Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-24

while he bracad his body, taking 'ad-
vantage of every foothold before and
behind. AZ one spot the assure widened
dangerously. hut he struggled inward
at another it went almost straight up
ward, requiring sheer strength of
fingers; but at least he found another
ledge and hraCed himself with his feet
for another rest. He did not dare to
look downward now, for fear of dzzi-
ness. hut he knew that he had already
come high The sword blade, was
shorter. curved now more like a sCimitar
At its Zip. which showed that the angle
was greater.
But what If before he reached the
rocky platform the cleft should grow
t." narrow to admit the passage of his
hody? 1t was too late now to think
of any such impedment. He struggled
upward again. slipping back at times,
Ciawins like cat, with toes and fingers
fighting for his breath. but always
, mounting higher his gaze upward to-
ward a star in the heavens near the
point Of the scimitar. Would he ever
reach the top? Bits of the rock
space, and once he slipped and slid out
ward. only saving himself from destruc-
tion by the aid of a jutting piece Of
jagged rock which caught in his cloth
ing. \ desperate venture but success
full. for with one final effort. with fingers
| torn. and knees and elbows bruised and
bleeding, he hauled himself up to the
level of the fat projection of rock upon
!
and breathess, but so far. safe.
He lay there for a long time. fiat on
! his back. his eyes dimmed with effort.
his gaze on the stars, which now Seemed
| TO blink in friendly way upon his
venture To succeed so far-failure was
now impossible.
Fearfully. he peered over the edge
of the cliff upon the velvety tree-tops
of the valley below. Three hundred feet
four perhaps, and beyond to the left
! ava tha all =
bed Of the Dukla itself black void
vacancy.
Above him still was the hazardous
climb elm up the broken face Of the rocks,
iron now. There were roots growing
here, and small bushes, stunted trees
growing in the interstices of the rocks.
and he climbed steadily. always looking
now so very near. fifty feet. forty-and
then the wall seemed TO hang over him
smooth and hare. SO he hung there by
sturdy branch: one foot clinging, and
feet carefully and then rising again to
the left in a figure, swinging himself
along narrow ledge where the masonry
of the has:ion Joined the rock. Over this
he climbed, finding solid footing at last,
and then rest and a breathing space
within the broken walls.
He lay behind a pile of rocks which
had fallen from the walls of the watch
tower, recovering his breath again. and
the strength of his fingers, every bono Of
which was crying out in protest. He
peered over into the depths below. try
ing to mea sure the distance he had come
three hundred feet-perhaps more.
Could he find rope of that length
within the castle? After while h.
Strengthened in the shadow of the wall
| and peered cautiously up at the dark
bulk of the keep and the tower. beyond
the ruined chapel, searching its roofs
and window. for a sign Of life. Silence.
| The ruin was deserted. For half an
hour he watched and waited. and then
sure that there was no chance that he
had been observed, rose to his feet and
moved forward stealthly into the
shadows of the chapel. The roof had
long since fallen in and been removed
but Renwick stumbled over a dusty
tomb. toward the fragment of altar with
the reredos still showing traces OF
sculpture, partially protected by a
fragment of roof over the apse which
had been spared by the wind and storm
door which had at one time led into
cation he found that 1t had been built
in with solid blocks Of stone. The other
arch of the vaulted structure outside
which he had noted from the mountain
side was also filled by a wall So far
! as Renwck could see, the ruined part
of SchlosS SZolnok was isolated, with
I, no mode of egress from the habitable
part,
CONTINUED TOMORROW