The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-02-07

oaul9s
'I'll be happy on that fellows
account when daybreak comes
and we are really at it, he said
to Prince Dantan, who knew some
thing of Kings affliction.
But Truxton King was not there
at daybreak. When he strobe
out of the camp that night he left
it behind forever.
The unfortunate lack of means
to communicate with the occu-
pants of the castle had been the
source of great distress to Cap
tain Haas. If the defenders could
be informed as to the exact hour
of the assault from the outside,
they could do much toward it's
speedy success by making a fierce
sortie from behind their own
walls. A quick dash from the
|eastle grounds would serve to
draw Marlanx's attention in that
direction, diminishing the force
that he would send to check the
onslaught at the gates. But thele
was no means of getting word to
Colonel Quinnox. His two or
three hundred men would be
practically useless at the most
critical period of the demonstra-
ton.
Truxton King had all this in
mind as he swung off down the
mountain road, having stolen past
the sentries with comparative ease.
He was smiling to himself. If all
went we'll with him, Colonel Quin-
nox would be able to rise to the
occasion. If he failed in the dar-
ing mission he had elected to per-
form, the only resulting harm
would be to himself; the plans of
the besiegers would not suffer.
lie knew his ground well by this
time. He had studied it thor
|oughly from the forlorn boulder
at the top of the ravine. BY skirt
ing the upper walls, on the noun
tain side, he might, in a reason
ably short space of time, reach
the low woodlands north of the
castle walls. The danger from
Marlanx's scouts outside the city
was not great; they had been
scattered and beaten by Haas re-
cruiting parties. He stood in
more danger from the men he
would help, they who were the
watchful defenders of the castle.
1t must have been two o'clock
when he crossed the Kings High
way, a mile or more above the
northern gates, and struck down
into the same thick underground
that rad protected him and
Hobbs on memorable night not
long before.
At three o'clock, a dripping
figure threw up his hand obliging-
lly and laughed with exultation
when confronted by a startled
guardsman inside the castle walls
and not more than fifty yards
from the water gates!
| He had timed his entrance by
1.-THE sound of the guardsman' s
lfootstep on the stone protecting
wall that lined the little stream.
lWhen he came to the surface in
lside the water gate, the sentry
was at the extreme end of his
lbeat. He shouted friendly cry
AS he advanced toward the man,
Icalling out his own name.
/ Ten minutes later he was stand
ling in the presence of the bag
gard. nerve-racked Quinnox, pour
ling into his astonished ears the
news of the coming attack. While
lhes was discarding his wet cloth
ling for others. preparations fol-
the sortie were getting under
way. The colonel lost no time
in routing out the sleeping
lguardsmen and reserves, and in
sending. commands to those al
Iready on duty at the gates. The
louick rattle of arms. the rush, o.
fleet. the low cries of relief, the
Irousing of horses. soon usurpet
1.-THE place of dreary. deadly calm
| when the sun peeped over thu
lofty hills, no saw inside thu
gates q restless, waiting company
|of dragons, ready for the com