the mad king-第19部分

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Barney　laid　his　hand　upon　the　shoulder　of　the　other。

〃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。〃

〃And　if　he　does　not　live？〃　asked　Butzow。

Barney　Custer　shrugged　his　shoulders。

It　was　dusk　when　the　two　entered　the　palace　grounds　in　Lustadt。　　The　sight　of　Barney　threw　the　servants　and　func…　tionaries　of　the　royal　household　into　wild　excitement　and　confusion。　　Men　ran　hither　and　thither　bearing　the　glad　tid…　ings　that　the　king　had　returned。

Old　von　der　Tann　was　announced　within　ten　minutes　after　Barney　reached　his　apartments。　　He　urged　upon　the　Ameri…　can　the　necessity　for　greater　caution　in　the　future。

〃Your　majesty's　life　is　never　safe　while　Peter　of　Blentz　is　abroad　in　Lutha；〃　cried　he。

〃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。

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　regi…　ments　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。

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。

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　artil…　lery　that　Peter　of　Blentz　had　placed　upon　a　wooden　knoll　to　the　southeast　of　the　city。

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。

The　trees　that　masked　the　enemy's　pieces　extended　up…　ward　along　the　ridge　and　the　eastern　edge　of　the　city。　　Bar…　ney　saw　that　a　force　of　men　might　easily　reach　a　command…　ing　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。

He　turned　to　an　aide　de　camp　standing　just　behind　him。

〃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。〃

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。

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　com…　menced　to　have　misgivings；　if　not　of　his　sanity；　then　as　to　his　judgment　at　least。

〃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。〃

〃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。

〃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。

〃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。〃

〃But；　your　majesty；〃　exclaimed　Von　der　Tann　dubiously；　〃where　will　you　be　in　the　mean　time？〃

〃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。〃

〃You　are　not　going　to　accompany　the　charge！〃　cried　the　old　prince。

〃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。

With　a　signal　to　the　major　commanding　the　squadron　of　Royal　Horse；　he　moved　eastward　into　the　wood。　　Prince　Lud…　wig　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。

Five　minutes　later　the　enemy　were　delighted　to　note　that　the　fire　upon　their　concealed　battery　had　suddenly　ceased。

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。

Immediately　he　did　what　Barney　had　expected　that　he　wouldturned　the　fire　of　his　artillery　toward　the　south…　west；　directly　away　from　the　point　from　which　the　Ameri…　can　and　the　crack　squadron　were　advancing。

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。

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　ad…　vancing　through　the　trees　at　his　rear。

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！〃

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！〃

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。

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。

Upon　the　slope　below　the　city　the　loyal　troops　were　ad…　vancing　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。

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　be…　hind　that　screen　of　sere　and　yellow　autumn　leaves；　and　then　a　man　came　running　out；　and　after　him　another　and　an…　other。

The　prince　raised　his　field　glasses　to　his　eyes。　　He　almost　cried　aloud　in　his　reliefthe　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。

Old　von　der　Tann　could　restrain　himself　no　longer。

〃The　king！　　The　king！〃　he　cried　to　those　about　him；　point…　ing　in　the　direction　of　the　wood。

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。

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。

Once　safely　there　he　raised　a　white　flag；　asking　a　confer…　ence　with　Prince　Ludwig。

〃Your　majesty；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃what　answer　shall　we　send　the　traitor　who　even　now　ignores　the　presence　of　his　king？〃

〃Treat　with　him；〃　replied　the　American。　　〃He　may　be　hon…　est　enough　in　his　belief　that　I　am　an　impostor。〃

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。

A　dozen　members　of　th