A Silver Brand — page 276: what you’re looking at

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

268 A SILVER BRAND, never one of the grim knights lifted his bronze spear or raised his helmeted head. But these were dead, dumb statues. Where were the armed soldiers Hernberg had left pacing the slow, short round? Like the knights, except that they were stretched prone upon the floor, they made no gesture —they gave no sign of life. | Outside, along the bridge, below upon the bank lay the dark figures scattered here and there, with closed eyes and fast-locked. brains. If the trembling, foreboding captives could only have seen—have guessed how free the path was. From roof to basement there was utter silence until the chime again announced the lapse of another hour, and told the arrival of the solemn noon of night. Then a door was cautiously unclosed, and Von Schubert, with a pale face that was almost ghastly beneath the flar- ing light of the candle he carried, stole forth and glided noiselessly from one floor ‘to another. He smiled grimly as he counted over the fallen figures. “Potent little drug!” he muttered, ‘Show easy: it has made our path.” | And then he went on out into the star-lighted night and made sure that the brandy had performed its mission there. Returning with the same cautious tread—for there were other sleepers over whose senses only healthful sleep had control—he went swiftly to Aubrey Dalberg. “Go; prepare them to be in readiness, and take the food _ and wine they may sorely need to fortify them against the fatigue of the hasty journey before us all. We will follow shortly, if you will return to guide us. Thank Heaven, our way is clear! :” he whispered. Aubrey seized the basket ulready prepared and made his hasty but silent way to the picture-gallery. Two motion- less figures barred his path, but stepping lightly over them he gained the panel door, pressed the spring, and almost stumbled over old Wirt as he sprang through. : : “Thank Heaven, you have come!” whispered Wirt, seiz- ing his hand and covering it with tears and kisses. “We are well-nigh crazed with anxiety and suspense.” “T have brought you food, and the way of escape is all arranged,” whispered back Aubrey. “Let us hasten to give the wine to my mother.” “She needs it sorely. The air is close and sickening, and only a trifle‘has passed her lips to-day.” Von Schubert had sped back to his friends and the baron ~ comicbooks:co