Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-09-01
THANK God. we've found your

Ihank God. we've fOunu !ou'
cried the horseman.
"King!" exclaimed Tullis. suddenly
recognizing him. A moment later
they were clasping hands
What has happened. King! Wnere
have you been? We looked TOR you
after your disap"- .
That's ancient history" interrupted
the other. How soon can you get
these troops Oh the march! There's
not a moment to be lost"
Good glory. man. tell the what 1t Is!
What has happened? The prince
whnt OF bimy' cried Tullls. grasping
Kings arm in the clutch OF wise.
"lIe sends his love and rescinds the
order of exile" said King. smiling.
then seriously: "Marlnnx has taken
tho city. 1t was all game. this get
ting rid of you. The prince and the
others are besleged In tho castle.
Thank Cod we got to you In time!
Back here q couple Of miles we came
upon small gang Of robbers. We had
bit Of shooting. and. l regret to say.
no one was bagged."
''LOTulOtS>-W 10 SUE, hluE
Don't tremble like that. old man.
She's safe enough in the castle. oh.
It was a f1nc game Marlanx had In
his mind!'
While the troopers were making
ready for the march Truxton King
and Hobbs related their story to
eager. horrified groups Of officers.
Finally the battalion. augmented by
the misguided company from the de-
serted railroad camps. moved swiftly
into the deflle led by young Raoot.
Truxton King rode beside the brother
of the girl he loved. uttering words OF
cheer and encouragement.
THE Countess Ingomedp-has any
thing been heard from her" asked
Tullls He had been thinking Of her
for days and nights.
We'll. nothing definite" said King
evasively.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE RETURN
TNROM the highlands below the
| ~ Monastery Captain Haas and
his men were able to study the
situation IN the city. The i'm
! practicnbil;y Of an assault on any one
of the stubborn. we'll guarded gates
was ut once recognized. A force of
700 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 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. waverlng farmers
into the fold John Tullis headed the
company that struck of into the well
populated Ganlook district
Marlanx. rs II realizing the nature
Of the movement IN the hills. began
furious assault on the gates leading
to the castle. The watchers in the hills
could see as we'll as hear the conflict
that ragged almost at their feet. so to
speak
The next morning Captain Hans an
nounced to his followers that Marlanx
md begun to she'll the castle. Big
guns in the fortress were hurting great
shells over the city. dropping them In
the park. On the other hand. COlone
QuinnOx during the night had swung
three Gntling guns to the top Of the
IA ut nj IN 4
along the wall. commanding every
point from which I'M assault might bt
expected.
That night recruits from the farms
and villages began to straggle into the
camp. They were armed with rides
ordinary shotguns and unique blum
derbusses. swords. slaves and aget
lances. All were willing to die In the
service OF the little prince. By thu
close Of the second day nearly 3.0Ot
men were encamped above the city
Late that night John Tullis rode int
camp ut the head Of great compan n!
from the Ganlook province. He hat
retaken the town Of Ganlook, seizet
the fortress and recruited the entr'
fighting strength of the neighborhood
More than that. he had unlimberet
and conveyed to the provisional cam
two Of the big guns that stood abov'
the gates at the fortress.
, Marlanx trained two Of his big gun
on the camp In the hills, From tn
fortress be threw many futile shell
toward their place Of shelter. The.
? did no damage: instead of death. the,
brought only laughter to the scornfu
q camp. Under cover Of night the tw
, Ganlook cannons were planted In pc
sition commanding the southeastern
n city gate. 1t was the plan Of the ne'
bcsiegers to lombard this gate. teal
ing 1t to pieces with shot.
r The knowledge that Mnrlanx Ind n
big guns except those stationed In tn
fortress was most consoling to Tulli
and his friends, He could not destro
= the castle gates with shells. except b
a purest chance. He could drop shell
A feet wide? Never.
Truxton King was growing haggar
!. from worry and loss OF sleep. II
q could not understand the abominabl'
a criminal procrastination. He was {
n race that did things with Z dash an
' on the spur Of the moment. His no,
n sickened day by day. John Tnlli
a equally unhappy. but more philosopl
4 ical. often found him seated upon
rock Ut the top Of the ravine. an III
. lighted pipe In his fingers. his eyes Il