The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-08-06

might keep q mans fingers from slip
ping. Ne had TO guess how long the
rope must be, but the bedclothes were
all used and the rope was many yards
lit must serve. He put the file, with
two candle ends which no had saved.
into his pocket; he made one end OF the
strip fast to an untouched iron bar OF
his window; he weighted the other end;
then he looked about q moment, half to
see IL all OF his small resources had
been remembered, half IA glance OF
farewell to a place where he had passed
hours never to be forgottn.
With that ne vaulted to the window
ledge and took the first knot in q firm
grip and let himself out into the dark
still night His feet hung In the air.
| his hand slid fast--fase--down that
poor ladder OF torn stuff: the die was
cast; he was going to things unknown:
he had taken a desperate chance and
| might not SO back. And he slipped
down, down. from knot to knot, Sud-
denly he came to the last knot; he
had fastened n bit or wood there so
that he might know when he got to
the end. What was thls? II certainly
was the last knot; the BIT Of wood
scraped his hand as he held II: but his
feet did not touch ground.
There he hung, swaying IN black
ness. not knowing how far he might be
above the earth, not knowing what TO
do. Only a moment, for instantly he
knew that In any case he could not 20
back. IL he would, up that slight swing
ing rope; he must drop, whatever hap
pened. He bent bis knees ready for
the fan and let go. with q shock he
landed and rolled, bruised and out OF
breath, but not injured; he looked up
and In the dimness saw the last knot
with its bit OF wood swinging In air IL
rect or SO from the ground.
But he had no time given him to con-
slider this point, for at that second.
nt the far end OF the closed yard q door
opened, blaze OF light poured out, and
q squad OF six soldiers stepped from
the castle, torches In the hands OF the
foremost Francois dropped, crouch
ing into the shadows against the wall.
put his heart grew sick az he realized
the utility OF this. The soldiers were
coming straight toward him.
/ With that, q sleam on a brighter sur
race than the ground met his sight.
below the level OF the ground. His eyes
searching tho darkness, made out a
1 great butt OF water. sunken by the
castle wall Instantly he slid into IL,
upto his neck. It was not quite full.
shadows OF the inside. The blaze az
torches swept close, brighter. as Fran
co.'s. shivering In the cold water glued
himself to the dark side the blaze az
the torches waved, shadow. gigantic.
1 across the water and the castle wall;
4 ne neard the soldiers speak In short
deep words; II was like an evil dream.
and II slipped past, torches and DARK
swinging shadows and heavy tread OF
4 men and gtern voices. like n dream
me heavy door shut, the lights were
gone, everything was still.
More dead than alive, Francois
drlpped from the water butt. The hard
Il A. ND -
that needed all HIS strength OF body ana
Drain, was Immediately before him. and
ne stood nerveless, with clicking faefh
as limp as the traditional drowned rat
moment he stood so, utterly dis
couraged. without confidence, without
he framed words, words familiar ~
| MIN Tor years and with that IN
shock he felt strength ,and
courage rising In him like a slow clam
1000. IL was not less miracle because
there was no sign In the heavens. no
sartnquake or lightning; IL was not
less miracle because many peopis
living now might tell OF a IKE helm r.
rearful need. Az II was once q ions
time ago, the water OF his blood vas
changed into wine. So the prisoner
stood In the courtyard IN the biacICness
OF midnight and found himself ready.
He groped his way to the shed be
Il hol0 1S0A 4NOA11 lu0 EOVoruOTH WINDOW.
with his old boyish agility he scrannb be-
up its sloping roof and felt for the COP
ing he had noticed-the coping wide
enough for O mans foot; he had found
II; he had found water pipe above "a
help him stand on Il; he was on the
coping, race fiat to the wall, working
his way with infinite delicate care "a
the window OF the governor. He never
knew how long that part took: Il
seemed a great while, though not many
feet lay between the shed and the win
dow. Then he felt the stone sill OF the
window; his hand crept up; II wai
Iopen-Awide open. With a strong pull
he had swung himself over and stooS
In the dark, In the governors bedroom
stood and listened. hardly daring FOL
the first instant to draw the long breath
he sorely needed. Then he smiled. Nc
necessity for that caution at least. The
governor was snoring q heavy aggres.
sive snore which would have drowned
most noises. Francois stood quiet til
his eyes had grown accustomed to the
shadows, and then they searched about
quickly. All! there they were, the gov
Iernor's clothes. On a chair by his bed
With wary steps he stole across. He
denly there was a jingle.
All" growled the governor and
flung out his hand, and the snore cams
to a full stop. a.a
The hand searched the darkness 4
second; all but touched that OF Fran
co.'s. then fell Imply, the head turned
away, with deep sigh. Like a statue
Francois stood. frozen to the floor. and
dared not look at the figure stirring
In the bed. for fear his gaze NIGH
awnle the sleeper. For he slept; tn,
sound OF the keys had only Jared som,
chord In his uneasy dream. Long min.
utes after the snoring was In full
progress again Francois waited, anS
then with careful fingers he clasped thu
entire bunch OF keys softly and car
ried them into the next room.
There was a low light there, on thu
writing table. Francois slipped thu
thin, old. brass key which he knew OF
from the bunch; he glanced abou
quickly and found the flint and stee
on Its table and put them In his pocket
he took down that small saber, witt
its well polished scabbard. and buckle.
Il about himself; then thought cam
to him. A sheet OF paper lay on tn
governors writing table as II he ha,
been about to write letter: pen ant
ink were ready. The prisoner dropped
into the governors chair and wrote:
my dear count, can not run ava,