the mad king-第4部分

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ct　and　guard　this　unfortunate　child。

〃And　when　I　was　Crown　Prince　what　were　you；　way　back　there　in　the　beautiful　days　of　our　childhood？〃　asked　Barney。

〃Why；　I　was　what　I　still　am；　your　majesty；〃　replied　the　girl。　　〃Princess　Emma　von　der　Tann。〃

So　the　poor　child；　beside　thinking　him　a　king；　thought　herself　a　princess！　She　certainly　was　mad。　　Well；　he　would　humor　her。

〃Then　I　should　call　you　'your　highness；'　shouldn't　I？〃　he　asked。

〃You　always　called　me　Emma　when　we　were　children。〃

〃Very　well；　then；　you　shall　be　Emma　and　I　Leopold。　　Is　it　a　bargain？〃

〃The　king's　will　is　law；〃　she　said。

They　had　come　to　a　very　steep　hillside；　up　which　the　half…　obliterated　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。

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。

〃I　wished；　back　there　a　way；〃　he　said；　〃that　that　little　brook　had　been　as　wide　as　the　oceannow　I　wish　that　this　little　hill　had　been　as　high　as　Mont　Blanc。〃

〃You　like　to　climb？〃　she　asked。

〃I　should　like　to　climb　foreverwith　you；〃　he　said　seriously。

She　looked　up　at　him　quickly。　　A　reply　was　on　her　lips；　but　she　never　uttered　it；　for　at　that　moment　a　ruffian　in　pictur…　esque　rags　leaped　out　from　behind　a　near…by　bush；　con…　fronting　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。

〃You　see；〃　said　Barney　unexcitedly；　〃that　I　was　right　about　the　brigands　after　all。　　What　do　you　want；　my　man？〃

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。

〃I　want　you；　your　majesty；〃　he　said。

〃Godfrey！〃　exclaimed　Barney。　　〃Did　the　whole　bunch　es…　cape？〃

〃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。〃

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　back…　ward。　　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。

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！

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　need…　ing　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。

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。

As　the　girl　hastened　toward　the　spot　where　the　two　had　disappeared；　she　was　startled　to　see　three　troopers　of　the　pal…　ace　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。

〃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？〃

The　girl　paid　no　attention　to　the　officer。　　Instead；　she　hur…　ried　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。

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。

When　the　officer　stopped　beside　her　she　was　sitting　on　the　ground　holding　the　head　of　one　of　the　combatants　in　her　lap。

A　little　stream　of　blood　trickled　from　a　wound　in　the　forehead。　　The　officer　stooped　closer。

〃He　is　dead？〃　he　asked。

〃The　king　is　dead；〃　replied　the　Princess　Emma　von　der　Tann；　a　little　sob　in　her　voice。

〃The　king！〃　exclaimed　the　officer；　and　then；　as　he　bent　lower　over　the　white　face：　〃Leopold！〃

The　girl　nodded。

〃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！〃




III

AN　ANGRY　KING

THE　SOLDIERS　stood　behind　their　officer。　　None　of　them　had　ever　seen　Leopold　of　Luthahe　had　been　but　a　name　to　themthey　cared　nothing　for　him；　but　in　the　presence　of　death　they　were　awed　by　the　majesty　of　the　king　they　had　never　known。

The　hands　of　Emma　von　der　Tann　were　chafing　the　wrists　of　the　man　whose　head　rested　in　her　lap。

〃Leopold！〃　she　whispered。　　〃Leopold；　come　back！　　Mad　king　you　may　have　been；　but　still　you　were　king　of　Lutha　my　father's　kingmy　king。〃

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。

Had　she　not　thought　the　king　dead　she　would　have　cut　out　her　tongue　rather　than　reveal　his　identity　to　these　sol…　diers　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。

〃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。〃

The　officer　hesitated。

〃We　shall　have　to　take　the　king's　body　with　us；　your　highness；〃　he　said。

The　officer　evidently　becoming　suspicious；　came　closer；　and　as　he　did　so　Barney　Custer　sat　up。

〃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。〃

〃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。〃

The　officer　smiled；　a　trifle　maliciously　perhaps。

〃Ah；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　very　glad　indeed　that　you　are　not　dead；　your　majesty。〃

Barney　Custer　turned　his　incredulous　eyes　upon　the　lieu…　tenant。

〃Et　tu；　Brute？〃　he　cried　in　anguished　accents；　letting　his　head　fall　back　into　the　girl's　lap。　　He　found　it　very　com…　fortable　there　indeed。

The　officer　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　　Then　he　tapped　his　forehead　meaningly。

〃I　did　not　know；〃　he　said　to　the　girl；　〃that　he　was　so　bad。　But　comeit　is　some　distance　to　Blentz；　and　the　afternoon　is　already　well　spent。　　Your　highness　will　accompany　us。〃

〃I？〃　cried　the　girl。　　〃You　certainly　cannot　be　serious。〃

〃And　why　not；　your　highness？〃　asked　the　officer。　　〃We　had　strict　orders　to　arrest　not　only　the　king；　but　any　com…　panions　who　may　have　been　involved　in　his　escape。〃

〃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。〃

〃King　Peter　may　think　differently；〃　replied　the　man。

〃The　Regent；　you　mean？〃　the　girl　corrected　him　haughtily。

The　officer　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃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　high…　ness。〃

〃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？〃

〃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。〃

At　the　mention　of　the　name　the　girl　shuddered。

〃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。

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。

〃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　AmericanBernard　Custer；　of　Beatrice；　Nebraska；　U。S。A。　Look　at　me。　　Look　at　me　closely。　　Do　I　look　like　a　king？〃

〃Every　inch；　your　majesty；〃　replied　the　officer。　　

Barney　looked　at　the　man　aghast。

〃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。〃

〃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？〃

〃If　you　will　first　escort　this　young　lady　to　a　place　of　safety；〃　replied　Barney。

〃She　w