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

~ The Verge Of the Aperture.
The football OF the Black seiSnsur.
Asar the suard-house of the dungeons,
was measured. yet noiseless. a. he
stepped on the soft earth, alongside
ths stone walk, now toward the pass.
age In the direction Of the wheel-room.
then back into the Attle square. That
his thoughts. however. moved not In
accord with that deliberate stride, the
orows impatiently knit. and the quick
giancss he continued to cast over his
shoulder, bore testimony.
stopping at length near the TouY
Bernard. hs looked nxedly down at the
town. wrapped In q stiffness that
should have treasured him. Never.
thslsss b appeared not satisned; and
had stepped out into the court again.
when some sound hs heard. or fancied.
ssot him quickly to an embrasure In
ths wall From this opening-for.
marty for cannon In defense OF the
fsnfls. and the poulain. or planking for
the hosting Of goods-he leaned far
out. HE glance instinctively turning
toward the barracks. some distance 10
The hight and far below. A ho stood
thus. that which had nrst sttnctsd
his attsntion--ths sound Of q voice
giving ordsrs-was repeated; st the
came time whore had been only dart.
nses now shons many windows. while
to the lsft. near the entrance he had
passed after leaving the stable. lights
began to dance Hike nrs6iss.
At these signs Of activity and the
sounds breaking the general quistuds,
IN exclamation fell from his lips; then.
pausing only q moment to iistsn and
observe. hs sprang toward the guard
house. Crossing the threshold. de-
ansd By . faint gliuGmsr from Q dis
tant corner. hs made bic way past ssv.
sral motionisss forms. into low pass-
49, beyond. Here hs called out impa-
IDENTITY: but from those depths. lssd.
ang down into the du,,geons whore his
eomndss had gone. no apswsr was rs-
turned. HE voice. hollow. mocking,
seemed sdned In Q tomb: more loud
" b shouted: walked farther In, when
m indistfnct response was followed BY
pin-point OF HIGHT. and, ere long, by
The bearer OF little lamp. Sanchex.
The othersf At the head of r
DARK stairway into which he would in
Advertentiy have plunged. had he gone
farther. the Black Ssisnsur confronted
The man. 90 hs approached.
They will soon be here" said the
old servant. springing up the steps and
Walking after his master. who had a.
ready turned back toward the guard
room "JacQuss-curpe him!"-put.
ting out bis light In obedience to q
essturs from the othsr-'Yumbled
with the keys; pretended he couldn't
md the right onesi So II took long
Or 70 open the doors"
Tho prisouervf"
Il left our men working NJ the last
dungeon 70 come on ahead--to let you
know you might soon expect them"
Soon" ironically. may bs too latsI.
You mean"
The hue and cry 10 out! have
long been expecting it: I do not un-
derstand why II didn't como before:
unless o mountebank. locked up, was
considered safe enough for the
night"
Then some one knew-?"
Some oner A bitter laugh was
quickly suppressed on the young mans
HIPS. "Hark! Listen!"
Sounds belowi the soldisrs!" sx.
claimed Sanchez. and started toward
The window TO look out, only to fall
quickly back.
What is itr" With his hand on the
others shoulder. the Black Seigneur
whispered the question.
"A facet At the window!"
SO soonf The hounds are quicker
than thoughtl Or" drawing his
sword. 1T may be only one or two In
advance. In that case"
But no enemy, single or plural. met
their view. either In front, or at the
side OF the guard-house; only the
darkness. void. empty. and the bare
rampant wall winding around the head
OF the Mount like q monster guardian
dragon. asleep at his post
Here is no onei"
mo one! Yet am sure saw"
"A shadow" answered the other
"And we have nothing worse to fight!"
Some one was there. Seigneur. :
stubbcrnly. "a-d fied!"
"Eh blen! lies gone!"
"Ho? II looked like a."
Back with you. quick! Ia this a
time for talk7 Call those who can
come-f they would save their
necks,"
Here they are now." exclaimed the
servant. and. as he spoke. me first OF
their men. blowing out the light nc
carried. ran quickly across the guard
chamber and into the open air. 9th