Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-10-31

toward the barracks, some distance to
the right and far below. As he stood
thus, that which had first attracted
his attention-the sound Of a voice
giving orders--was repeated; at the
same time where had been only dark
ness now shone many windows, while
to the left, near the entrance he had
passed after leaving the stable. lights
began to dance like flreflies.
At these signs OF activity and the
sounds breaking the general quietude,
an exclamation fell from his lips; then,
pausing only moment to listen and
observe, he sprang toward the guard
house. Crossing the threshold, de-
fined by faint glimmer from a dis
tant corner, he made his way past sew
eral motionless forms, into low pass
age beyond. Here he called out impa-
tiently; but from those depths, lead
ing down into the dungeons where his
comrades had gone, no answer was re-
turned. His voice, hollow, mocking.
seemed stif1ed in a tomb; more loud
| ly he shouted; walked farther in, when
an indistinct response was followed by
pin-point Of light, and, ere long, by
the bearer of little lamp. Sanchez.
"The others?" At the head Of a
dark stairway into which he would In
advertently have plunged, had he gone
farther, the Black Seigneur confronted
the man, as he approached.
They will soon be here" said the
old servant. springing up the steps and
walking after his master, who had al
ready turned back toward the guard
room. "Jacques-curse him!"-put-
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?"
II 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! I have
long been expecting It; 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. "Hark! Listen!"
Sounds below! the soldiers!" ex'
claimed Sanchez. and started toward
the window to look out, only to fall
quickly back.
What is It." With his hand on the
others shoulder, the Black Seigneul
whispered the question.
"a face! At the window!"
$50 soon? The hounds are quicker
than I thought! Or" drawing his
sword, "it may be only one or two In
advance. In that case"
; But no enemy, single or plural, me-
; 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 heat
, Of the Mount like q 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 fight!
Some one was there, Seigneur.
stubbornly, "and fled!"
"Eh bien! He's gone!"
He? It looked like "a"
Back with you, quick! Is this I
time for talk? Call those who cal
come-if they would save thei
necks!"
Here they are now." exclaimed tn
servant, and, as he spoke. the first o
their men, blowing out the light b.
carried. ran quickly across the guard
chamber and into the open air. Ott
ers hastily followed. until the gather
ing, swelled by those brought wit
them from the dungeons, stood el
pectantly before the little stone strut
ture.
"All the prisoners are here?"
/ "All!"
"To the wheeLhouse. then"
J But as they fastened across til
square and into the narrow way. tn
Black Seigneur again spoke to th
man just ahead:
1.-THE hunchback?"
I'VE left him below. locked up 1
the DEVILS Cage!"
! "The DEVILS Cage! Quelle bonn
plaisanterie! Although" looking bacl
1T may cost US dear!"
And indeed, behind tho sound of pul
suit came nearer; the clatter Of so
diers' feet grew louder. until. reachin
the little square and the guard-hous'
all tumult suddenly ceased. A mi
mentary silence. strange. ominou
was broken by din Of voices. as th
fiaring here and there of torche
threw grotesque reflections hig
against the grim background Of blac
masonry.
To those now within the wheel-roon
the cause Of that abrupt clamor wa
not difficult to divine: his Excellency
soldiers had found tho Sentinels owe
powered in the guard-house! Woul
the former stop to investigate; scare