the mad king-第41部分

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narch　found　even　the　courage　of　the　cornered　rat　to　fire　at　him？　　Then　his　eyes　sought　the　face　of　the　king；　searching　for　the　signs　of　nervous　terror　that　would　make　his　con…　quest　an　easy　one；　but　what　he　saw　in　the　eyes　that　bored　straight　into　his　brought　his　own　to　the　floor　at　the　king's　feet。

What　new　force　animated　Leopold　of　Lutha？　　Those　were　not　the　eyes　of　a　coward。　　No　fear　was　reflected　in　their　steely　glitter。　　The　officer　mumbled　an　apology；　saluted；　and　turned　toward　the　door。　　At　his　elbow　walked　the　impostor；　a　cavalry　cape　that　had　belonged　to　the　king　now　covered　his　shoulders　and　hid　the　weapon　that　pressed　its　hard　warning　now　and　again　into　the　short…ribs　of　the　Blentz　officer。　　Just　behind　the　American　came　the　Princess　Emma　von　der　Tann。

The　three　passed　through　the　deserted　corridors　of　the　sleeping　castle；　taking　a　route　at　Barney's　suggestion　that　led　them　to　the　stable　courtyard　without　necessitating　traversing　the　main　corridors　or　the　great　hall　or　the　guardroom；　in　all　of　which　there　still　were　Austrian　and　Blentz　soldiers；　whose　duties　or　pleasures　had　kept　them　from　their　blankets。

At　the　stables　a　sleepy　groom　answered　the　summons　of　the　officer；　whom　Barney　had　warned　not　to　divulge　the　identity　of　himself　or　the　princess。　　He　left　the　princess　in　the　shadows　outside　the　building。　　After　what　seemed　an　eternity　to　the　American；　three　horses　were　led　into　the　courtyard；　saddled；　and　bridled。　　The　party　mounted　and　approached　the　gates。　　Here；　Barney　knew；　might　be　en…　countered　the　most　serious　obstacle　in　their　path。　　He　rode　close　to　the　side　of　their　unwilling　conductor。　　Leaning　for…　ward　in　his　saddle；　he　whispered　in　the　man's　ear。

〃Failure　to　pass　us　through　the　gates；〃　he　said；　〃will　be　the　signal　for　your　death。〃

The　man　reined　in　his　mount　and　turned　toward　the　American。

〃I　doubt　if　they　will　pass　even　me　without　a　written　order　from　Prince　Peter；〃　he　said。　　〃If　they　refuse；　you　must　reveal　your　identity。　　The　guard　is　composed　of　Luthanians　I　doubt　if　they　will　dare　refuse　your　majesty。〃

Then　they　rode　on　up　to　the　gates。　　A　soldier　stepped　from　the　sentry　box　and　challenged　them。

〃Lower　the　drawbridge；〃　ordered　the　officer。　　〃It　is　Captain　Krantzwort　on　a　mission　for　the　king。〃

The　soldier　approached；　raising　a　lantern；　which　he　had　brought　from　the　sentry　box；　and　inspected　the　captain's　face。　　He　seemed　ill　at　ease。　　In　the　light　of　the　lantern；　the　American　saw　that　he　was　scarce　more　than　a　boydoubt…　less　a　recruit。　　He　saw　the　expression　of　fear　and　awe　with　which　he　regarded　the　officer；　and　it　occurred　to　him　that　the　effect　of　the　king's　presence　upon　him　would　be　abso…　lutely　overpowering。　　Still　the　soldier　hesitated。

〃My　orders　are　very　strict；　sir；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　to　let　no　one　leave　without　a　written　order　from　Prince　Peter。　　If　the　sergeant　or　the　lieutenant　were　here　they　would　know　what　to　do；　but　they　are　both　at　the　castleonly　two　other　soldiers　are　at　the　gates　with　me。　　Wait；　and　I　will　send　one　of　them　for　the　lieutenant。〃

〃No；〃　interposed　the　American。　　〃You　will　send　for　no　one；　my　man。　　Come　closerlook　at　my　face。〃

The　soldier　approached；　holding　his　lantern　above　his　head。　　As　its　feeble　rays　fell　upon　the　face　and　uniform　of　the　man　on　horseback；　the　sentry　gave　a　little　gasp　of　as…　tonishment。

〃Now；　lower　the　drawbridge；〃　said　Barney　Custer；　〃it　is　your　king's　command。〃

Quickly　the　fellow　hastened　to　obey　the　order。　　The　chains　creaked　and　the　windlass　groaned　as　the　heavy　planking　sank　to　place　across　the　moat。

As　Barney　passed　the　soldier　he　handed　him　the　pardon　Leopold　had　written　for　the　American。

〃Give　this　to　your　lieutenant；〃　he　said；　〃and　tell　him　to　hand　it　to　Prince　Peter　before　dawn　tomorrow。　　Do　not　fail。〃

A　moment　later　the　three　were　riding　down　the　winding　road　toward　Blentz。　　Barney　had　no　further　need　of　the　officer　who　rode　with　them。　　He　would　be　glad　to　be　rid　of　him；　for　he　anticipated　that　the　fellow　might　find　ample　opportunity　to　betray　them　as　they　passed　through　the　Austrian　lines；　which　they　must　do　to　reach　Lustadt。

He　had　told　the　captain　that　they　were　going　to　Tann　in　order　that；　should　the　man　find　opportunity　to　institute　pur…　suit；　he　might　be　thrown　off　the　track。　　The　Austrian　sentries　were　no　great　distance　ahead　when　Barney　ordered　a　halt。

〃Dismount；〃　he　directed　the　captain；　leaping　to　the　ground　himself　at　the　same　time。　　〃Put　your　hands　behind　your　back。〃

The　officer　did　as　he　was　bid；　and　Barney　bound　his　wrists　securely　with　a　strap　and　buckle　that　he　had　re…　moved　from　the　cantle　of　his　saddle　as　he　rode。　　Then　he　led　him　off　the　road　among　some　weeds　and　compelled　him　to　lie　down；　after　which　he　bound　his　ankles　together　and　stuffed　a　gag　in　his　mouth；　securing　it　in　place　with　a　bit　of　stick　and　the　chinstrap　from　the　man's　helmet。　　The　threat　of　the　revolver　kept　Captain　Krantzwort　silent　and　obedient　throughout　the　hasty　operations。

〃Good…bye；　captain；〃　whispered　Barney；　〃and　let　me　sug…　gest　that　you　devote　the　time　until　your　discovery　and　re…　lease　in　pondering　the　value　of　winning　your　king's　confi…　dence　in　the　future。　　Had　you　chosen　your　associates　more　carefully　in　the　past；　this　need　not　have　occurred。〃

Barney　unsaddled　the　captain's　horse　and　turned　him　loose；　then　he　remounted　and；　with　the　princess　at　his　side；　rode　down　toward　Blentz。



X

A　NEW　KING　IN　LUTHA

AS　THE　TWO　riders　approached　the　edge　of　the　village　of　Blentz　a　sentry　barred　their　way。　　To　his　challenge　the　American　replied　that　they　were　〃friends　from　the　castle。〃

〃Advance；〃　directed　the　sentry；　〃and　give　the　counter…　sign。〃

Barney　rode　to　the　fellow's　side；　and　leaning　from　the　saddle　whispered　in　his　ear　the　word　〃Slankamen。〃

Would　it　pass　them　out　as　it　had　passed　Maenck　in？　Barney　scarcely　breathed　as　he　awaited　the　result　of　his　experiment。　　The　soldier　brought　his　rifle　to　present　and　directed　them　to　pass。　　With　a　sigh　of　relief　that　was　almost　audible　the　two　rode　into　the　village　and　the　Austrian　lines。

Once　within　they　met　with　no　further　obstacle　until　they　reached　the　last　line　of　sentries　upon　the　far　side　of　the　town。　　It　was　with　more　confidence　that　Barney　gave　the　countersign　here；　nor　was　he　surprised　that　the　soldier　passed　them　readily；　and　now　they　were　upon　the　high…　road　to　Lustadt；　with　nothing　more　to　bar　their　way。

For　hours　they　rode　on　in　silence。　　Barney　wanted　to　talk　with　his　companion；　but　as　king　he　found　nothing　to　say　to　her。　　The　girl's　mind　was　filled　with　morbid　reflections　of　the　past　few　hours　and　dumb　terror　for　the　future。　　She　would　keep　her　promise　to　the　king；　but　afterlife　would　not　be　worth　the　living；　why　should　she　live？　　She　glanced　at　the　man　beside　her　in　the　light　of　the　coming　dawn。　　Ah；　why　was　he　so　like　her　American　in　outward　appearances　only？　Their　own　mothers　could　scarce　have　distinguished　them；　and　yet　in　character　no　two　men　could　have　differed　more　widely。　　The　man　turned　to　her。

〃We　are　almost　there；〃　he　said。　　〃You　must　be　very　tired。〃

The　words　reflected　a　consideration　that　had　never　been　a　characteristic　of　Leopold。　　The　girl　began　to　wonder　if　there　might　not　possibly　be　a　vein　of　nobility　in　the　man；　after　all；　that　she　had　never　discovered。　　Since　she　had　en…　tered　his　apartments　at　Blentz　he　had　been　in　every　way　a　different　man　from　the　Leopold　she　had　known　of　old。　　The　boldness　of　his　escape　from　Blentz　supposed　a　courage　that　the　king　had　never　given　the　slightest　indication　of　in　the　past。　　Could　it　be　that　he　was　making　a　genuine　effort　to　become　a　manto　win　her　respect？

They　were　approaching　Lustadt　as　the　sun　rose。　　A　troop　of　horse　was　just　emerging　from　the　north　gate。　　As　it　neared　them　they　saw　that　the　cavalrymen　wore　the　uniforms　of　the　Royal　Horse　Guard。　　At　their　head　rode　a　lieutenant。　　As　his　eyes　fell　upon　the　face　of　the　princess　and　her　com…　panion；　he　brought　his　troopers　to　a　halt；　and；　with　in…　credulity　plain　upon　his　countenance；　advanced　to　meet　them；　his　hand　raised　in　salute　to　the　king。　　It　was　Butzow。

Now　Barney　was　sure　that　he　would　be　recognized。　　For　two　years　he　and　the　Luthanian　officer　had　been　inseparable。　Surely　Butzow　would　penetrate　his　disguise。　　He　returned　his　friend's　salute；　looked　him　full　in　the　eyes；　and　asked　where　he　was　riding。

〃To　Blentz；　your　majesty；〃　replied　Butzow；　〃to　demand　an　audience。　　I　bear　important　word　from　Prince　von　der　Tann。　　He　has　learned　the　Austrians　are　moving　an　entire　army　corps　into　Lutha；　together　with　siege　howitzers。　　Serbia　has　demanded　that　all　Austrian　troops　be　withdrawn　from　Luthanian　territory　at　once；　and　has　offered　to　assist　your　majesty　in　maintaining　your　neutrality　by　force；　if　neces…　sary。〃

As　Butzow　spoke　his　eyes　were　often　upon　the　Princess　Emma；　and　it　was　quite　evident　that　he　was　much　puzzled　to　account　for　her　presence　with　the　king。　　She　was　sup…　posed　to　be　at　Tann；　and　Butzow　knew　well　enough　her　estimate　of　Leopold　to　know　that　she　would　not　be　in　his　company　of　her　own　volition。　　His　expression　as　he　addressed　the　man　he　supposed　to　be　his　king　was　far　from　deferen…　tial。　　Barney　could　scarce　repress　a　smile。

〃We　will　ride　at　once　to　the　palace；〃　he　said。　　〃At　the　gate　you　may　instruct　one　of　your　sergeants　to　telephone　to　will　act　as　our　escort。〃

Butzow　saluted　and　turned　to　his　troopers；　giving　the　necessary　commands　that　brought　them　about　in　the　wake　of　the　pseudo…king。　　Once　again　Barney　Custer；　of　Beatrice；　rode　into　Lustadt　as　king　of　Lutha。　　The　few　people　upon　the　streets　turned　to　look　at　him　as　he　passed；　but　there　was　little　demonstration　of　love　or　enthusiasm。

Leopold　had　awakened　no　emotions　of　this　sort　in　the　hearts　of　his　subjects。　　Some　there　were　who　still　remembered　the　gallant　actions　of　their　ruler　on　the　field　of　battle　when　his　forces　had　defeated　those　of　the　regent；　upon　that　other　occasion　when　this　same　American　had　sat　upon　the　throne　of　Lutha　for　two　days　and　had　led　the　little　army　to　victory；　but　since　then　the　true　king　had　been　with　them　daily　in　his　true　colors。　　Arrogance；　haughtiness；　and　petty　tyranny　had　marked　his　reign。　　Taxes　had　gone　even　higher　than　under　the　corrupt　influence　of　the　Blentz　regime。　The　king's