkness under the
pirc. where. curving. 1t left a space.
There was a man in the boat. A rife
/ In hr- III 4 - 4 H.,
barrel Here was the sentinel. He sat
very still. listened. He breatbeti
heavily, regularly. mOnOtonously. BY
heaven, he slept. Kneeling on the
sbelf, ! drew forward under the pine
till my face was within two feet OF his
He was a big man. saw. 1t was Max
HOlf, the brother Of Johann. My hand
stole to my belt. and I drew out my
knife. OF all the deeds OF my life l
love the least TO think OF this, and
whether it was the act Of a man or a
traitor l will not ask. said to myself
1T is war. and the kings life is at
stake And l raised myself from be
meath the pipe and stood up by the
boat. which lay moored by the ledge
Holding my breath. l marked the spot
and raised my arm. The great fellow
stirred. He opened his eyes-wide
wider. He gasped in terror Mt my face
and clutched at his rife. l struck houoc
And ! heard the chorus of Il love song
from the opposite bank.
Leaving him where he lay. a hud-
died mass, ! turned to Jacobs Lad.
der" My time was short. This fel-
lows turn of watching might be over
directly, and relief would come. Lean
ing over the pipe. l examined it from
the point it left the water to the top.
most extremity. where it passed. OF
seemed to pass. through the masonry
of the wall. There was no break in
1t. no chink. Dropping on my knees
1 tested the under side. And my
breath went quick and fast. for on this
I lower side where the nine should have