The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-07-25

the r1gnt ana Idr D6lOW. AZ ne BJOCO
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 firefies.
At these signs of activity and the
sounds breaking the general quietude.
an exclamation fell from his lips: then.
pausing only a moment to listen and
observe, he sprang toward the guard.
house. Crossing the threshold. de-
fined by a 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. hooking.
| seemed stifed in 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 d
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 it took long
! er to open the DOORS"
"The prisoners"
| Il 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 1t; do not I'M
derstand why II 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 Seigneur
whispered the question.
"A face! At the window"
$50 soon? The hounds are quicker
than 1 thought! Or" drawing his
sword. at 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 fight!
Some one was there. Seigneur.'
stubbornly, land hed!"
"Eh bien! He's gone!"
He? 1t looked like "a"
Back with you. quick! Is this a
time for talk? Call those who car
come-if they would save theii
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, swelied 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 wheel-house, them"
But as they FASTENED across the
square and into the narrow way. the
Black Seigneur again spoke to th<
man just ahead:
1.-THE hunchback"
I'VE 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 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 a din of voices. as thu
flaring here and there of torches
threw grotesque reflections higf
against the grim background Of blacl
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