The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-26
Continued from yesterday.>

the city was forced upon them She
told them that Count Marlanx had
lately received word that the Grand
Duke Paulps was likely TO intervene
before many days. acting on his own
initiative. In the belief that he could
force the government Of Gs.austark to
grant the railway privileges 50 niue Il
desired BY Ills country. Matlanx re.
utiZEyt r1Hr nc would have to forestall
the willy grand duke. If he were I'm
abso.ute control of the Graustark gov
eminent when the Russian appeared
he, and he alone, would lie I'm a posi-
ten 10 deal with the situation
The grand duke may send large
force OF men across the bot3cr at any
time" said the countess Ia conclusion
Count Marlanx Is sure to make de
cisiYe assault rs soon as he hears that
the movement has begun. He lad
hopes OF starving them OUT. thus saw
ing the castle from DIES .uction, bat as
that seems unlikely his shells will
soon begin 10 rain in earnest upon the
dear old pile
Truxton King was listening With
wide open ears AS she finished this
dreary prediction he silently arose TO
his feet and. withont word to apv
one. Stalked off tn the darkness. TUT.
lis looked after him and shook his head
sadly
'"Ill be happy ON that fellows ae-
count when daybreak comes and we
are really il = ise stt,iii 10 Prime
Dantan, who kne " something OF Kings
affection
But Truxton King was not there at
dayhreak When he strode ont Of the
camp that night he left II behind for
ever,
TIE unfortunate lack of means to
communicate with the occupants IF
the castle had been the source Of great
distress to Captain iiGas. Ii the de
tenders could be informed as TO the
exact hour or the assault from tho out
side they could 40 much toward lis
speedy success by making a fierce scr
tie from behind their own walls. A
quick dash from The castle grounds
would serve to draw MarlanS $ atteu-
ton in that direction. diminishing the
force that he would send to check the
onslaught at the gates,
fsgHStef, fSttta; had ;tfi this IN mind
as he sFs4Hg t,ff tlf,9a- h.. mountain
road, having slolen past tie Setig4ea
with comparative case The danger
from Marlanx's scouts outside the city
was not great; they had been scattered
and beaten by Haas recruiting par
ties, lie stood III more danger from
the men ile would help, they who We're
the w>tchfu defenders of the castle.
1t must have been , o'clock when he
crossed the Kings Highway. a mile or
more above the northern gates and
struck down irte the same thick un.
dergrowth TINT had protected him and
Hobbs on memorable night not long
before
At 8 o'clock dripping figure threw
up his hands obligingly and. laughed
with emulation NAaa confronted hF
startled gparaefnaff inside the castle
walls and not more than fifty yards
from the water gate. lie shouted a
friendly cry as he advanced toward
the man. calling out his own name.
Ten minutes later he was standing
In the presence of the hagward nerve
Iacked Quinnox, pouring into his rs
tonisiled ears the news of the coming
ATTACK. The colonel lost no time In
routing out the sleeping guardsmen
and reserves ard In sending com,
mands 10 those already on duty at the
gates.
When the sun Peeped over the lofty
hills he saw inside the gates a rest
less, waiting company Ut Dragons
ready for the command TO ride forth.
Meantime King had crossed the
grounds with Colonel Quinnox ON the
was, to the castle He was amazed, nj
most stupetied, by the devastation that
already had been wrought. a dozen or
more balls had crashed into the facade,
YaNning t;1sures gigantic holes. mark
Cd the path Of the ugly messengers
from t.aTianN. Nearly all Of the win
dowS ili, been wrecked by riflemen
who shot from the roofs Of palaces in
and about the avenue Two Of the
smaller minarets were In ruins. A
huge pillar In the lower balcony was
gone. 4e terrace had been piowed MP
by single ricoehetting she'll
Great God"' gasped King. ''It Is
frightful"'
They began bombarding yesterday
afternoon. We were asked TO snrren-
der at 8 O'clock Our reply brought
the shells. Mr.. King. 1t was terrible.
After the first two or three shells
we found places of shelter for the
prince and his friends They are In
the stone tower beyond the castle The
most glorious courage is shown. Count
Vos Engo guards the prince and the
ladies of the household, Alas, 1t was
hunger that we feared the most To
day we shonid have resorted TO horses
flesh. There was no other way. We
knew that, relief would come some day.
John Tullis was there And now it IN
today, This shall be our day, thank
-Gesf 'F'1s' N.Y. .'fs'HffF' 49, s's'ss
Attendants sped to the tower. shout
ing the battle tidings,
The prlftre came filulhIfnr Hawu tba