the mad king-第26部分

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〃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。〃

〃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。

〃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　Aus…　tria。　　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。〃




II

CONDEMNED　TO　DEATH

FOR　SOME　time　Barney　Custer　lay　there　in　the　dark　revolv…　ing　in　his　mind　all　that　he　had　overheard　through　the　parti…　tionthe　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。

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。

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？

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。

To　the　right　of　his　own　door　was　the　door　to　the　apart…　ment　in　which　the　three　conspirators　slept。　　At　least；　Barney　hoped　they　slept。　　He　bent　close　to　the　keyhole　and　lis…　tened。　　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。

A　moment　later　he　stood　in　the　room。　　Dimly　he　could　see　two　bedsa　large　one　and　a　smaller。　　Peter　of　Blentz　would　be　alone　upon　the　smaller　bed；　his　henchmen　sleep…　ing　together　in　the　larger。　　Barney　crept　toward　the　lone　sleeper。　　At　the　bedside　he　fumbled　in　the　dark　groping　for　the　man's　clothingfor　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。

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。

So　far　he　made　no　noise。　　None　of　the　sleepers　had　stirred。　Now　he　took　a　step　toward　the　doorway　andkicked　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。

〃Is　that　you；　Prince　Peter？〃　　The　voice　was　Maenck's。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　persisted　Maenck。

〃I'm　going　for　a　drink　of　water；〃　replied　the　American；　and　stepped　toward　the　door。

Behind　him　Peter　of　Blentz　sat　up　in　bed。

〃That　you；　Maenck？〃　he　called。

Instantly　Maenck　was　out　of　bed；　for　the　first　voice　had　come　from　the　vicinity　of　the　doorway；　both　could　not　be　Peter's。

〃Quick！〃　he　cried；　〃there's　someone　in　our　room。〃

Barney　leaped　for　the　doorway；　and　upon　his　heels　came　the　three　conspirators。　　Maenck　was　closest　to　himso　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　facea　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。

Turning；　he　dodged　into　his　own　room　before　the　enemy　could　locate　him　or　even　extricate　themselves　from　the　con…　fusion　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？

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　encourage…　ment。

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。

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　lightBarney　could　see　its　flare　lighten　the　window　casing　for　an　instant。

〃The　room　is　empty；〃　came　a　voice　from　above　him。

〃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。

His　fall　was　a　short　one；　for　the　window　had　been　di…　rectly　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。

〃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。

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　threePrince　Peter　had；　in　all　proba…　bility；　enlisted　the　aid　of　the　military。

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　cordiallyamong　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。

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　listen…　ing。　　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。

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。

Behind　him；　Barney　was　sure　he　heard　evidences　of　pur…　suit。　　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。

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。

Already　the　vague　threat　of　pursuit　from　the　direction　of　the　inn　had　developed　into　a　certaintyhe　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。

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　chancea　sort　of　forlorn　hopeand　that　was　to　risk　fate　and　make　a