The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-16
CHAPTER XXI.
The WhIrlins Of the Wheel.

The WhIrIing Of the Wheel.
AS old as church or cloister, the
massive wheel of the Mount had. in
the past. played prominent part in the
analrs OF succeeding communities on
the rock. 1t. or the hempen strand It
controlled. had primarily served as a
link between the sequestered dwellers.
and the fesh-pots and material com.
forts OF the lower world. Through tts
use had my lord, the abbot. been ever
enabled to keep full the mighty wine.
butts Of his cellars; to provide good
cheer for the tables Of the brethren.
and to brighten his cold stone interiors
with the fresh green's Of Flemish tap.
estry, or the sensuous hues of rug
and fabrics from seraglio or MOSQUE.
Times less ancient had likewise
claimed its services. and even in re-
cent years, by direction of his Excel.
lency, the Governor, had It occasional.
ly been used for the hosting Of goods,
wares. or giant casks, overcumber.
some for men or mules.
Toward this simple monkish con.
trivaAoe, the SUBMITS rough lift, or
elevator. wherein serfs or henchmen
had vailed like squirrels in a cage to
t!IAS s-!..-' - genera. iolls o. isc,A:cL
dwellers, tbs Black Seigneur had at
first stepped impetuously; then
stopped, hardly breathing to look over
his shoulder at the door that had been
LEFT unfastened. An involuntary ques.
ton flashing through his brain-the
cause OF this seeming carelessness-
found almost immediate answer in his
mind. ard the certainty that he stood
not there alone--a consciousness of
some one else, near. became abruptly
confirmed.
What are you doing, soldier?" A
voice, rough, snarling, drew swiftly his
glance toward presence, intuitively
OWNED; en- understood, grotesuue fir.
ure that had entered the place but a
few moments before and now appeared
from behind boxes and casks where
he had been about to retire to his
mattress In q corner.
What do you want?" repeated this
person. the anger and viciousness on
his distorted features, revealed In the
moonlight from the large opening, like
that OF some animal unwerrante div
disturbed.
You, landlord Of the thieves inr!"
And inaction giving way to movement
on the tntruder's part, a knife that had
flashed back in the hand of the hunch.
back. with his query, was swiftly
twisted from him and kicked aside,
While scream Of mingled pain and
rage became abruptly suppressed.
Struggling and writhing like a wild.
cat, jacques proved no mean antagon.
lst; with strength incredible for one
or his size. supplemented by the we'll.
known agility OF his kind, he scratched,
kicked and had managed to get the
others hand In his mouth, when. max.
Ing an effort to throw off that ciiug.ng
burden, the Black Seigneur dashed
the dwarf's head violently against the
wooden support OF the place. AT once
all belligerency left the hunchback.
and, releasing his hold, he sank to the
ground.
An instant the intruder regarded the
inert form; then. going to the door,
latched and locked It with a key he
found inside. Having thus IN q meas
ure secured himself from immediate
interruption without--for anyone try
Ing the door would conclude the wheel
room vacant. or that the dwarf slept
there or In the stCre-hOuse beyond
the Black Seigneur walked TO the ap-
cr'l:e, and reaching up. tecan 10 pay
cut 'hv rol0 i"3lo :. pUlley above. As
he di1 So. Nit. yet 0raced. he leaned
c"ei '' I .',~V :" So, Gec~"rt q small
cd' &:"&S g., 80. ..-.C perpendicular
1lan&'nr ron the mouth Of the wheel
room 10 the rocks, several hundred
feet below
suducn slacke1,ing Cf the rope
assurance that the car, at the end OF
the linc, had reached the loading
spot below without the fOrtfications-
and the young man straightened: In
an attitude OF attention stood listen
Ing But the stiffness. imprcgnated
only with faint underbreath. the
far-away murmur Of water, or the Just
audible droning Of insects near the fig
trees on the rocks. continued un.