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diff --git a/old/mdkng10h.htm b/old/mdkng10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..24f4eab --- /dev/null +++ b/old/mdkng10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11844 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>The Mad King</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +body {margin:10%; text-align:justify} +blockquote {font-size:14pt} +P {font-size:14pt} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> +Project Gutenberg Etext of The Mad King by Edgar Rice Burroughs +<br> +<p>Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to +check the copyright laws for your country before posting these +files!!<br> +</p> + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. +<br> +<p>Please take a look at the important information in this +header. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* +<br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<br> +<p><br> +</p> +<br> +<h1>THE MAD KING</h1> +<br><br> + +<h2>BY EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS</h2> + +<br><br> + +<br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_1">PART I<br> +</h1> + +<h1 id="ref_2">Chapter I A RUNAWAY HORSE</h1> + +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>Peter of Blentz was filled with rage and, possibly, fear as +well.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>Coblich looked the Regent full in the eye.<br> +</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?" <br> +<p>Peter smiled.<br> +</p> + +"You are right, Coblich," he said. "I know that you would not be +such a fool; but whom, then, have we to thank?" <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"You forget that Leopold has escaped," suggested Coblich, "and +that there is no immediate prospect of his passing away."<br> +</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." <br> +<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?"<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +The placard told of the escape of the mad king, offering a large +reward for his safe return to Blentz. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Why, mein Herr?" asked the man.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.'"<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +The road out of Tafelberg wound upward among tall trees toward +the pass that would lead him across the next 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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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 be 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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Barney Custer smiled up at her in encouragement, and the girl +smiled back at him. <br> +<p>"She's sure a game one," thought Barney.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Jump!" cried Barney. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"You are not killed?" she cried in German. "It is a +miracle!"<br> +</p> + +"Not even bruised," reassured Barney. "But you? You must have had +a nasty fall." <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"I'd better go down and put him out of his misery," said Barney, +"if he is not already dead." <br> +<p>"I think he is quite dead," said the girl. "I have not seen +him move."<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Barney stopped. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +The girl laughed. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Why do you smile?" asked the girl.<br> +</p> + +"At our dilemma," evaded Barney. "Have you paused to consider our +situation?" <br> +<p>The girl smiled, too.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_3">Chapter II OVER THE PRECIPICE</h1> + +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. <br> +"Leopold!" she cried in a suppressed voice. "Oh, your majesty, +thank God that you are free--and sane!" <br> +<p>Before he could prevent it the girl had seized his hand and +pressed it to her lips.<br> +</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? <br> +<p>She would never forgive that--he was sure of it.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Perhaps," she thought, "he doubts me. Or can it be possible +that, after all, his poor mind is gone?"<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"Whither were you bound when I became the means of wrecking +your motor car?" asked the girl.<br> +</p> + +"To the Old Forest," replied Barney. <br> +<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?<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"Hadn't we better find the nearest town," suggested Barney, +"where I can obtain some sort of conveyance to take you +home?"<br> +</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." <br> +<p>Barney Custer shook his head despairingly.<br> +</p> + +"Won't you please believe that I am but a plain American?" he +begged. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"But I cannot shave until the fifth of November," said +Barney.<br> +</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? <br> +<p>"Then please come with me the safest way to my father's," she +urged. "He will know what is best to do."<br> +</p> + +"He cannot make me shave," insisted Barney. <br> +<p>"Why do you wish not to shave?" asked the girl.,<br> +</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!" <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"The what?" she asked. "There is no sanatorium near here, your +majesty, unless you refer to the Castle of Blentz."<br> +</p> + +"Is there no asylum for the insane near by?" <br> +<p>"None that I know of, your majesty."<br> +</p> + +For a while they moved on in silence, each wondering what the +other might do next. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"From where did you ride today?" he blurted out suddenly. <br> +<p>"From Tann."<br> +</p> + +"That is where we are going now?" <br> +<p>"Yes, your majesty."<br> +</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. <br> +<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?"<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"I think," replied the girl, "that it would be eminently +proper."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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!" <br> +<p>She saw his face flush, and then he turned laughing eyes upon +her.<br> +</p> + +"I am looking for a safe landing," he said. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Your majesty is very strong," she said. "I should not have +expected it after the years of confinement you have suffered." +<br> +<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?"<br> +</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!" <br> +<p>"This Peter person is all-powerful in Lutha?" he asked.<br> +</p> + +"He controls the army," the girl replied. <br> +<p>"And you really believe that I am the mad king Leopold?"<br> +</p> + +"You are the king," she said in a convincing manner. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"I am a Von der Tann," she said proudly, as though that was +explanation sufficient to account for any bravery or loyalty. +<br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"A very what, your majesty?" asked the girl. <br> +<p>"A very young woman," he ended lamely.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Suppose," said Barney, "that Peter's soldiers run across +us--what then?"<br> +</p> + +"They will take you back to Blentz, your majesty." <br> +<p>"And you?"<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Which was Barney's way of humoring a maniac. <br> +<p>"And they might even shave off your beautiful beard."<br> +</p> + +Which was the girl's way. <br> +<p>"Do you think that you would like me better in the green +wastebasket hat with the red roses?" asked Barney.<br> +</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! <br> +<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 lesemajeste, and sentence me +to--to punishment.'<br> +</p> + +"What was the punishment?" asked Barney, noticing her hesitation +and wishing to encourage her in the pretty turn her dementia had +taken. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Every time I called you 'highness' you made me give you a--a +kiss," she almost whispered. <br> +<p>"I hope," said Barney, "that you will be guilty of lesemajeste +often."<br> +</p> + +"We were little children then, your majesty," the girl reminded +him. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"And when I was Crown Prince what were you, way back there in the +beautiful days of our childhood?" asked Barney. <br> +<p>"Why, I was what I still am, your majesty," replied the girl. +"Princess Emma von der Tann."<br> +</p> + +So the poor child, beside thinking him a king, thought herself a +princess! She certainly was mad. Well, he would humor her. <br> +<p>"Then I should call you 'your highness,' shouldn't I?" he +asked.<br> +</p> + +"You always called me Emma when we were children." <br> +<p>"Very well, then, you shall be Emma and I Leopold. Is it a +bargain?"<br> +</p> + +"The king's will is law," she said. <br> +<p>They had come to a very steep hillside, up which the +halfobliterated 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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"You like to climb?" she asked. <br> +<p>"I should like to climb forever--with you," he said +seriously.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"You see," said Barney unexcitedly, "that I was right about +the brigands after all. What do you want, my man?"<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"I want you, your majesty," he said.<br> +</p> + +"Godfrey!" exclaimed Barney. "Did the whole bunch escape?" <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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!<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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?"<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +When the officer stopped beside her she was sitting on the ground +holding the head of one of the combatants in her lap. <br> +<p>A little stream of blood trickled from a wound in the +forehead. The officer stooped closer.<br> +</p> + +"He is dead?" he asked. <br> +<p>"The king is dead," replied the Princess Emma von der Tann, a +little sob in her voice.<br> +</p> + +"The king!" exclaimed the officer; and then, as he bent lower +over the white face: "Leopold!" <br> +<p>The girl nodded.<br> +</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!" <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_4">Chapter III AN ANGRY KING</h1> + +<br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +The hands of Emma von der Tann were chafing the wrists of the man +whose head rested in her lap. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>The officer hesitated.<br> +</p> + +"We shall have to take the king's body with us, your highness," +he said. <br> +<p>The officer evidently becoming suspicious, came closer, and as +he did so Barney Custer sat up.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +The officer smiled, a trifle maliciously perhaps. <br> +<p>"Ah," he said, "I am very glad indeed that you are not dead, +your majesty."<br> +</p> + +Barney Custer turned his incredulous eyes upon the lieutenant. +<br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +The officer smiled and shook his head. Then he tapped his +forehead meaningly. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"I?" cried the girl. "You certainly cannot be serious." <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"King Peter may think differently," replied the man.<br> +</p> + +"The Regent, you mean?" the girl corrected him haughtily. <br> +<p>The officer shrugged his shoulders.<br> +</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." <br> +<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?"<br> +</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." <br> +<p>At the mention of the name the girl shuddered.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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?" <br> +<p>"Every inch, your majesty," replied the officer.<br> +</p> + +Barney looked at the man aghast. <br> +<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."<br> +</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?" <br> +<p>"If you will first escort this young lady to a place of +safety," replied Barney.<br> +</p> + +"She will be quite safe at Blentz," said the lieutenant. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +The girl shook her head. <br> +<p>"There, is no alternative, I am afraid, your majesty," she +said.<br> +</p> + +Barney wheeled toward the officer. <br> +<p>"Very well, lieutenant," he said, "we will accompany you."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Can your highness ever forgive me?" he asked.<br> +</p> + +"Forgive you!" she cried in astonishment. "For what, your +majesty?" <br> +<p>"For thinking you insane, and for getting you into this +horrible predicament," he replied. "But especially for thinking +you insane."<br> +</p> + +"Did you think me mad?" she asked in wide-eyed astonishment. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"You do, your majesty," replied the girl. <br> +<p>Barney saw it was useless to attempt to convince them and so +he decided to give up for the time.<br> +</p> + +"Have me king, if you will," he said, "but please do not call me +'your majesty' any more. It gets on my nerves." <br> +<p>"Your will is law--Leopold," replied the girl, hesitating +prettily before the familiar name, "but do not forget your part +of the compact."<br> +</p> + +He smiled at her. A princess wasn't half so terrible after all. +<br> +<p>"And your will shall be my law, Emma," he said.<br> +</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! <br> +<p>"Poor child," he murmured, thinking of the girl.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"The king!" exclaimed the officer. "You have found him?" and he +advanced with raised lantern searching for the monarch. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>From the bottom of his heart he hoped so. Then the officer +swung the lantern until its light shone upon the girl.<br> +</p> + +"And who's the wench with him?" he asked the officer who had +found them. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"She is the Princess von der Tann, you boor," said Barney, "and +let that help you remember it in future." <br> +<p>The officer scrambled to his feet, white with rage. Whipping +out his sword he rushed at Barney.<br> +</p> + +"You shall die for that, you half-wit," he cried. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Butzow grasped the other officer's arm. <br> +<p>"Are you mad, Schonau?" he cried. "Would you kill the +king?"<br> +</p> + +The fellow tugged to escape the grasp of Butzow. He was crazed +with anger. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"The king is unarmed," cried Emma von der Tann. "Would you murder +him in cold blood?" <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Do you intend taking my sword?" asked Schonau suddenly, +turning toward Lieutenant Butzow standing beside him.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"Very well," grumbled Schonau. "Pass on into the +courtyard."<br> +</p> + +Barney and the girl remounted and the little cavalcade moved +forward through the ballium and the great gate into the court +beyond. <br> +<p>"Did you notice," said Barney to the princess, "that even he +believes me to be the king? I cannot fathom it."<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Maenck nodded. He was looking at Barney with evident curiosity. +<br> +<p>"Where did you find him?" he asked Butzow.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>Maenck listened in silence until Barney had finished, a half +smile upon his thick lips.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"You are governor of Blentz," cried Barney, "and yet you say that +you have never seen the king?" <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"There is no man in the castle of Blentz who has ever seen the +king?" asked Barney. <br> +<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?"<br> +</p> + +"When she thought his majesty dead she admitted it," replied +Butzow. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Maenck paled in anger. His fingers twitched nervously, but he +controlled his temper remarkably well, biding his time for +revenge. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +For a moment tense silence reigned in the apartment after Maenck +had delivered his wanton insult. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Barney was the first to take cognizance of them. <br> +<p>"You cur!" he cried, and took a step toward Maenck. "You're +going to eat that, word for word."<br> +</p> + +Maenck stepped back, his hand upon his sword. Butzow laid a hand +upon Barney's arm. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Barney shook himself free from Butzow, and before either Stein or +the lieutenant could prevent had sprung upon Maenck. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Stop!" cried Butzow to Maenck. "Are you mad, that you would kill +the king?" <br> +<p>Maenck lunged again, viciously, at the unprotected body of his +antagonist.<br> +</p> + +"Die, you pig of an idiot!" he screamed. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +The governor of Blentz drew back from the touch of that sharp +point. <br> +<p>"What do you mean?" he cried. "This is mutiny."<br> +</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." <br> +<p>Slowly Maenck sheathed his weapon. Black hatred for Butzow and +the man he was protecting smoldered in his eyes.<br> +</p> + +"If he wishes peace," said Barney, "let him apologize to the +princess." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>He well knew the fame of Butzow's sword arm, and having no +stomach for an encounter with it he grumbled an apology.<br> +</p> + +"And don't let it occur again," warned Barney. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>Barney cast a troubled glance toward Maenck, and half +hesitated.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"Heaven help her!" murmured Barney.<br> +</p> + +"The governor will not dare harm her," said Butzow. "Your majesty +need entertain no apprehension." <br> +<p>"I wouldn't trust him," replied the American. "I know his +kind."<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_5">Chapter IV BARNEY FINDS A FRIEND</h1> + +<br> +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 eves. Presently he +spoke. <br> +<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 he easier for +both if we establish pleasant relations from the beginning. What +do you say?"<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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--" <br> +<p>He shrugged his shoulders.<br> +</p> + +A servant had entered the apartment in response to Maenck's +summons. <br> +<p>"Show the Princess von der Tann to her apartments," he +commanded with a sinister tone.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +She found that the three rooms lay in an angle of the old, +moss-covered castle wall. <br> +<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.<br> +</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 bung in a lady's boudoir. It seemed singularly +out of place. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"Medicine?" ejaculated Barney. "What in the world do I need of +medicine? There is nothing the matter with me." <br> +<p>Stein smiled indulgently.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"Who are you, my man?" asked Barney.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"You really think that they intend murdering me?" <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"Do you know what it is?" <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Barney shuddered. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Joseph shook his head sadly. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"I cannot leave Blentz," said Barney, "unless the Princess +Emma goes with us."<br> +</p> + +"The Princess Emma!" cried the old man. "What Princess Emma?" +<br> +<p>"Princess von der Tann," replied Barney. "Did you not know +that she was captured with me!"<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"What do you mean, Joseph," asked Barney, "by referring to the +princess as my betrothed? I never saw her before today." <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Slowly the door swung open and a man entered the room. Barney +breathed a deep sigh of relief--it was Joseph. <br> +<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?"<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Who occupies the floor above us, Joseph?" he asked.<br> +</p> + +"It is vacant," replied the old man. <br> +<p>"Good! Come, show me the entrance to the shaft," directed +Barney.<br> +</p> + +"You will go without attempting to succor the Princess Emma?" +exclaimed the old fellow in ill-concealed chagrin. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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?"<br> +</p> + +"I'm sure I don't know, Joseph," replied the young man. "Should I +be wearing a royal ring?" <br> +<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?"<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Barney only shook his head, much to Joseph's evident sorrow. <br> +<p>"Never mind the ring, Joseph," said the young man. "Bring your +rope and lead me to the floor above."<br> +</p> + +"The floor above? But, your majesty, we cannot reach the vaults +and tunnel by going upward!" <br> +<p>"You forget, Joseph, that we are going to fetch the Princess +Emma first."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Joseph, who do you think I am?" asked Barney.<br> +</p> + +"You are the king, my lord," replied the old man. <br> +<p>"Then do as your king commands," said the American +sharply.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"The rope, Joseph! And for God's sake be quick about it." <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_6">Chapter V THE ESCAPE</h1> + +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +What was the matter with her? Was she losing all control of +herself to be frightened like a little child by ghostly noises? +<br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Presently the girl's eyes went wide in horror. She could feel the +scalp upon her head contract with fright. Her terrorfilled 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! <br> +<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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<p>It was Maenck.<br> +</p> + +Emma von der Tann gazed in unveiled abhorrence upon the leering +face of the governor of Blentz. <br> +<p>"What means this intrusion?" cried the girl.<br> +</p> + +"What would you have here?" <br> +<p>"You," replied Maenck.<br> +</p> + +The girl crimsoned. <br> +<p>Maenck regarded her sneeringly.<br> +</p> + +"You coward!" she cried. "Leave my apartments at once. Not even +Peter of Blentz would countenance such abhorrent treatment of a +prisoner." <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +He crossed over toward her and would have laid a rough hand upon +her arm. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Stop!" she cried. "You are killing me."<br> +</p> + +The fingers released their hold. <br> +<p>"No," muttered the man, and dragged the princess roughly +across the room.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"The king!" cried Emma von der Tann.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Thank Heaven that I was in time, Emma," he cried. <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Hoist away, Joseph!" whispered the American, and to the girl: +"Be brave. Shut your eyes and trust to Joseph and --and--" <br> +<p>"And my king," finished the girl for him.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"My princess!" he murmured, and as he turned his face toward +hers their lips almost touched.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"I love you," he whispered. The words were smothered as their +lips met.<br> +</p> + +Joseph, above, wondered at the great weight of the Princess Emma +von der Tann. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>Yes! It had come.<br> +</p> + +"Look to the window," commanded Maenck. "He may have gone as he +came." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Why do you not ask your own men the way?" parried one of the +fellows.<br> +</p> + +"I have no men, I am alone," replied Barney. "I am a stranger in +Lutha and have lost my way." <br> +<p>He who had spoken before pointed to the sword at Barney's +side.<br> +</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." +<br> +<p>Barney looked his astonishment at this reply.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>For a moment the two men whispered together, then the +spokesman turned to Barney.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>The American, suspecting nothing, voiced his thanks, and set +out after him who had gone before. As be 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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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, promoted 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. <br> +<p>As Barney dropped back beside him the man turned his mount +across the narrow trail, and reining him in motioned Barney +ahead.<br> +</p> + +"I have changed my mind," said the American, "about going to the +Old Forest." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +The man ahead had halted at the sound of Barney's voice, and +swung about in the saddle. <br> +<p>"What's the trouble?" he asked.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"He don't, eh?" growled the other. "Well, he ain't goin', is +he? Who ever said he was?"<br> +</p> + +And then he, too, laughed. <br> +<p>"I'm going back the way I came," said Barney, starting around +the horse that blocked his way.<br> +</p> + +"No, you ain't," said the horseman. "You're goin' with us." <br> +<p>And Barney found himself gazing down the muzzle of one of the +wicked looking pistols.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Yes," he said, "on second thought I have decided to go with +you. Your logic is most convincing."<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_7">Chapter VI A KING'S RANSOM</h1> + +<br> +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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>The others looked their surprise.<br> +</p> + +"The king?" one cried. <br> +<p>"Behold!" cried Yellow Franz. "Leopold of Lutha!"<br> +</p> + +He waved a ham-like hand toward Barney. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Aren't you rather young to be starting in the bandit business, +Rudolph?" asked Barney, who had taken a fancy to the youth. <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Barney laughed. <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"How much does your father owe him?"<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"You would really like to go home again, Rudolph?"<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"How long do you imagine they will keep me, Rudolph?" he asked +after a time.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +It was the second day before Herman returned from Lustadt. He +rode in just at dark, his pony lathered from hard going. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"When do they intend terminating my existence?" queried Barney. +<br> +<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!<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Rudolph slipped past the burly ruffian, barely dodging a brutal +blow aimed at him by the giant, and escaped into the darkness +without. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"Rather cheap for a king, isn't it?" was Barney's only comment. +<br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"When are you going to pull off this little--er--ah-royal +demise?" asked Barney. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.'"<br> +</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." <br> +<p>He drew his pistol from its holster on the belt at his +hips.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Hadn't you better come closer?" asked the young man. "You might +miss at that distance, or just wound me." <br> +<p>Yellow Franz grinned.<br> +</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." <br> +<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?"<br> +</p> + +Yellow Franz looked at the speaker a moment through narrowed +lids. <br> +<p>"Where would you find any one willing to pay that amount for a +crazy king?" he asked.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>Yellow Franz shook his head and tapped his brow +significantly.<br> +</p> + +"Even if you was what you are dreaming, it wouldn't pay me," he +said. <br> +<p>"I'll make it two hundred thousand," said Barney.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"God forgive me!" murmured the youth. "I have killed a man." <br> +<p>"You have killed a dangerous wild beast, Rudolph," said +Barney, "and both God and your fellow man will thank and reward +you."<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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 cutthroats felt the spell of +awe at the thought of what they believed the sharp report they +had heard from the shack portended. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +In the distance behind them they suddenly heard, faintly, the +shouting of men. <br> +<p>"They have discovered Yellow Franz," whispered the boy, +shuddering.<br> +</p> + +"Then they'll be after us directly," said Barney. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"I'm shot, your majesty," murmured the boy, his head dropping +against Barney's breast.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +At the instant of his fall his companion and the American fired +point-blank at one another. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Thank God, your majesty is unharmed," he whispered. "Now I +can die in peace."<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_8">Chapter VII THE REAL LEOPOLD</h1> + +<br> +TWO HOURS later a horseman pushed his way between tumbled and +tangled briers along the bottom of a deep ravine. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"Hospital?" queried the young man. "What do you mean, my good +fellow? I have been in no hospital." <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<p>Then a sudden light of understanding flashed through Barney's +mind.<br> +</p> + +"Man!" he exclaimed. "Tell me--you have found the true king? He +is at a hospital in Tafelberg?" <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>The old man shook his head.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>When he had completed his narrative the old man shook his +head.<br> +</p> + +"I cannot understand it," he said; "and yet I am almost forced to +believe that you are not the king." <br> +<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."<br> +</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?" <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Your patient seems much brighter this morning, Herr Kramer," he +said, "and has been asking to be allowed to sit up." <br> +<p>"He is still here, then?" questioned the shopkeeper with a +sigh that might have indicated either relief or resignation.<br> +</p> + +"Why, certainly. You did not expect that he had entirely +recovered overnight, did you?" <br> +<p>"No," replied Herr Kramer, "not exactly. In fact, I did not +know what I should expect."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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, reddishbrown 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. <br> +<p>At the doorway Kramer halted, motioning Barney within.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Barney took the hand in his. <br> +<p>"They tell me that you are well on the road to recovery," he +said. "I am very glad that it is so."<br> +</p> + +"Who are you?" asked the man. <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +The man started and flushed with suspicion. <br> +<p>"That is my own affair," he said.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Why do you address me as 'your majesty'?" he asked +irritably.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>The king started up upon his elbow, his eyes wild with +apprehension.<br> +</p> + +"It is not so," he cried. "It is a lie! I am not the king." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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? <br> +<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?<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</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 darkvisaged 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. +<br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_9">Chapter VIII THE CORONATION DAY</h1> + +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"The prince has ridden to Lustadt with a large retinue," he +said, "to attend the coronation of Peter of Blentz tomorrow."<br> +</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?" <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Well met, your majesty," he cried saluting. "We are riding to +the coronation. We shall be just in time." <br> +<p>"To see Peter of Blentz rob Leopold of a crown," said the +American in a disgusted tone.<br> +</p> + +"To see Leopold of Lutha come into his own, your majesty. Long +live the king!" cried the officer. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>The American showed in his expression the surprise he felt at +these words from an officer of the prince regent.<br> +</p> + +"You wonder at my change of heart?" asked Butzow. <br> +<p>"How can I do otherwise?"<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"And what do you intend doing now?" asked Barney.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"If Peter is crowned today," asked Barney, "will it prevent +Leopold regaining his throne?"<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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!<br> +</p> + +"For her sake," he muttered. <br> +<p>"Did your majesty speak?" asked Butzow.<br> +</p> + +"Yes, lieutenant. We urge greater haste, for if we are to be +crowned today we have no time to lose." <br> +<p>Butzow smiled a relieved smile. The king had at last regained +his senses!<br> +</p> + +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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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, businesslike appearance that +cast a chill upon Peter of Blentz as his eyes scanned the +multitude of faces below him.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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 allconsuming 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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>The great audience turned as one toward the doors at the end +of the long central aisle. There, through the wideswung portals, +they saw mounted men forcing their way into the cathedral. The +great horses shouldered aside the footsoldiers that attempted to +bar their way, and twenty troopers of the Royal Horse thundered +to the very foot of the chancel steps.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Mein Gott--the king!" cried Maenck, and at the words Peter +went white.<br> +</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!" <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>As Butzow and Barney stepped upon the chancel Peter of Blentz +leaped forward. "What mad treason is this?" he fairly +screamed.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"It is a plot," cried Peter, "to place an impostor upon the +throne! This man is not the king."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"How may we know that you are Leopold?" he asked. "For ten +years we have not seen our king."<br> +</p> + +"The governor of Blentz has already acknowledged his identity," +cried Butzow. "Maenck was the first to proclaim the presence of +the putative king." <br> +<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!"<br> +</p> + +Peter of Blentz turned toward Maenck. "The guard!" he cried. +"Arrest those traitors, and restore order in the cathedral. Let +the coronation proceed." <br> +<p>Maenck took a step toward Barney and Butzow, when old Prince +von der Tann interposed his giant frame with grim resolve.<br> +</p> + +"Hold!" He spoke in a low, stern voice that brought the cowardly +Maenck to a sudden halt. <br> +<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!"<br> +</p> + +"Enough of this," cried Peter. "Clear the cathedral!" <br> +<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 fleshwound across the +fellow's cheek.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Crown the king!" cried the lieutenant. "Crown Leopold, king +of Lutha!"<br> +</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. +<br> +<p>"Let Prince Ludwig speak!" cried a dozen voices.<br> +</p> + +"Yes, Prince Ludwig! Prince Ludwig!" took up the throng. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"How may we know that you are really Leopold?" again asked Ludwig +of Barney. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Where had the man come upon it? <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Slowly Prince Ludwig rose and addressed the bishop. "Leopold, the +rightful heir to the throne of Lutha, is here. Let the coronation +proceed." <br> +<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.<br> +</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? <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>Slowly Barney Custer raised his palm toward the bishop in a +gesture of restraint.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"What is the date?" asked Barney. <br> +<p>"The third, sire."<br> +</p> + +"Let the coronation wait until the fifth." <br> +<p>"But your majesty," interposed Von der Tann, "all may be lost +in two days."<br> +</p> + +"It is the king's command," said Barney quietly. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"They have fled, your majesty," he said. "Shall I ride to Blentz +after them?" <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_10">Chapter IX THE KING'S GUESTS</h1> + +<br> +ONCE WITHIN the palace Barney sought the seclusion of a small +room off the audience chamber. Here he summoned Butzow. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"But, sire--" commenced Butzow, when Barney raised his +hand.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Butzow shook his head. <br> +<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?"<br> +</p> + +Barney smiled. "You're a typical hard-headed Dutchman, Butzow," +he said. <br> +<p>The lieutenant drew himself up haughtily. "I am not a +Dutchman, your majesty. I am a Luthanian."<br> +</p> + +Barney laughed. "Whatever else you may be, Butzow, you're a +brick," he said, laying his hand upon the other's arm. <br> +<p>Butzow looked at him narrowly.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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?<br> +</p> + +After it was all over Prince Ludwig's grim and leathery face +relaxed into a smile of satisfaction. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"You seem to have found a way, Leopold," she whispered, pressing +his arm close to her. "Kings usually do." <br> +<p>"It is not because I am a king that I found a way, Emma," he +replied. "It is because I am an American."<br> +</p> + +She looked up at him with an expression of pleading in her eyes. +<br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"I wonder," said Barney, "if your love could withstand the +knowledge that I am not the king." <br> +<p>"It is the MAN I love, Leopold," the girl replied.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Long live the king!" he cried. "God save Leopold of Lutha!" <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>At sight of the prince regent the fellow reined in and +saluted.<br> +</p> + +"May I have a word in private with your highness?" he asked. "I +have news of the greatest importance for your ears alone." <br> +<p>Peter drew to one side with the man.<br> +</p> + +"Well," he asked, "and what news have you for Peter of Blentz?" +<br> +<p>The man leaned from his horse close to Peter's ear.<br> +</p> + +"The king is in Tafelberg, your highness," he said. <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"Where is he now?" cried Peter.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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--"<br> +</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. <br> +<p>Coblich nodded his head.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>Peter scowled at the now frightened hospital attendant.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>Barney was the first to see the animals and the man.<br> +</p> + +"S-s-st," he hissed, reining in his horse. <br> +<p>Butzow drew alongside the American.<br> +</p> + +"What can it mean?" asked Barney. "That fellow is a trooper, but +I cannot make out his uniform." <br> +<p>"Wait here," said Butzow, and slipping from his horse he crept +closer to the man, hugging the dense shadows close to the +trees.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<p>The blow had been in time to deflect the muzzle of the +firearm, and the bullet whistled harmlessly past the +lieutenant.<br> +</p> + +"Your majesty!" exclaimed Butzow excitedly. "Go back. He might +have killed you." <br> +<p>Barney leaped to the other's side and grasping him by the +shoulders wheeled him about so that he faced the gate.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"The impostor!" cried the governor of Blentz. "The false +king!"<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>Their companion, he said, was quite dead.<br> +</p> + +"That must have been Stein," said Butzow. "And the others had +escaped with the king!" <br> +<p>"The king?" cried the interne.<br> +</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. +<br> +<p>The interne accompanied them to the gate and beyond, but +everywhere was silence. The king was gone.<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_11">Chapter X ON THE BATTLEFIELD</h1> + +<br> +ALL THAT night and the following day Barney Custer and his aide +rode in search of the missing king. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"What do you mean?" asked Barney. "Have you any clue to the +whereabouts of Leopold?"<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Barney laid his hand upon the shoulder of the other. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"And if he does not live?" asked Butzow. <br> +<p>Barney Custer shrugged his shoulders.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Your majesty's life is never safe while Peter of Blentz is +abroad in Lutha," cried he. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>He turned to an aide de camp standing just behind him.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"But, your majesty," exclaimed Von der Tann dubiously, "where +will you be in the mean time?"<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"You are not going to accompany the charge!" cried the old +prince.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Five minutes later the enemy were delighted to note that the fire +upon their concealed battery had suddenly ceased. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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!"<br> +</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!" <br> +<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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Old von der Tann could restrain himself no longer. <br> +<p>"The king! The king!" he cried to those about him, pointing in +the direction of the wood.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Once safely there he raised a white flag, asking a conference +with Prince Ludwig. <br> +<p>"Your majesty," said the old man, "what answer shall we send +the traitor who even now ignores the presence of his king?"<br> +</p> + +"Treat with him," replied the American. "He may be honest enough +in his belief that I am an impostor." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"What said he?" asked Barney.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"What was the result?" asked Barney.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>For a moment there was deep silence. Many of the nobles stood +with averted faces and eyes upon the ground.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Barney looked straight into the eyes of old Von der Tann. <br> +<p>"You have given us the opinion of others, Prince Ludwig," he +said. "Now you may tell us your own views of the matter."<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"No," cried several of the others, "this man is not the king." +<br> +<p>Several of the nobles drew away from Barney. Others looked at +him questioningly.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Barney, appreciating the advantage in the sudden turn affairs had +taken following Butzow's words, swung to his saddle. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>With a nod to the cavalry major he wheeled his horse and +trotted up the slope toward Lustadt.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"You are doing his bidding, although you do not know that he +is the true king?" asked one of them.<br> +</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." <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_12">Chapter XI A TIMELY INTERVENTION</h1> + +<br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Peter of Blentz and his retainers had entered the city and +already had commenced to gather at the cathedral. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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 in to the +presence of the prince regent.<br> +</p> + +Peter drew him hurriedly into a small study on the first floor. +<br> +<p>"Well?" he whispered, as the two faced each other.<br> +</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." <br> +<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?"<br> +</p> + +The other stared at Peter of Blentz for several seconds while the +atrocity of his chief's plan filtered through his brain. <br> +<p>"My God!" he exclaimed at last. "You mean that you wish me to +murder Leopold with my own hands?"<br> +</p> + +"You put it too crudely, my dear Coblich," replied the other. +<br> +<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."<br> +</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 imposter 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." <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>Then the Regent entered the room he had recently quitted and +spoke to the nobles of Lutha who were gathered there.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Together the party rode to the cathedral, the majority of the +older nobility now openly espousing the cause of the Regent. <br> +<p>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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +At his "Enter" a functionary announced: "His Royal Highness +Ludwig, Prince von der Tann!" <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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--" <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"I," he started again, and then there came an interruption at the +door. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"We will see him in the ante-chamber," replied Barney, moving +toward the door. "Await us here, Prince Ludwig." <br> +<p>A moment later he re-entered the apartment. There was an +expression of renewed hope upon his face.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"What are you doing, sire?" cried Butzow in amazement.<br> +</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!" <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>Butzow hastened to comply with the American's instructions, +and a moment later returned to the apartment with the old +shopkeeper of Tafelberg.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>They were to wrap all these in a bundle which the old +shopkeeper was to carry.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"I must say that the beard did not add greatly to your majesty's +good looks," he said. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>There they halted, listening. Coblich was speaking.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +But Captain Ernst Maenck never reached his sovereign. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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!" <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +It was Coblich. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Maenck is dead," he cried. "The impostor has stolen the king." +<br> +<p>Peter of Blentz went white as his lieutenant. Von der Tann +heard and demanded an explanation.<br> +</p> + +"You said that Leopold was dead," he said accusingly. <br> +<p>Peter regained his self-control quickly.<br> +</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 bring to Lustadt." <br> +<p>Von der Tann looked troubled.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Peter of Blentz was speaking. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +He cast a meaning glance at Prince von der Tann. <br> +<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!"<br> +</p> + +Peter turned to ascend the chancel steps. <br> +<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.<br> +</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? +<br> +<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.<br> +</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!" <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_13">Chapter XII THE GRATITUDE OF A KING</h1> + +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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!" <br> +<p>"Denounce him!" whispered one of Peter's henchmen in his +master's ear.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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?" <br> +<p>Leopold's eyes were searching the faces of the closepacked +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.<br> +</p> + +"Peter of Blentz," cried the young man, "as God is your judge, +tell the truth today. Who am I?" <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Who am I, man?" insisted the king. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"Wait! Am I mad? Was I ever mad?" <br> +<p>"As God is my judge, sire, no!" replied Peter of Blentz.<br> +</p> + +Leopold turned to Butzow. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Following the coronation the king was closeted in his private +audience chamber in the palace with Prince Ludwig. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +When he was finally convinced that they were telling the truth, +he extended his hand to the American. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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?" <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +For a moment the king sat in thought. Then he rose and commenced +packing back and forth the length of the apartment. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Barney Custer was the first to speak. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Leopold looked relieved. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"There is nothing, your majesty," he said.<br> +</p> + +"A money reward," Leopold started to suggest, and then Barney +Custer lost his temper. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Von der Tann and Butzow and Leopold of Lutha stood in silence as +the American passed out of sight beyond the portal. <br> +<p>The manner of his going had been an affront to the king, and +the young ruler had gone red with anger.<br> +</p> + +"Butzow," he cried, "bring the fellow back; he shall be taught a +lesson in the deference that is due kings." <br> +<p>Butzow hesitated. "He has risked his life a dozen times for +your majesty," said the lieutenant.<br> +</p> + +Leopold flushed. <br> +<p>"Do not humiliate him, sire," advised Von der Tann. "He has +earned a greater reward at your hands than that."<br> +</p> + +The king resumed his pacing for a moment, coming to a halt once +more before the two. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Can your highness forgive?" he asked. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Don't," he begged as he saw her shoulders rise to the sudden +sobbing that racked her slender frame. "Don't!" <br> +<p>He thought that she wept from mortification that she had given +her kisses to another than the king.<br> +</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!" <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +The girl looked up suddenly into the eyes of the American bending +so close above her. <br> +<p>"I can never forgive you," she cried, "for not being the king, +for I am betrothed to him--and I love you!"<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Let me go!" she whispered. "Let me go--the king!" <br> +<p>Barney sprang to his feet and, turning, faced Leopold. The +king had gone quite white.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +When she had gone Leopold turned to the American. There was an +evil look in the little gray eyes of the monarch. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<p>"For the thousandth time, Butzow," said one of the men, "will +you turn back before it is too late?"<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +But again Butzow shook his head. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>There was a clatter of horses' hoofs upon the gravel of the +road behind them.<br> +</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. <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_14">PART II<br> +</h1> + +<h1 id="ref_15">Chapter I BARNEY RETURNS TO LUTHA</h1> + +<br> +<p>"WHAT'S THE MATTER, Vic?" asked Barney Custer of his sister. +"You look peeved."<br> +</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." <br> +<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?"<br> +</p> + +"I promised Margaret that I'd go. They're short one, and she's +coming after me in her car." <br> +<p>"Where are you going to play--at the champion lady bridge +player's on Fourth Street?" asked Barney, grinning.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"Oh, yes, I would; Margaret would send him after me in that +awful-looking, unwashed Ford runabout of his," answered the girl. +<br> +<p>"And then you WOULD go," said Barney.<br> +</p> + +"You bet I would," laughed Victoria. "I'd go in a wheelbarrow +with Bert." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Custer looked at him inquiringly. <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>In the office the watchman came upon the three friends. At +sight of him they looked at one another in surprise.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>It was the following morning that Victoria and Barney Custer, +with Lieutenant Butzow and Custer's partner, stood contemplating +the smoldering wreckage.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"Who would have thought that a single bolt of lightning could +have resulted in such havoc?" mused Victoria.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>The American looked at the Luthanian. "You think--" he +started.<br> +</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." +<br> +<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."<br> +</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." +<br> +<p>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.<br> +</p> + +"You must come back to America soon," she urged. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"I want to come back soon," he answered, "to--to Beatrice," and +he flushed and smiled at his own stumbling tongue. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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 livingroom. 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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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!<br> +</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! <br> +<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!"<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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 deathdealing 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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Hello, Bill," called the foreman to the driver. "Where you been +so early?" <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"Who was it?" asked Barney. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_16">Chapter II CONDEMNED TO DEATH</h1> + +<br> +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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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? <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Is that you, Prince Peter?" The voice was Maenck's. <br> +<p>"What's the matter?" persisted Maenck.<br> +</p> + +"I'm going for a drink of water," replied the American, and +stepped toward the door. <br> +<p>Behind him Peter of Blentz sat up in bed.<br> +</p> + +"That you, Maenck?" he called. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Quick!" he cried; "there's someone in our room." <br> +<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.<br> +</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? <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"The room is empty," came a voice from above him. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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!"<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Then a soft voice floated down to him--a woman's voice! <br> +<p>"Is that you?" The tongue was Serbian. Barney could understand +it, though he spoke it but indifferently.<br> +</p> + +"Yes," he replied truthfully. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Oh, Stefan," she whispered, "what a narrow escape! It makes me +tremble to think of it. They would have shot you, my Stefan!" +<br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Do not make an outcry," he whispered in very poor Serbian. "I am +not Stefan; but I am a friend." <br> +<p>The exclamation of surprise or fright that he had expected was +not forthcoming. The girl lowered her arms from about his +neck.<br> +</p> + +"Who are you?" she asked in a low whisper. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"Why do you wish to reach Serbia?" asked the girl suspiciously. +<br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +The girl hesitated for a while, evidently in thought. <br> +<p>"They are moving on," suggested Barney. "If you are going to +give me up you'd better do it at once."<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"This way," said the girl, motioning toward the stairs that +led upward.<br> +</p> + +Barney had turned toward her as she struck the match, obtaining +an excellent view of her features. They were clearcut 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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"We must search the house, fraulein," came in the deep voice of a +man. <br> +<p>"Whom do you seek?" inquired a woman's voice. Barney +recognized it as the voice of his captor.<br> +</p> + +"A Serbian spy, Stefan Drontoff," replied the man. "Do you know +him?" <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"I do not know him," she said. "There are several men who lodge +here. What may this Stefan Drontoff look like?" <br> +<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."<br> +</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." +<br> +<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!<br> +</p> + +He looked about. There was no way of escape except the door and +the skylight, and the door was impossible. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>Fatal turn!<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +The officers sitting on Barney alternately beat him and +questioned him, interspersing their interrogations with lurid +profanity. <br> +<p>"If you will get off of me," at last shouted the American, "I +shall be glad to explain--and apologize."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Ah, you have him!" cried the new-comer in evident +satisfaction. "It is well. Hold him until we descend."<br> +</p> + +A moment later he and his escort had dropped through the broken +skylight to the floor beside them. <br> +<p>"Who is the mad man?" cried the captain who had broken +Barney's fall. "The assassin! He tried to murder me."<br> +</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!" <br> +<p>"Himmel! ejaculated the officers in chorus. "You have done a +good days' work, lieutenant."<br> +</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. <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_17">Chapter III BEFORE THE FIRING SQUAD</h1> + +<br> +<p>THEY MARCHED Barney before the staff where he urged his +American nationality, pointing to his credentials and passes in +support of his contention.<br> +</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? <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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?"<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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!<br> +</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. <br> +<p>The young lieutenant stood at one side. He issued some +instructions in a low tone, then he raised his voice.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"You fiend!" broke from the lips of the dead man, and the ghoul +turned and fled, gibbering in his fright. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_18">Chapter IV A RACE TO LUTHA</h1> + +<br> +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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Halt! Who goes there?" came the challenge. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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 night impossible. A moment +later Barney found himself marching back toward the village, to +all intents and purposes an Austrian private. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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? <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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?"<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"I do not know the general by sight," replied the sentry.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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 righthand fork. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_19">Chapter V THE TRAITOR KING</h1> + +<br> +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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Von der Tann looked the king straight in the eyes. <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Stop!" he commanded. "No man, not even my king, may speak such +words to a Von der Tann." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +The king's outraged majesty goaded him to an angry retort. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"The old fox must have heard," he mused as he mounted his +horse and turned his face toward Tann and the Old Forest.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Prince Ludwig appeared angry when he passed through the +antechamber," ventured Zellerndorf. "Evidently your majesty found +cause to rebuke him."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>Zellerndorf raised his hands in well-simulated horror.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Very well," he said, "I will go tomorrow."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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?"<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_20">Chapter VI A TRAP IS SPRUNG</h1> + +<br> +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. <br> +<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 twentyfour hours I shall assume that he is +indeed a prisoner.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"What is to be done?" asked Zellerndorf. "Is there no way +either to win or force Von der Tann to acquiescence?"<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Count Zellerndorf was the first to grasp the possibilities that +lay in the suggestion the king's words carried. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"What do you mean, Zellerndorf?" asked the king.<br> +</p> + +"I mean, sire, that we should bring the princess here and compel +her to marry you." <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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?" <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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:<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Let me pass, please," she said coldly. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"You may as well come voluntarily, for come you must," he +said. "It will be easier for you."<br> +</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." +<br> +<p>"Your father will scarce wish to question the acts of his +king," said Maenck--"his king and the husband of his +daughter."<br> +</p> + +"What do you mean?" she cried. <br> +<p>"That before you are many hours older, your highness, you will +be queen of Lutha."<br> +</p> + +The Princess Emma turned toward her tardy escort that had just +arrived upon the scene. <br> +<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!"<br> +</p> + +Maenck smiled. "Both of them are my men," he explained. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>Maenck wondered at the promptness of her surrender.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +They had wound up a wooded hill and were half way up to the +summit. The princess was riding close to the righthand 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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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 northeast 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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_21">Chapter VII BARNEY TO THE RESCUE</h1> + +<br> +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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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?<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Halt!" cried the officer. <br> +<p>Barney pointed down the road in the direction in which he was +headed.<br> +</p> + +"Halt!" repeated the officer, running to the car. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Rotten shooting," commented Barney Custer, of Beatrice.<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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 righthand side and plunged +into the shelter of the wood. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_22">Chapter VIII AN ADVENTUROUS DAY</h1> + +<br> +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. <br> +<p>"Who are you?" she breathed in a half whisper.<br> +</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?" <br> +<p>The girl took a step toward him. Her eyes lighted with +relief.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Why were they pursuing you?" he asked. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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?<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"The cowards!" muttered Barney as the enemy's shot announced +his sinister intention; "they might have hit your highness."<br> +</p> + +The girl did not reply until she had ceased firing. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"You hit one of them!" exclaimed Barney enthusiastically. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"A garage?" whispered Barney. <br> +<p>"Or a barn," suggested the princess.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"And carry two," supplemented the princess.<br> +</p> + +"Wait here," said Barney. "If I get caught, run. Whatever happens +you mustn't be caught." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Have you a diamond ring?" he whispered.<br> +</p> + +"Gracious!" she exclaimed, "you are progressing rapidly," and +slipped a solitaire from her finger to his hand. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>Once outside he hastened to the side of the waiting girl.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Who are you? What are you doing there? Come back!" <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</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. +<br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Shall I?" she asked, turning its muzzle back over the lowered +top. <br> +<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."<br> +</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!" <br> +<p>"I thank God that you are not, your highness," returned Barney +fervently.<br> +</p> + +Gently she laid her hand upon his where it gripped the steering +wheel. <br> +<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!"<br> +</p> + +They had reached the grade at last, and the motor was straining +to the Herculean task imposed upon it. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"The jig's up," he groaned.; "we're out of gasoline!" <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_23">Chapter IX THE CAPTURE</h1> + +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Who are you?" he demanded gruffly. In the darkness he failed +to recognize the American whom he thought dead in Austria.<br> +</p> + +"A servant of the house of Von der Tann," replied Barney. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Greetings, your highness," he cried with an attempt at +cordiality. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"You told me he was dead," shouted the king. "What is the meaning +of this, Captain Maenck?" <br> +<p>Maenck looked at his male prisoner and staggered back as +though struck between the eyes.<br> +</p> + +"Mein Gott," he exclaimed, "the impostor!" <br> +<p>"You told me he was dead," repeated the king accusingly.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"I told you the truth, then," interjected Barney. <br> +<p>"Silence, you ingrate!" cried the king.<br> +</p> + +"Ingrate?" repeated Barney. "You have the effrontery to call me +an ingrate? You miserable puppy." <br> +<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.<br> +</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: <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Leopold at last found his voice, though it trembled and broke as +he spoke. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Maenck ordered Barney escorted from the apartment, then he turned +toward the king. <br> +<p>"And the other prisoner, sire?" he inquired.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</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. +<br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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?<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Make the slightest outcry and I shall kill you," he whispered +in the ear of the terrified man.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Silence," he whispered.<br> +</p> + +The king, white and trembling, gasped as his eyes fell upon the +face of the American. <br> +<p>"You?" His voice was barely audible.<br> +</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?" <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Put those on," he commanded. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Hurry!" admonished the American, drawing the silk halfhose 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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Do not disturb me now," he called. "Come again in half an hour." +<br> +<p>"But it is Her Highness, Princess Emma, sire," came a voice +from beyond the door. "You summoned her."<br> +</p> + +"She may return to her apartments," replied Barney. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>The king did as he was bid. For a moment the American stood +looking at him before he spoke again.<br> +</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. <br> +<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!"<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"I answered your majesty's summons," said the man. <br> +<p>"Oh, yes!" returned the American. "You may fetch the Princess +Emma."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"You may go," he said. He drew a chair from the table and asked +the princess to be seated. She ignored his request. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Here is the American's pardon," he said, "drawn up and signed +by the king's own hand."<br> +</p> + +She opened it and, glancing through it hurriedly, looked up at +the man before her with a questioning expression in her eyes. +<br> +<p>"You came, then," she said, "to a realization of the enormity +of your ingratitude?"<br> +</p> + +The man shrugged. <br> +<p>"He will never die at my command," he said.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</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." +<br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +She looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. <br> +<p>"You give me your word that he will be safe?" she asked.<br> +</p> + +"My royal word," he replied. <br> +<p>"Very well, let us leave at once."<br> +</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. <br> +<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?"<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Failure to pass us through the gates," he said, "will be the +signal for your death." <br> +<p>The man reined in his mount and turned toward the +American.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>Then they rode on up to the gates. A soldier stepped from the +sentry box and challenged them.<br> +</p> + +"Lower the drawbridge," ordered the officer. "It is Captain +Krantzwort on a mission for the king." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." +<br> +<p>"No," interposed the American. "You will send for no one, my +man. Come closer--look at my face."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Now, lower the drawbridge," said Barney Custer, "it is your +king's command."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>As Barney passed the soldier he handed him the pardon Leopold +had written for the American.<br> +</p> + +"Give this to your lieutenant," he said, "and tell him to hand it +to Prince Peter before dawn tomorrow. Do not fail." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Dismount," he directed the captain, leaping to the ground +himself at the same time. "Put your hands behind your back."<br> +</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. +<br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_24">Chapter X A NEW KING IN LUTHA</h1> + +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." <br> +<p>"Advance," directed the sentry, "and give the +countersign."<br> +</p> + +Barney rode to the fellow's side, and leaning from the saddle +whispered in his ear the word "Slankamen." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"We are almost there," he said. "You must be very tired." <br> +<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?<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"We will ride at once to the palace," he said. "At the gate you +may instruct one of your sergeants to telephone to will act as +our escort." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"What is the meaning of this, your majesty?" he cried in a voice +hoarse with emotion. "What does her highness in your company?" +<br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>The girl inclined her head.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>General Petko inclined his head in deferential acknowledgment +of the truth of the inference.<br> +</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?" <br> +<p>General Petko squared his shoulders and bowed in assent. At +the same time he reached into his breast-pocket for the +ultimatum.<br> +</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?" <br> +<p>General Petko gasped and returned the ultimatum to his +pocket.<br> +</p> + +"Sire!" he cried, his face lighting with incredulity. "You +mean--" <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>General Petko smiled. So did the American and the chancellor. +Each knew that Austria would not withdraw her army from +Lutha.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Von der Tann smiled as he replied. "It is already done, sire," he +said. <br> +<p>"But I passed in along the road this morning," said Barney, +"and saw nothing of such preparations."<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"Good! Let it be completed at once. Here is Count Zellerndorf +now," as the minister was announced.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"But, your majesty--" interrupted the Austrian.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>Zellerndorf looked his astonishment.<br> +</p> + +"Are you mad, sire?" he cried. "It will mean war!" <br> +<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?"<br> +</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--" <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_25">Chapter XI THE BATTLE</h1> + +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. <br> +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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Leopold has declared war on Austria!" "The king calls for +volunteers!" "Long live the king!" <br> +<p>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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>A shell burst upon a roof-top in an adjoining square.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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?<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +Barney turned to Prince von der Tann with a smile. "They are none +too soon," he said. <br> +<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 imposter 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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"I believe the men fight better when they think their king is +watching them," said the American simply.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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!<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Perhaps Lieutenant Butzow might find a way," suggested the +officer. "He or your father; they are both fond of Mr. Custer." +<br> +<p>"Yes," said the girl dully, "see Lieutenant Butzow--he would +do the most."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"What is it?" he asked. "What is the matter?" <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"What is the matter?" the king repeated.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>Barney's eyes went wide with incredulity. Here was a pretty +pass, indeed! The princess came close to him and seized his +arm.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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? <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>The girl drew her hand from his and straightened to her full +height.<br> +</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?" <br> +<p>Barney bowed his head and looked at the floor.<br> +</p> + +"He is here, your highness, asking your forgiveness," he said. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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?" <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"When did you assume the king's identity?" she asked. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"And Leopold is there now?" she asked. <br> +<p>"He is there," replied Barney, "and he is to be shot in the +morning."<br> +</p> + +"Gott!" exclaimed the girl. "What are we to do?" <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"And then?" asked the girl, a shadow crossing her face. <br> +<p>"And then Barney Custer will have to beat it for the +boundary," he replied with a sorry smile.<br> +</p> + +She came quite close to him, laying her hands upon his shoulders. +<br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +The American shook his head. <br> +<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.<br> +</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?" <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Of course I'll marry you," said the princess. "Why in the world +would I want you to take me to America otherwise?" <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_26">Chapter XII LEOPOLD WAITS FOR DAWN</h1> + +<br> +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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"What do you want?" shouted one of the men through the closed +door. <br> +<p>"I want Prince Peter!" yelled the king. "Send him at +once!"<br> +</p> + +The soldiers laughed. <br> +<p>"He wants Prince Peter," they mocked. "Wouldn't you rather +have us send the king to you?" they asked.<br> +</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." +<br> +<p>"Ah!" exclaimed one of the soldiers. "Then there will be three +of us shot together."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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 selfpity, 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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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." <br> +<p>A sudden inspiration came to the king with the memory of all +that had transpired during that humiliating encounter with the +American.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +The two men looked at the speaker and smiled. <br> +<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.<br> +</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?" <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"But I tell you it is impossible," wailed the king. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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!<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_27">Chapter XIII THE TWO KINGS</h1> + +<br> +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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Follow me up this, very quietly," he said to those behind him. +"Up to the third landing." <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Through the window overlooking the courtyard came a piteous +wailing. Barney ran to the casement and looked out. Butzow was at +his side. <br> +<p>"Himmel!" 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.<br> +</p> + +It took but a moment to reach the stairway down which the +rescuers tumbled pell-mell. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Not so bad, after all, Barney," the lieutenant was saying. "Only +a flesh wound in the calf of the leg." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Is he badly wounded?" and he indicated the figure upon the great +bed. <br> +<p>Butzow turned and crossed to where the American lay. He saw +that the latter's eyes were open and that he was conscious.<br> +</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. <br> +<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?"<br> +</p> + +"Only a flesh wound in the calf of his left leg, sire," replied +Butzow. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +After Butzow and one of the troopers had washed and dressed the +wounds of both men Barney asked them to leave the room. <br> +<p>"I wish to sleep," he said. "If I require you I will +ring."<br> +</p> + +Saluting, the two backed from the apartment. Just as they were +passing through the doorway the American called out to Butzow. +<br> +<p>"You have Peter of Blentz and Maenck in custody?" he +asked.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>Again Butzow saluted and prepared to leave the room.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"What do you intend doing with me?" he said. "Are you going to +keep your word and return my identity?" <br> +<p>"I have promised," replied Barney, "and what I promise I +always perform."<br> +</p> + +"Then exchange clothing with me at once," cried the king, half +rising from his cot. <br> +<p>"Not so fast, my friend," rejoined the American. "There are a +few trifling details to be arranged before we resume our proper +personalities."<br> +</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." <br> +<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?"<br> +</p> + +"You laid your plebeian hands upon me," cried the king, raising +his voice. "You humiliated me, and you shall suffer for it." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"What are your terms?" asked the king.<br> +</p> + +"That Prince Peter of Blentz, Captain Ernst Maenck, and old Von +Coblich be tried, convicted, and hanged for high treason," +replied the American. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +"Again you are too fast," answered Barney. "There is another +condition." <br> +<p>"Well?"<br> +</p> + +"You must promise upon your royal honor that Ludwig, Prince von +der Tann, remain chancellor of Lutha during your life or his." +<br> +<p>"Very well," assented the king. "I promise," and again he half +rose from his cot.<br> +</p> + +"Hold on a minute," admonished the American; "there is yet one +more condition of which I have not made mention." <br> +<p>"What, another?" exclaimed Leopold testily. "How much do you +want for returning to me what you have stolen?"<br> +</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?" <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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! <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"What's the matter?" he asked. <br> +<p>"I will sign the release and the sanction of her highness' +marriage to you," said the king.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"Why do you not remain in Lustadt?" asked the king. "You could +as well be married there as elsewhere."<br> +</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?" <br> +<p>The king assented with a grumpy nod.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +The king did not respond. In a short time Barney was fast asleep. +The light still burned. <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_28">Chapter XIV "THE KING'S WILL IS LAW"</h1> + +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Turn out the guard!" he cried. "Turn out the guard for his +majesty, the king!" <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Saddle up quietly, corporal," he said. "We shall ride to Lustadt +tonight." <br> +<p>The non-commissioned officer saluted. "And an extra horse for +Herr Custer?" he said.<br> +</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!" <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"You may trust me, sire," he whispered.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>"Thank you, sire," said the servant.<br> +</p> + +The king looked steadily into the other's face before he spoke +again. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Wake up!" he cried in a subdued voice. "Wake up, Prince Peter; I +have good news for you." <br> +<p>The other opened his eyes, stretched, and at last sat up.<br> +</p> + +"What is it, Maenck?" he asked querulously. <br> +<p>"Great news, my prince," replied the other.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"Somewhere in this, prince," concluded Maenck, "there must lie +the seed of fortune for you and me."<br> +</p> + +Peter nodded. "Yes," he mused, "there must." <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>It was written upon the personal stationary 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.<br> +</p> + +DEAREST EMMA: <br> +<p>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> +</p> + +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> +<p>With every assurance of my undying love, believe me,<br> +</p> + +Yours, B. C. <br> +<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.<br> +</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: <br> +<p>SIRE: The king's will is law. EMMA<br> +</p> + +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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!<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<h1 id="ref_29">Chapter XV MAENCK BLUNDERS</h1> + +<br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. +<br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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 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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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 turns.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Passing on by his own grave, he came to the stables. A groom was +carrying 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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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. <br> +<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.<br> +</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." <br> +<p>And he did.<br> +</p> + +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. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +No one seemed to note his entrance. All ears were turned toward +the doctor, who was speaking. <br> +<p>"The king is dead," he said.<br> +</p> + +Maenck raised himself upon an elbow. He spoke feebly. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"There is the king," he said. <br> +<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 bloodspattered +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.<br> +</p> + +"Who are you?" he demanded. <br> +<p>Before Barney could speak Lieutenant Butzow spoke.<br> +</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." +<br> +<p>Prince von der Tann looked puzzled. Again he turned his eyes +questioningly toward the newcomer.<br> +</p> + +"Is this the truth?" he asked. <br> +<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.<br> +</p> + +"Well?" persisted the chancellor. <br> +<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."<br> +</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. +<br> +<p>Presently the chancellor broke the silence.<br> +</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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +As the old chancellor ceased speaking he drew his sword and +raised it on high above his head. <br> +<p>"The king is dead," he said. "Long live the king!"<br> +</p> + +<br> +<h1 id="ref_30">Chapter XVI KING OF LUTHA</h1> + +<br> +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. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Butzow added his pleas to those of the old chancellor. The +American hesitated. <br> +<p>"Let us leave it to the representatives of the people and to +the house of nobles," he suggested.<br> +</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. <br> +<p>"The people of Lutha will have no other king, sire," said the +old man.<br> +</p> + +Barney turned toward the girl. <br> +<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."<br> +</p> + +Barney Custer took her hand in his and raised it to his lips. +<br> +<p>"Let the King of Lutha," he said, "be the first to salute +Lutha's queen."<br> +</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. <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +<br> +<p>End of Project Gutenberg Etext of The Mad King by Edgar Rice +Burroughs<br> +</p> + +I have made the following changes to the text: PAGE CHAPTER +PARAGRAPH LINE ORIGINAL CHANGED TO 72 VIII 3 1 Ludstadt Lustadt +81 3 2 mier miter 83 7 3 Ludstadt Lustadt 86 3 2 him arm his arm +90 4 4 monarch, he monarch he 94 2 4 colums columns 98 2 2 +imposter impostor 121 1 1 approaced approached 126 2 5 from from +the 140 6 5 whom, appeared whom appeared 142 5 1 once side one +side 143 4 8 knew drew 158 4 5 presumptious presumptuous 182 5 3 +jeweler's shot jeweler's shop 189 8 2 ingrate?" ingrate? 193 5 3 +oil panting oil painting 200 7 1 soldiers soldier 211 2 1 men and +woman men and women 212 3 5 instruments instrument 217 4 1 The +cheered They cheered 217 6 2 gril's face girl's face 218 1 +magnamity magnanimity 218 7 2 him. Barney's him, Barney's 225 3 3 +horseman horsemen 228 5 1 ajaculated ejaculated 233 8 6 king of +Lustadt, king of Lutha, 234 6 2 You "You 251 9 Luthania army +Luthanian army 252 2 3 poor, weakling poor weakling <br> +<p><br> +</p> + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext of The Mad King by Edgar Rice +Burroughs <br> +</body> +</html> + |