"
"I think that is a wise decision," said Ebearhard.
"'Tis against all military rules," demurred Roland, "but nevertheless
with such an army as I lead it seems the only way. Do the men know that
Furstenberg is our point of greatest danger?"
"Yes; but they do not know so much as I. Last night I left them in
Greusel's charge, being alarmed about what I heard of Furstenberg, and
engaged a boatman to take me over there before the moon rose. I
discovered that the Laughing Baron has caused a chain to be buoyed up
just below the surface of the water, running diagonally up the river
more than half-way across it, so that any boat coming down is caught and
drawn into the landing, for the main flood of the Rhine, as you know,
runs to the westward of this island. The boatman who ferried me knew
about this chain, but thought it had been abandoned since traffic
stopped. He says it runs right up into the Castle, and the moment a
barge strikes against it, a big bell is automatically rung inside the
stronghold, causing the Baron to laugh so loudly that they sometimes
hear him over in Lorch.
Pages:
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358