The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-01-16

Ihey viii soon be here" said the
cid servant, springing up the steps and
walking after his master, who had al
ready turned back toward the guard
room. "Jacques-curse imi"-put
ting out his light in obedience to a
gesture from the other-"fumbled
with the keys; pretended he couldn'!
find the right ones! So it took long.
er to open the DOORS"
'The prisoners?"
81 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; I do not I'm.
derstand why it 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 I thought! Or" drawing his
sword, sit 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 a monster guardian
dragon, asleep at his post.
Here is no one!"
mo one! Yet am ! sure | saw"
"A shadow" answered the other.
And we have nothing worse to fight"
Some one was there, Seigneur,"
stubbornly, "and fed"
'Eh bien! He's gone!"
| ne IL IOOkSu ike a
Back with you, quick! Is this a
time for talk? 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!"
"To the wheel-house, them"
But as they FASTENED across the
square and into the narrow way, the
Black Seigneur again spoke to the
man just ahead:
The hunchback?"
I'VE left him below, locked up III
the DEVILS Cage!"
The DEVILS Cage! Quelle bonne
plaisanterie! Although" looking back,
| ''it may cost US deari"
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 the
naring 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, 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 the entrance.
"Seigneur!"
Sanchez"
when We left the wheel-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.
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;
but, even in that moment of danger,
not one of them moved, or made sign
of impotence. Some must go; 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 a turn with the
rope around a stanchion near the
wall, "and then come down myself"
The command was unexpected; for
the first time those that had never
questioned their leaders authority,
hesitated. and more sharply was the
order repeated; whereupon they
obeyed; all save one.