A Silver Brand — page 257: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A SILVER BRAND. } ee). hag Wirt seized his mistress, and ran back toward the bridge, and Carl followed in hot haste, but hurrying on ~ behind him came the roused guard. “Tt is for our last desperate chance,” ground out Wirt, beneath his teeth; “there is nothing left but to return | - and bide what will come. a 3 shies Se, even that much is impossible | !” thought poor arl. Fortunately the sentinel on the bridge mistook the shout foracallto him. He left his post and went leaping over the river-bank, while the fugitives were retracing their steps along the timber beneath, having no time now to soften the noise of their passage. “In Heaven’s name, man, did you forget to ‘close the door behind’ you?” eroaned Wirt, when panting and breathless he gained the end of the bridge and heard on the other side a confused and angry murmur of voices. ‘Heaven only knows!” answered Carl, in utter despair. ‘‘T did my best, but the man was close upon me.” ‘*Let us make sure of this, at least,” groaned Wirt, as he carefully closed the heavy plank, and then once more the three stood in the dark, damp passage-way. ‘“We are worse than before, or we have given them proof of our presence, and of this passage-way,” sighed the eronaut. “ Now, indeed, our case is desperate.” “The Lord can save us even yet,” spoke Lady Pauline, wistfully, but her voice trembled. “Go onup into the chamber where your bed was pre- pared,” said Wirt, “and try to rest even.in such peril and anxiety, my lady. I will wait a little at this door and try to discover what they decide upon. I can hold it opena trifle, and possibly hear the talk above. If that is useless I will go on up into the upper way and learn what is being done in the gallery.” It was in the latter place that there was the most con-_ fusion. Hernberg had broken down the door and the prince, and all the troop were thumping and sounding at the walls. Wirt could hear the fierce, high voice of the prince vociferating his furious anathemas and his useless commands. He distinctly followed also the rapid speech of the sentinel who came in to report the attempted escape on the river-bank. “By my father’s scepter, this thing shall be ferreted out!” cried the wrathful leader. ‘Goon, Hernberg; pull down what and where you please. They are here some- where, and we have them cornered like rats in a hole. EOl Eomichbooks