The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-05-12
CHAPTER XIX.
TIE EETLRN

THE RETURN.
TROM the highlands below the
A Monastery Captain Haas and
81 his men were able to study the
situation in the city The i'm
practicability of an assault on any one
of the stubborn. well guarded gates
was at once recognized. y force Of
200 men. no matter how well trained
or how determined. could not be eX-
pected to surmount walls that had
often withstood the attack of as many
thousands. The wisdom of delaying
until q few thousand loyal though
poorly armed countrymen could be
brought into play against the city ap-
pealed at once to Prince Dantan and
John Tullis.
Squads of men were sent without de
lay into the hills and valleys to call
the panic stricken. wavering farmers
into the fold. John Tullis headed the
company that struck off into the well
populated GanlOOk district
MarlanX. as if realizing the nature
of the movement in the hills, began
a furious assault on the gates leading
to the castle. The watchers in the hills
could see as well as hear the conflict
that ragged almost at their feet. 50 to
speak.
The next morning Captain Haas an,
nOunced TO his followers that MarlanX
had begun to shell the castle. Big
guns in the fortress were hurting great
shells over the city. dropping them in
the park. On the other hand. Colonel
QuinnoX during the night had swung
three Calling guns to the top of the
wall; they were stationed at intervals
along the wall. commanding every
point from which an assault might be
expected
That night recruits from the farms
and villages began to straggle into the
camp. They were armed with rifles
ordinary shotguns and unique blum
derbusses, swords. slaves and aged
lances. All We're willing to die in the
service of the little prince. BY the
close of the second day nearly 5000
men were encamped above the city.
Late that night John Tullis rode into
camp at the head of great company
from the Ganlook province. He had
retaken the town of Ganlook. seized
the fortress and recruited the entire
fighting strength Of the neighborhood.
More than that he had unlimbered
and conveyed to the provisional camp
two of the big guns that stood above
the gates at the fortress.
MarlanX trained two of his big guns
on the camp in the hills. From the
fortress he threw many futile shells
toward their place of shelter. They
did no damage; instead of death. they
brought only laughter to the scornful
camp. Under cover of night the two
Ganlook cGnnons were planted in a po-
sition commanding the southeastern
city gate. 1t was the plan of the new
besiegcrs to lombard this gate. tear
ing it to pieces with shot.
The knowledge that MarlanX had no
big guns except those stationed in the
fortress was most consoiing to TulliS
and his friends He could not destroy
the castle gates with shells. except by
purest chance. He could drop shells
into the castle. but to hits gate twenty
feet wide? Never.
TruXton King was growing haggard
from worry and loss of sleep. He
could not understand the abominable.
criminal procrastinatiou. He was of
a race that did things with dash and
on the spur of the moment. His soul
sickened day by day. John Tullis.
equally unhappy. but more philosoph-
ical. often found him seated upon Il
rock at the top of the ravine, an un-
lighted pipe in his fingers, his eyes in
tent upon the hazy castle.
Cheer up. King. Our time will
come" he was wont to say.
Then came the night before the pro.
posed assault on the gates. The guns
were in position, and the cannonading
was to begin at daybreak. Truxton
was full of the bitterness of doubt
and misgiving. Was she in love
with vos Engo? Was the counts suit
progressing favorably under the fire
of the enemy? Was his undoubted
bravery having It's erect upon the
wavering susceptibilities of the dis
treSSed Lorraine?
The sound of a voice in sharp com
mand attracted his attention. There
was a bright moon, and Truxton
could see other pickets hurrying to
join the first A few moments later
several trespassers were escorted
through the lines and taken directly
to headquarters-a man and two wo-
men, King observed.
John Tullis was staring hard at the
group approaching from the roadway
One woman walked ahead of her COM
panions. Suddenly he sprang forward
with crv of amazement.