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diff --git a/364-h/364-h.htm b/364-h/364-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ca8f406 --- /dev/null +++ b/364-h/364-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,15268 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mad King, by Edgar Rice Burroughs</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify; } + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h3 {font-size: 130%; margin-top: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} + +p.letter {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +p.right {text-align: right; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mad King, by Edgar Rice Burroughs</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Mad King</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: November, 1995 [eBook #364]<br /> +[Most recently updated: December 21, 2021]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Judith Boss</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAD KING ***</div> + +<h1>The Mad King</h1> + +<h2>by Edgar Rice Burroughs</h2> + +<hr /> + +<h2>Contents</h2> + +<table summary="" style=""> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#part01"><b>PART I</b></a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap01">I. A RUNAWAY HORSE</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap02">II. OVER THE PRECIPICE</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap03">III. AN ANGRY KING</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap04">IV. BARNEY FINDS A FRIEND</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap05">V. THE ESCAPE</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap06">VI. A KING’S RANSOM</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap07">VII. THE REAL LEOPOLD</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap08">VIII. THE CORONATION DAY</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap09">IX. THE KING’S GUESTS</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap10">X. ON THE BATTLEFIELD</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap11">XI. A TIMELY INTERVENTION</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap12">XII. THE GRATITUDE OF A KING</a><br /><br /></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#part02"><b>PART II</b></a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap13">I. BARNEY RETURNS TO LUTHA</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap14">II. CONDEMNED TO DEATH</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap15">III. BEFORE THE FIRING SQUAD</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap16">IV. A RACE TO LUTHA</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap17">V. THE TRAITOR KING</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap18">VI. A TRAP IS SPRUNG</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap19">VII. BARNEY TO THE RESCUE</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap20">VIII. AN ADVENTUROUS DAY</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap21">IX. THE CAPTURE</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap22">X. A NEW KING IN LUTHA</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap23">XI. THE BATTLE</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap24">XII. LEOPOLD WAITS FOR DAWN</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap25">XIII. THE TWO KINGS</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap26">XIV. “THE KING’S WILL IS LAW”</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap27">XV. MAENCK BLUNDERS</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap28">XVI. KING OF LUTHA</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="part01"></a>PART I</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap01"></a>I.<br /> +A RUNAWAY HORSE</h2> + +<p> +All Lustadt was in an uproar. The mad king had escaped. Little knots of excited +men stood upon the street corners listening to each latest rumor concerning +this most absorbing occurrence. Before the palace a great crowd surged to and +fro, awaiting they knew not what. +</p> + +<p> +For ten years no man of them had set eyes upon the face of the boy-king who had +been hastened to the grim castle of Blentz upon the death of the old king, his +father. +</p> + +<p> +There had been murmurings then when the lad’s uncle, Peter of Blentz, had +announced to the people of Lutha the sudden mental affliction which had fallen +upon his nephew, and more murmurings for a time after the announcement that +Peter of Blentz had been appointed Regent during the lifetime of the young King +Leopold, “or until God, in His infinite mercy, shall see fit to restore +to us in full mental vigor our beloved monarch.” +</p> + +<p> +But ten years is a long time. The boy-king had become but a vague memory to the +subjects who could recall him at all. +</p> + +<p> +There were many, of course, in the capital city, Lustadt, who still retained a +mental picture of the handsome boy who had ridden out nearly every morning from +the palace gates beside the tall, martial figure of the old king, his father, +for a canter across the broad plain which lies at the foot of the mountain town +of Lustadt; but even these had long since given up hope that their young king +would ever ascend his throne, or even that they should see him alive again. +</p> + +<p> +Peter of Blentz had not proved a good or kind ruler. Taxes had doubled during +his regency. Executives and judiciary, following the example of their chief, +had become tyrannical and corrupt. For ten years there had been small joy in +Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +There had been whispered rumors off and on that the young king was dead these +many years, but not even in whispers did the men of Lutha dare voice the name +of him whom they believed had caused his death. For lesser things they had seen +their friends and neighbors thrown into the hitherto long-unused dungeons of +the royal castle. +</p> + +<p> +And now came the rumor that Leopold of Lutha had escaped the Castle of Blentz +and was roaming somewhere in the wild mountains or ravines upon the opposite +side of the plain of Lustadt. +</p> + +<p> +Peter of Blentz was filled with rage and, possibly, fear as well. +</p> + +<p> +“I tell you, Coblich,” he cried, addressing his dark-visaged +minister of war, “there’s more than coincidence in this matter. +Someone has betrayed us. That he should have escaped upon the very eve of the +arrival at Blentz of the new physician is most suspicious. None but you, +Coblich, had knowledge of the part that Dr. Stein was destined to play in this +matter,” concluded Prince Peter pointedly. +</p> + +<p> +Coblich looked the Regent full in the eye. +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness wrongs not only my loyalty, but my intelligence,” he +said quietly, “by even so much as intimating that I have any guilty +knowledge of Leopold’s escape. With Leopold upon the throne of Lutha, +where, think you, my prince, would old Coblich be?” +</p> + +<p> +Peter smiled. +</p> + +<p> +“You are right, Coblich,” he said. “I know that you would not +be such a fool; but whom, then, have we to thank?” +</p> + +<p> +“The walls have ears, prince,” replied Coblich, “and we have +not always been as careful as we should in discussing the matter. Something may +have come to the ears of old Von der Tann. I don’t for a moment doubt but +that he has his spies among the palace servants, or even the guard. You know +the old fox has always made it a point to curry favor with the common soldiers. +When he was minister of war he treated them better than he did his +officers.” +</p> + +<p> +“It seems strange, Coblich, that so shrewd a man as you should have been +unable to discover some irregularity in the political life of Prince Ludwig von +der Tann before now,” said the prince querulously. “He is the +greatest menace to our peace and sovereignty. With Von der Tann out of the way +there would be none powerful enough to question our right to the throne of +Lutha—after poor Leopold passes away.” +</p> + +<p> +“You forget that Leopold has escaped,” suggested Coblich, +“and that there is no immediate prospect of his passing away.” +</p> + +<p> +“He must be retaken at once, Coblich!” cried Prince Peter of +Blentz. “He is a dangerous maniac, and we must make this fact plain to +the people—this and a thorough description of him. A handsome reward for +his safe return to Blentz might not be out of the way, Coblich.” +</p> + +<p> +“It shall be done, your highness,” replied Coblich. “And +about Von der Tann? You have never spoken to me quite +so—ah—er—pointedly before. He hunts a great deal in the Old +Forest. It might be possible—in fact, it has happened, before—there +are many accidents in hunting, are there not, your highness?” +</p> + +<p> +“There are, Coblich,” replied the prince, “and if Leopold is +able he will make straight for the Tann, so that there may be two hunting +together in a day or so, Coblich.” +</p> + +<p> +“I understand, your highness,” replied the minister. “With +your permission, I shall go at once and dispatch troops to search the forest +for Leopold. Captain Maenck will command them.” +</p> + +<p> +“Good, Coblich! Maenck is a most intelligent and loyal officer. We must +reward him well. A baronetcy, at least, if he handles this matter well,” +said Peter. “It might not be a bad plan to hint at as much to him, +Coblich.” +</p> + +<p> +And so it happened that shortly thereafter Captain Ernst Maenck, in command of +a troop of the Royal Horse Guards of Lutha, set out toward the Old Forest, +which lies beyond the mountains that are visible upon the other side of the +plain stretching out before Lustadt. At the same time other troopers rode in +many directions along the highways and byways of Lutha, tacking placards upon +trees and fence posts and beside the doors of every little rural post office. +</p> + +<p> +The placard told of the escape of the mad king, offering a large reward for his +safe return to Blentz. +</p> + +<p> +It was the last paragraph especially which caused a young man, the following +day in the little hamlet of Tafelberg, to whistle as he carefully read it over. +</p> + +<p> +“I am glad that I am not the mad king of Lutha,” he said as he paid +the storekeeper for the gasoline he had just purchased and stepped into the +gray roadster for whose greedy maw it was destined. +</p> + +<p> +“Why, mein Herr?” asked the man. +</p> + +<p> +“This notice practically gives immunity to whoever shoots down the +king,” replied the traveler. “Worse still, it gives such an account +of the maniacal ferocity of the fugitive as to warrant anyone in shooting him +on sight.” +</p> + +<p> +As the young man spoke the storekeeper had examined his face closely for the +first time. A shrewd look came into the man’s ordinarily stolid +countenance. He leaned forward quite close to the other’s ear. +</p> + +<p> +“We of Lutha,” he whispered, “love our ‘mad +king’—no reward could be offered that would tempt us to betray him. +Even in self-protection we would not kill him, we of the mountains who remember +him as a boy and loved his father and his grandfather, before him. +</p> + +<p> +“But there are the scum of the low country in the army these days, who +would do anything for money, and it is these that the king must guard against. +I could not help but note that mein Herr spoke too perfect German for a +foreigner. Were I in mein Herr’s place, I should speak mostly the +English, and, too, I should shave off the ‘full, reddish-brown +beard.’” +</p> + +<p> +Whereupon the storekeeper turned hastily back into his shop, leaving Barney +Custer of Beatrice, Nebraska, U.S.A., to wonder if all the inhabitants of Lutha +were afflicted with a mental disorder similar to that of the unfortunate ruler. +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t wonder,” soliloquized the young man, “that he +advised me to shave off this ridiculous crop of alfalfa. Hang election bets, +anyway; if things had gone half right I shouldn’t have had to wear this +badge of idiocy. And to think that it’s got to be for a whole month +longer! A year’s a mighty long while at best, but a year in company with +a full set of red whiskers is an eternity.” +</p> + +<p> +The road out of Tafelberg wound upward among tall trees toward the pass that +would lead him across the next valley on his way to the Old Forest, where he +hoped to find some excellent shooting. All his life Barney had promised himself +that some day he should visit his mother’s native land, and now that he +was here he found it as wild and beautiful as she had said it would be. +</p> + +<p> +Neither his mother nor his father had ever returned to the little country since +the day, thirty years before, that the big American had literally stolen his +bride away, escaping across the border but a scant half-hour ahead of the +pursuing troop of Luthanian cavalry. Barney had often wondered why it was that +neither of them would ever speak of those days, or of the early life of his +mother, Victoria Rubinroth, though of the beauties of her native land Mrs. +Custer never tired of talking. +</p> + +<p> +Barney Custer was thinking of these things as his machine wound up the +picturesque road. Just before him was a long, heavy grade, and as he took it +with open muffler the chugging of his motor drowned the sound of pounding hoof +beats rapidly approaching behind him. +</p> + +<p> +It was not until he topped the grade that he heard anything unusual, and at the +same instant a girl on horseback tore past him. The speed of the animal would +have been enough to have told him that it was beyond the control of its frail +rider, even without the added testimony of the broken bit that dangled beneath +the tensely outstretched chin. +</p> + +<p> +Foam flecked the beast’s neck and shoulders. It was evident that the +horse had been running for some distance, yet its speed was still that of the +thoroughly frightened runaway. +</p> + +<p> +The road at the point where the animal had passed Custer was cut from the +hillside. At the left an embankment rose steeply to a height of ten or fifteen +feet. On the right there was a drop of a hundred feet or more into a wooded +ravine. Ahead, the road apparently ran quite straight and smooth for a +considerable distance. +</p> + +<p> +Barney Custer knew that so long as the road ran straight the girl might be safe +enough, for she was evidently an excellent horsewoman; but he also knew that if +there should be a sharp turn to the left ahead, the horse in his blind fright +would in all probability dash headlong into the ravine below him. +</p> + +<p> +There was but a single thing that the man might attempt if he were to save the +girl from the almost certain death which seemed in store for her, since he knew +that sooner or later the road would turn, as all mountain roads do. The chances +that he must take, if he failed, could only hasten the girl’s end. There +was no alternative except to sit supinely by and see the fear-crazed horse +carry its rider into eternity, and Barney Custer was not the sort for that +role. +</p> + +<p> +Scarcely had the beast come abreast of him than his foot leaped to the +accelerator. Like a frightened deer the gray roadster sprang forward in +pursuit. The road was narrow. Two machines could not have passed upon it. +Barney took the outside that he might hold the horse away from the dangerous +ravine. +</p> + +<p> +At the sound of the whirring thing behind him the animal cast an affrighted +glance in its direction, and with a little squeal of terror redoubled its +frantic efforts to escape. The girl, too, looked back over her shoulder. Her +face was very white, but her eyes were steady and brave. +</p> + +<p> +Barney Custer smiled up at her in encouragement, and the girl smiled back at +him. +</p> + +<p> +“She’s sure a game one,” thought Barney. +</p> + +<p> +Now she was calling to him. At first he could not catch her words above the +pounding of the horse’s hoofs and the noise of his motor. Presently he +understood. +</p> + +<p> +“Stop!” she cried. “Stop or you will be killed. The road +turns to the left just ahead. You’ll go into the ravine at that +speed.” +</p> + +<p> +The front wheel of the roadster was at the horse’s right flank. Barney +stepped upon the accelerator a little harder. There was barely room between the +horse and the edge of the road for the four wheels of the roadster, and Barney +must be very careful not to touch the horse. The thought of that and what it +would mean to the girl sent a cold shudder through Barney Custer’s +athletic frame. +</p> + +<p> +The man cast a glance to his right. His machine drove from the left side, and +he could not see the road at all over the right hand door. The sight of tree +tops waving beneath him was all that was visible. Just ahead the road’s +edge rushed swiftly beneath the right-hand fender; the wheels on that side must +have been on the very verge of the embankment. +</p> + +<p> +Now he was abreast the girl. Just ahead he could see where the road disappeared +around a corner of the bluff at the dangerous curve the girl had warned him +against. +</p> + +<p> +Custer leaned far out over the side of his car. The lunging of the horse in his +stride, and the swaying of the leaping car carried him first close to the girl +and then away again. With his right hand he held the car between the frantic +horse and the edge of the embankment. His left hand, outstretched, was almost +at the girl’s waist. The turn was just before them. +</p> + +<p> +“Jump!” cried Barney. +</p> + +<p> +The girl fell backward from her mount, turning to grasp Custer’s arm as +it closed about her. At the same instant Barney closed the throttle, and threw +all the weight of his body upon the foot brake. +</p> + +<p> +The gray roadster swerved toward the embankment as the hind wheels skidded on +the loose surface gravel. They were at the turn. The horse was just abreast the +bumper. There was one chance in a thousand of making the turn were the running +beast out of the way. There was still a chance if he turned ahead of them. If +he did not turn—Barney hated to think of what must follow. +</p> + +<p> +But it was all over in a second. The horse bolted straight ahead. Barney +swerved the roadster to the turn. It caught the animal full in the side. There +was a sickening lurch as the hind wheels slid over the embankment, and then the +man shoved the girl from the running board to the road, and horse, man and +roadster went over into the ravine. +</p> + +<p> +A moment before a tall young man with a reddish-brown beard had stood at the +turn of the road listening intently to the sound of the hurrying hoof beats and +the purring of the racing motor car approaching from the distance. In his eyes +lurked the look of the hunted. For a moment he stood in evident indecision, but +just before the runaway horse and the pursuing machine came into view he +slipped over the edge of the road to slink into the underbrush far down toward +the bottom of the ravine. +</p> + +<p> +When Barney pushed the girl from the running board she fell heavily to the +road, rolling over several times, but in an instant she scrambled to her feet, +hardly the worse for the tumble other than a few scratches. +</p> + +<p> +Quickly she ran to the edge of the embankment, a look of immense relief coming +to her soft, brown eyes as she saw her rescuer scrambling up the precipitous +side of the ravine toward her. +</p> + +<p> +“You are not killed?” she cried in German. “It is a +miracle!” +</p> + +<p> +“Not even bruised,” reassured Barney. “But you? You must have +had a nasty fall.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am not hurt at all,” she replied. “But for you I should be +lying dead, or terribly maimed down there at the bottom of that awful ravine at +this very moment. It’s awful.” She drew her shoulders upward in a +little shudder of horror. “But how did you escape? Even now I can scarce +believe it possible.” +</p> + +<p> +“I’m quite sure I don’t know how I did escape,” said +Barney, clambering over the rim of the road to her side. “That I had +nothing to do with it I am positive. It was just luck. I simply dropped out +onto that bush down there.” +</p> + +<p> +They were standing side by side, now peering down into the ravine where the car +was visible, bottom side up against a tree, near the base of the declivity. The +horse’s head could be seen protruding from beneath the wreckage. +</p> + +<p> +“I’d better go down and put him out of his misery,” said +Barney, “if he is not already dead.” +</p> + +<p> +“I think he is quite dead,” said the girl. “I have not seen +him move.” +</p> + +<p> +Just then a little puff of smoke arose from the machine, followed by a tongue +of yellow flame. Barney had already started toward the horse. +</p> + +<p> +“Please don’t go,” begged the girl. “I am sure that he +is quite dead, and it wouldn’t be safe for you down there now. The +gasoline tank may explode any minute.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney stopped. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, he is dead all right,” he said, “but all my belongings +are down there. My guns, six-shooters and all my ammunition. And,” he +added ruefully, “I’ve heard so much about the brigands that infest +these mountains.” +</p> + +<p> +The girl laughed. +</p> + +<p> +“Those stories are really exaggerated,” she said. “I was born +in Lutha, and except for a few months each year have always lived here, and +though I ride much I have never seen a brigand. You need not be afraid.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney Custer looked up at her quickly, and then he grinned. His only fear had +been that he would not meet brigands, for Mr. Bernard Custer, Jr., was young +and the spirit of Romance and Adventure breathed strong within him. +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you smile?” asked the girl. +</p> + +<p> +“At our dilemma,” evaded Barney. “Have you paused to consider +our situation?” +</p> + +<p> +The girl smiled, too. +</p> + +<p> +“It is most unconventional,” she said. “On foot and alone in +the mountains, far from home, and we do not even know each other’s +name.” +</p> + +<p> +“Pardon me,” cried Barney, bowing low. “Permit me to +introduce myself. I am,” and then to the spirits of Romance and Adventure +was added a third, the spirit of Deviltry, “I am the mad king of +Lutha.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap02"></a>II.<br /> +OVER THE PRECIPICE</h2> + +<p> +The effect of his words upon the girl were quite different from what he had +expected. An American girl would have laughed, knowing that he but joked. This +girl did not laugh. Instead her face went white, and she clutched her bosom +with her two hands. Her brown eyes peered searchingly into the face of the man. +</p> + +<p> +“Leopold!” she cried in a suppressed voice. “Oh, your +majesty, thank God that you are free—and sane!” +</p> + +<p> +Before he could prevent it the girl had seized his hand and pressed it to her +lips. +</p> + +<p> +Here was a pretty muddle! Barney Custer swore at himself inwardly for a boorish +fool. What in the world had ever prompted him to speak those ridiculous words! +And now how was he to unsay them without mortifying this beautiful girl who had +just kissed his hand? +</p> + +<p> +She would never forgive that—he was sure of it. +</p> + +<p> +There was but one thing to do, however, and that was to make a clean breast of +it. Somehow, he managed to stumble through his explanation of what had prompted +him, and when he had finished he saw that the girl was smiling indulgently at +him. +</p> + +<p> +“It shall be Mr. Bernard Custer if you wish it so,” she said; +“but your majesty need fear nothing from Emma von der Tann. Your secret +is as safe with me as with yourself, as the name of Von der Tann must assure +you.” +</p> + +<p> +She looked to see the expression of relief and pleasure that her father’s +name should have brought to the face of Leopold of Lutha, but when he gave no +indication that he had ever before heard the name she sighed and looked +puzzled. +</p> + +<p> +“Perhaps,” she thought, “he doubts me. Or can it be possible +that, after all, his poor mind is gone?” +</p> + +<p> +“I wish,” said Barney in a tone of entreaty, “that you would +forgive and forget my foolish words, and then let me accompany you to the end +of your journey.” +</p> + +<p> +“Whither were you bound when I became the means of wrecking your motor +car?” asked the girl. +</p> + +<p> +“To the Old Forest,” replied Barney. +</p> + +<p> +Now she was positive that she was indeed with the mad king of Lutha, but she +had no fear of him, for since childhood she had heard her father scout the idea +that Leopold was mad. For what other purpose would he hasten toward the Old +Forest than to take refuge in her father’s castle upon the banks of the +Tann at the forest’s verge? +</p> + +<p> +“Thither was I bound also,” she said, “and if you would come +there quickly and in safety I can show you a short path across the mountains +that my father taught me years ago. It touches the main road but once or twice, +and much of the way passes through dense woods and undergrowth where an army +might hide.” +</p> + +<p> +“Hadn’t we better find the nearest town,” suggested Barney, +“where I can obtain some sort of conveyance to take you home?” +</p> + +<p> +“It would not be safe,” said the girl. “Peter of Blentz will +have troops out scouring all Lutha about Blentz and the Old Forest until the +king is captured.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney Custer shook his head despairingly. +</p> + +<p> +“Won’t you please believe that I am but a plain American?” he +begged. +</p> + +<p> +Upon the bole of a large wayside tree a fresh, new placard stared them in the +face. Emma von der Tann pointed at one of the paragraphs. +</p> + +<p> +“Gray eyes, brown hair, and a full reddish-brown beard,” she read. +“No matter who you may be,” she said, “you are safer off the +highways of Lutha than on them until you can find and use a razor.” +</p> + +<p> +“But I cannot shave until the fifth of November,” said Barney. +</p> + +<p> +Again the girl looked quickly into his eyes and again in her mind rose the +question that had hovered there once before. Was he indeed, after all, quite +sane? +</p> + +<p> +“Then please come with me the safest way to my father’s,” she +urged. “He will know what is best to do.” +</p> + +<p> +“He cannot make me shave,” insisted Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you wish not to shave?” asked the girl. +</p> + +<p> +“It is a matter of my honor,” he replied. “I had my choice of +wearing a green wastebasket bonnet trimmed with red roses for six months, or a +beard for twelve. If I shave off the beard before the fifth of November I shall +be without honor in the sight of all men or else I shall have to wear the green +bonnet. The beard is bad enough, but the bonnet—ugh!” +</p> + +<p> +Emma von der Tann was now quite assured that the poor fellow was indeed quite +demented, but she had seen no indications of violence as yet, though when that +too might develop there was no telling. However, he was to her Leopold of +Lutha, and her father’s house had been loyal to him or his ancestors for +three hundred years. +</p> + +<p> +If she must sacrifice her life in the attempt, nevertheless still must she do +all within her power to save her king from recapture and to lead him in safety +to the castle upon the Tann. +</p> + +<p> +“Come,” she said; “we waste time here. Let us make haste, for +the way is long. At best we cannot reach Tann by dark.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will do anything you wish,” replied Barney, “but I shall +never forgive myself for having caused you the long and tedious journey that +lies before us. It would be perfectly safe to go to the nearest town and secure +a rig.” +</p> + +<p> +Emma von der Tann had heard that it was always well to humor maniacs and she +thought of it now. She would put the scheme to the test. +</p> + +<p> +“The reason that I fear to have you go to the village,” she said, +“is that I am quite sure they would catch you and shave off your +beard.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney started to laugh, but when he saw the deep seriousness of the +girl’s eyes he changed his mind. Then he recalled her rather peculiar +insistence that he was a king, and it suddenly occurred to him that he had been +foolish not to have guessed the truth before. +</p> + +<p> +“That is so,” he agreed; “I guess we had better do as you +say,” for he had determined that the best way to handle her would be to +humor her—he had always heard that that was the proper method for +handling the mentally defective. “Where is +the—er—ah—sanatorium?” he blurted out at last. +</p> + +<p> +“The what?” she asked. “There is no sanatorium near here, +your majesty, unless you refer to the Castle of Blentz.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is there no asylum for the insane near by?” +</p> + +<p> +“None that I know of, your majesty.” +</p> + +<p> +For a while they moved on in silence, each wondering what the other might do +next. +</p> + +<p> +Barney had evolved a plan. He would try and ascertain the location of the +institution from which the girl had escaped and then as gently as possible lead +her back to it. It was not safe for as beautiful a woman as she to be roaming +through the forest in any such manner as this. He wondered what in the world +the authorities at the asylum had been thinking of to permit her to ride out +alone in the first place. +</p> + +<p> +“From where did you ride today?” he blurted out suddenly. +</p> + +<p> +“From Tann.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is where we are going now?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, your majesty.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney drew a breath of relief. The way had become suddenly difficult and he +took the girl’s arm to help her down a rather steep place. At the bottom +of the ravine there was a little brook. +</p> + +<p> +“There used to be a fallen log across it here,” said the girl. +“How in the world am I ever to get across, your majesty?” +</p> + +<p> +“If you call me that again, I shall begin to believe that I am a +king,” he humored her, “and then, being a king, I presume that it +wouldn’t be proper for me to carry you across, or would it? Never really +having been a king, I do not know.” +</p> + +<p> +“I think,” replied the girl, “that it would be eminently +proper.” +</p> + +<p> +She had difficulty in keeping in mind the fact that this handsome, smiling +young man was a dangerous maniac, though it was easy to believe that he was the +king. In fact, he looked much as she had always pictured Leopold as looking. +She had known him as a boy, and there were many paintings and photographs of +his ancestors in her father’s castle. She saw much resemblance between +these and the young man. +</p> + +<p> +The brook was very narrow, and the girl thought that it took the young man an +unreasonably long time to carry her across, though she was forced to admit that +she was far from uncomfortable in the strong arms that bore her so easily. +</p> + +<p> +“Why, what are you doing?” she cried presently. “You are not +crossing the stream at all. You are walking right up the middle of it!” +</p> + +<p> +She saw his face flush, and then he turned laughing eyes upon her. +</p> + +<p> +“I am looking for a safe landing,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +Emma von der Tann did not know whether to be frightened or amused. As her eyes +met the clear, gray ones of the man she could not believe that insanity lurked +behind that laughing, level gaze of her carrier. She found herself continually +forgetting that the man was mad. He had turned toward the bank now, and a +couple of steps carried them to the low sward that fringed the little brooklet. +Here he lowered her to the ground. +</p> + +<p> +“Your majesty is very strong,” she said. “I should not have +expected it after the years of confinement you have suffered.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes,” he said, realizing that he must humor her—it was +difficult to remember that this lovely girl was insane. “Let me see, now +just what was I in prison for? I do not seem to be able to recall it. In +Nebraska, they used to hang men for horse stealing; so I am sure it must have +been something else not quite so bad. Do you happen to know?” +</p> + +<p> +“When the king, your father, died you were thirteen years old,” the +girl explained, hoping to reawaken the sleeping mind, “and then your +uncle, Prince Peter of Blentz, announced that the shock of your father’s +death had unbalanced your mind. He shut you up in Blentz then, where you have +been for ten years, and he has ruled as regent. Now, my father says, he has +recently discovered a plot to take your life so that Peter may become king. But +I suppose you learned of that, and because of it you escaped!” +</p> + +<p> +“This Peter person is all-powerful in Lutha?” he asked. +</p> + +<p> +“He controls the army,” the girl replied. +</p> + +<p> +“And you really believe that I am the mad king Leopold?” +</p> + +<p> +“You are the king,” she said in a convincing manner. +</p> + +<p> +“You are a very brave young lady,” he said earnestly. “If all +the mad king’s subjects were as loyal as you, and as brave, he would not +have languished for ten years behind the walls of Blentz.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am a Von der Tann,” she said proudly, as though that was +explanation sufficient to account for any bravery or loyalty. +</p> + +<p> +“Even a Von der Tann might, without dishonor, hesitate to accompany a mad +man through the woods,” he replied, “especially if she happened to +be a very—a very—” He halted, flushing. +</p> + +<p> +“A very what, your majesty?” asked the girl. +</p> + +<p> +“A very young woman,” he ended lamely. +</p> + +<p> +Emma von der Tann knew that he had not intended saying that at all. Being a +woman, she knew precisely what he had meant to say, and she discovered that she +would very much have liked to hear him say it. +</p> + +<p> +“Suppose,” said Barney, “that Peter’s soldiers run +across us—what then?” +</p> + +<p> +“They will take you back to Blentz, your majesty.” +</p> + +<p> +“And you?” +</p> + +<p> +“I do not think that they will dare lay hands on me, though it is +possible that Peter might do so. He hates my father even more now than he did +when the old king lived.” +</p> + +<p> +“I wish,” said Mr. Custer, “that I had gone down after my +guns. Why didn’t you tell me, in the first place, that I was a king, and +that I might get you in trouble if you were found with me? Why, they may even +take me for an emperor or a mikado—who knows? And then look at all the +trouble we’d be in.” +</p> + +<p> +Which was Barney’s way of humoring a maniac. +</p> + +<p> +“And they might even shave off your beautiful beard.” +</p> + +<p> +Which was the girl’s way. +</p> + +<p> +“Do you think that you would like me better in the green wastebasket hat +with the red roses?” asked Barney. +</p> + +<p> +A very sad look came into the girl’s eyes. It was pitiful to think that +this big, handsome young man, for whose return to the throne all Lutha had +prayed for ten long years, was only a silly half-wit. What might he not have +accomplished for his people had this terrible misfortune not overtaken him! In +every other way he seemed fitted to be the savior of his country. If she could +but make him remember! +</p> + +<p> +“Your majesty,” she said, “do you not recall the time that +your father came upon a state visit to my father’s castle? You were a +little boy then. He brought you with him. I was a little girl, and we played +together. You would not let me call you ‘highness,’ but insisted +that I should always call you Leopold. When I forgot you would accuse me of +lese-majeste, and sentence me to—to punishment.” +</p> + +<p> +“What was the punishment?” asked Barney, noticing her hesitation +and wishing to encourage her in the pretty turn her dementia had taken. +</p> + +<p> +Again the girl hesitated; she hated to say it, but if it would help to recall +the past to that poor, dimmed mind, it was her duty. +</p> + +<p> +“Every time I called you ‘highness’ you made me give you +a—a kiss,” she almost whispered. +</p> + +<p> +“I hope,” said Barney, “that you will be guilty of +lese-majeste often.” +</p> + +<p> +“We were little children then, your majesty,” the girl reminded +him. +</p> + +<p> +Had he thought her of sound mind Mr. Custer might have taken advantage of his +royal prerogatives on the spot, for the girl’s lips were most tempting; +but when he remembered the poor, weak mind, tears almost came to his eyes, and +there sprang to his heart a great desire to protect and guard this unfortunate +child. +</p> + +<p> +“And when I was Crown Prince what were you, way back there in the +beautiful days of our childhood?” asked Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“Why, I was what I still am, your majesty,” replied the girl. +“Princess Emma von der Tann.” +</p> + +<p> +So the poor child, besides thinking him a king, thought herself a princess! She +certainly was mad. Well, he would humor her. +</p> + +<p> +“Then I should call you ‘your highness,’ shouldn’t +I?” he asked. +</p> + +<p> +“You always called me Emma when we were children.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well, then, you shall be Emma and I Leopold. Is it a +bargain?” +</p> + +<p> +“The king’s will is law,” she said. +</p> + +<p> +They had come to a very steep hillside, up which the half-obliterated trail +zigzagged toward the crest of a flat-topped hill. Barney went ahead, taking the +girl’s hand in his to help her, and thus they came to the top, to stand +hand in hand, breathing heavily after the stiff climb. +</p> + +<p> +The girl’s hair had come loose about her temples and a lock was blowing +over her face. Her cheeks were very red and her eyes bright. Barney thought he +had never looked upon a lovelier picture. He smiled down into her eyes and she +smiled back at him. +</p> + +<p> +“I wished, back there a way,” he said, “that that little +brook had been as wide as the ocean—now I wish that this little hill had +been as high as Mont Blanc.” +</p> + +<p> +“You like to climb?” she asked. +</p> + +<p> +“I should like to climb forever—with you,” he said seriously. +</p> + +<p> +She looked up at him quickly. A reply was on her lips, but she never uttered +it, for at that moment a ruffian in picturesque rags leaped out from behind a +near-by bush, confronting them with leveled revolver. He was so close that the +muzzle of the weapon almost touched Barney’s face. In that the fellow +made his mistake. +</p> + +<p> +“You see,” said Barney unexcitedly, “that I was right about +the brigands after all. What do you want, my man?” +</p> + +<p> +The man’s eyes had suddenly gone wide. He stared with open mouth at the +young fellow before him. Then a cunning look came into his eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“I want you, your majesty,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +“Godfrey!” exclaimed Barney. “Did the whole bunch +escape?” +</p> + +<p> +“Quick!” growled the man. “Hold up your hands. The notice +made it plain that you would be worth as much dead as alive, and I have no mind +to lose you, so do not tempt me to kill you.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney’s hands went up, but not in the way that the brigand had expected. +Instead, one of them seized his weapon and shoved it aside, while with the +other Custer planted a blow between his eyes and sent him reeling backward. The +two men closed, fighting for possession of the gun. In the scrimmage it was +exploded, but a moment later the American succeeded in wresting it from his +adversary and hurled it into the ravine. +</p> + +<p> +Striking at one another, the two surged backward and forward at the very edge +of the hill, each searching for the other’s throat. The girl stood by, +watching the battle with wide, frightened eyes. If she could only do something +to aid the king! +</p> + +<p> +She saw a loose stone lying at a little distance from the fighters and hastened +to procure it. If she could strike the brigand a single good blow on the side +of the head, Leopold might easily overpower him. When she had gathered up the +rock and turned back toward the two she saw that the man she thought to be the +king was not much in the way of needing outside assistance. She could not but +marvel at the strength and dexterity of this poor fellow who had spent almost +half his life penned within the four walls of a prison. It must be, she +thought, the superhuman strength with which maniacs are always credited. +</p> + +<p> +Nevertheless, she hurried toward them with her weapon; but just before she +reached them the brigand made a last mad effort to free himself from the +fingers that had found his throat. He lunged backward, dragging the other with +him. His foot struck upon the root of a tree, and together the two toppled over +into the ravine. +</p> + +<p> +As the girl hastened toward the spot where the two had disappeared, she was +startled to see three troopers of the palace cavalry headed by an officer break +through the trees at a short distance from where the battle had waged. The four +men ran rapidly toward her. +</p> + +<p> +“What has happened here?” shouted the officer to Emma von der Tann; +and then, as he came closer: “Gott! Can it be possible that it is your +highness?” +</p> + +<p> +The girl paid no attention to the officer. Instead, she hurried down the steep +embankment toward the underbrush into which the two men had fallen. There was +no sound from below, and no movement in the bushes to indicate that a moment +before two desperately battling human beings had dropped among them. +</p> + +<p> +The soldiers were close upon the girl’s heels, but it was she who first +reached the two quiet figures that lay side by side upon the stony ground +halfway down the hillside. +</p> + +<p> +When the officer stopped beside her she was sitting on the ground holding the +head of one of the combatants in her lap. +</p> + +<p> +A little stream of blood trickled from a wound in the forehead. The officer +stooped closer. +</p> + +<p> +“He is dead?” he asked. +</p> + +<p> +“The king is dead,” replied the Princess Emma von der Tann, a +little sob in her voice. +</p> + +<p> +“The king!” exclaimed the officer; and then, as he bent lower over +the white face: “Leopold!” +</p> + +<p> +The girl nodded. +</p> + +<p> +“We were searching for him,” said the officer, “when we heard +the shot.” Then, arising, he removed his cap, saying in a very low voice: +“The king is dead. Long live the king!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap03"></a>III.<br /> +AN ANGRY KING</h2> + +<p> +The soldiers stood behind their officer. None of them had ever seen Leopold of +Lutha—he had been but a name to them—they cared nothing for him; +but in the presence of death they were awed by the majesty of the king they had +never known. +</p> + +<p> +The hands of Emma von der Tann were chafing the wrists of the man whose head +rested in her lap. +</p> + +<p> +“Leopold!” she whispered. “Leopold, come back! Mad king you +may have been, but still you were king of Lutha—my father’s +king—my king.” +</p> + +<p> +The girl nearly cried out in shocked astonishment as she saw the eyes of the +dead king open. But Emma von der Tann was quick-witted. She knew for what +purpose the soldiers from the palace were scouring the country. +</p> + +<p> +Had she not thought the king dead she would have cut out her tongue rather than +reveal his identity to these soldiers of his great enemy. Now she saw that +Leopold lived, and she must undo the harm she had innocently wrought. She bent +lower over Barney’s face, trying to hide it from the soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +“Go away, please!” she called to them. “Leave me with my dead +king. You are Peter’s men. You do not care for Leopold, living or dead. +Go back to your new king and tell him that this poor young man can never more +stand between him and the throne.” +</p> + +<p> +The officer hesitated. +</p> + +<p> +“We shall have to take the king’s body with us, your +highness,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +The officer evidently becoming suspicious, came closer, and as he did so Barney +Custer sat up. +</p> + +<p> +“Go away!” cried the girl, for she saw that the king was attempting +to speak. “My father’s people will carry Leopold of Lutha in state +to the capital of his kingdom.” +</p> + +<p> +“What’s all this row about?” he asked. “Can’t you +let a dead king alone if the young lady asks you to? What kind of a short sport +are you, anyway? Run along, now, and tie yourself outside.” +</p> + +<p> +The officer smiled, a trifle maliciously perhaps. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah,” he said, “I am very glad indeed that you are not dead, +your majesty.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney Custer turned his incredulous eyes upon the lieutenant. +</p> + +<p> +“Et tu, Brute?” he cried in anguished accents, letting his head +fall back into the girl’s lap. He found it very comfortable there indeed. +</p> + +<p> +The officer smiled and shook his head. Then he tapped his forehead meaningly. +</p> + +<p> +“I did not know,” he said to the girl, “that he was so bad. +But come—it is some distance to Blentz, and the afternoon is already well +spent. Your highness will accompany us.” +</p> + +<p> +“I?” cried the girl. “You certainly cannot be serious.” +</p> + +<p> +“And why not, your highness?” asked the officer. “We had +strict orders to arrest not only the king, but any companions who may have been +involved in his escape.” +</p> + +<p> +“I had nothing whatever to do with his escape,” said the girl, +“though I should have been only too glad to have aided him had the +opportunity presented.” +</p> + +<p> +“King Peter may think differently,” replied the man. +</p> + +<p> +“The Regent, you mean?” the girl corrected him haughtily. +</p> + +<p> +The officer shrugged his shoulders. +</p> + +<p> +“Regent or King, he is ruler of Lutha nevertheless, and he would take +away my commission were I to tell him that I had found a Von der Tann in +company with the king and had permitted her to escape. Your blood convicts your +highness.” +</p> + +<p> +“You are going to take me to Blentz and confine me there?” asked +the girl in a very small voice and with wide incredulous eyes. “You would +not dare thus to humiliate a Von der Tann?” +</p> + +<p> +“I am very sorry,” said the officer, “but I am a soldier, and +soldiers must obey their superiors. My orders are strict. You may be +thankful,” he added, “that it was not Maenck who discovered +you.” +</p> + +<p> +At the mention of the name the girl shuddered. +</p> + +<p> +“In so far as it is in my power your highness and his majesty will be +accorded every consideration of dignity and courtesy while under my escort. You +need not entertain any fear of me,” he concluded. +</p> + +<p> +Barney Custer, during this, to him, remarkable dialogue, had risen to his feet, +and assisted the girl in rising. Now he turned and spoke to the officer. +</p> + +<p> +“This farce,” he said, “has gone quite far enough. If it is a +joke it is becoming a very sorry one. I am not a king. I am an +American—Bernard Custer, of Beatrice, Nebraska, U.S.A. Look at me. Look +at me closely. Do I look like a king?” +</p> + +<p> +“Every inch, your majesty,” replied the officer. +</p> + +<p> +Barney looked at the man aghast. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, I am not a king,” he said at last, “and if you go to +arresting me and throwing me into one of your musty old dungeons you will find +that I am a whole lot more important than most kings. I’m an American +citizen.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, your majesty,” replied the officer, a trifle impatiently. +“But we waste time in idle discussion. Will your majesty be so good as to +accompany me without resistance?” +</p> + +<p> +“If you will first escort this young lady to a place of safety,” +replied Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“She will be quite safe at Blentz,” said the lieutenant. +</p> + +<p> +Barney turned to look at the girl, a question in his eyes. Before them stood +the soldiers with drawn revolvers, and now at the summit of the hill a dozen +more appeared in command of a sergeant. They were two against nearly a score, +and Barney Custer was unarmed. +</p> + +<p> +The girl shook her head. +</p> + +<p> +“There, is no alternative, I am afraid, your majesty,” she said. +</p> + +<p> +Barney wheeled toward the officer. +</p> + +<p> +“Very well, lieutenant,” he said, “we will accompany +you.” +</p> + +<p> +The party turned back up the hillside, leaving the dead bandit where he +lay—the fellow’s neck had been broken by the fall. A short distance +from where the man had confronted them the two prisoners were brought to the +main road where they saw still other troopers, and with them the horses of +those who had gone into the forest on foot. +</p> + +<p> +Barney and the girl were mounted on two of the animals, the soldiers who had +ridden them clambering up behind two of their comrades. A moment later the +troop set out along the road which leads to Blentz. +</p> + +<p> +The prisoners rode near the center of the column, surrounded by troopers. For a +time they were both silent. Barney was wondering if he had accidentally tumbled +into the private grounds of Lutha’s largest madhouse, or if, in reality, +these people mistook him for the young king—it seemed incredible. +</p> + +<p> +It had commenced slowly to dawn upon him that perhaps the girl was not crazy +after all. Had not the officer addressed her as “your highness”? +Now that he thought upon it he recalled that she did have quite a haughty and +regal way with her at times, especially so when she had addressed the officer. +</p> + +<p> +Of course she might be mad, after all, and possibly the bandit, too, but it +seemed unbelievable that the officer was mad and his entire troop of cavalry +should be composed of maniacs, yet they all persisted in speaking and acting as +though he were indeed the mad king of Lutha and the young girl at his side a +princess. +</p> + +<p> +From pitying the girl he had come to feel a little bit in awe of her. To the +best of his knowledge he had never before associated with a real princess. When +he recalled that he had treated her as he would an ordinary mortal, and that he +had thought her demented, and had tried to humor her mad whims, he felt very +foolish indeed. +</p> + +<p> +Presently he turned a sheepish glance in her direction, to find her looking at +him. He saw her flush slightly as his eyes met hers. +</p> + +<p> +“Can your highness ever forgive me?” he asked. +</p> + +<p> +“Forgive you!” she cried in astonishment. “For what, your +majesty?” +</p> + +<p> +“For thinking you insane, and for getting you into this horrible +predicament,” he replied. “But especially for thinking you +insane.” +</p> + +<p> +“Did you think me mad?” she asked in wide-eyed astonishment. +</p> + +<p> +“When you insisted that I was a king, yes,” he replied. “But +now I begin to believe that it must be I who am mad, after all, or else I bear +a remarkable resemblance to Leopold of Lutha.” +</p> + +<p> +“You do, your majesty,” replied the girl. +</p> + +<p> +Barney saw it was useless to attempt to convince them and so he decided to give +up for the time. +</p> + +<p> +“Have me king, if you will,” he said, “but please do not call +me ‘your majesty’ any more. It gets on my nerves.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your will is law—Leopold,” replied the girl, hesitating +prettily before the familiar name, “but do not forget your part of the +compact.” +</p> + +<p> +He smiled at her. A princess wasn’t half so terrible after all. +</p> + +<p> +“And your will shall be my law, Emma,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +It was almost dark when they came to Blentz. The castle lay far up on the side +of a steep hill above the town. It was an ancient pile, but had been maintained +in an excellent state of repair. As Barney Custer looked up at the grim towers +and mighty, buttressed walls his heart sank. It had taken the mad king ten +years to make his escape from that gloomy and forbidding pile! +</p> + +<p> +“Poor child,” he murmured, thinking of the girl. +</p> + +<p> +Before the barbican the party was halted by the guard. An officer with a +lantern stepped out upon the lowered portcullis. The lieutenant who had +captured them rode forward to meet him. +</p> + +<p> +“A detachment of the Royal Horse Guards escorting His Majesty the King, +who is returning to Blentz,” he said in reply to the officer’s +sharp challenge. +</p> + +<p> +“The king!” exclaimed the officer. “You have found +him?” and he advanced with raised lantern searching for the monarch. +</p> + +<p> +“At last,” whispered Barney to the girl at his side, “I shall +be vindicated. This man, at least, who is stationed at Blentz must know his +king by sight.” +</p> + +<p> +The officer came quite close, holding his lantern until the rays fell full in +Barney’s face. He scrutinized the young man for a moment. There was +neither humility nor respect in his manner, so that the American was sure that +the fellow had discovered the imposture. +</p> + +<p> +From the bottom of his heart he hoped so. Then the officer swung the lantern +until its light shone upon the girl. +</p> + +<p> +“And who’s the wench with him?” he asked the officer who had +found them. +</p> + +<p> +The man was standing close beside Barney’s horse, and the words were +scarce out of his month when the American slipped from his saddle to the +portcullis and struck the officer full in the face. +</p> + +<p> +“She is the Princess von der Tann, you boor,” said Barney, +“and let that help you remember it in future.” +</p> + +<p> +The officer scrambled to his feet, white with rage. Whipping out his sword he +rushed at Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“You shall die for that, you half-wit,” he cried. +</p> + +<p> +Lieutenant Butzow, he of the Royal Horse, rushed forward to prevent the assault +and Emma von der Tann sprang from her saddle and threw herself in front of +Barney. +</p> + +<p> +Butzow grasped the other officer’s arm. +</p> + +<p> +“Are you mad, Schonau?” he cried. “Would you kill the +king?” +</p> + +<p> +The fellow tugged to escape the grasp of Butzow. He was crazed with anger. +</p> + +<p> +“Why not?” he bellowed. “You were a fool not to have done it +yourself. Maenck will do it and get a baronetcy. It will mean a captaincy for +me at least. Let me at him—no man can strike Karl Schonau and +live.” +</p> + +<p> +“The king is unarmed,” cried Emma von der Tann. “Would you +murder him in cold blood?” +</p> + +<p> +“He shall not murder him at all, your highness,” said Lieutenant +Butzow quietly. “Give me your sword, Lieutenant Schonau. I place you +under arrest. What you have just said will not please the Regent when it is +reported to him. You should keep your head better when you are angry.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is the truth,” growled Schonau, regretting that his anger had +led him into a disclosure of the plot against the king’s life, but like +most weak characters fearing to admit himself in error even more than he feared +the consequences of his rash words. +</p> + +<p> +“Do you intend taking my sword?” asked Schonau suddenly, turning +toward Lieutenant Butzow standing beside him. +</p> + +<p> +“We will forget the whole occurrence, lieutenant,” replied Butzow, +“if you will promise not to harm his majesty, or offer him or the +Princess von der Tann further humiliation. Their position is sufficiently +unpleasant without our adding to the degradation of it.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well,” grumbled Schonau. “Pass on into the +courtyard.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney and the girl remounted and the little cavalcade moved forward through +the ballium and the great gate into the court beyond. +</p> + +<p> +“Did you notice,” said Barney to the princess, “that even he +believes me to be the king? I cannot fathom it.” +</p> + +<p> +Within the castle they were met by a number of servants and soldiers. An +officer escorted them to the great hall, and presently a dark visaged captain +of cavalry entered and approached them. Butzow saluted. +</p> + +<p> +“His Majesty, the King,” he announced, “has returned to +Blentz. In accordance with the commands of the Regent I deliver his august +person into your safe keeping, Captain Maenck.” +</p> + +<p> +Maenck nodded. He was looking at Barney with evident curiosity. +</p> + +<p> +“Where did you find him?” he asked Butzow. +</p> + +<p> +He made no pretense of according to Barney the faintest indication of the +respect that is supposed to be due to those of royal blood. Barney commenced to +hope that he had finally come upon one who would know that he was not king. +</p> + +<p> +Butzow recounted the details of the finding of the king. As he spoke, +Maenck’s eyes, restless and furtive, seemed to be appraising the personal +charms of the girl who stood just back of Barney. +</p> + +<p> +The American did not like the appearance of the officer, but he saw that he was +evidently supreme at Blentz, and he determined to appeal to him in the hope +that the man might believe his story and untangle the ridiculous muddle that a +chance resemblance to a fugitive monarch had thrown him and the girl into. +</p> + +<p> +“Captain,” said Barney, stepping closer to the officer, +“there has been a mistake in identity here. I am not the king. I am an +American traveling for pleasure in Lutha. The fact that I have gray eyes and +wear a full reddish-brown beard is my only offense. You are doubtless familiar +with the king’s appearance and so you at least have already seen that I +am not his majesty. +</p> + +<p> +“Not being the king, there is no cause to detain me longer, and as I am +not a fugitive and never have been, this young lady has been guilty of no +misdemeanor or crime in being in my company. Therefore she too should be +released. In the name of justice and common decency I am sure that you will +liberate us both at once and furnish the Princess von der Tann, at least, with +a proper escort to her home.” +</p> + +<p> +Maenck listened in silence until Barney had finished, a half smile upon his +thick lips. +</p> + +<p> +“I am commencing to believe that you are not so crazy as we have all +thought,” he said. “Certainly,” and he let his eyes rest upon +Emma von der Tann, “you are not mentally deficient in so far as your +judgment of a good-looking woman is concerned. I could not have made a better +selection myself. +</p> + +<p> +“As for my familiarity with your appearance, you know as well as I that I +have never seen you before. But that is not necessary—you conform +perfectly to the printed description of you with which the kingdom is flooded. +Were that not enough, the fact that you were discovered with old Von der +Tann’s daughter is sufficient to remove the least doubt as to your +identity.” +</p> + +<p> +“You are governor of Blentz,” cried Barney, “and yet you say +that you have never seen the king?” +</p> + +<p> +“Certainly,” replied Maenck. “After you escaped the entire +personnel of the garrison here was changed, even the old servants to a man were +withdrawn and others substituted. You will have difficulty in again escaping, +for those who aided you before are no longer here.” +</p> + +<p> +“There is no man in the castle of Blentz who has ever seen the +king?” asked Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“None who has seen him before tonight,” replied Maenck. “But +were we in doubt we have the word of the Princess Emma that you are Leopold. +Did she not admit it to you, Butzow?” +</p> + +<p> +“When she thought his majesty dead she admitted it,” replied +Butzow. +</p> + +<p> +“We gain nothing by discussing the matter,” said Maenck shortly. +“You are Leopold of Lutha. Prince Peter says that you are mad. All that +concerns me is that you do not escape again, and you may rest assured that +while Ernst Maenck is governor of Blentz you shall not escape and go at large +again. +</p> + +<p> +“Are the royal apartments in readiness for his majesty, Dr. Stein?” +he concluded, turning toward a rat-faced little man with bushy whiskers, who +stood just behind him. +</p> + +<p> +The query was propounded in an ironical tone, and with a manner that made no +pretense of concealing the contempt of the speaker for the man he thought the +king. +</p> + +<p> +The eyes of the Princess Emma were blazing as she caught the scant respect in +Maenck’s manner. She looked quickly toward Barney to see if he intended +rebuking the man for his impertinence. She saw that the king evidently intended +overlooking Maenck’s attitude. But Emma von der Tann was of a different +mind. +</p> + +<p> +She had seen Maenck several times at social functions in the capital. He had +even tried to win a place in her favor, but she had always disliked him, even +before the nasty stories of his past life had become common gossip, and within +the year she had won his hatred by definitely indicating to him that he was +persona non grata, in so far as she was concerned. Now she turned upon him, her +eyes flashing with indignation. +</p> + +<p> +“Do you forget, sir, that you address the king?” she cried. +“That you are without honor I have heard men say, and I may truly believe +it now that I have seen what manner of man you are. The most lowly-bred boor in +all Lutha would not be so ungenerous as to take advantage of his king’s +helplessness to heap indignities upon him. +</p> + +<p> +“Leopold of Lutha shall come into his own some day, and my dearest hope +is that his first act may be to mete out to such as you the punishment you +deserve.” +</p> + +<p> +Maenck paled in anger. His fingers twitched nervously, but he controlled his +temper remarkably well, biding his time for revenge. +</p> + +<p> +“Take the king to his apartments, Stein,” he commanded curtly, +“and you, Lieutenant Butzow, accompany them with a guard, nor leave until +you see that he is safely confined. You may return here afterward for my +further instructions. In the meantime I wish to examine the king’s +mistress.” +</p> + +<p> +For a moment tense silence reigned in the apartment after Maenck had delivered +his wanton insult. +</p> + +<p> +Emma von der Tann, her little chin high in the air, stood straight and haughty, +nor was there any sign in her expression to indicate that she had heard the +man’s words. +</p> + +<p> +Barney was the first to take cognizance of them. +</p> + +<p> +“You cur!” he cried, and took a step toward Maenck. +“You’re going to eat that, word for word.” +</p> + +<p> +Maenck stepped back, his hand upon his sword. Butzow laid a hand upon +Barney’s arm. +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t, your majesty,” he implored, “it will but make +your position more unpleasant, nor will it add to the safety of the Princess +von der Tann for you to strike him now.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney shook himself free from Butzow, and before either Stein or the +lieutenant could prevent had sprung upon Maenck. +</p> + +<p> +The latter had not been quick enough with his sword, so that Barney had struck +him twice, heavily in the face before the officer was able to draw. Butzow had +sprung to the king’s side, and was attempting to interpose himself +between Maenck and the American. In a moment more the sword of the infuriated +captain would be in the king’s heart. Barney turned the first thrust with +his forearm. +</p> + +<p> +“Stop!” cried Butzow to Maenck. “Are you mad, that you would +kill the king?” +</p> + +<p> +Maenck lunged again, viciously, at the unprotected body of his antagonist. +</p> + +<p> +“Die, you pig of an idiot!” he screamed. +</p> + +<p> +Butzow saw that the man really meant to murder Leopold. He seized Barney by the +shoulder and whirled him backward. At the same instant his own sword leaped +from his scabbard, and now Maenck found himself facing grim steel in the hand +of a master swordsman. +</p> + +<p> +The governor of Blentz drew back from the touch of that sharp point. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you mean?” he cried. “This is mutiny.” +</p> + +<p> +“When I received my commission,” replied Butzow, quietly, “I +swore to protect the person of the king with my life, and while I live no man +shall affront Leopold of Lutha in my presence, or threaten his safety else he +accounts to me for his act. Return your sword, Captain Maenck, nor ever again +draw it against the king while I be near.” +</p> + +<p> +Slowly Maenck sheathed his weapon. Black hatred for Butzow and the man he was +protecting smoldered in his eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“If he wishes peace,” said Barney, “let him apologize to the +princess.” +</p> + +<p> +“You had better apologize, captain,” counseled Butzow, “for +if the king should command me to do so I should have to compel you to,” +and the lieutenant half drew his sword once more. +</p> + +<p> +There was something in Butzow’s voice that warned Maenck that his +subordinate would like nothing better than the king’s command to run him +through. +</p> + +<p> +He well knew the fame of Butzow’s sword arm, and having no stomach for an +encounter with it he grumbled an apology. +</p> + +<p> +“And don’t let it occur again,” warned Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“Come,” said Dr. Stein, “your majesty should be in your +apartments, away from all excitement, if we are to effect a cure, so that you +may return to your throne quickly.” +</p> + +<p> +Butzow formed the soldiers about the American, and the party moved silently out +of the great hall, leaving Captain Maenck and Princess Emma von der Tann its +only occupants. +</p> + +<p> +Barney cast a troubled glance toward Maenck, and half hesitated. +</p> + +<p> +“I am sorry, your majesty,” said Butzow in a low voice, “but +you must accompany us. In this the governor of Blentz is well within his +authority, and I must obey him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Heaven help her!” murmured Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“The governor will not dare harm her,” said Butzow. “Your +majesty need entertain no apprehension.” +</p> + +<p> +“I wouldn’t trust him,” replied the American. “I know +his kind.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap04"></a>IV.<br /> +BARNEY FINDS A FRIEND</h2> + +<p> +After the party had left the room Maenck stood looking at the princess for +several seconds. A cunning expression supplanted the anger that had shown so +plainly upon his face but a moment before. The girl had moved to one side of +the apartment and was pretending an interest in a large tapestry that covered +the wall at that point. Maenck watched her with greedy eyes. Presently he +spoke. +</p> + +<p> +“Let us be friends,” he said. “You shall be my guest at +Blentz for a long time. I doubt if Peter will care to release you soon, for he +has no love for your father—and it will be easier for both if we +establish pleasant relations from the beginning. What do you say?” +</p> + +<p> +“I shall not be at Blentz long,” she replied, not even looking in +Maenck’s direction, “though while I am it shall be as a prisoner +and not as a guest. It is incredible that one could believe me willing to pose +as the guest of a traitor, even were he less impossible than the notorious and +infamous Captain Maenck.” +</p> + +<p> +Maenck smiled. He was one of those who rather pride themselves upon the +possession of racy reputations. He walked across the room to a bell cord which +he pulled. Then he turned toward the girl again. +</p> + +<p> +“I have given you an opportunity,” he said, “to lighten the +burdens of your captivity. I hoped that you would be sensible and accept my +advances of friendship voluntarily,” and he emphasized the word +“voluntarily,” “but—” +</p> + +<p> +He shrugged his shoulders. +</p> + +<p> +A servant had entered the apartment in response to Maenck’s summons. +</p> + +<p> +“Show the Princess von der Tann to her apartments,” he commanded +with a sinister tone. +</p> + +<p> +The man, who was in the livery of Peter of Blentz, bowed, and with a +deferential sign to the girl led the way from the room. Emma von der Tann +followed her guide up a winding stairway which spiraled within a tower at the +end of a long passage. On the second floor of the castle the servant led her to +a large and beautifully furnished suite of three rooms—a bedroom, +dressing-room and boudoir. After showing her the rooms that were to be hers the +servant left her alone. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as he had gone the Princess von der Tann took another turn through the +suite, looking to the doors and windows to ascertain how securely she might +barricade herself against unwelcome visitors. +</p> + +<p> +She found that the three rooms lay in an angle of the old, moss-covered castle +wall. +</p> + +<p> +The bedroom and dressing-room were connected by a doorway, and each in turn had +another door opening into the boudoir. The only connection with the corridor +without was through a single doorway from the boudoir. This door was equipped +with a massive bolt, which, when she had shot it, gave her a feeling of immense +relief and security. The windows were all too high above the court on one side +and the moat upon the other to cause her the slightest apprehension of danger +from the outside. +</p> + +<p> +The girl found the boudoir not only beautiful, but extremely comfortable and +cozy. A huge log-fire blazed upon the hearth, and, though it was summer, its +warmth was most welcome, for the night was chill. Across the room from the +fireplace a full length oil of a former Blentz princess looked down in +arrogance upon the unwilling occupant of the room. It seemed to the girl that +there was an expression of annoyance upon the painted countenance that another, +and an enemy of her house, should be making free with her belongings. She +wondered a little, too, that this huge oil should have been hung in a +lady’s boudoir. It seemed singularly out of place. +</p> + +<p> +“If she would but smile,” thought Emma von der Tann, “she +would detract less from the otherwise pleasant surroundings, but I suppose she +serves her purpose in some way, whatever it may be.” +</p> + +<p> +There were papers, magazines and books upon the center table and more books +upon a low tier of shelves on either side of the fireplace. The girl tried to +amuse herself by reading, but she found her thoughts continually reverting to +the unhappy situation of the king, and her eyes momentarily wandered to the +cold and repellent face of the Blentz princess. +</p> + +<p> +Finally she wheeled a great armchair near the fireplace, and with her back +toward the portrait made a final attempt to submerge her unhappy thoughts in a +current periodical. +</p> + +<p> +When Barney and his escort reached the apartments that had been occupied by the +king of Lutha before his escape, Butzow and the soldiers left him in company +with Dr. Stein and an old servant, whom the doctor introduced as his new +personal attendant. +</p> + +<p> +“Your majesty will find him a very attentive and faithful servant,” +said Stein. “He will remain with you and administer your medicine at +proper intervals.” +</p> + +<p> +“Medicine?” ejaculated Barney. “What in the world do I need +of medicine? There is nothing the matter with me.” +</p> + +<p> +Stein smiled indulgently. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, your majesty,” he said, “if you could but realize the +sad affliction that clouds your life! You may never sit upon your throne until +the last trace of this sinister mental disorder is eradicated, so take your +medicine voluntarily, or otherwise Joseph will be compelled to administer it by +force. Remember, sire, that only through this treatment will you be able to +leave Blentz.” +</p> + +<p> +After Stein had left the room Joseph bolted the door behind him. Then he came +to where Barney stood in the center of the apartment, and dropping to his knees +took the young man’s hand in his and kissed it. +</p> + +<p> +“God has been good indeed, your majesty,” he whispered. “It +was He who made it possible for old Joseph to deceive them and find his way to +your side.” +</p> + +<p> +“Who are you, my man?” asked Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“I am from Tann,” whispered the old man, in a very low voice. +“His highness, the prince, found the means to obtain service for me with +the new retinue that has replaced the old which permitted your majesty’s +escape. There was another from Tann among the former servants here. +</p> + +<p> +“It was through his efforts that you escaped before, you will recall. I +have seen Fritz and learned from him the way, so that if your majesty does not +recall it it will make no difference, for I know it well, having been over it +three times already since I came here, to be sure that when the time came that +they should recapture you I might lead you out quickly before they could slay +you.” +</p> + +<p> +“You really think that they intend murdering me?” +</p> + +<p> +“There is no doubt about it, your majesty,” replied the old man. +“This very bottle”—Joseph touched the phial which Stein had +left upon the table—“contains the means whereby, through my hands, +you were to be slowly poisoned.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you know what it is?” +</p> + +<p> +“Bichloride of mercury, your majesty. One dose would have been +sufficient, and after a few days—perhaps a week—you would have died +in great agony.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney shuddered. +</p> + +<p> +“But I am not the king, Joseph,” said the young man, “so even +had they succeeded in killing me it would have profited them nothing.” +</p> + +<p> +Joseph shook his head sadly. +</p> + +<p> +“Your majesty will pardon the presumption of one who loves him,” he +said, “if he makes so bold as to suggest that your majesty must not again +deny that he is king. That only tends to corroborate the contention of Prince +Peter that your majesty is not—er, just sane, and so, incompetent to rule +Lutha. But we of Tann know differently, and with the help of the good God we +will place your majesty upon the throne which Peter has kept from you all these +years.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney sighed. They were determined that he should be king whether he would or +no. He had often thought he would like to be a king; but now the realization of +his boyish dreaming which seemed so imminent bade fair to be almost anything +than pleasant. +</p> + +<p> +Barney suddenly realized that the old fellow was talking. He was explaining how +they might escape. It seemed that a secret passage led from this very chamber +to the vaults beneath the castle and from there through a narrow tunnel below +the moat to a cave in the hillside far beyond the structure. +</p> + +<p> +“They will not return again tonight to see your majesty,” said +Joseph, “and so we had best make haste to leave at once. I have a rope +and swords in readiness. We shall need the rope to make our way down the +hillside, but let us hope that we shall not need the swords.” +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot leave Blentz,” said Barney, “unless the Princess +Emma goes with us.” +</p> + +<p> +“The Princess Emma!” cried the old man. “What Princess +Emma?” +</p> + +<p> +“Princess von der Tann,” replied Barney. “Did you not know +that she was captured with me!” +</p> + +<p> +The old man was visibly affected by the knowledge that his young mistress was a +prisoner within the walls of Blentz. He seemed torn by conflicting +emotions—his duty toward his king and his love for the daughter of his +old master. So it was that he seemed much relieved when he found that Barney +insisted upon saving the girl before any thought of their own escape should be +taken into consideration. +</p> + +<p> +“My first duty, your majesty,” said Joseph, “is to bring you +safely out of the hands of your enemies, but if you command me to try to bring +your betrothed with us I am sure that his highness, Prince Ludwig, would be the +last to censure me for deviating thus from his instructions, for if he loves +another more than he loves his king it is his daughter, the beautiful Princess +Emma.” +</p> + +<p> +“What do you mean, Joseph,” asked Barney, “by referring to +the princess as my betrothed? I never saw her before today.” +</p> + +<p> +“It has slipped your majesty’s mind,” said the old man sadly; +“but you and my young mistress were betrothed many years ago while you +were yet but children. It was the old king’s wish that you wed the +daughter of his best friend and most loyal subject.” +</p> + +<p> +Here was a pretty pass, indeed, thought Barney. It was sufficiently +embarrassing to be mistaken for the king, but to be thrown into this false +position in company with a beautiful young woman to whom the king was engaged +to be married, and who, with the others, thought him to be the king, was quite +the last word in impossible positions. +</p> + +<p> +Following this knowledge there came to Barney the first pangs of regret that he +was not really the king, and then the realization, so sudden that it almost +took his breath away, that the girl was very beautiful and very much to be +desired. He had not thought about the matter until her utter impossibility was +forced upon him. +</p> + +<p> +It was decided that Joseph should leave the king’s apartment at once and +discover in what part of the castle Emma von der Tann was imprisoned. Their +further plans were to depend upon the information gained by the old man during +his tour of investigation of the castle. +</p> + +<p> +In the interval of his absence Barney paced the length of his prison time and +time again. He thought the fellow would never return. Perhaps he had been +detected in the act of spying, and was himself a prisoner in some other part of +the castle! The thought came to Barney like a blow in the face, for he realized +that then he would be entirely at the mercy of his captors, and that there +would be none to champion the cause of the Princess von der Tann. +</p> + +<p> +When his nervous tension had about reached the breaking point there came a +sound of stealthy movement just outside the door of his room. Barney halted +close to the massive panels. He heard a key fitted quietly and then the lock +grated as it turned. +</p> + +<p> +Barney thought that they had surely detected Joseph’s duplicity and had +come to make short work of the king before other traitors arose in their midst +entirely to frustrate their plans. The young American stepped to the wall +behind the door that he might be out of sight of whoever entered. Should it +prove other than Joseph, might the Lord help them! The clenched fists, +square-set chin, and gleaming gray eyes of the prisoner presaged no good for +any incoming enemy. +</p> + +<p> +Slowly the door swung open and a man entered the room. Barney breathed a deep +sigh of relief—it was Joseph. +</p> + +<p> +“Well?” cried the young man from behind him, and Joseph started as +though Peter of Blentz himself had laid an accusing finger upon his shoulder. +“What news?” +</p> + +<p> +“Your majesty,” gasped Joseph, “how you did startle me! I +found the apartments of the princess, sire. There is a bare chance that we may +succeed in rescuing her, but a very bare one, indeed. +</p> + +<p> +“We must traverse a main corridor of the castle to reach her suite, and +then return by the same way. It will be a miracle if we are not discovered; but +the worst of it is that next to her apartments, and between them and your +majesty’s, are the apartments of Captain Maenck. +</p> + +<p> +“He is sure to be there and officers and servants may be coming and going +throughout the entire night, for the man is a convivial fellow, sitting at +cards and drink until sunrise nearly every day.” +</p> + +<p> +“And when we have brought the princess in safety to my quarters,” +asked Barney, “what then? How shall we conduct her from the castle? You +have not told me that as yet.” +</p> + +<p> +The old man explained then the plan of escape. It seemed that one of the two +huge tile panels that flanked the fireplace on either side was in reality a +door hiding the entrance to a shaft that rose from the vaults beneath the +castle to the roof. At each floor there was a similar secret door concealing +the mouth of the passage. From the vaults a corridor led through another secret +panel to the tunnel that wound downward to the cave in the hillside. +</p> + +<p> +“Beyond that we shall find horses, your majesty,” concluded the old +man. “They have been hidden in the woods since I came to Blentz. Each day +I go there to water and feed them.” +</p> + +<p> +During the servant’s explanation Barney had been casting about in his +mind for some means of rescuing the princess without so great risk of +detection, and as the plan of the secret passageway became clear to him he +thought that he saw a way to accomplish the thing with comparative safety in so +far as detection was concerned. +</p> + +<p> +“Who occupies the floor above us, Joseph?” he asked. +</p> + +<p> +“It is vacant,” replied the old man. +</p> + +<p> +“Good! Come, show me the entrance to the shaft,” directed Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“You will go without attempting to succor the Princess Emma?” +exclaimed the old fellow in ill-concealed chagrin. +</p> + +<p> +“Far from it,” replied Barney. “Bring your rope and the +swords. I think we are going to find the rescuing of the Princess Emma the +easiest part of our adventure.” +</p> + +<p> +The old man shook his head, but went to another room of the suite, from which +he presently emerged with a stout rope about fifty feet in length and two +swords. As he buckled one of the weapons to Barney his eyes fell upon the +American’s seal ring that encircled the third finger of his left hand. +</p> + +<p> +“The Royal Ring of Lutha!” exclaimed Joseph. “Where is it, +your majesty? What has become of the Royal Ring of the Kings of Lutha?” +</p> + +<p> +“I’m sure I don’t know, Joseph,” replied the young man. +“Should I be wearing a royal ring?” +</p> + +<p> +“The profaning miscreants!” cried Joseph. “They have dared to +filch from you the great ring that has been handed down from king to king for +three hundred years. When did they take it from you?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have never seen it, Joseph,” replied the young man, “and +possibly this fact may assure you where all else has failed that I am no true +king of Lutha, after all.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, no, your majesty,” replied the old servitor; “it but +makes assurance doubly sure as to your true identity, for the fact that you +have not the ring is positive proof that you are king and that they have sought +to hide the fact by removing the insignia of your divine right to rule in +Lutha.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney could not but smile at the old fellow’s remarkable logic. He saw +that nothing short of a miracle would ever convince Joseph that he was not the +real monarch, and so, as matters of greater importance were to the fore, he +would have allowed the subject to drop had not the man attempted to recall to +the impoverished memory of his king a recollection of the historic and +venerated relic of the dead monarchs of Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +“Do you not remember, sir,” he asked, “the great ruby that +glared, blood-red from its center, and the four sets of golden wings that +formed the setting? From the blood of Charlemagne was the ruby made, so history +tells us, and the setting represented the protecting wings of the power of the +kings of Lutha spread to the four points of the compass. Now your majesty must +recall the royal ring, I am sure.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney only shook his head, much to Joseph’s evident sorrow. +</p> + +<p> +“Never mind the ring, Joseph,” said the young man. “Bring +your rope and lead me to the floor above.” +</p> + +<p> +“The floor above? But, your majesty, we cannot reach the vaults and +tunnel by going upward!” +</p> + +<p> +“You forget, Joseph, that we are going to fetch the Princess Emma +first.” +</p> + +<p> +“But she is not on the floor above us, sire; she is upon the same floor +as we are,” insisted the old man, hesitating. +</p> + +<p> +“Joseph, who do you think I am?” asked Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“You are the king, my lord,” replied the old man. +</p> + +<p> +“Then do as your king commands,” said the American sharply. +</p> + +<p> +Joseph turned with dubious mutterings and approached the tiled panel at the +left of the fireplace. Here he fumbled about for a moment until his fingers +found the hidden catch that held the cunningly devised door in place. An +instant later the panel swung inward before his touch, and standing to one +side, the old fellow bowed low as he ushered Barney into the Stygian darkness +of the space beyond their vision. +</p> + +<p> +Joseph halted the young man just within the doorway, cautioning him against the +danger of falling into the shaft, then he closed the panel, and a moment later +had found the lantern he had hidden there and lighted it. The rays disclosed to +the American the rough masonry of the interior of a narrow, well-built shaft. A +rude ladder standing upon a narrow ledge beside him extended upward to lose +itself in the shadows above. At its foot the top of another ladder was visible +protruding through the opening from the floor beneath. +</p> + +<p> +No sooner had Joseph’s lantern shown him the way than Barney was +ascending the ladder toward the floor above. At the next landing he waited for +the old man. +</p> + +<p> +Joseph put out the light and placed the lantern where they could easily find it +upon their return. Then he cautiously slipped the catch that held the panel in +place and slowly opened the door until a narrow line of lesser darkness showed +from without. +</p> + +<p> +For a moment they stood in silence listening for any sound from the chamber +beyond, but as nothing occurred to indicate that the apartment was occupied the +old man opened the portal a trifle further, and finally far enough to permit +his body to pass through. Barney followed him. They found themselves in a +large, empty chamber, identical in size and shape with that which they had just +quitted upon the floor below. +</p> + +<p> +From this the two passed into the corridor beyond, and thence to the apartments +at the far end of the wing, directly over those occupied by Emma von der Tann. +</p> + +<p> +Barney hastened to a window overlooking the moat. By leaning far out he could +see the light from the princess’s chamber shining upon the sill. He +wished that the light was not there, for the window was in plain view of the +guard on the lookout upon the barbican. +</p> + +<p> +Suddenly he caught the sound of voices from the chamber beneath. For an instant +he listened, and then, catching a few words of the dialogue, he turned +hurriedly toward his companion. +</p> + +<p> +“The rope, Joseph! And for God’s sake be quick about it.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap05"></a>V.<br /> +THE ESCAPE</h2> + +<p> +For half an hour the Princess von der Tann succeeded admirably in immersing +herself in the periodical, to the exclusion of her unhappy thoughts and the +depressing influence of the austere countenance of the Blentz Princess hanging +upon the wall behind her. +</p> + +<p> +But presently she became unaccountably nervous. At the slightest sound from the +palace-life on the floor below she would start up with a tremor of excitement. +Once she heard footsteps in the corridor before her door, but they passed on, +and she thought she discerned the click of a latch a short distance further on +along the passageway. +</p> + +<p> +Again she attempted to gather up the thread of the article she had been +reading, but she was unsuccessful. A stealthy scratching brought her round +quickly, staring in the direction of the great portrait. The girl would have +sworn that she had heard a noise within her chamber. She shuddered at the +thought that it might have come from that painted thing upon the wall. +</p> + +<p> +What was the matter with her? Was she losing all control of herself to be +frightened like a little child by ghostly noises? +</p> + +<p> +She tried to return to her reading, but for the life of her she could not keep +her eyes off the silent, painted woman who stared and stared and stared in +cold, threatening silence upon this ancient enemy of her house. +</p> + +<p> +Presently the girl’s eyes went wide in horror. She could feel the scalp +upon her head contract with fright. Her terror-filled gaze was frozen upon that +awful figure that loomed so large and sinister above her, for the thing had +moved! She had seen it with her own eyes. There could be no mistake—no +hallucination of overwrought nerves about it. The Blentz Princess was moving +slowly toward her! +</p> + +<p> +Like one in a trance the girl rose from her chair, her eyes glued upon the +awful apparition that seemed creeping upon her. Slowly she withdrew toward the +opposite side of the chamber. As the painting moved more quickly the truth +flashed upon her—it was mounted on a door. +</p> + +<p> +The crack of the door widened and beyond it the girl saw dimly, eyes fastened +upon her. With difficulty she restrained a shriek. The portal swung wide and a +man in uniform stepped into the room. +</p> + +<p> +It was Maenck. +</p> + +<p> +Emma von der Tann gazed in unveiled abhorrence upon the leering face of the +governor of Blentz. +</p> + +<p> +“What means this intrusion?” cried the girl. +</p> + +<p> +“What would you have here?” +</p> + +<p> +“You,” replied Maenck. +</p> + +<p> +The girl crimsoned. +</p> + +<p> +Maenck regarded her sneeringly. +</p> + +<p> +“You coward!” she cried. “Leave my apartments at once. Not +even Peter of Blentz would countenance such abhorrent treatment of a +prisoner.” +</p> + +<p> +“You do not know Peter, my dear,” responded Maenck. “But you +need not fear. You shall be my wife. Peter has promised me a baronetcy for the +capture of Leopold, and before I am done I shall be made a prince, of that you +may rest assured, so you see I am not so bad a match after all.” +</p> + +<p> +He crossed over toward her and would have laid a rough hand upon her arm. +</p> + +<p> +The girl sprang away from him, running to the opposite side of the library +table at which she had been reading. Maenck started to pursue her, when she +seized a heavy, copper bowl that stood upon the table and hurled it full in his +face. The missile struck him a glancing blow, but the edge laid open the flesh +of one cheek almost to the jaw bone. +</p> + +<p> +With a cry of pain and rage Captain Ernst Maenck leaped across the table full +upon the young girl. With vicious, murderous fingers he seized upon her fair +throat, shaking her as a terrier might shake a rat. Futilely the girl struck at +the hate-contorted features so close to hers. +</p> + +<p> +“Stop!” she cried. “You are killing me.” +</p> + +<p> +The fingers released their hold. +</p> + +<p> +“No,” muttered the man, and dragged the princess roughly across the +room. +</p> + +<p> +Half a dozen steps he had taken when there came a sudden crash of breaking +glass from the window across the chamber. Both turned in astonishment to see +the figure of a man leap into the room, carrying the shattered crystal and the +casement with him. In one hand was a naked sword. +</p> + +<p> +“The king!” cried Emma von der Tann. +</p> + +<p> +“The devil!” muttered Maenck, as, dropping the girl, he scurried +toward the great painting from behind which he had found ingress to the +chambers of the princess. +</p> + +<p> +Maenck was a coward, and he had seen murder in the eyes of the man rushing upon +him. With a bound he reached the picture which still stood swung wide into the +room. +</p> + +<p> +Barney was close behind him, but fear lent wings to the governor of Blentz, so +that he was able to dart into the passage behind the picture and slam the door +behind him a moment before the infuriated man was upon him. +</p> + +<p> +The American clawed at the edge of the massive frame, but all to no avail. Then +he raised his sword and slashed the canvas, hoping to find a way into the place +beyond, but mighty oaken panels barred his further progress. With a whispered +oath he turned back toward the girl. +</p> + +<p> +“Thank Heaven that I was in time, Emma,” he cried. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, Leopold, my king, but at what a price,” replied the girl. +“He will return now with others and kill you. He is furious—so +furious that he scarce knows what he does.” +</p> + +<p> +“He seemed to know what he was doing when he ran for that hole in the +wall,” replied Barney with a grin. “But come, it won’t pay to +let them find us should they return.” +</p> + +<p> +Together they hastened to the window beyond which the girl could see a rope +dangling from above. The sight of it partially solved the riddle of the +king’s almost uncanny presence upon her window sill in the very nick of +time. +</p> + +<p> +Below, the lights in the watch tower at the outer gate were plainly visible, +and the twinkling of them reminded Barney of the danger of detection from that +quarter. Quickly he recrossed the apartment to the wall-switch that operated +the recently installed electric lights, and an instant later the chamber was in +total darkness. +</p> + +<p> +Once more at the girl’s side Barney drew in one end of the rope and made +it fast about her body below her arms, leaving a sufficient length terminating +in a small loop to permit her to support herself more comfortably with one foot +within the noose. Then he stepped to the outer sill, and reaching down assisted +her to his side. +</p> + +<p> +Far below them the moonlight played upon the sluggish waters of the moat. In +the distance twinkled the lights of the village of Blentz. From the courtyard +and the palace came faintly the sound of voices, and the movement of men. A +horse whinnied from the stables. +</p> + +<p> +Barney turned his eyes upward. He could see the head and shoulders of Joseph +leaning from the window of the chamber directly above them. +</p> + +<p> +“Hoist away, Joseph!” whispered the American, and to the girl: +“Be brave. Shut your eyes and trust to Joseph and—and—” +</p> + +<p> +“And my king,” finished the girl for him. +</p> + +<p> +His arm was about her shoulders, supporting her upon the narrow sill. His cheek +so close to hers that once he felt the soft velvet of it brush his own. +Involuntarily his arm tightened about the supple body. +</p> + +<p> +“My princess!” he murmured, and as he turned his face toward hers +their lips almost touched. +</p> + +<p> +Joseph was pulling upon the rope from above. They could feel it tighten beneath +the girl’s arms. Impulsively Barney Custer drew the sweet lips closer to +his own. There was no resistance. +</p> + +<p> +“I love you,” he whispered. The words were smothered as their lips +met. +</p> + +<p> +Joseph, above, wondered at the great weight of the Princess Emma von der Tann. +</p> + +<p> +“I love you, Leopold, forever,” whispered the girl, and then as +Joseph’s Herculean tugging seemed likely to drag them both from the +narrow sill, Barney lifted the girl upward with one hand while he clung to the +window frame with the other. The distance to the sill above was short, and a +moment later Joseph had grasped the princess’s hand and was helping her +over the ledge into the room beyond. +</p> + +<p> +At the same instant there came a sudden commotion from the interior of the room +in the window of which Barney still stood waiting for Joseph to remove the rope +from about the princess and lower it for him. Barney heard the heavy feet of +men, the clank of arms, and muttered oaths as the searchers stumbled against +the furniture. +</p> + +<p> +Presently one of them found the switch and instantly the room was flooded with +light, which revealed to the American a dozen Luthanian troopers headed by the +murderous Maenck. +</p> + +<p> +Barney looked anxiously aloft. Would Joseph never lower that rope! Within the +room the men were searching. He could hear Maenck directing them. Only a thin +portiere screened him from their view. It was but a matter of seconds before +they would investigate the window through which Maenck knew the king had found +ingress. +</p> + +<p> +Yes! It had come. +</p> + +<p> +“Look to the window,” commanded Maenck. “He may have gone as +he came.” +</p> + +<p> +Two of the soldiers crossed the room toward the casement. From above Joseph was +lowering the rope; but it was too late. The men would be at the window before +he could clamber out of their reach. +</p> + +<p> +“Hoist away!” he whispered to Joseph. “Quick now, my man, and +make your escape with the Princess von der Tann. It is the king’s +command.” +</p> + +<p> +Already the soldiers were at the window. At the sound of his voice they tore +aside the draperies; at the same instant the pseudo-king turned and leaped out +into the blackness of the night. +</p> + +<p> +There were exclamations of surprise and rage from the soldiers—a +woman’s scream. Then from far below came a dull splash as the body of +Bernard Custer struck the surface of the moat. +</p> + +<p> +Maenck, leaning from the window, heard the scream and the splash, and jumped to +the conclusion that both the king and the princess had attempted to make their +escape in this harebrained way. Immediately all the resources at his command +were put to the task of searching the moat and the adjacent woods. +</p> + +<p> +He was sure that one or both of the prisoners would be stunned by impact with +the surface of the water, and then drowned before they regained consciousness, +but he did not know Bernard Custer, nor the facility and almost uncanny ease +with which that young man could negotiate a high dive into shallow water. +</p> + +<p> +Nor did he know that upon the floor above him one Joseph was hastening along a +dark corridor toward a secret panel in another apartment, and that with him was +the Princess Emma bound for liberty and safety far from the frowning walls of +Blentz. +</p> + +<p> +As Barney’s head emerged above the surface of the moat he shook it +vigorously to free his eyes from water, and then struck out for the further +bank. +</p> + +<p> +Long before his pursuers had reached the courtyard and alarmed the watch at the +barbican, the American had crawled out upon dry land and hastened across the +broad clearing to the patch of stunted trees that grew lower down upon the +steep hillside before the castle. +</p> + +<p> +He shrank from the thought of leaving Blentz without knowing positively that +Joseph had made good the escape of himself and the princess, but he finally +argued that even if they had been retaken, he could serve her best by hastening +to her father and fetching the only succor that might prevail against the +strength of Blentz—armed men in sufficient force to storm the ancient +fortress. +</p> + +<p> +He had scarcely entered the wood when he heard the sound of the searchers at +the moat, and saw the rays of their lanterns flitting hither and thither as +they moved back and forth along the bank. +</p> + +<p> +Then the young man turned his face from the castle and set forth across the +unfamiliar country in the direction of the Old Forest and the castle Von der +Tann. +</p> + +<p> +The memory of the warm lips that had so recently been pressed to his urged him +on in the service of the wondrous girl who had come so suddenly into his life, +bringing to him the realization of a love that he knew must alter, for +happiness or for sorrow, all the balance of his existence, even unto death. +</p> + +<p> +He dreaded the day of reckoning when, at last, she must learn that he was no +king. He did not have the temerity to hope that her courage would be equal to +the great sacrifice which the acknowledgment of her love for one not of noble +blood must entail; but he could not believe that she would cease to love him +when she learned the truth. +</p> + +<p> +So the future looked black and cheerless to Barney Custer as he trudged along +the rocky, moonlit way. The only bright spot was the realization that for a +while at least he might be serving the one woman in all the world. +</p> + +<p> +All the balance of the long night the young man traversed valley and mountain, +holding due south in the direction he supposed the Old Forest to lie. He passed +many a little farm tucked away in the hollow of a hillside, and quaint hamlets, +and now and then the ruins of an ancient feudal stronghold, but no great forest +of black oaks loomed before him to apprise him of the nearness of his goal, nor +did he dare to ask the correct route at any of the homes he passed. +</p> + +<p> +His fatal likeness to the description of the mad king of Lutha warned him from +intercourse with the men of Lutha until he might know which were friends and +which enemies of the hapless monarch. +</p> + +<p> +Dawn found him still upon his way, but with the determination fully +crystallized to hail the first man he met and ask the way to Tann. He still +avoided the main traveled roads, but from time to time he paralleled them close +enough that he might have ample opportunity to hail the first passerby. +</p> + +<p> +The road was becoming more and more mountainous and difficult. There were fewer +homes and no hamlets, and now he began to despair entirely of meeting any who +could give him direction unless he turned and retraced his steps to the nearest +farm. +</p> + +<p> +Directly before him the narrow trail he had been following for the past few +miles wound sharply about the shoulder of a protruding cliff. He would see what +lay beyond the turn—perhaps he would find the Old Forest there, after +all. +</p> + +<p> +But instead he found something very different, though in its way quite as +interesting, for as he rounded the rugged bluff he came face to face with two +evil-looking fellows astride stocky, rough-coated ponies. +</p> + +<p> +At sight of him they drew in their mounts and eyed him suspiciously. Nor was +there great cause for wonderment in that, for the American presented aught but +a respectable appearance. His khaki motoring suit, soaked from immersion in the +moat, had but partially dried upon him. Mud from the banks of the stagnant pool +caked his legs to the knees, almost hiding his once tan puttees. More mud +streaked his jacket front and stained its sleeves to the elbows. He was +bare-headed, for his cap had remained in the moat at Blentz, and his disheveled +hair was tousled upon his head, while his full beard had dried into a weird and +tangled fringe about his face. At his side still hung the sword that Joseph had +buckled there, and it was this that caused the two men the greatest suspicion +of this strange looking character. +</p> + +<p> +They continued to eye Barney in silence, every now and then casting +apprehensive glances beyond him, as though expecting others of his kind to +appear in the trail at his back. And that is precisely what they did fear, for +the sword at Barney’s side had convinced them that he must be an officer +of the army, and they looked to see his command following in his wake. +</p> + +<p> +The young man saluted them pleasantly, asking the direction to the Old Forest. +They thought it strange that a soldier of Lutha should not know his own way +about his native land, and so judged that his question was but a blind to +deceive them. +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you not ask your own men the way?” parried one of the +fellows. +</p> + +<p> +“I have no men, I am alone,” replied Barney. “I am a stranger +in Lutha and have lost my way.” +</p> + +<p> +He who had spoken before pointed to the sword at Barney’s side. +</p> + +<p> +“Strangers traveling in Lutha do not wear swords,” he said. +“You are an officer. Why should you desire to conceal the fact from two +honest farmers? We have done nothing. Let us go our way.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney looked his astonishment at this reply. +</p> + +<p> +“Most certainly, go your way, my friends,” he said laughing. +“I would not delay you if I could; but before you go please be good +enough to tell me how to reach the Old Forest and the ancient castle of the +Prince von der Tann.” +</p> + +<p> +For a moment the two men whispered together, then the spokesman turned to +Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“We will lead you upon the right road. Come,” and the two turned +their horses, one of them starting slowly back up the trail while the other +remained waiting for Barney to pass him. +</p> + +<p> +The American, suspecting nothing, voiced his thanks, and set out after him who +had gone before. As he passed the fellow who waited the latter moved in behind +him, so that Barney walked between the two. Occasionally the rider at his back +turned in his saddle to scan the trail behind, as though still fearful that +Barney had been lying to them and that he would discover a company of soldiers +charging down upon them. +</p> + +<p> +The trail became more and more difficult as they advanced, until Barney +wondered how the little horses clung to the steep mountainside, where he +himself had difficulty in walking without using his hand to keep from falling. +</p> + +<p> +Twice the American attempted to break through the taciturnity of his guides, +but his advances were met with nothing more than sultry grunts or silence, and +presently a suspicion began to obtrude itself among his thoughts that possibly +these “honest farmers” were something more sinister than they +represented themselves to be. +</p> + +<p> +A malign and threatening atmosphere seemed to surround them. Even the cat-like +movement of their silent mounts breathed a sinister secrecy, and now, for the +first time, Barney noticed the short, ugly looking carbines that were slung in +boots at their saddle-horns. Then, prompted to further investigation, he +dropped back beside the man who had been riding behind him, and as he did so he +saw beneath the fellow’s cloak the butts of two villainous-looking +pistols. +</p> + +<p> +As Barney dropped back beside him the man turned his mount across the narrow +trail, and reining him in motioned Barney ahead. +</p> + +<p> +“I have changed my mind,” said the American, “about going to +the Old Forest.” +</p> + +<p> +He had determined that he might as well have the thing out now as later, and +discover at once how he stood with these two, and whether or not his suspicions +of them were well grounded. +</p> + +<p> +The man ahead had halted at the sound of Barney’s voice, and swung about +in the saddle. +</p> + +<p> +“What’s the trouble?” he asked. +</p> + +<p> +“He don’t want to go to the Old Forest,” explained his +companion, and for the first time Barney saw one of them grin. It was not at +all a pleasant grin, nor reassuring. +</p> + +<p> +“He don’t, eh?” growled the other. “Well, he +ain’t goin’, is he? Who ever said he was?” +</p> + +<p> +And then he, too, laughed. +</p> + +<p> +“I’m going back the way I came,” said Barney, starting around +the horse that blocked his way. +</p> + +<p> +“No, you ain’t,” said the horseman. “You’re +goin’ with us.” +</p> + +<p> +And Barney found himself gazing down the muzzle of one of the wicked looking +pistols. +</p> + +<p> +For a moment he stood in silence, debating mentally the wisdom of attempting to +rush the fellow, and then, with a shake of his head, he turned back up the +trail between his captors. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes,” he said, “on second thought I have decided to go with +you. Your logic is most convincing.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap06"></a>VI.<br /> +A KING’S RANSOM</h2> + +<p> +For another mile the two brigands conducted their captor along the +mountainside, then they turned into a narrow ravine near the summit of the +hills—a deep, rocky, wooded ravine into whose black shadows it seemed the +sun might never penetrate. +</p> + +<p> +A winding path led crookedly among the pines that grew thickly in this +sheltered hollow, until presently, after half an hour of rough going, they came +upon a small natural clearing, rock-bound and impregnable. +</p> + +<p> +As they filed from the wood Barney saw a score of villainous fellows clustered +about a camp fire where they seemed engaged in cooking their noonday meal. Bits +of meat were roasting upon iron skewers, and a great iron pot boiled vigorously +at one side of the blaze. +</p> + +<p> +At the sound of their approach the men sprang to their feet in alarm, and as +many weapons as there were men leaped to view; but when they saw Barney’s +companions they returned their pistols to their holsters, and at sight of +Barney they pressed forward to inspect the prisoner. +</p> + +<p> +“Who have we here?” shouted a big blond giant, who affected +extremely gaudy colors in his selection of wearing apparel, and whose pistols +and knife had their grips heavily ornamented with pearl and silver. +</p> + +<p> +“A stranger in Lutha he calls himself,” replied one of +Barney’s captors. “But from the sword I take it he is one of old +Peter’s wolfhounds.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, he’s found the wolves at any rate,” replied the giant, +with a wide grin at his witticism. “And if Yellow Franz is the particular +wolf you’re after, my friend, why here I am,” he concluded, +addressing the American with a leer. +</p> + +<p> +“I’m after no one,” replied Barney. “I tell you +I’m a stranger, and I lost my way in your infernal mountains. All I wish +is to be set upon the right road to Tann, and if you will do that for me you +shall be well paid for your trouble.” +</p> + +<p> +The giant, Yellow Franz, had come quite close to Barney and was inspecting him +with an expression of considerable interest. Presently he drew a soiled and +much-folded paper from his breast. Upon one side was a printed notice, and at +the corners bits were torn away as though the paper had once been tacked upon +wood, and then torn down without removing the tacks. +</p> + +<p> +At sight of it Barney’s heart sank. The look of the thing was all too +familiar. Before the yellow one had commenced to read aloud from it Barney had +repeated to himself the words he knew were coming. +</p> + +<p> +“‘Gray eyes,’” read the brigand, “‘brown +hair, and a full, reddish-brown beard.’ Herman and Friedrich, my dear +children, you have stumbled upon the richest haul in all Lutha. Down upon your +marrow-bones, you swine, and rub your low-born noses in the dirt before your +king.” +</p> + +<p> +The others looked their surprise. +</p> + +<p> +“The king?” one cried. +</p> + +<p> +“Behold!” cried Yellow Franz. “Leopold of Lutha!” +</p> + +<p> +He waved a ham-like hand toward Barney. +</p> + +<p> +Among the rough men was a young smooth-faced boy, and now with wide eyes he +pressed forward to get a nearer view of the wonderful person of a king. +</p> + +<p> +“Take a good look at him, Rudolph,” cried Yellow Franz. “It +is the first and will probably be the last time you will ever see a king. Kings +seldom visit the court of their fellow monarch, Yellow Franz of the Black +Mountains. +</p> + +<p> +“Come, my children, remove his majesty’s sword, lest he fall and +stick himself upon it, and then prepare the royal chamber, seeing to it that it +be made so comfortable that Leopold will remain with us a long time. Rudolph, +fetch food and water for his majesty, and see to it that the silver plates and +the golden goblets are well scoured and polished up.” +</p> + +<p> +They conducted Barney to a miserable lean-to shack at one side of the clearing, +and for a while the motley crew loitered about bandying coarse jests at the +expense of the “king.” The boy, Rudolph, brought food and water, he +alone of them all evincing the slightest respect or awe for the royalty of +their unwilling guest. +</p> + +<p> +After a time the men tired of the sport of king-baiting, for Barney showed +neither rancor nor outraged majesty at their keenest thrusts, instead, often +joining in the laugh with them at his own expense. They thought it odd that the +king should hold his dignity in so low esteem, but that he was king they never +doubted, attributing his denials to a disposition to deceive them, and rob them +of the “king’s ransom” they had already commenced to consider +as their own. +</p> + +<p> +Shortly after Barney arrived at the rendezvous he saw a messenger dispatched by +Yellow Franz, and from the repeated gestures toward himself that had +accompanied the giant’s instructions to his emissary, Barney was positive +that the man’s errand had to do with him. +</p> + +<p> +After the men had left his prison, leaving the boy standing awkwardly in +wide-eyed contemplation of his august charge, the American ventured to open a +conversation with his youthful keeper. +</p> + +<p> +“Aren’t you rather young to be starting in the bandit business, +Rudolph?” asked Barney, who had taken a fancy to the youth. +</p> + +<p> +“I do not want to be a bandit, your majesty,” whispered the lad; +“but my father owes Yellow Franz a great sum of money, and as he could +not pay the debt Yellow Franz stole me from my home and says that he will keep +me until my father pays him, and that if he does not pay he will make a bandit +of me, and that then some day I shall be caught and hanged until I am +dead.” +</p> + +<p> +“Can’t you escape?” asked the young man. “It would seem +to me that there would be many opportunities for you to get away +undetected.” +</p> + +<p> +“There are, but I dare not. Yellow Franz says that if I run away he will +be sure to come across me some day again and that then he will kill me.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney laughed. +</p> + +<p> +“He is just talking, my boy,” he said. “He thinks that by +frightening you he will be able to keep you from running away.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your majesty does not know him,” whispered the youth, shuddering. +“He is the wickedest man in all the world. Nothing would please him more +than killing me, and he would have done it long since but for two things. One +is that I have made myself useful about his camp, doing chores and the like, +and the other is that were he to kill me he knows that my father would never +pay him.” +</p> + +<p> +“How much does your father owe him?” +</p> + +<p> +“Five hundred marks, your majesty,” replied Rudolph. “Two +hundred of this amount is the original debt, and the balance Yellow Franz has +added since he captured me, so that it is really ransom money. But my father is +a poor man, so that it will take a long time before he can accumulate so large +a sum. +</p> + +<p> +“You would really like to go home again, Rudolph?” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, very much, your majesty, if I only dared.” Barney was silent +for some time, thinking. Possibly he could effect his own escape with the +connivance of Rudolph, and at the same time free the boy. The paltry ransom he +could pay out of his own pocket and send to Yellow Franz later, so that the +youth need not fear the brigand’s revenge. It was worth thinking about, +at any rate. +</p> + +<p> +“How long do you imagine they will keep me, Rudolph?” he asked +after a time. +</p> + +<p> +“Yellow Franz has already sent Herman to Lustadt with a message for +Prince Peter, telling him that you are being held for ransom, and demanding the +payment of a huge sum for your release. Day after tomorrow or the next day he +should return with Prince Peter’s reply. +</p> + +<p> +“If it is favorable, arrangements will be made to turn you over to Prince +Peter’s agents, who will have to come to some distant meeting place with +the money. A week, perhaps, it will take, maybe longer.” +</p> + +<p> +It was the second day before Herman returned from Lustadt. He rode in just at +dark, his pony lathered from hard going. +</p> + +<p> +Barney and the boy saw him coming, and the youth ran forward with the others to +learn the news that he had brought; but Yellow Franz and his messenger withdrew +to a hut which the brigand chief reserved for his own use, nor would he permit +any beside the messenger to accompany him to hear the report. +</p> + +<p> +For half an hour Barney sat alone waiting for word from Yellow Franz that +arrangements had been consummated for his release, and then out of the darkness +came Rudolph, wide-eyed and trembling. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, my king?” he whispered. “What shall we do? Peter has +refused to ransom you alive, but he has offered a great sum for unquestioned +proof of your death. Already he has caused a proclamation to be issued stating +that you have been killed by bandits after escaping from Blentz, and ordering a +period of national mourning. In three weeks he is to be crowned king of +Lutha.” +</p> + +<p> +“When do they intend terminating my existence?” queried Barney. +</p> + +<p> +There was a smile upon his lips, for even now he could scarce believe that in +the twentieth century there could be any such medieval plotting against a +king’s life, and yet, on second thought, had he not ample proof of the +lengths to which Peter of Blentz was willing to go to obtain the crown of +Lutha! +</p> + +<p> +“I do not know, your majesty,” replied Rudolph, “when they +will do it; but soon, doubtless, since the sooner it is done the sooner they +can collect their pay.” +</p> + +<p> +Further conversation was interrupted by the sound of footsteps without, and an +instant later Yellow Franz entered the squalid apartment and the dim circle of +light which flickered feebly from the smoky lantern that hung suspended from +the rafters. +</p> + +<p> +He stopped just within the doorway and stood eyeing the American with an ugly +grin upon his vicious face. Then his eyes fell upon the trembling Rudolph. +</p> + +<p> +“Get out of here, you!” he growled. “I’ve got private +business with this king. And see that you don’t come nosing round either, +or I’ll slit that soft throat for you.” +</p> + +<p> +Rudolph slipped past the burly ruffian, barely dodging a brutal blow aimed at +him by the giant, and escaped into the darkness without. +</p> + +<p> +“And now for you, my fine fellow,” said the brigand, turning toward +Barney. “Peter says you ain’t worth nothing to him—alive, but +that your dead body will fetch us a hundred thousand marks.” +</p> + +<p> +“Rather cheap for a king, isn’t it?” was Barney’s only +comment. +</p> + +<p> +“That’s what Herman tells him,” replied Yellow Franz. +“But he’s a close one, Peter is, and so it was that or +nothing.” +</p> + +<p> +“When are you going to pull off this little—er—ah—royal +demise?” asked Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“If you mean when am I going to kill you,” replied the bandit, +“why, there ain’t no particular rush about it. I’m a +tender-hearted chap, I am. I never should have been in this business at all, +but here I be, and as there ain’t nobody that can do a better job of the +kind than me, or do it so painlessly, why I just got to do it myself, and +that’s all there is to it. But, as I says, there ain’t no great +rush. If you want to pray, why, go ahead and pray. I’ll wait for +you.” +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t remember,” said Barney, “when I have met so +generous a party as you, my friend. Your self-sacrificing magnanimity quite +overpowers me. It reminds me of another unloved Robin Hood whom I once met. It +was in front of Burket’s coal-yard on Ella Street, back in dear old +Beatrice, at some unchristian hour of the night. +</p> + +<p> +“After he had relieved me of a dollar and forty cents he remarked: +‘I gotta good mind to kick yer slats in fer not havin’ more of de +cush on yeh; but I’m feelin’ so good about de last guy I stuck up +I’ll let youse off dis time.’” +</p> + +<p> +“I do not know what you are talking about,” replied Yellow Franz; +“but if you want to pray you’d better hurry up about it.” +</p> + +<p> +He drew his pistol from its holster on the belt at his hips. +</p> + +<p> +Now Barney Custer had no mind to give up the ghost without a struggle; but just +how he was to overcome the great beast who confronted him with menacing pistol +was, to say the least, not precisely plain. He wished the man would come a +little nearer where he might have some chance to close with him before the +fellow could fire. To gain time the American assumed a prayerful attitude, but +kept one eye on the bandit. +</p> + +<p> +Presently Yellow Franz showed indications of impatience. He fingered the +trigger of his weapon, and then slowly raised it on a line with Barney’s +chest. +</p> + +<p> +“Hadn’t you better come closer?” asked the young man. +“You might miss at that distance, or just wound me.” +</p> + +<p> +Yellow Franz grinned. +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t miss,” he said, and then: “You’re +certainly a game one. If it wasn’t for the hundred thousand marks, +I’d be hanged if I’d kill you.” +</p> + +<p> +“The chances are that you will be if you do,” said Barney, +“so wouldn’t you rather take one hundred and fifty thousand marks +and let me make my escape?” +</p> + +<p> +Yellow Franz looked at the speaker a moment through narrowed lids. +</p> + +<p> +“Where would you find any one willing to pay that amount for a crazy +king?” he asked. +</p> + +<p> +“I have told you that I am not the king,” said Barney. “I am +an American with a father who would gladly pay that amount on my safe delivery +to any American consul.” +</p> + +<p> +Yellow Franz shook his head and tapped his brow significantly. +</p> + +<p> +“Even if you was what you are dreaming, it wouldn’t pay me,” +he said. +</p> + +<p> +“I’ll make it two hundred thousand,” said Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“No—it’s a waste of time talking about it. It’s worth +more than money to me to know that I’ll always have this thing on Peter, +and that when he’s king he won’t dare bother me for fear I’ll +publish the details of this little deal. Come, you must be through praying by +this time. I can’t wait around here all night.” Again Yellow Franz +raised his pistol toward Barney’s heart. +</p> + +<p> +Before the brigand could pull the trigger, or Barney hurl himself upon his +would-be assassin, there was a flash and a loud report from the open window of +the shack. +</p> + +<p> +With a groan Yellow Franz crumpled to the dirt floor, and simultaneously Barney +was upon him and had wrested the pistol from his hand; but the precaution was +unnecessary for Yellow Franz would never again press finger to trigger. He was +dead even before Barney reached his side. +</p> + +<p> +In possession of the weapon, the American turned toward the window from which +had come the rescuing shot, and as he did so he saw the boy, Rudolph, +clambering over the sill, white-faced and trembling. In his hand was a smoking +carbine, and on his brow great beads of cold sweat. +</p> + +<p> +“God forgive me!” murmured the youth. “I have killed a +man.” +</p> + +<p> +“You have killed a dangerous wild beast, Rudolph,” said Barney, +“and both God and your fellow man will thank and reward you.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am glad that I killed him, though,” went on the boy, “for +he would have killed you, my king, had I not done so. Gladly would I go to the +gallows to save my king.” +</p> + +<p> +“You are a brave lad, Rudolph,” said Barney, “and if ever I +get out of the pretty pickle I’m in you’ll be well rewarded for +your loyalty to Leopold of Lutha. After all,” thought the young man, +“being a kind has its redeeming features, for if the boy had not thought +me his monarch he would never have risked the vengeance of the bloodthirsty +brigands in this attempt to save me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Hasten, your majesty,” whispered the boy, tugging at the sleeve of +Barney’s jacket. “There is no time to be lost. We must be far away +from here when the others discover that Yellow Franz has been killed.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney stooped above the dead man, and removing his belt and cartridges +transferred them to his own person. Then blowing out the lantern the two +slipped out into the darkness of the night. +</p> + +<p> +About the camp fire of the brigands the entire pack was congregated. They were +talking together in low voices, ever and anon glancing expectantly toward the +shack to which their chief had gone to dispatch the king. It is not every day +that a king is murdered, and even these hardened cut-throats felt the spell of +awe at the thought of what they believed the sharp report they had heard from +the shack portended. +</p> + +<p> +Keeping well to the far side of the clearing, Rudolph led Barney around the +group of men and safely into the wood below them. From this point the boy +followed the trail which Barney and his captors had traversed two days +previously, until he came to a diverging ravine that led steeply up through the +mountains upon their right hand. +</p> + +<p> +In the distance behind them they suddenly heard, faintly, the shouting of men. +</p> + +<p> +“They have discovered Yellow Franz,” whispered the boy, shuddering. +</p> + +<p> +“Then they’ll be after us directly,” said Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, your majesty,” replied Rudolph, “but in the darkness +they will not see that we have turned up this ravine, and so they will ride on +down the other. I have chosen this way because their horses cannot follow us +here, and thus we shall be under no great disadvantage. It may be, however, +that we shall have to hide in the mountains for a while, since there will be no +place of safety for us between here and Lustadt until after the edge of their +anger is dulled.” +</p> + +<p> +And such proved to be the case, for try as they would they found it impossible +to reach Lustadt without detection by the brigands who patrolled every highway +and byway from their rugged mountains to the capital of Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +For nearly three weeks Barney and the boy hid in caves or dense underbrush by +day, and by night sought some avenue which would lead them past the vigilant +sentries that patrolled the ways to freedom. +</p> + +<p> +Often they were wet by rains, nor were they ever in the warm sunlight for a +sufficient length of time to become thoroughly dry and comfortable. Of food +they had little, and of the poorest quality. +</p> + +<p> +They dared not light a fire for warmth or cooking, and their light was so +miserable that, but for the boy’s pitiful terror at the thought of being +recaptured by the bandits, Barney would long since have made a break for +Lustadt, depending upon their arms and ammunition to carry them safely through +were they discovered by their enemies. +</p> + +<p> +Rudolph had contracted a severe cold the first night, and now, it having +settled upon his lungs, he had developed a persistent and aggravating cough +that caused Barney not a little apprehension. When, after nearly three weeks of +suffering and privation, it became clear that the boy’s lungs were +affected, the American decided to take matters into his own hands and attempt +to reach Lustadt and a good doctor; but before he had an opportunity to put his +plan into execution the entire matter was removed from his jurisdiction. +</p> + +<p> +It happened like this: After a particularly fatiguing and uncomfortable night +spent in attempting to elude the sentinels who blocked their way from the +mountains, daylight found them near a little spring, and here they decided to +rest for an hour before resuming their way. +</p> + +<p> +The little pool lay not far from a clump of heavy bushes which would offer them +excellent shelter, as it was Barney’s intention to go into hiding as soon +as they had quenched their thirst at the spring. +</p> + +<p> +Rudolph was coughing pitifully, his slender frame wracked by the convulsion of +each new attack. Barney had placed an arm about the boy to support him, for the +paroxysms always left him very weak. +</p> + +<p> +The young man’s heart went out to the poor boy, and pangs of regret +filled his mind as he realized that the child’s pathetic condition was +the direct result of his self-sacrificing attempt to save his king. Barney felt +much like a murderer and a thief, and dreaded the time when the boy should be +brought to a realization of his mistake. +</p> + +<p> +He had come to feel a warm affection for the loyal little lad, who had suffered +so uncomplainingly and whose every thought had been for the safety and comfort +of his king. +</p> + +<p> +Today, thought Barney, I’ll take this child through to Lustadt even if +every ragged brigand in Lutha lies between us and the capital; but even as he +spoke a sudden crashing of underbrush behind caused him to wheel about, and +there, not twenty paces from them, stood two of Yellow Franz’s +cutthroats. +</p> + +<p> +At sight of Barney and the lad they gave voice to a shout of triumph, and +raising their carbines fired point-blank at the two fugitives. +</p> + +<p> +But Barney had been equally as quick with his own weapon, and at the moment +that they fired he grasped Rudolph and dragged him backward to a great boulder +behind which their bodies might be protected from the fire of their enemies. +</p> + +<p> +Both the bullets of the bandits’ first volley had been directed at +Barney, for it was upon his head that the great price rested. They had missed +him by a narrow margin, due, perhaps, to the fact that the mounts of the +brigands had been prancing in alarm at the unexpected sight of the two +strangers at the very moment that their riders attempted to take aim and fire. +</p> + +<p> +But now they had ridden back into the brush and dismounted, and after hiding +their ponies they came creeping out upon their bellies upon opposite sides of +Barney’s shelter. +</p> + +<p> +The American saw that it would be an easy thing for them to pick him off if he +remained where he was, and so with a word to Rudolph he sprang up and the boy +with him. Each delivered a quick shot at the bandit nearest him, and then +together they broke for the bushes in which the brigand’s mounts were +hidden. +</p> + +<p> +Two shots answered theirs. Rudolph, who was ahead of Barney, stumbled and threw +up his hands. He would have fallen had not the American thrown a strong arm +about him. +</p> + +<p> +“I’m shot, your majesty,” murmured the boy, his head dropping +against Barney’s breast. +</p> + +<p> +With the lad grasped close to him, the young man turned at the edge of the +brush to meet the charge of the two ruffians. The wounding of the youth had +delayed them just enough to preclude their making this temporary refuge in +safety. +</p> + +<p> +As Barney turned both the men fired simultaneously, and both missed. The +American raised his revolver, and with the flash of it the foremost brigand +came to a sudden stop. An expression of bewilderment crossed his features. He +extended his arms straight before him, the revolver slipped from his grasp, and +then like a dying top he pivoted once drunkenly and collapsed upon the turf. +</p> + +<p> +At the instant of his fall his companion and the American fired point-blank at +one another. +</p> + +<p> +Barney felt a burning sensation in his shoulder, but it was forgotten for the +moment in the relief that came to him as he saw the second rascal sprawl +headlong upon his face. Then he turned his attention to the limp little figure +that hung across his left arm. +</p> + +<p> +Gently Barney laid the boy upon the sward, and fetching water from the pool +bathed his face and forced a few drops between the white lips. The cooling +draft revived the wounded child, but brought on a paroxysm of coughing. When +this had subsided Rudolph raised his eyes to those of the man bending above +him. +</p> + +<p> +“Thank God, your majesty is unharmed,” he whispered. “Now I +can die in peace.” +</p> + +<p> +The white lids drooped lower, and with a tired sigh the boy lay quiet. Tears +came to the young man’s eyes as he let the limp body gently to the +ground. +</p> + +<p> +“Brave little heart,” he murmured, “you gave up your life in +the service of your king as truly as though you had not been all mistaken in +the object of your veneration, and if it lies within the power of Barney Custer +you shall not have died in vain.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap07"></a>VII.<br /> +THE REAL LEOPOLD</h2> + +<p> +Two hours later a horseman pushed his way between tumbled and tangled briers +along the bottom of a deep ravine. +</p> + +<p> +He was hatless, and his stained and ragged khaki betokened much exposure to the +elements and hard and continued usage. At his saddle-bow a carbine swung in its +boot, and upon either hip was strapped a long revolver. Ammunition in plenty +filled the cross belts that he had looped about his shoulders. +</p> + +<p> +Grim and warlike as were his trappings, no less grim was the set of his strong +jaw or the glint of his gray eyes, nor did the patch of brown stain that had +soaked through the left shoulder of his jacket tend to lessen the martial +atmosphere which surrounded him. Fortunate it was for the brigands of the late +Yellow Franz that none of them chanced in the path of Barney Custer that day. +</p> + +<p> +For nearly two hours the man had ridden downward out of the high hills in +search of a dwelling at which he might ask the way to Tann; but as yet he had +passed but a single house, and that a long untenanted ruin. He was wondering +what had become of all the inhabitants of Lutha when his horse came to a sudden +halt before an obstacle which entirely blocked the narrow trail at the bottom +of the ravine. +</p> + +<p> +As the horseman’s eyes fell upon the thing they went wide in +astonishment, for it was no less than the charred remnants of the once +beautiful gray roadster that had brought him into this twentieth century land +of medieval adventure and intrigue. Barney saw that the machine had been lifted +from where it had fallen across the horse of the Princess von der Tann, for the +animal’s decaying carcass now lay entirely clear of it; but why this +should have been done, or by whom, the young man could not imagine. +</p> + +<p> +A glance aloft showed him the road far above him, from which he, the horse and +the roadster had catapulted; and with the sight of it there flashed to his mind +the fair face of the young girl in whose service the thing had happened. Barney +wondered if Joseph had been successful in returning her to Tann, and he +wondered, too, if she mourned for the man she had thought king—if she +would be very angry should she ever learn the truth. +</p> + +<p> +Then there came to the American’s mind the figure of the shopkeeper of +Tafelberg, and the fellow’s evident loyalty to the mad king he had never +seen. Here was one who might aid him, thought Barney. He would have the will, +at least, and with the thought the young man turned his pony’s head +diagonally up the steep ravine side. +</p> + +<p> +It was a tough and dangerous struggle to the road above, but at last by dint of +strenuous efforts on the part of the sturdy little beast the two finally +scrambled over the edge of the road and stood once more upon level footing. +</p> + +<p> +After breathing his mount for a few minutes Barney swung himself into the +saddle again and set off toward Tafelberg. He met no one upon the road, nor +within the outskirts of the village, and so he came to the door of the shop he +sought without attracting attention. +</p> + +<p> +Swinging to the ground he tied the pony to one of the supporting columns of the +porch-roof and a moment later had stepped within the shop. +</p> + +<p> +From a back room the shopkeeper presently emerged, and when he saw who it was +that stood before him his eyes went wide in consternation. +</p> + +<p> +“In the name of all the saints, your majesty,” cried the old +fellow, “what has happened? How comes it that you are out of the +hospital, and travel-stained as though from a long, hard ride? I cannot +understand it, sire.” +</p> + +<p> +“Hospital?” queried the young man. “What do you mean, my good +fellow? I have been in no hospital.” +</p> + +<p> +“You were there only last evening when I inquired after you of the +doctor,” insisted the shopkeeper, “nor did any there yet suspect +your true identity.” +</p> + +<p> +“Last evening I was hiding far up in the mountains from Yellow +Franz’s band of cutthroats,” replied Barney. “Tell me what +manner of riddle you are propounding.” +</p> + +<p> +Then a sudden light of understanding flashed through Barney’s mind. +</p> + +<p> +“Man!” he exclaimed. “Tell me—you have found the true +king? He is at a hospital in Tafelberg?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, your majesty, I have found the true king, and it is so that he was +at the Tafelberg sanatorium last evening. It was beside the remnants of your +wrecked automobile that two of the men of Tafelberg found you. +</p> + +<p> +“One leg was pinioned beneath the machine which was on fire when they +discovered you. They brought you to my shop, which is the first on the road +into town, and not guessing your true identity they took my word for it that +you were an old acquaintance of mine and without more ado turned you over to my +care.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney scratched his head in puzzled bewilderment. He began to doubt if he were +in truth himself, or, after all, Leopold of Lutha. As no one but himself could, +by the wildest stretch of imagination, have been in such a position, he was +almost forced to the conclusion that all that had passed since the instant that +his car shot over the edge of the road into the ravine had been but the +hallucinations of a fever-excited brain, and that for the past three weeks he +had been lying in a hospital cot instead of experiencing the strange and +inexplicable adventures that he had believed to have befallen him. +</p> + +<p> +But yet the more he thought of it the more ridiculous such a conclusion +appeared, for it did not in the least explain the pony tethered without, which +he plainly could see from where he stood within the shop, nor did it +satisfactorily account for the blotch of blood upon his shoulder from a wound +so fresh that the stain still was damp; nor for the sword which Joseph had +buckled about his waist within Blentz’s forbidding walls; nor for the +arms and ammunition he had taken from the dead brigands—all of which he +had before him as tangible evidence of the rationality of the past few weeks. +</p> + +<p> +“My friend,” said Barney at last, “I cannot wonder that you +have mistaken me for the king, since all those I have met within Lutha have +leaped to the same error, though not one among them made the slightest pretense +of ever having seen his majesty. A ridiculous beard started the trouble, and +later a series of happenings, no one of which was particularly remarkable in +itself, aggravated it, until but a moment since I myself was almost upon the +point of believing that I am the king. +</p> + +<p> +“But, my dear Herr Kramer, I am not the king; and when you have +accompanied me to the hospital and seen that your patient still is there, you +may be willing to admit that there is some justification for doubt as to my +royalty.” +</p> + +<p> +The old man shook his head. +</p> + +<p> +“I am not so sure of that,” he said, “for he who lies at the +hospital, providing you are not he, or he you, maintains as sturdily as do you +that he is not Leopold. If one of you, whichever be king—providing that +you are not one and the same, and that I be not the only maniac in the sad +muddle—if one of you would but trust my loyalty and love for the true +king and admit your identity, then I might be of some real service to that one +of you who is really Leopold. Herr Gott! My words are as mixed as my poor +brain.” +</p> + +<p> +“If you will listen to me, Herr Kramer,” said Barney, “and +believe what I tell you, I shall be able to unscramble your ideas in so far as +they pertain to me and my identity. As to the man you say was found beneath my +car, and who now lies in the sanatorium of Tafelberg, I cannot say until I have +seen and talked with him. He may be the king and he may not; but if he insists +that he is not, I shall be the last to wish a kingship upon him. I know from +sad experience the hardships and burdens that the thing entails.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Barney narrated carefully and in detail the principal events of his life, +from his birth in Beatrice to his coming to Lutha upon pleasure. He showed Herr +Kramer his watch with his monogram upon it, his seal ring, and inside the +pocket of his coat the label of his tailor, with his own name written beneath +it and the date that the garment had been ordered. +</p> + +<p> +When he had completed his narrative the old man shook his head. +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot understand it,” he said; “and yet I am almost +forced to believe that you are not the king.” +</p> + +<p> +“Direct me to the sanatorium,” suggested Barney, “and if it +be within the range of possibility I shall learn whether the man who lies there +is Leopold or another, and if he be the king I shall serve him as loyally as +you would have served me. Together we may assist him to gain the safety of Tann +and the protection of old Prince Ludwig.” +</p> + +<p> +“If you are not the king,” said Kramer suspiciously, “why +should you be so interested in aiding Leopold? You may even be an enemy. How +can I know?” +</p> + +<p> +“You cannot know, my good friend,” replied Barney. “But had I +been an enemy, how much more easily might I have encompassed my designs, +whatever they might have been, had I encouraged you to believe that I was king. +The fact that I did not, must assure you that I have no ulterior designs +against Leopold.” +</p> + +<p> +This line of reasoning proved quite convincing to the old shopkeeper, and at +last he consented to lead Barney to the sanatorium. Together they traversed the +quiet village streets to the outskirts of the town, where in large, park-like +grounds the well-known sanatorium of Tafelberg is situated in quiet +surroundings. It is an institution for the treatment of nervous diseases to +which patients are brought from all parts of Europe, and is doubtless +Lutha’s principal claim upon the attention of the outer world. +</p> + +<p> +As the two crossed the gardens which lay between the gate and the main entrance +and mounted the broad steps leading to the veranda an old servant opened the +door, and recognizing Herr Kramer, nodded pleasantly to him. +</p> + +<p> +“Your patient seems much brighter this morning, Herr Kramer,” he +said, “and has been asking to be allowed to sit up.” +</p> + +<p> +“He is still here, then?” questioned the shopkeeper with a sigh +that might have indicated either relief or resignation. +</p> + +<p> +“Why, certainly. You did not expect that he had entirely recovered +overnight, did you?” +</p> + +<p> +“No,” replied Herr Kramer, “not exactly. In fact, I did not +know what I should expect.” +</p> + +<p> +As the two passed him on their way to the room in which the patient lay, the +servant eyed Herr Kramer in surprise, as though wondering what had occurred to +his mentality since he had seen him the previous day. He paid no attention to +Barney other than to bow to him as he passed, but there was another who +did—an attendant standing in the hallway through which the two men walked +toward the private room where one of them expected to find the real mad king of +Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +He was a dark-visaged fellow, sallow and small-eyed; and as his glance rested +upon the features of the American a puzzled expression crossed his face. He let +his gaze follow the two as they moved on up the corridor until they turned in +at the door of the room they sought, then he followed them, entering an +apartment next to that in which Herr Kramer’s patient lay. +</p> + +<p> +As Barney and the shopkeeper entered the small, whitewashed room, the former +saw upon the narrow iron cot the figure of a man of about his own height. The +face that turned toward them as they entered was covered by a full, +reddish-brown beard, and the eyes that looked up at them in troubled surprise +were gray. Beyond these Barney could see no likenesses to himself; yet they +were sufficient, he realized, to have deceived any who might have compared one +solely to the printed description of the other. +</p> + +<p> +At the doorway Kramer halted, motioning Barney within. +</p> + +<p> +“It will be better if you talk with him alone,” he said. “I +am sure that before both of us he will admit nothing.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney nodded, and the shopkeeper of Tafelberg withdrew and closed the door +behind him. The American approached the bedside with a cheery “Good +morning.” +</p> + +<p> +The man returned the salutation with a slight inclination of his head. There +was a questioning look in his eyes; but dominating that was a pitiful, hunted +expression that touched the American’s heart. +</p> + +<p> +The man’s left hand lay upon the coverlet. Barney glanced at the third +finger. About it was a plain gold band. There was no royal ring of the kings of +Lutha in evidence, yet that was no indication that the man was not Leopold; for +were he the king and desirous of concealing his identity, his first act would +be to remove every symbol of his kingship. +</p> + +<p> +Barney took the hand in his. +</p> + +<p> +“They tell me that you are well on the road to recovery,” he said. +“I am very glad that it is so.” +</p> + +<p> +“Who are you?” asked the man. +</p> + +<p> +“I am Bernard Custer, an American. You were found beneath my car at the +bottom of a ravine. I feel that I owe you full reparation for the injuries you +received, though it is beyond me how you happened to be found under the +machine. Unless I am truly mad, I was the only occupant of the roadster when it +plunged over the embankment.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is very simple,” replied the man upon the cot. “I chanced +to be at the bottom of the ravine at the time and the car fell upon me.” +</p> + +<p> +“What were you doing at the bottom of the ravine?” asked Barney +quite suddenly, after the manner of one who administers a third degree. +</p> + +<p> +The man started and flushed with suspicion. +</p> + +<p> +“That is my own affair,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +He tried to disengage his hand from Barney’s, and as he did so the +American felt something within the fingers of the other. For an instant his own +fingers tightened upon those that lay within them, so that as the others were +withdrawn his index finger pressed close upon the thing that had aroused his +curiosity. +</p> + +<p> +It was a large setting turned inward upon the third finger of the left hand. +The gold band that Barney had seen was but the opposite side of the same ring. +</p> + +<p> +A quick look of comprehension came to Barney’s eyes. The man upon the cot +evidently noted it and rightly interpreted its cause, for, having freed his +hand, he now slipped it quickly beneath the coverlet. +</p> + +<p> +“I have passed through a series of rather remarkable adventures since I +came to Lutha,” said Barney apparently quite irrelevantly, after the two +had remained silent for a moment. “Shortly after my car fell upon you I +was mistaken for the fugitive King Leopold by the young lady whose horse fell +into the ravine with my car. She is a most loyal supporter of the king, being +none other than the Princess Emma von der Tann. From her I learned to espouse +the cause of Leopold.” +</p> + +<p> +Step by step Barney took the man through the adventures that had befallen him +during the past three weeks, closing with the story of the death of the boy, +Rudolph. +</p> + +<p> +“Above his dead body I swore to serve Leopold of Lutha as loyally as the +poor, mistaken child had served me, your majesty,” and Barney looked +straight into the eyes of him who lay upon the little iron cot. +</p> + +<p> +For a moment the man held his eyes upon those of the American, but finally, +under the latter’s steady gaze, they dropped and wandered. +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you address me as ‘your majesty’?” he asked +irritably. +</p> + +<p> +“With my forefinger I felt the ruby and the four wings of the setting of +the royal ring of the kings of Lutha upon the third finger of your left +hand,” replied Barney. +</p> + +<p> +The king started up upon his elbow, his eyes wild with apprehension. +</p> + +<p> +“It is not so,” he cried. “It is a lie! I am not the +king.” +</p> + +<p> +“Hush!” admonished Barney. “You have nothing to fear from me. +There are good friends and loyal subjects in plenty to serve and protect your +majesty, and place you upon the throne that has been stolen from you. I have +sworn to serve you. The old shopkeeper, Herr Kramer, who brought me here, is an +honest, loyal old soul. He would die for you, your majesty. Trust us. Let us +help you. Tomorrow, Kramer tells me, Peter of Blentz is to have himself crowned +as king in the cathedral at Lustadt. +</p> + +<p> +“Will you sit supinely by and see another rob you of your kingdom, and +then continue to rob and throttle your subjects as he has been doing for the +past ten years? No, you will not. Even if you do not want the crown, you were +born to the duties and obligations it entails, and for the sake of your people +you must assume them now.” +</p> + +<p> +“How am I to know that you are not another of the creatures of that fiend +of Blentz?” cried the king. “How am I to know that you will not +drag me back to the terrors of that awful castle, and to the poisonous potions +of the new physician Peter has employed to assassinate me? I can trust none. +</p> + +<p> +“Go away and leave me. I do not want to be king. I wish only to go away +as far from Lutha as I can get and pass the balance of my life in peace and +security. Peter may have the crown. He is welcome to it, for all of me. All I +ask is my life and my liberty.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney saw that while the king was evidently of sound mind, his was not one of +those iron characters and courageous hearts that would willingly fight to the +death for his own rights and the rights and happiness of his people. Perhaps +the long years of bitter disappointment and misery, the tedious hours of +imprisonment, and the constant haunting fears for his life had reduced him to +this pitiable condition. +</p> + +<p> +Whatever the cause, Barney Custer was determined to overcome the man’s +aversion to assuming the duties which were rightly his, for in his memory were +the words of Emma von der Tann, in which she had made plain to him the fate +that would doubtless befall her father and his house were Peter of Blentz to +become king of Lutha. Then, too, there was the life of the little peasant boy. +Was that to be given up uselessly for a king with so mean a spirit that he +would not take a scepter when it was forced upon him? +</p> + +<p> +And the people of Lutha? Were they to be further and continually robbed and +downtrodden beneath the heel of Peter’s scoundrelly officials because +their true king chose to evade the responsibilities that were his by birth? +</p> + +<p> +For half an hour Barney pleaded and argued with the king, until he infused in +the weak character of the young man a part of his own tireless enthusiasm and +courage. Leopold commenced to take heart and see things in a brighter and more +engaging light. Finally he became quite excited about the prospects, and at +last Barney obtained a willing promise from him that he would consent to being +placed upon his throne and would go to Lustadt at any time that Barney should +come for him with a force from the retainers of Prince Ludwig von der Tann. +</p> + +<p> +“Let us hope,” cried the king, “that the luck of the reigning +house of Lutha has been at last restored. Not since my aunt, the Princess +Victoria, ran away with a foreigner has good fortune shone upon my house. It +was when my father was still a young man—before he had yet come to the +throne—and though his reign was marked with great peace and prosperity +for the people of Lutha, his own private fortunes were most unhappy. +</p> + +<p> +“My mother died at my birth, and the last days of my father’s life +were filled with suffering from the cancer that was slowly killing him. Let us +pray, Herr Custer, that you have brought new life to the fortunes of my +house.” +</p> + +<p> +“Amen, your majesty,” said Barney. “And now I’ll be off +for Tann—there must not be a moment lost if we are to bring you to +Lustadt in time for the coronation. Herr Kramer will watch over you, but as +none here guesses your true identity you are safer here than anywhere else in +Lutha. Good-bye, your majesty. Be of good heart. We’ll have you on the +road to Lustadt and the throne tomorrow morning.” +</p> + +<p> +After Barney Custer had closed the door of the king’s chamber behind him +and hurried down the corridor, the door of the room next the king’s +opened quietly and a dark-visaged fellow, sallow and small-eyed, emerged. Upon +his lips was a smile of cunning satisfaction, as he hastened to the office of +the medical director and obtained a leave of absence for twenty-four hours. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap08"></a>VIII.<br /> +THE CORONATION DAY</h2> + +<p> +Toward dusk of the day upon which the mad king of Lutha had been found, a +dust-covered horseman reined in before the great gate of the castle of Prince +Ludwig von der Tann. The unsettled political conditions which overhung the +little kingdom of Lutha were evident in the return to medievalism which the +raised portcullis and the armed guard upon the barbican of the ancient feudal +fortress revealed. Not for a hundred years before had these things been done +other than as a part of the ceremonials of a fete day, or in honor of visiting +royalty. +</p> + +<p> +At the challenge from the gate Barney replied that he bore a message for the +prince. Slowly the portcullis sank into position across the moat and an officer +advanced to meet the rider. +</p> + +<p> +“The prince has ridden to Lustadt with a large retinue,” he said, +“to attend the coronation of Peter of Blentz tomorrow.” +</p> + +<p> +“Prince Ludwig von der Tann has gone to attend the coronation of +Peter!” cried Barney in amazement. “Has the Princess Emma returned +from her captivity in the castle of Blentz?” +</p> + +<p> +“She is with her father now, having returned nearly three weeks +ago,” replied the officer, “and Peter has disclaimed responsibility +for the outrage, promising that those responsible shall be punished. He has +convinced Prince Ludwig that Leopold is dead, and for the sake of +Lutha—to save her from civil strife—my prince has patched a truce +with Peter; though unless I mistake the character of the latter and the temper +of the former it will be short-lived. +</p> + +<p> +“To demonstrate to the people,” continued the officer, “that +Prince Ludwig and Peter are good friends, the great Von der Tann will attend +the coronation, but that he takes little stock in the sincerity of the Prince +of Blentz would be apparent could the latter have a peep beneath the cloaks and +look into the loyal hearts of the men of Tann who rode down to Lustadt +today.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney did not wait to hear more. He was glad that in the gathering dusk the +officer had not seen his face plainly enough to mistake him for the king. With +a parting, “Then I must ride to Lustadt with my message for the +prince,” he wheeled his tired mount and trotted down the steep trail from +Tann toward the highway which leads to the capital. +</p> + +<p> +All night Barney rode. Three times he wandered from the way and was forced to +stop at farmhouses to inquire the proper direction; but darkness hid his +features from the sleepy eyes of those who answered his summons, and daylight +found him still forging ahead in the direction of the capital of Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +The American was sunk in unhappy meditation as his weary little mount plodded +slowly along the dusty road. For hours the man had not been able to urge the +beast out of a walk. The loss of time consequent upon his having followed wrong +roads during the night and the exhaustion of the pony which retarded his speed +to what seemed little better than a snail’s pace seemed to assure the +failure of his mission, for at best he could not reach Lustadt before noon. +</p> + +<p> +There was no possibility of bringing Leopold to his capital in time for the +coronation, and but a bare possibility that Prince Ludwig would accept the word +of an entire stranger that Leopold lived, for the acknowledgment of such a +condition by the old prince could result in nothing less than an immediate +resort to arms by the two factions. It was certain that Peter would be +infinitely more anxious to proceed with his coronation should it be rumored +that Leopold lived, and equally certain that Prince Ludwig would interpose +every obstacle, even to armed resistance, to prevent the consummation of the +ceremony. +</p> + +<p> +Yet there seemed to Barney no other alternative than to place before the +king’s one powerful friend the information that he had. It would then +rest with Ludwig to do what he thought advisable. +</p> + +<p> +An hour from Lustadt the road wound through a dense forest, whose pleasant +shade was a grateful relief to both horse and rider from the hot sun beneath +which they had been journeying the greater part of the morning. Barney was +still lost in thought, his eyes bent forward, when at a sudden turning of the +road he came face to face with a troop of horse that were entering the main +highway at this point from an unfrequented byroad. +</p> + +<p> +At sight of them the American instinctively wheeled his mount in an effort to +escape, but at a command from an officer a half dozen troopers spurred after +him, their fresh horses soon overtaking his jaded pony. +</p> + +<p> +For a moment Barney contemplated resistance, for these were troopers of the +Royal Horse, the body which was now Peter’s most effective personal tool; +but even as his hand slipped to the butt of one of the revolvers at his hip, +the young man saw the foolish futility of such a course, and with a shrug and a +smile he drew rein and turned to face the advancing soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +As he did so the officer rode up, and at sight of Barney’s face gave an +exclamation of astonishment. The officer was Butzow. +</p> + +<p> +“Well met, your majesty,” he cried saluting. “We are riding +to the coronation. We shall be just in time.” +</p> + +<p> +“To see Peter of Blentz rob Leopold of a crown,” said the American +in a disgusted tone. +</p> + +<p> +“To see Leopold of Lutha come into his own, your majesty. Long live the +king!” cried the officer. +</p> + +<p> +Barney thought the man either poking fun at him because he was not the king, +or, thinking he was Leopold, taking a mean advantage of his helplessness to +bait him. Yet this last suspicion seemed unfair to Butzow, who at Blentz had +given ample evidence that he was a gentleman, and of far different caliber from +Maenck and the others who served Peter. +</p> + +<p> +If he could but convince the man that he was no king and thus gain his liberty +long enough to reach Prince Ludwig’s ear, his mission would have been +served in so far as it lay in his power to serve it. For some minutes Barney +expended his best eloquence and logic upon the cavalry officer in an effort to +convince him that he was not Leopold. +</p> + +<p> +The king had given the American his great ring to safeguard for him until it +should be less dangerous for Leopold to wear it, and for fear that at the last +moment someone within the sanatorium might recognize it and bear word to Peter +of the king’s whereabouts. Barney had worn it turned in upon the third +finger of his left hand, and now he slipped it surreptitiously into his +breeches pocket lest Butzow should see it and by it be convinced that Barney +was indeed Leopold. +</p> + +<p> +“Never mind who you are,” cried Butzow, thinking to humor the +king’s strange obsession. “You look enough like Leopold to be his +twin, and you must help us save Lutha from Peter of Blentz.” +</p> + +<p> +The American showed in his expression the surprise he felt at these words from +an officer of the prince regent. +</p> + +<p> +“You wonder at my change of heart?” asked Butzow. +</p> + +<p> +“How can I do otherwise?” +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot blame you,” said the officer. “Yet I think that +when you know the truth you will see that I have done only that which I +believed to be the duty of a patriotic officer and a true gentleman.” +</p> + +<p> +They had rejoined the troop by this time, and the entire company was once more +headed toward Lustadt. Butzow had commanded one of the troopers to exchange +horses with Barney, bringing the jaded animal into the city slowly, and now +freshly mounted the American was making better time toward his destination. His +spirits rose, and as they galloped along the highway, he listened with renewed +interest to the story which Lieutenant Butzow narrated in detail. +</p> + +<p> +It seemed that Butzow had been absent from Lutha for a number of years as +military attache to the Luthanian legation at a foreign court. He had known +nothing of the true condition at home until his return, when he saw such +scoundrels as Coblich, Maenck, and Stein high in the favor of the prince +regent. For some time before the events that had transpired after he had +brought Barney and the Princess Emma to Blentz he had commenced to have his +doubts as to the true patriotism of Peter of Blentz; and when he had learned +through the unguarded words of Schonau that there was a real foundation for the +rumor that the regent had plotted the assassination of the king his suspicions +had crystallized into knowledge, and he had sworn to serve his king before all +others—were he sane or mad. From this loyalty he could not be shaken. +</p> + +<p> +“And what do you intend doing now?” asked Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“I intend placing you upon the throne of your ancestors, sire,” +replied Butzow; “nor will Peter of Blentz dare the wrath of the people by +attempting to interpose any obstacle. When he sees Leopold of Lutha ride into +the capital of his kingdom at the head of even so small a force as ours he will +know that the end of his own power is at hand, for he is not such a fool that +he does not perfectly realize that he is the most cordially hated man in all +Lutha, and that only those attend upon him who hope to profit through his +success or who fear his evil nature.” +</p> + +<p> +“If Peter is crowned today,” asked Barney, “will it prevent +Leopold regaining his throne?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is difficult to say,” replied Butzow; “but the chances +are that the throne would be lost to him forever. To regain it he would have to +plunge Lutha into a bitter civil war, for once Peter is proclaimed king he will +have the law upon his side, and with the resources of the State behind +him—the treasury and the army—he will feel in no mood to relinquish +the scepter without a struggle. I doubt much that you will ever sit upon your +throne, sire, unless you do so within the very next hour.” +</p> + +<p> +For some time Barney rode in silence. He saw that only by a master stroke could +the crown be saved for the true king. Was it worth it? The man was happier +without a crown. Barney had come to believe that no man lived who could be +happy in possession of one. Then there came before his mind’s eye the +delicate, patrician face of Emma von der Tann. +</p> + +<p> +Would Peter of Blentz be true to his new promises to the house of Von der Tann? +Barney doubted it. He recalled all that it might mean of danger and suffering +to the girl whose kisses he still felt upon his lips as though it had been but +now that hers had placed them there. He recalled the limp little body of the +boy, Rudolph, and the Spartan loyalty with which the little fellow had given +his life in the service of the man he had thought king. The pitiful figure of +the fear-haunted man upon the iron cot at Tafelberg rose before him and cried +for vengeance. +</p> + +<p> +To this man was the woman he loved betrothed! He knew that he might never wed +the Princess Emma. Even were she not promised to another, the iron shackles of +convention and age-old customs must forever separate her from an untitled +American. But if he couldn’t have her he still could serve her! +</p> + +<p> +“For her sake,” he muttered. +</p> + +<p> +“Did your majesty speak?” asked Butzow. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, lieutenant. We urge greater haste, for if we are to be crowned +today we have no time to lose.” +</p> + +<p> +Butzow smiled a relieved smile. The king had at last regained his senses! +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +Within the ancient cathedral at Lustadt a great and gorgeously attired +assemblage had congregated. All the nobles of Lutha were gathered there with +their wives, their children, and their retainers. There were the newer nobility +of the lowlands—many whose patents dated but since the regency of +Peter—and there were the proud nobility of the highlands—the old +nobility of which Prince Ludwig von der Tann was the chief. +</p> + +<p> +It was noticeable that though a truce had been made between Ludwig and Peter, +yet the former chancellor of the kingdom did not stand upon the chancel with +the other dignitaries of the State and court. +</p> + +<p> +Few there were who knew that he had been invited to occupy a place of honor +there, and had replied that he would take no active part in the making of any +king in Lutha whose veins did not pulse to the flow of the blood of the house +in whose service he had grown gray. +</p> + +<p> +Close packed were the retainers of the old prince so that their great number +was scarcely noticeable, though quite so was the fact that they kept their +cloaks on, presenting a somber appearance in the midst of all the glitter of +gold and gleam of jewels that surrounded them—a grim, business-like +appearance that cast a chill upon Peter of Blentz as his eyes scanned the +multitude of faces below him. +</p> + +<p> +He would have shown his indignation at this seeming affront had he dared; but +until the crown was safely upon his head and the royal scepter in his hand +Peter had no mind to do aught that might jeopardize the attainment of the power +he had sought for the past ten years. +</p> + +<p> +The solemn ceremony was all but completed; the Bishop of Lustadt had received +the great golden crown from the purple cushion upon which it had been borne at +the head of the procession which accompanied Peter up the broad center aisle of +the cathedral. He had raised it above the head of the prince regent, and was +repeating the solemn words which precede the placing of the golden circlet upon +the man’s brow. In another moment Peter of Blentz would be proclaimed the +king of Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +By her father’s side stood Emma von der Tann. Upon her haughty, high-bred +face there was no sign of the emotions which ran riot within her fair bosom. In +the act that she was witnessing she saw the eventual ruin of her father’s +house. That Peter would long want for an excuse to break and humble his ancient +enemy she did not believe; but this was not the only cause for the sorrow that +overwhelmed her. +</p> + +<p> +Her most poignant grief, like that of her father, was for the dead king, +Leopold; but to the sorrow of the loyal subject was added the grief of the +loving woman, bereft. Close to her heart she hugged the memory of the brief +hours spent with the man whom she had been taught since childhood to look upon +as her future husband, but for whom the all-consuming fires of love had only +been fanned to life within her since that moment, now three weeks gone, that he +had crushed her to his breast to cover her lips with kisses for the short +moment ere he sacrificed his life to save her from a fate worse than death. +</p> + +<p> +Before her stood the Nemesis of her dead king. The last act of the hideous +crime against the man she had loved was nearing its close. As the crown, poised +over the head of Peter of Blentz, sank slowly downward the girl felt that she +could scarce restrain her desire to shriek aloud a protest against the wicked +act—the crowning of a murderer king of her beloved Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +A glance at the old man at her side showed her the stern, commanding features +of her sire molded in an expression of haughty dignity; only the slight +movement of the muscles of the strong jaw revealed the tensity of the hidden +emotions of the stern old warrior. He was meeting disappointment and defeat as +a Von der Tann should—brave to the end. +</p> + +<p> +The crown had all but touched the head of Peter of Blentz when a sudden +commotion at the back of the cathedral caused the bishop to look up in +ill-concealed annoyance. At the sight that met his eyes his hands halted in +mid-air. +</p> + +<p> +The great audience turned as one toward the doors at the end of the long +central aisle. There, through the wide-swung portals, they saw mounted men +forcing their way into the cathedral. The great horses shouldered aside the +foot-soldiers that attempted to bar their way, and twenty troopers of the Royal +Horse thundered to the very foot of the chancel steps. +</p> + +<p> +At their head rode Lieutenant Butzow and a tall young man in soiled and +tattered khaki, whose gray eyes and full reddish-brown beard brought an +exclamation from Captain Maenck who commanded the guard about Peter of Blentz. +</p> + +<p> +“Mein Gott—the king!” cried Maenck, and at the words Peter +went white. +</p> + +<p> +In open-mouthed astonishment the spectators saw the hurrying troopers and heard +Butzow’s “The king! The king! Make way for Leopold, King of +Lutha!” +</p> + +<p> +And a girl saw, and as she saw her heart leaped to her mouth. Her small hand +gripped the sleeve of her father’s coat. “The king, father,” +she cried. “It is the king.” +</p> + +<p> +Old Von der Tann, the light of a new hope firing his eyes, threw aside his +cloak and leaped to the chancel steps beside Butzow and the others who were +mounting them. Behind him a hundred cloaks dropped from the shoulders of his +fighting men, exposing not silks and satins and fine velvet, but the coarse tan +of khaki, and grim cartridge belts well filled, and stern revolvers slung to +well-worn service belts. +</p> + +<p> +As Butzow and Barney stepped upon the chancel Peter of Blentz leaped forward. +“What mad treason is this?” he fairly screamed. +</p> + +<p> +“The days of treason are now past, prince,” replied Butzow +meaningly. “Here is not treason, but Leopold of Lutha come to claim his +crown which he inherited from his father.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is a plot,” cried Peter, “to place an impostor upon the +throne! This man is not the king.” +</p> + +<p> +For a moment there was silence. The people had not taken sides as yet. They +awaited a leader. Old Von der Tann scrutinized the American closely. +</p> + +<p> +“How may we know that you are Leopold?” he asked. “For ten +years we have not seen our king.” +</p> + +<p> +“The governor of Blentz has already acknowledged his identity,” +cried Butzow. “Maenck was the first to proclaim the presence of the +putative king.” +</p> + +<p> +At that someone near the chancel cried: “Long live Leopold, king of +Lutha!” and at the words the whole assemblage raised their voices in a +tumultuous: “Long live the king!” +</p> + +<p> +Peter of Blentz turned toward Maenck. “The guard!” he cried. +“Arrest those traitors, and restore order in the cathedral. Let the +coronation proceed.” +</p> + +<p> +Maenck took a step toward Barney and Butzow, when old Prince von der Tann +interposed his giant frame with grim resolve. +</p> + +<p> +“Hold!” He spoke in a low, stern voice that brought the cowardly +Maenck to a sudden halt. +</p> + +<p> +The men of Tann had pressed eagerly forward until they stood, with bared +swords, a solid rank of fighting men in grim semicircle behind their chief. +There were cries from different parts of the cathedral of: “Crown +Leopold, our true king! Down with Peter! Down with the assassin!” +</p> + +<p> +“Enough of this,” cried Peter. “Clear the cathedral!” +</p> + +<p> +He drew his own sword, and with half a hundred loyal retainers at his back +pressed forward to clear the chancel. There was a brief fight, from which +Barney, much to his disgust, was barred by the mighty figure of the old prince +and the stalwart sword-arm of Butzow. He did get one crack at Maenck, and had +the satisfaction of seeing blood spurt from a flesh wound across the +fellow’s cheek. +</p> + +<p> +“That for the Princess Emma,” he called to the governor of Blentz, +and then men crowded between them and he did not see the captain again during +the battle. +</p> + +<p> +When Peter saw that more than half of the palace guard were shouting for +Leopold, and fighting side by side with the men of Tann, he realized the +futility of further armed resistance at this time. Slowly he withdrew, and at +last the fighting ceased and some semblance of order was restored within the +cathedral. +</p> + +<p> +Fearfully, the bishop emerged from hiding, his robes disheveled and his miter +askew. Butzow grasped him none too reverently by the arm and dragged him before +Barney. The crown of Lutha dangled in the priest’s palsied hands. +</p> + +<p> +“Crown the king!” cried the lieutenant. “Crown Leopold, king +of Lutha!” +</p> + +<p> +A mad roar of acclaim greeted this demand, and again from all parts of the +cathedral rose the same wild cry. But in the lull that followed there were some +who demanded proof of the tattered young man who stood before them and claimed +that he was king. +</p> + +<p> +“Let Prince Ludwig speak!” cried a dozen voices. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, Prince Ludwig! Prince Ludwig!” took up the throng. +</p> + +<p> +Prince Ludwig von der Tann turned toward the bearded young man. Silence fell +upon the crowded cathedral. Peter of Blentz stood awaiting the outcome, ready +to demand the crown upon the first indication of wavering belief in the man he +knew was not Leopold. +</p> + +<p> +“How may we know that you are really Leopold?” again asked Ludwig +of Barney. +</p> + +<p> +The American raised his left hand, upon the third finger of which gleamed the +great ruby of the royal ring of the kings of Lutha. Even Peter of Blentz +started back in surprise as his eyes fell upon the ring. +</p> + +<p> +Where had the man come upon it? +</p> + +<p> +Prince von der Tann dropped to one knee before Mr. Bernard Custer of Beatrice, +Nebraska, U.S.A., and lifted that gentleman’s hand to his lips, and as +the people of Lutha saw the act they went mad with joy. +</p> + +<p> +Slowly Prince Ludwig rose and addressed the bishop. “Leopold, the +rightful heir to the throne of Lutha, is here. Let the coronation +proceed.” +</p> + +<p> +The quiet of the sepulcher fell upon the assemblage as the holy man raised the +crown above the head of the king. Barney saw from the corner of his eye the sea +of faces upturned toward him. He saw the relief and happiness upon the stern +countenance of the old prince. +</p> + +<p> +He hated to dash all their new found joy by the announcement that he was not +the king. He could not do that, for the moment he did Peter would step forward +and demand that his own coronation continue. How was he to save the throne for +Leopold? +</p> + +<p> +Among the faces beneath him he suddenly descried that of a beautiful young girl +whose eyes, filled with the tears of a great happiness and a greater love, were +upturned to his. To reveal his true identity would lose him this girl forever. +None save Peter knew that he was not the king. All save Peter would hail him +gladly as Leopold of Lutha. How easily he might win a throne and the woman he +loved by a moment of seeming passive compliance. +</p> + +<p> +The temptation was great, and then he recalled the boy, lying dead for his king +in the desolate mountains, and the pathetic light in the eyes of the sorrowful +man at Tafelberg, and the great trust and confidence in the heart of the woman +who had shown that she loved him. +</p> + +<p> +Slowly Barney Custer raised his palm toward the bishop in a gesture of +restraint. +</p> + +<p> +“There are those who doubt that I am king,” he said. “In +these circumstances there should be no coronation in Lutha until all doubts are +allayed and all may unite in accepting without question the royal right of the +true Leopold to the crown of his father. Let the coronation wait, then, until +another day, and all will be well.” +</p> + +<p> +“It must take place before noon of the fifth day of November, or not +until a year later,” said Prince Ludwig. “In the meantime the +Prince Regent must continue to rule. For the sake of Lutha the coronation must +take place today, your majesty.” +</p> + +<p> +“What is the date?” asked Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“The third, sire.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let the coronation wait until the fifth.” +</p> + +<p> +“But your majesty,” interposed Von der Tann, “all may be lost +in two days.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is the king’s command,” said Barney quietly. +</p> + +<p> +“But Peter of Blentz will rule for these two days, and in that time with +the army at his command there is no telling what he may accomplish,” +insisted the old man. +</p> + +<p> +“Peter of Blentz shall not rule Lutha for two days, or two +minutes,” replied Barney. “We shall rule. Lieutenant Butzow, you +may place Prince Peter, Coblich, Maenck, and Stein under arrest. We charge them +with treason against their king, and conspiring to assassinate their rightful +monarch.” +</p> + +<p> +Butzow smiled as he turned with his troopers at his back to execute this most +welcome of commissions; but in a moment he was again at Barney’s side. +</p> + +<p> +“They have fled, your majesty,” he said. “Shall I ride to +Blentz after them?” +</p> + +<p> +“Let them go,” replied the American, and then, with his retinue +about him the new king of Lutha passed down the broad aisle of the cathedral of +Lustadt and took his way to the royal palace between ranks of saluting soldiery +backed by cheering thousands. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap09"></a>IX.<br /> +THE KING’S GUESTS</h2> + +<p> +Once within the palace Barney sought the seclusion of a small room off the +audience chamber. Here he summoned Butzow. +</p> + +<p> +“Lieutenant,” said the American, “for the sake of a woman, a +dead child and an unhappy king I have become dictator of Lutha for forty-eight +hours; but at noon upon the fifth this farce must cease. Then we must place the +true Leopold upon the throne, or a new dictator must replace me. +</p> + +<p> +“In vain I have tried to convince you that I am not the king, and today +in the cathedral so great was the temptation to take advantage of the odd train +of circumstances that had placed a crown within my reach that I all but +surrendered to it—not for the crown of gold, Butzow, but for an +infinitely more sacred diadem which belongs to him to whom by right of birth +and lineage, belongs the crown of Lutha. I do not ask you to +understand—it is not necessary—but this you must know and believe: +that I am not Leopold, and that the true Leopold lies in hiding in the +sanatorium at Tafelberg, from which you and I, Butzow, must fetch him to +Lustadt before noon on the fifth.” +</p> + +<p> +“But, sire—” commenced Butzow, when Barney raised his hand. +</p> + +<p> +“Enough of that, Butzow!” he cried almost irritably. “I am +sick of being ‘sired’ and ‘majestied’—my name is +Custer. Call me that when others are not present. Believe what you will, but +ride with me in secrecy to Tafelberg tonight, and together we shall bring back +Leopold of Lutha. Then we may call Prince Ludwig into our confidence, and none +need ever know of the substitution. +</p> + +<p> +“I doubt if many had a sufficiently close view of me today to realize the +trick that I have played upon them, and if they note a difference they will +attribute it to the change in apparel, for we shall see to it that the king is +fittingly garbed before we exhibit him to his subjects, while hereafter I shall +continue in khaki, which becomes me better than ermine.” +</p> + +<p> +Butzow shook his head. +</p> + +<p> +“King or dictator,” he said, “it is all the same, and I must +obey whatever commands you see fit to give, and so I will ride to Tafelberg +tonight, though what we shall find there I cannot imagine, unless there are two +Leopolds of Lutha. But shall we also find another royal ring upon the finger of +this other king?” +</p> + +<p> +Barney smiled. “You’re a typical hard-headed Dutchman, +Butzow,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +The lieutenant drew himself up haughtily. “I am not a Dutchman, your +majesty. I am a Luthanian.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney laughed. “Whatever else you may be, Butzow, you’re a +brick,” he said, laying his hand upon the other’s arm. +</p> + +<p> +Butzow looked at him narrowly. +</p> + +<p> +“From your speech,” he said, “and the occasional Americanisms +into which you fall I might believe that you were other than the king but for +the ring.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is my commission from the king,” replied Barney. “Leopold +placed it upon my finger in token of his royal authority to act in his behalf. +Tonight, then Butzow, you and I shall ride to Tafelberg. Have three good +horses. We must lead one for the king.” +</p> + +<p> +Butzow saluted and left the apartment. For an hour or two the American was busy +with tailors whom he had ordered sent to the palace to measure him for the +numerous garments of a royal wardrobe, for he knew the king to be near enough +his own size that he might easily wear clothes that had been fitted to Barney; +and it was part of his plan to have everything in readiness for the +substitution which was to take place the morning of the coronation. +</p> + +<p> +Then there were foreign dignitaries, and the heads of numerous domestic and +civic delegations to be given audience. Old Von der Tann stood close behind +Barney prompting him upon the royal duties that had fallen so suddenly upon his +shoulders, and none thought it strange that he was unfamiliar with the craft of +kingship, for was it not common knowledge that he had been kept a close +prisoner in Blentz since boyhood, nor been given any coaching for the duties +Peter of Blentz never intended he should perform? +</p> + +<p> +After it was all over Prince Ludwig’s grim and leathery face relaxed into +a smile of satisfaction. +</p> + +<p> +“None who witnessed the conduct of your first audience, sire,” he +said, “could for a moment doubt your royal lineage—if ever a man +was born to kingship, your majesty, it be you.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney smiled, a bit ruefully, however, for in his mind’s eye he saw a +future moment when the proud old Prince von der Tann would know the truth of +the imposture that had been played upon him, and the young man foresaw that he +would have a rather unpleasant half-hour. +</p> + +<p> +At a little distance from them Barney saw Emma von der Tann surrounded by a +group of officials and palace officers. Since he had come to Lustadt that day +he had had no word with her, and now he crossed toward her, amused as the +throng parted to form an aisle for him, the men saluting and the women +curtsying low. +</p> + +<p> +He took both of the girl’s hands in his, and, drawing one through his +arm, took advantage of the prerogatives of kingship to lead her away from the +throng of courtiers. +</p> + +<p> +“I thought that I should never be done with all the tiresome business +which seems to devolve upon kings,” he said, laughing. “All the +while that I should have been bending my royal intellect to matters of state, I +was wondering just how a king might find a way to see the woman he loves +without interruptions from the horde that dogs his footsteps.” +</p> + +<p> +“You seem to have found a way, Leopold,” she whispered, pressing +his arm close to her. “Kings usually do.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is not because I am a king that I found a way, Emma,” he +replied. “It is because I am an American.” +</p> + +<p> +She looked up at him with an expression of pleading in her eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you persist?” she cried. “You have come into your +own, and there is no longer aught to fear from Peter or any other. To me at +least, it is most unkind still to deny your identity.” +</p> + +<p> +“I wonder,” said Barney, “if your love could withstand the +knowledge that I am not the king.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is the MAN I love, Leopold,” the girl replied. +</p> + +<p> +“You think so now,” he said, “but wait until the test comes, +and when it does, remember that I have always done my best to undeceive you. I +know that you are not for such as I, my princess, and when I have returned your +true king to you all that I shall ask is that you be happy with him.” +</p> + +<p> +“I shall always be happy with my king,” she whispered, and the look +that she gave him made Barney Custer curse the fate that had failed to make him +a king by birth. +</p> + +<p> +An hour later darkness had fallen upon the little city of Lustadt, and from a +small gateway in the rear of the palace grounds two horsemen rode out into the +ill-paved street and turned their mounts’ heads toward the north. At the +side of one trotted a led horse. +</p> + +<p> +As they passed beneath the glare of an arc-light before a cafe at the side of +the public square, a diner sitting at a table upon the walk spied the tall +figure and the bearded face of him who rode a few feet in advance of his +companion. Leaping to his feet the man waved his napkin above his head. +</p> + +<p> +“Long live the king!” he cried. “God save Leopold of +Lutha!” +</p> + +<p> +And amid the din of cheering that followed, Barney Custer of Beatrice and +Lieutenant Butzow of the Royal Horse rode out into the night upon the road to +Tafelberg. +</p> + +<p> +When Peter of Blentz had escaped from the cathedral he had hastily mounted with +a handful of his followers and hurried out of Lustadt along the road toward his +formidable fortress at Blentz. Half way upon the journey he had met a dusty and +travel-stained horseman hastening toward the capital city that Peter and his +lieutenants had just left. +</p> + +<p> +At sight of the prince regent the fellow reined in and saluted. +</p> + +<p> +“May I have a word in private with your highness?” he asked. +“I have news of the greatest importance for your ears alone.” +</p> + +<p> +Peter drew to one side with the man. +</p> + +<p> +“Well,” he asked, “and what news have you for Peter of +Blentz?” +</p> + +<p> +The man leaned from his horse close to Peter’s ear. +</p> + +<p> +“The king is in Tafelberg, your highness,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +“The king is dead,” snapped Peter. “There is an impostor in +the palace at Lustadt. But the real Leopold of Lutha was slain by Yellow +Franz’s band of brigands weeks ago.” +</p> + +<p> +“I heard the man at Tafelberg tell another that he was the king,” +insisted the fellow. “Through the keyhole of his room I saw him take a +great ring from his finger—a ring with a mighty ruby set in its +center—and give it to the other. Both were bearded men with gray +eyes—either might have passed for the king by the description upon the +placards that have covered Lutha for the past month. At first he denied his +identity, but when the other had convinced him that he sought only the +king’s welfare he at last admitted that he was Leopold.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where is he now?” cried Peter. +</p> + +<p> +“He is still in the sanatorium at Tafelberg. In room twenty-seven. The +other promised to return for him and take him to Lustadt, but when I left +Tafelberg he had not yet done so, and if you hasten you may reach there before +they take him away, and if there be any reward for my loyalty to you, prince, +my name is Ferrath.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ride with us and if you have told the truth, fellow, there shall be a +reward and if not—then there shall be deserts,” and Peter of Blentz +wheeled his horse and with his company galloped on toward Tafelberg. +</p> + +<p> +As he rode he talked with his lieutenants Coblich, Maenck, and Stein, and among +them it was decided that it would be best that Peter stop at Blentz for the +night while the others rode on to Tafelberg. +</p> + +<p> +“Do not bring Leopold to Blentz,” directed Peter, “for if it +be he who lies at Tafelberg and they find him gone it will be toward Blentz +that they will first look. Take him—” +</p> + +<p> +The Regent leaned from his saddle so that his mouth was close to the ear of +Coblich, that none of the troopers might hear. +</p> + +<p> +Coblich nodded his head. +</p> + +<p> +“And, Coblich, the fewer that ride to Tafelberg tonight the surer the +success of the mission. Take Maenck, Stein and one other with you. I shall keep +this man with me, for it may prove but a plot to lure me to Tafelberg.” +</p> + +<p> +Peter scowled at the now frightened hospital attendant. +</p> + +<p> +“Tomorrow I shall be riding through the lowlands, Coblich, and so you may +not find means to communicate with me, but before noon of the fifth have word +at your town house in Lustadt for me of the success of your venture.” +</p> + +<p> +They had reached the point now where the road to Tafelberg branches from that +to Blentz, and the four who were to fetch the king wheeled their horses into +the left-hand fork and cantered off upon their mission. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +The direct road between Lustadt and Tafelberg is but little more than half the +distance of that which Coblich and his companions had to traverse because of +the wide detour they had made by riding almost to Blentz first, and so it was +that when they cantered into the little mountain town near midnight Barney +Custer and Lieutenant Butzow were but a mile or two behind them. +</p> + +<p> +Had the latter had even the faintest of suspicions that the identity of the +hiding place of the king might come to the knowledge of Peter of Blentz they +could have reached Tafelberg ahead of Coblich and his party, but all +unsuspecting they rode slowly to conserve the energy of their mounts for the +return trip. +</p> + +<p> +In silence the two men approached the grounds surrounding the sanatorium. In +the soft dirt of the road the hoofs of their mounts made no sound, and the +shadows of the trees that border the front of the enclosure hid them from the +view of the trooper who held four riderless horses in a little patch of +moonlight that broke through the opening in the trees at the main gate of the +institution. +</p> + +<p> +Barney was the first to see the animals and the man. +</p> + +<p> +“S-s-st,” he hissed, reining in his horse. +</p> + +<p> +Butzow drew alongside the American. +</p> + +<p> +“What can it mean?” asked Barney. “That fellow is a trooper, +but I cannot make out his uniform.” +</p> + +<p> +“Wait here,” said Butzow, and slipping from his horse he crept +closer to the man, hugging the dense shadows close to the trees. +</p> + +<p> +Barney reined in nearer the low wall. From his saddle he could see the grounds +beyond through the branches of a tree. As he looked his attention was suddenly +riveted upon a sight that sent his heart into his throat. +</p> + +<p> +Three men were dragging a struggling, half-naked figure down the gravel walk +from the sanatorium toward the gate. One kept a hand clapped across the mouth +of the prisoner, who struck and fought his assailants with all the frenzy of +despair. +</p> + +<p> +Barney leaped from his saddle and ran headlong after Butzow. The lieutenant had +reached the gate but an instant ahead of him when the trooper, turning suddenly +at some slight sound of the officer’s foot upon the ground, detected the +man creeping upon him. In an instant the fellow had whipped out a revolver, and +raising it fired point-blank at Butzow’s chest; but in the same instant a +figure shot out of the shadows beside him, and with the report of the revolver +a heavy fist caught the trooper on the side of the chin, crumpling him to the +ground as if he were dead. +</p> + +<p> +The blow had been in time to deflect the muzzle of the firearm, and the bullet +whistled harmlessly past the lieutenant. +</p> + +<p> +“Your majesty!” exclaimed Butzow excitedly. “Go back. He +might have killed you.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney leaped to the other’s side and grasping him by the shoulders +wheeled him about so that he faced the gate. +</p> + +<p> +“There, Butzow,” he cried, “there is your king, and from the +looks of it he never needed a loyal subject more than he does this moment. +Come!” Without waiting to see if the other followed him, Barney Custer +leaped through the gate full in the faces of the astonished trio that was +dragging Leopold of Lutha from his sanctuary. +</p> + +<p> +At sight of the American the king gave a muffled cry of relief, and then Barney +was upon those who held him. A stinging uppercut lifted Coblich clear of the +ground to drop him, dazed and bewildered, at the foot of the monarch he had +outraged. Maenck drew a revolver only to have it struck from his hand by the +sword of Butzow, who had followed closely upon the American’s heels. +</p> + +<p> +Barney, seizing the king by the arm, started on a run for the gateway. In his +wake came Butzow with a drawn sword beating back Stein, who was armed with a +cavalry saber, and Maenck who had now drawn his own sword. +</p> + +<p> +The American saw that the two were pressing Butzow much too closely for safety +and that Coblich had now recovered from the effects of the blow and was in +pursuit, drawing his saber as he ran. Barney thrust the king behind him and +turned to face the enemy, at Butzow’s side. +</p> + +<p> +The three men rushed upon the two who stood between them and their prey. The +moonlight was now full in the faces of Butzow and the American. For the first +time Maenck and the others saw who it was that had interrupted them. +</p> + +<p> +“The impostor!” cried the governor of Blentz. “The false +king!” +</p> + +<p> +Imbued with temporary courage by the knowledge that his side had the advantage +of superior numbers he launched himself full upon the American. To his surprise +he met a sword-arm that none might have expected in an American, for Barney +Custer had been a pupil of the redoubtable Colonel Monstery, who was, as Barney +was wont to say, “one of the thanwhomest of fencing masters.” +</p> + +<p> +Quickly Maenck fell back to give place to Stein, but not before the +American’s point had found him twice to leave him streaming blood from +two deep flesh wounds. +</p> + +<p> +Neither of those who fought in the service of the king saw the trembling, +weak-kneed figure, which had stood behind them, turn and scurry through the +gateway, leaving the men who battled for him to their fate. +</p> + +<p> +The trooper whom Barney had felled had regained consciousness and as he came to +his feet rubbing his swollen jaw he saw a disheveled, half-dressed figure +running toward him from the sanatorium grounds. The fellow was no fool, and +knowing the purpose of the expedition as he did he was quick to jump to the +conclusion that this fleeing personification of abject terror was Leopold of +Lutha; and so it was that as the king emerged from the gateway in search of +freedom he ran straight into the widespread arms of the trooper. +</p> + +<p> +Maenck and Coblich had seen the king’s break for liberty, and the latter +maneuvered to get himself between Butzow and the open gate that he might follow +after the fleeing monarch. +</p> + +<p> +At the same instant Maenck, seeing that Stein was being worsted by the +American, rushed in upon the latter, and thus relieved, the rat-faced doctor +was enabled to swing a heavy cut at Barney which struck him a glancing blow +upon the head, sending him stunned and bleeding to the sward. +</p> + +<p> +Coblich and the governor of Blentz hastened toward the gate, pausing for an +instant to overwhelm Butzow. In the fierce scrimmage that followed the +lieutenant was overthrown, though not before his sword had passed through the +heart of the rat-faced one. Deserting their fallen comrade the two dashed +through the gate, where to their immense relief they found Leopold safe in the +hands of the trooper. +</p> + +<p> +An instant later the precious trio, with Leopold upon the horse of the late Dr. +Stein, were galloping swiftly into the darkness of the wood that lies at the +outskirts of Tafelberg. +</p> + +<p> +When Barney regained consciousness he found himself upon a cot within the +sanatorium. Close beside him lay Butzow, and above them stood an interne and +several nurses. No sooner had the American regained his scattered wits than he +leaped to the floor. The interne and the nurses tried to force him back upon +the cot, thinking that he was in the throes of a delirium, and it required his +best efforts to convince them that he was quite rational. +</p> + +<p> +During the melee Butzow regained consciousness; his wound being as superficial +as that of the American, the two men were soon donning their clothing, and, +half-dressed, rushing toward the outer gate. +</p> + +<p> +The interne had told them that when he had reached the scene of the conflict in +company with the gardener he had found them and another lying upon the sward. +</p> + +<p> +Their companion, he said, was quite dead. +</p> + +<p> +“That must have been Stein,” said Butzow. “And the others had +escaped with the king!” +</p> + +<p> +“The king?” cried the interne. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, the king, man—Leopold of Lutha. Did you not know that he who +has lain here for three weeks was the king?” replied Butzow. +</p> + +<p> +The interne accompanied them to the gate and beyond, but everywhere was +silence. The king was gone. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap10"></a>X.<br /> +ON THE BATTLEFIELD</h2> + +<p> +All that night and the following day Barney Custer and his aide rode in search +of the missing king. +</p> + +<p> +They came to Blentz, and there Butzow rode boldly into the great court, +admitted by virtue of the fact that the guard upon the gate knew him only as an +officer of the royal guard whom they believed still loyal to Peter of Blentz. +</p> + +<p> +The lieutenant learned that the king was not there, nor had he been since his +escape. He also learned that Peter was abroad in the lowland recruiting +followers to aid him forcibly to regain the crown of Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +The lieutenant did not wait to hear more, but, hurrying from the castle, rode +to Barney where the latter had remained in hiding in the wood below the +moat—the same wood through which he had stumbled a few weeks previously +after his escape from the stagnant waters of the moat. +</p> + +<p> +“The king is not here,” said Butzow to him, as soon as the former +reached his side. “Peter is recruiting an army to aid him in seizing the +palace at Lustadt, and king or no king, we must ride for the capital in time to +check that move. Thank God,” he added, “that we shall have a king +to place upon the throne of Lutha at noon tomorrow in spite of all that Peter +can do.” +</p> + +<p> +“What do you mean?” asked Barney. “Have you any clue to the +whereabouts of Leopold?” +</p> + +<p> +“I saw the man at Tafelberg whom you say is king,” replied Butzow. +“I saw him tremble and whimper in the face of danger. I saw him run when +he might have seized something, even a stone, and fought at the sides of the +men who were come to rescue him. And I saw you there also. +</p> + +<p> +“The truth and the falsity of this whole strange business is beyond me, +but this I know: if you are not the king today I pray God that the other may +not find his way to Lustadt before noon tomorrow, for by then a brave man will +sit upon the throne of Lutha, your majesty.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney laid his hand upon the shoulder of the other. +</p> + +<p> +“It cannot be, my friend,” he said. “There is more than a +throne at stake for me, but to win them both I could not do the thing you +suggest. If Leopold of Lutha lives he must be crowned tomorrow.” +</p> + +<p> +“And if he does not live?” asked Butzow. +</p> + +<p> +Barney Custer shrugged his shoulders. +</p> + +<p> +It was dusk when the two entered the palace grounds in Lustadt. The sight of +Barney threw the servants and functionaries of the royal household into wild +excitement and confusion. Men ran hither and thither bearing the glad tidings +that the king had returned. +</p> + +<p> +Old von der Tann was announced within ten minutes after Barney reached his +apartments. He urged upon the American the necessity for greater caution in the +future. +</p> + +<p> +“Your majesty’s life is never safe while Peter of Blentz is abroad +in Lutha,” cried he. +</p> + +<p> +“It was to save your king from Peter that we rode from Lustadt last +night,” replied Barney, but the old prince did not catch the double +meaning of the words. +</p> + +<p> +While they talked a young officer of cavalry begged an audience. He had +important news for the king, he said. From him Barney learned that Peter of +Blentz had succeeded in recruiting a fair-sized army in the lowlands. Two +regiments of government infantry and a squadron of cavalry had united forces +with him, for there were those who still accepted him as regent, believing his +contention that the true king was dead, and that he whose coronation was to be +attempted was but the puppet of old Von der Tann. +</p> + +<p> +The morning of November 5 broke clear and cold. The old town of Lustadt was +awakened with a start at daybreak by the booming of cannon. Mounted messengers +galloped hither and thither through the steep, winding streets. Troops, foot +and horse, moved at the double from the barracks along the King’s Road to +the fortifications which guard the entrance to the city at the foot of +Margaretha Street. +</p> + +<p> +Upon the heights above the town Barney Custer and the old Prince von der Tann +stood surrounded by officers and aides watching the advance of a skirmish line +up the slopes toward Lustadt. Behind, the thin line columns of troops were +marching under cover of two batteries of field artillery that Peter of Blentz +had placed upon a wooden knoll to the southeast of the city. +</p> + +<p> +The guns upon the single fort that, overlooking the broad valley, guarded the +entire southern exposure of the city were answering the fire of Prince +Peter’s artillery, while several machine guns had been placed to sweep +the slope up which the skirmish line was advancing. +</p> + +<p> +The trees that masked the enemy’s pieces extended upward along the ridge +and the eastern edge of the city. Barney saw that a force of men might easily +reach a commanding position from that direction and enter Lustadt almost in +rear of the fortifications. Below him a squadron of the Royal Horse were just +emerging from their stables, taking their way toward the plain to join in a +concerted movement against the troops that were advancing toward the fort. +</p> + +<p> +He turned to an aide de camp standing just behind him. +</p> + +<p> +“Intercept that squadron and direct the major to move due east along the +King’s Road to the grove,” he commanded. “We will join him +there.” +</p> + +<p> +And as the officer spurred down the steep and narrow street the American, +followed by Von der Tann and his staff, wheeled and galloped eastward. +</p> + +<p> +Ten minutes later the party entered the wood at the edge of town, where the +squadron soon joined them. Von der Tann was mystified at the purpose of this +change in the position of the general staff, since from the wood they could see +nothing of the battle waging upon the slope. During his brief intercourse with +the man he thought king he had quite forgotten that there had been any question +as to the young man’s sanity, for he had given no indication of +possessing aught but a well-balanced mind. Now, however, he commenced to have +misgivings, if not of his sanity, then as to his judgment at least. +</p> + +<p> +“I fear, your majesty,” he ventured, “that we are putting +ourselves too much out of touch with the main body of the army. We can neither +see nor accomplish anything from this position.” +</p> + +<p> +“We were too far away to accomplish much upon the top of that +mountain,” replied Barney, “but we’re going to commence doing +things now. You will please to ride back along the King’s Road and take +direct command of the troops mobilized near the fort. +</p> + +<p> +“Direct the artillery to redouble their fire upon the enemy’s +battery for five minutes, and then to cease firing into the wood entirely. At +the same instant you may order a cautious advance against the troops advancing +up the slope. +</p> + +<p> +“When you see us emerge upon the west side of the grove where the +enemy’s guns are now, you may order a charge, and we will take them +simultaneously upon their right flank with a cavalry charge.” +</p> + +<p> +“But, your majesty,” exclaimed Von der Tann dubiously, “where +will you be in the mean time?” +</p> + +<p> +“We shall be with the major’s squadron, and when you see us +emerging from the grove, you will know that we have taken Peter’s guns +and that everything is over except the shouting.” +</p> + +<p> +“You are not going to accompany the charge!” cried the old prince. +</p> + +<p> +“We are going to lead it,” and the pseudo-king of Lutha wheeled his +mount as though to indicate that the time for talking was past. +</p> + +<p> +With a signal to the major commanding the squadron of Royal Horse, he moved +eastward into the wood. Prince Ludwig hesitated a moment as though to question +further the wisdom of the move, but finally with a shake of his head he trotted +off in the direction of the fort. +</p> + +<p> +Five minutes later the enemy were delighted to note that the fire upon their +concealed battery had suddenly ceased. +</p> + +<p> +Then Peter saw a force of foot-soldiers deploy from the city and advance slowly +in line of skirmishers down the slope to meet his own firing line. +</p> + +<p> +Immediately he did what Barney had expected that he would—turned the fire +of his artillery toward the southwest, directly away from the point from which +the American and the crack squadron were advancing. +</p> + +<p> +So it came that the cavalrymen crept through the woods upon the rear of the +guns, unseen; the noise of their advance was drowned by the detonation of the +cannon. +</p> + +<p> +The first that the artillerymen knew of the enemy in their rear was a shout of +warning from one of the powder-men at a caisson, who had caught a glimpse of +the grim line advancing through the trees at his rear. +</p> + +<p> +Instantly an effort was made to wheel several of the pieces about and train +them upon the advancing horsemen; but even had there been time, a shout that +rose from several of Peter’s artillerymen as the Royal Horse broke into +full view would doubtless have prevented the maneuver, for at sight of the +tall, bearded, young man who galloped in front of the now charging cavalrymen +there rose a shout of “The king! The king!” +</p> + +<p> +With the force of an avalanche the Royal Horse rode through those two batteries +of field artillery; and in the thick of the fight that followed rode the +American, a smile upon his face, for in his ears rang the wild shouts of his +troopers: “For the king! For the king!” +</p> + +<p> +In the moment that the enemy made their first determined stand a bullet brought +down the great bay upon which Barney rode. A dozen of Peter’s men rushed +forward to seize the man stumbling to his feet. As many more of the Royal Horse +closed around him, and there, for five minutes, was waged as fierce a battle +for possession of a king as was ever fought. +</p> + +<p> +But already many of the artillerymen had deserted the guns that had not yet +been attacked, for the magic name of king had turned their blood to water. +Fifty or more raised a white flag and surrendered without striking a blow, and +when, at last, Barney and his little bodyguard fought their way through those +who surrounded them they found the balance of the field already won. +</p> + +<p> +Upon the slope below the city the loyal troops were advancing upon the enemy. +Old Prince Ludwig paced back and forth behind them, apparently oblivious to the +rain of bullets about him. Every moment he turned his eyes toward the wooded +ridge from which there now belched an almost continuous fusillade of shells +upon the advancing royalists. +</p> + +<p> +Quite suddenly the cannonading ceased and the old man halted in his tracks, his +gaze riveted upon the wood. For several minutes he saw no sign of what was +transpiring behind that screen of sere and yellow autumn leaves, and then a man +came running out, and after him another and another. +</p> + +<p> +The prince raised his field glasses to his eyes. He almost cried aloud in his +relief—the uniforms of the fugitives were those of artillerymen, and only +cavalry had accompanied the king. A moment later there appeared in the center +of his lenses a tall figure with a full beard. He rode, swinging his saber +above his head, and behind him at full gallop came a squadron of the Royal +Horse. +</p> + +<p> +Old von der Tann could restrain himself no longer. +</p> + +<p> +“The king! The king!” he cried to those about him, pointing in the +direction of the wood. +</p> + +<p> +The officers gathered there and the soldiery before him heard and took up the +cry, and then from the old man’s lips came the command, +“Charge!” and a thousand men tore down the slopes of Lustadt upon +the forces of Peter of Blentz, while from the east the king charged their right +flank at the head of the Royal Horse. +</p> + +<p> +Peter of Blentz saw that the day was lost, for the troops upon the right were +crumpling before the false king while he and his cavalrymen were yet a half +mile distant. Before the retreat could become a rout the prince regent ordered +his forces to fall back slowly upon a suburb that lies in the valley below the +city. +</p> + +<p> +Once safely there he raised a white flag, asking a conference with Prince +Ludwig. +</p> + +<p> +“Your majesty,” said the old man, “what answer shall we send +the traitor who even now ignores the presence of his king?” +</p> + +<p> +“Treat with him,” replied the American. “He may be honest +enough in his belief that I am an impostor.” +</p> + +<p> +Von der Tann shrugged his shoulders, but did as Barney bid, and for half an +hour the young man waited with Butzow while Von der Tann and Peter met halfway +between the forces for their conference. +</p> + +<p> +A dozen members of the most powerful of the older nobility accompanied Ludwig. +When they returned their faces were a picture of puzzled bewilderment. With +them were several officers, soldiers and civilians from Peter’s +contingency. +</p> + +<p> +“What said he?” asked Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“He said, your majesty,” replied Von der Tann, “that he is +confident you are not the king, and that these men he has sent with me knew the +king well at Blentz. As proof that you are not the king he has offered the +evidence of your own denials—made not only to his officers and soldiers, +but to the man who is now your loyal lieutenant, Butzow, and to the Princess +Emma von der Tann, my daughter. +</p> + +<p> +“He insists that he is fighting for the welfare of Lutha, while we are +traitors, attempting to seat an impostor upon the throne of the dead Leopold. I +will admit that we are at a loss, your majesty, to know where lies the truth +and where the falsity in this matter. +</p> + +<p> +“We seek only to serve our country and our king but there are those among +us who, to be entirely frank, are not yet convinced that you are Leopold. The +result of the conference may not, then, meet with the hearty approval of your +majesty.” +</p> + +<p> +“What was the result?” asked Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“It was decided that all hostilities cease, and that Prince Peter be +given an opportunity to establish the validity of his claim that your majesty +is an impostor. If he is able to do so to the entire satisfaction of a majority +of the old nobility, we have agreed to support him in a return to his +regency.” +</p> + +<p> +For a moment there was deep silence. Many of the nobles stood with averted +faces and eyes upon the ground. +</p> + +<p> +The American, a half-smile upon his face, turned toward the men of Peter who +had come to denounce him. He knew what their verdict would be. He knew that if +he were to save the throne for Leopold he must hold it at any cost until +Leopold should be found. +</p> + +<p> +Troopers were scouring the country about Lustadt as far as Blentz in search of +Maenck and Coblich. Could they locate these two and arrest them “with all +found in their company,” as his order read, he felt sure that he would be +able to deliver the missing king to his subjects in time for the coronation at +noon. +</p> + +<p> +Barney looked straight into the eyes of old Von der Tann. +</p> + +<p> +“You have given us the opinion of others, Prince Ludwig,” he said. +“Now you may tell us your own views of the matter.” +</p> + +<p> +“I shall have to abide by the decision of the majority,” replied +the old man. “But I have seen your majesty under fire, and if you are not +the king, for Lutha’s sake you ought to be.” +</p> + +<p> +“He is not Leopold,” said one of the officers who had accompanied +the prince from Peter’s camp. “I was governor of Blentz for three +years and as familiar with the king’s face as with that of my own +brother.” +</p> + +<p> +“No,” cried several of the others, “this man is not the +king.” +</p> + +<p> +Several of the nobles drew away from Barney. Others looked at him +questioningly. +</p> + +<p> +Butzow stepped close to his side, and it was noticeable that the troopers, and +even the officers, of the Royal Horse which Barney had led in the charge upon +the two batteries in the wood, pressed a little closer to the American. This +fact did not escape Butzow’s notice. +</p> + +<p> +“If you are content to take the word of the servants of a traitor and a +would-be regicide,” he cried, “I am not. There has been no proof +advanced that this man is not the king. In so far as I am concerned he is the +king, nor ever do I expect to serve another more worthy of the title. +</p> + +<p> +“If Peter of Blentz has real proof—not the testimony of his own +faction—that Leopold of Lutha is dead, let him bring it forward before +noon today, for at noon we shall crown a king in the cathedral at Lustadt, and +I for one pray to God that it may be he who has led us in battle today.” +</p> + +<p> +A shout of applause rose from the Royal Horse, and from the foot-soldiers who +had seen the king charge across the plain, scattering the enemy before him. +</p> + +<p> +Barney, appreciating the advantage in the sudden turn affairs had taken +following Butzow’s words, swung to his saddle. +</p> + +<p> +“Until Peter of Blentz brings to Lustadt one with a better claim to the +throne,” he said, “we shall continue to rule Lutha, nor shall other +than Leopold be crowned her king. We approve of the amnesty you have granted, +Prince Ludwig, and Peter of Blentz is free to enter Lustadt, as he will, so +long as he does not plot against the true king. +</p> + +<p> +“Major,” he added, turning to the commander of the squadron at his +back, “we are returning to the palace. Your squadron will escort us, +remaining on guard there about the grounds. Prince Ludwig, you will see that +machine guns are placed about the palace and commanding the approaches to the +cathedral.” +</p> + +<p> +With a nod to the cavalry major he wheeled his horse and trotted up the slope +toward Lustadt. +</p> + +<p> +With a grim smile Prince Ludwig von der Tann mounted his horse and rode toward +the fort. At his side were several of the nobles of Lutha. They looked at him +in astonishment. +</p> + +<p> +“You are doing his bidding, although you do not know that he is the true +king?” asked one of them. +</p> + +<p> +“Were he an impostor,” replied the old man, “he would have +insisted by word of mouth that he is king. But not once has he said that he is +Leopold. Instead, he has proved his kingship by his acts.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap11"></a>XI.<br /> +A TIMELY INTERVENTION</h2> + +<p> +Nine o’clock found Barney Custer pacing up and down his apartments in the +palace. No clue as to the whereabouts of Coblich, Maenck or the king had been +discovered. One by one his troopers had returned to Butzow empty-handed, and as +much at a loss as to the hiding-place of their quarry as when they had set out +upon their search. +</p> + +<p> +Peter of Blentz and his retainers had entered the city and already had +commenced to gather at the cathedral. +</p> + +<p> +Peter, at the residence of Coblich, had succeeded in gathering about him many +of the older nobility whom he pledged to support him in case he could prove to +them that the man who occupied the royal palace was not Leopold of Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +They agreed to support him in his regency if he produced proof that the true +Leopold was dead, and Peter of Blentz waited with growing anxiety the coming of +Coblich with word that he had the king in custody. Peter was staking all on a +single daring move which he had decided to make in his game of intrigue. +</p> + +<p> +As Barney paced within the palace, waiting for word that Leopold had been +found, Peter of Blentz was filled with equal apprehension as he, too, waited +for the same tidings. At last he heard the pound of hoofs upon the pavement +without and a moment later Coblich, his clothing streaked with dirt, blood +caked upon his face from a wound across the forehead, rushed into the presence +of the prince regent. +</p> + +<p> +Peter drew him hurriedly into a small study on the first floor. +</p> + +<p> +“Well?” he whispered, as the two faced each other. +</p> + +<p> +“We have him,” replied Coblich. “But we had the devil’s +own time getting him. Stein was killed and Maenck and I both wounded, and all +morning we have spent the time hiding from troopers who seemed to be searching +for us. Only fifteen minutes since did we reach the hiding-place that you +instructed us to use. But we have him, your highness, and he is in such a state +of cowardly terror that he is ready to agree to anything, if you will but spare +his life and set him free across the border.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is too late for that now, Coblich,” replied Peter. “There +is but one way that Leopold of Lutha can serve me now, and that is—dead. +Were his corpse to be carried into the cathedral of Lustadt before noon today, +and were those who fetched it to swear that the king was killed by the impostor +after being dragged from the hospital at Tafelberg where you and Maenck had +located him, and from which you were attempting to rescue him, I believe that +the people would tear our enemies to pieces. What say you, Coblich?” +</p> + +<p> +The other stared at Peter of Blentz for several seconds while the atrocity of +his chief’s plan filtered through his brain. +</p> + +<p> +“My God!” he exclaimed at last. “You mean that you wish me to +murder Leopold with my own hands?” +</p> + +<p> +“You put it too crudely, my dear Coblich,” replied the other. +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot do it,” muttered Coblich. “I have never killed a +man in my life. I am getting old. No, I could never do it. I should not sleep +nights.” +</p> + +<p> +“If it is not done, Coblich, and Leopold comes into his own,” said +Peter slowly, “you will be caught and hanged higher than Haman. And if +you do not do it, and the impostor is crowned today, then you will be either +hanged officially or knifed unofficially, and without any choice in the matter +whatsoever. Nothing, Coblich, but the dead body of the true Leopold can save +your neck. You have your choice, therefore, of letting him live to prove your +treason, or letting him die and becoming chancellor of Lutha.” +</p> + +<p> +Slowly Coblich turned toward the door. “You are right,” he said, +“but may God have mercy on my soul. I never thought that I should have to +do it with my own hands.” +</p> + +<p> +So saying he left the room and a moment later Peter of Blentz smiled as he +heard the pounding of a horse’s hoofs upon the pavement without. +</p> + +<p> +Then the Regent entered the room he had recently quitted and spoke to the +nobles of Lutha who were gathered there. +</p> + +<p> +“Coblich has found the body of the murdered king,” he said. +“I have directed him to bring it to the cathedral. He came upon the +impostor and his confederate, Lieutenant Butzow, as they were bearing the +corpse from the hospital at Tafelberg where the king has lain unknown since the +rumor was spread by Von der Tann that he had been killed by bandits. +</p> + +<p> +“He was not killed until last evening, my lords, and you shall see today +the fresh wounds upon him. When the time comes that we can present this grisly +evidence of the guilt of the impostor and those who uphold him, I shall expect +you all to stand at my side, as you have promised.” +</p> + +<p> +With one accord the noblemen pledged anew their allegiance to Peter of Blentz +if he could produce one-quarter of the evidence he claimed to possess. +</p> + +<p> +“All that we wish to know positively is,” said one, “that the +man who bears the title of king today is really Leopold of Lutha, or that he is +not. If not then he stands convicted of treason, and we shall know how to +conduct ourselves.” +</p> + +<p> +Together the party rode to the cathedral, the majority of the older nobility +now openly espousing the cause of the Regent. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +At the palace Barney was about distracted. Butzow was urging him to take the +crown whether he was Leopold or not, for the young lieutenant saw no hope for +Lutha, if either the scoundrelly Regent or the cowardly man whom Barney had +assured him was the true king should come into power. +</p> + +<p> +It was eleven o’clock. In another hour Barney knew that he must have +found some new solution of his dilemma, for there seemed little probability +that the king would be located in the brief interval that remained before the +coronation. He wondered what they did to people who stole thrones. For a time +he figured his chances of reaching the border ahead of the enraged populace. +All had depended upon the finding of the king, and he had been so sure that it +could be accomplished in time, for Coblich and Maenck had had but a few hours +in which to conceal the monarch before the search was well under way. +</p> + +<p> +Armed with the king’s warrants, his troopers had ridden through the +country, searching houses, and questioning all whom they met. Patrols had +guarded every road that the fugitives might take either to Lustadt, Blentz, or +the border; but no king had been found and no trace of his abductors. +</p> + +<p> +Prince von der Tann, Barney was convinced, was on the point of deserting him, +and going over to the other side. It was true that the old man had carried out +his instructions relative to the placing of the machine guns; but they might be +used as well against him, where they stood, as for him. +</p> + +<p> +From his window he could see the broad avenue which passes before the royal +palace of Lutha. It was crowded with throngs moving toward the cathedral. +Presently there came a knock upon the closed door of his chamber. +</p> + +<p> +At his “Enter” a functionary announced: “His Royal Highness +Ludwig, Prince von der Tann!” +</p> + +<p> +The old man was much perturbed at the rumors he had heard relative to the +assassination of the true Leopold. Soldier-like, he blurted out his suspicions +and his ultimatum. +</p> + +<p> +“None but the royal blood of Rubinroth may reign in Lutha while there be +a Rubinroth left to reign and old Von der Tann lives,” he cried in +conclusion. +</p> + +<p> +At the name “Rubinroth” Barney started. It was his mother’s +name. Suddenly the truth flashed upon him. He understood now the reticence of +both his father and mother relative to her early life. +</p> + +<p> +“Prince Ludwig,” said the young man earnestly, “I have only +the good of Lutha in my heart. For three weeks I have labored and risked death +a hundred times to place the legitimate heir to the crown of Lutha upon his +throne. I—” +</p> + +<p> +He hesitated, not knowing just how to commence the confession he was determined +to make, though he was positive that it would place Peter of Blentz upon the +throne, since the old prince had promised to support the Regent could it be +proved that Barney was an impostor. +</p> + +<p> +“I,” he started again, and then there came an interruption at the +door. +</p> + +<p> +“A messenger, your majesty,” announced the doorman, “who says +that he must have audience at once upon a matter of life and death to the +king.” +</p> + +<p> +“We will see him in the ante-chamber,” replied Barney, moving +toward the door. “Await us here, Prince Ludwig.” +</p> + +<p> +A moment later he re-entered the apartment. There was an expression of renewed +hope upon his face. +</p> + +<p> +“As we were about to remark, my dear prince,” he said, “I +swear that the royal blood of the Rubinroths flows in my veins, and as God is +my judge, none other than the true Leopold of Lutha shall be crowned today. And +now we must prepare for the coronation. If there be trouble in the cathedral, +Prince Ludwig, we look to your sword in protection of the king.” +</p> + +<p> +“When I am with you, sire,” said Von der Tann, “I know that +you are king. When I saw how you led the troops in battle, I prayed that there +could be no mistake. God give that I am right. But God help you if you are +playing with old Ludwig von der Tann.” +</p> + +<p> +When the old man had left the apartment Barney summoned an aide and sent for +Butzow. Then he hurried to the bath that adjoined the apartment, and when the +lieutenant of horse was announced Barney called through a soapy lather for his +confederate to enter. +</p> + +<p> +“What are you doing, sire?” cried Butzow in amazement. +</p> + +<p> +“Cut out the ‘sire,’ old man,” shouted Barney Custer of +Beatrice. “this is the fifth of November and I am shaving off this +alfalfa. The king is found!” +</p> + +<p> +“What?” cried Butzow, and upon his face there was little to +indicate the rejoicing that a loyal subject of Leopold of Lutha should have +felt at that announcement. +</p> + +<p> +“There is a man in the next room,” went on Barney, “who can +lead us to the spot where Coblich and Maenck guard the king. Get him in +here.” +</p> + +<p> +Butzow hastened to comply with the American’s instructions, and a moment +later returned to the apartment with the old shopkeeper of Tafelberg. +</p> + +<p> +As Barney shaved he issued directions to the two. Within the room to the east, +he said, there were the king’s coronation robes, and in a smaller +dressingroom beyond they would find a long gray cloak. +</p> + +<p> +They were to wrap all these in a bundle which the old shopkeeper was to carry. +</p> + +<p> +“And, Butzow,” added Barney, “look to my revolvers and your +own, and lay my sword out as well. The chances are that we shall have to use +them before we are ten minutes older.” +</p> + +<p> +In an incredibly short space of time the young man emerged from the bath, his +luxuriant beard gone forever, he hoped. Butzow looked at him with a smile. +</p> + +<p> +“I must say that the beard did not add greatly to your majesty’s +good looks,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +“Never mind the bouquets, old man,” cried Barney, cramming his arms +into the sleeves of his khaki jacket and buckling sword and revolver about him, +as he hurried toward a small door that opened upon the opposite side of the +apartment to that through which his visitors had been conducted. +</p> + +<p> +Together the three hastened through a narrow, little-used corridor and down a +flight of well-worn stone steps to a door that let upon the rear court of the +palace. +</p> + +<p> +There were grooms and servants there, and soldiers too, who saluted Butzow, +according the old shopkeeper and the smooth-faced young stranger only cursory +glances. It was evident that without his beard it was not likely that Barney +would be again mistaken for the king. +</p> + +<p> +At the stables Butzow requisitioned three horses, and soon the trio was +galloping through a little-frequented street toward the northern, hilly +environs of Lustadt. They rode in silence until they came to an old stone +building, whose boarded windows and general appearance of dilapidation +proclaimed its long tenantless condition. Rank weeds, now rustling dry and +yellow in the November wind, choked what once might have been a luxuriant +garden. A stone wall, which had at one time entirely surrounded the grounds, +had been almost completely removed from the front to serve as foundation stone +for a smaller edifice farther down the mountainside. +</p> + +<p> +The horsemen avoided this break in the wall, coming up instead upon the rear +side where their approach was wholly screened from the building by the wall +upon that exposure. +</p> + +<p> +Close in they dismounted, and leaving the animals in charge of the shopkeeper +of Tafelberg, Barney and Butzow hastened toward a small postern-gate which +swung, groaning, upon a single rusted hinge. Each felt that there was no time +for caution or stratagem. Instead all depended upon the very boldness and +rashness of their attack, and so as they came through into the courtyard the +two dashed headlong for the building. +</p> + +<p> +Chance accomplished for them what no amount of careful execution might have +done, and they came within the ruin unnoticed by the four who occupied the old, +darkened library. +</p> + +<p> +Possibly the fact that one of the men had himself just entered and was +excitedly talking to the others may have drowned the noisy approach of the two. +However that may be, it is a fact that Barney and the cavalry officer came to +the very door of the library unheard. +</p> + +<p> +There they halted, listening. Coblich was speaking. +</p> + +<p> +“The Regent commands it, Maenck,” he was saying. “It is the +only thing that can save our necks. He said that you had better be the one to +do it, since it was your carelessness that permitted the fellow to escape from +Blentz.” +</p> + +<p> +Huddled in a far corner of the room was an abject figure trembling in terror. +At the words of Coblich it staggered to its feet. It was the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Have pity—have pity!” he cried. “Do not kill me, and I +will go away where none will ever know that I live. You can tell Peter that I +am dead. Tell him anything, only spare my life. Oh, why did I ever listen to +the cursed fool who tempted me to think of regaining the crown that has brought +me only misery and suffering—the crown that has now placed the sentence +of death upon me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why not let him go?” suggested the trooper, who up to this time +had not spoken. “If we don’t kill him, we can’t be hanged for +his murder.” +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t be too sure of that,” exclaimed Maenck. “If he +goes away and never returns, what proof can we offer that we did not kill him, +should we be charged with the crime? And if we let him go, and later he returns +and gains his throne, he will see that we are hanged anyway for treason. +</p> + +<p> +“The safest thing to do is to put him where he at least cannot come back +to threaten us, and having done so upon the orders of Peter, let the +king’s blood be upon Peter’s head. I, at least, shall obey my +master, and let you two bear witness that I did the thing with my own +hand.” So saying he drew his sword and crossed toward the king. +</p> + +<p> +But Captain Ernst Maenck never reached his sovereign. +</p> + +<p> +As the terrified shriek of the sorry monarch rang through the interior of the +desolate ruin another sound mingled with it, half-drowning the piercing wail of +terror. +</p> + +<p> +It was the sharp crack of a revolver, and even as it spoke Maenck lunged +awkwardly forward, stumbled, and collapsed at Leopold’s feet. With a moan +the king shrank back from the grisly thing that touched his boot, and then two +men were in the center of the room, and things were happening with a rapidity +that was bewildering. +</p> + +<p> +About all that he could afterward recall with any distinctness was the +terrified face of Coblich, as he rushed past him toward a door in the opposite +side of the room, and the horrid leer upon the face of the dead trooper, who +foolishly, had made a move to draw his revolver. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +Within the cathedral at Lustadt excitement was at fever heat. It lacked but two +minutes of noon, and as yet no king had come to claim the crown. Rumors were +running riot through the close-packed audience. +</p> + +<p> +One man had heard the king’s chamberlain report to Prince von der Tann +that the master of ceremonies had found the king’s apartments vacant when +he had gone to urge the monarch to hasten his preparations for the coronation. +</p> + +<p> +Another had seen Butzow and two strangers galloping north through the city. A +third told of a little old man who had come to the king with an urgent message. +</p> + +<p> +Peter of Blentz and Prince Ludwig were talking in whispers at the foot of the +chancel steps. Peter ascended the steps and facing the assemblage raised a +silencing hand. +</p> + +<p> +“He who claimed to be Leopold of Lutha,” he said, “was but a +mad adventurer. He would have seized the throne of the Rubinroths had his nerve +not failed him at the last moment. He has fled. The true king is dead. Now I, +Prince Regent of Lutha, declare the throne vacant, and announce myself +king!” +</p> + +<p> +There were a few scattered cheers and some hissing. A score of the nobles rose +as though to protest, but before any could take a step the attention of all was +directed toward the sorry figure of a white-faced man who scurried up the broad +center aisle. +</p> + +<p> +It was Coblich. +</p> + +<p> +He ran to Peter’s side, and though he attempted to speak in a whisper, so +out of breath, and so filled with hysterical terror was he that his words came +out in gasps that were audible to many of those who stood near by. +</p> + +<p> +“Maenck is dead,” he cried. “The impostor has stolen the +king.” +</p> + +<p> +Peter of Blentz went white as his lieutenant. Von der Tann heard and demanded +an explanation. +</p> + +<p> +“You said that Leopold was dead,” he said accusingly. +</p> + +<p> +Peter regained his self-control quickly. +</p> + +<p> +“Coblich is excited,” he explained. “He means that the +impostor has stolen the body of the king that Coblich and Maenck had discovered +and were bringing to Lustadt.” +</p> + +<p> +Von der Tann looked troubled. +</p> + +<p> +He knew not what to make of the series of wild tales that had come to his ears +within the past hour. He had hoped that the young man whom he had last seen in +the king’s apartments was the true Leopold. He would have been glad to +have served such a one, but there had been many inexplicable occurrences which +tended to cast a doubt upon the man’s claims—and yet, had he ever +claimed to be the king? It suddenly occurred to the old prince that he had not. +On the contrary he had repeatedly stated to Prince Ludwig’s daughter and +to Lieutenant Butzow that he was not Leopold. +</p> + +<p> +It seemed that they had all been so anxious to believe him king that they had +forced the false position upon him, and now if he had indeed committed the +atrocity that Coblich charged against him, who could wonder? With less +provocation men had before attempted to seize thrones by more dastardly means. +</p> + +<p> +Peter of Blentz was speaking. +</p> + +<p> +“Let the coronation proceed,” he cried, “that Lutha may have +a true king to frustrate the plans of the impostor and the traitors who had +supported him.” +</p> + +<p> +He cast a meaning glance at Prince von der Tann. +</p> + +<p> +There were many cries for Peter of Blentz. “Let’s have done with +treason, and place upon the throne of Lutha one whom we know to be both a +Luthanian and sane. Down with the mad king! Down with the impostor!” +</p> + +<p> +Peter turned to ascend the chancel steps. +</p> + +<p> +Von der Tann still hesitated. Below him upon one side of the aisle were massed +his own retainers. Opposite them were the men of the Regent, and dividing the +two the parallel ranks of Horse Guards stretched from the chancel down the +broad aisle to the great doors. These were strongly for the impostor, if +impostor he was, who had led them to victory over the men of the Blentz +faction. +</p> + +<p> +Von der Tann knew that they would fight to the last ditch for their hero should +he come to claim the crown. Yet how would they fight—to which side would +they cleave, were he to attempt to frustrate the design of the Regent to seize +the throne of Lutha? +</p> + +<p> +Already Peter of Blentz had approached the bishop, who, eager to propitiate +whoever seemed most likely to become king, gave the signal for the procession +that was to mark the solemn bearing of the crown of Lutha up the aisle to the +chancel. +</p> + +<p> +Outside the cathedral there was the sudden blare of trumpets. The great doors +swung violently open, and the entire throng were upon their feet in an instant +as a trooper of the Royal Horse shouted: “The king! The king! Make way +for Leopold of Lutha!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap12"></a>XII.<br /> +THE GRATITUDE OF A KING</h2> + +<p> +At the cry silence fell upon the throng. Every head was turned toward the great +doors through which the head of a procession was just visible. It was a grim +looking procession—the head of it, at least. +</p> + +<p> +There were four khaki-clad trumpeters from the Royal Horse Guards, the gay and +resplendent uniforms which they should have donned today conspicuous for their +absence. From their brazen bugles sounded another loud fanfare, and then they +separated, two upon each side of the aisle, and between them marched three men. +</p> + +<p> +One was tall, with gray eyes and had a reddish-brown beard. He was fully +clothed in the coronation robes of Leopold. Upon his either hand walked the +others—Lieutenant Butzow and a gray-eyed, smooth-faced, square-jawed +stranger. +</p> + +<p> +Behind them marched the balance of the Royal Horse Guards that were not already +on duty within the cathedral. As the eyes of the multitude fell upon the man in +the coronation robes there were cries of: “The king! Impostor!” and +“Von der Tann’s puppet!” +</p> + +<p> +“Denounce him!” whispered one of Peter’s henchmen in his +master’s ear. +</p> + +<p> +The Regent moved closer to the aisle, that he might meet the impostor at the +foot of the chancel steps. The procession was moving steadily up the aisle. +</p> + +<p> +Among the clan of Von der Tann a young girl with wide eyes was bending forward +that she might have a better look at the face of the king. As he came opposite +her her eyes filled with horror, and then she saw the eyes of the smooth-faced +stranger at the king’s side. They were brave, laughing eyes, and as they +looked straight into her own the truth flashed upon her, and the girl gave a +gasp of dismay as she realized that the king of Lutha and the king of her heart +were not one and the same. +</p> + +<p> +At last the head of the procession was almost at the foot of the chancel steps. +There were murmurs of: “It is not the king,” and “Who is this +new impostor?” +</p> + +<p> +Leopold’s eyes were searching the faces of the close-packed nobility +about the chancel. At last they fell upon the face of Peter. The young man +halted not two paces from the Regent. The man went white as the king’s +eyes bored straight into his miserable soul. +</p> + +<p> +“Peter of Blentz,” cried the young man, “as God is your +judge, tell the truth today. Who am I?” +</p> + +<p> +The legs of the Prince Regent trembled. He sank upon his knees, raising his +hands in supplication toward the other. “Have pity on me, your majesty, +have pity!” he cried. +</p> + +<p> +“Who am I, man?” insisted the king. +</p> + +<p> +“You are Leopold Rubinroth, sire, by the grace of God, king of +Lutha,” cried the frightened man. “Have mercy on an old man, your +majesty.” +</p> + +<p> +“Wait! Am I mad? Was I ever mad?” +</p> + +<p> +“As God is my judge, sire, no!” replied Peter of Blentz. +</p> + +<p> +Leopold turned to Butzow. +</p> + +<p> +“Remove the traitor from our presence,” he commanded, and at a word +from the lieutenant a dozen guardsmen seized the trembling man and hustled him +from the cathedral amid hisses and execrations. +</p> + +<p> +Following the coronation the king was closeted in his private audience chamber +in the palace with Prince Ludwig. +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot understand what has happened, even now, your majesty,” +the old man was saying. “That you are the true Leopold is all that I am +positive of, for the discomfiture of Prince Peter evidenced that fact all too +plainly. But who the impostor was who ruled Lutha in your name for two days, +disappearing as miraculously as he came, I cannot guess. +</p> + +<p> +“But for another miracle which preserved you for us in the nick of time +he might now be wearing the crown of Lutha in your stead. Having Peter of +Blentz safely in custody our next immediate task should be to hunt down the +impostor and bring him to justice also; though”—and the old prince +sighed—“he was indeed a brave man, and a noble figure of a king as +he led your troops to battle.” +</p> + +<p> +The king had been smiling as Von der Tann first spoke of the +“impostor,” but at the old man’s praise of the other’s +bravery a slight flush tinged his cheek, and the shadow of a scowl crossed his +brow. +</p> + +<p> +“Wait,” he said, “we shall not have to look far for your +‘impostor,’” and summoning an aide he dispatched him for +“Lieutenant Butzow and Mr. Custer.” +</p> + +<p> +A moment later the two entered the audience chamber. Barney found that Leopold +the king, surrounded by comforts and safety, was a very different person from +Leopold the fugitive. The weak face now wore an expression of arrogance, though +the king spoke most graciously to the American. +</p> + +<p> +“Here, Von der Tann,” said Leopold, “is your +‘impostor.’ But for him I should doubtless be dead by now, or once +again a prisoner at Blentz.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney and Butzow found it necessary to repeat their stories several times +before the old man could fully grasp all that had transpired beneath his very +nose without his being aware of scarce a single detail of it. +</p> + +<p> +When he was finally convinced that they were telling the truth, he extended his +hand to the American. +</p> + +<p> +“I knelt to you once, young man,” he said, “and kissed your +hand. I should be filled with bitterness and rage toward you. On the contrary, +I find that I am proud to have served in the retinue of such an impostor as +you, for you upheld the prestige of the house of Rubinroth upon the +battlefield, and though you might have had a crown, you refused it and brought +the true king into his own.” +</p> + +<p> +Leopold sat tapping his foot upon the carpet. It was all very well if he, the +king, chose to praise the American, but there was no need for old von der Tann +to slop over so. The king did not like it. As a matter of fact, he found +himself becoming very jealous of the man who had placed him upon his throne. +</p> + +<p> +“There is only one thing that I can harbor against you,” continued +Prince Ludwig, “and that is that in a single instance you deceived me, +for an hour before the coronation you told me that you were a Rubinroth.” +</p> + +<p> +“I told you, prince,” corrected Barney, “that the royal blood +of Rubinroth flowed in my veins, and so it does. I am the son of the runaway +Princess Victoria of Lutha.” +</p> + +<p> +Both Leopold and Ludwig looked their surprise, and to the king’s eyes +came a sudden look of fear. With the royal blood in his veins, what was there +to prevent this popular hero from some day striving for the throne he had once +refused? Leopold knew that the minds of men were wont to change most +unaccountably. +</p> + +<p> +“Butzow,” he said suddenly to the lieutenant of horse, “how +many do you imagine know positively that he who has ruled Lutha for the past +two days and he who was crowned in the cathedral this noon are not one and the +same?” +</p> + +<p> +“Only a few besides those who are in this room, your majesty,” +replied Butzow. “Peter and Coblich have known it from the first, and then +there is Kramer, the loyal old shopkeeper of Tafelberg, who followed Coblich +and Maenck all night and half a day as they dragged the king to the +hiding-place where we found him. Other than these there may be those who guess +the truth, but there are none who know.” +</p> + +<p> +For a moment the king sat in thought. Then he rose and commenced pacing back +and forth the length of the apartment. +</p> + +<p> +“Why should they ever know?” he said at last, halting before the +three men who had been standing watching him. “For the sake of Lutha they +should never know that another than the true king sat upon the throne even for +an hour.” +</p> + +<p> +He was thinking of the comparison that might be drawn between the heroic figure +of the American and his own colorless part in the events which had led up to +his coronation. In his heart of hearts he felt that old Von der Tann rather +regretted that the American had not been the king, and he hated the old man +accordingly, and was commencing to hate the American as well. +</p> + +<p> +Prince Ludwig stood looking at the carpet after the king had spoken. His +judgment told him that the king’s suggestion was a wise one; but he was +sorry and ashamed that it had come from Leopold. Butzow’s lips almost +showed the contempt that he felt for the ingratitude of his king. +</p> + +<p> +Barney Custer was the first to speak. +</p> + +<p> +“I think his majesty is quite right,” he said, “and tonight I +can leave the palace after dark and cross the border some time tomorrow +evening. The people need never know the truth.” +</p> + +<p> +Leopold looked relieved. +</p> + +<p> +“We must reward you, Mr. Custer,” he said. “Name that which +it lies within our power to grant you and it shall be yours.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney thought of the girl he loved; but he did not mention her name, for he +knew that she was not for him now. +</p> + +<p> +“There is nothing, your majesty,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +“A money reward,” Leopold started to suggest, and then Barney +Custer lost his temper. +</p> + +<p> +A flush mounted to his face, his chin went up, and there came to his lips +bitter words of sarcasm. With an effort, however, he held his tongue, and, +turning his back upon the king, his broad shoulders proclaiming the contempt he +felt, he walked slowly out of the room. +</p> + +<p> +Von der Tann and Butzow and Leopold of Lutha stood in silence as the American +passed out of sight beyond the portal. +</p> + +<p> +The manner of his going had been an affront to the king, and the young ruler +had gone red with anger. +</p> + +<p> +“Butzow,” he cried, “bring the fellow back; he shall be +taught a lesson in the deference that is due kings.” +</p> + +<p> +Butzow hesitated. “He has risked his life a dozen times for your +majesty,” said the lieutenant. +</p> + +<p> +Leopold flushed. +</p> + +<p> +“Do not humiliate him, sire,” advised Von der Tann. “He has +earned a greater reward at your hands than that.” +</p> + +<p> +The king resumed his pacing for a moment, coming to a halt once more before the +two. +</p> + +<p> +“We shall take no notice of his insolence,” he said, “and +that shall be our royal reward for his services. More than he deserves, we dare +say, at that.” +</p> + +<p> +As Barney hastened through the palace on his way to his new quarters to obtain +his arms and order his horse saddled, he came suddenly upon a girlish figure +gazing sadly from a window upon the drear November world—her heart as sad +as the day. +</p> + +<p> +At the sound of his footstep she turned, and as her eyes met the gray ones of +the man she stood poised as though of half a mind to fly. For a moment neither +spoke. +</p> + +<p> +“Can your highness forgive?” he asked. +</p> + +<p> +For answer the girl buried her face in her hands and dropped upon the cushioned +window seat before her. The American came close and knelt at her side. +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t,” he begged as he saw her shoulders rise to the sudden +sobbing that racked her slender frame. “Don’t!” +</p> + +<p> +He thought that she wept from mortification that she had given her kisses to +another than the king. +</p> + +<p> +“None knows,” he continued, “what has passed between us. None +but you and I need ever know. I tried to make you understand that I was not +Leopold; but you would not believe. It is not my fault that I loved you. It is +not my fault that I shall always love you. Tell me that you forgive me my part +in the chain of strange circumstances that deceived you into an acknowledgment +of a love that you intended for another. Forgive me, Emma!” +</p> + +<p> +Down the corridor behind them a tall figure approached on silent, noiseless +feet. At sight of the two at the window seat it halted. It was the king. +</p> + +<p> +The girl looked up suddenly into the eyes of the American bending so close +above her. +</p> + +<p> +“I can never forgive you,” she cried, “for not being the +king, for I am betrothed to him—and I love you!” +</p> + +<p> +Before she could prevent him, Barney Custer had taken her in his arms, and +though at first she made a pretense of attempting to escape, at last she lay +quite still. Her arms found their way about the man’s neck, and her lips +returned the kisses that his were showering upon her upturned mouth. +</p> + +<p> +Presently her glance wandered above the shoulder of the American, and of a +sudden her eyes filled with terror, and, with a little gasp of consternation, +she struggled to free herself. +</p> + +<p> +“Let me go!” she whispered. “Let me go—the king!” +</p> + +<p> +Barney sprang to his feet and, turning, faced Leopold. The king had gone quite +white. +</p> + +<p> +“Failing to rob me of my crown,” he cried in a trembling voice, +“you now seek to rob me of my betrothed! Go to your father at once, and +as for you—you shall learn what it means for you thus to meddle in the +affairs of kings.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney saw the terrible position in which his love had placed the Princess +Emma. His only thought now was for her. Bowing low before her he spoke so that +the king might hear, yet as though his words were for her ears alone. +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness knows the truth, now,” he said, “and that +after all I am not the king. I can only ask that you will forgive me the +deception. Now go to your father as the king commands.” +</p> + +<p> +Slowly the girl turned away. Her heart was torn between love for this man, and +her duty toward the other to whom she had been betrothed in childhood. The +hereditary instinct of obedience to her sovereign was strong within her, and +the bonds of custom and society held her in their relentless shackles. With a +sob she passed up the corridor, curtsying to the king as she passed him. +</p> + +<p> +When she had gone Leopold turned to the American. There was an evil look in the +little gray eyes of the monarch. +</p> + +<p> +“You may go your way,” he said coldly. “We shall give you +forty-eight hours to leave Lutha. Should you ever return your life shall be the +forfeit.” +</p> + +<p> +The American kept back the hot words that were ready upon the end of his +tongue. For her sake he must bow to fate. With a slight inclination of his head +toward Leopold he wheeled and resumed his way toward his quarters. +</p> + +<p> +Half an hour later as he was about to descend to the courtyard where a trooper +of the Royal Horse held his waiting mount, Butzow burst suddenly into his room. +</p> + +<p> +“For God’s sake,” cried the lieutenant, “get out of +this. The king has changed his mind, and there is an officer of the guard on +his way here now with a file of soldiers to place you under arrest. Leopold +swears that he will hang you for treason. Princess Emma has spurned him, and he +is wild with rage.” +</p> + +<p> +The dismal November twilight had given place to bleak night as two men cantered +from the palace courtyard and turned their horses’ heads northward toward +Lutha’s nearest boundary. All night they rode, stopping at daylight +before a distant farm to feed and water their mounts and snatch a mouthful for +themselves. Then onward once again they pressed in their mad flight. +</p> + +<p> +Now that day had come they caught occasional glimpses of a body of horsemen far +behind them, but the border was near, and their start such that there was no +danger of their being overtaken. +</p> + +<p> +“For the thousandth time, Butzow,” said one of the men, “will +you turn back before it is too late?” +</p> + +<p> +But the other only shook his head obstinately, and so they came to the great +granite monument which marks the boundary between Lutha and her powerful +neighbor upon the north. +</p> + +<p> +Barney held out his hand. “Good-bye, old man,” he said. “If +I’ve learned the ingratitude of kings here in Lutha, I have found +something that more than compensates me—the friendship of a brave man. +Now hurry back and tell them that I escaped across the border just as I was +about to fall into your hands and they will think that you have been pursuing +me instead of aiding in my escape across the border.” +</p> + +<p> +But again Butzow shook his head. +</p> + +<p> +“I have fought shoulder to shoulder with you, my friend,” he said. +“I have called you king, and after that I could never serve the coward +who sits now upon the throne of Lutha. I have made up my mind during this long +ride from Lustadt, and I have come to the decision that I should prefer to +raise corn in Nebraska with you rather than serve in the court of an +ingrate.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well, you are an obstinate Dutchman, after all,” replied the +American with a smile, placing his hand affectionately upon the shoulder of his +comrade. +</p> + +<p> +There was a clatter of horses’ hoofs upon the gravel of the road behind +them. +</p> + +<p> +The two men put spurs to their mounts, and Barney Custer galloped across the +northern boundary of Lutha just ahead of a troop of Luthanian cavalry, as had +his father thirty years before; but a royal princess had accompanied the +father—only a soldier accompanied the son. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="part02"></a>PART II</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap13"></a>I.<br /> +BARNEY RETURNS TO LUTHA</h2> + +<p> +“What’s the matter, Vic?” asked Barney Custer of his sister. +“You look peeved.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am peeved,” replied the girl, smiling. “I am terribly +peeved. I don’t want to play bridge this afternoon. I want to go motoring +with Lieutenant Butzow. This is his last day with us.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes. I know it is, and I hate to think of it,” replied Barney; +“but why in the world do you have to play bridge if you don’t want +to?” +</p> + +<p> +“I promised Margaret that I’d go. They’re short one, and +she’s coming after me in her car.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where are you going to play—at the champion lady bridge +player’s on Fourth Street?” asked Barney, grinning. +</p> + +<p> +His sister answered with a nod and a smile. “Where you brought down the +wrath of the lady champion upon your head the other night when you were letting +your mind wander across to Lutha and the Old Forest, instead of paying +attention to the game,” she added. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, cheer up, Vic,” cried her brother. “Bert’ll +probably set fire to the car, the way he did to their first one, and then you +won’t have to go.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, yes, I would; Margaret would send him after me in that +awful-looking, unwashed Ford runabout of his,” answered the girl. +</p> + +<p> +“And then you WOULD go,” said Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“You bet I would,” laughed Victoria. “I’d go in a +wheelbarrow with Bert.” +</p> + +<p> +But she didn’t have to; and after she had driven off with her chum, +Barney and Butzow strolled down through the little city of Beatrice to the corn +mill in which the former was interested. +</p> + +<p> +“I’m mighty sorry that you have to leave us, Butzow,” said +Barney’s partner. “It’s bad enough to lose you, but I’m +afraid it will mean the loss of Barney, too. He’s been hunting for some +excuse to get back to Lutha, and with you there and a war in sight I’m +afraid nothing can hold him.” +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t know but that it may be just as well for my friends here +that I leave,” said Butzow seriously. “I did not tell you, Barney, +all there is in this letter”—he tapped his breastpocket, where the +foreign-looking envelope reposed with its contents. +</p> + +<p> +Custer looked at him inquiringly. +</p> + +<p> +“Besides saying that war between Austria and Serbia seems unavoidable and +that Lutha doubtless will be drawn into it, my informant warns me that Leopold +had sent emissaries to America to search for you, Barney, and myself. What his +purpose may be my friend does not know, but he warns us to be upon our guard. +Von der Tann wants me to return to Lutha. He has promised to protect me, and +with the country in danger there is nothing else for me to do. I must +go.” +</p> + +<p> +“I wish I could go with you,” said Barney. “If it +wasn’t for this dinged old mill I would; but Bert wants to go away this +summer, and as I have been away most of the time for the past two years, +it’s up to me to stay.” +</p> + +<p> +As the three men talked the afternoon wore on. Heavy clouds gathered in the +sky; a storm was brewing. Outside, a man, skulking behind a box car on the +siding, watched the entrance through which the three had gone. He watched the +workmen, and as quitting time came and he saw them leaving for their homes he +moved more restlessly, transferring the package which he held from one hand to +another many times, yet always gingerly. +</p> + +<p> +At last all had left. The man started from behind the box car, only to jump +back as the watchman appeared around the end of one of the buildings. He +watched the guardian of the property make his rounds; he saw him enter his +office, and then he crept forward toward the building, holding his queer +package in his right hand. +</p> + +<p> +In the office the watchman came upon the three friends. At sight of him they +looked at one another in surprise. +</p> + +<p> +“Why, what time is it?” exclaimed Custer, and as he looked at his +watch he rose with a laugh. “Late to dinner again,” he cried. +“Come on, we’ll go out this other way.” And with a cheery +good night to the watchman Barney and his friends hastened from the building. +</p> + +<p> +Upon the opposite side the stranger approached the doorway to the mill. The +rain was falling in blinding sheets. Ominously the thunder roared. Vivid +flashes of lightning shot the heavens. The watchman, coming suddenly from the +doorway, his hat brim pulled low over his eyes, passed within a couple of paces +of the stranger without seeing him. +</p> + +<p> +Five minutes later there was a blinding glare accompanied by a deafening roar. +It was as though nature had marshaled all her forces in one mighty, devastating +effort. At the same instant the walls of the great mill burst asunder, a +nebulous mass of burning gas shot heavenward, and then the flames settled down +to complete the destruction of the ruin. +</p> + +<p> +It was the following morning that Victoria and Barney Custer, with Lieutenant +Butzow and Custer’s partner, stood contemplating the smoldering wreckage. +</p> + +<p> +“And to think,” said Barney, “that yesterday this muss was +the largest corn mill west of anywhere. I guess we can both take vacations now, +Bert.” +</p> + +<p> +“Who would have thought that a single bolt of lightning could have +resulted in such havoc?” mused Victoria. +</p> + +<p> +“Who would?” agreed Lieutenant Butzow, and then, with a sudden +narrowing of his eyes and a quick glance at Barney, “if it WAS +lightning.” +</p> + +<p> +The American looked at the Luthanian. “You think—” he +started. +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t dare think,” replied Butzow, “because of the +fear of what this may mean to you and Miss Victoria if it was not lightning +that destroyed the mill. I shouldn’t have spoken of it but that it may +urge you to greater caution, which I cannot but think is most necessary since +the warning I received from Lutha.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why should Leopold seek to harm me now?” asked Barney. “It +has been almost two years since you and I placed him upon his throne, only to +be rewarded with threats and hatred. In that time neither of us has returned to +Lutha nor in any way conspired against the king. I cannot fathom his +motives.” +</p> + +<p> +“There is the Princess Emma von der Tann,” Butzow reminded him. +“She still repulses him. He may think that, with you removed definitely +and permanently, all will then be plain sailing for him in that direction. +Evidently he does not know the princess.” +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +An hour later they were all bidding Butzow good-bye at the station. Victoria +Custer was genuinely grieved to see him go, for she liked this soldierly young +officer of the Royal Horse Guards immensely. +</p> + +<p> +“You must come back to America soon,” she urged. +</p> + +<p> +He looked down at her from the steps of the moving train. There was something +in his expression that she had never seen there before. +</p> + +<p> +“I want to come back soon,” he answered, “to—to +Beatrice,” and he flushed and smiled at his own stumbling tongue. +</p> + +<p> +For about a week Barney Custer moped disconsolately, principally about the +ruins of the corn mill. He was in everyone’s way and accomplished +nothing. +</p> + +<p> +“I was never intended for a captain of industry,” he confided to +his partner for the hundredth time. “I wish some excuse would pop up to +which I might hang a reason for beating it to Europe. There’s something +doing there. Nearly everybody has declared war upon everybody else, and here I +am stagnating in peace. I’d even welcome a tornado.” +</p> + +<p> +His excuse was to come sooner than he imagined. That night, after the other +members of his family had retired, Barney sat smoking within a screened porch +off the living-room. His thoughts were upon a trim little figure in riding +togs, as he had first seen it nearly two years before, clinging desperately to +a runaway horse upon the narrow mountain road above Tafelberg. +</p> + +<p> +He lived that thrilling experience through again as he had many times before. +He even smiled as he recalled the series of events that had resulted from his +resemblance to the mad king of Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +They had come to a culmination at the time when the king, whom Barney had +placed upon a throne at the risk of his own life, discovered that his savior +loved the girl to whom the king had been betrothed since childhood and that the +girl returned the American’s love even after she knew that he had but +played the part of a king. +</p> + +<p> +Barney’s cigar, forgotten, had long since died out. Not even its former +fitful glow proclaimed his presence upon the porch, whose black shadows +completely enveloped him. Before him stretched a wide acreage of lawn, tree +dotted at the side of the house. Bushes hid the stone wall that marked the +boundary of the Custer grounds and extended here and there out upon the sward +among the trees. The night was moonless but clear. A faint light pervaded the +scene. +</p> + +<p> +Barney sat staring straight ahead, but his gaze did not stop upon the familiar +objects of the foreground. Instead it spanned two continents and an ocean to +rest upon the little spot of woodland and rugged mountain and lowland that is +Lutha. It was with an effort that the man suddenly focused his attention upon +that which lay directly before him. A shadow among the trees had moved! +</p> + +<p> +Barney Custer sat perfectly still, but now he was suddenly alert and watchful. +Again the shadow moved where no shadow should be moving. It crossed from the +shade of one tree to another. Barney came cautiously to his feet. Silently he +entered the house, running quickly to a side door that opened upon the grounds. +As he drew it back its hinges gave forth no sound. Barney looked toward the +spot where he had seen the shadow. Again he saw it scuttle hurriedly beneath +another tree nearer the house. This time there was no doubt. It was a man! +</p> + +<p> +Directly before the door where Barney stood was a pergola, ivy-covered. Behind +this he slid, and, running its length, came out among the trees behind the +night prowler. Now he saw him distinctly. The fellow was bearded, and in his +right hand he carried a package. Instantly Barney recalled Butzow’s +comment upon the destruction of the mill—“if it WAS +lightning!” +</p> + +<p> +Cold sweat broke from every pore of his body. His mother and father were there +in the house, and Vic—all sleeping peacefully. He ran quickly toward the +menacing figure, and as he did so he saw the other halt behind a great tree and +strike a match. In the glow of the flame he saw it touch close to the package +that the fellow held, and then he was upon him. +</p> + +<p> +There was a brief and terrific struggle. The stranger hurled the package toward +the house. Barney caught him by the throat, beating him heavily in the face; +and then, realizing what the package was, he hurled the fellow from him, and +sprang toward the hissing and sputtering missile where it lay close to the +foundation wall of the house, though in the instant of his close contact with +the man he had recognized through the disguising beard the features of Captain +Ernst Maenck, the principal tool of Peter of Blentz. +</p> + +<p> +Quick though Barney was to reach the bomb and extinguish the fuse, Maenck had +disappeared before he returned to search for him; and, though he roused the +gardener and chauffeur and took turns with them in standing guard the balance +of the night, the would-be assassin did not return. +</p> + +<p> +There was no question in Barney Custer’s mind as to whom the bomb was +intended for. That Maenck had hurled it toward the house after Barney had +seized him was merely the result of accident and the man’s desire to get +the death-dealing missile as far from himself as possible before it exploded. +That it would have wrecked the house in the hope of reaching him, had he not +fortunately interfered, was too evident to the American to be questioned. +</p> + +<p> +And so he decided before the night was spent to put himself as far from his +family as possible, lest some future attempt upon his life might endanger +theirs. Then, too, righteous anger and a desire for revenge prompted his +decision. He would run Maenck to earth and have an accounting with him. It was +evident that his life would not be worth a farthing so long as the fellow was +at liberty. +</p> + +<p> +Before dawn he swore the gardener and chauffeur to silence, and at breakfast +announced his intention of leaving that day for New York to seek a commission +as correspondent with an old classmate, who owned the New York Evening +National. At the hotel Barney inquired of the proprietor relative to a bearded +stranger, but the man had had no one of that description registered. Chance, +however, gave him a clue. His roadster was in a repair shop, and as he stopped +in to get it he overheard a conversation that told him all he wanted to know. +As he stood talking with the foreman a dust-covered automobile pulled into the +garage. +</p> + +<p> +“Hello, Bill,” called the foreman to the driver. “Where you +been so early?” +</p> + +<p> +“Took a guy to Lincoln,” replied the other. “He was in an +awful hurry. I bet we broke all the records for that stretch of road this +morning—I never knew the old boat had it in her.” +</p> + +<p> +“Who was it?” asked Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“I dunno,” replied the driver. “Talked like a furriner, and +looked the part. Bushy black beard. Said he was a German army officer, +an’ had to beat it back on account of the war. Seemed to me like he was +mighty anxious to get back there an’ be killed.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney waited to hear no more. He did not even go home to say good-bye to his +family. Instead he leaped into his gray roadster—a later model of the one +he had lost in Lutha—and the last that Beatrice, Nebraska, saw of him was +a whirling cloud of dust as he raced north out of town toward Lincoln. +</p> + +<p> +He was five minutes too late into the capital city to catch the eastbound +limited that Maenck must have taken; but he caught the next through train for +Chicago, and the second day thereafter found him in New York. There he had +little difficulty in obtaining the desired credentials from his newspaper +friend, especially since Barney offered to pay all his own expenses and donate +to the paper anything he found time to write. +</p> + +<p> +Passenger steamers were still sailing, though irregularly, and after scanning +the passenger-lists of three he found the name he sought. “Captain Ernst +Maenck, Lutha.” So he had not been mistaken, after all. It was Maenck he +had apprehended on his father’s grounds. Evidently the man had little +fear of being followed, for he had made no effort to hide his identity in +booking passage for Europe. +</p> + +<p> +The steamer he had caught had sailed that very morning. Barney was not so +sorry, after all, for he had had time during his trip from Beatrice to do +considerable thinking, and had found it rather difficult to determine just what +to do should he have overtaken Maenck in the United States. He couldn’t +kill the man in cold blood, justly as he may have deserved the fate, and the +thought of causing his arrest and dragging his own name into the publicity of +court proceedings was little less distasteful to him. +</p> + +<p> +Furthermore, the pursuit of Maenck now gave Barney a legitimate excuse for +returning to Lutha, or at least to the close neighborhood of the little +kingdom, where he might await the outcome of events and be ready to give his +services in the cause of the house of Von der Tann should they be required. +</p> + +<p> +By going directly to Italy and entering Austria from that country Barney +managed to arrive within the boundaries of the dual monarchy with comparatively +few delays. Nor did he encounter any considerable bodies of troops until he +reached the little town of Burgova, which lies not far from the Serbian +frontier. Beyond this point his credentials would not carry him. The +emperor’s officers were polite, but firm. No newspaper correspondents +could be permitted nearer the front than Burgova. +</p> + +<p> +There was nothing to be done, therefore, but wait until some propitious event +gave him the opportunity to approach more closely the Serbian boundary and +Lutha. In the meantime he would communicate with Butzow, who might be able to +obtain passes for him to some village nearer the Luthanian frontier, when it +should be an easy matter to cross through to Serbia. He was sure the Serbian +authorities would object less strenuously to his presence. +</p> + +<p> +The inn at which he applied for accommodations was already overrun by officers, +but the proprietor, with scant apologies for a civilian, offered him a little +box of a room in the attic. The place was scarce more than a closet, and for +that Barney was in a way thankful since the limited space could accommodate but +a single cot, thus insuring him the privacy that a larger chamber would have +precluded. +</p> + +<p> +He was very tired after his long and comfortless land journey, so after an +early dinner he went immediately to his room and to bed. How long he slept he +did not know, but some time during the night he was awakened by the sound of +voices apparently close to his ear. +</p> + +<p> +For a moment he thought the speakers must be in his own room, so distinctly did +he overhear each word of their conversation; but presently he discovered that +they were upon the opposite side of a thin partition in an adjoining room. But +half awake, and with the sole idea of getting back to sleep again as quickly as +possible, Barney paid only the slightest attention to the meaning of the words +that fell upon his ears, until, like a bomb, a sentence broke through his +sleepy faculties, banishing Morpheus upon the instant. +</p> + +<p> +“It will take but little now to turn Leopold against Von der Tann.” +The speaker evidently was an Austrian. “Already I have half convinced him +that the old man aspires to the throne. Leopold fears the loyalty of his army, +which is for Von der Tann body and soul. He knows that Von der Tann is strongly +anti-Austrian, and I have made it plain to him that if he allows his kingdom to +take sides with Serbia he will have no kingdom when the war is over—it +will be a part of Austria. +</p> + +<p> +“It was with greater difficulty, however, my dear Peter, that I convinced +him that you, Von Coblich, and Captain Maenck were his most loyal friends. He +fears you yet, but, nevertheless, he has pardoned you all. Do not forget when +you return to your dear Lutha that you owe your repatriation to Count +Zellerndorf of Austria.” +</p> + +<p> +“You may be assured that we shall never forget,” replied another +voice that Barney recognized at once as belonging to Prince Peter of Blentz, +the one time regent of Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +“It is not for myself,” continued Count Zellerndorf, “that I +crave your gratitude, but for my emperor. You may do much to win his undying +gratitude, while for yourselves you may win to almost any height with the +friendship of Austria behind you. I am sure that should any accident, which God +forfend, deprive Lutha of her king, none would make a more welcome successor in +the eyes of Austria than our good friend Peter.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney could almost see the smile of satisfaction upon the thin lips of Peter +of Blentz as this broad hint fell from the lips of the Austrian +diplomat—a hint that seemed to the American little short of the death +sentence of Leopold, King of Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +“We owed you much before, count,” said Peter. “But for you we +should have been hanged a year ago—without your aid we should never have +been able to escape from the fortress of Lustadt or cross the border into +Austria-Hungary. I am sorry that Maenck failed in his mission, for had he not +we would have had concrete evidence to present to the king that we are indeed +his loyal supporters. It would have dispelled at once such fears and doubts as +he may still entertain of our fealty.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, I, too, am sorry,” agreed Zellerndorf. “I can assure +you that the news we hoped Captain Maenck would bring from America would have +gone a long way toward restoring you to the confidence and good graces of the +king.” +</p> + +<p> +“I did my best,” came another voice that caused Barney’s eyes +to go wide in astonishment, for it was none other than the voice of Maenck +himself. “Twice I risked hanging to get him and only came away after I +had been recognized.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is too bad,” sighed Zellerndorf; “though it may not be +without its advantages after all, for now we still have this second bugbear to +frighten Leopold with. So long, of course, as the American lives there is +always the chance that he may return and seek to gain the throne. The fact that +his mother was a Rubinroth princess might make it easy for Von der Tann to +place him upon the throne without much opposition, and if he married the old +man’s daughter it is easy to conceive that the prince might favor such a +move. At any rate, it should not be difficult to persuade Leopold of the +possibility of such a thing. +</p> + +<p> +“Under the circumstances Leopold is almost convinced that his only hope +of salvation lies in cementing friendly relations with the most powerful of Von +der Tann’s enemies, of which you three gentlemen stand preeminently in +the foreground, and of assuring to himself the support of Austria. And now, +gentlemen,” he went on after a pause, “good night. I have handed +Prince Peter the necessary military passes to carry you safely through our +lines, and tomorrow you may be in Blentz if you wish.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap14"></a>II.<br /> +CONDEMNED TO DEATH</h2> + +<p> +For some time Barney Custer lay there in the dark revolving in his mind all +that he had overheard through the partition—the thin partition which +alone lay between himself and three men who would be only too glad to embrace +the first opportunity to destroy him. But his fears were not for himself so +much as for the daughter of old Von der Tann, and for all that might befall +that princely house were these three unhung rascals to gain Lutha and have +their way with the weak and cowardly king who reigned there. +</p> + +<p> +If he could but reach Von der Tann’s ear and through him the king before +the conspirators came to Lutha! But how might he accomplish it? Count +Zellerndorf’s parting words to the three had shown that military passes +were necessary to enable one to reach Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +His papers were practically worthless even inside the lines. That they would +carry him through the lines he had not the slightest hope. There were two +things to be accomplished if possible. One was to cross the frontier into +Lutha; and the other, which of course was quite out of the question, was to +prevent Peter of Blentz, Von Coblich, and Maenck from doing so. But was that +altogether impossible? +</p> + +<p> +The idea that followed that question came so suddenly that it brought Barney +Custer out onto the floor in a bound, to don his clothes and sneak into the +hall outside his room with the stealth of a professional second-story man. +</p> + +<p> +To the right of his own door was the door to the apartment in which the three +conspirators slept. At least, Barney hoped they slept. He bent close to the +keyhole and listened. From within came no sound other than the regular +breathing of the inmates. It had been at least half an hour since the American +had heard the conversation cease. A glance through the keyhole showed no light +within the room. Stealthily Barney turned the knob. Had they bolted the door? +He felt the tumbler move to the pressure—soundlessly. Then he pushed +gently inward. The door swung. +</p> + +<p> +A moment later he stood in the room. Dimly he could see two beds—a large +one and a smaller. Peter of Blentz would be alone upon the smaller bed, his +henchmen sleeping together in the larger. Barney crept toward the lone sleeper. +At the bedside he fumbled in the dark groping for the man’s +clothing—for the coat, in the breastpocket of which he hoped to find the +military pass that might carry him safely out of Austria-Hungary and into +Lutha. On the foot of the bed he found some garments. Gingerly he felt them +over, seeking the coat. +</p> + +<p> +At last he found it. His fingers, steady even under the nervous tension of this +unaccustomed labor, discovered the inner pocket and the folded paper. There +were several of them; Barney took them all. +</p> + +<p> +So far he made no noise. None of the sleepers had stirred. Now he took a step +toward the doorway and—kicked a shoe that lay in his path. The slight +noise in that quiet room sounded to Barney’s ears like the fall of a +brick wall. Peter of Blentz stirred, turning in his sleep. Behind him Barney +heard one of the men in the other bed move. He turned his head in that +direction. Either Maenck or Coblich was sitting up peering through the +darkness. +</p> + +<p> +“Is that you, Prince Peter?” The voice was Maenck’s. +</p> + +<p> +“What’s the matter?” persisted Maenck. +</p> + +<p> +“I’m going for a drink of water,” replied the American, and +stepped toward the door. +</p> + +<p> +Behind him Peter of Blentz sat up in bed. +</p> + +<p> +“That you, Maenck?” he called. +</p> + +<p> +Instantly Maenck was out of bed, for the first voice had come from the vicinity +of the doorway; both could not be Peter’s. +</p> + +<p> +“Quick!” he cried; “there’s someone in our room.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney leaped for the doorway, and upon his heels came the three conspirators. +Maenck was closest to him—so close that Barney was forced to turn at the +top of the stairs. In the darkness he was just conscious of the form of the man +who was almost upon him. Then he swung a vicious blow for the other’s +face—a blow that landed, for there was a cry of pain and anger as Maenck +stumbled back into the arms of the two behind him. From below came the sound of +footsteps hurrying up the stairs to the accompaniment of a clanking saber. +Barney’s retreat was cut off. +</p> + +<p> +Turning, he dodged into his own room before the enemy could locate him or even +extricate themselves from the confusion of Maenck’s sudden collision with +the other two. But what could Barney gain by the slight delay that would be +immediately followed by his apprehension? +</p> + +<p> +He didn’t know. All that he was sure of was that there had been no other +place to go than this little room. As he entered the first thing that his eyes +fell upon was the small square window. Here at least was some slight +encouragement. +</p> + +<p> +He ran toward it. The lower sash was raised. As the door behind him opened to +admit Peter of Blentz and his companions, Barney slipped through into the +night, hanging by his hands from the sill without. What lay beneath or how far +the drop he could not guess, but that certain death menaced him from above he +knew from the conversation he had overheard earlier in the evening. +</p> + +<p> +For an instant he hung suspended. He heard the men groping about the room. +Evidently they were in some fear of the unknown assailant they sought, for they +did not move about with undue rashness. Presently one of them struck a +light—Barney could see its flare lighten the window casing for an +instant. +</p> + +<p> +“The room is empty,” came a voice from above him. +</p> + +<p> +“Look to the window!” cried Peter of Blentz, and then Barney Custer +let go his hold upon the sill and dropped into the blackness below. +</p> + +<p> +His fall was a short one, for the window had been directly over a low shed at +the side of the inn. Upon the roof of this the American landed, and from there +he dropped to the courtyard without mishap. Glancing up, he saw the heads of +three men peering from the window of the room he had just quitted. +</p> + +<p> +“There he is!” cried one, and instantly the three turned back into +the room. As Barney fled from the courtyard he heard the rattle of hasty +footsteps upon the rickety stairway of the inn. +</p> + +<p> +Choosing an alley rather than a street in which he might run upon soldiers at +any moment, he moved quickly yet cautiously away from the inn. Behind him he +could hear the voices of many men. They were raised to a high pitch by +excitement. It was clear to Barney that there were many more than the original +three—Prince Peter had, in all probability, enlisted the aid of the +military. +</p> + +<p> +Could he but reach the frontier with his stolen passes he would be +comparatively safe, for the rugged mountains of Lutha offered many places of +concealment, and, too, there were few Luthanians who did not hate Peter of +Blentz most cordially—among the men of the mountains at least. Once there +he could defy a dozen Blentz princes for the little time that would be required +to carry him into Serbia and comparative safety. +</p> + +<p> +As he approached a cross street a couple of squares from the inn he found it +necessary to pass beneath a street lamp. For a moment he paused in the shadows +of the alley listening. Hearing nothing moving in the street, Barney was about +to make a swift spring for the shadows upon the opposite side when it occurred +to him that it might be safer to make assurance doubly sure by having a look up +and down the street before emerging into the light. +</p> + +<p> +It was just as well that he did, for as he thrust his head around the corner of +the building the first thing that his eyes fell upon was the figure of an +Austrian sentry, scarcely three paces from him. The soldier was standing in a +listening attitude, his head half turned away from the American. The sounds +coming from the direction of the inn were apparently what had attracted his +attention. +</p> + +<p> +Behind him, Barney was sure he heard evidences of pursuit. Before him was +certain detection should he attempt to cross the street. On either hand rose +the walls of buildings. That he was trapped there seemed little doubt. +</p> + +<p> +He continued to stand motionless, watching the Austrian soldier. Should the +fellow turn toward him, he had but to withdraw his head within the shadow of +the building that hid his body. Possibly the man might turn and take his beat +in the opposite direction. In which case Barney was sure he could dodge across +the street, undetected. +</p> + +<p> +Already the vague threat of pursuit from the direction of the inn had developed +into a certainty—he could hear men moving toward him through the alley +from the rear. Would the sentry never move! Evidently not, until he heard the +others coming through the alley. Then he would turn, and the devil would be to +pay for the American. +</p> + +<p> +Barney was about hopeless. He had been in the war zone long enough to know that +it might prove a very disagreeable matter to be caught sneaking through back +alleys at night. There was a single chance—a sort of forlorn +hope—and that was to risk fate and make a dash beneath the sentry’s +nose for the opposite alley mouth. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, here goes,” thought Barney. He had heard that many of the +Austrians were excellent shots. Visions of Beatrice, Nebraska, swarmed his +memory. They were pleasant visions, made doubly alluring by the thought that +the realities of them might never again be for him. +</p> + +<p> +He turned once more toward the sounds of pursuit—the men upon his track +could not be over a square away—there was not an instant to be lost. And +then from above him, upon the opposite side of the alley, came a low: +“S-s-t!” +</p> + +<p> +Barney looked up. Very dimly he could see the dark outline of a window some +dozen feet from the pavement, and framed within it the lighter blotch that +might have been a human face. Again came the challenging: “S-s-t!” +Yes, there was someone above, signaling to him. +</p> + +<p> +“S-s-t!” replied Barney. He knew that he had been discovered, and +could think of no better plan for throwing the discoverer off his guard than to +reply. +</p> + +<p> +Then a soft voice floated down to him—a woman’s voice! +</p> + +<p> +“Is that you?” The tongue was Serbian. Barney could understand it, +though he spoke it but indifferently. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes,” he replied truthfully. +</p> + +<p> +“Thank Heaven!” came the voice from above. “I have been +watching you, and thought you one of the Austrian pigs. Quick! They are +coming—I can hear them;” and at the same instant Barney saw +something drop from the window to the ground. He crossed the alley quickly, and +could have shouted in relief for what he found there—the end of a knotted +rope dangling from above. +</p> + +<p> +His pursuers were almost upon him when he seized the rude ladder to clamber +upward. At the window’s ledge a firm, young hand reached out and, seizing +his own, almost dragged him through the window. He turned to look back into the +alley. He had been just in time; the Austrian sentry, alarmed by the sound of +approaching footsteps down the alley, had stepped into view. He stood there now +with leveled rifle, a challenge upon his lips. From the advancing party came a +satisfactory reply. +</p> + +<p> +At the same instant the girl beside him in the Stygian blackness of the room +threw her arms about Barney’s neck and drew his face down to hers. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, Stefan,” she whispered, “what a narrow escape! It makes +me tremble to think of it. They would have shot you, my Stefan!” +</p> + +<p> +The American put an arm about the girl’s shoulders, and raised one hand +to her cheek—it might have been in caress, but it wasn’t. It was to +smother the cry of alarm he anticipated would follow the discovery that he was +not “Stefan.” He bent his lips close to her ear. +</p> + +<p> +“Do not make an outcry,” he whispered in very poor Serbian. +“I am not Stefan; but I am a friend.” +</p> + +<p> +The exclamation of surprise or fright that he had expected was not forthcoming. +The girl lowered her arms from about his neck. +</p> + +<p> +“Who are you?” she asked in a low whisper. +</p> + +<p> +“I am an American war correspondent,” replied Barney, “but if +the Austrians get hold of me now it will be mighty difficult to convince them +that I am not a spy.” And then a sudden determination came to him to +trust his fate to this unknown girl, whose face, even, he had never seen. +“I am entirely at your mercy,” he said. “There are Austrian +soldiers in the street below. You have but to call to them to send me before +the firing squad—or, you can let me remain here until I can find an +opportunity to get away in safety. I am trying to reach Serbia.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you wish to reach Serbia?” asked the girl suspiciously. +</p> + +<p> +“I have discovered too many enemies in Austria tonight to make it safe +for me to remain,” he replied, “and, further, my original intention +was to report the war from the Serbian side.” +</p> + +<p> +The girl hesitated for a while, evidently in thought. +</p> + +<p> +“They are moving on,” suggested Barney. “If you are going to +give me up you’d better do it at once.” +</p> + +<p> +“I’m not going to give you up,” replied the girl. +“I’m going to keep you prisoner until Stefan returns—he will +know best what to do with you. Now you must come with me and be locked up. Do +not try to escape—I have a revolver in my hand,” and to give her +prisoner physical proof of the weapon he could not see she thrust the muzzle +against his side. +</p> + +<p> +“I’ll take your word for the gun,” said Barney, “if +you’ll just turn it in the other direction. Go ahead—I’ll +follow you.” +</p> + +<p> +“No, you won’t,” replied the girl. “You’ll go +first; but before that you’ll raise your hands above your head. I want to +search you.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney did as he was bid and a moment later felt deft fingers running over his +clothing in search of concealed weapons. Satisfied at last that he was unarmed, +the girl directed him to precede her, guiding his steps from behind with a hand +upon his arm. Occasionally he felt the muzzle of her revolver touch his body. +It was a most unpleasant sensation. +</p> + +<p> +They crossed the room to a door which his captor directed him to open, and +after they had passed through and she had closed it behind them the girl struck +a match and lit a candle which stood upon a little bracket on the partition +wall. The dim light of the tallow dip showed Barney that he was in a narrow +hall from which several doors opened into different rooms. At one end of the +hall a stairway led to the floor below, while at the opposite end another +flight disappeared into the darkness above. +</p> + +<p> +“This way,” said the girl, motioning toward the stairs that led +upward. +</p> + +<p> +Barney had turned toward her as she struck the match, obtaining an excellent +view of her features. They were clear-cut and regular. Her eyes were large and +very dark. Dark also was her hair, which was piled in great heaps upon her +finely shaped head. Altogether the face was one not easily to be forgotten. +Barney could scarce have told whether the girl was beautiful or not, but that +she was striking there could be no doubt. +</p> + +<p> +He preceded her up the stairway to a door at the top. At her direction he +turned the knob and entered a small room in which was a cot, an ancient dresser +and a single chair. +</p> + +<p> +“You will remain here,” she said, “until Stefan returns. +Stefan will know what to do with you.” Then she left him, taking the +light with her, and Barney heard a key turn in the lock of the door after she +had closed it. Presently her footfalls died out as she descended to the lower +floors. +</p> + +<p> +“Anyhow,” thought the American, “this is better than the +Austrians. I don’t know what Stefan will do with me, but I have a rather +vivid idea of what the Austrians would have done to me if they’d caught +me sneaking through the alleys of Burgova at midnight.” +</p> + +<p> +Throwing himself on the cot Barney was soon asleep, for though his predicament +was one that, under ordinary circumstances might have made sleep impossible, +yet he had so long been without the boon of slumber that tired nature would no +longer be denied. +</p> + +<p> +When he awoke it was broad daylight. The sun was pouring in through a skylight +in the ceiling of his tiny chamber. Aside from this there were no windows in +the room. The sound of voices came to him with an uncanny distinctness that +made it seem that the speakers must be in this very chamber, but a glance about +the blank walls convinced him that he was alone. +</p> + +<p> +Presently he espied a small opening in the wall at the head of his cot. He rose +and examined it. The voices appeared to be coming from it. In fact, they were. +The opening was at the top of a narrow shaft that seemed to lead to the +basement of the structure—apparently once the shaft of a dumb-waiter or a +chute for refuse or soiled clothes. +</p> + +<p> +Barney put his ear close to it. The voices that came from below were those of a +man and a woman. He heard every word distinctly. +</p> + +<p> +“We must search the house, fraulein,” came in the deep voice of a +man. +</p> + +<p> +“Whom do you seek?” inquired a woman’s voice. Barney +recognized it as the voice of his captor. +</p> + +<p> +“A Serbian spy, Stefan Drontoff,” replied the man. “Do you +know him?” +</p> + +<p> +There was a considerable pause on the girl’s part before she answered, +and then her reply was in such a low voice that Barney could barely hear it. +</p> + +<p> +“I do not know him,” she said. “There are several men who +lodge here. What may this Stefan Drontoff look like?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have never seen him,” replied the officer; “but by +arresting all the men in the house we must get this Stefan also, if he is +here.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh!” cried the girl, a new note in her voice, “I guess I +know now whom you mean. There is one man here I have heard them call Stefan, +though for the moment I had forgotten it. He is in the small attic-room at the +head of the stairs. Here is a key that will fit the lock. Yes, I am sure that +he is Stefan. You will find him there, and it should be easy to take him, for I +know that he is unarmed. He told me so last night when he came in.” +</p> + +<p> +“The devil!” muttered Barney Custer; but whether he referred to his +predicament or to the girl it would be impossible to tell. Already the sound of +heavy boots on the stairs announced the coming of men—several of them. +Barney heard the rattle of accouterments—the clank of a +scabbard—the scraping of gun butts against the walls. The Austrians were +coming! +</p> + +<p> +He looked about. There was no way of escape except the door and the skylight, +and the door was impossible. +</p> + +<p> +Quickly he tilted the cot against the door, wedging its legs against a crack in +the floor—that would stop them for a minute or two. Then he wheeled the +dresser beneath the skylight and, placing the chair on top of it, scrambled to +the seat of the latter. His head was at the height of the skylight. To force +the skylight from its frame required but a moment. A key entered the lock of +the door from the opposite side and turned. He knew that someone without was +pushing. Then he heard an oath and heavy battering upon the panels. A moment +later he had drawn himself through the skylight and stood upon the roof of the +building. Before him stretched a series of uneven roofs to the end of the +street. Barney did not hesitate. He started on a rapid trot toward the +adjoining roof. From that he clambered to a higher one beyond. +</p> + +<p> +On he went, now leaping narrow courts, now dropping to low sheds and again +clambering to the heights of the higher buildings, until he had come almost to +the end of the row. Suddenly, behind him he heard a hoarse shout, followed by +the report of a rifle. With a whir, a bullet flew a few inches above his head. +He had gained the last roof—a large, level roof—and at the shot he +turned to see how near to him were his pursuers. +</p> + +<p> +Fatal turn! +</p> + +<p> +Scarce had he taken his eyes from the path ahead than his foot fell upon a +glass skylight, and with a loud crash he plunged through amid a shower of +broken glass. +</p> + +<p> +His fall was a short one. Directly beneath the skylight was a bed, and on the +bed a fat Austrian infantry captain. Barney lit upon the pit of the +captain’s stomach. With a howl of pain the officer catapulted Barney to +the floor. There were three other beds in the room, and in each bed one or two +other officers. Before the American could regain his feet they were all sitting +on him—all except the infantry captain. He lay shrieking and cursing in a +painful attempt to regain his breath, every atom of which Barney had knocked +out of him. +</p> + +<p> +The officers sitting on Barney alternately beat him and questioned him, +interspersing their interrogations with lurid profanity. +</p> + +<p> +“If you will get off of me,” at last shouted the American, “I +shall be glad to explain—and apologize.” +</p> + +<p> +They let him up, scowling ferociously. He had promised to explain, but now that +he was confronted by the immediate necessity of an explanation that would prove +at all satisfactory as to how he happened to be wandering around the rooftops +of Burgova, he discovered that his powers of invention were entirely +inadequate. The need for explaining, however, was suddenly removed. A shadow +fell upon them from above, and as they glanced up Barney saw the figure of an +officer surrounded by several soldiers looking down upon him. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah, you have him!” cried the newcomer in evident satisfaction. +“It is well. Hold him until we descend.” +</p> + +<p> +A moment later he and his escort had dropped through the broken skylight to the +floor beside them. +</p> + +<p> +“Who is the mad man?” cried the captain who had broken +Barney’s fall. “The assassin! He tried to murder me.” +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot doubt it,” replied the officer who had just descended, +“for the fellow is no other than Stefan Drontoff, the famous Serbian +spy!” +</p> + +<p> +“Himmel!” ejaculated the officers in chorus. “You have done a +good day’s work, lieutenant.” +</p> + +<p> +“The firing squad will do a better work in a few minutes,” replied +the lieutenant, with a grim pointedness that took Barney’s breath away. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap15"></a>III.<br /> +BEFORE THE FIRING SQUAD</h2> + +<p> +They marched Barney before the staff where he urged his American nationality, +pointing to his credentials and passes in support of his contention. +</p> + +<p> +The general before whom he had been brought shrugged his shoulders. “They +are all Americans as soon as they are caught,” he said; “but why +did you not claim to be Prince Peter of Blentz? You have his passes as well. +How can you expect us to believe your story when you have in your possession +passes for different men? +</p> + +<p> +“We have every respect for our friends the Americans. I would even +stretch a point rather than chance harming an American; but you will admit that +the evidence is all against you. You were found in the very building where +Drontoff was known to stay while in Burgova. The young woman whose mother keeps +the place directed our officer to your room, and you tried to escape, which I +do not think that an innocent American would have done. +</p> + +<p> +“However, as I have said, I will go to almost any length rather than +chance a mistake in the case of one who from his appearance might pass more +readily for an American than a Serbian. I have sent for Prince Peter of Blentz. +If you can satisfactorily explain to him how you chance to be in possession of +military passes bearing his name I shall be very glad to give you the benefit +of every other doubt.” +</p> + +<p> +Peter of Blentz. Send for Peter of Blentz! Barney wondered just what kind of a +sensation it was to stand facing a firing squad. He hoped that his knees +wouldn’t tremble—they felt a trifle weak even now. There was a +chance that the man might not recall his face, but a very slight chance. It had +been his remarkable likeness to Leopold of Lutha that had resulted in the +snatching of a crown from Prince Peter’s head. +</p> + +<p> +Likely indeed that he would ever forget his, Barney’s, face, though he +had seen it but once without the red beard that had so added to Barney’s +likeness to the king. But Maenck would be along, of course, and Maenck would +have no doubts—he had seen Barney too recently in Beatrice to fail to +recognize him now. +</p> + +<p> +Several men were entering the room where Barney stood before the general and +his staff. A glance revealed to the prisoner that Peter of Blentz had come, and +with him Von Coblich and Maenck. At the same instant Peter’s eyes met +Barney’s, and the former, white and wide-eyed came almost to a dead halt, +grasping hurriedly at the arm of Maenck who walked beside him. +</p> + +<p> +“My God!” was all that Barney heard him say, but he spoke a name +that the American did not hear. Maenck also looked his surprise, but his +expression was suddenly changed to one of malevolent cunning and gratification. +He turned toward Prince Peter with a few low-whispered words. A look of relief +crossed the face of the Blentz prince. +</p> + +<p> +“You appear to know the gentleman,” said the general who had been +conducting Barney’s examination. “He has been arrested as a Serbian +spy, and military passes in your name were found upon his person together with +the papers of an American newspaper correspondent, which he claims to be. He is +charged with being Stefan Drontoff, whom we long have been anxious to +apprehend. Do you chance to know anything about him, Prince Peter?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes,” replied Peter of Blentz, “I know him well by sight. He +entered my room last night and stole the military passes from my coat—we +all saw him and pursued him, but he got away in the dark. There can be no doubt +but that he is the Serbian spy.” +</p> + +<p> +“He insists that he is Bernard Custer, an American,” urged the +general, who, it seemed to Barney, was anxious to make no mistake, and to give +the prisoner every reasonable chance—a state of mind that rather +surprised him in a European military chieftain, all of whom appeared to share +the popular obsession regarding the prevalence of spies. +</p> + +<p> +“Pardon me, general,” interrupted Maenck. “I am well +acquainted with Mr. Custer, who spent some time in Lutha a couple of years ago. +This man is not he.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is sufficient, gentlemen, I thank you,” said the general. He +did not again look at the prisoner, but turned to a lieutenant who stood +near-by. “You may remove the prisoner,” he directed. “He will +be destroyed with the others—here is the order,” and he handed the +subaltern a printed form upon which many names were filled in and at the bottom +of which the general had just signed his own. It had evidently been waiting the +outcome of the examination of Stefan Drontoff. +</p> + +<p> +Surrounded by soldiers, Barney Custer walked from the presence of the military +court. It was to him as though he moved in a strange world of dreams. He saw +the look of satisfaction upon the face of Peter of Blentz as he passed him, and +the open sneer of Maenck. As yet he did not fully realize what it all +meant—that he was marching to his death! For the last time he was looking +upon the faces of his fellow men; for the last time he had seen the sun rise, +never again to see it set. +</p> + +<p> +He was to be “destroyed.” He had heard that expression used many +times in connection with useless horses, or vicious dogs. Mechanically he drew +a cigarette from his pocket and lighted it. There was no bravado in the act. On +the contrary it was done almost unconsciously. The soldiers marched him through +the streets of Burgova. The men were entirely impassive—even so early in +the war they had become accustomed to this grim duty. The young officer who +commanded them was more nervous than the prisoner—it was his first detail +with a firing squad. He looked wonderingly at Barney, expecting momentarily to +see the man collapse, or at least show some sign of terror at his close +impending fate; but the American walked silently toward his death, puffing +leisurely at his cigarette. +</p> + +<p> +At last, after what seemed a long time, his guard turned in at a large gateway +in a brick wall surrounding a factory. As they entered Barney saw twenty or +thirty men in civilian dress, guarded by a dozen infantrymen. They were +standing before the wall of a low brick building. Barney noticed that there +were no windows in the wall. It suddenly occurred to him that there was +something peculiarly grim and sinister in the appearance of the dead, blank +surface of weather-stained brick. For the first time since he had faced the +military court he awakened to a full realization of what it all meant to +him—he was going to be lined up against that ominous brick wall with +these other men—they were going to shoot them. +</p> + +<p> +A momentary madness seized him. He looked about upon the other prisoners and +guards. A sudden break for liberty might give him temporary respite. He could +seize a rifle from the nearest soldier, and at least have the satisfaction of +selling his life dearly. As he looked he saw more soldiers entering the factory +yard. +</p> + +<p> +A sudden apathy overwhelmed him. What was the use? He could not escape. Why +should he wish to kill these soldiers? It was not they who were responsible for +his plight—they were but obeying orders. The close presence of death made +life seem very desirable. These men, too, desired life. Why should he take it +from them uselessly? At best he might kill one or two, but in the end he would +be killed as surely as though he took his place before the brick wall with the +others. +</p> + +<p> +He noticed now that these others evinced no inclination to contest their fates. +Why should he, then? Doubtless many of them were as innocent as he, and all +loved life as well. He saw that several were weeping silently. Others stood +with bowed heads gazing at the hard-packed earth of the factory yard. Ah, what +visions were their eyes beholding for the last time! What memories of happy +firesides! What dear, loved faces were limned upon that sordid clay! +</p> + +<p> +His reveries were interrupted by the hoarse voice of a sergeant, breaking +rudely in upon the silence and the dumb terror. The fellow was herding the +prisoners into position. When he was done Barney found himself in the front +rank of the little, hopeless band. Opposite them, at a few paces, stood the +firing squad, their gun butts resting upon the ground. +</p> + +<p> +The young lieutenant stood at one side. He issued some instructions in a low +tone, then he raised his voice. +</p> + +<p> +“Ready!” he commanded. Fascinated by the horror of it, Barney +watched the rifles raised smartly to the soldiers’ hips—the +movement was as precise as though the men were upon parade. Every bolt clicked +in unison with its fellows. +</p> + +<p> +“Aim!” the pieces leaped to the hollows of the men’s +shoulders. The leveled barrels were upon a line with the breasts of the +condemned. A man at Barney’s right moaned. Another sobbed. +</p> + +<p> +“Fire!” There was the hideous roar of the volley. Barney Custer +crumpled forward to the ground, and three bodies fell upon his. A moment later +there was a second volley—all had not fallen at the first. Then the +soldiers came among the bodies, searching for signs of life; but evidently the +two volleys had done their work. The sergeant formed his men in line. The +lieutenant marched them away. Only silence remained on guard above the pitiful +dead in the factory yard. +</p> + +<p> +The day wore on and still the stiffening corpses lay where they had fallen. +Twilight came and then darkness. A head appeared above the top of the wall that +had enclosed the grounds. Eyes peered through the night and keen ears listened +for any sign of life within. At last, evidently satisfied that the place was +deserted, a man crawled over the summit of the wall and dropped to the ground +within. Here again he paused, peering and listening. +</p> + +<p> +What strange business had he here among the dead that demanded such caution in +its pursuit? Presently he advanced toward the pile of corpses. Quickly he tore +open coats and searched pockets. He ran his fingers along the fingers of the +dead. Two rings had rewarded his search and he was busy with a third that +encircled the finger of a body that lay beneath three others. It would not come +off. He pulled and tugged, and then he drew a knife from his pocket. +</p> + +<p> +But he did not sever the digit. Instead he shrank back with a muffled scream of +terror. The corpse that he would have mutilated had staggered suddenly to its +feet, flinging the dead bodies to one side as it rose. +</p> + +<p> +“You fiend!” broke from the lips of the dead man, and the ghoul +turned and fled, gibbering in his fright. +</p> + +<p> +The tramp of soldiers in the street beyond ceased suddenly at the sound from +within the factory yard. It was a detail of the guard marching to the relief of +sentries. A moment later the gates swung open and a score of soldiers entered. +They saw a figure dodging toward the wall a dozen paces from them, but they did +not see the other that ran swiftly around the corner of the factory. +</p> + +<p> +This other was Barney Custer of Beatrice. When the command to fire had been +given to the squad of riflemen, a single bullet had creased the top of his +head, stunning him. All day he had lain there unconscious. It had been the +tugging of the ghoul at his ring that had roused him to life at last. +</p> + +<p> +Behind him, as he scurried around the end of the factory building, he heard the +scattering fire of half a dozen rifles, followed by a scream—the fleeing +hyena had been hit. Barney crouched in the shadow of a pile of junk. He heard +the voices of soldiers as they gathered about the wounded man, questioning him, +and a moment later the imperious tones of an officer issuing instructions to +his men to search the yard. That he must be discovered seemed a certainty to +the American. He crouched further back in the shadows close to the wall, +stepping with the utmost caution. +</p> + +<p> +Presently to his chagrin his foot touched the metal cover of a manhole; there +was a resultant rattling that smote upon Barney’s ears and nerves with +all the hideous clatter of a boiler shop. He halted, petrified, for an instant. +He was no coward, but after being so near death, life had never looked more +inviting, and he knew that to be discovered meant certain extinction this time. +</p> + +<p> +The soldiers were circling the building. Already he could hear them nearing his +position. In another moment they would round the corner of the building and be +upon him. For an instant he contemplated a bold rush for the fence. In fact, he +had gathered himself for the leaping start and the quick sprint across the open +under the noses of the soldiers who still remained beside the dying ghoul, when +his mind suddenly reverted to the manhole beneath his feet. Here lay a hiding +place, at least until the soldiers had departed. +</p> + +<p> +Barney stooped and raised the heavy lid, sliding it to one side. How deep was +the black chasm beneath he could not even guess. Doubtless it led into a coal +bunker, or it might open over a pit of great depth. There was no way to +discover other than to plumb the abyss with his body. Above was +death—below, a chance of safety. +</p> + +<p> +The soldiers were quite close when Barney lowered himself through the manhole. +Clinging with his fingers to the upper edge his feet still swung in space. How +far beneath was the bottom? He heard the scraping of the heavy shoes of the +searchers close above him, and then he closed his eyes, released the grasp of +his fingers, and dropped. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap16"></a>IV.<br /> +A RACE TO LUTHA</h2> + +<p> +Barney’s fall was not more than four or five feet. He found himself upon +a slippery floor of masonry over which two or three inches of water ran +sluggishly. Above him he heard the soldiers pass the open manhole. It was +evident that in the darkness they had missed it. +</p> + +<p> +For a few minutes the fugitive remained motionless, then, hearing no sounds +from above he started to grope about his retreat. Upon two sides were blank, +circular walls, upon the other two circular openings about four feet in +diameter. It was through these openings that the tiny stream of water trickled. +</p> + +<p> +Barney came to the conclusion that he had dropped into a sewer. To get out the +way he had entered appeared impossible. He could not leap upward from the +slimy, concave bottom the distance he had dropped. To follow the sewer upward +would lead him nowhere nearer escape. There remained no hope but to follow the +trickling stream downward toward the river, into which his judgment told him +the entire sewer system of the city must lead. +</p> + +<p> +Stooping, he entered the ill-smelling circular conduit, groping his way slowly +along. As he went the water deepened. It was half way to his knees when he +plunged unexpectedly into another tube running at right angles to the first. +The bottom of this tube was lower than that of the one which emptied into it, +so that Barney now found himself in a swiftly running stream of filth that +reached above his knees. Downward he followed this flood—faster now for +the fear of the deadly gases which might overpower him before he could reach +the river. +</p> + +<p> +The water deepened gradually as he went on. At last he reached a point where, +with his head scraping against the roof of the sewer, his chin was just above +the surface of the stream. A few more steps would be all that he could take in +this direction without drowning. Could he retrace his way against the swift +current? He did not know. He was weakened from the effects of his wound, from +lack of food and from the exertions of the past hour. Well, he would go on as +far as he could. The river lay ahead of him somewhere. Behind was only the +hostile city. +</p> + +<p> +He took another step. His foot found no support. He surged backward in an +attempt to regain his footing, but the power of the flood was too much for him. +He was swept forward to plunge into water that surged above his head as he +sank. An instant later he had regained the surface and as his head emerged he +opened his eyes. +</p> + +<p> +He looked up into a starlit heaven! He had reached the mouth of the sewer and +was in the river. For a moment he lay still, floating upon his back to rest. +Above him he heard the tread of a sentry along the river front, and the sound +of men’s voices. +</p> + +<p> +The sweet, fresh air, the star-shot void above, acted as a powerful tonic to +his shattered hopes and overwrought nerves. He lay inhaling great lungsful of +pure, invigorating air. He listened to the voices of the Austrian soldiery +above him. All the buoyancy of his inherent Americanism returned to him. +</p> + +<p> +“This is no place for a minister’s son,” he murmured, and +turning over struck out for the opposite shore. The river was not wide, and +Barney was soon nearing the bank along which he could see occasional camp +fires. Here, too, were Austrians. He dropped down-stream below these, and at +last approached the shore where a wood grew close to the water’s edge. +The bank here was steep, and the American had some difficulty in finding a +place where he could clamber up the precipitous wall of rock. But finally he +was successful, finding himself in a little clump of bushes on the +river’s brim. Here he lay resting and listening—always listening. +It seemed to Barney that his ears ached with the constant strain of unflagging +duty that his very existence demanded of them. +</p> + +<p> +Hearing nothing, he crawled at last from his hiding place with the purpose of +making his way toward the south and to the frontier as rapidly as possible. He +could hope only to travel by night, and he guessed that this night must be +nearly spent. Stooping, he moved cautiously away from the river. Through the +shadows of the wood he made his way for perhaps a hundred yards when he was +suddenly confronted by a figure that stepped from behind the bole of a tree. +</p> + +<p> +“Halt! Who goes there?” came the challenge. +</p> + +<p> +Barney’s heart stood still. With all his care he had run straight into +the arms of an Austrian sentry. To run would be to be shot. To advance would +mean capture, and that too would mean death. +</p> + +<p> +For the barest fraction of an instant he hesitated, and then his quick American +wits came to his aid. Feigning intoxication he answered the challenge in +dubious Austrian that he hoped his maudlin tongue would excuse. +</p> + +<p> +“Friend,” he answered thickly. “Friend with a +drink—have one?” And he staggered drunkenly forward, banking all +upon the credulity and thirst of the soldier who confronted him with fixed +bayonet. +</p> + +<p> +That the sentry was both credulous and thirsty was evidenced by the fact that +he let Barney come within reach of his gun. Instantly the drunken Austrian was +transformed into a very sober and active engine of destruction. Seizing the +barrel of the piece Barney jerked it to one side and toward him, and at the +same instant he leaped for the throat of the sentry. +</p> + +<p> +So quickly was this accomplished that the Austrian had time only for a single +cry, and that was choked in his windpipe by the steel fingers of the American. +Together both men fell heavily to the ground, Barney retaining his hold upon +the other’s throat. +</p> + +<p> +Striking and clutching at one another they fought in silence for a couple of +minutes, then the soldier’s struggles began to weaken. He squirmed and +gasped for breath. His mouth opened and his tongue protruded. His eyes started +from their sockets. Barney closed his fingers more tightly upon the bearded +throat. He rained heavy blows upon the upturned face. The beating fists of his +adversary waved wildly now—the blows that reached Barney were pitifully +weak. Presently they ceased. The man struggled violently for an instant, +twitched spasmodically and lay still. +</p> + +<p> +Barney clung to him for several minutes longer, until there was not the +slightest indication of remaining life. The perpetration of the deed sickened +him; but he knew that his act was warranted, for it had been either his life or +the other’s. He dragged the body back to the bushes in which he had been +hiding. There he stripped off the Austrian uniform, put his own clothes upon +the corpse and rolled it into the river. +</p> + +<p> +Dressed as an Austrian private, Barney Custer shouldered the dead +soldier’s gun and walked boldly through the wood to the south. +Momentarily he expected to run upon other soldiers, but though he kept straight +on his way for hours he encountered none. The thin line of sentries along the +river had been posted only to double the preventive measures that had been +taken to keep Serbian spies either from entering or leaving the city. +</p> + +<p> +Toward dawn, at the darkest period of the night, Barney saw lights ahead of +him. Apparently he was approaching a village. He went more cautiously now, but +all his care did not prevent him from running for the second time that night +almost into the arms of a sentry. This time, however, Barney saw the soldier +before he himself was discovered. It was upon the edge of the town, in an +orchard, that the sentinel was posted. Barney, approaching through the trees, +darting from one to another, was within a few paces of the man before he saw +him. +</p> + +<p> +The American remained quietly in the shadow of a tree waiting for an +opportunity to escape, but before it came he heard the approach of a small body +of troops. They were coming from the village directly toward the orchard. They +passed the sentry and marched within a dozen feet of the tree behind which +Barney was hiding. +</p> + +<p> +As they came opposite him he slipped around the tree to the opposite side. The +sentry had resumed his pacing, and was now out of sight momentarily among the +trees further on. He could not see the American, but there were others who +could. They came in the shape of a non-commissioned officer and a detachment of +the guard to relieve the sentry. Barney almost bumped into them as he rounded +the tree. There was no escape—the non-commissioned officer was within two +feet of him when Barney discovered him. “What are you doing here?” +shouted the sergeant with an oath. “Your post is there,” and he +pointed toward the position where Barney had seen the sentry. +</p> + +<p> +At first Barney could scarce believe his ears. In the darkness the sergeant had +mistaken him for the sentinel! Could he carry it out? And if so might it not +lead him into worse predicament? No, Barney decided, nothing could be worse. To +be caught masquerading in the uniform of an Austrian soldier within the +Austrian lines was to plumb the uttermost depth of guilt—nothing that he +might do now could make his position worse. +</p> + +<p> +He faced the sergeant, snapping his piece to present, hoping that this was the +proper thing to do. Then he stumbled through a brief excuse. The officer in +command of the troops that had just passed had demanded the way of him, and he +had but stepped a few paces from his post to point out the road to his +superior. +</p> + +<p> +The sergeant grunted and ordered him to fall in. Another man took his place on +duty. They were far from the enemy and discipline was lax, so the thing was +accomplished which under other circumstances would have been well nigh +impossible. A moment later Barney found himself marching back toward the +village, to all intents and purposes an Austrian private. +</p> + +<p> +Before a low, windowless shed that had been converted into barracks for the +guard, the detail was dismissed. The men broke ranks and sought their blankets +within the shed, tired from their lonely vigil upon sentry duty. +</p> + +<p> +Barney loitered until the last. All the others had entered. He dared not, for +he knew that any moment the sentry upon the post from which he had been taken +would appear upon the scene, after discovering another of his comrades. He was +certain to inquire of the sergeant. They would be puzzled, of course, and, +being soldiers, they would be suspicious. There would be an investigation, +which would start in the barracks of the guard. That neighborhood would at once +become a most unhealthy spot for Barney Custer, of Beatrice, Nebraska. +</p> + +<p> +When the last of the soldiers had entered the shed Barney glanced quickly +about. No one appeared to notice him. He walked directly past the doorway to +the end of the building. Around this he found a yard, deeply shadowed. He +entered it, crossed it, and passed out into an alley beyond. At the first +cross-street his way was blocked by the sight of another sentry—the world +seemed composed entirely of Austrian sentries. Barney wondered if the entire +Austrian army was kept perpetually upon sentry duty; he had scarce been able to +turn without bumping into one. +</p> + +<p> +He turned back into the alley and at last found a crooked passageway between +buildings that he hoped might lead him to a spot where there was no sentry, and +from which he could find his way out of the village toward the south. The +passage, after devious windings, led into a large, open court, but when Barney +attempted to leave the court upon the opposite side he found the ubiquitous +sentries upon guard there. +</p> + +<p> +Evidently there would be no escape while the Austrians remained in the town. +There was nothing to do, therefore, but hide until the happy moment of their +departure arrived. He returned to the courtyard, and after a short search +discovered a shed in one corner that had evidently been used to stable a horse, +for there was straw at one end of it and a stall in the other. Barney sat down +upon the straw to wait developments. Tired nature would be denied no longer. +His eyes closed, his head drooped upon his breast. In three minutes from the +time he entered the shed he was stretched full length upon the straw, fast +asleep. +</p> + +<p> +The chugging of a motor awakened him. It was broad daylight. Many sounds came +from the courtyard without. It did not take Barney long to gather his scattered +wits—in an instant he was wide awake. He glanced about. He was the only +occupant of the shed. Rising, he approached a small window that looked out upon +the court. All was life and movement. A dozen military cars either stood about +or moved in and out of the wide gates at the opposite end of the enclosure. +Officers and soldiers moved briskly through a doorway that led into a large +building that flanked the court upon one side. While Barney slept the +headquarters of an Austrian army corps had moved in and taken possession of the +building, the back of which abutted upon the court where lay his modest little +shed. +</p> + +<p> +Barney took it all in at a single glance, but his eyes hung long and greedily +upon the great, high-powered machines that chugged or purred about him. +</p> + +<p> +Gad! If he could but be behind the wheel of such a car for an hour! The +frontier could not be over fifty miles to the south, of that he was quite +positive; and what would fifty miles be to one of those machines? +</p> + +<p> +Barney sighed as a great, gray-painted car whizzed into the courtyard and +pulled up before the doorway. Two officers jumped out and ran up the steps. The +driver, a young man in a uniform not unlike that which Barney wore, drew the +car around to the end of the courtyard close beside Barney’s shed. Here +he left it and entered the building into which his passengers had gone. By +reaching through the window Barney could have touched the fender of the +machine. A few seconds’ start in that and it would take more than an +Austrian army corps to stop him this side of the border. Thus mused Barney, +knowing already that the mad scheme that had been born within his brain would +be put to action before he was many minutes older. +</p> + +<p> +There were many soldiers on guard about the courtyard. The greatest danger lay +in arousing the suspicions of one of these should he chance to see Barney +emerge from the shed and enter the car. +</p> + +<p> +“The proper thing,” thought Barney, “is to come from the +building into which everyone seems to pass, and the only way to be seen coming +out of it is to get into it; but how the devil am I to get into it?” +</p> + +<p> +The longer he thought the more convinced he became that utter recklessness and +boldness would be his only salvation. Briskly he walked from the shed out into +the courtyard beneath the eyes of the sentries, the officers, the soldiers, and +the military drivers. He moved straight among them toward the doorway of the +headquarters as though bent upon important business—which, indeed, he +was. At least it was quite the most important business to Barney Custer that +that young gentleman could recall having ventured upon for some time. +</p> + +<p> +No one paid the slightest attention to him. He had left his gun in the shed for +he noticed that only the men on guard carried them. Without an instant’s +hesitation he ran briskly up the short flight of steps and entered the +headquarters building. Inside was another sentry who barred his way +questioningly. Evidently one must state one’s business to this person +before going farther. Barney, without any loss of time or composure, stepped up +to the guard. +</p> + +<p> +“Has General Kampf passed in this morning?” he asked blithely. +Barney had never heard of any “General Kampf,” nor had the sentry, +since there was no such person in the Austrian army. But he did know, however, +that there were altogether too many generals for any one soldier to know the +names of them all. +</p> + +<p> +“I do not know the general by sight,” replied the sentry. +</p> + +<p> +Here was a pretty mess, indeed. Doubtless the sergeant would know a great deal +more than would be good for Barney Custer. The young man looked toward the door +through which he had just entered. His sole object in coming into the +spider’s parlor had been to make it possible for him to come out again in +full view of all the guards and officers and military chauffeurs, that their +suspicions might not be aroused when he put his contemplated coup to the test. +</p> + +<p> +He glanced toward the door. Machines were whizzing in and out of the courtyard. +Officers on foot were passing and repassing. The sentry in the hallway was on +the point of calling his sergeant. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah!” cried Barney. “There is the general now,” and +without waiting to cast even a parting glance at the guard he stepped quickly +through the doorway and ran down the steps into the courtyard. Looking neither +to right nor to left, and with a convincing air of self-confidence and +important business, he walked directly to the big, gray machine that stood +beside the little shed at the end of the courtyard. +</p> + +<p> +To crank it and leap to the driver’s seat required but a moment. The big +car moved smoothly forward. A turn of the steering wheel brought it around +headed toward the wide gates. Barney shifted to second speed, stepped on the +accelerator and the cut-out simultaneously, and with a noise like the rattle of +a machine gun, shot out of the courtyard. +</p> + +<p> +None who saw his departure could have guessed from the manner of it that the +young man at the wheel of the gray car was stealing the machine or that his +life depended upon escape without detection. It was the very boldness of his +act that crowned it with success. +</p> + +<p> +Once in the street Barney turned toward the south. Cars were passing up and +down in both directions, usually at high speed. Their numbers protected the +fugitive. Momentarily he expected to be halted; but he passed out of the +village without mishap and reached a country road which, except for a lane down +its center along which automobiles were moving, was blocked with troops +marching southward. Through this soldier-walled lane Barney drove for half an +hour. +</p> + +<p> +From a great distance, toward the southeast, he could hear the boom of cannon +and the bursting of shells. Presently the road forked. The troops were moving +along the road on the left toward the distant battle line. Not a man or machine +was turning into the right fork, the road toward the south that Barney wished +to take. +</p> + +<p> +Could he successfully pass through the marching soldiers at his right? Among +all those officers there surely would be one who would question the purpose and +destination of this private soldier who drove alone in the direction of the +nearby frontier. +</p> + +<p> +The moment had come when he must stake everything on his ability to gain the +open road beyond the plodding mass of troops. Diminishing the speed of the car +Barney turned it in toward the marching men at the same time sounding his horn +loudly. An infantry captain, marching beside his company, was directly in front +of the car. He looked up at the American. Barney saluted and pointed toward the +right-hand fork. +</p> + +<p> +The captain turned and shouted a command to his men. Those who had not passed +in front of the car halted. Barney shot through the little lane they had +opened, which immediately closed up behind him. He was through! He was upon the +open road! Ahead, as far as he could see, there was no sign of any living +creature to bar his way, and the frontier could not be more than twenty-five +miles away. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap17"></a>V.<br /> +THE TRAITOR KING</h2> + +<p> +In his castle at Lustadt, Leopold of Lutha paced nervously back and forth +between his great desk and the window that overlooked the royal gardens. Upon +the opposite side of the desk stood an old man—a tall, straight, old man +with the bearing of a soldier and the head of a lion. His keen, gray eyes were +upon the king, and sorrow was written upon his face. He was Ludwig von der +Tann, chancellor of the kingdom of Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +At last the king stopped his pacing and faced the old man, though he could not +meet those eagle eyes squarely, try as he would. It was his inability to do so, +possibly, that added to his anger. Weak himself, he feared this strong man and +envied him his strength, which, in a weak nature, is but a step from hatred. +There evidently had been a long pause in their conversation, yet the +king’s next words took up the thread of their argument where it had +broken. +</p> + +<p> +“You speak as though I had no right to do it,” he snapped. +“One might think that you were the king from the manner with which you +upbraid and reproach me. I tell you, Prince von der Tann, that I shall stand it +no longer.” +</p> + +<p> +The king approached the desk and pounded heavily upon its polished surface with +his fist. The physical act of violence imparted to him a certain substitute for +the moral courage which he lacked. +</p> + +<p> +“I will tell you, sir, that I am king. It was not necessary that I +consult you or any other man before pardoning Prince Peter and his associates. +I have investigated the matter thoroughly and I am convinced that they have +been taught a sufficient lesson and that hereafter they will be my most loyal +subjects.” +</p> + +<p> +He hesitated. “Their presence here,” he added, “may prove an +antidote to the ambitions of others who lately have taken it upon themselves to +rule Lutha for me.” +</p> + +<p> +There was no mistaking the king’s meaning, but Prince Ludwig did not show +by any change of expression that the shot had struck him in a vulnerable spot; +nor, upon the other hand, did he ignore the insinuation. There was only sorrow +in his voice when he replied. +</p> + +<p> +“Sire,” he said, “for some time I have been aware of the +activity of those who would like to see Peter of Blentz returned to favor with +your majesty. I have warned you, only to see that my motives were always +misconstrued. There is a greater power at work, your majesty, than any of +us—greater than Lutha itself. One that will stop at nothing in order to +gain its ends. It cares naught for Peter of Blentz, naught for me, naught for +you. It cares only for Lutha. For strategic purposes it must have Lutha. It +will trample you under foot to gain its end, and then it will cast Peter of +Blentz aside. You have insinuated, sire, that I am ambitious. I am. I am +ambitious to maintain the integrity and freedom of Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +“For three hundred years the Von der Tanns have labored and fought for +the welfare of Lutha. It was a Von der Tann that put the first Rubinroth king +upon the throne of Lutha. To the last they were loyal to the former dynasty +while that dynasty was loyal to Lutha. Only when the king attempted to sell the +freedom of his people to a powerful neighbor did the Von der Tanns rise against +him. +</p> + +<p> +“Sire! the Von der Tanns have always been loyal to the house of +Rubinroth. And but a single thing rises superior within their breasts to that +loyalty, and that is their loyalty to Lutha.” He paused for an instant +before concluding. “And I, sire, am a Von der Tann.” +</p> + +<p> +There could be no mistaking the old man’s meaning. So long as Leopold was +loyal to his people and their interests Ludwig von der Tann would be loyal to +Leopold. The king was cowed. He was very much afraid of this grim old warrior. +He chafed beneath his censure. +</p> + +<p> +“You are always scolding me,” he cried irritably. “I am +getting tired of it. And now you threaten me. Do you call that loyalty? Do you +call it loyalty to refuse to compel your daughter to keep her plighted troth? +If you wish to prove your loyalty command the Princess Emma to fulfil the +promise you made my father—command her to wed me at once.” +</p> + +<p> +Von der Tann looked the king straight in the eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot do that,” he said. “She has told me that she will +kill herself rather than wed with your majesty. She is all I have left, sire. +What good would be accomplished by robbing me of her if you could not gain her +by the act? Win her confidence and love, sire. It may be done. Thus only may +happiness result to you and to her.” +</p> + +<p> +“You see,” exclaimed the king, “what your loyalty amounts to! +I believe that you are saving her for the impostor—I have heard as much +hinted at before this. Nor do I doubt that she would gladly connive with the +fellow if she thought there was a chance of his seizing the throne.” +</p> + +<p> +Von der Tann paled. For the first time righteous indignation and anger got the +better of him. He took a step toward the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Stop!” he commanded. “No man, not even my king, may speak +such words to a Von der Tann.” +</p> + +<p> +In an antechamber just outside the room a man sat near the door that led into +the apartment where the king and his chancellor quarreled. He had been +straining his ears to catch the conversation which he could hear rising and +falling in the adjoining chamber, but till now he had been unsuccessful. Then +came Prince Ludwig’s last words booming loudly through the paneled door, +and the man smiled. He was Count Zellerndorf, the Austrian minister to Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +The king’s outraged majesty goaded him to an angry retort. +</p> + +<p> +“You forget yourself, Prince von der Tann,” he cried. “Leave +our presence. When we again desire to be insulted we shall send for you.” +</p> + +<p> +As the chancellor passed into the antechamber Count Zellerndorf rose and +greeted him warmly, almost effusively. Von der Tann returned his salutations +with courtesy but with no answering warmth. Then he passed on out of the +palace. +</p> + +<p> +“The old fox must have heard,” he mused as he mounted his horse and +turned his face toward Tann and the Old Forest. +</p> + +<p> +When Count Zellerndorf of Austria entered the presence of Leopold of Lutha he +found that young ruler much disturbed. He had resumed his restless pacing +between desk and window, and as the Austrian entered he scarce paused to +receive his salutation. Count Zellerndorf was a frequent visitor at the palace. +There were few formalities between this astute diplomat and the young king; +those had passed gradually away as their acquaintance and friendship ripened. +</p> + +<p> +“Prince Ludwig appeared angry when he passed through the +antechamber,” ventured Zellerndorf. “Evidently your majesty found +cause to rebuke him.” +</p> + +<p> +The king nodded and looked narrowly at the Austrian. “The Prince von der +Tann insinuated that Austria’s only wish in connection with Lutha is to +seize her,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +Zellerndorf raised his hands in well-simulated horror. +</p> + +<p> +“Your majesty!” he exclaimed. “It cannot be that the prince +has gone to such lengths to turn you against your best friend, my emperor. If +he has I can only attribute it to his own ambitions. I have hesitated to speak +to you of this matter, your majesty, but now that the honor of my own ruler is +questioned I must defend him. +</p> + +<p> +“Bear with me then, should what I have to say wound you. I well know the +confidence which the house of Von der Tann has enjoyed for centuries in Lutha; +but I must brave your wrath in the interest of right. I must tell you that it +is common gossip in Vienna that Von der Tann aspires to the throne of Lutha +either for himself or for his daughter through the American impostor who once +sat upon your throne for a few days. And let me tell you more. +</p> + +<p> +“The American will never again menace you—he was arrested in +Burgova as a spy and executed. He is dead; but not so are Von der Tann’s +ambitions. When he learns that he no longer may rely upon the strain of the +Rubinroth blood that flowed in the veins of the American from his royal mother, +the runaway Princess Victoria, there will remain to him only the other +alternative of seizing the throne for himself. He is a very ambitious man, your +majesty. Already he has caused it to become current gossip that he is the real +power behind the throne of Lutha—that your majesty is but a figure-head, +the puppet of Von der Tann.” +</p> + +<p> +Zellerndorf paused. He saw the flush of shame and anger that suffused the +king’s face, and then he shot the bolt that he had come to fire, but +which he had not dared to hope would find its target so denuded of defense. +</p> + +<p> +“Your majesty,” he whispered, coming quite close to the king, +“all Lutha is inclined to believe that you fear Prince von der Tann. Only +a few of us know the truth to be the contrary. For the sake of your prestige +you must take some step to counteract this belief and stamp it out for good and +all. I have planned a way—hear it. +</p> + +<p> +“Von der Tann’s hatred of Peter of Blentz is well known. No man in +Lutha believes that he would permit you to have any intercourse with Peter. I +have brought from Blentz an invitation to your majesty to honor the Blentz +prince with your presence as a guest for the ensuing week. Accept it, your +majesty. +</p> + +<p> +“Nothing could more conclusively prove to the most skeptical that you are +still the king, and that Von der Tann, nor any other, may not dare to dictate +to you. It will be the most splendid stroke of statesmanship that you could +achieve at the present moment.” +</p> + +<p> +For an instant the king stood in thought. He still feared Peter of Blentz as +the devil is reputed to fear holy water, though for converse reasons. Yet he +was very angry with Von der Tann. It would indeed be an excellent way to teach +the presumptuous chancellor his place. +</p> + +<p> +Leopold almost smiled as he thought of the chagrin with which Prince Ludwig +would receive the news that he had gone to Blentz as the guest of Peter. It was +the last impetus that was required by his weak, vindictive nature to press it +to a decision. +</p> + +<p> +“Very well,” he said, “I will go tomorrow.” +</p> + +<p> +It was late the following day that Prince von der Tann received in his castle +in the Old Forest word that an Austrian army had crossed the Luthanian +frontier—the neutrality of Lutha had been violated. The old chancellor +set out immediately for Lustadt. At the palace he sought an interview with the +king only to learn that Leopold had departed earlier in the day to visit Peter +of Blentz. +</p> + +<p> +There was but one thing to do and that was to follow the king to Blentz. Some +action must be taken immediately—it would never do to let this breach of +treaty pass unnoticed. +</p> + +<p> +The Serbian minister who had sent word to the chancellor of the invasion by the +Austrian troops was closeted with him for an hour after his arrival at the +palace. It was clear to both these men that the hand of Zellerndorf was plainly +in evidence in both the important moves that had occurred in Lutha within the +past twenty-four hours—the luring of the king to Blentz and the entrance +of Austrian soldiery into Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +Following his interview with the Serbian minister Von der Tann rode toward +Blentz with only his staff in attendance. It was long past midnight when the +lights of the town appeared directly ahead of the little party. They rode at a +trot along the road which passes through the village to wind upward again +toward the ancient feudal castle that looks down from its hilltop upon the +town. +</p> + +<p> +At the edge of the village Von der Tann was thunderstruck by a challenge from a +sentry posted in the road, nor was his dismay lessened when he discovered that +the man was an Austrian. +</p> + +<p> +“What is the meaning of this?” he cried angrily. “What are +Austrian soldiers doing barring the roads of Lutha to the chancellor of +Lutha?” +</p> + +<p> +The sentry called an officer. The latter was extremely suave. He regretted the +incident, but his orders were most positive—no one could be permitted to +pass through the lines without an order from the general commanding. He would +go at once to the general and see if he could procure the necessary order. +Would the prince be so good as to await his return? Von der Tann turned on the +young officer, his face purpling with rage. +</p> + +<p> +“I will pass nowhere within the boundaries of Lutha,” he said, +“upon the order of an Austrian. You may tell your general that my only +regret is that I have not with me tonight the necessary force to pass through +his lines to my king—another time I shall not be so handicapped,” +and Ludwig, Prince von der Tann, wheeled his mount and spurred away in the +direction of Lustadt, at his heels an extremely angry and revengeful staff. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap18"></a>VI.<br /> +A TRAP IS SPRUNG</h2> + +<p> +Long before Prince von der Tann reached Lustadt he had come to the conclusion +that Leopold was in virtue a prisoner in Blentz. To prove his conclusion he +directed one of his staff to return to Blentz and attempt to have audience with +the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Risk anything,” he instructed the officer to whom he had entrusted +the mission. “Submit, if necessary, to the humiliation of seeking an +Austrian pass through the lines to the castle. See the king at any cost and +deliver this message to him and to him alone and secretly. Tell him my fears, +and that if I do not have word from him within twenty-four hours I shall assume +that he is indeed a prisoner. +</p> + +<p> +“I shall then direct the mobilization of the army and take such steps as +seem fit to rescue him and drive the invaders from the soil of Lutha. If you do +not return I shall understand that you are held prisoner by the Austrians and +that my worst fears have been realized.” +</p> + +<p> +But Prince Ludwig was one who believed in being forehanded and so it happened +that the orders for the mobilization of the army of Lutha were issued within +fifteen minutes of his return to Lustadt. It would do no harm, thought the old +man, with a grim smile, to get things well under way a day ahead of time. This +accomplished, he summoned the Serbian minister, with what purpose and to what +effect became historically evident several days later. When, after twenty-four +hours’ absence, his aide had not returned from Blentz, the chancellor had +no regrets for his forehandedness. +</p> + +<p> +In the castle of Peter of Blentz the king of Lutha was being entertained +royally. He was told nothing of the attempt of his chancellor to see him, nor +did he know that a messenger from Prince von der Tann was being held a prisoner +in the camp of the Austrians in the village. He was surrounded by the creatures +of Prince Peter and by Peter’s staunch allies, the Austrian minister and +the Austrian officers attached to the expeditionary force occupying the town. +They told him that they had positive information that the Serbians already had +crossed the frontier into Lutha, and that the presence of the Austrian troops +was purely for the protection of Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +It was not until the morning following the rebuff of Prince von der Tann that +Peter of Blentz, Count Zellerndorf and Maenck heard of the occurrence. They +were chagrined by the accident, for they were not ready to deliver their final +stroke. The young officer of the guard had, of course, but followed his +instructions—who would have thought that old Von der Tann would come to +Blentz! That he suspected their motives seemed apparent, and now that his +rebuff at the gates had aroused his ire and, doubtless, crystallized his +suspicions, they might find in him a very ugly obstacle to the fruition of +their plans. +</p> + +<p> +With Von der Tann actively opposed to them, the value of having the king upon +their side would be greatly minimized. The people and the army had every +confidence in the old chancellor. Even if he opposed the king there was reason +to believe that they might still side with him. +</p> + +<p> +“What is to be done?” asked Zellerndorf. “Is there no way +either to win or force Von der Tann to acquiescence?” +</p> + +<p> +“I think we can accomplish it,” said Prince Peter, after a moment +of thought. “Let us see Leopold. His mind has been prepared to receive +almost gratefully any insinuations against the loyalty of Von der Tann. With +proper evidence the king may easily be persuaded to order the +chancellor’s arrest—possibly his execution as well.” +</p> + +<p> +So they saw the king, only to meet a stubborn refusal upon the part of Leopold +to accede to their suggestions. He still was madly in love with Von der +Tann’s daughter, and he knew that a blow delivered at her father would +only tend to increase her bitterness toward him. The conspirators were +nonplussed. +</p> + +<p> +They had looked for a comparatively easy road to the consummation of their +desires. What in the world could be the cause of the king’s stubborn +desire to protect the man they knew he feared, hated, and mistrusted with all +the energy of his suspicious nature? It was the king himself who answered their +unspoken question. +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot believe in the disloyalty of Prince Ludwig,” he said, +“nor could I, even if I desired it, take such drastic steps as you +suggest. Some day the Princess Emma, his daughter, will be my queen.” +</p> + +<p> +Count Zellerndorf was the first to grasp the possibilities that lay in the +suggestion the king’s words carried. +</p> + +<p> +“Your majesty,” he cried, “there is a way to unite all +factions in Lutha. It would be better to insure the loyalty of Von der Tann +through bonds of kinship than to antagonize him. Marry the Princess Emma at +once. +</p> + +<p> +“Wait, your majesty,” he added, as Leopold raised an objecting +hand. “I am well informed as to the strange obstinacy of the princess, +but for the welfare of the state—yes, for the sake of your very throne, +sire—you should exert your royal prerogatives and command the Princess +Emma to carry out the terms of your betrothal.” +</p> + +<p> +“What do you mean, Zellerndorf?” asked the king. +</p> + +<p> +“I mean, sire, that we should bring the princess here and compel her to +marry you.” +</p> + +<p> +Leopold shook his head. “You do not know her,” he said. “You +do not know the Von der Tann nature—one cannot force a Von der +Tann.” +</p> + +<p> +“Pardon, sire,” urged Zellerndorf, “but I think it can be +accomplished. If the Princess Emma knew that your majesty believed her father +to be a traitor—that the order for his arrest and execution but awaited +your signature—I doubt not that she would gladly become queen of Lutha, +with her father’s life and liberty as a wedding gift.” +</p> + +<p> +For several minutes no one spoke after Count Zellerndorf had ceased. Leopold +sat looking at the toe of his boot. Peter of Blentz, Maenck, and the Austrian +watched him intently. The possibilities of the plan were sinking deep into the +minds of all four. At last the king rose. He was mumbling to himself as though +unconscious of the presence of the others. +</p> + +<p> +“She is a stubborn jade,” he mumbled. “It would be an +excellent lesson for her. She needs to be taught that I am her king,” and +then as though his conscience required a sop, “I shall be very good to +her. Afterward she will be happy.” He turned toward Zellerndorf. +“You think it can be done?” +</p> + +<p> +“Most assuredly, your majesty. We shall take immediate steps to fetch the +Princess Emma to Blentz,” and the Austrian rose and backed from the +apartment lest the king change his mind. Prince Peter and Maenck followed him. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +Princess Emma von der Tann sat in her boudoir in her father’s castle in +the Old Forest. Except for servants, she was alone in the fortress, for Prince +von der Tann was in Lustadt. Her mind was occupied with memories of the young +American who had entered her life under such strange circumstances two years +before—memories that had been awakened by the return of Lieutenant Otto +Butzow to Lutha. He had come directly to her father and had been attached to +the prince’s personal staff. +</p> + +<p> +From him she had heard a great deal about Barney Custer, and the old interest, +never a moment forgotten during these two years, was reawakened to all its +former intensity. +</p> + +<p> +Butzow had accompanied Prince Ludwig to Lustadt, but Princess Emma would not go +with them. For two years she had not entered the capital, and much of that +period had been spent in Paris. Only within the past fortnight had she returned +to Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +In the middle of the morning her reveries were interrupted by the entrance of a +servant bearing a message. She had to read it twice before she could realize +its purport; though it was plainly worded—the shock of it had stunned +her. It was dated at Lustadt and signed by one of the palace functionaries: +</p> + +<p> +Prince von der Tann has suffered a slight stroke. Do not be alarmed, but come +at once. The two troopers who bear this message will act as your escort. +</p> + +<p> +It required but a few minutes for the girl to change to her riding clothes, and +when she ran down into the court she found her horse awaiting her in the hands +of her groom, while close by two mounted troopers raised their hands to their +helmets in salute. +</p> + +<p> +A moment later the three clattered over the drawbridge and along the road that +leads toward Lustadt. The escort rode a short distance behind the girl, and +they were hard put to it to hold the mad pace which she set them. +</p> + +<p> +A few miles from Tann the road forks. One branch leads toward the capital and +the other winds over the hills in the direction of Blentz. The fork occurs +within the boundaries of the Old Forest. Great trees overhang the winding road, +casting a twilight shade even at high noon. It is a lonely spot, far from any +habitation. +</p> + +<p> +As the Princess Emma approached the fork she reined in her mount, for across +the road to Lustadt a dozen horsemen barred her way. At first she thought +nothing of it, turning her horse’s head to the righthand side of the road +to pass the party, all of whom were in uniform; but as she did so one of the +men reined directly in her path. The act was obviously intentional. +</p> + +<p> +The girl looked quickly up into the man’s face, and her own went white. +He who stopped her way was Captain Ernst Maenck. She had not seen the man for +two years, but she had good cause to remember him as the governor of the castle +of Blentz and the man who had attempted to take advantage of her helplessness +when she had been a prisoner in Prince Peter’s fortress. Now she looked +straight into the fellow’s eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“Let me pass, please,” she said coldly. +</p> + +<p> +“I am sorry,” replied Maenck with an evil smile; “but the +king’s orders are that you accompany me to Blentz—the king is +there.” +</p> + +<p> +For answer the girl drove her spur into her mount’s side. The animal +leaped forward, striking Maenck’s horse on the shoulder and half turning +him aside, but the man clutched at the girl’s bridle-rein, and, seizing +it, brought her to a stop. +</p> + +<p> +“You may as well come voluntarily, for come you must,” he said. +“It will be easier for you.” +</p> + +<p> +“I shall not come voluntarily,” she replied. “If you take me +to Blentz you will have to take me by force, and if my king is not sufficiently +a gentleman to demand an accounting of you, I am at least more fortunate in the +possession of a father who will.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your father will scarce wish to question the acts of his king,” +said Maenck—“his king and the husband of his daughter.” +</p> + +<p> +“What do you mean?” she cried. +</p> + +<p> +“That before you are many hours older, your highness, you will be queen +of Lutha.” +</p> + +<p> +The Princess Emma turned toward her tardy escort that had just arrived upon the +scene. +</p> + +<p> +“This person has stopped me,” she said, “and will not permit +me to continue toward Lustadt. Make a way for me; you are armed!” +</p> + +<p> +Maenck smiled. “Both of them are my men,” he explained. +</p> + +<p> +The girl saw it all now—the whole scheme to lure her to Blentz. Even +then, though, she could not believe the king had been one of the conspirators +of the plot. +</p> + +<p> +Weak as he was he was still a Rubinroth, and it was difficult for a Von der +Tann to believe in the duplicity of a member of the house they had served so +loyally for centuries. With bowed head the princess turned her horse into the +road that led toward Blentz. Half the troopers preceded her, the balance +following behind. +</p> + +<p> +Maenck wondered at the promptness of her surrender. +</p> + +<p> +“To be a queen—ah! that was the great temptation,” he thought +but he did not know what was passing in the girl’s mind. She had seen +that escape for the moment was impossible, and so had decided to bide her time +until a more propitious chance should come. In silence she rode among her +captors. The thought of being brought to Blentz alive was unbearable. +</p> + +<p> +Somewhere along the road there would be an opportunity to escape. Her horse was +fleet; with a short start he could easily outdistance these heavier cavalry +animals and as a last resort she could—she must—find some way to +end her life, rather than to be dragged to the altar beside Leopold of Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +Since childhood Emma von der Tann had ridden these hilly roads. She knew every +lane and bypath for miles around. She knew the short cuts, the gullies and +ravines. She knew where one might, with a good jumper, save a wide detour, and +as she rode toward Blentz she passed in review through her mind each of the +many spots where a sudden break for liberty might have the best chance to +succeed. +</p> + +<p> +And at last she hit upon the place where a quick turn would take her from the +main road into the roughest sort of going for one not familiar with the trail. +Maenck and his soldiers had already partially relaxed their vigilance. The +officer had come to the conclusion that his prisoner was resigned to her fate +and that, after all, the fate of being forced to be queen did not appear so +dark to her. +</p> + +<p> +They had wound up a wooded hill and were half way up to the summit. The +princess was riding close to the right-hand side of the road. Quite suddenly, +and before a hand could be raised to stay her, she wheeled her mount between +two trees, struck home her spur, and was gone into the wood upon the steep +hillside. +</p> + +<p> +With an oath, Maenck cried to his men to be after her. He himself spurred into +the forest at the point where the girl had disappeared. So sudden had been her +break for liberty and so quickly had the foliage swallowed her that there was +something almost uncanny in it. +</p> + +<p> +A hundred yards from the road the trees were further apart, and through them +the pursuers caught a glimpse of their quarry. The girl was riding like mad +along the rough, uneven hillside. Her mount, surefooted as a chamois, seemed in +his element. But two of the horses of her pursuers were as swift, and under the +cruel spurs of their riders were closing up on their fugitive. The girl urged +her horse to greater speed, yet still the two behind closed in. +</p> + +<p> +A hundred yards ahead lay a deep and narrow gully, hid by bushes that grew +rankly along its verge. Straight toward this the Princess Emma von der Tann +rode. Behind her came her pursuers—two quite close and the others +trailing farther in the rear. The girl reined in a trifle, letting the troopers +that were closest to her gain until they were but a few strides behind, then +she put spur to her horse and drove him at topmost speed straight toward the +gully. At the bushes she spoke a low word in his backlaid ears, raised him +quickly with the bit, leaning forward as he rose in air. Like a bird that +animal took the bushes and the gully beyond, while close behind him crashed the +two luckless troopers. +</p> + +<p> +Emma von der Tann cast a single backward glance over her shoulder, as her horse +regained his stride upon the opposite side of the gully, to see her two +foremost pursuers plunging headlong into it. Then she shook free her reins and +gave her mount his head along a narrow trail that both had followed many times +before. +</p> + +<p> +Behind her, Maenck and the balance of his men came to a sudden stop at the edge +of the gully. Below them one of the troopers was struggling to his feet. The +other lay very still beneath his motionless horse. With an angry oath Maenck +directed one of his men to remain and help the two who had plunged over the +brink, then with the others he rode along the gully searching for a crossing. +</p> + +<p> +Before they found one their captive was a mile ahead of them, and, barring +accident, quite beyond recapture. She was making for a highway that would lead +her to Lustadt. Ordinarily she had been wont to bear a little to the north-east +at this point and strike back into the road that she had just left; but today +she feared to do so lest she be cut off before she gained the north and south +highroad which the other road crossed a little farther on. +</p> + +<p> +To her right was a small farm across which she had never ridden, for she always +had made it a point never to trespass upon fenced grounds. On the opposite side +of the farm was a wood, and somewhere beyond that a small stream which the +highroad crossed upon a little bridge. It was all new country to her, but it +must be ventured. +</p> + +<p> +She took the fence at the edge of the clearing and then reined in a moment to +look behind her. A mile away she saw the head and shoulders of a horseman above +some low bushes—the pursuers had found a way through the gully. +</p> + +<p> +Turning once more to her flight the girl rode rapidly across the fields toward +the wood. Here she found a high wire fence so close to thickly growing trees +upon the opposite side that she dared not attempt to jump it—there was no +point at which she would not have been raked from the saddle by overhanging +boughs. Slipping to the ground she attacked the barrier with her bare hands, +attempting to tear away the staples that held the wire in place. For several +minutes she surged and tugged upon the unyielding metal strand. An occasional +backward glance revealed to her horrified eyes the rapid approach of her +enemies. One of them was far in advance of the others—in another moment +he would be upon her. +</p> + +<p> +With redoubled fury she turned again to the fence. A superhuman effort brought +away a staple. One wire was down and an instant later two more. Standing with +one foot upon the wires to keep them from tangling about her horse’s +legs, she pulled her mount across into the wood. The foremost horseman was +close upon her as she finally succeeded in urging the animal across the fallen +wires. +</p> + +<p> +The girl sprang to her horse’s side just as the man reached the fence. +The wires, released from her weight, sprang up breast high against his horse. +He leaped from the saddle the instant that the girl was swinging into her own. +Then the fellow jumped the fence and caught her bridle. +</p> + +<p> +She struck at him with her whip, lashing him across the head and face, but he +clung tightly, dragged hither and thither by the frightened horse, until at +last he managed to reach the girl’s arm and drag her to the ground. +</p> + +<p> +Almost at the same instant a man, unkempt and disheveled, sprang from behind a +tree and with a single blow stretched the trooper unconscious upon the ground. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap19"></a>VII.<br /> +BARNEY TO THE RESCUE</h2> + +<p> +As Barney Custer raced along the Austrian highroad toward the frontier and +Lutha, his spirits rose to a pitch of buoyancy to which they had been strangers +for the past several days. For the first time in many hours it seemed possible +to Barney to entertain reasonable hopes of escape from the extremely dangerous +predicament into which he had gotten himself. +</p> + +<p> +He was even humming a gay little tune as he drove into a tiny hamlet through +which the road wound. No sign of military appeared to fill him with +apprehension. He was very hungry and the odor of cooking fell gratefully upon +his nostrils. He drew up before the single inn, and presently, washed and +brushed, was sitting before the first meal he had seen for two days. In the +enjoyment of the food he almost forgot the dangers he had passed through, or +that other dangers might be lying in wait for him at his elbow. +</p> + +<p> +From the landlord he learned that the frontier lay but three miles to the south +of the hamlet. Three miles! Three miles to Lutha! What if there was a price +upon his head in that kingdom? It was HER home. It had been his mother’s +birthplace. He loved it. +</p> + +<p> +Further, he must enter there and reach the ear of old Prince von der Tann. Once +more he must save the king who had shown such scant gratitude upon another +occasion. +</p> + +<p> +For Leopold, Barney Custer did not give the snap of his fingers; but what +Leopold, the king, stood for in the lives and sentiments of the +Luthanians—of the Von der Tanns—was very dear to the American +because it was dear to a trim, young girl and to a rugged, leonine, old man, of +both of whom Barney was inordinately fond. And possibly, too, it was dear to +him because of the royal blood his mother had bequeathed him. +</p> + +<p> +His meal disposed of to the last morsel, and paid for, Barney entered the +stolen car and resumed his journey toward Lutha. That he could remain there he +knew to be impossible, but in delivering his news to Prince Ludwig he might +have an opportunity to see the Princess Emma once again—it would be worth +risking his life for, of that he was perfectly satisfied. And then he could go +across into Serbia with the new credentials that he had no doubt Prince von der +Tann would furnish him for the asking to replace those the Austrians had +confiscated. +</p> + +<p> +At the frontier Barney was halted by an Austrian customs officer; but when the +latter recognized the military car and the Austrian uniform of the driver he +waved him through without comment. Upon the other side the American expected +possible difficulty with the Luthanian customs officer, but to his surprise he +found the little building deserted, and none to bar his way. At last he was in +Lutha—by noon on the following day he should be at Tann. +</p> + +<p> +To reach the Old Forest by the best roads it was necessary to bear a little to +the southeast, passing through Tafelberg and striking the north and south +highway between that point and Lustadt, to which he could hold until reaching +the east and west road that runs through both Tann and Blentz on its way across +the kingdom. +</p> + +<p> +The temptation to stop for a few minutes in Tafelberg for a visit with his old +friend Herr Kramer was strong, but fear that he might be recognized by others, +who would not guard his secret so well as the shopkeeper of Tafelberg would, +decided him to keep on his way. So he flew through the familiar main street of +the quaint old village at a speed that was little, if any less, than fifty +miles an hour. +</p> + +<p> +On he raced toward the south, his speed often necessarily diminished upon the +winding mountain roads, but for the most part clinging to a reckless mileage +that caused the few natives he encountered to flee to the safety of the +bordering fields, there to stand in open-mouthed awe. +</p> + +<p> +Halfway between Tafelberg and the crossroad into which he purposed turning to +the west toward Tann there is an S-curve where the bases of two small hills +meet. The road here is narrow and treacherous—fifteen miles an hour is +almost a reckless speed at which to travel around the curves of the S. Beyond +are open fields upon either side of the road. +</p> + +<p> +Barney took the turns carefully and had just emerged into the last leg of the S +when he saw, to his consternation, a half-dozen Austrian infantrymen lolling +beside the road. An officer stood near them talking with a sergeant. To turn +back in that narrow road was impossible. He could only go ahead and trust to +his uniform and the military car to carry him safely through. Before he reached +the group of soldiers the fields upon either hand came into view. They were +dotted with tents, wagons, motor-vans and artillery. What did it mean? What was +this Austrian army doing in Lutha? +</p> + +<p> +Already the officer had seen him. This was doubtless an outpost, however +clumsily placed it might be for strategic purposes. To pass it was +Barney’s only hope. He had passed through one Austrian army—why not +another? He approached the outpost at a moderate rate of speed—to tear +toward it at the rate his heart desired would be to awaken not suspicion only +but positive conviction that his purposes and motives were ulterior. +</p> + +<p> +The officer stepped toward the road as though to halt him. Barney pretended to +be fussing with some refractory piece of controlling mechanism beneath the +cowl—apparently he did not see the officer. He was just opposite him when +the latter shouted to him. Barney straightened up quickly and saluted, but did +not stop. +</p> + +<p> +“Halt!” cried the officer. +</p> + +<p> +Barney pointed down the road in the direction in which he was headed. +</p> + +<p> +“Halt!” repeated the officer, running to the car. +</p> + +<p> +Barney glanced ahead. Two hundred yards farther on was another +post—beyond that he saw no soldiers. He turned and shouted a volley of +intentionally unintelligible jargon at the officer, continuing to point ahead +of him. +</p> + +<p> +He hoped to confuse the man for the few seconds necessary for him to reach the +last post. If the soldiers there saw that he had been permitted to pass through +the first they doubtless would not hinder his further passage. That they were +watching him Barney could see. +</p> + +<p> +He had passed the officer now. There was no necessity for dalliance. He pressed +the accelerator down a trifle. The car moved forward at increased speed. A +final angry shout broke from the officer behind him, followed by a quick +command. Barney did not have to wait long to learn the tenor of the order, for +almost immediately a shot sounded from behind and a bullet whirred above his +head. Another shot and another followed. +</p> + +<p> +Barney was pressing the accelerator downward to the limit. The car responded +nobly—there was no sputtering, no choking. Just a rapid rush of +increasing momentum as the machine gained headway by leaps and bounds. +</p> + +<p> +The bullets were ripping the air all about him. Just ahead the second outpost +stood directly in the center of the road. There were three soldiers and they +were taking deliberate aim, as carefully as though upon the rifle range. It +seemed to Barney that they couldn’t miss him. He swerved the car suddenly +from one side of the road to the other. At the rate that it was going the move +was fraught with but little less danger than the supine facing of the leveled +guns ahead. +</p> + +<p> +The three rifles spoke almost simultaneously. The glass of the windshield +shattered in Barney’s face. There was a hole in the left-hand front +fender that had not been there before. +</p> + +<p> +“Rotten shooting,” commented Barney Custer, of Beatrice. +</p> + +<p> +The soldiers still stood in the center of the road firing at the swaying car +as, lurching from side to side, it bore down upon them. Barney sounded the +raucous military horn; but the soldiers seemed unconscious of their +danger—they still stood there pumping lead toward the onrushing +Juggernaut. At the last instant they attempted to rush from its path; but they +were too late. +</p> + +<p> +At over sixty miles an hour the huge, gray monster bore down upon them. One of +them fell beneath the wheels—the two others were thrown high in air as +the bumper struck them. The body of the man who had fallen beneath the wheels +threw the car half way across the road—only iron nerve and strong arms +held it from the ditch upon the opposite side. +</p> + +<p> +Barney Custer had never been nearer death than at that moment—not even +when he faced the firing squad before the factory wall in Burgova. He had done +that without a tremor—he had heard the bullets of the outpost whistling +about his head a moment before, with a smile upon his lips—he had faced +the leveled rifles of the three he had ridden down and he had not quailed. But +now, his machine in the center of the road again, he shook like a leaf, still +in the grip of the sickening nausea of that awful moment when the mighty, +insensate monster beneath him had reeled drunkenly in its mad flight, swerving +toward the ditch and destruction. +</p> + +<p> +For a few minutes he held to his rapid pace before he looked around, and then +it was to see two cars climbing into the road from the encampment in the field +and heading toward him in pursuit. Barney grinned. Once more he was master of +his nerves. They’d have a merry chase, he thought, and again he +accelerated the speed of the car. Once before he had had it up to seventy-five +miles, and for a moment, when he had had no opportunity to even glance at the +speedometer, much higher. Now he was to find the maximum limit of the +possibilities of the brave car he had come to look upon with real affection. +</p> + +<p> +The road ahead was comparatively straight and level. Behind him came the enemy. +Barney watched the road rushing rapidly out of sight beneath the gray fenders. +He glanced occasionally at the speedometer. Seventy-five miles an hour. +Seventy-seven! “Going some,” murmured Barney as he saw the needle +vibrate up to eighty. Gradually he nursed her up and up to greater speed. +</p> + +<p> +Eighty-five! The trees were racing by him in an indistinct blur of green. The +fences were thin, wavering lines—the road a white-gray ribbon, ironed by +the terrific speed to smooth unwrinkledness. He could not take his eyes from +the business of steering to glance behind; but presently there broke faintly +through the whir of the wind beating against his ears the faint report of a +gun. He was being fired upon again. He pressed down still further upon the +accelerator. The car answered to the pressure. The needle rose steadily until +it reached ninety miles an hour—and topped it. +</p> + +<p> +Then from somewhere in the radiator hose a hissing and a spurt of steam. Barney +was dumbfounded. He had filled the cooling system at the inn where he had +eaten. It had been working perfectly before and since. What could have +happened? There could be but a single explanation. A bullet from the gun of one +of the three men who had attempted to stop him at the second outpost had +penetrated the radiator, and had slowly drained it. +</p> + +<p> +Barney knew that the end was near, since the usefulness of the car in +furthering his escape was over. At the speed he was going it would be but a +short time before the superheated pistons expanding in their cylinders would +tear the motor to pieces. Barney felt that he would be lucky if he himself were +not killed when it happened. +</p> + +<p> +He reduced his speed and glanced behind. His pursuers had not gained upon him, +but they still were coming. A bend in the road shut them from his view. A +little way ahead the road crossed over a river upon a wooden bridge. On the +opposite side and to the right of the road was a wood. It seemed to offer the +most likely possibilities of concealment in the vicinity. If he could but throw +his pursuers off the trail for a while he might succeed in escaping through the +wood, eventually reaching Tann on foot. He had a rather hazy idea of the exact +direction of the town and castle, but that he could find them eventually he was +sure. +</p> + +<p> +The sight of the river and the bridge he was nearing suggested a plan, and the +ominous grating of the overheated motor warned him that whatever he was to do +he must do at once. As he neared the bridge he reduced the speed of the car to +fifteen miles an hour, and set the hand throttle to hold it there. Still +gripping the steering wheel with one hand, he climbed over the left-hand door +to the running board. As the front wheels of the car ran up onto the bridge +Barney gave the steering wheel a sudden turn to the right, and jumped. +</p> + +<p> +The car veered toward the wooden handrail, there was a splintering of +stanchions, as, with a crash, the big machine plunged through them headforemost +into the river. Without waiting to give even a glance at his handiwork Barney +Custer ran across the bridge, leaped the fence upon the right-hand side and +plunged into the shelter of the wood. +</p> + +<p> +Then he turned to look back up the road in the direction from which his +pursuers were coming. They were not in sight—they had not seen his ruse. +The water in the river was of sufficient depth to completely cover the +car—no sign of it appeared above the surface. +</p> + +<p> +Barney turned into the wood smiling. His scheme had worked well. The occupants +of the two cars following him might not note the broken handrail, or, if they +did, might not connect it with Barney in any way. In this event they would +continue in the direction of Lustadt, wondering what in the world had become of +their quarry. Or, if they guessed that his car had gone over into the river, +they would doubtless believe that its driver had gone with it. In either event +Barney would be given ample time to find his way to Tann. +</p> + +<p> +He wished that he might find other clothes, since if he were dressed otherwise +there would be no reason to imagine that his pursuers would recognize him +should they come upon him. None of them could possibly have gained a +sufficiently good look at his features to recognize them again. +</p> + +<p> +The Austrian uniform, however, would convict him, or at least lay him under +suspicion, and in Barney’s present case, suspicion was as good as +conviction were he to fall into the hands of the Austrians. The garb had served +its purpose well in aiding in his escape from Austria, but now it was more of a +menace than an asset. +</p> + +<p> +For a week Barney Custer wandered through the woods and mountains of Lutha. He +did not dare approach or question any human being. Several times he had seen +Austrian cavalry that seemed to be scouring the country for some purpose that +the American could easily believe was closely connected with himself. At least +he did not feel disposed to stop them, as they cantered past his hiding place, +to inquire the nature of their business. +</p> + +<p> +Such farmhouses as he came upon he gave a wide berth except at night, and then +he only approached them stealthily for such provender as he might filch. Before +the week was up he had become an expert chicken thief, being able to rob a +roost as quietly as the most finished carpetbagger on the sunny side of Mason +and Dixon’s line. +</p> + +<p> +A careless housewife, leaving her lord and master’s rough shirt and +trousers hanging upon the line overnight, had made possible for Barney the +coveted change in raiment. Now he was barged as a Luthanian peasant. He was +hatless, since the lady had failed to hang out her mate’s woolen cap, and +Barney had not dared retain a single vestige of the damning Austrian uniform. +</p> + +<p> +What the peasant woman thought when she discovered the empty line the following +morning Barney could only guess, but he was morally certain that her grief was +more than tempered by the gold piece he had wrapped in a bit of cloth torn from +the soldier’s coat he had worn, which he pinned on the line where the +shirt and pants had been. +</p> + +<p> +It was somewhere near noon upon the seventh day that Barney skirting a little +stream, followed through the concealing shade of a forest toward the west. In +his peasant dress he now felt safer to approach a farmhouse and inquire his way +to Tann, for he had come a sufficient distance from the spot where he had +stolen his new clothes to hope that they would not be recognized or that the +news of their theft had not preceded him. +</p> + +<p> +As he walked he heard the sound of the feet of a horse galloping over a dry +field—muffled, rapid thud approaching closer upon his right hand. Barney +remained motionless. He was sure that the rider would not enter the wood which, +with its low-hanging boughs and thick underbrush, was ill adapted to +equestrianism. +</p> + +<p> +Closer and closer came the sound until it ceased suddenly scarce a hundred +yards from where the American hid. He waited in silence to discover what would +happen next. Would the rider enter the wood on foot? What was his purpose? Was +it another Austrian who had by some miracle discovered the whereabouts of the +fugitive? Barney could scarce believe it possible. +</p> + +<p> +Presently he heard another horse approaching at the same mad gallop. He heard +the sound of rapid, almost frantic efforts of some nature where the first horse +had come to a stop. He heard a voice urging the animal forward—pleading, +threatening. A woman’s voice. Barney’s excitement became intense in +sympathy with the subdued excitement of the woman whom he could not as yet see. +</p> + +<p> +A moment later the second rider came to a stop at the same point at which the +first had reined in. A man’s voice rose roughly. “Halt!” it +cried. “In the name of the king, halt!” The American could no +longer resist the temptation to see what was going on so close to him “in +the name of the king.” +</p> + +<p> +He advanced from behind his tree until he saw the two figures—a +man’s and a woman’s. Some bushes intervened—he could not get +a clear view of them, yet there was something about the figure of the woman, +whose back was toward him as she struggled to mount her frightened horse, that +caused him to leap rapidly toward her. He rounded a tree a few paces from her +just as the man—a trooper in the uniform of the house of +Blentz—caught her arm and dragged her from the saddle. At the same +instant Barney recognized the girl—it was Princess Emma. +</p> + +<p> +Before either the trooper or the princess were aware of his presence he had +leaped to the man’s side and dealt him a blow that stretched him at full +length upon the ground—stunned. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap20"></a>VIII.<br /> +AN ADVENTUROUS DAY</h2> + +<p> +For an instant the two stood looking at one another. The girl’s eyes were +wide with incredulity, with hope, with fear. She was the first to break the +silence. +</p> + +<p> +“Who are you?” she breathed in a half whisper. +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t wonder that you ask,” returned the man. “I +must look like a scarecrow. I’m Barney Custer. Don’t you remember +me now? Who did you think I was?” +</p> + +<p> +The girl took a step toward him. Her eyes lighted with relief. +</p> + +<p> +“Captain Maenck told me that you were dead,” she said, “that +you had been shot as a spy in Austria, and then there is that uncanny +resemblance to the king—since he has shaved his beard it is infinitely +more remarkable. I thought you might be he. He has been at Blentz and I knew +that it was quite possible that he had discovered treachery upon the part of +Prince Peter. In which case he might have escaped in disguise. I really +wasn’t sure that you were not he until you spoke.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney stooped and removed the bandoleer of cartridges from the fallen trooper, +as well as his revolver and carbine. Then he took the girl’s hand and +together they turned into the wood. Behind them came the sound of pursuit. They +heard the loud words of Maenck as he ordered his three remaining men into the +wood on foot. As he advanced, Barney looked to the magazine of his carbine and +the cylinder of his revolver. +</p> + +<p> +“Why were they pursuing you?” he asked. +</p> + +<p> +“They were taking me to Blentz to force me to wed Leopold,” she +replied. “They told me that my father’s life depended upon my +consenting; but I should not have done so. The honor of my house is more +precious than the life of any of its members. I escaped them a few miles back, +and they were following to overtake me.” +</p> + +<p> +A noise behind them caused Barney to turn. One of the troopers had come into +view. He carried his carbine in his hands and at sight of the man with the +fugitive girl he raised it to his shoulder; but as the American turned toward +him his eyes went wide and his jaw dropped. +</p> + +<p> +Instantly Barney knew that the fellow had noted his resemblance to the king. +Barney’s body was concealed from the view of the other by a bush which +grew between them, so the man saw only the face of the American. The fellow +turned and shouted to Maenck: “The king is with her.” +</p> + +<p> +“Nonsense,” came the reply from farther back in the wood. “If +there is a man with her and he will not surrender, shoot him.” At the +words Barney and the girl turned once more to their flight. From behind came +the command to halt—“Halt! or I fire.” Just ahead Barney saw +the river. +</p> + +<p> +They were sure to be taken there if he was unable to gain the time necessary to +make good a crossing. Upon the opposite side was a continuation of the wood. +Behind them the leading trooper was crashing through the underbrush in renewed +pursuit. He came in sight of them again, just as they reached the river bank. +Once more his carbine was leveled. Barney pushed the girl to her knees behind a +bush. Then he wheeled and fired, so quickly that the man with the already +leveled gun had no time to anticipate his act. +</p> + +<p> +With a cry the fellow threw his hands above his head, staggered forward and +plunged full length upon his face. Barney gathered the princess in his arms and +plunged into the shallow stream. The girl held his carbine as he stumbled over +the rocky bottom. The water deepened rapidly—the opposite shore seemed a +long way off and behind there were three more enemies in hot pursuit. +</p> + +<p> +Under ordinary circumstances Barney could have found it in his heart to wish +the little Luthanian river as broad as the Mississippi, for only under such +circumstances as these could he ever hope to hold the Princess Emma in his +arms. Two years before she had told him that she loved him; but at the same +time she had given him to understand that their love was hopeless. She might +refuse to wed the king; but that she should ever wed another while the king +lived was impossible, unless Leopold saw fit to release her from her betrothal +to him and sanction her marriage to another. That he ever would do this was to +those who knew him not even remotely possible. +</p> + +<p> +He loved Emma von der Tann and he hated Barney Custer—hated him with a +jealous hatred that was almost fanatic in its intensity. And even that the +Princess Emma von der Tann would wed him were she free to wed was a question +that was not at all clear in the mind of Barney Custer. He knew something of +the traditions of this noble family—of the pride of caste, of the fetish +of blood that inexorably dictated the ordering of their lives. +</p> + +<p> +The girl had just said that the honor of her house was more precious than the +life of any of its members. How much more precious would it be to her than her +own material happiness! Barney Custer sighed and struggled through the swirling +waters that were now above his hips. If he pressed the lithe form closer to him +than necessity demanded, who may blame him? +</p> + +<p> +The girl, whose face was toward the bank they had just quitted, gave no +evidence of displeasure if she noted the fierce pressure of his muscles. Her +eyes were riveted upon the wood behind. Presently a man emerged. He called to +them in a loud and threatening tone. +</p> + +<p> +Barney redoubled his Herculean efforts to gain the opposite bank. He was in +midstream now and the water had risen to his waist. The girl saw Maenck and the +other trooper emerge from the underbrush beside the first. Maenck was crazed +with anger. He shook his fist and screamed aloud his threatening commands to +halt, and then, of a sudden, gave an order to one of the men at his side. +Immediately the fellow raised his carbine and fired at the escaping couple. +</p> + +<p> +The bullet struck the water behind them. At the sound of the report the girl +raised the gun she held and leveled it at the group behind her. She pulled the +trigger. There was a sharp report, and one of the troopers fell. Then she fired +again, quickly, and again and again. She did not score another hit, but she had +the satisfaction of seeing Maenck and the last of his troopers dodge back to +the safety of protecting trees. +</p> + +<p> +“The cowards!” muttered Barney as the enemy’s shot announced +his sinister intention; “they might have hit your highness.” +</p> + +<p> +The girl did not reply until she had ceased firing. +</p> + +<p> +“Captain Maenck is notoriously a coward,” she said. “He is +hiding behind a tree now with one of his men—I hit the other.” +</p> + +<p> +“You hit one of them!” exclaimed Barney enthusiastically. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes,” said the girl. “I have shot a man. I often wondered +what the sensation must be to have done such a thing. I should feel terribly, +but I don’t. They were firing at you, trying to shoot you in the back +while you were defenseless. I am not sorry—I cannot be; but I only wish +that it had been Captain Maenck.” +</p> + +<p> +In a short time Barney reached the bank and, helping the girl up, climbed to +her side. A couple of shots followed them as they left the river, but did not +fall dangerously near. Barney took the carbine and replied, then both of them +disappeared into the wood. +</p> + +<p> +For the balance of the day they tramped on in the direction of Lustadt, making +but little progress owing to the fear of apprehension. They did not dare +utilize the high road, for they were still too close to Blentz. Their only hope +lay in reaching the protection of Prince von der Tann before they should be +recaptured by the king’s emissaries. At dusk they came to the outskirts +of a town. Here they hid until darkness settled, for Barney had determined to +enter the place after dark and hire horses. +</p> + +<p> +The American marveled at the bravery and endurance of the girl. He had always +supposed that a princess was so carefully guarded from fatigue and privation +all her life that the least exertion would prove her undoing; but no hardy +peasant girl could have endured more bravely the hardships and dangers through +which the Princess Emma had passed since the sun rose that morning. +</p> + +<p> +At last darkness came, and with it they approached and entered the village. +They kept to unlighted side streets until they met a villager, of whom they +inquired their way to some private house where they might obtain refreshments. +The fellow scrutinized them with evident suspicion. +</p> + +<p> +“There is an inn yonder,” he said, pointing toward the main street. +“You can obtain food there. Why should respectable folk want to go +elsewhere than to the public inn? And if you are afraid to go there you must +have very good reasons for not wanting to be seen, and—” he stopped +short as though assailed by an idea. “Wait,” he cried, excitedly, +“I will go and see if I can find a place for you. Wait right here,” +and off he ran toward the inn. +</p> + +<p> +“I don’t like the looks of that,” said Barney, after the man +had left them. “He’s gone to report us to someone. Come, we’d +better get out of here before he comes back.” +</p> + +<p> +The two turned up a side street away from the inn. They had gone but a short +distance when they heard the sound of voices and the thud of horses’ feet +behind them. The horses were coming at a walk and with them were several men on +foot. Barney took the princess’ hand and drew her up a hedge bordered +driveway that led into private grounds. In the shadows of the hedge they waited +for the party behind them to pass. It might be no one searching for them, but +it was just as well to be on the safe side—they were still near Blentz. +Before the men reached their hiding place a motor car followed and caught up +with them, and as the party came opposite the driveway Barney and the princess +overheard a portion of their conversation. +</p> + +<p> +“Some of you go back and search the street behind the inn—they may +not have come this way.” The speaker was in the motor car. “We will +follow along this road for a bit and then turn into the Lustadt highway. If you +don’t find them go back along the road toward Tann.” +</p> + +<p> +In her excitement the Princess Emma had not noticed that Barney Custer still +held her hand in his. Now he pressed it. “It is Maenck’s +voice,” he whispered. “Every road will be guarded.” +</p> + +<p> +For a moment he was silent, thinking. The searching party had passed on. They +could still hear the purring of the motor as Maenck’s car moved slowly up +the street. +</p> + +<p> +“This is a driveway,” murmured Barney. “People who build +driveways into their grounds usually have something to drive. Whatever it is it +should be at the other end of the driveway. Let’s see if it will carry +two.” +</p> + +<p> +Still in the shadow of the hedge they moved cautiously toward the upper end of +the private road until presently they saw a building looming in their path. +</p> + +<p> +“A garage?” whispered Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“Or a barn,” suggested the princess. +</p> + +<p> +“In either event it should contain something that can go,” returned +the American. “Let us hope that it can go +like—like—ah—the wind.” +</p> + +<p> +“And carry two,” supplemented the princess. +</p> + +<p> +“Wait here,” said Barney. “If I get caught, run. Whatever +happens you mustn’t be caught.” +</p> + +<p> +Princess Emma dropped back close to the hedge and Barney approached the +building, which proved to be a private garage. The doors were locked, as also +were the three windows. Barney passed entirely around the structure halting at +last upon the darkest side. Here was a window. Barney tried to loosen the catch +with the blade of his pocket knife, but it wouldn’t unfasten. His +endeavors resulted only in snapping short the blade of his knife. For a moment +he stood contemplating the baffling window. He dared not break the glass for +fear of arousing the inmates of the house which, though he could not see it, +might be close at hand. +</p> + +<p> +Presently he recalled a scene he had witnessed on State Street in Chicago +several years before—a crowd standing before the window of a +jeweler’s shop inspecting a neat little hole that a thief had cut in the +glass with a diamond and through which he had inserted his hand and brought +forth several hundred dollars worth of loot. But Barney Custer wore no +diamond—he would as soon have worn a celluloid collar. But women wore +diamonds. Doubtless the Princess Emma had one. He ran quickly to her side. +</p> + +<p> +“Have you a diamond ring?” he whispered. +</p> + +<p> +“Gracious!” she exclaimed, “you are progressing +rapidly,” and slipped a solitaire from her finger to his hand. +</p> + +<p> +“Thanks,” said Barney. “I need the practice; but wait and +you’ll see that a diamond may be infinitely more valuable than even the +broker claims,” and he was gone again into the shadows of the garage. +Here upon the window pane he scratched a rough deep circle, close to the catch. +A quick blow sent the glass clattering to the floor within. For a minute Barney +stood listening for any sign that the noise had attracted attention, but +hearing nothing he ran his hand through the hole that he had made and unlatched +the frame. A moment later he had crawled within. +</p> + +<p> +Before him, in the darkness, stood a roadster. He ran his hand over the pedals +and levers, breathing a sigh of relief as his touch revealed the familiar +control of a standard make. Then he went to the double doors. They opened +easily and silently. +</p> + +<p> +Once outside he hastened to the side of the waiting girl. +</p> + +<p> +“It’s a machine,” he whispered. “We must both be in it +when it leaves the garage—it’s the through express for Lustadt and +makes no stops for passengers or freight.” +</p> + +<p> +He led her back to the garage and helped her into the seat beside him. As +silently as possible he ran the machine into the driveway. A hundred yards to +the left, half hidden by intervening trees and shrubbery, rose the dark bulk of +a house. A subdued light shone through the drawn blinds of several +windows—the only sign of life about the premises until the car had +cleared the garage and was moving slowly down the driveway. Then a door opened +in the house letting out a flood of light in which the figure of a man was +silhouetted. A voice broke the silence. +</p> + +<p> +“Who are you? What are you doing there? Come back!” +</p> + +<p> +The man in the doorway called excitedly, “Friedrich! Come! Come quickly! +Someone is stealing the automobile,” and the speaker came running toward +the driveway at top speed. Behind him came Friedrich. Both were shouting, +waving their arms and threatening. Their combined din might have aroused the +dead. +</p> + +<p> +Barney sought speed—silence now was useless. He turned to the left into +the street away from the center of the town. In this direction had gone the +automobile with Maenck, but by taking the first righthand turn Barney hoped to +elude the captain. In a moment Friedrich and the other were hopelessly +distanced. It was with a sigh of relief that the American turned the car into +the dark shadows beneath the overarching trees of the first cross street. +</p> + +<p> +He was running without lights along an unknown way; and beside him was the most +precious burden that Barney Custer might ever expect to carry. Under these +circumstances his speed was greatly reduced from what he would have wished, but +at that he was forced to accept grave risks. The road might end abruptly at the +brink of a ravine—it might swerve perilously close to a stone +quarry—or plunge headlong into a pond or river. Barney shuddered at the +possibilities; but nothing of the sort happened. The street ran straight out of +the town into a country road, rather heavy with sand. In the open the +possibilities of speed were increased, for the night, though moonless, was +clear, and the road visible for some distance ahead. +</p> + +<p> +The fugitives were congratulating themselves upon the excellent chance they now +had to reach Lustadt. There was only Maenck and his companion ahead of them in +the other car, and as there were several roads by which one might reach the +main highway the chances were fair that Prince Peter’s aide would miss +them completely. +</p> + +<p> +Already escape seemed assured when the pounding of horses’ hoofs upon the +roadway behind them arose to blast their new found hope. Barney increased the +speed of the car. It leaped ahead in response to his foot; but the road was +heavy, and the sides of the ruts gripping the tires retarded the speed. For a +mile they held the lead of the galloping horsemen. The shouts of their pursuers +fell clearly upon their ears, and the Princess Emma, turning in her seat, could +easily see the four who followed. At last the car began to draw away—the +distance between it and the riders grew gradually greater. +</p> + +<p> +“I believe we are going to make it,” whispered the girl, her voice +tense with excitement. “If you could only go a little faster, Mr. Custer, +I’m sure that we will.” +</p> + +<p> +“She’s reached her limit in this sand,” replied the man, +“and there’s a grade just ahead—we may find better going +beyond, but they’re bound to gain on us before we reach the top.” +</p> + +<p> +The girl strained her eyes into the night before them. On the right of the road +stood an ancient ruin—grim and forbidding. As her eyes rested upon it she +gave a little exclamation of relief. +</p> + +<p> +“I know where we are now,” she cried. “The hill ahead is +sandy, and there is a quarter of a mile of sand beyond, but then we strike the +Lustadt highway, and if we can reach it ahead of them their horses will have to +go ninety miles an hour to catch us—provided this car possesses any such +speed possibilities.” +</p> + +<p> +“If it can go forty we are safe enough,” replied Barney; “but +we’ll give it a chance to go as fast as it can—the farther we are +from the vicinity of Blentz the safer I shall feel for the welfare of your +highness.” +</p> + +<p> +A shot rang behind them, and a bullet whistled high above their heads. The +princess seized the carbine that rested on the seat between them. +</p> + +<p> +“Shall I?” she asked, turning its muzzle back over the lowered top. +</p> + +<p> +“Better not,” answered the man. “They are only trying to +frighten us into surrendering—that shot was much too high to have been +aimed at us—they are shooting over our heads purposely. If they +deliberately attempt to pot us later, then go for them, but to do it now would +only draw their fire upon us. I doubt if they wish to harm your highness, but +they certainly would fire to hit in self-defense.” +</p> + +<p> +The girl lowered the firearm. “I am becoming perfectly +bloodthirsty,” she said, “but it makes me furious to be hunted like +a wild animal in my native land, and by the command of my king, at that. And to +think that you who placed him upon his throne, you who have risked your life +many times for him, will find no protection at his hands should you be captured +is maddening. Ach, Gott, if I were a man!” +</p> + +<p> +“I thank God that you are not, your highness,” returned Barney +fervently. +</p> + +<p> +Gently she laid her hand upon his where it gripped the steering wheel. +</p> + +<p> +“No,” she said, “I was wrong—I do not need to be a man +while there still be such men as you, my friend; but I would that I were not +the unhappy woman whom Fate had bound to an ingrate king—to a miserable +coward!” +</p> + +<p> +They had reached the grade at last, and the motor was straining to the +Herculean task imposed upon it. +</p> + +<p> +Grinding and grating in second speed the car toiled upward through the clinging +sand. The pace was snail-like. Behind, the horsemen were gaining rapidly. The +labored breathing of their mounts was audible even above the noise of the +motor, so close were they. The top of the ascent lay but a few yards ahead, and +the pursuers were but a few yards behind. +</p> + +<p> +“Halt!” came from behind, and then a shot. The ping of the bullet +and the scream of the ricochet warned the man and the girl that those behind +them were becoming desperate—the bullet had struck one of the rear +fenders. Without again asking assent the princess turned and, kneeling upon the +cushion of the seat, fired at the nearest horseman. The horse stumbled and +plunged to his knees. Another, just behind, ran upon him, and the two rolled +over together with their riders. Two more shots were fired by the remaining +horsemen and answered by the girl in the automobile, and then the car topped +the hill, shot into high, and with renewed speed forged into the last +quarter-mile of heavy going toward the good road ahead; but now the grade was +slightly downward and all the advantage was upon the side of the fugitives. +</p> + +<p> +However, their margin would be but scant when they reached the highway, for +behind them the remaining troopers were spurring their jaded horses to a final +spurt of speed. At last the white ribbon of the main road became visible. To +the right they saw the headlights of a machine. It was Maenck probably, +doubtless attracted their way by the shooting. +</p> + +<p> +But the machine was a mile away and could not possibly reach the intersection +of the two roads before they had turned to the left toward Lustadt. Then the +incident would resolve itself into a simple test of speed between the two +cars—and the ability and nerve of the drivers. Barney hadn’t the +slightest doubt now as to the outcome. His borrowed car was a good one, in good +condition. And in the matter of driving he rather prided himself that he +needn’t take his hat off to anyone when it came to ability and nerve. +</p> + +<p> +They were only about fifty feet from the highway. The girl touched his hand +again. “We’re safe,” she cried, her voice vibrant with +excitement, “we’re safe at last.” From beneath the bonnet, as +though in answer to her statement, came a sickly, sucking sputter. The momentum +of the car diminished. The throbbing of the engine ceased. They sat in silence +as the machine coasted toward the highway and came to a dead stop, with its +front wheels upon the road to safety. The girl turned toward Barney with an +exclamation of surprise and interrogation. +</p> + +<p> +“The jig’s up,” he groaned; “we’re out of +gasoline!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap21"></a>IX.<br /> +THE CAPTURE</h2> + +<p> +The capture of Princess Emma von der Tann and Barney Custer was a relatively +simple matter. Open fields spread in all directions about the crossroads at +which their car had come to its humiliating stop. There was no cover. To have +sought escape by flight, thus in the open, would have been to expose the +princess to the fire of the troopers. Barney could not do this. He preferred to +surrender and trust to chance to open the way to escape later. +</p> + +<p> +When Captain Ernst Maenck drove up he found the prisoners disarmed, standing +beside the now-useless car. He alighted from his own machine and with a low bow +saluted the princess, an ironical smile upon his thin lips. Then he turned his +attention toward her companion. +</p> + +<p> +“Who are you?” he demanded gruffly. In the darkness he failed to +recognize the American whom he thought dead in Austria. +</p> + +<p> +“A servant of the house of Von der Tann,” replied Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“You deserve shooting,” growled the officer, “but we’ll +leave that to Prince Peter and the king. When I tell them the trouble you have +caused us—well, God help you.” +</p> + +<p> +The journey to Blentz was a short one. They had been much nearer that grim +fortress than either had guessed. At the outskirts of the town they were +challenged by Austrian sentries, through which Maenck passed with ease after +the sentinel had summoned an officer. From this man Maenck received the +password that would carry them through the line of outposts between the town +and the castle—“Slankamen.” Barney, who overheard the word, +made a mental note of it. +</p> + +<p> +At last they reached the dreary castle of Peter of Blentz. In the courtyard +Austrian soldiers mingled with the men of the bodyguard of the king of Lutha. +Within, the king’s officers fraternized with the officers of the emperor. +Maenck led his prisoners to the great hall which was filled with officers and +officials of both Austria and Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +The king was not there. Maenck learned that he had retired to his apartments a +few minutes earlier in company with Prince Peter of Blentz and Von Coblich. He +sent a servant to announce his return with the Princess von der Tann and a man +who had attempted to prevent her being brought to Blentz. +</p> + +<p> +Barney had, as far as possible, kept his face averted from Maenck since they +had entered the lighted castle. He hoped to escape recognition, for he knew +that if his identity were guessed it might go hard with the princess. As for +himself, it might go even harder, but of that he gave scarcely a +thought—the safety of the princess was paramount. +</p> + +<p> +After a few minutes of waiting the servant returned with the king’s +command to fetch the prisoners to his apartments. The face of the Princess Emma +was haggard. For the first time Barney saw signs of fear upon her countenance. +With leaden steps they accompanied their guard up the winding stairway to the +tower rooms that had been furnished for the king. They were the same in which +Emma von der Tann had been imprisoned two years before. +</p> + +<p> +On either side of the doorway stood a soldier of the king’s bodyguard. As +Captain Maenck approached they saluted. A servant opened the door and they +passed into the room. Before them were Peter of Blentz and Von Coblich standing +beside a table at which Leopold of Lutha was sitting. The eyes of the three men +were upon the doorway as the little party entered. The king’s face was +flushed with wine. He rose as his eyes rested upon the face of the princess. +</p> + +<p> +“Greetings, your highness,” he cried with an attempt at cordiality. +</p> + +<p> +The girl looked straight into his eyes, coldly, and then bent her knee in +formal curtsy. The king was about to speak again when his eyes wandered to the +face of the American. Instantly his own went white and then scarlet. The eyes +of Peter of Blentz followed those of the king, widening in astonishment as they +rested upon the features of Barney Custer. +</p> + +<p> +“You told me he was dead,” shouted the king. “What is the +meaning of this, Captain Maenck?” +</p> + +<p> +Maenck looked at his male prisoner and staggered back as though struck between +the eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“Mein Gott,” he exclaimed, “the impostor!” +</p> + +<p> +“You told me he was dead,” repeated the king accusingly. +</p> + +<p> +“As God is my judge, your majesty,” cried Peter of Blentz, +“this man was shot by an Austrian firing squad in Burgova over a week +ago.” +</p> + +<p> +“Sire,” exclaimed Maenck, “this is the first sight I have had +of the prisoners except in the darkness of the night; until this instant I had +not the remotest suspicion of his identity. He told me that he was a servant of +the house of Von der Tann.” +</p> + +<p> +“I told you the truth, then,” interjected Barney. +</p> + +<p> +“Silence, you ingrate!” cried the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Ingrate?” repeated Barney. “You have the effrontery to call +me an ingrate? You miserable puppy.” +</p> + +<p> +A silence, menacing in its intensity, fell upon the little assemblage. The king +trembled. His rage choked him. The others looked as though they scarce could +believe the testimony of their own ears. All there, with the possible exception +of the king, knew that he deserved even more degrading appellations; but they +were Europeans, and to Europeans a king is a king—that they can never +forget. It had been the inherent suggestion of kingship that had bent the knee +of the Princess Emma before the man she despised. +</p> + +<p> +But to the American a king was only what he made himself. In this instance he +was not even a man in the estimation of Barney Custer. Maenck took a step +toward the prisoner—a menacing step, for his hand had gone to his sword. +Barney met him with a level look from between narrowed lids. Maenck hesitated, +for he was a great coward. Peter of Blentz spoke: +</p> + +<p> +“Sire,” he said, “the fellow knows that he is already as good +as dead, and so in his bravado he dares affront you. He has been convicted of +spying by the Austrians. He is still a spy. It is unnecessary to repeat the +formality of a trial.” +</p> + +<p> +Leopold at last found his voice, though it trembled and broke as he spoke. +</p> + +<p> +“Carry out the sentence of the Austrian court in the morning,” he +said. “A volley now might arouse the garrison in the town and be +misconstrued.” +</p> + +<p> +Maenck ordered Barney escorted from the apartment, then he turned toward the +king. +</p> + +<p> +“And the other prisoner, sire?” he inquired. +</p> + +<p> +“There is no other prisoner,” he said. “Her highness, the +Princess von der Tann, is a guest of Prince Peter. She will be escorted to her +apartment at once.” +</p> + +<p> +“Her highness, the Princess von der Tann, is not a guest of Prince +Peter.” The girl’s voice was low and cold. “If Mr. Custer is +a prisoner, her highness, too, is a prisoner. If he is to be shot, she demands +a like fate. To die by the side of a MAN would be infinitely preferable to +living by the side of your majesty.” +</p> + +<p> +Once again Leopold of Lutha reddened. For a moment he paced the room angrily to +hide his emotion. Then he turned once to Maenck. +</p> + +<p> +“Escort the prisoner to the north tower,” he commanded, “and +this insolent girl to the chambers next to ours. Tomorrow we shall talk with +her again.” +</p> + +<p> +Outside the room Barney turned for a last look at the princess as he was being +led in one direction and she in another. A smile of encouragement was on his +lips and cold hopelessness in his heart. She answered the smile and her lips +formed a silent “good-bye.” They formed something else, +too—three words which he was sure he could not have mistaken, and then +they parted, he for the death chamber and she for what fate she could but +guess. +</p> + +<p> +As his guard halted before a door at the far end of a long corridor Barney +Custer sensed a sudden familiarity in his surroundings. He was conscious of +that sensation which is common to all of us—of having lived through a +scene at some former time, to each minutest detail. +</p> + +<p> +As the door opened and he was pushed into the room he realized that there was +excellent foundation for the impression—he immediately recognized the +apartment as the same in which he had once before been imprisoned. At that time +he had been mistaken for the mad king who had escaped from the clutches of +Peter of Blentz. The same king was now visiting as a guest the fortress in +which he had spent ten bitter years as a prisoner. +</p> + +<p> +“Say your prayers, my friend,” admonished Maenck, as he was about +to leave him alone, “for at dawn you die—and this time the firing +squad will make a better job of it.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney did not answer him, and the captain departed, locking the door after him +and leaving two men on guard in the corridor. Alone, Barney looked about the +room. It was in no wise changed since his former visit to it. He recalled the +incidents of the hour of his imprisonment here, thought of old Joseph who had +aided his escape, looked at the paneled fireplace, whose secret, it was +evident, not even the master of Blentz was familiar with—and grinned. +</p> + +<p> +“‘For at dawn you die!’” he repeated to himself, still +smiling broadly. Then he crossed quickly to the fireplace, running his fingers +along the edge of one of the large tiled panels that hid the entrance to the +well-like shaft that rose from the cellars beneath to the towers above and +which opened through similar concealed exits upon each floor. If the floor +above should be untenanted he might be able to reach it as he and Joseph had +done two years ago when they opened the secret panel in the fireplace and +climbed a hidden ladder to the room overhead; and then by vacant corridors +reached the far end of the castle above the suite in which the princess had +been confined and near which Barney had every reason to believe she was now +imprisoned. +</p> + +<p> +Carefully Barney’s fingers traversed the edges of the panel. No hidden +latch rewarded his search. Again and again he examined the perfectly fitted +joints until he was convinced either that there was no latch there or that it +was hid beyond possibility of discovery. With each succeeding minute the +American’s heart and hopes sank lower and lower. Two years had elapsed +since he had seen the secret portal swing to the touch of Joseph’s +fingers. One may forget much in two years; but that he was at work upon the +right panel Barney was positive. However, it would do no harm to examine its +mate which resembled it in minutest detail. +</p> + +<p> +Almost indifferently Barney turned his attention to the other panel. He ran his +fingers over it, his eyes following them. What was that? A finger-print? Upon +the left side half way up a tiny smudge was visible. Barney examined it more +carefully. A round, white figure of the conventional design that was burned +into the tile bore the telltale smudge. +</p> + +<p> +Otherwise it differed apparently in no way from the numerous other round, white +figures that were repeated many times in the scheme of decoration. Barney +placed his thumb exactly over the mark that another thumb had left there and +pushed. The figure sank into the panel beneath the pressure. Barney pushed +harder, breathless with suspense. The panel swung in at his effort. The +American could have whooped with delight. +</p> + +<p> +A moment more and he stood upon the opposite side of the secret door in utter +darkness, for he had quickly closed it after him. To strike a match was but the +matter of a moment. The wavering light revealed the top of the ladder that led +downward and the foot of another leading aloft. He struck still more matches in +search of the rope. It was not there, but his quest revealed the fact that the +well at this point was much larger than he had imagined—it broadened into +a small chamber. +</p> + +<p> +The light of many matches finally led him to the discovery of a passageway +directly behind the fireplace. It was narrow, and after spanning the chimney +descended by a few rough steps to a slightly lower level. It led toward the +opposite end of the castle. Could it be possible that it connected directly +with the apartments in the farther tower—in the tower where the king was +and the Princess Emma? Barney could scarce hope for any such good luck, but at +least it was worth investigating—it must lead somewhere. +</p> + +<p> +He followed it warily, feeling his way with hands and feet and occasionally +striking a match. It was evident that the corridor lay in the thick wall of the +castle, midway between the bottoms of the windows of the second floor and the +tops of those upon the first—this would account for the slightly lower +level of the passage from the floor of the second story. +</p> + +<p> +Barney had traversed some distance in the darkness along the forgotten corridor +when the sound of voices came to him from beyond the wall at his right. He +stopped, motionless, pressing his ear against the side wall. As he did so he +became aware of the fact that at this point the wall was of wood—a large +panel of hardwood. Now he could hear even the words of the speaker upon the +opposite side. +</p> + +<p> +“Fetch her here, captain, and I will talk with her alone.” The +voice was the king’s. “And, captain, you might remove the guard +from before the door temporarily. I shall not require them, nor do I wish them +to overhear my conversation with the princess.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney could hear the officer acknowledge the commands of the king, and then he +heard a door close. The man had gone to fetch the princess. The American struck +a match and examined the panel before him. It reached to the top of the +passageway and was some three feet in width. +</p> + +<p> +At one side were three hinges, and at the other an ancient spring lock. For an +instant Barney stood in indecision. What should he do? His entry into the +apartments of the king would result in alarming the entire fortress. Were he +sure the king was alone it might be accomplished. Should he enter now or wait +until the Princess Emma had been brought to the king? +</p> + +<p> +With the question came the answer—a bold and daring scheme. His fingers +sought the lock. Very gently, he unlatched it and pushed outward upon the +panel. Suddenly the great doorway gave beneath his touch. It opened a crack +letting a flood of light into his dark cell that almost blinded him. +</p> + +<p> +For a moment he could see nothing, and then out of the glaring blur grew the +figure of a man sitting at a table—with his back toward the panel. +</p> + +<p> +It was the king, and he was alone. Noiselessly Barney Custer entered the +apartment, closing the panel after him. At his back now was the great oil +painting of the Blentz princess that had hid the secret entrance to the room. +He crossed the thick rugs until he stood behind the king. Then he clapped one +hand over the mouth of the monarch of Lutha and threw the other arm about his +neck. +</p> + +<p> +“Make the slightest outcry and I shall kill you,” he whispered in +the ear of the terrified man. +</p> + +<p> +Across the room Barney saw a revolver lying upon a small table. He raised the +king to his feet and, turning his back toward the weapon dragged him across the +apartment until the table was within easy reach. Then he snatched up the +revolver and swung the king around into a chair facing him, the muzzle of the +gun pressed against his face. +</p> + +<p> +“Silence,” he whispered. +</p> + +<p> +The king, white and trembling, gasped as his eyes fell upon the face of the +American. +</p> + +<p> +“You?” His voice was barely audible. +</p> + +<p> +“Take off your clothes—every stitch of them—and if any one +asks for admittance, deny them. Quick, now,” as the king hesitated. +“My life is forfeited unless I can escape. If I am apprehended I shall +see that you pay for my recapture with your life—if any one enters this +room without my sanction they will enter it to find a dead king upon the floor; +do you understand?” +</p> + +<p> +The king made no reply other than to commence divesting himself of his +clothing. Barney followed his example, but not before he had crossed to the +door that opened into the main corridor and shot the bolt upon the inside. When +both men had removed their clothing Barney pointed to the little pile of soiled +peasant garb that he had worn. +</p> + +<p> +“Put those on,” he commanded. +</p> + +<p> +The king hesitated, drawing back in disgust. Barney paused, half-way into the +royal union suit, and leveled the revolver at Leopold. The king picked up one +of the garments gingerly between the tips of his thumb and finger. +</p> + +<p> +“Hurry!” admonished the American, drawing the silk half-hose of the +ruler of Lutha over his foot. “If you don’t hurry,” he added, +“someone may interrupt us, and you know what the result would be—to +you.” +</p> + +<p> +Scowling, Leopold donned the rough garments. Barney, fully clothed in the +uniform the king had been wearing, stepped across the apartment to where the +king’s sword and helmet lay upon the side table that had also borne the +revolver. He placed the helmet upon his head and buckled the sword-belt about +his waist, then he faced the king, behind whom was a cheval glass. In it Barney +saw his image. The king was looking at the American, his eyes wide and his jaw +dropped. Barney did not wonder at his consternation. He himself was dumbfounded +by the likeness which he bore to the king. It was positively uncanny. He +approached Leopold. +</p> + +<p> +“Remove your rings,” he said, holding out his hand. The king did as +he was bid, and Barney slipped the two baubles upon his fingers. One of them +was the royal ring of the kings of Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +The American now blindfolded the king and led him toward the panel which had +given him ingress to the room. Through it the two men passed, Barney closing +the panel after them. Then he conducted the king back along the dark passageway +to the room which the American had but recently quitted. At the back of the +panel which led into his former prison Barney halted and listened. No sound +came from beyond the partition. Gently Barney opened the secret door a +trifle—just enough to permit him a quick survey of the interior of the +apartment. It was empty. A smile crossed his face as he thought of the +difficulty Leopold might encounter the following morning in convincing his +jailers that he was not the American. +</p> + +<p> +Then he recalled his reflection in the cheval glass and frowned. Could Leopold +convince them? He doubted it—and what then? The American was sentenced to +be shot at dawn. They would shoot the king instead. Then there would be none to +whom to return the kingship. What would he do with it? The temptation was +great. Again a throne lay within his grasp—a throne and the woman he +loved. None might ever know unless he chose to tell—his resemblance to +Leopold was too perfect. It defied detection. +</p> + +<p> +With an exclamation of impatience he wheeled about and dragged the frightened +monarch back to the room from which he had stolen him. As he entered he heard a +knock at the door. +</p> + +<p> +“Do not disturb me now,” he called. “Come again in half an +hour.” +</p> + +<p> +“But it is Her Highness, Princess Emma, sire,” came a voice from +beyond the door. “You summoned her.” +</p> + +<p> +“She may return to her apartments,” replied Barney. +</p> + +<p> +All the time he kept his revolver leveled at the king, from his eyes he had +removed the blind after they had entered the apartment. He crossed to the table +where the king had been sitting when he surprised him, motioning the ragged +ruler to follow and be seated. +</p> + +<p> +“Take that pen,” he said, “and write a full pardon for Mr. +Bernard Custer, and an order requiring that he be furnished with money and set +at liberty at dawn.” +</p> + +<p> +The king did as he was bid. For a moment the American stood looking at him +before he spoke again. +</p> + +<p> +“You do not deserve what I am going to do for you,” he said. +“And Lutha deserves a better king than the one my act will give her; but +I am neither a thief nor a murderer, and so I must forbear leaving you to your +just deserts and return your throne to you. I shall do so after I have insured +my own safety and done what I can for Lutha—what you are too little a man +and king to do yourself. +</p> + +<p> +“So soon as they liberate you in the morning, make the best of your way +to Brosnov, on the Serbian frontier. Await me there. When I can, I shall come. +Again we may exchange clothing and you can return to Lustadt. I shall cross +over into Siberia out of your reach, for I know you too well to believe that +any sense of honor or gratitude would prevent you signing my death-warrant at +the first opportunity. Now, come!” +</p> + +<p> +Once again Barney led the blindfolded king through the dark corridor to the +room in the opposite tower—to the prison of the American. At the open +panel he shoved him into the apartment. Then he drew the door quietly to, +leaving the king upon the inside, and retraced his steps to the royal +apartments. Crossing to the center table, he touched an electric button. A +moment later an officer knocked at the door, which, in the meantime, Barney had +unbolted. +</p> + +<p> +“Enter!” said the American. He stood with his back toward the door +until he heard it close behind the officer. When he turned he was apparently +examining his revolver. If the officer suspected his identity, it was just as +well to be prepared. Slowly he raised his eyes to the newcomer, who stood +stiffly at salute. The officer looked him full in the face. +</p> + +<p> +“I answered your majesty’s summons,” said the man. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, yes!” returned the American. “You may fetch the Princess +Emma.” +</p> + +<p> +The officer saluted once more and backed out of the apartment. Barney walked to +the table and sat down. A tin box of cigarettes lay beside the lamp. Barney +lighted one of them. The king had good taste in the selection of tobacco, he +thought. Well, a man must need have some redeeming characteristics. +</p> + +<p> +Outside, in the corridor, he heard voices, and again the knock at the door. He +bade them enter. As the door opened Emma von der Tann, her head thrown back and +a flush of anger on her face, entered the room. Behind her was the officer who +had been despatched to bring her. Barney nodded to the latter. +</p> + +<p> +“You may go,” he said. He drew a chair from the table and asked the +princess to be seated. She ignored his request. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you wish of me?” she asked. She was looking straight into +his eyes. The officer had withdrawn and closed the door after him. They were +alone, with nothing to fear; yet she did not recognize him. +</p> + +<p> +“You are the king,” she continued in cold, level tones, “but +if you are also a gentleman, you will at once order me returned to my father at +Lustadt, and with me the man to whom you owe so much. I do not expect it of +you, but I wish to give you the chance. +</p> + +<p> +“I shall not go without him. I am betrothed to you; but until tonight I +should rather have died than wed you. Now I am ready to compromise. If you will +set Mr. Custer at liberty in Serbia and return me unharmed to my father, I will +fulfill my part of our betrothal.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney Custer looked straight into the girl’s face for a long moment. A +half smile played upon his lips at the thought of her surprise when she learned +the truth, when suddenly it dawned upon him that she and he were both much +safer if no one, not even her loyal self, guessed that he was other than the +king. It is not difficult to live a part, but often it is difficult to act one. +Some little word or look, were she to know that he was Barney Custer, might +betray them; no, it was better to leave her in ignorance, though his conscience +pricked him for the disloyalty that his act implied. +</p> + +<p> +It seemed a poor return for her courage and loyalty to him that her statement +to the man she thought king had revealed. He marveled that a Von der Tann could +have spoken those words—a Von der Tann who but the day before had refused +to save her father’s life at the loss of the family honor. It seemed +incredible to the American that he had won such love from such a woman. Again +came the mighty temptation to keep the crown and the girl both; but with a +straightening of his broad shoulders he threw it from him. +</p> + +<p> +She was promised to the king, and while he masqueraded in the king’s +clothes, he at least would act the part that a king should. He drew a folded +paper from his inside pocket and handed it to the girl. +</p> + +<p> +“Here is the American’s pardon,” he said, “drawn up and +signed by the king’s own hand.” +</p> + +<p> +She opened it and, glancing through it hurriedly, looked up at the man before +her with a questioning expression in her eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“You came, then,” she said, “to a realization of the enormity +of your ingratitude?” +</p> + +<p> +The man shrugged. +</p> + +<p> +“He will never die at my command,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +“I thank your majesty,” she said simply. “As a Von der Tann, +I have tried to believe that a Rubinroth could not be guilty of such baseness. +And now, tell me what your answer is to my proposition.” +</p> + +<p> +“We shall return to Lustadt tonight,” he replied. “I fear the +purpose of Prince Peter. In fact, it may be difficult—even +impossible—for us to leave Blentz; but we can at least make the +attempt.” +</p> + +<p> +“Can we not take Mr. Custer with us?” she asked. “Prince +Peter may disregard your majesty’s commands and, after you are gone, have +him shot. Do not forget that he kept the crown from Peter of Blentz—it is +certain that Prince Peter will never forget it.” +</p> + +<p> +“I give you my word, your highness, that I know positively that if I +leave Blentz tonight Prince Peter will not have Mr. Custer shot in the morning, +and it will so greatly jeopardize his own plans if we attempt to release the +prisoner that in all probability we ourselves will be unable to escape.” +</p> + +<p> +She looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. +</p> + +<p> +“You give me your word that he will be safe?” she asked. +</p> + +<p> +“My royal word,” he replied. +</p> + +<p> +“Very well, let us leave at once.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney touched the bell once more, and presently an officer of the Blentz +faction answered the summons. As the man closed the door and approached, +saluting, Barney stepped close to him. +</p> + +<p> +“We are leaving for Tann tonight,” he said, “at once. You +will conduct us from the castle and procure horses for us. All the time I shall +walk at your elbow, and in my hand I shall carry this,” and he displayed +the king’s revolver. “At the first indication of defection upon +your part I shall kill you. Do you perfectly understand me?” +</p> + +<p> +“But, your majesty,” exclaimed the officer, “why is it +necessary that you leave thus surreptitiously? May not the king go and come in +his own kingdom as he desires? Let me announce your wishes to Prince Peter that +he may furnish you with a proper escort. Doubtless he will wish to accompany +you himself, sire.” +</p> + +<p> +“You will do precisely what I say without further comment,” snapped +Barney. “Now get a—” He had been about to say: “Now get +a move on you,” when it occurred to him that this was not precisely the +sort of language that kings were supposed to use to their inferiors. So he +changed it. “Now get a couple of horses for her highness and myself, as +well as your own, for you will accompany us to Tann.” +</p> + +<p> +The officer looked at the weapon in the king’s hand. He measured the +distance between himself and the king. He well knew the reputed cowardice of +Leopold. Could he make the leap and strike up the king’s hand before the +timorous monarch found even the courage of the cornered rat to fire at him? +Then his eyes sought the face of the king, searching for the signs of nervous +terror that would make his conquest an easy one; but what he saw in the eyes +that bored straight into his brought his own to the floor at the king’s +feet. +</p> + +<p> +What new force animated Leopold of Lutha? Those were not the eyes of a coward. +No fear was reflected in their steely glitter. The officer mumbled an apology, +saluted, and turned toward the door. At his elbow walked the impostor; a +cavalry cape that had belonged to the king now covered his shoulders and hid +the weapon that pressed its hard warning now and again into the short-ribs of +the Blentz officer. Just behind the American came the Princess Emma von der +Tann. +</p> + +<p> +The three passed through the deserted corridors of the sleeping castle, taking +a route at Barney’s suggestion that led them to the stable courtyard +without necessitating traversing the main corridors or the great hall or the +guardroom, in all of which there still were Austrian and Blentz soldiers, whose +duties or pleasures had kept them from their blankets. +</p> + +<p> +At the stables a sleepy groom answered the summons of the officer, whom Barney +had warned not to divulge the identity of himself or the princess. He left the +princess in the shadows outside the building. After what seemed an eternity to +the American, three horses were led into the courtyard, saddled, and bridled. +The party mounted and approached the gates. Here, Barney knew, might be +encountered the most serious obstacle in their path. He rode close to the side +of their unwilling conductor. Leaning forward in his saddle, he whispered in +the man’s ear. +</p> + +<p> +“Failure to pass us through the gates,” he said, “will be the +signal for your death.” +</p> + +<p> +The man reined in his mount and turned toward the American. +</p> + +<p> +“I doubt if they will pass even me without a written order from Prince +Peter,” he said. “If they refuse, you must reveal your identity. +The guard is composed of Luthanians—I doubt if they will dare refuse your +majesty.” +</p> + +<p> +Then they rode on up to the gates. A soldier stepped from the sentry box and +challenged them. +</p> + +<p> +“Lower the drawbridge,” ordered the officer. “It is Captain +Krantzwort on a mission for the king.” +</p> + +<p> +The soldier approached, raising a lantern, which he had brought from the sentry +box, and inspected the captain’s face. He seemed ill at ease. In the +light of the lantern, the American saw that he was scarce more than a +boy—doubtless a recruit. He saw the expression of fear and awe with which +he regarded the officer, and it occurred to him that the effect of the +king’s presence upon him would be absolutely overpowering. Still the +soldier hesitated. +</p> + +<p> +“My orders are very strict, sir,” he said. “I am to let no +one leave without a written order from Prince Peter. If the sergeant or the +lieutenant were here they would know what to do; but they are both at the +castle—only two other soldiers are at the gates with me. Wait, and I will +send one of them for the lieutenant.” +</p> + +<p> +“No,” interposed the American. “You will send for no one, my +man. Come closer—look at my face.” +</p> + +<p> +The soldier approached, holding his lantern above his head. As its feeble rays +fell upon the face and uniform of the man on horseback, the sentry gave a +little gasp of astonishment. +</p> + +<p> +“Now, lower the drawbridge,” said Barney Custer, “it is your +king’s command.” +</p> + +<p> +Quickly the fellow hastened to obey the order. The chains creaked and the +windlass groaned as the heavy planking sank to place across the moat. +</p> + +<p> +As Barney passed the soldier he handed him the pardon Leopold had written for +the American. +</p> + +<p> +“Give this to your lieutenant,” he said, “and tell him to +hand it to Prince Peter before dawn tomorrow. Do not fail.” +</p> + +<p> +A moment later the three were riding down the winding road toward Blentz. +Barney had no further need of the officer who rode with them. He would be glad +to be rid of him, for he anticipated that the fellow might find ample +opportunity to betray them as they passed through the Austrian lines, which +they must do to reach Lustadt. +</p> + +<p> +He had told the captain that they were going to Tann in order that, should the +man find opportunity to institute pursuit, he might be thrown off the track. +The Austrian sentries were no great distance ahead when Barney ordered a halt. +</p> + +<p> +“Dismount,” he directed the captain, leaping to the ground himself +at the same time. “Put your hands behind your back.” +</p> + +<p> +The officer did as he was bid, and Barney bound his wrists securely with a +strap and buckle that he had removed from the cantle of his saddle as he rode. +Then he led him off the road among some weeds and compelled him to lie down, +after which he bound his ankles together and stuffed a gag in his mouth, +securing it in place with a bit of stick and the chinstrap from the man’s +helmet. The threat of the revolver kept Captain Krantzwort silent and obedient +throughout the hasty operations. +</p> + +<p> +“Good-bye, captain,” whispered Barney, “and let me suggest +that you devote the time until your discovery and release in pondering the +value of winning your king’s confidence in the future. Had you chosen +your associates more carefully in the past, this need not have occurred.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney unsaddled the captain’s horse and turned him loose, then he +remounted and, with the princess at his side, rode down toward Blentz. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap22"></a>X.<br /> +A NEW KING IN LUTHA</h2> + +<p> +As the two riders approached the edge of the village of Blentz a sentry barred +their way. To his challenge the American replied that they were “friends +from the castle.” +</p> + +<p> +“Advance,” directed the sentry, “and give the +countersign.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney rode to the fellow’s side, and leaning from the saddle whispered +in his ear the word “Slankamen.” +</p> + +<p> +Would it pass them out as it had passed Maenck in? Barney scarcely breathed as +he awaited the result of his experiment. The soldier brought his rifle to +present and directed them to pass. With a sigh of relief that was almost +audible the two rode into the village and the Austrian lines. +</p> + +<p> +Once within they met with no further obstacle until they reached the last line +of sentries upon the far side of the town. It was with more confidence that +Barney gave the countersign here, nor was he surprised that the soldier passed +them readily; and now they were upon the highroad to Lustadt, with nothing more +to bar their way. +</p> + +<p> +For hours they rode on in silence. Barney wanted to talk with his companion, +but as king he found nothing to say to her. The girl’s mind was filled +with morbid reflections of the past few hours and dumb terror for the future. +She would keep her promise to the king; but after—life would not be worth +the living; why should she live? She glanced at the man beside her in the light +of the coming dawn. Ah, why was he so like her American in outward appearances +only? Their own mothers could scarce have distinguished them, and yet in +character no two men could have differed more widely. The man turned to her. +</p> + +<p> +“We are almost there,” he said. “You must be very +tired.” +</p> + +<p> +The words reflected a consideration that had never been a characteristic of +Leopold. The girl began to wonder if there might not possibly be a vein of +nobility in the man, after all, that she had never discovered. Since she had +entered his apartments at Blentz he had been in every way a different man from +the Leopold she had known of old. The boldness of his escape from Blentz +supposed a courage that the king had never given the slightest indication of in +the past. Could it be that he was making a genuine effort to become a +man—to win her respect? +</p> + +<p> +They were approaching Lustadt as the sun rose. A troop of horse was just +emerging from the north gate. As it neared them they saw that the cavalrymen +wore the uniforms of the Royal Horse Guard. At their head rode a lieutenant. As +his eyes fell upon the face of the princess and her companion, he brought his +troopers to a halt, and, with incredulity plain upon his countenance, advanced +to meet them, his hand raised in salute to the king. It was Butzow. +</p> + +<p> +Now Barney was sure that he would be recognized. For two years he and the +Luthanian officer had been inseparable. Surely Butzow would penetrate his +disguise. He returned his friend’s salute, looked him full in the eyes, +and asked where he was riding. +</p> + +<p> +“To Blentz, your majesty,” replied Butzow, “to demand an +audience. I bear important word from Prince von der Tann. He has learned the +Austrians are moving an entire army corps into Lutha, together with siege +howitzers. Serbia has demanded that all Austrian troops be withdrawn from +Luthanian territory at once, and has offered to assist your majesty in +maintaining your neutrality by force, if necessary.” +</p> + +<p> +As Butzow spoke his eyes were often upon the Princess Emma, and it was quite +evident that he was much puzzled to account for her presence with the king. She +was supposed to be at Tann, and Butzow knew well enough her estimate of Leopold +to know that she would not be in his company of her own volition. His +expression as he addressed the man he supposed to be his king was far from +deferential. Barney could scarce repress a smile. +</p> + +<p> +“We will ride at once to the palace,” he said. “At the gate +you may instruct one of your sergeants to telephone to Prince von der Tann that +the king is returning and will grant him audience immediately. You and your +detachment will act as our escort.” +</p> + +<p> +Butzow saluted and turned to his troopers, giving the necessary commands that +brought them about in the wake of the pseudo-king. Once again Barney Custer, of +Beatrice, rode into Lustadt as king of Lutha. The few people upon the streets +turned to look at him as he passed, but there was little demonstration of love +or enthusiasm. +</p> + +<p> +Leopold had awakened no emotions of this sort in the hearts of his subjects. +Some there were who still remembered the gallant actions of their ruler on the +field of battle when his forces had defeated those of the regent, upon that +other occasion when this same American had sat upon the throne of Lutha for two +days and had led the little army to victory; but since then the true king had +been with them daily in his true colors. Arrogance, haughtiness, and petty +tyranny had marked his reign. Taxes had gone even higher than under the corrupt +influence of the Blentz regime. The king’s days were spent in bed; his +nights in dissipation. Old Ludwig von der Tann seemed Lutha’s only friend +at court. Him the people loved and trusted. +</p> + +<p> +It was the old chancellor who met them as they entered the palace—the +Princess Emma, Lieutenant Butzow, and the false king. As the old man’s +eyes fell upon his daughter, he gave an exclamation of surprise and of +incredulity. He looked from her to the American. +</p> + +<p> +“What is the meaning of this, your majesty?” he cried in a voice +hoarse with emotion. “What does her highness in your company?” +</p> + +<p> +There was neither fear nor respect in Prince Ludwig’s tone—only +anger. He was demanding an accounting from Leopold, the man; not from Leopold, +the king. Barney raised his hand. +</p> + +<p> +“Wait,” he said, “before you judge. The princess was brought +to Blentz by Prince Peter. She will tell you that I have aided her to escape +and that I have accorded her only such treatment as a woman has a right to +expect from a king.” +</p> + +<p> +The girl inclined her head. +</p> + +<p> +“His majesty has been most kind,” she said. “He has treated +me with every consideration and respect, and I am convinced that he was not a +willing party to my arrest and forcible detention at Blentz; or,” she +added, “if he was, he regretted his action later and has made full +reparation by bringing me to Lustadt.” +</p> + +<p> +Prince von der Tann found difficulty in hiding his surprise at this evidence of +chivalry in the cowardly king. But for his daughter’s testimony he could +not have believed it possible that it lay within the nature of Leopold of Lutha +to have done what he had done within the past few hours. +</p> + +<p> +He bowed low before the man who wore the king’s uniform. The American +extended his hand, and Von der Tann, taking it in his own, raised it to his +lips. +</p> + +<p> +“And now,” said Barney briskly, “let us go to my apartments +and get to work. Your highness”—and he turned toward the Princess +Emma—“must be greatly fatigued. Lieutenant Butzow, you will see +that a suite is prepared for her highness. Afterward you may call upon Count +Zellerndorf, whom I understand returned to Lustadt yesterday, and notify him +that I will receive him in an hour. Inform the Serbian minister that I desire +his presence at the palace immediately. Lose no time, lieutenant, and be sure +to impress upon the Serbian minister that immediately means immediately.” +</p> + +<p> +Butzow saluted and the Princess Emma curtsied, as the king turned and, slipping +his arm through that of Prince Ludwig, walked away in the direction of the +royal apartments. Once at the king’s desk Barney turned toward the +chancellor. In his mind was the determination to save Lutha if Lutha could be +saved. He had been forced to place the king in a position where he would be +helpless, though that he would have been equally as helpless upon his throne +the American did not doubt for an instant. However, the course of events had +placed within his hands the power to serve not only Lutha but the house of Von +der Tann as well. He would do in the king’s place what the king should +have done if the king had been a man. +</p> + +<p> +“Now, Prince Ludwig,” he said, “tell me just what conditions +we must face. Remember that I have been at Blentz and that there the King of +Lutha is not apt to learn all that transpires in Lustadt.” +</p> + +<p> +“Sire,” replied the chancellor, “we face a grave crisis. Not +only is there within Lutha the small force of Austrian troops that surround +Blentz, but now an entire army corps has crossed the border. Unquestionably +they are marching on Lustadt. The emperor is going to take no chances. He sent +the first force into Lutha to compel Serbian intervention and draw Serbian +troops from the Austro-Serbian battle line. Serbia has withheld her forces at +my request, but she will not withhold them for long. We must make a declaration +at once. If we declare against Austria we are faced by the menace of the +Austrian troops already within our boundaries, but we shall have Serbia to help +us. +</p> + +<p> +“A Serbian army corps is on the frontier at this moment awaiting word +from Lutha. If it is adverse to Austria that army corps will cross the border +and march to our assistance. If it is favorable to Austria it will none the +less cross into Lutha, but as enemies instead of allies. Serbia has acted +honorably toward Lutha. She has not violated our neutrality. She has no desire +to increase her possessions in this direction. +</p> + +<p> +“On the other hand, Austria has violated her treaty with us. She has +marched troops into our country and occupied the town of Blentz. Constantly in +the past she has incited internal discord. She is openly championing the Blentz +cause, which at last I trust your majesty has discovered is inimical to your +interests. +</p> + +<p> +“If Austria is victorious in her war with Serbia, she will find some +pretext to hold Lutha whether Lutha takes her stand either for or against her. +And most certainly is this true if it occurs that Austrian troops are still +within the boundaries of Lutha when peace is negotiated. Not only our honor but +our very existence demands that there be no Austrian troops in Lutha at the +close of this war. If we cannot force them across the border we can at least +make such an effort as will win us the respect of the world and a voice in the +peace negotiations. +</p> + +<p> +“If we must bow to the surrender of our national integrity, let us do so +only after we have exhausted every resource of the country in our +country’s defense. In the past your majesty has not appeared to realize +the menace of your most powerful neighbor. I beg of you, sire, to trust me. +Believe that I have only the interests of Lutha at heart, and let us work +together for the salvation of our country and your majesty’s +throne.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney laid his hand upon the old man’s shoulder. It seemed a shame to +carry the deception further, but the American well knew that only so could he +accomplish aught for Lutha or the Von der Tanns. Once the old chancellor +suspected the truth as to his identity he would be the first to denounce him. +</p> + +<p> +“I think that you and I can work together, Prince Ludwig,” he said. +“I have sent for the Serbian and Austrian ministers. The former should be +here immediately.” +</p> + +<p> +Nor did they have long to wait before the tall Slav was announced. Barney lost +no time in getting down to business. He asked no questions. What Von der Tann +had told him, what he had seen with his own eyes since he had entered Lutha, +and what he had overheard in the inn at Burgova was sufficient evidence that +the fate of Lutha hung upon the prompt and energetic decisions of the man who +sat upon Lutha’s throne for the next few days. +</p> + +<p> +Had Leopold been the present incumbent Lutha would have been lost, for that he +would play directly into the hands of Austria was not to be questioned. Were +Von der Tann to seize the reins of government a state of revolution would exist +that would divide the state into two bitter factions, weaken its defense, and +give Austria what she most desired—a plausible pretext for intervention. +</p> + +<p> +Lutha’s only hope lay in united defense of her liberties under the +leadership of the one man whom all acknowledged king—Leopold. Very well, +Barney Custer, of Beatrice, would be Leopold for a few days, since the real +Leopold had proven himself incompetent to meet the emergency. +</p> + +<p> +General Petko, the Serbian minister to Lutha, brought to the audience the +memory of a series of unpleasant encounters with the king. Leopold had never +exerted himself to hide his pro-Austrian sentiments. Austria was a powerful +country—Serbia, a relatively weak neighbor. Leopold, being a royal snob, +had courted the favor of the emperor and turned up his nose at Serbia. The +general was prepared for a repetition of the veiled affronts that Leopold +delighted in according him; but this time he brought with him a reply that for +two years he had been living in the hope of some day being able to deliver to +the young monarch he so cordially despised. +</p> + +<p> +It was an ultimatum from his government—an ultimatum couched in terms +from which all diplomatic suavity had been stripped. If Barney Custer, of +Beatrice, could have read it he would have smiled, for in plain American it +might have been described as announcing to Leopold precisely “where he +got off.” But Barney did not have the opportunity to read it, since that +ultimatum was never delivered. +</p> + +<p> +Barney took the wind all out of it by his first words. “Your excellency +may wonder why it is that we have summoned you at such an early hour,” he +said. +</p> + +<p> +General Petko inclined his head in deferential acknowledgment of the truth of +the inference. +</p> + +<p> +“It is because we have learned from our chancellor,” continued the +American, “that Serbia has mobilized an entire army corps upon the +Luthanian frontier. Am I correctly informed?” +</p> + +<p> +General Petko squared his shoulders and bowed in assent. At the same time he +reached into his breast-pocket for the ultimatum. +</p> + +<p> +“Good!” exclaimed Barney, and then he leaned close to the ear of +the Serbian. “How long will it take to move that army corps to +Lustadt?” +</p> + +<p> +General Petko gasped and returned the ultimatum to his pocket. +</p> + +<p> +“Sire!” he cried, his face lighting with incredulity. “You +mean—” +</p> + +<p> +“I mean,” said the American, “that if Serbia will loan Lutha +an army corps until the Austrians have evacuated Luthanian territory, Lutha +will loan Serbia an army corps until such time as peace is declared between +Serbia and Austria. Other than this neither government will incur any +obligations to the other. +</p> + +<p> +“We may not need your help, but it will do us no harm to have them well +on the way toward Lustadt as quickly as possible. Count Zellerndorf will be +here in a few minutes. We shall, through him, give Austria twenty-four hours to +withdraw all her troops beyond our frontiers. The army of Lutha is mobilized +before Lustadt. It is not a large army, but with the help of Serbia it should +be able to drive the Austrians from the country, provided they do not leave of +their own accord.” +</p> + +<p> +General Petko smiled. So did the American and the chancellor. Each knew that +Austria would not withdraw her army from Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +“With your majesty’s permission I will withdraw,” said the +Serbian, “and transmit Lutha’s proposition to my government; but I +may say that your majesty need have no apprehension but that a Serbian army +corps will be crossing into Lutha before noon today.” +</p> + +<p> +“And now, Prince Ludwig,” said the American after the Serbian had +bowed himself out of the apartment, “I suggest that you take immediate +steps to entrench a strong force north of Lustadt along the road to +Blentz.” +</p> + +<p> +Von der Tann smiled as he replied. “It is already done, sire,” he +said. +</p> + +<p> +“But I passed in along the road this morning,” said Barney, +“and saw nothing of such preparations.” +</p> + +<p> +“The trenches and the soldiers were there, nevertheless, sire,” +replied the old man, “only a little gap was left on either side of the +highway that those who came and went might not suspect our plans and carry word +of them to the Austrians. A few hours will complete the link across the +road.” +</p> + +<p> +“Good! Let it be completed at once. Here is Count Zellerndorf now,” +as the minister was announced. +</p> + +<p> +Von der Tann bowed himself out as the Austrian entered the king’s +presence. For the first time in two years the chancellor felt that the destiny +of Lutha was safe in the hands of her king. What had caused the metamorphosis +in Leopold he could not guess. He did not seem to be the same man that had +whined and growled at their last audience a week before. +</p> + +<p> +The Austrian minister entered the king’s presence with an expression of +ill-concealed surprise upon his face. Two days before he had left Leopold +safely ensconced at Blentz, where he was to have remained indefinitely. He +glanced hurriedly about the room in search of Prince Peter or another of the +conspirators who should have been with the king. He saw no one. The king was +speaking. The Austrian’s eyes went wider, not only at the words, but at +the tone of voice. +</p> + +<p> +“Count Zellerndorf,” said the American, “you were doubtless +aware of the embarrassment under which the king of Lutha was compelled at +Blentz to witness the entry of a foreign army within his domain. But we are not +now at Blentz. We have summoned you that you may receive from us, and transmit +to your emperor, the expression of our surprise and dismay at the unwarranted +violation of Luthanian neutrality.” +</p> + +<p> +“But, your majesty—” interrupted the Austrian. +</p> + +<p> +“But nothing, your excellency,” snapped the American. “The +moment for diplomacy is passed; the time for action has come. You will oblige +us by transmitting to your government at once a request that every Austrian +soldier now in Lutha be withdrawn by noon tomorrow.” +</p> + +<p> +Zellerndorf looked his astonishment. +</p> + +<p> +“Are you mad, sire?” he cried. “It will mean war!” +</p> + +<p> +“It is what Austria has been looking for,” snapped the American, +“and what people look for they usually get, especially if they chance to +be looking for trouble. When can you expect a reply from Vienna?” +</p> + +<p> +“By noon, your majesty,” replied the Austrian, “but are you +irretrievably bound to your present policy? Remember the power of Austria, +sire. Think of your throne. Think—” +</p> + +<p> +“We have thought of everything,” interrupted Barney. “A +throne means less to us than you may imagine, count; but the honor of Lutha +means a great deal.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap23"></a>XI.<br /> +THE BATTLE</h2> + +<p> +At five o’clock that afternoon the sidewalks bordering Margaretha Street +were crowded with promenaders. The little tables before the cafes were filled. +Nearly everyone spoke of the great war and of the peril which menaced Lutha. +Upon many a lip was open disgust at the supine attitude of Leopold of Lutha in +the face of an Austrian invasion of his country. Discontent was open. It was +ripening to something worse for Leopold than an Austrian invasion. +</p> + +<p> +Presently a sergeant of the Royal Horse Guards cantered down the street from +the palace. He stopped here and there, and, dismounting, tacked placards in +conspicuous places. At the notice, and in each instance cheers and shouting +followed the sergeant as he rode on to the next stop. +</p> + +<p> +Now, at each point men and women were gathered, eagerly awaiting an explanation +of the jubilation farther up the street. Those whom the sergeant passed called +to him for an explanation, and not receiving it, followed in a quickly growing +mob that filled Margaretha Street from wall to wall. When he dismounted he had +almost to fight his way to the post or door upon which he was to tack the next +placard. The crowd surged about him in its anxiety to read what the placard +bore, and then, between the cheering and yelling, those in the front passed +back to the crowd the tidings that filled them with so great rejoicing. +</p> + +<p> +“Leopold has declared war on Austria!” “The king calls for +volunteers!” “Long live the king!” +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +The battle of Lustadt has passed into history. Outside of the little kingdom of +Lutha it received but passing notice by the world at large, whose attention was +riveted upon the great conflicts along the banks of the Meuse, the Marne, and +the Aisne. But in Lutha! Ah, it will be told and retold, handed down from mouth +to mouth and from generation to generation to the end of time. +</p> + +<p> +How the cavalry that the king sent north toward Blentz met the advancing +Austrian army. How, fighting, they fell back upon the infantry which lay, a +thin line that stretched east and west across the north of Lustadt, in its +first line of trenches. A pitifully weak line it was, numerically, in +comparison with the forces of the invaders; but it stood its ground heroically, +and from the heights to the north of the city the fire from the forts helped to +hold the enemy in check for many hours. +</p> + +<p> +And then the enemy succeeded in bringing up their heavy artillery to the ridge +that lies three miles north of the forts. Shells were bursting in the trenches, +the forts, and the city. To the south a stream of terror-stricken refugees was +pouring out of Lustadt along the King’s Road. Rich and poor, animated by +a common impulse, filled the narrow street that led to the city’s +southern gate. Carts drawn by dogs, laden donkeys, French limousines, +victorias, wheelbarrows—every conceivable wheeled vehicle and beast of +burden—were jammed in a seemingly inextricable tangle in the mad rush for +safety. +</p> + +<p> +Rumor passed back and forth through the fleeing thousands. Now came word that +Fort No. 2 had been silenced by the Austrian guns. Immediately followed news +that the Luthanian line was falling back upon the city. Fear turned to panic. +Men fought to outdistance their neighbors. +</p> + +<p> +A shell burst upon a roof-top in an adjoining square. +</p> + +<p> +Women fainted and were trampled. Hoarse shouts of anger mingled with screams of +terror, and then into the midst of it from Margaretha Street rode a man on +horseback. Behind him were a score of officers. A trumpeter raised his +instrument to his lips, and above the din of the fleeing multitude rose the +sharp, triple call that announces the coming of the king. The mob halted and +turned. +</p> + +<p> +Looking down upon them from his saddle was Leopold of Lutha. His palm was +raised for silence and there was a smile upon his lips. Quite suddenly, and as +by a miracle, fear left them. They made a line for him and his staff to ride +through. One of the officers turned in his saddle to address a civilian friend +in an automobile. +</p> + +<p> +“His majesty is riding to the firing line,” he said and he raised +his voice that many might hear. Quickly the word passed from mouth to mouth, +and as Barney Custer, of Beatrice, passed along Margaretha Street he was +followed by a mad din of cheering that drowned the booming of the distant +cannon and the bursting of the shells above the city. +</p> + +<p> +The balance of the day the pseudo-king rode back and forth along his lines. +Three of his staff were killed and two horses were shot from beneath him, but +from the moment that he appeared the Luthanian line ceased to waver or fall +back. The advanced trenches that they had abandoned to the Austrians they took +again at the point of the bayonet. Charge after charge they repulsed, and all +the time there hovered above the enemy Lutha’s sole aeroplane, watching, +watching, ever watching for the coming of the allies. Somewhere to the +northeast the Serbians were advancing toward Lustadt. Would they come in time? +</p> + +<p> +It was five o’clock in the morning of the second day, and though the +Luthanian line still held, Barney Custer knew that it could not hold for long. +The Austrian artillery fire, which had been rather wild the preceding day, had +now become of deadly accuracy. Each bursting shell filled some part of the +trenches with dead and wounded, and though their places were taken by fresh men +from the reserve, there would soon be no reserve left to call upon. +</p> + +<p> +At his left, in the rear, the American had massed the bulk of his reserves, and +at the foot of the heights north of the city and just below the forts the major +portion of the cavalry was drawn up in the shelter of a little ravine. +Barney’s eyes were fixed upon the soaring aeroplane. +</p> + +<p> +In his hand was his watch. He would wait another fifteen minutes, and if by +then the signal had not come that the Serbians were approaching, he would +strike the blow that he had decided upon. From time to time he glanced at his +watch. +</p> + +<p> +The fifteen minutes had almost elapsed when there fluttered from the tiny +monoplane a paper parachute. It dropped for several hundred feet before it +spread to the air pressure and floated more gently toward the earth and a +moment later there burst from its basket a puff of white smoke. Two more +parachutes followed the first and two more puffs of smoke. Then the machine +darted rapidly off toward the northeast. +</p> + +<p> +Barney turned to Prince von der Tann with a smile. “They are none too +soon,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +The old prince bowed in acquiescence. He had been very happy for two days. +Lutha might be defeated now, but she could never be subdued. She had a king at +last—a real king. Gott! How he had changed. It reminded Prince von der +Tann of the day he had ridden beside the impostor two years before in the +battle with the forces of Peter of Blentz. Many times he had caught himself +scrutinizing the face of the monarch, searching for some proof that after all +he was not Leopold. +</p> + +<p> +“Direct the commanders of forts three and four to concentrate their fire +on the enemy’s guns directly north of Fort No. 3,” Barney directed +an aide. “Simultaneously let the cavalry and Colonel Kazov’s +infantry make a determined assault on the Austrian trenches.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he turned his horse toward the left of his line, where, a little to the +rear, lay the fresh troops that he had been holding in readiness against this +very moment. As he galloped across the plain, his staff at his heels, shrapnel +burst about them. Von der Tann spurred to his side. +</p> + +<p> +“Sire,” he cried, “it is unnecessary that you take such grave +risks. Your staff is ready and willing to perform such service that you may be +preserved to your people and your throne.” +</p> + +<p> +“I believe the men fight better when they think their king is watching +them,” said the American simply. +</p> + +<p> +“I know it, sire,” replied Von der Tann, “but even so, Lutha +could ill afford to lose you now. I thank God, your majesty, that I have lived +to see this day—to see the last of the Rubinroths upholding the glorious +traditions of the Rubinroth blood.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney led the reserves slowly through the wood to the rear of the extreme left +of his line. The attack upon the Austrian right center appeared to be meeting +with much greater success than the American dared to hope for. Already, through +his glasses, he could see indications that the enemy was concentrating a larger +force at this point to repulse the vicious assaults of the Luthanians. To do +this they must be drawing from their reserves back of other portions of their +line. +</p> + +<p> +It was what Barney had desired. The three bombs from the aeroplane had told him +that the Serbians had been sighted three miles away. Already they were engaging +the Austrians. He could hear the rattle of rifles and quick-firers and the roar +of cannon far to the northeast. And now he gave the word to the commander of +the reserve. +</p> + +<p> +At a rapid trot the men moved forward behind the extreme left end of the +Luthanian left wing. They were almost upon the Austrians before they emerged +from the shelter of the wood, and then with hoarse shouts and leveled bayonets +they charged the enemy’s position. The fight there was the bloodiest of +the two long days. Back and forth the tide of battle surged. In the thick of it +rode the false king encouraging his men to greater effort. Slowly at last they +bore the Austrians from their trenches. Back and back they bore them until +retreat became a rout. The Austrian right was crumpled back upon its center! +</p> + +<p> +Here the enemy made a determined stand; but just before dark a great shouting +arose from the heights to their left, where the bulk of their artillery was +stationed. Both the Luthanian and Austrian troops engaged in the plain saw +Austrian infantry and artillery running down the slopes in disorderly rout. +Upon their heads came a cheering line of soldiers firing as they ran, and above +them waved the battleflag of Serbia. +</p> + +<p> +A mighty shout rose from the Luthanian ranks—an answering groan from the +throats of the Austrians. Hemmed in between the two lines of allies, the +Austrians were helpless. Their artillery was captured, retreat cut off. There +was but a single alternative to massacre—the white flag. +</p> + +<p> +A few regiments between Lustadt and Blentz, but nearer the latter town, escaped +back into Austria, the balance Barney arranged with the Serbian minister to +have taken back to Serbia as prisoners of war. The Luthanian army corps that +the American had promised the Serbs was to be utilized along the Austrian +frontier to prevent the passage of Austrian troops into Serbia through Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +The return to Lustadt after the battle was made through cheering troops and +along streets choked with joy-mad citizenry. The name of the soldier-king was +upon every tongue. Men went wild with enthusiasm as the tall figure rode slowly +through the crowd toward the palace. +</p> + +<p> +Von der Tann, grim and martial, found his lids damp with the moisture of a +great happiness. Even now with all the proofs of reality about him, it seemed +impossible that this scene could be aught but the ephemeral vapors of a +dream—that Leopold of Lutha, the coward, the craven, could have become in +a single day the heroic figure that had loomed so large upon the battlefield of +Lustadt—the simple, modest gentleman who received the plaudits of his +subjects with bowed head and humble mien. +</p> + +<p> +As Barney Custer rode up Margaretha Street toward the royal palace of the kings +of Lutha, a dust-covered horseman in the uniform of an officer of the Horse +Guards entered Lustadt from the south. It was the young aide of Prince von der +Tann’s staff, who had been sent to Blentz nearly a week earlier with a +message for the king, and who had been captured and held by the Austrians. +</p> + +<p> +During the battle before Lustadt all the Austrian troops had been withdrawn +from Blentz and hurried to the front. It was then that the aide had been +transferred to the castle, from which he had escaped early that morning. To +reach Lustadt he had been compelled to circle the Austrian position, coming to +Lustadt from the south. +</p> + +<p> +Once within the city he rode straight to the palace, flung himself from his +jaded mount, and entered the left wing of the building—the wing in which +the private apartments of the chancellor were located. +</p> + +<p> +Here he inquired for the Princess Emma, learning with evident relief that she +was there. A moment later, white with dust, his face streamed with sweat, he +was ushered into her presence. +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness,” he blurted, “the king’s commands have +been disregarded—the American is to be shot tomorrow. I have just escaped +from Blentz. Peter is furious. He realizes that whether the Austrians win or +lose, his standing with the king is gone forever. +</p> + +<p> +“In a fit of rage he has ordered that Mr. Custer be sacrificed to his +desire for revenge, in the hope that it will insure for him the favor of the +Austrians. Something must be done at once if he is to be saved.” +</p> + +<p> +For a moment the girl swayed as though about to fall. The young officer stepped +quickly to support her, but before he reached her side she had regained +complete mastery of herself. From the street without there rose the blare of +trumpets and the cheering of the populace. +</p> + +<p> +Through senses numb with the cold of anguish the meaning of the tumult slowly +filtered to her brain—the king had come. He was returning from the +battlefield, covered with honors and flushed with glory—the man who was +to be her husband; but there was no rejoicing in the heart of the Princess +Emma. +</p> + +<p> +Instead, there was a dull ache and impotent rebellion at the injustice of the +thing—that Leopold should be reaping these great rewards, while he who +had made it possible for him to be a king at all was to die on the morrow +because of what he had done to place the Rubinroth upon his throne. +</p> + +<p> +“Perhaps Lieutenant Butzow might find a way,” suggested the +officer. “He or your father; they are both fond of Mr. Custer.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes,” said the girl dully, “see Lieutenant Butzow—he +would do the most.” +</p> + +<p> +The officer bowed and hastened from the apartment in search of Butzow. The girl +approached the window and stood there for a long time, looking out at the +surging multitude that pressed around the palace gates, filling Margaretha +Street with a solid mass of happy faces. +</p> + +<p> +They cheered the king, the chancellor, the army; but most often they cheered +the king. From a despised monarch Leopold had risen in a single bound to the +position of a national idol. +</p> + +<p> +Repeatedly he was called to the balcony over the grand entrance that the people +might feast their eyes on him. The princess wondered how long it was before she +herself would be forced to offer her congratulations and, perchance, suffer his +caresses. She shivered and cringed at the thought, and then there came a knock +upon the door, and in answer to her permission it opened, and the king stood +upon the threshold alone. +</p> + +<p> +At a glance the man took in the pain and sorrow mirrored upon the girl’s +face. He stepped quickly across the room toward her. +</p> + +<p> +“What is it?” he asked. “What is the matter?” +</p> + +<p> +For a moment he had forgotten the part that he had been playing—forgot +that the Princess Emma was ignorant of his identity. He had come to her to +share with her the happiness of the hour—the glory of the victorious arms +of Lutha. For a time he had almost forgotten that he was not the king, and now +he was forgetting that he was not Barney Custer to the girl who stood before +him with misery and hopelessness writ so large upon her countenance. +</p> + +<p> +For a brief instant the girl did not reply. She was weighing the problematical +value of an attempt to enlist the king in the cause of the American. Leopold +had shown a spark of magnanimity when he had written a pardon for Mr. Custer; +might he not rise again above his petty jealousy and save the American’s +life? It was a forlorn hope to the woman who knew the true Leopold so well; but +it was a hope. +</p> + +<p> +“What is the matter?” the king repeated. +</p> + +<p> +“I have just received word that Prince Peter has ignored your commands, +sire,” replied the girl, “and that Mr. Custer is to be shot +tomorrow.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney’s eyes went wide with incredulity. Here was a pretty pass, indeed! +The princess came close to him and seized his arm. +</p> + +<p> +“You promised, sire,” she said, “that he would not be +harmed—you gave your royal word. You can save him. You have an army at +your command. Do not forget that he once saved you.” +</p> + +<p> +The note of appeal in her voice and the sorrow in her eyes gave Barney Custer a +twinge of compunction. The necessity for longer concealing his identity in so +far as the salvation of Lutha was concerned seemed past; but the American had +intended to carry the deception to the end. +</p> + +<p> +He had given the matter much thought, but he could find no grounds for belief +that Emma von der Tann would be any happier in the knowledge that her future +husband had had nothing to do with the victory of his army. If she was doomed +to a life at his side, why not permit her the grain of comfort that she might +derive from the memory of her husband’s achievements upon the battlefield +of Lustadt? Why rob her of that little? +</p> + +<p> +But now, face to face with her, and with the evidence of her suffering so plain +before him, Barney’s intentions wavered. Like most fighting men, he was +tender in his dealings with women. And now the last straw came in the form of a +single tiny tear that trickled down the girl’s cheek. He seized the hand +that lay upon his arm. +</p> + +<p> +“Your highness,” he said, “do not grieve for the American. He +is not worth it. He has deceived you. He is not at Blentz.” +</p> + +<p> +The girl drew her hand from his and straightened to her full height. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you mean, sire?” she exclaimed. “Mr. Custer would +not deceive me even if he had an opportunity—which he has not had. But if +he is not at Blentz, where is he?” +</p> + +<p> +Barney bowed his head and looked at the floor. +</p> + +<p> +“He is here, your highness, asking your forgiveness,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +There was a puzzled expression upon the girl’s face as she looked at the +man before her. She did not understand. Why should she? Barney drew a diamond +ring from his little finger and held it out to her. +</p> + +<p> +“You gave it to me to cut a hole in the window of the garage where I +stole the automobile,” he said. “I forgot to return it. Now do you +know who I am?” +</p> + +<p> +Emma von der Tann’s eyes showed her incredulity; then, act by act, she +recalled all that this man had said and done since they had escaped from Blentz +that had been so unlike the king she knew. +</p> + +<p> +“When did you assume the king’s identity?” she asked. +</p> + +<p> +Barney told her all that had transpired in the king’s apartments at +Blentz before she had been conducted to the king’s presence. +</p> + +<p> +“And Leopold is there now?” she asked. +</p> + +<p> +“He is there,” replied Barney, “and he is to be shot in the +morning.” +</p> + +<p> +“Gott!” exclaimed the girl. “What are we to do?” +</p> + +<p> +“There is but one thing to do,” replied the American, “and +that is for Butzow and me to ride to Blentz as fast as horses will carry us and +rescue the king.” +</p> + +<p> +“And then?” asked the girl, a shadow crossing her face. +</p> + +<p> +“And then Barney Custer will have to beat it for the boundary,” he +replied with a sorry smile. +</p> + +<p> +She came quite close to him, laying her hands upon his shoulders. +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot give you up now,” she said simply. “I have tried to +be loyal to Leopold and the promise that my father made his king when I was +only a little girl; but since I thought that you were to be shot, I have wished +a thousand times that I had gone with you to America two years ago. Take me +with you now, Barney. We can send Lieutenant Butzow to rescue the king, and +before he has returned we can be safe across the Serbian frontier.” +</p> + +<p> +The American shook his head. +</p> + +<p> +“I got the king into this mess and I must get him out,” he said. +“He may deserve to be shot, but it is up to me to prevent it, if I can. +And there is your father to consider. If Butzow rides to Blentz and rescues the +king, it may be difficult to get him back to Lustadt without the truth of his +identity and mine becoming known. With me there, the change can be effected +easily, and not even Butzow need know what has happened. +</p> + +<p> +“If the people should guess that it was not Leopold who won the battle of +Lustadt there might be the devil to pay, and your father would go down along +with the throne. No, I must stay until Leopold is safe in Lustadt. But there is +a hope for us. I may be able to wrest from Leopold his sanction of our +marriage. I shall not hesitate to use threats to get it, and I rather imagine +that he will be in such a terror-stricken condition that he will assent to any +terms for his release from Blentz. If he gives me such a paper, Emma, will you +marry me?” +</p> + +<p> +Perhaps there never had been a stranger proposal than this; but to neither did +it seem strange. For two years each had known the love of the other. The +girl’s betrothal to the king had prevented an avowal of their love while +Barney posed in his own identity. Now they merely accepted the conditions that +had existed for two years as though a matter of fact which had been often +discussed between them. +</p> + +<p> +“Of course I’ll marry you,” said the princess. “Why in +the world would I want you to take me to America otherwise?” +</p> + +<p> +As Barney Custer took her in his arms he was happier than he had ever before +been in all his life, and so, too, was the Princess Emma von der Tann. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap24"></a>XII.<br /> +LEOPOLD WAITS FOR DAWN</h2> + +<p> +After the American had shoved him through the secret doorway into the tower +room of the castle of Blentz, Leopold had stood for several minutes waiting for +the next command from his captor. Presently, hearing no sound other than that +of his own breathing, the king ventured to speak. He asked the American what he +purposed doing with him next. +</p> + +<p> +There was no reply. For another minute the king listened intently; then he +raised his hands and removed the bandage from his eyes. He looked about him. +The room was vacant except for himself. He recognized it as the one in which he +had spent ten years of his life as a prisoner. He shuddered. What had become of +the American? He approached the door and listened. Beyond the panels he could +hear the two soldiers on guard there conversing. He called to them. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you want?” shouted one of the men through the closed door. +</p> + +<p> +“I want Prince Peter!” yelled the king. “Send him at +once!” +</p> + +<p> +The soldiers laughed. +</p> + +<p> +“He wants Prince Peter,” they mocked. “Wouldn’t you +rather have us send the king to you?” they asked. +</p> + +<p> +“I am the king!” yelled Leopold. “I am the king! Open the +door, pigs, or it will go hard with you! I shall have you both shot in the +morning if you do not open the door and fetch Prince Peter.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah!” exclaimed one of the soldiers. “Then there will be +three of us shot together.” +</p> + +<p> +Leopold went white. He had not connected the sentence of the American with +himself; but now, quite vividly, he realized what it might mean to him if he +failed before dawn to convince someone that he was not the American. Peter +would not be awake at so early an hour, and if he had no better success with +others than he was having with these soldiers, it was possible that he might be +led out and shot before his identity was discovered. The thing was +preposterous. The king’s knees became suddenly quite weak. They shook, +and his legs gave beneath his weight so that he had to lean against the back of +a chair to keep from falling. +</p> + +<p> +Once more he turned to the soldiers. This time he pleaded with them, begging +them to carry word to Prince Peter that a terrible mistake had been made, and +that it was the king and not the American who was confined in the death +chamber. But the soldiers only laughed at him, and finally threatened to come +in and beat him if he again interrupted their conversation. +</p> + +<p> +It was a white and shaken prisoner that the officer of the guard found when he +entered the room at dawn. The man before him, his face streaked with tears of +terror and self-pity, fell upon his knees before him, beseeching him to carry +word to Peter of Blentz, that he was the king. The officer drew away with a +gesture of disgust. +</p> + +<p> +“I might well believe from your actions that you are Leopold,” he +said; “for, by Heaven, you do not act as I have always imagined the +American would act in the face of danger. He has a reputation for bravery that +would suffer could his admirers see him now.” +</p> + +<p> +“But I am not the American,” pleaded the king. “I tell you +that the American came to my apartments last night, overpowered me, forced me +to change clothing with him, and then led me back here.” +</p> + +<p> +A sudden inspiration came to the king with the memory of all that had +transpired during that humiliating encounter with the American. +</p> + +<p> +“I signed a pardon for him!” he cried. “He forced me to do +so. If you think I am the American, you cannot kill me now, for there is a +pardon signed by the king, and an order for the American’s immediate +release. Where is it? Do not tell me that Prince Peter did not receive +it.” +</p> + +<p> +“He received it,” replied the officer, “and I am here to +acquaint you with the fact, but Prince Peter said nothing about your release. +All he told me was that you were not to be shot this morning,” and the +man emphasized the last two words. +</p> + +<p> +Leopold of Lutha spent two awful days a prisoner at Blentz, not knowing at what +moment Prince Peter might see fit to carry out the verdict of the Austrian +court martial. He could convince no one that he was the king. Peter would not +even grant him an audience. Upon the evening of the third day, word came that +the Austrians had been defeated before Lustadt, and those that were not +prisoners were retreating through Blentz toward the Austrian frontier. +</p> + +<p> +The news filtered to Leopold’s prison room through the servant who +brought him his scant and rough fare. The king was utterly disheartened before +this word reached him. For the moment he seemed to see a ray of hope, for, +since the impostor had been victorious, he would be in a position to force +Peter of Blentz to give up the true king. +</p> + +<p> +There was the chance that the American, flushed with success and power, might +elect to hold the crown he had seized. Who would guess the transfer that had +been effected, or, guessing, would dare voice his suspicions in the face of the +power and popularity that Leopold knew such a victory as the impostor had won +must have given him in the hearts and minds of the people of Lutha? Still, +there was a bare possibility that the American would be as good as his word, +and return the crown as he had promised. Though he hated to admit it, the king +had every reason to believe that the impostor was a man of honor, whose bare +word was as good as another’s bond. +</p> + +<p> +He was commencing, under this line of reasoning, to achieve a certain hopeful +content when the door to his prison opened and Peter of Blentz, black and +scowling, entered. At his elbow was Captain Ernst Maenck. +</p> + +<p> +“Leopold has defeated the Austrians,” announced the former. +“Until you returned to Lutha he considered the Austrians his best +friends. I do not know how you could have reached or influenced him. It is to +learn how you accomplished it that I am here. The fact that he signed your +pardon indicates that his attitude toward you changed suddenly—almost +within an hour. There is something at the bottom of it all, and that something +I must know.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am Leopold!” cried the king. “Don’t you recognize +me, Prince Peter? Look at me! Maenck must know me. It was I who wrote and +signed the American’s pardon—at the point of the American’s +revolver. He forced me to exchange clothing with him, and then he brought me +here to this room and left me.” +</p> + +<p> +The two men looked at the speaker and smiled. +</p> + +<p> +“You bank too strongly, my friend,” said Peter of Blentz, +“upon your resemblance to the king of Lutha. I will admit that it is +strong, but not so strong as to convince me of the truth of so improbable a +story. How in the world could the American have brought you through the castle, +from one end to the other, unseen? There was a guard before the king’s +door and another before this. No, Herr Custer, you will have to concoct a more +plausible tale. +</p> + +<p> +“No,” and Peter of Blentz scowled savagely, as though to impress +upon his listener the importance of his next utterance, “there were more +than you and the king involved in his sudden departure from Blentz and in his +hasty change of policy toward Austria. To be quite candid, it seems to me that +it may be necessary to my future welfare—vitally necessary, I may +say—to know precisely how all this occurred, and just what influence you +have over Leopold of Lutha. Who was it that acted as the go-between in the +king’s negotiations with you, or rather, yours with the king? And what +argument did you bring to bear to force Leopold to the action he took?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have told you all that I know about the matter,” whined the +king. “The American appeared suddenly in my apartment. When he brought me +here he first blindfolded me. I have no idea by what route we traveled through +the castle, and unless your guards outside this door were bribed they can tell +you more about how we got in here than I can—provided we entered through +that doorway,” and the king pointed to the door which had just opened to +admit his two visitors. +</p> + +<p> +“Oh, pshaw!” exclaimed Maenck. “There is but one door to this +room—if the king came in here at all, he came through that door.” +</p> + +<p> +“Enough!” cried Peter of Blentz. “I shall not be trifled with +longer. I shall give you until tomorrow morning to make a full explanation of +the truth and to form some plan whereby you may utilize once more whatever +influence you had over Leopold to the end that he grant to myself and my +associates his royal assurance that our lives and property will be safe in +Lutha.” +</p> + +<p> +“But I tell you it is impossible,” wailed the king. +</p> + +<p> +“I think not,” sneered Prince Peter, “especially when I tell +you that if you do not accede to my wishes the order of the Austrian military +court that sentenced you to death at Burgova will be carried out in the +morning.” +</p> + +<p> +With his final words the two men turned and left the room. Behind them, upon +the floor, inarticulate with terror, knelt Leopold of Lutha, his hands +outstretched in supplication. +</p> + +<p> +The long night wore its weary way to dawn at last. The sleepless man, +alternately tossing upon his bed and pacing the floor, looked fearfully from +time to time at the window through which the lightening of the sky would +proclaim the coming day and his last hour on earth. His windows faced the west. +At the foot of the hill beneath the castle nestled the village of Blentz, once +more enveloped in peaceful silence since the Austrians were gone. +</p> + +<p> +An unmistakable lessening of the darkness in the east had just announced the +proximity of day, when the king heard a clatter of horses’ hoofs upon the +road before the castle. The sound ceased at the gates and a loud voice broke +out upon the stillness of the dying night demanding entrance “in the name +of the king.” +</p> + +<p> +New hope burst aflame in the breast of the condemned man. The impostor had not +forsaken him. Leopold ran to the window, leaning far out. He heard the voices +of the sentries in the barbican as they conversed with the newcomers. Then +silence came, broken only by the rapid footsteps of a soldier hastening from +the gate to the castle. His hobnail shoes pounding upon the cobbles of the +courtyard echoed among the angles of the lofty walls. When he had entered the +castle the silence became oppressive. For five minutes there was no sound other +than the pawing of the horses outside the barbican and the subdued conversation +of their riders. +</p> + +<p> +Presently the soldier emerged from the castle. With him was an officer. The two +went to the barbican. Again there was a parley between the horsemen and the +guard. Leopold could hear the officer demanding terms. He would lower the +drawbridge and admit them upon conditions. +</p> + +<p> +One of these the king overheard—it concerned an assurance of full pardon +for Peter of Blentz and the garrison; and again Leopold heard the officer +addressing someone as “your majesty.” +</p> + +<p> +Ah, the impostor was there in person. Ach, Gott! How Leopold of Lutha hated +him, and yet, in the hands of this American lay not only his throne but his +very life as well. +</p> + +<p> +Evidently the negotiations proved unsuccessful for after a time the party +wheeled their horses from the gate and rode back toward Blentz. As the sound of +the iron-shod hoofs diminished in the distance, with them diminished the hopes +of the king. +</p> + +<p> +When they ceased entirely his hopes were at an end, to be supplanted by renewed +terror at the turning of the knob of his prison door as it swung open to admit +Maenck and a squad of soldiers. +</p> + +<p> +“Come!” ordered the captain. “The king has refused to +intercede in your behalf. When he returns with his army he will find your body +at the foot of the west wall in the courtyard.” +</p> + +<p> +With an ear-piercing shriek that rang through the grim old castle, Leopold of +Lutha flung his arms above his head and lunged forward upon his face. Roughly +the soldiers seized the unconscious man and dragged him from the room. +</p> + +<p> +Along the corridor they hauled him and down the winding stairs within the north +tower to the narrow slit of a door that opened upon the courtyard. To the foot +of the west wall they brought him, tossing him brutally to the stone flagging. +Here one of the soldiers brought a flagon of water and dashed it in the face of +the king. The cold douche returned Leopold to a consciousness of the nearness +of his impending fate. +</p> + +<p> +He saw the little squad of soldiers before him. He saw the cold, gray wall +behind, and, above, the cold, gray sky of early dawn. The dismal men leaning +upon their shadowy guns seemed unearthly specters in the weird light of the +hour that is neither God’s day nor devil’s night. With difficulty +two of them dragged Leopold to his feet. +</p> + +<p> +Then the dismal men formed in line before him at the opposite side of the +courtyard. Maenck stood to the left of them. He was giving commands. They fell +upon the doomed man’s ears with all the cruelty of physical blows. Tears +coursed down his white cheeks. With incoherent mumblings he begged for his +life. Leopold, King of Lutha, trembling in the face of death! +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap25"></a>XIII.<br /> +THE TWO KINGS</h2> + +<p> +Twenty troopers had ridden with Lieutenant Butzow and the false king from +Lustadt to Blentz. During the long, hard ride there had been little or no +conversation between the American and his friend, for Butzow was still +unsuspicious of the true identity of the man who posed as the ruler of Lutha. +The lieutenant was all anxiety to reach Blentz and rescue the American he +thought imprisoned there and in danger of being shot. +</p> + +<p> +At the gate they were refused admittance unless the king would accept +conditions. Barney refused—there was another way to gain entrance to +Blentz that not even the master of Blentz knew. Butzow urged him to accede to +anything to save the life of the American. He recalled all that the latter had +done in the service of Lutha and Leopold. Barney leaned close to the +other’s ear. +</p> + +<p> +“If they have not already shot him,” he whispered, “we shall +save the prisoner yet. Let them think that we give up and are returning to +Lustadt. Then follow me.” +</p> + +<p> +Slowly the little cavalcade rode down from the castle of Blentz toward the +village. Just out of sight of the grim pile where the road wound down into a +ravine Barney turned his horse’s head up the narrow defile. In single +file Butzow and the troopers followed until the rank undergrowth precluded +farther advance. Here the American directed that they dismount, and, leaving +the horses in charge of three troopers, set out once more with the balance of +the company on foot. +</p> + +<p> +It was with difficulty that the men forced their way through the bushes, but +they had not gone far when their leader stopped before a sheer wall of earth +and stone, covered with densely growing shrubbery. Here he groped in the dim +light, feeling his way with his hands before him, while at his heels came his +followers. At last he separated a wall of bushes and disappeared within the +aperture his hands had made. One by one his men followed, finding themselves in +inky darkness, but upon a smooth stone floor and with stone walls close upon +either hand. Those who lifted their hands above their heads discovered an +arched stone ceiling close above them. +</p> + +<p> +Along this buried corridor the “king” led them, for though he had +never traversed it himself the Princess Emma had, and from her he had received +minute directions. Occasionally he struck a match, and presently in the fitful +glare of one of these he and those directly behind him saw the foot of a ladder +that disappeared in the Stygian darkness above. +</p> + +<p> +“Follow me up this, very quietly,” he said to those behind him. +“Up to the third landing.” +</p> + +<p> +They did as he bid them. At the third landing Barney felt for the latch he knew +was there—he was on familiar ground now. Finding it he pushed open the +door it held in place, and through a tiny crack surveyed the room beyond. It +was vacant. The American threw the door wide and stepped within. Directly +behind him was Butzow, his eyes wide in wonderment. After him filed the +troopers until seventeen of them stood behind their lieutenant and the +“king.” +</p> + +<p> +Through the window overlooking the courtyard came a piteous wailing. Barney ran +to the casement and looked out. Butzow was at his side. +</p> + +<p> +“<i>Himmel!</i>” ejaculated the Luthanian. “They are about to +shoot him. Quick, your majesty,” and without waiting to see if he were +followed the lieutenant raced for the door of the apartment. Close behind him +came the American and the seventeen. +</p> + +<p> +It took but a moment to reach the stairway down which the rescuers tumbled +pell-mell. +</p> + +<p> +Maenck was giving his commands to the firing squad with fiendish deliberation +and delay. He seemed to enjoy dragging out the agony that the condemned man +suffered. But it was this very cruelty that caused Maenck’s undoing and +saved the life of Leopold of Lutha. Just before he gave the word to fire Maenck +paused and laughed aloud at the pitiable figure trembling and whining against +the stone wall before him, and during that pause a commotion arose at the tower +doorway behind the firing squad. +</p> + +<p> +Maenck turned to discover the cause of the interruption, and as he turned he +saw the figure of the king leaping toward him with leveled revolver. At the +king’s back a company of troopers of the Royal Horse Guard was pouring +into the courtyard. +</p> + +<p> +Maenck snatched his own revolver from his hip and fired point-blank at the +“king.” The firing squad had turned at the sound of assault from +the rear. Some of them discharged their pieces at the advancing troopers. +Butzow gave a command and seventeen carbines poured their deadly hail into the +ranks of the Blentz retainers. At Maenck’s shot the “king” +staggered and fell to the pavement. +</p> + +<p> +Maenck leaped across his prostrate form, yelling to his men “Shoot the +American.” Then he was lost to Barney’s sight in the hand-to-hand +scrimmage that was taking place. The American tried to regain his feet, but the +shock of the wound in his breast had apparently paralyzed him for the moment. A +Blentz soldier was running toward the prisoner standing open-mouthed against +the wall. The fellow’s rifle was raised to his hip—his intention +was only too obvious. +</p> + +<p> +Barney drew himself painfully and slowly to one elbow. The man was rapidly +nearing the true Leopold. In another moment he would shoot. The American raised +his revolver and, taking careful aim, fired. The soldier shrieked, covered his +face with his hands, spun around once, and dropped at the king’s feet. +</p> + +<p> +The troopers under Butzow were forcing the men of Blentz toward the far end of +the courtyard. Two of the Blentz faction were standing a little apart, backing +slowly away and at the same time deliberately firing at the king. Barney seemed +the only one who noticed them. Once again he raised his revolver and fired. One +of the men sat down suddenly, looked vacantly about him, and then rolled over +upon his side. The other fired once more at the king and the same instant +Barney fired at the soldier. Soldier and king—would-be assassin and his +victim—fell simultaneously. Barney grimaced. The wound in his breast was +painful. He had done his best to save the king. It was no fault of his that he +had failed. It was a long way to Beatrice. He wondered if Emma von der Tann +would be on the station platform, awaiting him—then he swooned. +</p> + +<p> +Butzow and his seventeen had it all their own way in the courtyard and castle +of Blentz. After the first resistance the soldiery of Peter fled to the +guardroom. Butzow followed them, and there they laid down their arms. Then the +lieutenant returned to the courtyard to look for the king and Barney Custer. He +found them both, and both were wounded. He had them carried to the royal +apartments in the north tower. When Barney regained consciousness he found the +scowling portrait of the Blentz princess frowning down upon him. He lay upon a +great bed where the soldiers, thinking him king, had placed him. Opposite him, +against the farther wall, the real king lay upon a cot. Butzow was working over +him. +</p> + +<p> +“Not so bad, after all, Barney,” the lieutenant was saying. +“Only a flesh wound in the calf of the leg.” +</p> + +<p> +The king made no reply. He was afraid to declare his identity. First he must +learn the intentions of the impostor. He only closed his eyes wearily. +Presently he asked a question. +</p> + +<p> +“Is he badly wounded?” and he indicated the figure upon the great +bed. +</p> + +<p> +Butzow turned and crossed to where the American lay. He saw that the +latter’s eyes were open and that he was conscious. +</p> + +<p> +“How does your majesty feel?” he asked. There was more respect in +his tone than ever before. One of the Blentz soldiers had told him how the +“king,” after being wounded by Maenck, had raised himself upon his +elbow and saved the prisoner’s life by shooting three of his assailants. +</p> + +<p> +“I thought I was done for,” answered Barney Custer, “but I +rather guess the bullet struck only a glancing blow. It couldn’t have +entered my lungs, for I neither cough nor spit blood. To tell you the truth, I +feel surprisingly fit. How’s the prisoner?” +</p> + +<p> +“Only a flesh wound in the calf of his left leg, sire,” replied +Butzow. +</p> + +<p> +“I am glad,” was Barney’s only comment. He didn’t want +to be king of Lutha; but he had foreseen that with the death of the king his +imposture might be forced upon him for life. +</p> + +<p> +After Butzow and one of the troopers had washed and dressed the wounds of both +men Barney asked them to leave the room. +</p> + +<p> +“I wish to sleep,” he said. “If I require you I will +ring.” +</p> + +<p> +Saluting, the two backed from the apartment. Just as they were passing through +the doorway the American called out to Butzow. +</p> + +<p> +“You have Peter of Blentz and Maenck in custody?” he asked. +</p> + +<p> +“I regret having to report to your majesty,” replied the officer, +“that both must have escaped. A thorough search of the entire castle has +failed to reveal them.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney scowled. He had hoped to place these two conspirators once and for all +where they would never again threaten the peace of the throne of Lutha—in +hell. For a moment he lay in thought. Then he addressed the officer again. +</p> + +<p> +“Leave your force here,” he said, “to guard us. Ride, +yourself, to Lustadt and inform Prince von der Tann that it is the king’s +desire that every effort be made to capture these two men. Have them brought to +Lustadt immediately they are apprehended. Bring them dead or alive.” +</p> + +<p> +Again Butzow saluted and prepared to leave the room. +</p> + +<p> +“Wait,” said Barney. “Convey our greetings to the Princess +von der Tann, and inform her that my wound is of small importance, as is also +that of the—Mr. Custer. You may go, lieutenant.” +</p> + +<p> +When they were alone Barney turned toward the king. The other lay upon his side +glaring at the American. When he caught the latter’s eyes upon him he +spoke. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you intend doing with me?” he said. “Are you going +to keep your word and return my identity?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have promised,” replied Barney, “and what I promise I +always perform.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then exchange clothing with me at once,” cried the king, half +rising from his cot. +</p> + +<p> +“Not so fast, my friend,” rejoined the American. “There are a +few trifling details to be arranged before we resume our proper +personalities.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you realize that you should be hanged for what you have done?” +snarled the king. “You assaulted me, stole my clothing, left me here to +be shot by Peter, and sat upon my throne in Lustadt while I lay a prisoner +condemned to death.” +</p> + +<p> +“And do you realize,” replied Barney, “that by so doing I +saved your foolish little throne for you; that I drove the invaders from your +dominions; that I have unmasked your enemies, and that I have once again proven +to you that the Prince von der Tann is your best friend and most loyal +supporter?” +</p> + +<p> +“You laid your plebeian hands upon me,” cried the king, raising his +voice. “You humiliated me, and you shall suffer for it.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney Custer eyed the king for a long moment before he spoke again. It was +difficult to believe that the man was so devoid of gratitude, and so blind as +not to see that even the rough treatment that he had received at the +American’s hands was as nothing by comparison with the service that the +American had done him. Apparently Leopold had already forgotten that three +times Barney Custer had saved his life in the courtyard below. From the +man’s demeanor, now that his life was no longer at stake, Barney caught +an inkling of what his attitude might be when once again he was returned to the +despotic power of his kingship. +</p> + +<p> +“It is futile to reason with you,” he said. “There is only +one way to handle such as you. At present I hold the power to coerce you, and I +shall continue to hold that power until I am safely out of your two-by-four +kingdom. If you do as I say you shall have your throne back again. If you +refuse, why by Heaven you shall never have it. I’ll stay king of Lutha +myself.” +</p> + +<p> +“What are your terms?” asked the king. +</p> + +<p> +“That Prince Peter of Blentz, Captain Ernst Maenck, and old Von Coblich +be tried, convicted, and hanged for high treason,” replied the American. +</p> + +<p> +“That is easy,” said the king. “I should do so anyway +immediately I resumed my throne. Now get up and give me my clothes. Take this +cot and I will take the bed. None will know of the exchange.” +</p> + +<p> +“Again you are too fast,” answered Barney. “There is another +condition.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well?” +</p> + +<p> +“You must promise upon your royal honor that Ludwig, Prince von der Tann, +remain chancellor of Lutha during your life or his.” +</p> + +<p> +“Very well,” assented the king. “I promise,” and again +he half rose from his cot. +</p> + +<p> +“Hold on a minute,” admonished the American; “there is yet +one more condition of which I have not made mention.” +</p> + +<p> +“What, another?” exclaimed Leopold testily. “How much do you +want for returning to me what you have stolen?” +</p> + +<p> +“So far I have asked for nothing for myself,” replied Barney. +“Now I am coming to that part of the agreement. The Princess Emma von der +Tann is betrothed to you. She does not love you. She has honored me with her +affection, but she will not wed until she has been formally released from her +promise to wed Leopold of Lutha. The king must sign such a release and also a +sanction of her marriage to Barney Custer, of Beatrice. Do you understand what +I want?” +</p> + +<p> +The king went livid. He came to his feet beside the cot. For the moment, his +wound was forgotten. He tottered toward the impostor. +</p> + +<p> +“You scoundrel!” he screamed. “You scoundrel! You have stolen +my identity and my throne and now you wish to steal the woman who loves +me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Don’t get excited, Leo,” warned the American, “and +don’t talk so loud. The Princess doesn’t love you, and you know it +as well as I. She will never marry you. If you want your dinky throne back +you’ll have to do as I desire; that is, sign the release and the +sanction. +</p> + +<p> +“Now let’s don’t have any heroics about it. You have the +proposition. Now I am going to sleep. In the meantime you may think it over. If +the papers are not ready when it comes time for us to leave, and from the way I +feel now I rather think I shall be ready to mount a horse by morning, I shall +ride back to Lustadt as king of Lutha, and I shall marry her highness into the +bargain, and you may go hang! +</p> + +<p> +“How the devil you will earn a living with that king job taken away from +you I don’t know. You’re a long way from New York, and in the +present state of carnage in Europe I rather doubt that there are many +headwaiters jobs open this side of the American metropolis, and I can’t +for the moment think of anything else at which you would shine—with all +due respect to some excellent headwaiters I have known.” +</p> + +<p> +For some time the king remained silent. He was thinking. He realized that it +lay in the power of the American to do precisely what he had threatened to do. +No one would doubt his identity. Even Peter of Blentz had not recognized the +real king despite Leopold’s repeated and hysterical claims. +</p> + +<p> +Lieutenant Butzow, the American’s best friend, had no more suspected the +exchange of identities. Von der Tann, too, must have been deceived. Everyone +had been deceived. There was no hope that the people, who really saw so little +of their king, would guess the deception that was being played upon them. +Leopold groaned. Barney opened his eyes and turned toward him. +</p> + +<p> +“What’s the matter?” he asked. +</p> + +<p> +“I will sign the release and the sanction of her highness’ marriage +to you,” said the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Good!” exclaimed the American. “You will then go at once to +Brosnov as originally planned. I will return to Lustadt and get her highness, +and we will immediately leave Lutha via Brosnov. There you and I will effect a +change of raiment, and you will ride back to Lustadt with the small guard that +accompanies her highness and me to the frontier.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you not remain in Lustadt?” asked the king. “You +could as well be married there as elsewhere.” +</p> + +<p> +“Because I don’t trust your majesty,” replied the American. +“It must be done precisely as I say or not at all. Are you +agreeable?” +</p> + +<p> +The king assented with a grumpy nod. +</p> + +<p> +“Then get up and write as I dictate,” said Barney. Leopold of Lutha +did as he was bid. The result was two short, crisply worded documents. At the +bottom of each was the signature of Leopold of Lutha. Barney took the two +papers and carefully tucked them beneath his pillow. +</p> + +<p> +“Now let’s sleep,” he said. “It is getting late and we +both need the rest. In the morning we have long rides ahead of us. Good +night.” +</p> + +<p> +The king did not respond. In a short time Barney was fast asleep. The light +still burned. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap26"></a>XIV.<br /> +“THE KING’S WILL IS LAW”</h2> + +<p> +The Blentz princess frowned down upon the king and impostor impartially from +her great gilt frame. It must have been close to midnight that the painting +moved—just a fraction of an inch. Then it remained motionless for a time. +Again it moved. This time it revealed a narrow crack at its edge. In the crack +an eye shone. +</p> + +<p> +One of the sleepers moved. He opened his eyes. Stealthily he raised himself on +his elbow and gazed at the other across the apartment. He listened intently. +The regular breathing of the sleeper proclaimed the soundness of his slumber. +Gingerly the man placed one foot upon the floor. The eye glued to the crack at +the edge of the great, gilt frame of the Blentz princess remained fastened upon +him. He let his other foot slip to the floor beside the first. Carefully he +raised himself until he stood erect upon the floor. Then, on tiptoe he started +across the room. +</p> + +<p> +The eye in the dark followed him. The man reached the side of the sleeper. +Bending over he listened intently to the other’s breathing. Satisfied +that slumber was profound he stepped quickly to a wardrobe in which a soldier +had hung the clothing of both the king and the American. He took down the +uniform of the former, casting from time to time apprehensive glances toward +the sleeper. The latter did not stir, and the other passed to the little +dressing-room adjoining. +</p> + +<p> +A few minutes later he reentered the apartment fully clothed and wearing the +accouterments of Leopold of Lutha. In his hand was a drawn sword. Silently and +swiftly he crossed to the side of the sleeping man. The eye at the crack beside +the gilded frame pressed closer to the aperture. The sword was raised above the +body of the slumberer—its point hovered above his heart. The face of the +man who wielded it was hard with firm resolve. +</p> + +<p> +His muscles tensed to drive home the blade, but something held his hand. His +face paled. His shoulders contracted with a little shudder, and he turned +toward the door of the apartment, almost running across the floor in his +anxiety to escape. The eye in the dark maintained its unblinking vigilance. +</p> + +<p> +With his hand upon the knob a sudden thought stayed the fugitive’s +flight. He glanced quickly back at the sleeper—he had not moved. Then the +man who wore the uniform of the king of Lutha recrossed the apartment to the +bed, reached beneath one of the pillows and withdrew two neatly folded +official-looking documents. These he placed in the breastpocket of his uniform. +A moment later he was walking down the spiral stairway to the main floor of the +castle. +</p> + +<p> +In the guardroom the troopers of the Royal Horse who were not on guard were +stretched in slumber. Only a corporal remained awake. As the man entered the +guardroom the corporal glanced up, and as his eyes fell upon the newcomer, he +sprang to his feet, saluting. +</p> + +<p> +“Turn out the guard!” he cried. “Turn out the guard for his +majesty, the king!” +</p> + +<p> +The sleeping soldiers, but half awake, scrambled to their feet, their muscles +reacting to the command that their brains but half perceived. They snatched +their guns from the racks and formed a line behind the corporal. The king +raised his fingers to the vizor of his helmet in acknowledgment of their +salute. +</p> + +<p> +“Saddle up quietly, corporal,” he said. “We shall ride to +Lustadt tonight.” +</p> + +<p> +The non-commissioned officer saluted. “And an extra horse for Herr +Custer?” he said. +</p> + +<p> +The king shook his head. “The man died of his wound about an hour +ago,” he said. “While you are saddling up I shall arrange with some +of the Blentz servants for his burial—now hurry!” +</p> + +<p> +The corporal marched his troopers from the guardroom toward the stables. The +man in the king’s clothes touched a bell which was obviously a servant +call. He waited impatiently a reply to his summons, tapping his finger-tips +against the sword-scabbard that was belted to his side. At last a sleepy-eyed +man responded—a man who had grown gray in the service of Peter of Blentz. +At sight of the king he opened his eyes in astonishment, pulled his foretop, +and bowed uneasily. +</p> + +<p> +“Come closer,” whispered the king. The man did so, and the king +spoke in his ear earnestly, but in scarce audible tones. The eyes of the +listener narrowed to mere slits—of avarice and cunning, cruelly cold and +calculating. The speaker searched through the pockets of the king’s +clothes that covered him. At last he withdrew a roll of bills. The amount must +have been a large one, but he did not stop to count it. He held the money under +the eyes of the servant. The fellow’s claw-like fingers reached for the +tempting wealth. He nodded his head affirmatively. +</p> + +<p> +“You may trust me, sire,” he whispered. +</p> + +<p> +The king slipped the money into the other’s palm. “And as much +more,” he said, “when I receive proof that my wishes have been +fulfilled.” +</p> + +<p> +“Thank you, sire,” said the servant. +</p> + +<p> +The king looked steadily into the other’s face before he spoke again. +</p> + +<p> +“And if you fail me,” he said, “may God have mercy on your +soul.” Then he wheeled and left the guardroom, walking out into the +courtyard where the soldiers were busy saddling their mounts. +</p> + +<p> +A few minutes later the party clattered over the drawbridge and down the road +toward Blentz and Lustadt. From a window of the apartments of Peter of Blentz a +man watched them depart. When they passed across a strip of moonlit road, and +he had counted them, he smiled with relief. +</p> + +<p> +A moment later he entered a panel beside the huge fireplace in the west wall +and disappeared. There he struck a match, found a candle and lighted it. +Walking a few steps he came to a figure sleeping upon a pile of clothing. He +stooped and shook the sleeper by the shoulder. +</p> + +<p> +“Wake up!” he cried in a subdued voice. “Wake up, Prince +Peter; I have good news for you.” +</p> + +<p> +The other opened his eyes, stretched, and at last sat up. +</p> + +<p> +“What is it, Maenck?” he asked querulously. +</p> + +<p> +“Great news, my prince,” replied the other. +</p> + +<p> +“While you have been sleeping many things have transpired within the +walls of your castle. The king’s troopers have departed; but that is a +small matter compared with the other. Here, behind the portrait of your +great-grandmother, I have listened and watched all night. I opened the secret +door a fraction of an inch—just enough to permit me to look into the +apartment where the king and the American lay wounded. They had been talking as +I opened the door, but after that they ceased—the king falling asleep at +once—the American feigning slumber. For a long time I watched, but +nothing happened until near midnight. Then the American arose and donned the +king’s clothes. +</p> + +<p> +“He approached Leopold with drawn sword, but when he would have thrust it +through the heart of the sleeping man his nerve failed him. Then he stole some +papers from the room and left. Just now he has ridden out toward Lustadt with +the men of the Royal Horse who captured the castle yesterday.” +</p> + +<p> +Before Maenck was half-way through his narrative, Peter of Blentz was wide +awake and all attention. His eyes glowed with suddenly aroused interest. +</p> + +<p> +“Somewhere in this, prince,” concluded Maenck, “there must +lie the seed of fortune for you and me.” +</p> + +<p> +Peter nodded. “Yes,” he mused, “there must.” +</p> + +<p> +For a time both men were buried in thought. Suddenly Maenck snapped his +fingers. “I have it!” he cried. He bent toward Prince Peter’s +ear and whispered his plan. When he was done the Blentz prince grasped his +hand. +</p> + +<p> +“Just the thing, Maenck!” he cried. “Just the thing. Leopold +will never again listen to idle gossip directed against our loyalty. If I know +him—and who should know him better—he will heap honors upon you, my +Maenck; and as for me, he will at least forgive me and take me back into his +confidence. Lose no time now, my friend. We are free now to go and come, since +the king’s soldiers have been withdrawn.” +</p> + +<p> +In the garden back of the castle an old man was busy digging a hole. It was a +long, narrow hole, and, when it was completed, nearly four feet deep. It looked +like a grave. When he had finished the old man hobbled to a shed that leaned +against the south wall. Here were boards, tools, and a bench. It was the castle +workshop. The old man selected a number of rough pine boards. These he measured +and sawed, fitted and nailed, working all the balance of the night. By dawn, he +had a long, narrow box, just a trifle smaller than the hole he had dug in the +garden. The box resembled a crude coffin. When it was quite finished, including +a cover, he dragged it out into the garden and set it upon two boards that +spanned the hole, so that it rested precisely over the excavation. +</p> + +<p> +All these precautions methodically made, he returned to the castle. In a little +storeroom he searched for and found an ax. With his thumb he felt of the +edge—for an ax it was marvelously sharp. The old fellow grinned and shook +his head, as one who appreciates in anticipation the consummation of a good +joke. Then he crept noiselessly through the castle’s corridors and up the +spiral stairway in the north tower. In one hand was the sharp ax. +</p> + +<p> +The moment Lieutenant Butzow had reached Lustadt he had gone directly to Prince +von der Tann; but the moment his message had been delivered to the chancellor +he sought out the chancellor’s daughter, to tell her all that had +occurred at Blentz. +</p> + +<p> +“I saw but little of Mr. Custer,” he said. “He was very +quiet. I think all that he has been through has unnerved him. He was slightly +wounded in the left leg. The king was wounded in the breast. His majesty +conducted himself in a most valiant and generous manner. Wounded, he lay upon +his stomach in the courtyard of the castle and defended Mr. Custer, who was, of +course, unarmed. The king shot three of Prince Peter’s soldiers who were +attempting to assassinate Mr. Custer.” +</p> + +<p> +Emma von der Tann smiled. It was evident that Lieutenant Butzow had not +discovered the deception that had been practiced upon him in common with all +Lutha—she being the only exception. It seemed incredible that this good +friend of the American had not seen in the heroism of the man who wore the +king’s clothes the attributes and ear-marks of Barney Custer. She glowed +with pride at the narration of his heroism, though she suffered with him +because of his wound. +</p> + +<p> +It was not yet noon when the detachment of the Royal Horse arrived in Lustadt +from Blentz. At their head rode one whom all upon the streets of the capital +greeted enthusiastically as king. The party rode directly to the royal palace, +and the king retired immediately to his apartments. A half hour later an +officer of the king’s household knocked upon the door of the Princess +Emma von der Tann’s boudoir. In accord with her summons he entered, +saluted respectfully, and handed her a note. +</p> + +<p> +It was written upon the personal stationery of Leopold of Lutha. The girl read +and reread it. For some time she could not seem to grasp the enormity of the +thing that had overwhelmed her—the daring of the action that the message +explained. The note was short and to the point, and was signed only with +initials. +</p> + +<p class="letter"> +D<small>EAREST</small> E<small>MMA</small>: +</p> + +<p class="letter"> +The king died of his wounds just before midnight. I shall keep the throne. +There is no other way. None knows and none must ever know the truth. Your +father alone may suspect; but if we are married at once our alliance will +cement him and his faction to us. Send word by the bearer that you agree with +the wisdom of my plan, and that we may be wed at once—this afternoon, in +fact.<br /> +Â Â Â Â The people may wonder for a few days at the strange haste, but my answer +shall be that I am going to the front with my troops. The son and many of the +high officials of the Kaiser have already established the precedent, marrying +hurriedly upon the eve of their departure for the front.<br /> +Â Â Â Â With every assurance of my undying love, believe me, +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours,<br /> +B. C. +</p> + +<p> +The girl walked slowly across the room to her writing table. The officer stood +in respectful silence awaiting the answer that the king had told him to bring. +The princess sat down before the carved bit of furniture. Mechanically she drew +a piece of note paper from a drawer. Many times she dipped her pen in the ink +before she could determine what reply to send. Ages of ingrained royalistic +principles were shocked and shattered by the enormity of the thing the man she +loved had asked of her, and yet cold reason told her that it was the only way. +</p> + +<p> +Lutha would be lost should the truth be known—that the king was dead, for +there was no heir of closer blood connection with the royal house than Prince +Peter of Blentz, whose great-grandmother had been a Rubinroth princess. Slowly, +at last, she wrote as follows: +</p> + +<p class="letter"> +S<small>IRE</small>: +</p> + +<p class="letter"> +The king’s will is law. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +E<small>MMA</small>. +</p> + +<p> +That was all. Placing the note in an envelope she sealed it and handed it to +the officer, who bowed and left the room. +</p> + +<p> +A half hour later officers of the Royal Horse were riding through the streets +of Lustadt. Some announced to the people upon the streets the coming marriage +of the king and princess. Others rode to the houses of the nobility with the +king’s command that they be present at the ceremony in the old cathedral +at four o’clock that afternoon. +</p> + +<p> +Never had there been such bustling about the royal palace or in the palaces of +the nobles of Lutha. The buzz and hum of excited conversation filled the whole +town. That the choice of the king met the approval of his subjects was more +than evident. Upon every lip was praise and love of the Princess Emma von der +Tann. The future of Lutha seemed assured with a king who could fight joined in +marriage to a daughter of the warrior line of Von der Tann. +</p> + +<p> +The princess was busy up to the last minute. She had not seen her future +husband since his return from Blentz, for he, too, had been busy. Twice he had +sent word to her, but on both occasions had regretted that he could not come +personally because of the pressure of state matters and the preparations for +the ceremony that was to take place in the cathedral in so short a time. +</p> + +<p> +At last the hour arrived. The cathedral was filled to overflowing. After the +custom of Lutha, the bride had walked alone up the broad center aisle to the +foot of the chancel. Guardsmen lining the way on either hand stood rigidly at +salute until she stopped at the end of the soft, rose-strewn carpet and turned +to await the coming of the king. +</p> + +<p> +Presently the doors at the opposite end of the cathedral opened. There was a +fanfare of trumpets, and up the center aisle toward the waiting girl walked the +royal groom. It seemed ages to the princess since she had seen her lover. Her +eyes devoured him as he approached her. She noticed that he limped, and +wondered; but for a moment the fact carried no special suggestion to her brain. +</p> + +<p> +The people had risen as the king entered. Again, the pieces of the guardsmen +had snapped to present; but silence, intense and utter, reigned over the vast +assembly. The only movement was the measured stride of the king as he advanced +to claim his bride. +</p> + +<p> +At the head of each line of guardsmen, nearest the chancel and upon either side +of the bridal party, the ranks were formed of commissioned officers. Butzow was +among them. He, too, out of the corner of his eye watched the advancing figure. +Suddenly he noted the limp, and gave a little involuntary gasp. He looked at +the Princess Emma, and saw her eyes suddenly widen with consternation. +</p> + +<p> +Slowly at first, and then in a sudden tidal wave of memory, Butzow’s +story of the fight in the courtyard at Blentz came back to her. +</p> + +<p> +“I saw but little of Mr. Custer,” he had said. “He was +slightly wounded in the left leg. The king was wounded in the breast.” +But Lieutenant Butzow had not known the true identity of either. +</p> + +<p> +The real Leopold it was who had been wounded in the left leg, and the man who +was approaching her up the broad cathedral aisle was limping +noticeably—and favoring his left leg. The man to whom she was to be +married was not Barney Custer—he was Leopold of Lutha! +</p> + +<p> +A hundred mad schemes rioted through her brain. The wedding must not go on! But +how was she to avert it? The king was within a few paces of her now. There was +a smile upon his lips, and in that smile she saw the final confirmation of her +fears. When Leopold of Lutha smiled his upper lip curved just a trifle into a +shadow of a sneer. It was a trivial characteristic that Barney Custer did not +share in common with the king. +</p> + +<p> +Half mad with terror, the girl seized upon the only subterfuge which seemed at +all likely to succeed. It would, at least, give her a slight reprieve—a +little time in which to think, and possibly find an avenue from her +predicament. +</p> + +<p> +She staggered forward a step, clapped her two hands above her heart, and reeled +as though to fall. Butzow, who had been watching her narrowly, sprang forward +and caught her in his arms, where she lay limp with closed eyes as though in a +dead faint. The king ran forward. The people craned their necks. A sudden burst +of exclamations rose throughout the cathedral, and then Lieutenant Butzow, +shouldering his way past the chancel, carried the Princess Emma to a little +anteroom off the east transept. Behind him walked the king, the bishop, and +Prince Ludwig. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap27"></a>XV.<br /> +MAENCK BLUNDERS</h2> + +<p> +After a hurried breakfast Peter of Blentz and Captain Ernst Maenck left the +castle of Blentz. Prince Peter rode north toward the frontier, Austria, and +safety, Captain Maenck rode south toward Lustadt. Neither knew that general +orders had been issued to soldiery and gendarmerie of Lutha to capture them +dead or alive. So Prince Peter rode carelessly; but Captain Maenck, because of +the nature of his business and the proximity of enemies about Lustadt, +proceeded with circumspection. +</p> + +<p> +Prince Peter was arrested at Tafelberg, and, though he stormed and raged and +threatened, he was immediately packed off under heavy guard back toward +Lustadt. +</p> + +<p> +Captain Ernst Maenck was more fortunate. He reached the capital of Lutha in +safety, though he had to hide on several occasions from detachments of troops +moving toward the north. Once within the city he rode rapidly to the house of a +friend. Here he learned that which set him into a fine state of excitement and +profanity. The king and the Princess Emma von der Tann were to be wed that very +afternoon! It lacked but half an hour to four o’clock. +</p> + +<p> +Maenck grabbed his cap and dashed from the house before his astonished friend +could ask a single question. He hurried straight toward the cathedral. The king +had just arrived, and entered when Maenck came up, breathless. The guard at the +doorway did not recognize him. If they had they would have arrested him. +Instead they contented themselves with refusing him admission, and when he +insisted they threatened him with arrest. +</p> + +<p> +To be arrested now would be to ruin his fine plan, so he turned and walked +away. At the first cross street he turned up the side of the cathedral. The +grounds were walled up on this side, and he sought in vain for entrance. At the +rear he discovered a limousine standing in the alley where its chauffeur had +left it after depositing his passengers at the front door of the cathedral. The +top of the limousine was but a foot or two below the top of the wall. +</p> + +<p> +Maenck clambered to the hood of the machine, and from there to the top. A +moment later he dropped to the earth inside the cathedral grounds. Before him +were many windows. Most of them were too high for him to reach, and the others +that he tried at first were securely fastened. Passing around the end of the +building, he at last discovered one that was open—it led into the east +transept. +</p> + +<p> +Maenck crawled through. He was within the building that held the man he sought. +He found himself in a small room—evidently a dressing-room. There were +two doors leading from it. He approached one and listened. He heard the tones +of subdued conversation beyond. +</p> + +<p> +Very cautiously he opened the door a crack. He could not believe the good +fortune that was revealed before him. On a couch lay the Princess Emma von der +Tann. Beside her her father. At the door was Lieutenant Butzow. The bishop and +a doctor were talking at the head of the couch. Pacing up and down the room, +resplendent in the marriage robes of a king of Lutha, was the man he sought. +</p> + +<p> +Maenck drew his revolver. He broke the barrel, and saw that there was a good +cartridge in each chamber of the cylinder. He closed it quietly. Then he threw +open the door, stepped into the room, took deliberate aim, and fired. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +The old man with the ax moved cautiously along the corridor upon the second +floor of the Castle of Blentz until he came to a certain door. Gently he turned +the knob and pushed the door inward. Holding the ax behind his back, he +entered. In his pocket was a great roll of money, and there was to be an equal +amount waiting him at Lustadt when his mission had been fulfilled. +</p> + +<p> +Once within the room, he looked quickly about him. Upon a great bed lay the +figure of a man asleep. His face was turned toward the opposite wall away from +the side of the bed nearer the menacing figure of the old servant. On tiptoe +the man with the ax approached. The neck of his victim lay uncovered before +him. He swung the ax behind him. A single blow, as mighty as his ancient +muscles could deliver, would suffice. +</p> + +<p> +Barney Custer opened his eyes. Directly opposite him upon the wall was a +dark-toned photogravure of a hunting scene. It tilted slightly forward upon its +wire support. As Barney’s eyes opened it chanced that they were directed +straight upon the shiny glass of the picture. The light from the window struck +the glass in such a way as to transform it into a mirror. The American’s +eyes were glued with horror upon the reflection that he saw there—an old +man swinging a huge ax down upon his head. +</p> + +<p> +It is an open question as to which of the two was the most surprised at the +cat-like swiftness of the movement that carried Barney Custer out of that bed +and landed him in temporary safety upon the opposite side. +</p> + +<p> +With a snarl the old man ran around the foot of the bed to corner his prey +between the bed and the wall. He was swinging the ax as though to hurl it. So +close was he that Barney guessed it would be difficult for him to miss his +mark. The least he could expect would be a frightful wound. To have attempted +to escape would have necessitated turning his back to his adversary, inviting +instant death. To grapple with a man thus armed appeared an equally hopeless +alternative. +</p> + +<p> +Shoulder-high beside him hung the photogravure that had already saved his life +once. Why not again? He snatched it from its hangings, lifted it above his head +in both hands, and hurled it at the head of the old man. The glass shattered +full upon the ancient’s crown, the man’s head went through the +picture, and the frame settled over his shoulders. At the same instant Barney +Custer leaped across the bed, seized a light chair, and turned to face his foe +upon more even terms. +</p> + +<p> +The old man did not pause to remove the frame from about his neck. Blood +trickled down his forehead and cheeks from deep gashes that the broken glass +had made. Now he was in a berserker rage. +</p> + +<p> +As he charged again he uttered a peculiar whistling noise from between his set +teeth. To the American it sounded like the hissing of a snake, and as he would +have met a snake he met the venomous attack of the old man. +</p> + +<p> +When the short battle was over the Blentz servitor lay unconscious upon the +floor, while above him leaned the American, uninjured, ripping long strips from +a sheet torn from the bed, twisting them into rope-like strands and, with them, +binding the wrists and ankles of his defeated foe. Finally he stuffed a gag +between the toothless gums. +</p> + +<p> +Running to the wardrobe, he discovered that the king’s uniform was gone. +That, with the witness of the empty bed, told him the whole story. The American +smiled. “More nerve than I gave him credit for,” he mused, as he +walked back to his bed and reached under the pillow for the two papers he had +forced the king to sign. They, too, were gone. Slowly Barney Custer realized +his plight, as there filtered through his mind a suggestion of the +possibilities of the trick that had been played upon him. +</p> + +<p> +Why should Leopold wish these papers? Of course, he might merely have taken +them that he might destroy them; but something told Barney Custer that such was +not the case. And something, too, told him whither the king had ridden and what +he would do there when he arrived. +</p> + +<p> +He ran back to the wardrobe. In it hung the peasant attire that he had stolen +from the line of the careless house frau, and later wished upon his majesty the +king. Barney grinned as he recalled the royal disgust with which Leopold had +fingered the soiled garments. He scarce blamed him. Looking further toward the +back of the wardrobe, the American discovered other clothing. +</p> + +<p> +He dragged it all out upon the floor. There was an old shooting jacket, several +pairs of trousers and breeches, and a hunting coat. In a drawer at the bottom +of the wardrobe he found many old shoes, puttees, and boots. +</p> + +<p> +From this miscellany he selected riding breeches, a pair of boots, and the red +hunting coat as the only articles that fitted his rather large frame. Hastily +he dressed, and, taking the ax the old man had brought to the room as the only +weapon available, he walked boldly into the corridor, down the spiral stairway +and into the guardroom. +</p> + +<p> +Barney Custer was prepared to fight. He was desperate. He could have slunk from +the Castle of Blentz as he had entered it—through the secret passageway +to the ravine; but to attempt to reach Lustadt on foot was not at all +compatible with the urgent haste that he felt necessary. He must have a horse, +and a horse he would have if he had to fight his way through a Blentz army. +</p> + +<p> +But there were no armed retainers left at Blentz. The guardroom was vacant; but +there were arms there and ammunition. Barney commandeered a sword and a +revolver, then he walked into the courtyard and crossed to the stables. The way +took him by the garden. In it he saw a coffin-like box resting upon planks +above a grave-like excavation. Barney investigated. The box was empty. Once +again he grinned. “It is not always wise,” he mused, “to +count your corpses before they’re dead. What a lot of work the old man +might have spared himself if he’d only caught his cadaver first—or +at least tried to.” +</p> + +<p> +Passing on by his own grave, he came to the stables. A groom was currying a +strong, clean-limbed hunter haltered in the doorway. The man looked up as +Barney approached him. A puzzled expression entered the fellow’s eyes. He +was a young man—a stupid-looking lout. It was evident that he half +recognized the face of the newcomer as one he had seen before. Barney nodded to +him. +</p> + +<p> +“Never mind finishing,” he said. “I am in a hurry. You may +saddle him at once.” The voice was authoritative—it brooked no +demur. The groom touched his forehead, dropped the currycomb and brush, and +turned back into the stable to fetch saddle and bridle. +</p> + +<p> +Five minutes later Barney was riding toward the gate. The portcullis was +raised—the drawbridge spanned the moat—no guard was there to bar +his way. The sunlight flooded the green valley, stretching lazily below him in +the soft warmth of a mellow autumn morning. Behind him he had left the brooding +shadows of the grim old fortress—the cold, cruel, depressing stronghold +of intrigue, treason, and sudden death. +</p> + +<p> +He threw back his shoulders and filled his lungs with the sweet, pure air of +freedom. He was a new man. The wound in his breast was forgotten. Lightly he +touched his spurs to the hunter’s sides. Tossing his head and curveting, +the animal broke into a long, easy trot. Where the road dipped into the ravine +and down through the village to the valley the rider drew his restless mount +into a walk; but, once in the valley, he let him out. Barney took the short +road to Lustadt. It would cut ten miles off the distance that the main +wagonroad covered, and it was a good road for a horseman. It should bring him +to Lustadt by one o’clock or a little after. The road wound through the +hills to the east of the main highway, and was scarcely more than a trail where +it crossed the Ru River upon a narrow bridge that spanned the deep mountain +gorge that walls the Ru for ten miles through the hills. +</p> + +<p> +When Barney reached the river his hopes sank. The bridge was +gone—dynamited by the Austrians in their retreat. The nearest bridge was +at the crossing of the main highway over ten miles to the southwest. There, +too, the river might be forded even if the Austrians had destroyed that bridge +also; but here or elsewhere in the hills there could be no fording—the +banks of the Ru were perpendicular cliffs. +</p> + +<p> +The misfortune would add nearly twenty miles to his journey—he could not +now hope to reach Lustadt before late in the afternoon. Turning his horse back +along the trail he had come, he retraced his way until he reached a narrow +bridle path that led toward the southwest. The trail was rough and indistinct, +yet he pushed forward, even more rapidly than safety might have suggested. The +noble beast beneath him was all loyalty and ambition. +</p> + +<p> +“Take it easy, old boy,” whispered Barney into the slim, pointed +ears that moved ceaselessly backward and forward, “you’ll get your +chance when we strike the highway, never fear.” +</p> + +<p> +And he did. +</p> + +<p class="p2"> +So unexpected had been Maenck’s entrance into the room in the east +transept, so sudden his attack, that it was all over before a hand could be +raised to stay him. At the report of his revolver the king sank to the floor. +At almost the same instant Lieutenant Butzow whipped a revolver from beneath +his tunic and fired at the assassin. Maenck staggered forward and stumbled +across the body of the king. Butzow was upon him instantly, wresting the +revolver from his fingers. Prince Ludwig ran to the king’s side and, +kneeling there, raised Leopold’s head in his arms. The bishop and the +doctor bent over the limp form. The Princess Emma stood a little apart. She had +leaped from the couch where she had been lying. Her eyes were wide in horror. +Her palms pressed to her cheeks. +</p> + +<p> +It was upon this scene that a hatless, dust-covered man in a red hunting coat +burst through the door that had admitted Maenck. The man had seen and +recognized the conspirator as he climbed to the top of the limousine and +dropped within the cathedral grounds, and he had followed close upon his heels. +</p> + +<p> +No one seemed to note his entrance. All ears were turned toward the doctor, who +was speaking. +</p> + +<p> +“The king is dead,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +Maenck raised himself upon an elbow. He spoke feebly. +</p> + +<p> +“You fools,” he cried. “That man was not the king. I saw him +steal the king’s clothes at Blentz and I followed him here. He is the +American—the impostor.” Then his eyes, circling the faces about him +to note the results of his announcements, fell upon the face of the man in the +red hunting coat. Amazement and wonder were in his face. Slowly he raised his +finger and pointed. +</p> + +<p> +“There is the king,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +Every eye turned in the direction he indicated. Exclamations of surprise and +incredulity burst from every lip. The old chancellor looked from the man in the +red hunting coat to the still form of the man upon the floor in the +blood-spattered marriage garments of a king of Lutha. He let the king’s +head gently down upon the carpet, and then he rose to his feet and faced the +man in the red hunting coat. +</p> + +<p> +“Who are you?” he demanded. +</p> + +<p> +Before Barney could speak Lieutenant Butzow spoke. +</p> + +<p> +“He is the king, your highness,” he said. “I rode with him to +Blentz to free Mr. Custer. Both were wounded in the courtyard in the fight that +took place there. I helped to dress their wounds. The king was wounded in the +breast—Mr. Custer in the left leg.” +</p> + +<p> +Prince von der Tann looked puzzled. Again he turned his eyes questioningly +toward the newcomer. +</p> + +<p> +“Is this the truth?” he asked. +</p> + +<p> +Barney looked toward the Princess Emma. In her eyes he could read the relief +that the sight of him alive had brought her. Since she had recognized the king +she had believed that Barney was dead. The temptation was great—he +dreaded losing her, and he feared he would lose her when her father learned the +truth of the deception that had been practiced upon him. He might lose even +more—men had lost their heads for tampering with the affairs of kings. +</p> + +<p> +“Well?” persisted the chancellor. +</p> + +<p> +“Lieutenant Butzow is partially correct—he honestly believes that +he is entirely so,” replied the American. “He did ride with me from +Lustadt to Blentz to save the man who lies dead here at your feet. The +lieutenant thought that he was riding with his king, just as your highness +thought that he was riding with his king during the battle of Lustadt. You were +both wrong—you were riding with Mr. Bernard Custer, of Beatrice. I am he. +I have no apologies to make. What I did I would do again. I did it for Lutha +and for the woman I love. She knows and the king knew that I intended restoring +his identity to him with no one the wiser for the interchange that had taken +place. The king upset my plans by stealing back his identity while I slept, +with the result that you see before you upon the floor. He has died as he had +lived—futilely.” +</p> + +<p> +As he spoke the Princess Emma had crossed the room toward him. Now she stood at +his side, her hand in his. Tense silence reigned in the apartment. The old +chancellor stood with bowed head, buried in thought. All eyes were upon him +except those of the doctor, who had turned his attention from the dead king to +the wounded assassin. Butzow stood looking at Barney Custer in open relief and +admiration. He had been trying to vindicate his friend in his own mind ever +since he had discovered, as he believed, that Barney had tricked Leopold after +the latter had saved his life at Blentz and ridden to Lustadt in the +king’s guise. Now that he knew the whole truth he realized how stupid he +had been not to guess that the man who had led the victorious Luthanian army +before Lustadt could not have been the cowardly Leopold. +</p> + +<p> +Presently the chancellor broke the silence. +</p> + +<p> +“You say that Leopold of Lutha lived futilely. You are right; but when +you say that he has died futilely, you are, I believe, wrong. Living, he gave +us a poor weakling. Dying, he leaves the throne to a brave man, in whose veins +flows the blood of the Rubinroths, hereditary rulers of Lutha. +</p> + +<p> +“You are the only rightful successor to the throne of Lutha,” he +argued, “other than Peter of Blentz. Your mother’s marriage to a +foreigner did not bar the succession of her offspring. Aside from the fact that +Peter of Blentz is out of the question, is the more important fact that your +line is closer to the throne than his. He knew it, and this knowledge was the +real basis of his hatred of you.” +</p> + +<p> +As the old chancellor ceased speaking he drew his sword and raised it on high +above his head. +</p> + +<p> +“The king is dead,” he said. “Long live the king!” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap28"></a>XVI.<br /> +KING OF LUTHA</h2> + +<p> +Barney Custer, of Beatrice, had no desire to be king of Lutha. He lost no time +in saying so. All that he wanted of Lutha was the girl he had found there, as +his father before him had found the girl of his choice. Von der Tann pleaded +with him. +</p> + +<p> +“Twice have I fought under you, sire,” he urged. “Twice, and +only twice since the old king died, have I felt that the future of Lutha was +safe in the hands of her ruler, and both these times it was you who sat upon +the throne. Do not desert us now. Let me live to see Lutha once more happy, +with a true Rubinroth upon the throne and my daughter at his side.” +</p> + +<p> +Butzow added his pleas to those of the old chancellor. The American hesitated. +</p> + +<p> +“Let us leave it to the representatives of the people and to the house of +nobles,” he suggested. +</p> + +<p> +The chancellor of Lutha explained the situation to both houses. Their reply was +unanimous. He carried it to the American, who awaited the decision of Lutha in +the royal apartments of the palace. With him was the Princess Emma von der +Tann. +</p> + +<p> +“The people of Lutha will have no other king, sire,” said the old +man. +</p> + +<p> +Barney turned toward the girl. +</p> + +<p> +“There is no other way, my lord king,” she said with grave dignity. +“With her blood your mother bequeathed you a duty which you may not +shirk. It is not for you or for me to choose. God chose for you when you were +born.” +</p> + +<p> +Barney Custer took her hand in his and raised it to his lips. +</p> + +<p> +“Let the King of Lutha,” he said, “be the first to salute +Lutha’s queen.” +</p> + +<p> +And so Barney Custer, of Beatrice, was crowned King of Lutha, and Emma became +his queen. Maenck died of his wound on the floor of the little room in the east +transept of the cathedral of Lustadt beside the body of the king he had slain. +Prince Peter of Blentz was tried by the highest court of Lutha on the charge of +treason; he was found guilty and hanged. Von Coblich committed suicide on the +eve of his arrest. Lieutenant Otto Butzow was ennobled and given the +confiscated estates of the Blentz prince. He became a general in the army of +Lutha, and was sent to the front in command of the army corps that guarded the +northern frontier of the little kingdom. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAD KING ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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