The Washington times., 1909-11-26


was engaged in stuffing food
into a knapsick. Colonel
QUmnox and Haddan had been listening
to Hobbs lamentations for half an hour
in Kings room. SWIM on. 4 saNi
BY hockey. he's gone clean datly.
Hobbs was eyeing hsrn with alarm. The
others looked hard at the speaker,
seeming a joke.
Not vet, Hobbs. Later on. perhaps.
] had occasion to make a snort tour Of
investiEa Uon this afternoon. Doubtless,
gentlemen. YOU know where the water
gate is. back of the castle Well. I've
looked IL Overland under. / might say
Hobbs. you and I will sneak under those
slippery old gates like a couple Of eciS.
I forgot 10 ask II YOU can swim.
ITO be sure I can Under the gates:
My word
Truxton careIessly. The Cascades and
Basin of Venus run out through the
gate. There IS space Of at least
foot below the bottom OF the gate, which
hasn't been opened in fifty years, I'm
told A good swimmer c.in wriggle
through. dye seer That lets him OUt
into the little canal that connects with
Il seei' cried Quinno,- 1T can be
done! NO one Will be watch ne al that
The sky was overcast. the night as
tfficers' quarters at ] O'Clock, making
their way to the historic old safe in
The glen below the castle Arriving al
The wall, TTuXton briefly whispered his
You remember. Colonel Quirnox. that
the stream IS four or fve feet deep
washed a deeper channel under the iron
bound tiTubers- The gates are perhaps
two feet thick. For something like
seven or eight feet from tho bottom
hey are so constructed that the water
runs through an open network Of great
iron bars. Now. Hobbs and ] win 20
under the gates In the old clothes YOU
have given US. When we are on the
gate, and YOU may pass our dTy clothes
cut between the bars above the surface
81 tlls water. Our suns. the map and
Then well drop down the canal a short
distance and change our clothes IA the
underbrush. Hobbs knows where we can
procure horses and he knows a trusty
euiue on the other side Of the city. SO
long, colonel III see YOU later"
God be with vOu." said QuinnOx fer
vently. The four men shook hands
and King slipped into the water with
out a moments hesitation
Right after me Hobbs he said. and
then his head went under.
A minute later he and Hobbs were on
the outside Of the gate. EaspinE COR
breath. Standing iU water to their
necks. GuinnOx and Haddan passed the
equipment through the barred openings.
There were whispered gpad-bys and
the night. wadiug in the sRfft-0owfng
canal. Up 70 their Chius Swimming
would have been dangerous. on account
OF the noise.
Holding their belongings high above
their heads, with their hearts On their
mouths. King and the Englishman felt
their way carefully along the bed Of
the stream Not sound was Co he
heard except the barkiugs Of dogs in
the distance The stiffness NJ death hung
over the land-so still that the almost
fmperCeptibie sounds they made IN
breathing and moving seemed like great
volumes Of noise in their tense ears.
A hundred wards from the gate they
cFawled ashore and made their way
I'D over the steep bank into the thick.
Wild underbrush. Not word had been
spoken up 10 this time.
Quietly, now. Hobbs let as get
cut Of these duds. Cad. they're like
icei From now on Hobbs. you lead
the way. TN do my customary act or
following.
Hobbs was shiverirg from the cold.
ct say. Mr.. King. you're a wonder,
that's WEot yo o,,,. are re. Think Of going
That's right Hobbs. think OF IT, but
don't talk"
They stealthily stripped themselves Of
the wet garments. and. after no end
Of trouble succeeded in getting into
the dry substitutes Then they lowered
the wet bundles into the water and
quietly stole OF through the brush
Hobbs an the lead. intent upon striking
the kings highway, a mile or two aboyc
town II was slow. arduOus going. be-
cause OF the extreme caution required
A wide detour was made by the canny
Hobbs-wider. IN fact. than the impa-
tient American thought wholly ueces-
sary- In time, however, they came 70
the highway.
wei. we've got a start, Hobbs.