The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-19

Black Seigneur again spoke to the
nan just ahead:
THE hunchback?"
we left him below, locked up in
the Devils Cagel"
THE Devils Cage! Quelle bonne
plaisanterie! Although" looking back,
1T may cost us dear!"
And indeed. behind the sound of Dur.
suit came nearer; the clatter Of SOL
diers' feet grew louder, until. reaching
the little square and the guard-house,
all tumult suddenly ceased. A mo-
mentary silence, strange, ominous,
was broken by din Of voices, as the
haring here and there OF torches
threw grotesque reflections high
against the grim background Of black
masonry.
To those now within the wheelroom,
the cause OF that abrupt clamor was
not dihcult to divine; his Excellency's
soldiers had found the sentinels over
powered In the guard-house! Would
the former stop to investigate; search
nrst those subterranean passages? AL.
ready had the prisoners, the weaker
o. the Black Seigneur's men. filed the
car. or hung clinging to the rope
above; already was the wheel turning
almost before the key had turned In
the lock at tho entrance
"Seigneur!"
Sanchez"
When We left the whesl.room. We
closed the door,"
When We got back, It"
A football without interrupted, fol.
lowed by the sound Of . hand at the
door, and other steps drawing near.
"Jacquea!" An expectant voice
spoke; waited: called louder. Then
those outside listened; some one OK.
claimed. and hurried footsteps retreat.
Cd toward the guard.house.
AZ they died away. In the wheel.
room the car came up for the second
time empty. and inQuiringly tho men
there looked from one to the other;
but. even In that moment Of danger,
not one OF them moved. or made sign
OF impausnce. Some must 90: 9TH
ers remain. and stoically they awaited
the word Of their leader.
Down with all Of you! I'll let you
out the line." taking q turn with tho
rope around . stanchion near the
wall. and then come down myself"
The command was unexpected; for
the nrst time those that had never
questioned their leaders authority.
hesitated. and more sharply was tho
order repeated: whereupon they
obeyed; all save one.
I'm let It out myself" said San
oheS.
Get ini"
mol" was the obdurate reply. wien
the Black Seigneur made q sign:
hands reached mp. ssised Sanchez, and
q moment later the car started down.
The line strained; ~ II played out.
now running free about the stanchion,
then stopping with forks. the man In
the whesl-house almost looked to SEQ
Il part. The hempen strand. however.
proved sound; held its human freight:
but another danger pressed near.
Scarcely had the car begun ito down.
ward Journey than an attack, indica.
tions Of whose approach had not been
wanting. manifested itself without. Be-
meath . sudden, savage assault. the
door shook; yet engrosssd at the line,
every muscle strained. the man at tho
stanchion needed not Swiftly, me-
chanically he worked, apparently az
unconscious Of the clamorous soldiers
without a. Of silent presence within
some one that had been concealed In
the little storeroom adjoining, open.
ing into the wheel.house, and now
peered out: but at once drew back. as,
with q crash. the door fell in.
At nrst. In the comparative dark.
ness. with only the sky at the aperture
staring them In the face. the thrush.
Ing black figures paused. uncertain;
lights soon were pushed forward. how
ever. and then could they see the grea,
wheel going round. unwinding the
rope; the man at the stanchion.
THE prisoners! He's letting them
down."
"Cut the line!"
Some one with knife rushed Tor
ward. severed the strand; but at that
moment the car touched the bottnn
Then did the solitary man at the rope
Tor the hrst time awaken to his own
situation; with a backward sweep OF
the arm he struck 80 fiercsly tho fore
most or those to rush at him that the.
Fellow Tell. hitting hard the stone floor.
ihose nearest stumbled. and drawing
mis- sword. with a thrust of point or
oiow OF hilt, the Black Seigneur, for a
moment withstood the first confused
on-coming; then extricated himself
and leaped to the narrow space behind
.ne wheel Here was he protected be.