HOW THE ANXIOUS RUSSELL SEEKS TO CONCEAL A TREASURE.
The Russell party, on reaching the castle, were all conducted inside,
where they found themselves in an arched hall which has already been
described. Traversing this, they ascended the massive stairway at the
end, and came to another large hall immediately above the lower one.
This had once been the grand banqueting hall of the castle, and was
less rough and severe in its appearance than other parts; for while
the walls elsewhere showed the unfinished faces of the rude blocks of
stone, here there was an effort after something like ornament; yet
this was so slight that even here the general air was still one of
severe and austere graudeur, as if there had been wrought out in this
stone-work the mind of the stern Goth who reared it, who held it, not
for a home, but rather for a fortress, whence he could dominate the
surrounding country.
If Harry had cherished any hope of prolonging his acquaintance with
Katie he was now destined to be disappointed; for on reaching this
upper hall they were informed that they would have to be
separated--the men to go in one direction and the women in another.
This arrangement was partly for the comfort of both parties, but
still more for their safe-keeping, since escape would thus be far
more difficult. Accordingly the ladies were taken away by some female
attendants; while Russell, in company with Harry, was taken to their
quarters on the opposite side of the great hall.
Here they found themselves in an apartment which was very long, very
wide, and very lofty. The roof was arched, and all the stones were of
cyclopean dimensions. At one end there was an immense fireplace. On
either side there were narrow windows, which on one side looked down
on the front yard inside the wall, while on the other they commanded
a view of one of the inner courtyards. Harry, on his first entrance
into the room, walked about surveying the place, and noting these
particulars by the lurid glow of the torches.
This first survey assured him that, as far as appearances went, there
was scarcely any possibility of escape. The walls were too strong to
be penetrated in any way, and the windows were too narrow for any one
to pass through. In fact, they were slits rather than windows.
Moreover, even if it had been possible for any one to pass through
the windows, the ground below was too far away to be reached without
some means of descent. Finally, there were the armed men outside, and
the extreme wall, which was too lofty to be scaled. On the whole, the
prospect was highly unsatisfactory, and Hurry turned away from this
first survey with a feeling of mild dejection. There was scarcely
anything in the room which deserved the name of furniture. In one
corner there was a rude structure with straw on it, which was
intended for a bed. Opposite this there was a ponderous oaken bench,
and upon this old Russell seated himself wearily. Here he sat, and as
Harry completed his survey of the apartment, his eyes rested upon his
unfortunate companion as he sat there, the picture of terror,
despondency, and misery. Harry felt an involuntary pity for the man;
and as his own flow of spirits was unfailing, he set himself to work
to try and cheer him.
"Well," said he, "this is rather a dismal place, Russell; but, after
all, it's better than being put in a vault underground."
"It's pup-precious kik-kik-cold," said Russell, his teeth chattering,
partly from cold and partly from terror. "This'll bring on an attack
of rheumatiz--that's what it's going to do. Oh, I know it!"
"Well, it a little chilly, that's a fact," said Harry, shrugging his
shoulders. "It's a pity we couldn't use that fireplace. But what a
tremendous fireplace it is! Why, it's as big as a barn. What do you
say to our amusing ourselves by starting a fire? It would be great
fun."
"But we've gig-gig-got no fuel," said Russell, with a shiver.
"Fuel? Why, let's cut up that big bench."
"What with?"
"Why, with my pocket-knife, of course. We could whittle enough chips
off it to make a good big fire, and still have enough left for a
bench. In fact, we could get enough fuel off that for a dozen fires.
Why, man, there must be at least a cord of wood in that bench.
Whittling's rather slow work, it's true, but in a place like this
it'll be an occupation, and that's something. Prisoners go mad unless
they have something to do; and so, just to save myself from madness,
I mean to go in for fuel--unless you can think of something else
that's better."
Rattling out this in his usual lively fashion, Harry went to the
bench, and began a solemn examination of it, with a view toward
whittling it up into firewood. Russell did not move, but regarded
Harry with the same silent misery in his face. At last he spoke:
"What did-did-do you think they're a-going to did-did-do?"
"Who?" asked Harry.
"Why, these people--that kik-kik-captured us."
"These Carlists? Well, I don't know--seems to me they want to make
some money out of us."
"Why did they let all the Spaniards go and kik-kik-capture us?"
"Oh, well, they think as we're English we'll probably have more money
about us than their own countrymen, and be safer plunder also."
"Did-did-do you think they'll go so far as to pip-pup-plunder us?"
asked Russell, in a voice of horror.
"Haven't a doubt of it."
"Oh Lord!" groaned the other.
"What's the matter?"
Russell gave a fresh groan.
"This kik kik-cursed kik-kik-country!" he at length ejaculated.
"Oh, well," said Harry, "it isn't the country, it's the people."
"Do you think they're really Kik-kik-Carlists?"
"Well, yes. I don't see any reason why they shouldn't be."
"I was thinking that they might be bub-bub-bandits."
"Well, there isn't any very great difference between the two, so far
as we are concerned."
"But isn't there any law among the Kik-kik-Carlists? Can't we appeal
to Did-did-Don Carlos?"
"Oh yes, of course--if we could only get at him, and if he could only
get at us; but these two things are just what can't be done. And so
I'm afraid we'll have to make up our minds to pay the piper."
At this Russell again gave a heavy groan.
"Don't be alarmed," said Hurry, in a soothing tone. "We can beat them
down."
"No," moaned Russell, "we can't do anything. And I've got too much
about me altogether."
"You haven't carried any large sum of money with you, surely?" cried
Harry. "Why, man, you're mad!"
"But I didn't think there'd be any danger on the railway," said
Russell.
"If your money is in bills of exchange you'll be right enough," said
Harry.
Russell shook his head.
"No," said he, "it's worse than that."
"How?"
"My money is in bub-bub-bonds--Spanish bub-bub-bonds."
"Bonds!" repeated Harry.
"Yes," groaned Russell--"kik-kik-coupon bub-bub-bonds."
"Coupon bonds! Why, man, what in Heaven's name are you doing with
coupon bonds in this country?"
"Why, they're Spanish bonds, and I was taking them out of the country
to England."
"Whew!" whistled Harry. "In how much?"
"Thirty thousand pounds!" wailed Russell, in a voice of despair.
Another prolonged whistle was the result of this information.
"It's no use making it a secret to you," continued Russell. "I'll be
searched, I suppose, and the bonds'll be taken."
"I'll tell you what to do," said Harry: "let me take care of them."
Russell shook his head.
"N-no; you'll be searched too. They'll be no safer."
"Well, then, hide them in this room somewhere."
"I don't know where to hide them," said Russell, dolefully; "besides,
we may be taken to another room, and so it's no use hiding them here.
I've been thinking of sewing them up inside the lining of my coat,
only I haven't any needle and thread to sew with. Oh, if Mrs. Russell
were here! I didn't think of this. I'd get her to stitch them inside
my coat to-night. And now I don't know what to do. If it weren't for
these bonds I should feel safe enough. But the amount is so
e-normous!"
"Are they registered?"
"Oh no. I don't believe they register bonds in this miserable
country, or do anything but steal them," groaned Russell. "I suppose
they'll overhaul us all to-morrow."
"Very likely."
"Can you think of any way by which I can hide these bonds?"
Harry shook his head. At the same moment there occurred to him what
Ashby had told him about certain Spanish bonds. If Ashby was right,
then this must be the very money which belonged to Katie, and which,
according to Ashby, Russell was trying to get hold of for himself.
From this point of view it suddenly assumed an immense interest in
his eyes, and drove away the thought of every other thing. Even the
fire was now forgotten, and the bench was not desecrated by the
knife.
"See here; I'll tell you what to do," said Harry, thoughtfully and
earnestly. "The very worst thing that you can do is to carry all that
money about with you, on your own person, mind that. You'll be
searched, of course. To stitch them in your clothes is absurd. These
people will examine every square inch of all your clothes, including
your shirt-collar, your pocket-handkerchief, your silk hat, and your
boots. They'd find the smallest fragment of a bit of paper, even if
you had it hidden inside your bootlaces. Now, I'll tell you what
you'll have to do. You'll have to get rid of that money of yours."
"Bub-bub-bub-but how?" stammered Russell, in fresh consternation.
"How? Why, hide it."
"Where?"
"Somewhere about here--and soon too--before you go to sleep."
"But suppose I am tit-tit-taken away, and don't come back again?"
"Well, in that case your only hope is to confide in me, and then if
you are taken way I shall perhaps be left. It's not likely that both
of us will be taken away from here. We shall perhaps be separated,
and one will be left behind. In that case the one who is left can
watch over the treasure. Besides, in case we should escape we shall
know where it is, and we may be able to get the government to send a
body of men here to help us recover it."
"Oh yes--the government!" said Russell, bitterly. "I know the
government here--only too well. The government will send a body of
men here to help us recover it, and then--why, then of course they'll
keep it all for themselves, every farthing. Yes, sir, that's the
Spanish style--every farthing. No; don't talk to me about the
government. I'm bound to hold on to this, and not trust to any of
your beggarly Spanish governments."
"But if you hold on to it you'll be sure to lose it," said Harry, in
great impatience.
"I don't believe they'll examine me at all," said Russell, suddenly
changing his tone.
"They will," persisted Harry, "as sure as you're alive, and that too
before this time to-morrow. In that case you'll lose every penny of
the thirty thousand pounds."
(And of course, thought Harry, it'll be poor little Katie's loss; and
all through the infernal obstinacy of this pig-headed tailor!)
"Oh, well. I'll think it over," said Russell, cautiously avoiding any
further discussion.
"You won't have much time for that," urged Harry.
"Oh yes, I will--plenty of time. I'll have all night, for I won't
sleep a wink, and I shall have nothing else to do but to think over
this."
This was droned out in a tone of utter despair.
Harry spent some more time in trying to change Russell's mind, but in
vain; and at length he gave up, thinking that he would have a better
chance in the morning. Besides, he was beginning to feel sleepy, and
his arguments were growing somewhat incoherent; so he flung himself
on the rude couch just as he was, "all standing," and in a few
minutes was sound asleep.
Russell sat motionless for some time, until at length the heavy
breathing of his companion showed that he was asleep. Upon this he
rose, and went on tiptoe softly over to Harry's bed, and tried in
various ways to see whether the sleep was false or real. Having
assured himself that it was real, he took up the torch and began to
survey the apartment more closely. Already, while talking with Harry,
his eyes had narrowly scanned every corner of the room, and no place
had appeared which could afford the slightest chance of concealment.
From the very first he had thought of the stone pavement of the
floor; but now, on examination, this proved to be far too ponderous
to be moved by any force that he could command. Thus, after having
traversed the whole room, he reached the fireplace.
This, as has been said, was of gigantic dimensions, being intended to
hold enough wood to heat this vast apartment. Here among the
mountains, inside this stone castle, the cold was sometimes severe,
and the builders of the castle had in this way made provision for the
comfort of its occupants. To this chimney Russell now turned his
attention, in the hope that something might present itself here which
could be used as a place of concealment. So he walked stealthily and
noiselessly toward it, and on reaching it stood surveying its huge
dimensions in great astonishment. Such chimneys may still be seen in
many an old castle or palace in the north of Europe, though less
frequent in the castles of Spain. This one was deep and wide and
high, and our friend Russell could easily enter it without stooping.
He entered thus the great fireplace and looked around, holding his
torch so as to light up the interior. Below, there was the pavement
of stone, which seemed solid and immovable. Above, the chimney arose
far on high, and through the wide opening the sky overhead was
plainly visible, with its glittering stars.
Now, as Russell stood peering about, he noticed something in the
construction of the chimney which struck him as rather peculiar, and
this was several stones on the left side, which projected from the
wall and were placed one above another. The arrangement was so
singular that it at once arrested his attention, and being in search
of a hiding-place for his treasure, he could not avoid examining it
further with keener interest. This arrangement of the stones one
above another was suggestive of climbing. They seemed intended for
steps, and he therefore peered upward more curiously, to see how far
these steps continued and what was the end. Looking thus upward, he
noticed on one side what seemed like a niche in the chimney wall. It
was so formed that it was not visible unless one were standing deep
inside the chimney and looking up for it, and it seemed to be deep
and spacious. No sooner had he caught sight of this niche than he
determined to investigate it farther. For a few moments he paused to
see whether Harry was still asleep or not, and then, being satisfied
on this point, he began to climb up. So nicely were the stones
adjusted that this was easy even to an inactive and heavy man like
him, and after ascending three steps ho stood and peered into the
niche. It seemed quite deep. He could not see any end to it or any
terminating wall. What the design of it was he could not imagine. He
saw, however, that it afforded an admirable place of concealment for
his treasure, and he determined at once to avail himself of it. Here
he thought it would be secure from discovery, and it might remain
here undetected and unharmed for any length of time. As for fire, it
was not likely that the chimney was ever used; but even if it were,
there was scarcely any possibility that the flames could affect
anything in this deep niche.
Russell now took from his pocket a bulky parcel, and leaning far
inside the niche, he laid it carefully down. Then he held up the
torch and allowed its light to fall into the niche, so as to see that
all was secure; after which, feeling fully satisfied with his work,
and experiencing a great sense of relief, he descended from his
perch. Shortly after he extinguished the torch, and then, stretching
himself out on the bed beside Harry, he resigned himself to oblivion.