The Ocala evening star., 1911-05-29

sreaoylng myself py the rope. Inls
was easy enough
/ must have traversed nearly the |
fifty 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 felt inclined 10
let go and fall 70 death. so ending my
troubles. Then | 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 O'Ryan was mistaken; the rope was
not long enough. Perhaps II was be-
cause the first solution was the most
acceptable that believed 1t TO be the
correct one took courage and
climbed upward, stretching my legs to
right and left searching for the hole.
might have missed 1t even then had
I not heard a sound that made me
| listen tntently Yes; 1t was distinct
from the kissing of the water below
| me, the murmur of a mans voice.
Was it above me In the dungeon / had
escaped from? If SO, had only 10 wait
| few moments. I should feel the rope
| terked. or else II would be cut. and so
| an end to me. I hung. waiting, and
| still In q dull monotone the voice went
| on. Suddenly little below me and TO
my left the rocky wall seemed to grow
luminous Pickering light that shone
for a moment. then died. then shone
again.
''Is that a good way out Of lifet"
| The voice sounded low, yet the
words were distinct The light flicker
ed and then slowly went out. low
cred myself to the level where it had
been and then. holding the rope with
one hand, worked my way along the
face of the wall with the other
made slow progress. but presently
Erasped the side of the slip. Cautiously
felt for the door of 1t with my foot.
After some minutes | succeeded In
finding il. but it was. II anything, at
q sharper angle than the slip from my
dungeon How To get footing upon
1t was a matter for consideration AS
II was, had to hold ON to the side Of
the slip to prevent the rope swinging
back with ME. for instead of being
directly under my dungeon, as ORyan
had led me to suppose. this opening
was good ten feet to one side OF
it. Fortunately the walls Of IL were
rough hewn. and. clinging to the rope
with my knees and feet, | managed to
drag myself inward with my hands,
my nails and fingers suffering in the
operation BY letting the rope slide
between my knees gradually as l ad-
vanced I brought myself to the floor
some feet from the edge of the slip.
] chose the spot and then dropped
forward on my hands and knees. The
released rope swung back and was
gone There was no return now.
had dropped very cautiously. and all
> my energy had been centered on what
/ was doing Now | was aware that
above me. at the top of the steep as
cent. there was light. Organ had
, not deceived me. The trap in the dun
. geon was open
There was a pillar in the middle OF
the dungeon. supporting the low vault
J., ed roof. and in IL ring in the pillar a
torch was fixed A breeze from the
open trap caught the flame. making
1t flicker werdly and cast strange
shadows On couch at the foot OF
the pillar sat Daria. her hands claspec
r In her lap She hardly seemed tc
listen to Vasca, who was standing
j.. close to her. talking rapidly.
81 have been ambitious | have de
ceived you crave your pardon
have not done it for myself alone.
:. have done il for you My love ha!
> spurred me on. They would make mt
= king. 1t has been your ambition t.
reign I'm Yadasara. Now your ambi
:. don may he realized"
"You are not king"
Tonight: no. tomorrow He brok'
, of excitedly Say that you will b.
queen of Yadasara, my queen. ant
: now. this instant. this dungeon doc
is open to you. In a few hours yo'
L shall have the nation at your fee
u craving your favors. Your word shal
y bring death or grant Life. Your vii
e shall be law in Drussenland and b
I who speaks the humblest yet the hap
piest of your slaves"
"a pleasing prospect most easil
. spoken Of"
10 "It Is true. Tomorrow at this tim
III I shall be king. The last obstacle
Al overthrown."