the mad king-第12部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


elieved　the　sharp　report　they　had　heard　from　the　shack　portended。

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　previ…　ously；　until　he　came　to　a　diverging　ravine　that　led　steeply　up　through　the　mountains　upon　their　right　hand。

In　the　distance　behind　them　they　suddenly　heard；　faintly；　the　shouting　of　men。

〃They　have　discovered　Yellow　Franz；〃　whispered　the　boy；　shuddering。

〃Then　they'll　be　after　us　directly；〃　said　Barney。

〃Yes；　your　majesty；〃　replied　Rudolph；　〃but　in　the　dark…　ness　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；　how…　ever；　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。〃

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。

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。

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。

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。

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　suffer…　ing　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。

It　happened　like　this：　After　a　particularly　fatiguing　and　uncomfortable　night　spent　in　attempting　to　elude　the　senti…　nels　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。

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。

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。

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。

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。

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。

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。

But　Barney　had　been　equally　as　quick　with　his　own　weapon；　and　at　the　moment　that　they　fired　he　grasped　Ru…　dolph　and　dragged　him　backward　to　a　great　boulder　behind　which　their　bodies　might　be　protected　from　the　fire　of　their　enemies。

Both　the　bullets　of　the　bandits'　first　volley　had　been　di…　rected　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。

But　now　they　had　ridden　back　into　the　brush　and　dis…　mounted；　and　after　hiding　their　ponies　they　came　creeping　out　upon　their　bellies　upon　opposite　sides　of　Barney's　shelter。

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。

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。

〃I'm　shot；　your　majesty；〃　murmured　the　boy；　his　head　dropping　against　Barney's　breast。

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。

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　ex…　tended　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。

At　the　instant　of　his　fall　his　companion　and　the　American　fired　point…blank　at　one　another。

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。

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。

〃Thank　God；　your　majesty　is　unharmed；〃　he　whispered。　〃Now　I　can　die　in　peace。〃

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。

〃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。〃




VII

THE　REAL　LEOPOLD

TWO　HOURS　later　a　horseman　pushed　his　way　between　tum…　bled　and　tangled　briers　along　the　bottom　of　a　deep　ravine。

He　was　hatless；　and　his　stained　and　ragged　khaki　be…　tokened　much　exposure　to　the　elements　and　hard　and　con…　tinued　usage。　　At　his　saddle…bow　a　carbine　swung　in　its　boot；　and　upon　either　hip　was　strapped　a　long　revolver。　　Am…　munition　in　plenty　filled　the　cross　belts　that　he　had　looped　about　his　shoulders。

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　atmos…　phere　which　surrounded　him。　　Fortunate　it　was　for　the　brig…　ands　of　the　late　Yellow　Franz　that　none　of　them　chanced　in　the　path　of　Barney　Custer　that　day。

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　en…　tirely　blocked　the　narrow　trail　at　the　bottom　of　the　ravine。

As　the　horseman's　eyes　fell　upon　the　thing　they　went　wide　in　astonishment；　for　it　was　no　less　than　the　charred　rem…　nants　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。

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　kingif　she　would　be　very　angry　should　she　ever　learn　the　truth。

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。

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。

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　outsk