the mad king-第38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！


　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。〃

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！〃

〃I　thank　God　that　you　are　not；　your　highness；〃　returned　Barney　fervently。

Gently　she　laid　her　hand　upon　his　where　it　gripped　the　steering　wheel。

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃I　was　wrongI　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　kingto　a　miserable　coward！〃

They　had　reached　the　grade　at　last；　and　the　motor　was　straining　to　the　Herculean　task　imposed　upon　it。

Grinding　and　grating　in　second　speed　the　car　toiled　up…　ward　through　the　clinging　sand。　　The　pace　was　snail…like。　　Be…　hind；　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。

〃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　desper…　atethe　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　be…　hind；　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　re…　newed　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。

However；　their　margin　would　be　but　scant　when　they　reached　the　highway；　for　behind　them　the　remaining　troop…　ers　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。

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　carsand　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。

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　be…　neath　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　exclama…　tion　of　surprise　and　interrogation。

〃The　jig's　up；〃　he　groaned。；　〃we're　out　of　gasoline！〃




IX

THE　CAPTURE

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。

When　Captain　Ernst　Maenck　drove　up　he　found　the　pris…　oners　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。

〃Who　are　you？〃　he　demanded　gruffly。　　In　the　darkness　he　failed　to　recognize　the　American　whom　he　thought　dead　in　Austria。

〃A　servant　of　the　house　of　Von　der　Tann；〃　replied　Barney。

〃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　uswell；　God　help　you。〃

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〃Slanka…　men。〃　　Barney；　who　overheard　the　word；　made　a　mental　note　of　it。

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　offi…　cers　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。

The　king　was　not　there。　　Maenck　learned　that　he　had　re…　tired　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。

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　thoughtthe　safety　of　the　princess　was　paramount。

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。

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。

〃Greetings；　your　highness；〃　he　cried　with　an　attempt　at　cordiality。

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　as…　tonishment　as　they　rested　upon　the　features　of　Barney　Cus…　ter。

〃You　told　me　he　was　dead；〃　shouted　the　king。　　〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this；　Captain　Maenck？〃

Maenck　looked　at　his　male　prisoner　and　staggered　back　as　though　struck　between　the　eyes。

〃Mein　Gott；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃the　impostor！〃

〃You　told　me　he　was　dead；〃　repeated　the　king　accusingly。

〃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。〃

〃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。〃

〃I　told　you　the　truth；　then；〃　interjected　Barney。

〃Silence；　you　ingrate！〃　cried　the　king。

〃Ingrate？〃　repeated　Barney。　　〃You　have　the　effrontery　to　call　me　an　ingrate？　　You　miserable　puppy。〃

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　testi…　mony　of　their　own　ears。　　All　there；　with　the　possible　excep…　tion　of　the　king；　knew　that　he　deserved　even　more　degrad…　ing　appellations；　but　they　were　Europeans；　and　to　Euro…　peans　a　king　is　a　kingthat　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。

But　to　the　American　a　king　was　only　what　he　made　him…　self。　　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：

〃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。〃

Leopold　at　last　found　his　voice；　though　it　trembled　and　broke　as　he　spoke。

〃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。〃

Maenck　ordered　Barney　escorted　from　the　apartment；　then　he　turned　toward　the　king。

〃And　the　other　prisoner；　sire？〃　he　inquired。

〃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。〃

〃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；　i