Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-12-25

and hat and sword Then drag hls
body to the slip and let it 90 Use ex-
petition. Open the door and walk out
Of the fortress. Do not speak If you
can help it. Your voice might betray
you AS you go through the city you
will be watched. but have no fear.
They will be watching to see that you
come to no harm. They are your
friends. The city gate will open for
you at a sign. and you are free to
make the best Of your way to the
woodcutters cottage. I shall be walt
ing there with horses"
! And afterward?"
"Unless you are delayed. by dawn we
should be well on our way toward the
place where you entered this internal
country. We must trust to luck to find
the way out. Now do you thoroughly
understand"
Eyes. When do ! go?
"You will presently hear the guard
changed in the corridor without. Then
tie your rope securely and descend.
Here is sword. See that you do not
drop it as you go down Do not go be-
fore your time or you will ruin every.
thing. Don't be too courteous with
Vasca. Once he hired an assassin to
stab you in the dark: just remember
that and STAY him as you would
mad dog. Now must CO."
We grasped each others hand. ana
he left me.
Suddenly l heard the guard changed.
The time had come. and my heart beat
faster. l waited until the sound OF
the mems measured tread had died
away down the corridor. and then I
went to the slab A dozen fears took
hold of me at that moment. Indeed.
my hand trembled as put the key
into it's hole.
1t turned easily. and the next mo-
ment I had raised the slab.
The dungeon was pitch dark. I had
to be careful not to slip into the hole.
I could hear the swish Of the river far
below me-a noisy sound 1t was. com.
ing up through the shaft
I found the ring, and to It tied the
rope. I tested the security of the knots
at least half a dozen times before I
let the rope 60. It swung out to It's
length with a jerk. fastened the
sword tightly round me, and then |
stood for a moment It was q short
prayer I muttered-to- short, perhaps.
for the great matter was entering
upon, but it was an earnest one. Then
I sat upon the edge Of the slip and.
|grasping the rope with both hands. let
myself 60. dropping to my full length.
1t was the way that only dead men
took, yet I. living one. was about to
take It.
1t had seemed pitch dark in the dun.
geon. yet hung in greater blackness
and could discern the opening above
my head. I wasted no time now had
begun my journey. 1t was simply a
matter Of sliding down the slip and
steadying myself by the rope. This
was easy enough.
I must have traversed nearly the
hfty feet Of rope. yet my feet had al
ways met the wall ] had come to no
other hole. no other slip Joining the
main shaft. Hand over hand went
down. first feeling the rope with my
feet to make certain that was not at
the end Of it, then feeling the wall. not
to miss the opening sought for.
Hand over hand. then my feet dan.
Cling below me-there was no more
rope. For an instant I felt inclined to
let 90 and fall to death. 90 ending my
troubles. Then l went up hand over
hand in desperate haste. and. having
got the rope between my knees again.
I hung, swinging. and steadied myself
to think Either had missed the hole
or organ was mistaken: the rope was
not long enough. Perhaps It was BE-
cause the first solution was the most
acceptable that I believed 1t to be the
correct one. l took courage and
climbed upward. stretching my legs to
dsht and left .earching for the hole