The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-07-25

ting out his light In obedience to a
gesture from the other-"fumbled
with the keys; pretended he couldn't
find the right ones! So 1t took long
er to open the DOORS"
The prisoners?"
I left our men working at the last
dungeon to come on ahead-to let you
know you might soon expect them"
"Soon," ironically. may be too late"
you mean"
THE hue and cry is out! have
long been expecting It; l do not un-
derstand why 1t didn't come before;
unless a mountebank, locked up, was
considered safe enough for the
night"
Then some one knew"
Some one" A bitter laugh was
quickly suppressed on the young mans
lips. "HarkI Listen!"
Sounds below! the soldiersI" ex-
claimed Sanchez, and started toward
the window to look out, only to fall
quickly back.
What is it?" With his hand on the
ONAOl . chOulu0l, lL0 DldCh OSl6nSul
whispered the question.
"A facet At the window"
$50 soon? The hounds are quicker
than l thought Or" drawing his
sword, ut 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 monster guardian
dragon, asleep at his post.
Here is no one!"
mo one! Yet am sure I saw"
"A shadow!" answered the other
."And we have nothing worse to fght!"
Some one was there, Seigneur,"
stubbornly, "and fied!"
"Eh bien! He's goneI"
HE? 1t looked like "a"
Back with you, quick! Is this a
time for 3alk? Call those who can
come-if they would save their
necks!"
Here they are now" exclaimed the
servant. and, as he spoke, the first of
their men, blowing out the light he
carried, ran quickly across the guard
chamber and into the open air. 9th
ers hastily followed, until the gather
ing, swelled by those brought with
them from the dungeons, stood ex.
pectantly before the little stone struc-
ture.
"All the prisoners are here?"
"All!"
ITO the wheelhouse, then!"
But as they fastened across the
square and into the narrow way, the
Black Seigneur again spoke to the
man just ahead:
1.-THE hunchback2"
1--WE left him below, locked up in
the DEVILS Cage!"
"The Devils Cage! Quelle bonnie
plaisanterie! Although" looking back.
ut may cost us dear!"
And indeed, behind the sound of pur-
suit came nearer; the iclatter 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 wheel-room,
the cause Of that abrupt clamor was
not difficult to divine; his Excellency's
soldiers had found the sentinels over
powered in the guard-house! Would
the former stop to investigate; search
first those subterranean passages? Al
ready had the prisoners, the weaker
Of the Black Seigneur's men, filled the
car, or hung clinging to the rope
above; already was the wheel turning
almost before the key had turned in
the lock at the entrance.
"Seigneur!"
"Sanchez"
when we left the wheel-room, we
closed the door,"
when we got back, tt"
A football without interrupted, fol-
lowed by the sound of hand at the
door. and other steps drawing near
"JacQues!" An expectant voice
spoke; waited; called louder. Then
those outside listened; some one ex-
claimed, and hurried footsteps retreat
ed toward the guard-house.
AS they died away, In the wheel.
room the car came up for the second
time empty, and inquiringly the men
there looked from one to the other: