The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-11-17

some torches s1.d isAapsacks, and
food for two days was put up. Ma
dame Revoke was told that we
were going to stay at some hunting
lodge, to which her guests OF the
summer had two or three times re-
paired, and though she was some
thing surprised that we should trav-
ell by night, instead of by day, Lady
Elizabeth Virgil could do no wrong
in her eyes.
For the search itself, I could not
think what to take. I could hardly
believe that we should have to use
force: yet things which have lain
undisturbed for number of years
are apt to get stiff or clogged as
the case may be. In the end, after
much reflection, I decided on mall
let and chisel, some oil and two
measuring-rules; if what we found
were to show that this rather mea-
ger equipment was not enough, we
should have to withdraw-and re-
turn with the stuff we required.
That afternoon we rested, to save
our energy for the work to come.
And at half past eleven that night
Winter set us down at the mouth of
the entrance-drive. He was not to
return to Raven, but to berth the
Rolls where he could in the country
beyond the foothills which rose to
the south of Brief: and then at dawn
he would make his way over those
foothills and down to the belvedere.
Half an hour later we saw the castle
before us, shadowy mass without
form, charged on the sable field OF
the woods behind.
So dark was the night that had
there been sentries posted about the
house, they could not have seen us
moving five PAGES away, and since
Elizabeth said that no watch was
kept, we followed her boldly up to
the foot of the pile. Because we
were shod with rubber, we made
but the slightest sound.
Elizabeth skirted the walls, and
we passed three staircase-turrets
to come to fourth. And there she
stopped, before a door or postern
set in its base.
I, who was next behind her,
moved to her side.
81 want you to pass me-" she
breathed, 'as soon as I've opened
the door. Turn to your right up the
steps, and wait till come. I'll
! shut the door when you're in
I passed the word to Brenda, who
gave it to Herrick in turn.
Then Elizabeth used her key-but
the door stayed shut.
In desperation she set her weight
to the oak.
Then she took her key from the
latch.
"My God" she said. cts bolted.
What shall we do?"
Somewhere close by" I whis-
| pered. "Where we can talk"
She led us away from the turret
and presently down some steps.
Listen" said. 'There must be
windows left open night like this.
Isn't there one I can climb to-"
Elizabeth shook her head.
you'd break your neck" she
said. "And if you could get in some
where, you'd never find your way
down to open to u.s."
"Then, what of the tower itself?
Isn't there any way I can get into
that? Once inside the tower, I
couldn't go wrong and it's doors in
the courtyard, isn't it?"
Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders.
There's a window" she said,
"but it's heavily barred. It's on
the northern side-not very high up.
It's a chance in a million, but one
of those bars might be loose"
Elizabeth led us back to the castle
wall. There she turned to the left,
and we followed her as we had
come. Then she turned to the right,
and we passed the mouth of the
archway which led to the small
courtyard: and after little she
turned to the right again
Some Is feet up I made out what
looked like a cage, sticking out Of
the wall. Straining my eyes, I
counted four vertical bars, not flush
with the wall, but projecting, which
| meant, of course, that the easement
which they were guarding was
made to open outwards into the air.
Hopeless" said Elizabeth, quiet
ly. 81 thought it was lower than
that"
81 think I can make it," I said.
"From Herrick's shoulders, of
course. And if there's nothing do
ing, I've only to drop" I took off
my knapsack and jacket, and rolled
up my sleeves. "Can I use a torch
with safety, to look at the bars?"
Elizabeth nodded.
"But do be careful" she said.
Herrick spoke out of the darkness.
"I'm prepared to contribute" he
said. 'Be sure of that. But I'm
no acrobat. I'm willing to try and
carry your Is stone, but as soon as
you feel me going, you'd better
jump. And how d'you propose to
begin? Are you going to run up me,
or something's"
made him take off his knapsack
and stand to the wall, and I begged
him to hold his peace, because if he
made me laugh, we might both
come down. Then I turned again
to my lady.
"Once I'm up there" I said, 1--WE
shan't be able to talk: yet there
may be something I find that I want
to say: in that case I'll drop my
handkerchief. If I do that, will you
i