The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29

the only survivors,"
 Theobald turned away his twitching face.
 "As far as I know-yes," he answered.
 The tumult of the water made hearing difficult. Varley, with a white face, com municated the reply to Mistitch ,who made no answer, except to fink at Theobald glance expressing a hatred that would have been glad to indulge itself by leaving him there to perish.
 All he said, however, was-"You will lash the baroness to my back, and I will take her to the top"
 Von Reulenz had neither moved nor spoken. Since the first sight of his rescuers he seemed to be sinking into stupor. Varley had succeeded by now in coming up quite near. He leaned over and lifted the bar oness in his strong grip. Come now, Bar Bar,''. said he, speaking her pet name into her ear, Wake up! It's all right! I've come to fetch you home'
 His well known voice penetrated the poor bemused brain.
 "Mr. Varley! Then Pm safev' cried she. "Oh, my dear young man, have been for hours and hours in hell with the lost-with the lost"
 As she panted out the words, she showed him something she held in her hand It was a skull, white and cean-a human skull
 "lt was here-lying on the ledge,' nut tered Theobald; and Humphrey blancing down, saw that the shelf strewn with bones He shuddered. Was this the head of the lost abbess or one of her nuns?-and had she or they, waited upon that ghastly ledge, day after day for rescue, until hunger accomplished it's fell work?
 The skull gave the final touch to the shocking circumstances. He took the grisIy relic from Bar-Bar's hands, bestowed it upon small niche above their heads. and devoted himself to the arrangements for re- moving first the woman, then the two men. from their duress
 When Mistitch had gone with his snh. stantial burden, swinging himself m the rocks Tn manner to provoke admiration. Varley administered dose of brandy to the other two castaways, and he and Theobald succeeded in bringing back Won Reulenz in some degree to realization of what was happening. Theobald was soon well enough to take Varle's rope and begin, very hesi- tatlngly, to make the ascent Varley mean- while waited with the other poor wretch whom he dared not leave, lest he faint and fall.
 Mlstltch returned after having conveyed the baroness safely to the top, and left her there in sheltered spot, consuming sand- wiches. With his help they succeeded in extrlcating yon Reulenz, and after long, laborious ascent, they reached the ton. all of them in safety ~.
 Before starting the descent of the outer face of the rocks, Mistitch demanded of tbe two men some account of what had han pened.
 What must know is, how it happened that you saved yourselves and not Her Hlghness,' said he, his eye fixed malevo- lently upon Theobald. Ut was through our folly that she was led into danger. Her death lies at our door. Is it of any use for me to go back into that pit wonder? Was she with you when you got upon that ledpc?"
 "She was not" faltered Theobald. "She was struck by the boom of the sail. and thrown out of the boat before we reached the loophole! Would to God I had cast myself in after her. instead of hanging on that ghasty shelfv'.
 Mstitch's expression was quite terrifv: mig.
 "Thrown overboardv' he echoed bitterly. "Can you swim, Highness?"
 Il can swim little way, in calm weather, Mlstltch,' was the meek rejoinder "I could have done nothing but drown in that storm.-
 50 you all sat tight and watched her perish?"
 "No! Nov' A man jumped after her. Incf I l. l.