The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-11-05
CHAPTER Xxx.
A Climb Of Danger.

Grant and Captain Marriott were in
the cabin. but the sliding door at one
end. which was opened, communicated
with the little engine hatch, which
was only half rooted.
Suddenly Dietrich put his head in
through the doorway. I'm about to
stop the engines" he said, in a low
voice. please go quietly out on deck
and stand by to make fast. You. SIR
he nodded to the sailor. will find a
long painter in the bows. There Is a
sheer wall OF rock going down into
the river and plenty Of water. In the
rock. about three feet above the water,
there are two iron rings. about the
distance from our bow to starboard.
There was once q ferry up there
acrOss the river In the old days. and
the rings, though rusty and ancient.
will still hold us. II you will make
fast on the bows and fend her on as
Ne come up I will look up the star
and rope, for we cannot anchor here;
nor would It be wise II. as is probable.
we must get away in q hurry and
without the slightest noise"
He disappeared from the doorway.
tt humming noise Of the electric mo
tor suddenly ceased. while the boat
9llded on By its own momentum.
Basil was up on deck In q moment
WITH the painter In his hand, and
Grant, who followed him. and adj
mired the extraordinary swiftness and
nolssiess dexterity with which the
naval oficer held the painter and
fended OF the bows OF the boat from
! sheer wall Of rock which rose, black
or than the surrounding night, for six
u feet above them.
Light a match very quietly" Basil
whispered to Grant; shield 1t with
your hands, and throw the light upon
the wall Of the rock"
Grant did %, and almost immedi-
ateay ! sigh Of relief came from Basil
~ 10 found the rusty iron ring, passed
the painter through It, and secured 1t
IN . half-hitch mooring knot with the
quickness Of = ~conjuring trick.
Almost ut the same time Dietrich
had found the other ring. which the
steward had dropped over the tenders
Ol twisted oakum, and the launch was
uecurely moored against the swift tide
which bore down upon the starboard.
II was dark almost pitch-dark,
though far away upon the heights OF
the opposite hill, where the Schloss of
the Archduke was, summer l~ightnings
Quivered with uncertain amethyst
Hight And shadow over the browning
buildings Of the hill.
The three men stood together upon
6eck.
~ stretching out their hands they
0nuid touch the sheer wall OF granite
Waich rose above them to such Q
1eewnlng height.
Daall went over to the port side Of
~ hs1ch, and the advantage given
- ~ the eight-foot beam showed
.ms4hAt above the natural precipice
una the towering wall Of the outside
fDgf1ncations, = relic Of the Middle
49, when the rulers Of Wohlau
I~andohrona lived secure In theiy
atxoafhOlds amid III the dangers and
Def1ls Or the time.
Grant ana the engineer Joined him
80 0rant looked up also. He shud.
~ be did 70. do you mean to
~. nasil," he asked. that we have
~ d ~ MP that!"
sWhy. ~ course" the sailor replied
I D Whisper Of amazement. when
a. rope Iadder comes down it will be
easy enough"
Fosthe aaiIOr. the ascent Of. perhaps
sone a~ixty-flye feet Of sheer precipice
whtae upon j swinging ladder OF coli
ana aahsM0od seemed an easy thinl
enough. but Ia the great athlete. 81
unaccustorned ~ ~ was - such peril