The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-12-21
CHAPTER VI.
A SURPRISE FOR MAISON-ROUGE

There was narrow foothold, and my
head whirled for an instant as I clung
to the bars with one hand and looked
down at the Pickering torches In the
court below and along the outer wall.
But the giddiness passed, and I leaned
far out n vainly tried to pierce the
outward at the height of my head, so
that / could not see the top, but I had
seen the parapet In daylight from a
distance and knew that the merlons
were narrow n spiked along the
crest. 1t was over one of these that I
must throw my rope. n / drew a deep
breath as ! nerved myself for the eff
fort. Once. twice, I threw, with a long,
outward sweep Of the arm, and each
time the rope fell back past me.
Three. four, five times, but each time
1t came back without resistance. I
paused for breath, and heard Richelieu
cursing softly at the window. I leaned
far out and threw the sixth time. The
| rope held. l bore my weight upon II,
still clinging to h bars with one hand.
1t still held. Obviously. what I had
Hoped for had happened.
And then I paused, while the per-
spiration started In beads at the roots
Of my hair. AS the wall sloped out
ward above me, I saw that so soon as
| L BiaopCu tiit IopS III loOocu lily HOlu
on the bars OF the window / would be
swung outward. But there was no time
TO hesitate, and I feared that If I stop
ped to think my heart would fail me,
so closing my eyes, / grapsed the rope
and let myself go. In a moment l was
dangling like a fly over the abyss.
Gripping my teeth, I went up hand over
hand to the parapet, straining my
wounded shoulder ~grievously, grasped
the top of the b%attlement, pulled my
self over, and fell limp as q rag on the
other side. A moment later I heard a
scratching against the wall, and
Richelieu scrambled over beside me.
DO not move" he whispered, crouch
ing under the parapet; Il hear foot
steps,.
l also heard them, and saw family a
sentry approaching with musket on his
shoulder.
otis our salvation" I whispered, for
in an infant l saw a way of escape.
Our salvation?" questioned RICHIE
lieu.
Make no noise. monsieur an
swered. and ] will show you"
The sentry was opposite us. A step
more and he q passed. In that in
slant / was upon him, my fingers at
his throat. Before he could make a
sound. or. indeed. understand what had
happened, I had dragged him down into
tiic NodSiN Ills I'll
as 1t fell and selling the rope from
the parapet. had bound his feet to-
gether in n trice.
Quick, quick I whispered. Per
haps there is another sentry. This one
must not be missed"
l stripped off the fellows coat while
Richelieu stuffed his handkerchief into
his mouth. Then we tied his hands,
gagged him and rolled him into the
shadow. / threw on his coat, donned
his hat. picked up his musket and
continued alcng his beat. A moment
later l saw the form OF another sentry
approaching through the gloom.
"Munt1oy." he cried as he neared me.
The old battle cry Of France flashed
into my mind IN an Instant can
call 1t nothing less than inspiration.
"St. Denis" l answered.
"Allis WELL" said the man and passed
me.
1t was q simple thing TO reach out
and clutch his windpipe. Riclielieu
heard the struggle ind rai to my as
sisiancs. I tore oui rope into shorter