1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054
1055
1056
1057
1058
1059
1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
1122
1123
1124
1125
1126
1127
1128
1129
1130
1131
1132
1133
1134
1135
1136
1137
1138
1139
1140
1141
1142
1143
1144
1145
1146
1147
1148
1149
1150
1151
1152
1153
1154
1155
1156
1157
1158
1159
1160
1161
1162
1163
1164
1165
1166
1167
1168
1169
1170
1171
1172
1173
1174
1175
1176
1177
1178
1179
1180
1181
1182
1183
1184
1185
1186
1187
1188
1189
1190
1191
1192
1193
1194
1195
1196
1197
1198
1199
1200
1201
1202
1203
1204
1205
1206
1207
1208
1209
1210
1211
1212
1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233
1234
1235
1236
1237
1238
1239
1240
1241
1242
1243
1244
1245
1246
1247
1248
1249
1250
1251
1252
1253
1254
1255
1256
1257
1258
1259
1260
1261
1262
1263
1264
1265
1266
1267
1268
1269
1270
1271
1272
1273
1274
1275
1276
1277
1278
1279
1280
1281
1282
1283
1284
1285
1286
1287
1288
1289
1290
1291
1292
1293
1294
1295
1296
1297
1298
1299
1300
1301
1302
1303
1304
1305
1306
1307
1308
1309
1310
1311
1312
1313
1314
1315
1316
1317
1318
1319
1320
1321
1322
1323
1324
1325
1326
1327
1328
1329
1330
1331
1332
1333
1334
1335
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1343
1344
1345
1346
1347
1348
1349
1350
1351
1352
1353
1354
1355
1356
1357
1358
1359
1360
1361
1362
1363
1364
1365
1366
1367
1368
1369
1370
1371
1372
1373
1374
1375
1376
1377
1378
1379
1380
1381
1382
1383
1384
1385
1386
1387
1388
1389
1390
1391
1392
1393
1394
1395
1396
1397
1398
1399
1400
1401
1402
1403
1404
1405
1406
1407
1408
1409
1410
1411
1412
1413
1414
1415
1416
1417
1418
1419
1420
1421
1422
1423
1424
1425
1426
1427
1428
1429
1430
1431
1432
1433
1434
1435
1436
1437
1438
1439
1440
1441
1442
1443
1444
1445
1446
1447
1448
1449
1450
1451
1452
1453
1454
1455
1456
1457
1458
1459
1460
1461
1462
1463
1464
1465
1466
1467
1468
1469
1470
1471
1472
1473
1474
1475
1476
1477
1478
1479
1480
1481
1482
1483
1484
1485
1486
1487
1488
1489
1490
1491
1492
1493
1494
1495
1496
1497
1498
1499
1500
1501
1502
1503
1504
1505
1506
1507
1508
1509
1510
1511
1512
1513
1514
1515
1516
1517
1518
1519
1520
1521
1522
1523
1524
1525
1526
1527
1528
1529
1530
1531
1532
1533
1534
1535
1536
1537
1538
1539
1540
1541
1542
1543
1544
1545
1546
1547
1548
1549
1550
1551
1552
1553
1554
1555
1556
1557
1558
1559
1560
1561
1562
1563
1564
1565
1566
1567
1568
1569
1570
1571
1572
1573
1574
1575
1576
1577
1578
1579
1580
1581
1582
1583
1584
1585
1586
1587
1588
1589
1590
1591
1592
1593
1594
1595
1596
1597
1598
1599
1600
1601
1602
1603
1604
1605
1606
1607
1608
1609
1610
1611
1612
1613
1614
1615
1616
1617
1618
1619
1620
1621
1622
1623
1624
1625
1626
1627
1628
1629
1630
1631
1632
1633
1634
1635
1636
1637
1638
1639
1640
1641
1642
1643
1644
1645
1646
1647
1648
1649
1650
1651
1652
1653
1654
1655
1656
1657
1658
1659
1660
1661
1662
1663
1664
1665
1666
1667
1668
1669
1670
1671
1672
1673
1674
1675
1676
1677
1678
1679
1680
1681
1682
1683
1684
1685
1686
1687
1688
1689
1690
1691
1692
1693
1694
1695
1696
1697
1698
1699
1700
1701
1702
1703
1704
1705
1706
1707
1708
1709
1710
1711
1712
1713
1714
1715
1716
1717
1718
1719
1720
1721
1722
1723
1724
1725
1726
1727
1728
1729
1730
1731
1732
1733
1734
1735
1736
1737
1738
1739
1740
1741
1742
1743
1744
1745
1746
1747
1748
1749
1750
1751
1752
1753
1754
1755
1756
1757
1758
1759
1760
1761
1762
1763
1764
1765
1766
1767
1768
1769
1770
1771
1772
1773
1774
1775
1776
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
1785
1786
1787
1788
1789
1790
1791
1792
1793
1794
1795
1796
1797
1798
1799
1800
1801
1802
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1811
1812
1813
1814
1815
1816
1817
1818
1819
1820
1821
1822
1823
1824
1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
1831
1832
1833
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
2037
2038
2039
2040
2041
2042
2043
2044
2045
2046
2047
2048
2049
2050
2051
2052
2053
2054
2055
2056
2057
2058
2059
2060
2061
2062
2063
2064
2065
2066
2067
2068
2069
2070
2071
2072
2073
2074
2075
2076
2077
2078
2079
2080
2081
2082
2083
2084
2085
2086
2087
2088
2089
2090
2091
2092
2093
2094
2095
2096
2097
2098
2099
2100
2101
2102
2103
2104
2105
2106
2107
2108
2109
2110
2111
2112
2113
2114
2115
2116
2117
2118
2119
2120
2121
2122
2123
2124
2125
2126
2127
2128
2129
2130
2131
2132
2133
2134
2135
2136
2137
2138
2139
2140
2141
2142
2143
2144
2145
2146
2147
2148
2149
2150
2151
2152
2153
2154
2155
2156
2157
2158
2159
2160
2161
2162
2163
2164
2165
2166
2167
2168
2169
2170
2171
2172
2173
2174
2175
2176
2177
2178
2179
2180
2181
2182
2183
2184
2185
2186
2187
2188
2189
2190
2191
2192
2193
2194
2195
2196
2197
2198
2199
2200
2201
2202
2203
2204
2205
2206
2207
2208
2209
2210
2211
2212
2213
2214
2215
2216
2217
2218
2219
2220
2221
2222
2223
2224
2225
2226
2227
2228
2229
2230
2231
2232
2233
2234
2235
2236
2237
2238
2239
2240
2241
2242
2243
2244
2245
2246
2247
2248
2249
2250
2251
2252
2253
2254
2255
2256
2257
2258
2259
2260
2261
2262
2263
2264
2265
2266
2267
2268
2269
2270
2271
2272
2273
2274
2275
2276
2277
2278
2279
2280
2281
2282
2283
2284
2285
2286
2287
2288
2289
2290
2291
2292
2293
2294
2295
2296
2297
2298
2299
2300
2301
2302
2303
2304
2305
2306
2307
2308
2309
2310
2311
2312
2313
2314
2315
2316
2317
2318
2319
2320
2321
2322
2323
2324
2325
2326
2327
2328
2329
2330
2331
2332
2333
2334
2335
2336
2337
2338
2339
2340
2341
2342
2343
2344
2345
2346
2347
2348
2349
2350
2351
2352
2353
2354
2355
2356
2357
2358
2359
2360
2361
2362
2363
2364
2365
2366
2367
2368
2369
2370
2371
2372
2373
2374
2375
2376
2377
2378
2379
2380
2381
2382
2383
2384
2385
2386
2387
2388
2389
2390
2391
2392
2393
2394
2395
2396
2397
2398
2399
2400
2401
2402
2403
2404
2405
2406
2407
2408
2409
2410
2411
2412
2413
2414
2415
2416
2417
2418
2419
2420
2421
2422
2423
2424
2425
2426
2427
2428
2429
2430
2431
2432
2433
2434
2435
2436
2437
2438
2439
2440
2441
2442
2443
2444
2445
2446
2447
2448
2449
2450
2451
2452
2453
2454
2455
2456
2457
2458
2459
2460
2461
2462
2463
2464
2465
2466
2467
2468
2469
2470
2471
2472
2473
2474
2475
2476
2477
2478
2479
2480
2481
2482
2483
2484
2485
2486
2487
2488
2489
2490
2491
2492
2493
2494
2495
2496
2497
2498
2499
2500
2501
2502
2503
2504
2505
2506
2507
2508
2509
2510
2511
2512
2513
2514
2515
2516
2517
2518
2519
2520
2521
2522
2523
2524
2525
2526
2527
2528
2529
2530
2531
2532
2533
2534
2535
2536
2537
2538
2539
2540
2541
2542
2543
2544
2545
2546
2547
2548
2549
2550
2551
2552
2553
2554
2555
2556
2557
2558
2559
2560
2561
2562
2563
2564
2565
2566
2567
2568
2569
2570
2571
2572
2573
2574
2575
2576
2577
2578
2579
2580
2581
2582
2583
2584
2585
2586
2587
2588
2589
2590
2591
2592
2593
2594
2595
2596
2597
2598
2599
2600
2601
2602
2603
2604
2605
2606
2607
2608
2609
2610
2611
2612
2613
2614
2615
2616
2617
2618
2619
2620
2621
2622
2623
2624
2625
2626
2627
2628
2629
2630
2631
2632
2633
2634
2635
2636
2637
2638
2639
2640
2641
2642
2643
2644
2645
2646
2647
2648
2649
2650
2651
2652
2653
2654
2655
2656
2657
2658
2659
2660
2661
2662
2663
2664
2665
2666
2667
2668
2669
2670
2671
2672
2673
2674
2675
2676
2677
2678
2679
2680
2681
2682
2683
2684
2685
2686
2687
2688
2689
2690
2691
2692
2693
2694
2695
2696
2697
2698
2699
2700
2701
2702
2703
2704
2705
2706
2707
2708
2709
2710
2711
2712
2713
2714
2715
2716
2717
2718
2719
2720
2721
2722
2723
2724
2725
2726
2727
2728
2729
2730
2731
2732
2733
2734
2735
2736
2737
2738
2739
2740
2741
2742
2743
2744
2745
2746
2747
2748
2749
2750
2751
2752
2753
2754
2755
2756
2757
2758
2759
2760
2761
2762
2763
2764
2765
2766
2767
2768
2769
2770
2771
2772
2773
2774
2775
2776
2777
2778
2779
2780
2781
2782
2783
2784
2785
2786
2787
2788
2789
2790
2791
2792
2793
2794
2795
2796
2797
2798
2799
2800
2801
2802
2803
2804
2805
2806
2807
2808
2809
2810
2811
2812
2813
2814
2815
2816
2817
2818
2819
2820
2821
2822
2823
2824
2825
2826
2827
2828
2829
2830
2831
2832
2833
2834
2835
2836
2837
2838
2839
2840
2841
2842
2843
2844
2845
2846
2847
2848
2849
2850
2851
2852
2853
2854
2855
2856
2857
2858
2859
2860
2861
2862
2863
2864
2865
2866
2867
2868
2869
2870
2871
2872
2873
2874
2875
2876
2877
2878
2879
2880
2881
2882
2883
2884
2885
2886
2887
2888
2889
2890
2891
2892
2893
2894
2895
2896
2897
2898
2899
2900
2901
2902
2903
2904
2905
2906
2907
2908
2909
2910
2911
2912
2913
2914
2915
2916
2917
2918
2919
2920
2921
2922
2923
2924
2925
2926
2927
2928
2929
2930
2931
2932
2933
2934
2935
2936
2937
2938
2939
2940
2941
2942
2943
2944
2945
2946
2947
2948
2949
2950
2951
2952
2953
2954
2955
2956
2957
2958
2959
2960
2961
2962
2963
2964
2965
2966
2967
2968
2969
2970
2971
2972
2973
2974
2975
2976
2977
2978
2979
2980
2981
2982
2983
2984
2985
2986
2987
2988
2989
2990
2991
2992
2993
2994
2995
2996
2997
2998
2999
3000
3001
3002
3003
3004
3005
3006
3007
3008
3009
3010
3011
3012
3013
3014
3015
3016
3017
3018
3019
3020
3021
3022
3023
3024
3025
3026
3027
3028
3029
3030
3031
3032
3033
3034
3035
3036
3037
3038
3039
3040
3041
3042
3043
3044
3045
3046
3047
3048
3049
3050
3051
3052
3053
3054
3055
3056
3057
3058
3059
3060
3061
3062
3063
3064
3065
3066
3067
3068
3069
3070
3071
3072
3073
3074
3075
3076
3077
3078
3079
3080
3081
3082
3083
3084
3085
3086
3087
3088
3089
3090
3091
3092
3093
3094
3095
3096
3097
3098
3099
3100
3101
3102
3103
3104
3105
3106
3107
3108
3109
3110
3111
3112
3113
3114
3115
3116
3117
3118
3119
3120
3121
3122
3123
3124
3125
3126
3127
3128
3129
3130
3131
3132
3133
3134
3135
3136
3137
3138
3139
3140
3141
3142
3143
3144
3145
3146
3147
3148
3149
3150
3151
3152
3153
3154
3155
3156
3157
3158
3159
3160
3161
3162
3163
3164
3165
3166
3167
3168
3169
3170
3171
3172
3173
3174
3175
3176
3177
3178
3179
3180
3181
3182
3183
3184
3185
3186
3187
3188
3189
3190
3191
3192
3193
3194
3195
3196
3197
3198
3199
3200
3201
3202
3203
3204
3205
3206
3207
3208
3209
3210
3211
3212
3213
3214
3215
3216
3217
3218
3219
3220
3221
3222
3223
3224
3225
3226
3227
3228
3229
3230
3231
3232
3233
3234
3235
3236
3237
3238
3239
3240
3241
3242
3243
3244
3245
3246
3247
3248
3249
3250
3251
3252
3253
3254
3255
3256
3257
3258
3259
3260
3261
3262
3263
3264
3265
3266
3267
3268
3269
3270
3271
3272
3273
3274
3275
3276
3277
3278
3279
3280
3281
3282
3283
3284
3285
3286
3287
3288
3289
3290
3291
3292
3293
3294
3295
3296
3297
3298
3299
3300
3301
3302
3303
3304
3305
3306
3307
3308
3309
3310
3311
3312
3313
3314
3315
3316
3317
3318
3319
3320
3321
3322
3323
3324
3325
3326
3327
3328
3329
3330
3331
3332
3333
3334
3335
3336
3337
3338
3339
3340
3341
3342
3343
3344
3345
3346
3347
3348
3349
3350
3351
3352
3353
3354
3355
3356
3357
3358
3359
3360
3361
3362
3363
3364
3365
3366
3367
3368
3369
3370
3371
3372
3373
3374
3375
3376
3377
3378
3379
3380
3381
3382
3383
3384
3385
3386
3387
3388
3389
3390
3391
3392
3393
3394
3395
3396
3397
3398
3399
3400
3401
3402
3403
3404
3405
3406
3407
3408
3409
3410
3411
3412
3413
3414
3415
3416
3417
3418
3419
3420
3421
3422
3423
3424
3425
3426
3427
3428
3429
3430
3431
3432
3433
3434
3435
3436
3437
3438
3439
3440
3441
3442
3443
3444
3445
3446
3447
3448
3449
3450
3451
3452
3453
3454
3455
3456
3457
3458
3459
3460
3461
3462
3463
3464
3465
3466
3467
3468
3469
3470
3471
3472
3473
3474
3475
3476
3477
3478
3479
3480
3481
3482
3483
3484
3485
3486
3487
3488
3489
3490
3491
3492
3493
3494
3495
3496
3497
3498
3499
3500
3501
3502
3503
3504
3505
3506
3507
3508
3509
3510
3511
3512
3513
3514
3515
3516
3517
3518
3519
3520
3521
3522
3523
3524
3525
3526
3527
3528
3529
3530
3531
3532
3533
3534
3535
3536
3537
3538
3539
3540
3541
3542
3543
3544
3545
3546
3547
3548
3549
3550
3551
3552
3553
3554
3555
3556
3557
3558
3559
3560
3561
3562
3563
3564
3565
3566
3567
3568
3569
3570
3571
3572
3573
3574
3575
3576
3577
3578
3579
3580
3581
3582
3583
3584
3585
3586
3587
3588
3589
3590
3591
3592
3593
3594
3595
3596
3597
3598
3599
3600
3601
3602
3603
3604
3605
3606
3607
3608
3609
3610
3611
3612
3613
3614
3615
3616
3617
3618
3619
3620
3621
3622
3623
3624
3625
3626
3627
3628
3629
3630
3631
3632
3633
3634
3635
3636
3637
3638
3639
3640
3641
3642
3643
3644
3645
3646
3647
3648
3649
3650
3651
3652
3653
3654
3655
3656
3657
3658
3659
3660
3661
3662
3663
3664
3665
3666
3667
3668
3669
3670
3671
3672
3673
3674
3675
3676
3677
3678
3679
3680
3681
3682
3683
3684
3685
3686
3687
3688
3689
3690
3691
3692
3693
3694
3695
3696
3697
3698
3699
3700
3701
3702
3703
3704
3705
3706
3707
3708
3709
3710
3711
3712
3713
3714
3715
3716
3717
3718
3719
3720
3721
3722
3723
3724
3725
3726
3727
3728
3729
3730
3731
3732
3733
3734
3735
3736
3737
3738
3739
3740
3741
3742
3743
3744
3745
3746
3747
3748
3749
3750
3751
3752
3753
3754
3755
3756
3757
3758
3759
3760
3761
3762
3763
3764
3765
3766
3767
3768
3769
3770
3771
3772
3773
3774
3775
3776
3777
3778
3779
3780
3781
3782
3783
3784
3785
3786
3787
3788
3789
3790
3791
3792
3793
3794
3795
3796
3797
3798
3799
3800
3801
3802
3803
3804
3805
3806
3807
3808
3809
3810
3811
3812
3813
3814
3815
3816
3817
3818
3819
3820
3821
3822
3823
3824
3825
3826
3827
3828
3829
3830
3831
3832
3833
3834
3835
3836
3837
3838
3839
3840
3841
3842
3843
3844
3845
3846
3847
3848
3849
3850
3851
3852
3853
3854
3855
3856
3857
3858
3859
3860
3861
3862
3863
3864
3865
3866
3867
3868
3869
3870
3871
3872
3873
3874
3875
3876
3877
3878
3879
3880
3881
3882
3883
3884
3885
3886
3887
3888
3889
3890
3891
3892
3893
3894
3895
3896
3897
3898
3899
3900
3901
3902
3903
3904
3905
3906
3907
3908
3909
3910
3911
3912
3913
3914
3915
3916
3917
3918
3919
3920
3921
3922
3923
3924
3925
3926
3927
3928
3929
3930
3931
3932
3933
3934
3935
3936
3937
3938
3939
3940
3941
3942
3943
3944
3945
3946
3947
3948
3949
3950
3951
3952
3953
3954
3955
3956
3957
3958
3959
3960
3961
3962
3963
3964
3965
3966
3967
3968
3969
3970
3971
3972
3973
3974
3975
3976
3977
3978
3979
3980
3981
3982
3983
3984
3985
3986
3987
3988
3989
3990
3991
3992
3993
3994
3995
3996
3997
3998
3999
4000
4001
4002
4003
4004
4005
4006
4007
4008
4009
4010
4011
4012
4013
4014
4015
4016
4017
4018
4019
4020
4021
4022
4023
4024
4025
4026
4027
4028
4029
4030
4031
4032
4033
4034
4035
4036
4037
4038
4039
4040
4041
4042
4043
4044
4045
4046
4047
4048
4049
4050
4051
4052
4053
4054
4055
4056
4057
4058
4059
4060
4061
4062
4063
4064
4065
4066
4067
4068
4069
4070
4071
4072
4073
4074
4075
4076
4077
4078
4079
4080
4081
4082
4083
4084
4085
4086
4087
4088
4089
4090
4091
4092
4093
4094
4095
4096
4097
4098
4099
4100
4101
4102
4103
4104
4105
4106
4107
4108
4109
4110
4111
4112
4113
4114
4115
4116
4117
4118
4119
4120
4121
4122
4123
4124
4125
4126
4127
4128
4129
4130
4131
4132
4133
4134
4135
4136
4137
4138
4139
4140
4141
4142
4143
4144
4145
4146
4147
4148
4149
4150
4151
4152
4153
4154
4155
4156
4157
4158
4159
4160
4161
4162
4163
4164
4165
4166
4167
4168
4169
4170
4171
4172
4173
4174
4175
4176
4177
4178
4179
4180
4181
4182
4183
4184
4185
4186
4187
4188
4189
4190
4191
4192
4193
4194
4195
4196
4197
4198
4199
4200
4201
4202
4203
4204
4205
4206
4207
4208
4209
4210
4211
4212
4213
4214
4215
4216
4217
4218
4219
4220
4221
4222
4223
4224
4225
4226
4227
4228
4229
4230
4231
4232
4233
4234
4235
4236
4237
4238
4239
4240
4241
4242
4243
4244
4245
4246
4247
4248
4249
4250
4251
4252
4253
4254
4255
4256
4257
4258
4259
4260
4261
4262
4263
4264
4265
4266
4267
4268
4269
4270
4271
4272
4273
4274
4275
4276
4277
4278
4279
4280
4281
4282
4283
4284
4285
4286
4287
4288
4289
4290
4291
4292
4293
4294
4295
4296
4297
4298
4299
4300
4301
4302
4303
4304
4305
4306
4307
4308
4309
4310
4311
4312
4313
4314
4315
4316
4317
4318
4319
4320
4321
4322
4323
4324
4325
4326
4327
4328
4329
4330
4331
4332
4333
4334
4335
4336
4337
4338
4339
4340
4341
4342
4343
4344
4345
4346
4347
4348
4349
4350
4351
4352
4353
4354
4355
4356
4357
4358
4359
4360
4361
4362
4363
4364
4365
4366
4367
4368
4369
4370
4371
4372
4373
4374
4375
4376
4377
4378
4379
4380
4381
4382
4383
4384
4385
4386
4387
4388
4389
4390
4391
4392
4393
4394
4395
4396
4397
4398
4399
4400
4401
4402
4403
4404
4405
4406
4407
4408
4409
4410
4411
4412
4413
4414
4415
4416
4417
4418
4419
4420
4421
4422
4423
4424
4425
4426
4427
4428
4429
4430
4431
4432
4433
4434
4435
4436
4437
4438
4439
4440
4441
4442
4443
4444
4445
4446
4447
4448
4449
4450
4451
4452
4453
4454
4455
4456
4457
4458
4459
4460
4461
4462
4463
4464
4465
4466
4467
4468
4469
4470
4471
4472
4473
4474
4475
4476
4477
4478
4479
4480
4481
4482
4483
4484
4485
4486
4487
4488
4489
4490
4491
4492
4493
4494
4495
4496
4497
4498
4499
4500
4501
4502
4503
4504
4505
4506
4507
4508
4509
4510
4511
4512
4513
4514
4515
4516
4517
4518
4519
4520
4521
4522
4523
4524
4525
4526
4527
4528
4529
4530
4531
4532
4533
4534
4535
4536
4537
4538
4539
4540
4541
4542
4543
4544
4545
4546
4547
4548
4549
4550
4551
4552
4553
4554
4555
4556
4557
4558
4559
4560
4561
4562
4563
4564
4565
4566
4567
4568
4569
4570
4571
4572
4573
4574
4575
4576
4577
4578
4579
4580
4581
4582
4583
4584
4585
4586
4587
4588
4589
4590
4591
4592
4593
4594
4595
4596
4597
4598
4599
4600
4601
4602
4603
4604
4605
4606
4607
4608
4609
4610
4611
4612
4613
4614
4615
4616
4617
4618
4619
4620
4621
4622
4623
4624
4625
4626
4627
4628
4629
4630
4631
4632
4633
4634
4635
4636
4637
4638
4639
4640
4641
4642
4643
4644
4645
4646
4647
4648
4649
4650
4651
4652
4653
4654
4655
4656
4657
4658
4659
4660
4661
4662
4663
4664
4665
4666
4667
4668
4669
4670
4671
4672
4673
4674
4675
4676
4677
4678
4679
4680
4681
4682
4683
4684
4685
4686
4687
4688
4689
4690
4691
4692
4693
4694
4695
4696
4697
4698
4699
4700
4701
4702
4703
4704
4705
4706
4707
4708
4709
4710
4711
4712
4713
4714
4715
4716
4717
4718
4719
4720
4721
4722
4723
4724
4725
4726
4727
4728
4729
4730
4731
4732
4733
4734
4735
4736
4737
4738
4739
4740
4741
4742
4743
4744
4745
4746
4747
4748
4749
4750
4751
4752
4753
4754
4755
4756
4757
4758
4759
4760
4761
4762
4763
4764
4765
4766
4767
4768
4769
4770
4771
4772
4773
4774
4775
4776
4777
4778
4779
4780
4781
4782
4783
4784
4785
4786
4787
4788
4789
4790
4791
4792
4793
4794
4795
4796
4797
4798
4799
4800
4801
4802
4803
4804
4805
4806
4807
4808
4809
4810
4811
4812
4813
4814
4815
4816
4817
4818
4819
4820
4821
4822
4823
4824
4825
4826
4827
4828
4829
4830
4831
4832
4833
4834
4835
4836
4837
4838
4839
4840
4841
4842
4843
4844
4845
4846
4847
4848
4849
4850
4851
4852
4853
4854
4855
4856
4857
4858
4859
4860
4861
4862
4863
4864
4865
4866
4867
4868
4869
4870
4871
4872
4873
4874
4875
4876
4877
4878
4879
4880
4881
4882
4883
4884
4885
4886
4887
4888
4889
4890
4891
4892
4893
4894
4895
4896
4897
4898
4899
4900
4901
4902
4903
4904
4905
4906
4907
4908
4909
4910
4911
4912
4913
4914
4915
4916
4917
4918
4919
4920
4921
4922
4923
4924
4925
4926
4927
4928
4929
4930
4931
4932
4933
4934
4935
4936
4937
4938
4939
4940
4941
4942
4943
4944
4945
4946
4947
4948
4949
4950
4951
4952
4953
4954
4955
4956
4957
4958
4959
4960
4961
4962
4963
4964
4965
4966
4967
4968
4969
4970
4971
4972
4973
4974
4975
4976
4977
4978
4979
4980
4981
4982
4983
4984
4985
4986
4987
4988
4989
4990
4991
4992
4993
4994
4995
4996
4997
4998
4999
5000
5001
5002
5003
5004
5005
5006
5007
5008
5009
5010
5011
5012
5013
5014
5015
5016
5017
5018
5019
5020
5021
5022
5023
5024
5025
5026
5027
5028
5029
5030
5031
5032
5033
5034
5035
5036
5037
5038
5039
5040
5041
5042
5043
5044
5045
5046
5047
5048
5049
5050
5051
5052
5053
5054
5055
5056
5057
5058
5059
5060
5061
5062
5063
5064
5065
5066
5067
5068
5069
5070
5071
5072
5073
5074
5075
5076
5077
5078
5079
5080
5081
5082
5083
5084
5085
5086
5087
5088
5089
5090
5091
5092
5093
5094
5095
5096
5097
5098
5099
5100
5101
5102
5103
5104
5105
5106
5107
5108
5109
5110
5111
5112
5113
5114
5115
5116
5117
5118
5119
5120
5121
5122
5123
5124
5125
5126
5127
5128
5129
5130
5131
5132
5133
5134
5135
5136
5137
5138
5139
5140
5141
5142
5143
5144
5145
5146
5147
5148
5149
5150
5151
5152
5153
5154
5155
5156
5157
5158
5159
5160
5161
5162
5163
5164
5165
5166
5167
5168
5169
5170
5171
5172
5173
5174
5175
5176
5177
5178
5179
5180
5181
5182
5183
5184
5185
5186
5187
5188
5189
5190
5191
5192
5193
5194
5195
5196
5197
5198
5199
5200
5201
5202
5203
5204
5205
5206
5207
5208
5209
5210
5211
5212
5213
5214
5215
5216
5217
5218
5219
5220
5221
5222
5223
5224
5225
5226
5227
5228
5229
5230
5231
5232
5233
5234
5235
5236
5237
5238
5239
5240
5241
5242
5243
5244
5245
5246
5247
5248
5249
5250
5251
5252
5253
5254
5255
5256
5257
5258
5259
5260
5261
5262
5263
5264
5265
5266
5267
5268
5269
5270
5271
5272
5273
5274
5275
5276
5277
5278
5279
5280
5281
5282
5283
5284
5285
5286
5287
5288
5289
5290
5291
5292
5293
5294
5295
5296
5297
5298
5299
5300
5301
5302
5303
5304
5305
5306
5307
5308
5309
5310
5311
5312
5313
5314
5315
5316
5317
5318
5319
5320
5321
5322
5323
5324
5325
5326
5327
5328
5329
5330
5331
5332
5333
5334
5335
5336
5337
5338
5339
5340
5341
5342
5343
5344
5345
5346
5347
5348
5349
5350
5351
5352
5353
5354
5355
5356
5357
5358
5359
5360
5361
5362
5363
5364
5365
5366
5367
5368
5369
5370
5371
5372
5373
5374
5375
5376
5377
5378
5379
5380
5381
5382
5383
5384
5385
5386
5387
5388
5389
5390
5391
5392
5393
5394
5395
5396
5397
5398
5399
5400
5401
5402
5403
5404
5405
5406
5407
5408
5409
5410
5411
5412
5413
5414
5415
5416
5417
5418
5419
5420
5421
5422
5423
5424
5425
5426
5427
5428
5429
5430
5431
5432
5433
5434
5435
5436
5437
5438
5439
5440
5441
5442
5443
5444
5445
5446
5447
5448
5449
5450
5451
5452
5453
5454
5455
5456
5457
5458
5459
5460
5461
5462
5463
5464
5465
5466
5467
5468
5469
5470
5471
5472
5473
5474
5475
5476
5477
5478
5479
5480
5481
5482
5483
5484
5485
5486
5487
5488
5489
5490
5491
5492
5493
5494
5495
5496
5497
5498
5499
5500
5501
5502
5503
5504
5505
5506
5507
5508
5509
5510
5511
5512
5513
5514
5515
5516
5517
5518
5519
5520
5521
5522
5523
5524
5525
5526
5527
5528
5529
5530
5531
5532
5533
5534
5535
5536
5537
5538
5539
5540
5541
5542
5543
5544
5545
5546
5547
5548
5549
5550
5551
5552
5553
5554
5555
5556
5557
5558
5559
5560
5561
5562
5563
5564
5565
5566
5567
5568
5569
5570
5571
5572
5573
5574
5575
5576
5577
5578
5579
5580
5581
5582
5583
5584
5585
5586
5587
5588
5589
5590
5591
5592
5593
5594
5595
5596
5597
5598
5599
5600
5601
5602
5603
5604
5605
5606
5607
5608
5609
5610
5611
5612
5613
5614
5615
5616
5617
5618
5619
5620
5621
5622
5623
5624
5625
5626
5627
5628
5629
5630
5631
5632
5633
5634
5635
5636
5637
5638
5639
5640
5641
5642
5643
5644
5645
5646
5647
5648
5649
5650
5651
5652
5653
5654
5655
5656
5657
5658
5659
5660
5661
5662
5663
5664
5665
5666
5667
5668
5669
5670
5671
5672
5673
5674
5675
5676
5677
5678
5679
5680
5681
5682
5683
5684
5685
5686
5687
5688
5689
5690
5691
5692
5693
5694
5695
5696
5697
5698
5699
5700
5701
5702
5703
5704
5705
5706
5707
5708
5709
5710
5711
5712
5713
5714
5715
5716
5717
5718
5719
5720
5721
5722
5723
5724
5725
5726
5727
5728
5729
5730
5731
5732
5733
5734
5735
5736
5737
5738
5739
5740
5741
5742
5743
5744
5745
5746
5747
5748
5749
5750
5751
5752
5753
5754
5755
5756
5757
5758
5759
5760
5761
5762
5763
5764
5765
5766
5767
5768
5769
5770
5771
5772
5773
5774
5775
5776
5777
5778
5779
5780
5781
5782
5783
5784
5785
5786
5787
5788
5789
5790
5791
5792
5793
5794
5795
5796
5797
5798
5799
5800
5801
5802
5803
5804
5805
5806
5807
5808
5809
5810
5811
5812
5813
5814
5815
5816
5817
5818
5819
5820
5821
5822
5823
5824
5825
5826
5827
5828
5829
5830
5831
5832
5833
5834
5835
5836
5837
5838
5839
5840
5841
5842
5843
5844
5845
5846
5847
5848
5849
5850
5851
5852
5853
5854
5855
5856
5857
5858
5859
5860
5861
5862
5863
5864
5865
5866
5867
5868
5869
5870
5871
5872
5873
5874
5875
5876
5877
5878
5879
5880
5881
5882
5883
5884
5885
5886
5887
5888
5889
5890
5891
5892
5893
5894
5895
5896
5897
5898
5899
5900
5901
5902
5903
5904
5905
5906
5907
5908
5909
5910
5911
5912
5913
5914
5915
5916
5917
5918
5919
5920
5921
5922
5923
5924
5925
5926
5927
5928
5929
5930
5931
5932
5933
5934
5935
5936
5937
5938
5939
5940
5941
5942
5943
5944
5945
5946
5947
5948
5949
5950
5951
5952
5953
5954
5955
5956
5957
5958
5959
5960
5961
5962
5963
5964
5965
5966
5967
5968
5969
5970
5971
5972
5973
5974
5975
5976
5977
5978
5979
5980
5981
5982
5983
5984
5985
5986
5987
5988
5989
5990
5991
5992
5993
5994
5995
5996
5997
5998
5999
6000
6001
6002
6003
6004
6005
6006
6007
6008
6009
6010
6011
6012
6013
6014
6015
6016
6017
6018
6019
6020
6021
6022
6023
6024
6025
6026
6027
6028
6029
6030
6031
6032
6033
6034
6035
6036
6037
6038
6039
6040
6041
6042
6043
6044
6045
6046
6047
6048
6049
6050
6051
6052
6053
6054
6055
6056
6057
6058
6059
6060
6061
6062
6063
6064
6065
6066
6067
6068
6069
6070
6071
6072
6073
6074
6075
6076
6077
6078
6079
6080
6081
6082
6083
6084
6085
6086
6087
6088
6089
6090
6091
6092
6093
6094
6095
6096
6097
6098
6099
6100
6101
6102
6103
6104
6105
6106
6107
6108
6109
6110
6111
6112
6113
6114
6115
6116
6117
6118
6119
6120
6121
6122
6123
6124
6125
6126
6127
6128
6129
6130
6131
6132
6133
6134
6135
6136
6137
6138
6139
6140
6141
6142
6143
6144
6145
6146
6147
6148
6149
6150
6151
6152
6153
6154
6155
6156
6157
6158
6159
6160
6161
6162
6163
6164
6165
6166
6167
6168
6169
6170
6171
6172
6173
6174
6175
6176
6177
6178
6179
6180
6181
6182
6183
6184
6185
6186
6187
6188
6189
6190
6191
6192
6193
6194
6195
6196
6197
6198
6199
6200
6201
6202
6203
6204
6205
6206
6207
6208
6209
6210
6211
6212
6213
6214
6215
6216
6217
6218
6219
6220
6221
6222
6223
6224
6225
6226
6227
6228
6229
6230
6231
6232
6233
6234
6235
6236
6237
6238
6239
6240
6241
6242
6243
6244
6245
6246
6247
6248
6249
6250
6251
6252
6253
6254
6255
6256
6257
6258
6259
6260
6261
6262
6263
6264
6265
6266
6267
6268
6269
6270
6271
6272
6273
6274
6275
6276
6277
6278
6279
6280
6281
6282
6283
6284
6285
6286
6287
6288
6289
6290
6291
6292
6293
6294
6295
6296
6297
6298
6299
6300
6301
6302
6303
6304
6305
6306
6307
6308
6309
6310
6311
6312
6313
6314
6315
6316
6317
6318
6319
6320
6321
6322
6323
6324
6325
6326
6327
6328
6329
6330
6331
6332
6333
6334
6335
6336
6337
6338
6339
6340
6341
6342
6343
6344
6345
6346
6347
6348
6349
6350
6351
6352
6353
6354
6355
6356
6357
6358
6359
6360
6361
6362
6363
6364
6365
6366
6367
6368
6369
6370
6371
6372
6373
6374
6375
6376
6377
6378
6379
6380
6381
6382
6383
6384
6385
6386
6387
6388
6389
6390
6391
6392
6393
6394
6395
6396
6397
6398
6399
6400
6401
6402
6403
6404
6405
6406
6407
6408
6409
6410
6411
6412
6413
6414
6415
6416
6417
6418
6419
6420
6421
6422
6423
6424
6425
6426
6427
6428
6429
6430
6431
6432
6433
6434
6435
6436
6437
6438
6439
6440
6441
6442
6443
6444
6445
6446
6447
6448
6449
6450
6451
6452
6453
6454
6455
6456
6457
6458
6459
6460
6461
6462
6463
6464
6465
6466
6467
6468
6469
6470
6471
6472
6473
6474
6475
6476
6477
6478
6479
6480
6481
6482
6483
6484
6485
6486
6487
6488
6489
6490
6491
6492
6493
6494
6495
6496
6497
6498
6499
6500
6501
6502
6503
6504
6505
6506
6507
6508
6509
6510
6511
6512
6513
6514
6515
6516
6517
6518
6519
6520
6521
6522
6523
6524
6525
6526
6527
6528
6529
6530
6531
6532
6533
6534
6535
6536
6537
6538
6539
6540
6541
6542
6543
6544
6545
6546
6547
6548
6549
6550
6551
6552
6553
6554
6555
6556
6557
6558
6559
6560
6561
6562
6563
6564
6565
6566
6567
6568
6569
6570
6571
6572
6573
6574
6575
6576
6577
6578
6579
6580
6581
6582
6583
6584
6585
6586
6587
6588
6589
6590
6591
6592
6593
6594
6595
6596
6597
6598
6599
6600
6601
6602
6603
6604
6605
6606
6607
6608
6609
6610
6611
6612
6613
6614
6615
6616
6617
6618
6619
6620
6621
6622
6623
6624
6625
6626
6627
6628
6629
6630
6631
6632
6633
6634
6635
6636
6637
6638
6639
6640
6641
6642
6643
6644
6645
6646
6647
6648
6649
6650
6651
6652
6653
6654
6655
6656
6657
6658
6659
6660
6661
6662
6663
6664
6665
6666
6667
6668
6669
6670
6671
6672
6673
6674
6675
6676
6677
6678
6679
6680
6681
6682
6683
6684
6685
6686
6687
6688
6689
6690
6691
6692
6693
6694
6695
6696
6697
6698
6699
6700
6701
6702
6703
6704
6705
6706
6707
6708
6709
6710
6711
6712
6713
6714
6715
6716
6717
6718
6719
6720
6721
6722
6723
6724
6725
6726
6727
6728
6729
6730
6731
6732
6733
6734
6735
6736
6737
6738
6739
6740
6741
6742
6743
6744
6745
6746
6747
6748
6749
6750
6751
6752
6753
6754
6755
6756
6757
6758
6759
6760
6761
6762
6763
6764
6765
6766
6767
6768
6769
6770
6771
6772
6773
6774
6775
6776
6777
6778
6779
6780
6781
6782
6783
6784
6785
6786
6787
6788
6789
6790
6791
6792
6793
6794
6795
6796
6797
6798
6799
6800
6801
6802
6803
6804
6805
6806
6807
6808
6809
6810
6811
6812
6813
6814
6815
6816
6817
6818
6819
6820
6821
6822
6823
6824
6825
6826
6827
6828
6829
6830
6831
6832
6833
6834
6835
6836
6837
6838
6839
6840
6841
6842
6843
6844
6845
6846
6847
6848
6849
6850
6851
6852
6853
6854
6855
6856
6857
6858
6859
6860
6861
6862
6863
6864
6865
6866
6867
6868
6869
6870
6871
6872
6873
6874
6875
6876
6877
6878
6879
6880
6881
6882
6883
6884
6885
6886
6887
6888
6889
6890
6891
6892
6893
6894
6895
6896
6897
6898
6899
6900
6901
6902
6903
6904
6905
6906
6907
6908
6909
6910
6911
6912
6913
6914
6915
6916
6917
6918
6919
6920
6921
6922
6923
6924
6925
6926
6927
6928
6929
6930
6931
6932
6933
6934
6935
6936
6937
6938
6939
6940
6941
6942
6943
6944
6945
6946
6947
6948
6949
6950
6951
6952
6953
6954
6955
6956
6957
6958
6959
6960
6961
6962
6963
6964
6965
6966
6967
6968
6969
6970
6971
6972
6973
6974
6975
6976
6977
6978
6979
6980
6981
6982
6983
6984
6985
6986
6987
6988
6989
6990
6991
6992
6993
6994
6995
6996
6997
6998
6999
7000
7001
7002
7003
7004
7005
7006
7007
7008
7009
7010
7011
7012
7013
7014
7015
7016
7017
7018
7019
7020
7021
7022
7023
7024
7025
7026
7027
7028
7029
7030
7031
7032
7033
7034
7035
7036
7037
7038
7039
7040
7041
7042
7043
7044
7045
7046
7047
7048
7049
7050
7051
7052
7053
7054
7055
7056
7057
7058
7059
7060
7061
7062
7063
7064
7065
7066
7067
7068
7069
7070
7071
7072
7073
7074
7075
7076
7077
7078
7079
7080
7081
7082
7083
7084
7085
7086
7087
7088
7089
7090
7091
7092
7093
7094
7095
7096
7097
7098
7099
7100
7101
7102
7103
7104
7105
7106
7107
7108
7109
7110
7111
7112
7113
7114
7115
7116
7117
7118
7119
7120
7121
7122
7123
7124
7125
7126
7127
7128
7129
7130
7131
7132
7133
7134
7135
7136
7137
7138
7139
7140
7141
7142
7143
7144
7145
7146
7147
7148
7149
7150
7151
7152
7153
7154
7155
7156
7157
7158
7159
7160
7161
7162
7163
7164
7165
7166
7167
7168
7169
7170
7171
7172
7173
7174
7175
7176
7177
7178
7179
7180
7181
7182
7183
7184
7185
7186
7187
7188
7189
7190
7191
7192
7193
7194
7195
7196
7197
7198
7199
7200
7201
7202
7203
7204
7205
7206
7207
7208
7209
7210
7211
7212
7213
7214
7215
7216
7217
7218
7219
7220
7221
7222
7223
7224
7225
7226
7227
7228
7229
7230
7231
7232
7233
7234
7235
7236
7237
7238
7239
7240
7241
7242
7243
7244
7245
7246
7247
7248
7249
7250
7251
7252
7253
7254
7255
7256
7257
7258
7259
7260
7261
7262
7263
7264
7265
7266
7267
7268
7269
7270
7271
7272
7273
7274
7275
7276
7277
7278
7279
7280
7281
7282
7283
7284
7285
7286
7287
7288
7289
7290
7291
7292
7293
7294
7295
7296
7297
7298
7299
7300
7301
7302
7303
7304
7305
7306
7307
7308
7309
7310
7311
7312
7313
7314
7315
7316
7317
7318
7319
7320
7321
7322
7323
7324
7325
7326
7327
7328
7329
7330
7331
7332
7333
7334
7335
7336
7337
7338
7339
7340
7341
7342
7343
7344
7345
7346
7347
7348
7349
7350
7351
7352
7353
7354
7355
7356
7357
7358
7359
7360
7361
7362
7363
7364
7365
7366
7367
7368
7369
7370
7371
7372
7373
7374
7375
7376
7377
7378
7379
7380
7381
7382
7383
7384
7385
7386
7387
7388
7389
7390
7391
7392
7393
7394
7395
7396
7397
7398
7399
7400
7401
7402
7403
7404
7405
7406
7407
7408
7409
7410
7411
7412
7413
7414
7415
7416
7417
7418
7419
7420
7421
7422
7423
7424
7425
7426
7427
7428
7429
7430
7431
7432
7433
7434
7435
7436
7437
7438
7439
7440
7441
7442
7443
7444
7445
7446
7447
7448
7449
7450
7451
7452
7453
7454
7455
7456
7457
7458
7459
7460
7461
7462
7463
7464
7465
7466
7467
7468
7469
7470
7471
7472
7473
7474
7475
7476
7477
7478
7479
7480
7481
7482
7483
7484
7485
7486
7487
7488
7489
7490
7491
7492
7493
7494
7495
7496
7497
7498
7499
7500
7501
7502
7503
7504
7505
7506
7507
7508
7509
7510
7511
7512
7513
7514
7515
7516
7517
7518
7519
7520
7521
7522
7523
7524
7525
7526
7527
7528
7529
7530
7531
7532
7533
7534
7535
7536
7537
7538
7539
7540
7541
7542
7543
7544
7545
7546
7547
7548
7549
7550
7551
7552
7553
7554
7555
7556
7557
7558
7559
7560
7561
7562
7563
7564
7565
7566
7567
7568
7569
7570
7571
7572
7573
7574
7575
7576
7577
7578
7579
7580
7581
7582
7583
7584
7585
7586
7587
7588
7589
7590
7591
7592
7593
7594
7595
7596
7597
7598
7599
7600
7601
7602
7603
7604
7605
7606
7607
7608
7609
7610
7611
7612
7613
7614
7615
7616
7617
7618
7619
7620
7621
7622
7623
7624
7625
7626
7627
7628
7629
7630
7631
7632
7633
7634
7635
7636
7637
7638
7639
7640
7641
7642
7643
7644
7645
7646
7647
7648
7649
7650
7651
7652
7653
7654
7655
7656
7657
7658
7659
7660
7661
7662
7663
7664
7665
7666
7667
7668
7669
7670
7671
7672
7673
7674
7675
7676
7677
7678
7679
7680
7681
7682
7683
7684
7685
7686
7687
7688
7689
7690
7691
7692
7693
7694
7695
7696
7697
7698
7699
7700
7701
7702
7703
7704
7705
7706
7707
7708
7709
7710
7711
7712
7713
7714
7715
7716
7717
7718
7719
7720
7721
7722
7723
7724
7725
7726
7727
7728
7729
7730
7731
7732
7733
7734
7735
7736
7737
7738
7739
7740
7741
7742
7743
7744
7745
7746
7747
7748
7749
7750
7751
7752
7753
7754
7755
7756
7757
7758
7759
7760
7761
7762
7763
7764
7765
7766
7767
7768
7769
7770
7771
7772
7773
7774
7775
7776
7777
7778
7779
7780
7781
7782
7783
7784
7785
7786
7787
7788
7789
7790
7791
7792
7793
7794
7795
7796
7797
7798
7799
7800
7801
7802
7803
7804
7805
7806
7807
7808
7809
7810
7811
7812
7813
7814
7815
7816
7817
7818
7819
7820
7821
7822
7823
7824
7825
7826
7827
7828
7829
7830
7831
7832
7833
7834
7835
7836
7837
7838
7839
7840
7841
7842
7843
7844
7845
7846
7847
7848
7849
7850
7851
7852
7853
7854
7855
7856
7857
7858
7859
7860
7861
7862
7863
7864
7865
7866
7867
7868
7869
7870
7871
7872
7873
7874
7875
7876
7877
7878
7879
7880
7881
7882
7883
7884
7885
7886
7887
7888
7889
7890
7891
7892
7893
7894
7895
7896
7897
7898
7899
7900
7901
7902
7903
7904
7905
7906
7907
7908
7909
7910
7911
7912
7913
7914
7915
7916
7917
7918
7919
7920
7921
7922
7923
7924
7925
7926
7927
7928
7929
7930
7931
7932
7933
7934
7935
7936
7937
7938
7939
7940
7941
7942
7943
7944
7945
7946
7947
7948
7949
7950
7951
7952
7953
7954
7955
7956
7957
7958
7959
7960
7961
7962
7963
7964
7965
7966
7967
7968
7969
7970
7971
7972
7973
7974
7975
7976
7977
7978
7979
7980
7981
7982
7983
7984
7985
7986
7987
7988
7989
7990
7991
7992
7993
7994
7995
7996
7997
7998
7999
8000
8001
8002
8003
8004
8005
8006
8007
8008
8009
8010
8011
8012
8013
8014
8015
8016
8017
8018
8019
8020
8021
8022
8023
8024
8025
8026
8027
8028
8029
8030
8031
8032
8033
8034
8035
8036
8037
8038
8039
8040
8041
8042
8043
8044
8045
8046
8047
8048
8049
8050
8051
8052
8053
8054
8055
8056
8057
8058
8059
8060
8061
8062
8063
8064
8065
8066
8067
8068
8069
8070
8071
8072
8073
8074
8075
8076
8077
8078
8079
8080
8081
8082
8083
8084
8085
8086
8087
8088
8089
8090
8091
8092
8093
8094
8095
8096
8097
8098
8099
8100
8101
8102
8103
8104
8105
8106
8107
8108
8109
8110
8111
8112
8113
8114
8115
8116
8117
8118
8119
8120
8121
8122
8123
8124
8125
8126
8127
8128
8129
8130
8131
8132
8133
8134
8135
8136
8137
8138
8139
8140
8141
8142
8143
8144
8145
8146
8147
8148
8149
8150
8151
8152
8153
8154
8155
8156
8157
8158
8159
8160
8161
8162
8163
8164
8165
8166
8167
8168
8169
8170
8171
8172
8173
8174
8175
8176
8177
8178
8179
8180
8181
8182
8183
8184
8185
8186
8187
8188
8189
8190
8191
8192
8193
8194
8195
8196
8197
8198
8199
8200
8201
8202
8203
8204
8205
8206
8207
8208
8209
8210
8211
8212
8213
8214
8215
8216
8217
8218
8219
8220
8221
8222
8223
8224
8225
8226
8227
8228
8229
8230
8231
8232
8233
8234
8235
8236
8237
8238
8239
8240
8241
8242
8243
8244
8245
8246
8247
8248
8249
8250
8251
8252
8253
8254
8255
8256
8257
8258
8259
8260
8261
8262
8263
8264
8265
8266
8267
8268
8269
8270
8271
8272
8273
8274
8275
8276
8277
8278
8279
8280
8281
8282
8283
8284
8285
8286
8287
8288
8289
8290
8291
8292
8293
8294
8295
8296
8297
8298
8299
8300
8301
8302
8303
8304
8305
8306
8307
8308
8309
8310
8311
8312
8313
8314
8315
8316
8317
8318
8319
8320
8321
8322
8323
8324
8325
8326
8327
8328
8329
8330
8331
8332
8333
8334
8335
8336
8337
8338
8339
8340
8341
8342
8343
8344
8345
8346
8347
8348
8349
8350
8351
8352
8353
8354
8355
8356
8357
8358
8359
8360
8361
8362
8363
8364
8365
8366
8367
8368
8369
8370
8371
8372
8373
8374
8375
8376
8377
8378
8379
8380
8381
8382
8383
8384
8385
8386
8387
8388
8389
8390
8391
8392
8393
8394
8395
8396
8397
8398
8399
8400
8401
8402
8403
8404
8405
8406
8407
8408
8409
8410
8411
8412
8413
8414
8415
8416
8417
8418
8419
8420
8421
8422
8423
8424
8425
8426
8427
8428
8429
8430
8431
8432
8433
8434
8435
8436
8437
8438
8439
8440
8441
8442
8443
8444
8445
8446
8447
8448
8449
8450
8451
8452
8453
8454
8455
8456
8457
8458
8459
8460
8461
8462
8463
8464
8465
8466
8467
8468
8469
8470
8471
8472
8473
8474
8475
8476
8477
8478
8479
8480
8481
8482
8483
8484
8485
8486
8487
8488
8489
8490
8491
8492
8493
8494
8495
8496
8497
8498
8499
8500
8501
8502
8503
8504
8505
8506
8507
8508
8509
8510
8511
8512
8513
8514
8515
8516
8517
8518
8519
8520
8521
8522
8523
8524
8525
8526
8527
8528
8529
8530
8531
8532
8533
8534
8535
8536
8537
8538
8539
8540
8541
8542
8543
8544
8545
8546
8547
8548
8549
8550
8551
8552
8553
8554
8555
8556
8557
8558
8559
8560
8561
8562
8563
8564
8565
8566
8567
8568
8569
8570
8571
8572
8573
8574
8575
8576
8577
8578
8579
8580
8581
8582
8583
8584
8585
8586
8587
8588
8589
8590
8591
8592
8593
8594
8595
8596
8597
8598
8599
8600
8601
8602
8603
8604
8605
8606
8607
8608
8609
8610
8611
8612
8613
8614
8615
8616
8617
8618
8619
8620
8621
8622
8623
8624
8625
8626
8627
8628
8629
8630
8631
8632
8633
8634
8635
8636
8637
8638
8639
8640
8641
8642
8643
8644
8645
8646
8647
8648
8649
8650
8651
8652
8653
8654
8655
8656
8657
8658
8659
8660
8661
8662
8663
8664
8665
8666
8667
8668
8669
8670
8671
8672
8673
8674
8675
8676
8677
8678
8679
8680
8681
8682
8683
8684
8685
8686
8687
8688
8689
8690
8691
8692
8693
8694
8695
8696
8697
8698
8699
8700
8701
8702
8703
8704
8705
8706
8707
8708
8709
8710
8711
8712
8713
8714
8715
8716
8717
8718
8719
8720
8721
8722
8723
8724
8725
8726
8727
8728
8729
8730
8731
8732
8733
8734
8735
8736
8737
8738
8739
8740
8741
8742
8743
8744
8745
8746
8747
8748
8749
8750
8751
8752
8753
8754
8755
8756
8757
8758
8759
8760
8761
8762
8763
8764
8765
8766
8767
8768
8769
8770
8771
8772
8773
8774
8775
8776
8777
8778
8779
8780
8781
8782
8783
8784
8785
8786
8787
8788
8789
8790
8791
8792
8793
8794
8795
8796
8797
8798
8799
8800
8801
8802
8803
8804
8805
8806
8807
8808
8809
8810
8811
8812
8813
8814
8815
8816
8817
8818
8819
8820
8821
8822
8823
8824
8825
8826
8827
8828
8829
8830
8831
8832
8833
8834
8835
8836
8837
8838
8839
8840
8841
8842
8843
8844
8845
8846
8847
8848
8849
8850
8851
8852
8853
8854
8855
8856
8857
8858
8859
8860
8861
8862
8863
8864
8865
8866
8867
8868
8869
8870
8871
8872
8873
8874
8875
8876
8877
8878
8879
8880
8881
8882
8883
8884
8885
8886
8887
8888
8889
8890
8891
8892
8893
8894
8895
8896
8897
8898
8899
8900
8901
8902
8903
8904
8905
8906
8907
8908
8909
8910
8911
8912
8913
8914
8915
8916
8917
8918
8919
8920
8921
8922
8923
8924
8925
8926
8927
8928
8929
8930
8931
8932
8933
8934
8935
8936
8937
8938
8939
8940
8941
8942
8943
8944
8945
8946
8947
8948
8949
8950
8951
8952
8953
8954
8955
8956
8957
8958
8959
8960
8961
8962
8963
8964
8965
8966
8967
8968
8969
8970
8971
8972
8973
8974
8975
8976
8977
8978
8979
8980
8981
8982
8983
8984
8985
8986
8987
8988
8989
8990
8991
8992
8993
8994
8995
8996
8997
8998
8999
9000
9001
9002
9003
9004
9005
9006
9007
9008
9009
9010
9011
9012
9013
9014
9015
9016
9017
9018
9019
9020
9021
9022
9023
9024
9025
9026
9027
9028
9029
9030
9031
9032
9033
9034
9035
9036
9037
9038
9039
9040
9041
9042
9043
9044
9045
9046
9047
9048
9049
9050
9051
9052
9053
9054
9055
9056
9057
9058
9059
9060
9061
9062
9063
9064
9065
9066
9067
9068
9069
9070
9071
9072
9073
9074
9075
9076
9077
9078
9079
9080
9081
9082
9083
9084
9085
9086
9087
9088
9089
9090
9091
9092
9093
9094
9095
9096
9097
9098
9099
9100
9101
9102
9103
9104
9105
9106
9107
9108
9109
9110
9111
9112
9113
9114
9115
9116
9117
9118
9119
9120
9121
9122
9123
9124
9125
9126
9127
9128
9129
9130
9131
9132
9133
9134
9135
9136
9137
9138
9139
9140
9141
9142
9143
9144
9145
9146
9147
9148
9149
9150
9151
9152
9153
9154
9155
9156
9157
9158
9159
9160
9161
9162
9163
9164
9165
9166
9167
9168
9169
9170
9171
9172
9173
9174
9175
9176
9177
9178
9179
9180
9181
9182
9183
9184
9185
9186
9187
9188
9189
9190
9191
9192
9193
9194
9195
9196
9197
9198
9199
9200
9201
9202
9203
9204
9205
9206
9207
9208
9209
9210
9211
9212
9213
9214
9215
9216
9217
9218
9219
9220
9221
9222
9223
9224
9225
9226
9227
9228
9229
9230
9231
9232
9233
9234
9235
9236
9237
9238
9239
9240
9241
9242
9243
9244
9245
9246
9247
9248
9249
9250
9251
9252
9253
9254
9255
9256
9257
9258
9259
9260
9261
9262
9263
9264
9265
9266
9267
9268
9269
9270
9271
9272
9273
9274
9275
9276
9277
9278
9279
9280
9281
9282
9283
9284
9285
9286
9287
9288
9289
9290
9291
9292
9293
9294
9295
9296
9297
9298
9299
9300
9301
9302
9303
9304
9305
9306
9307
9308
9309
9310
9311
9312
9313
9314
9315
9316
9317
9318
9319
9320
9321
9322
9323
9324
9325
9326
9327
9328
9329
9330
9331
9332
9333
9334
9335
9336
9337
9338
9339
9340
9341
9342
9343
9344
9345
9346
9347
9348
9349
9350
9351
9352
9353
9354
9355
9356
9357
9358
9359
9360
9361
9362
9363
9364
9365
9366
9367
9368
9369
9370
9371
9372
9373
9374
9375
9376
9377
9378
9379
9380
9381
9382
9383
9384
9385
9386
9387
9388
9389
9390
9391
9392
9393
9394
9395
9396
9397
9398
9399
9400
9401
9402
9403
9404
9405
9406
9407
9408
9409
9410
9411
9412
9413
9414
9415
9416
9417
9418
9419
9420
9421
9422
9423
9424
9425
9426
9427
9428
9429
9430
9431
9432
9433
9434
9435
9436
9437
9438
9439
9440
9441
9442
9443
9444
9445
9446
9447
9448
9449
9450
9451
9452
9453
9454
9455
9456
9457
9458
9459
9460
9461
9462
9463
9464
9465
9466
9467
9468
9469
9470
9471
9472
9473
9474
9475
9476
9477
9478
9479
9480
9481
9482
9483
9484
9485
9486
9487
9488
9489
9490
9491
9492
9493
9494
9495
9496
9497
9498
9499
9500
9501
9502
9503
9504
9505
9506
9507
9508
9509
9510
9511
9512
9513
9514
9515
9516
9517
9518
9519
9520
9521
9522
9523
9524
9525
9526
9527
9528
9529
9530
9531
9532
9533
9534
9535
9536
9537
9538
9539
9540
9541
9542
9543
9544
9545
9546
9547
9548
9549
9550
9551
9552
9553
9554
9555
9556
9557
9558
9559
9560
9561
9562
9563
9564
9565
9566
9567
9568
9569
9570
9571
9572
9573
9574
9575
9576
9577
9578
9579
9580
9581
9582
9583
9584
9585
9586
9587
9588
9589
9590
9591
9592
9593
9594
9595
9596
9597
9598
9599
9600
9601
9602
9603
9604
9605
9606
9607
9608
9609
9610
9611
9612
9613
9614
9615
9616
9617
9618
9619
9620
9621
9622
9623
9624
9625
9626
9627
9628
9629
9630
9631
9632
9633
9634
9635
9636
9637
9638
9639
9640
9641
9642
9643
9644
9645
9646
9647
9648
9649
9650
9651
9652
9653
9654
9655
9656
9657
9658
9659
9660
9661
9662
9663
9664
9665
9666
9667
9668
9669
9670
9671
9672
9673
9674
9675
9676
9677
9678
9679
9680
9681
9682
9683
9684
9685
9686
9687
9688
9689
9690
9691
9692
9693
9694
9695
9696
9697
9698
9699
9700
9701
9702
9703
9704
9705
9706
9707
9708
9709
9710
9711
9712
9713
9714
9715
9716
9717
9718
9719
9720
9721
9722
9723
9724
9725
9726
9727
9728
9729
9730
9731
9732
9733
9734
9735
9736
9737
9738
9739
9740
9741
9742
9743
9744
9745
9746
9747
9748
9749
9750
9751
9752
9753
9754
9755
9756
9757
9758
9759
9760
9761
9762
9763
9764
9765
9766
9767
9768
9769
9770
9771
9772
9773
9774
9775
9776
9777
9778
9779
9780
9781
9782
9783
9784
9785
9786
9787
9788
9789
9790
9791
9792
9793
9794
9795
9796
9797
9798
9799
9800
9801
9802
9803
9804
9805
9806
9807
9808
9809
9810
9811
9812
9813
9814
9815
9816
9817
9818
9819
9820
9821
9822
9823
9824
9825
9826
9827
9828
9829
9830
9831
9832
9833
9834
9835
9836
9837
9838
9839
9840
9841
9842
9843
9844
9845
9846
9847
9848
9849
9850
9851
9852
9853
9854
9855
9856
9857
9858
9859
9860
9861
9862
9863
9864
9865
9866
9867
9868
9869
9870
9871
9872
9873
9874
9875
9876
9877
9878
9879
9880
9881
9882
9883
9884
9885
9886
9887
9888
9889
9890
9891
9892
9893
9894
9895
9896
9897
9898
9899
9900
9901
9902
9903
9904
9905
9906
9907
9908
9909
9910
9911
9912
9913
9914
9915
9916
9917
9918
9919
9920
9921
9922
9923
9924
9925
9926
9927
9928
9929
9930
9931
9932
9933
9934
9935
9936
9937
9938
9939
9940
9941
9942
9943
9944
9945
9946
9947
9948
9949
9950
9951
9952
9953
9954
9955
9956
9957
9958
9959
9960
9961
9962
9963
9964
9965
9966
9967
9968
9969
9970
9971
9972
9973
9974
9975
9976
9977
9978
9979
9980
9981
9982
9983
9984
9985
9986
9987
9988
9989
9990
9991
9992
9993
9994
9995
9996
9997
9998
9999
10000
10001
10002
10003
10004
10005
10006
10007
10008
10009
10010
10011
10012
10013
10014
10015
10016
10017
10018
10019
10020
10021
10022
10023
10024
10025
10026
10027
10028
10029
10030
10031
10032
10033
10034
10035
10036
10037
10038
10039
10040
10041
10042
10043
10044
10045
10046
10047
10048
10049
10050
10051
10052
10053
10054
10055
10056
10057
10058
10059
10060
10061
10062
10063
10064
10065
10066
10067
10068
10069
10070
10071
10072
10073
10074
10075
10076
10077
10078
10079
10080
10081
10082
10083
10084
10085
10086
10087
10088
10089
10090
10091
10092
10093
10094
10095
10096
10097
10098
10099
10100
10101
10102
10103
10104
10105
10106
10107
10108
10109
10110
10111
10112
10113
10114
10115
10116
10117
10118
10119
10120
10121
10122
10123
10124
10125
10126
10127
10128
10129
10130
10131
10132
10133
10134
10135
10136
10137
10138
10139
10140
10141
10142
10143
10144
10145
10146
10147
10148
10149
10150
10151
10152
10153
10154
10155
10156
10157
10158
10159
10160
10161
10162
10163
10164
10165
10166
10167
10168
10169
10170
10171
10172
10173
10174
10175
10176
10177
10178
10179
10180
10181
10182
10183
10184
10185
10186
10187
10188
10189
10190
10191
10192
10193
10194
10195
10196
10197
10198
10199
10200
10201
10202
10203
10204
10205
10206
10207
10208
10209
10210
10211
10212
10213
10214
10215
10216
10217
10218
10219
10220
10221
10222
10223
10224
10225
10226
10227
10228
10229
10230
10231
10232
10233
10234
10235
10236
10237
10238
10239
10240
10241
10242
10243
10244
10245
10246
10247
10248
10249
10250
10251
10252
10253
10254
10255
10256
10257
10258
10259
10260
10261
10262
10263
10264
10265
10266
10267
10268
10269
10270
10271
10272
10273
10274
10275
10276
10277
10278
10279
10280
10281
10282
10283
10284
10285
10286
10287
10288
10289
10290
10291
10292
10293
10294
10295
10296
10297
10298
10299
10300
10301
10302
10303
10304
10305
10306
10307
10308
10309
10310
10311
10312
10313
10314
10315
10316
10317
10318
10319
10320
10321
10322
10323
10324
10325
10326
10327
10328
10329
10330
10331
10332
10333
10334
10335
10336
10337
10338
10339
10340
10341
10342
10343
10344
10345
10346
10347
10348
10349
10350
10351
10352
10353
10354
10355
10356
10357
10358
10359
10360
10361
10362
10363
10364
10365
10366
10367
10368
10369
10370
10371
10372
10373
10374
10375
10376
10377
10378
10379
10380
10381
10382
10383
10384
10385
10386
10387
10388
10389
10390
10391
10392
10393
10394
10395
10396
10397
10398
10399
10400
10401
10402
10403
10404
10405
10406
10407
10408
10409
10410
10411
10412
10413
10414
10415
10416
10417
10418
10419
10420
10421
10422
10423
10424
10425
10426
10427
10428
10429
10430
10431
10432
10433
10434
10435
10436
10437
10438
10439
10440
10441
10442
10443
10444
10445
10446
10447
10448
10449
10450
10451
10452
10453
10454
10455
10456
10457
10458
10459
10460
10461
10462
10463
10464
10465
10466
10467
10468
10469
10470
10471
10472
10473
10474
10475
10476
10477
10478
10479
10480
10481
10482
10483
10484
10485
10486
10487
10488
10489
10490
10491
10492
10493
10494
10495
10496
10497
10498
10499
10500
10501
10502
10503
10504
10505
10506
10507
10508
10509
10510
10511
10512
10513
10514
10515
10516
10517
10518
10519
10520
10521
10522
10523
10524
10525
10526
10527
10528
10529
10530
10531
10532
10533
10534
10535
10536
10537
10538
10539
10540
10541
10542
10543
10544
10545
10546
10547
10548
10549
10550
10551
10552
10553
10554
10555
10556
10557
10558
10559
10560
10561
10562
10563
10564
10565
10566
10567
10568
10569
10570
10571
10572
10573
10574
10575
10576
10577
10578
10579
10580
10581
10582
10583
10584
10585
10586
10587
10588
10589
10590
10591
10592
10593
10594
10595
10596
10597
10598
10599
10600
10601
10602
10603
10604
10605
10606
10607
10608
10609
10610
10611
10612
10613
10614
10615
10616
10617
10618
10619
10620
10621
10622
10623
10624
10625
10626
10627
10628
10629
10630
10631
10632
10633
10634
10635
10636
10637
10638
10639
10640
10641
10642
10643
10644
10645
10646
10647
10648
10649
10650
10651
10652
10653
10654
10655
10656
10657
10658
10659
10660
10661
10662
10663
10664
10665
10666
10667
10668
10669
10670
10671
10672
10673
10674
10675
10676
10677
10678
10679
10680
10681
10682
10683
10684
10685
10686
10687
10688
10689
10690
10691
10692
10693
10694
10695
10696
10697
10698
10699
10700
10701
10702
10703
10704
10705
10706
10707
10708
10709
10710
10711
10712
10713
10714
10715
10716
10717
10718
10719
10720
10721
10722
10723
10724
10725
10726
10727
10728
10729
10730
10731
10732
10733
10734
10735
10736
10737
10738
10739
10740
10741
10742
10743
10744
10745
10746
10747
10748
10749
10750
10751
10752
10753
10754
10755
10756
10757
10758
10759
10760
10761
10762
10763
10764
10765
10766
10767
10768
10769
10770
10771
10772
10773
10774
10775
10776
10777
10778
10779
10780
10781
10782
10783
10784
10785
10786
10787
10788
10789
10790
10791
10792
10793
10794
10795
10796
10797
10798
10799
10800
10801
10802
10803
10804
10805
10806
10807
10808
10809
10810
10811
10812
10813
10814
10815
10816
10817
10818
10819
10820
10821
10822
10823
10824
10825
10826
10827
10828
10829
10830
10831
10832
10833
10834
10835
10836
10837
10838
10839
10840
10841
10842
10843
10844
10845
10846
10847
10848
10849
10850
10851
10852
10853
10854
10855
10856
10857
10858
10859
10860
10861
10862
10863
10864
10865
10866
10867
10868
10869
10870
10871
10872
10873
10874
10875
10876
10877
10878
10879
10880
10881
10882
10883
10884
10885
10886
10887
10888
10889
10890
10891
10892
10893
10894
10895
10896
10897
10898
10899
10900
10901
10902
10903
10904
10905
10906
10907
10908
10909
10910
10911
10912
10913
10914
10915
10916
10917
10918
10919
10920
10921
10922
10923
10924
10925
10926
10927
10928
10929
10930
10931
10932
10933
10934
10935
10936
10937
10938
10939
10940
10941
10942
10943
10944
10945
10946
10947
10948
10949
10950
10951
10952
10953
10954
10955
10956
10957
10958
10959
10960
10961
10962
10963
10964
10965
10966
10967
10968
10969
10970
10971
10972
10973
10974
10975
10976
10977
10978
10979
10980
10981
10982
10983
10984
10985
10986
10987
10988
10989
10990
10991
10992
10993
10994
10995
10996
10997
10998
10999
11000
11001
11002
11003
11004
11005
11006
11007
11008
11009
11010
11011
11012
11013
11014
11015
11016
11017
11018
11019
11020
11021
11022
11023
11024
11025
11026
11027
11028
11029
11030
11031
11032
11033
11034
11035
11036
11037
11038
11039
11040
11041
11042
11043
11044
11045
11046
11047
11048
11049
11050
11051
11052
11053
11054
11055
11056
11057
11058
11059
11060
11061
11062
11063
11064
11065
11066
11067
11068
11069
11070
11071
11072
11073
11074
11075
11076
11077
11078
11079
11080
11081
11082
11083
11084
11085
11086
11087
11088
11089
11090
11091
11092
11093
11094
11095
11096
11097
11098
11099
11100
11101
11102
11103
11104
11105
11106
11107
11108
11109
11110
11111
11112
11113
11114
11115
11116
11117
11118
11119
11120
11121
11122
11123
11124
11125
11126
11127
11128
11129
11130
11131
11132
11133
11134
11135
11136
11137
11138
11139
11140
11141
11142
11143
11144
11145
11146
11147
11148
11149
11150
11151
11152
11153
11154
11155
11156
11157
11158
11159
11160
11161
11162
11163
11164
11165
11166
11167
11168
11169
11170
11171
11172
11173
11174
11175
11176
11177
11178
11179
11180
11181
11182
11183
11184
11185
11186
11187
11188
11189
11190
11191
11192
11193
11194
11195
11196
11197
11198
11199
11200
11201
11202
11203
11204
11205
11206
11207
11208
11209
11210
11211
11212
11213
11214
11215
11216
11217
11218
11219
11220
11221
11222
11223
11224
11225
11226
11227
11228
11229
11230
11231
11232
11233
11234
11235
11236
11237
11238
11239
11240
11241
11242
11243
11244
11245
11246
11247
11248
11249
11250
11251
11252
11253
11254
11255
11256
11257
11258
11259
11260
11261
11262
11263
11264
11265
11266
11267
11268
11269
11270
11271
11272
11273
11274
11275
11276
11277
11278
11279
11280
11281
11282
11283
11284
11285
11286
11287
11288
11289
11290
11291
11292
11293
11294
11295
11296
11297
11298
11299
11300
11301
11302
11303
11304
11305
11306
11307
11308
11309
11310
11311
11312
11313
11314
11315
11316
11317
11318
11319
11320
11321
11322
11323
11324
11325
11326
11327
11328
11329
11330
11331
11332
11333
11334
11335
11336
11337
11338
11339
11340
11341
11342
11343
11344
11345
11346
11347
11348
11349
11350
11351
11352
11353
11354
11355
11356
11357
11358
11359
11360
11361
11362
11363
11364
11365
11366
11367
11368
11369
11370
11371
11372
11373
11374
11375
11376
11377
11378
11379
11380
11381
11382
11383
11384
11385
11386
11387
11388
11389
11390
11391
11392
11393
11394
11395
11396
11397
11398
11399
11400
11401
11402
11403
11404
11405
11406
11407
11408
11409
11410
11411
11412
11413
11414
11415
11416
11417
11418
11419
11420
11421
11422
11423
11424
11425
11426
11427
11428
11429
11430
11431
11432
11433
11434
11435
11436
11437
11438
11439
11440
11441
11442
11443
11444
11445
11446
11447
11448
11449
11450
11451
11452
11453
11454
11455
11456
11457
11458
11459
11460
11461
11462
11463
11464
11465
11466
11467
11468
11469
11470
11471
11472
11473
11474
11475
11476
11477
11478
11479
11480
11481
11482
11483
11484
11485
11486
11487
11488
11489
11490
11491
11492
11493
11494
11495
11496
11497
11498
11499
11500
11501
11502
11503
11504
11505
11506
11507
11508
11509
11510
11511
11512
11513
11514
11515
11516
11517
11518
11519
11520
11521
11522
11523
11524
11525
11526
11527
11528
11529
11530
11531
11532
11533
11534
11535
11536
11537
11538
11539
11540
11541
11542
11543
11544
11545
11546
11547
11548
11549
11550
11551
11552
11553
11554
11555
11556
11557
11558
11559
11560
11561
11562
11563
11564
11565
11566
11567
11568
11569
11570
11571
11572
11573
11574
11575
11576
11577
11578
11579
11580
11581
11582
11583
11584
11585
11586
11587
11588
11589
11590
11591
11592
11593
11594
11595
11596
11597
11598
11599
11600
11601
11602
11603
11604
11605
11606
11607
11608
11609
11610
11611
11612
11613
11614
11615
11616
11617
11618
11619
11620
11621
11622
11623
11624
11625
11626
11627
11628
11629
11630
11631
11632
11633
11634
11635
11636
11637
11638
11639
11640
11641
11642
11643
11644
11645
11646
11647
11648
11649
11650
11651
11652
11653
11654
11655
11656
11657
11658
11659
11660
11661
11662
11663
11664
11665
11666
11667
11668
11669
11670
11671
11672
11673
11674
11675
11676
11677
11678
11679
11680
11681
11682
11683
11684
11685
11686
11687
11688
11689
11690
11691
11692
11693
11694
11695
11696
11697
11698
11699
11700
11701
11702
11703
11704
11705
11706
11707
11708
11709
11710
11711
11712
11713
11714
11715
11716
11717
11718
11719
11720
11721
11722
11723
11724
11725
11726
11727
11728
11729
11730
11731
11732
11733
11734
11735
11736
11737
11738
11739
11740
11741
11742
11743
11744
11745
11746
11747
11748
11749
11750
11751
11752
11753
11754
11755
11756
11757
11758
11759
11760
11761
11762
11763
11764
11765
11766
11767
11768
11769
11770
11771
11772
11773
11774
11775
11776
11777
11778
11779
11780
11781
11782
11783
11784
11785
11786
11787
11788
11789
11790
11791
11792
11793
11794
11795
11796
11797
11798
11799
11800
11801
11802
11803
11804
11805
11806
11807
11808
11809
11810
11811
11812
11813
11814
11815
11816
11817
11818
11819
11820
11821
11822
11823
11824
11825
11826
11827
11828
11829
11830
11831
11832
11833
11834
11835
11836
11837
11838
11839
11840
11841
11842
11843
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. 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>
**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
<br>
<p>**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since
1971**<br>
</p>
*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations*
<br>
<p>Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and
further information is included below. We need your
donations.<br>
</p>
The Mad King <br>
<p>by Edgar Rice Burroughs<br>
</p>
November, 1995 [Etext #364] <br>
<p>The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Mad King by Edgar Rice
Burroughs<br>
</p>
*****This file should be named mdkng10.txt or mdkng10.zip******
<br>
<p>Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, mdkng11.txt
VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER,
mdkng10a.txt<br>
</p>
This etext was created by Judith Boss, Omaha, Nebraska. The
equipment: an IBM-compatible 486/50, a Hewlett-Packard ScanJet
IIc flatbed scanner, and Calera Recognition Systems' M/600 Series
Professional OCR software and RISC accelerator board donated by
Calera Recognition Systems. <br>
<p>We are now trying to release all our books one month in
advance of the official release dates, for time for better
editing.<br>
</p>
Please note: neither this list nor its contents are final till
midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement.
The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at
Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A
preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment
and editing by those who wish to do so. To be sure you have an up
to date first edition [xxxxx10x.xxx] please check file sizes in
the first week of the next month. Since our ftp program has a bug
in it that scrambles the date [tried to fix and failed] a look at
the file size will have to do, but we will try to see a new copy
has at least one byte more or less. <br>
<p>Information about Project Gutenberg (one page)<br>
</p>
We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The
fifty hours is one conservative estimate for how long it we take
to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright
searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. This
projected audience is one hundred million readers. If our value
per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $4
million dollars per hour this year as we release some eight text
files per month: thus upping our productivity from $2 million.
<br>
<p>The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion
Etext Files by the December 31, 2001. [10,000 x
100,000,000=Trillion] This is ten thousand titles each to one
hundred million readers, which is 10% of the expected number of
computer users by the end of the year 2001.<br>
</p>
We need your donations more than ever! <br>
<p>All donations should be made to "Project Gutenberg/IBC", and
are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law ("IBC" is
Illinois Benedictine College). (Subscriptions to our paper
newsletter go to IBC, too)<br>
</p>
For these and other matters, please mail to: <br>
<p>Project Gutenberg P. O. Box 2782 Champaign, IL 61825<br>
</p>
When all other email fails try our Michael S. Hart, Executive
Director: hart@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu (internet) hart@uiucvmd (bitnet)
<br>
<p>We would prefer to send you this information by email
(Internet, Bitnet, Compuserve, ATTMAIL or MCImail).<br>
</p>
****** If you have an FTP program (or emulator), please FTP
directly to the Project Gutenberg archives: [Mac users, do NOT
point and click. . .type] <br>
<p>ftp uiarchive.cso.uiuc.edu login: anonymous password:
your@login cd etext/etext90 through /etext96 or cd etext/articles
[get suggest gut for more information] dir [to see files] get or
mget [to get files. . .set bin for zip files] GET INDEX?00.GUT
for a list of books and GET NEW GUT for general information and
MGET GUT* for newsletters.<br>
</p>
**Information prepared by the Project Gutenberg legal advisor**
(Three Pages) <br>
<p>***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START***
Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers.
They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with
your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from someone
other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our fault. So,
among other things, this "Small Print!" statement disclaims most
of our liability to you. It also tells you how you can distribute
copies of this etext if you want to.<br>
</p>
*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT By using or reading any part
of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, you indicate that you
understand, agree to and accept this "Small Print!" statement. If
you do not, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you
paid for this etext by sending a request within 30 days of
receiving it to the person you got it from. If you received this
etext on a physical medium (such as a disk), you must return it
with your request. <br>
<p>ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm
etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERGtm etexts, is a "public domain"
work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart through the Project
Gutenberg Association at Illinois Benedictine College (the
"Project"). Among other things, this means that no one owns a
United States copyright on or for this work, so the Project (and
you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules,
set forth below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this
etext under the Project's "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark.<br>
</p>
To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable efforts
to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain works.
Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any medium they
may be on may contain "Defects". Among other things, Defects may
take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data,
transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property
infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other etext medium,
a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read
by your equipment. <br>
<p>LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES But for the "Right of
Replacement or Refund" described below, [1] the Project (and any
other party you may receive this etext from as a PROJECT
GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims all liability to you for damages,
costs and expenses, including legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO
REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH
OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT,
CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE
NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.<br>
</p>
If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of
receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you
paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that time to
the person you received it from. If you received it on a physical
medium, you must return it with your note, and such person may
choose to alternatively give you a replacement copy. If you
received it electronically, such person may choose to
alternatively give you a second opportunity to receive it
electronically. <br>
<p>THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER
WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS TO
THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE.<br>
</p>
Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or the
exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the above
disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you may have
other legal rights. <br>
<p>INDEMNITY You will indemnify and hold the Project, its
directors, officers, members and agents harmless from all
liability, cost and expense, including legal fees, that arise
directly or indirectly from any of the following that you do or
cause: [1] distribution of this etext, [2] alteration,
modification, or addition to the etext, or [3] any Defect.<br>
</p>
DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" You may distribute
copies of this etext electronically, or by disk, book or any
other medium if you either delete this "Small Print!" and all
other references to Project Gutenberg, or: <br>
<p>[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this
requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the etext or
this "small print!" statement. You may however, if you wish,
distribute this etext in machine readable binary, compressed,
mark-up, or proprietary form, including any form resulting from
conversion by word pro cessing or hypertext software, but only so
long as *EITHER*:<br>
</p>
[*] The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and does
*not* contain characters other than those intended by the author
of the work, although tilde (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_)
characters may be used to convey punctuation intended by the
author, and additional characters may be used to indicate
hypertext links; OR <br>
<p>[*] The etext may be readily converted by the reader at no
expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent form by the
program that displays the etext (as is the case, for instance,
with most word processors); OR<br>
</p>
[*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at no
additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the etext in its
original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC or other equivalent
proprietary form). <br>
<p>[2] Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this
"Small Print!" statement.<br>
</p>
[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Project of 20% of the net
profits you derive calculated using the method you already use to
calculate your applicable taxes. If you don't derive profits, no
royalty is due. Royalties are payable to "Project Gutenberg
Association / Illinois Benedictine College" within the 60 days
following each date you prepare (or were legally required to
prepare) your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. <br>
<p>WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO?
The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time,
scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty
free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution you
can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg
Association / Illinois Benedictine College".<br>
</p>
*END*THE SMALL PRINT! 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>
|
