the mad king-第43部分

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army　from　Lutha。

〃With　your　majesty's　permission　I　will　withdraw；〃　said　the　Serbian；　〃and　transmit　Lutha's　proposition　to　my　gov…　ernment；　but　I　may　say　that　your　majesty　need　have　no　apprehension　but　that　a　Serbian　army　corps　will　be　crossing　into　Lutha　before　noon　today。〃

〃And　now；　Prince　Ludwig；〃　said　the　American　after　the　Serbian　had　bowed　himself　out　of　the　apartment；　〃I　sug…　gest　that　you　take　immediate　steps　to　entrench　a　strong　force　north　of　Lustadt　along　the　road　to　Blentz。〃

Von　der　Tann　smiled　as　he　replied。　　〃It　is　already　done；　sire；〃　he　said。

〃But　I　passed　in　along　the　road　this　morning；〃　said　Bar…　ney；　〃and　saw　nothing　of　such　preparations。〃

〃The　trenches　and　the　soldiers　were　there；　nevertheless；　sire；〃　replied　the　old　man；　〃only　a　little　gap　was　left　on　either　side　of　the　highway　that　those　who　came　and　went　might　not　suspect　our　plans　and　carry　word　of　them　to　the　Austrians。　　A　few　hours　will　complete　the　link　across　the　road。〃

〃Good！　　Let　it　be　completed　at　once。　　Here　is　Count　Zel…　lerndorf　now；〃　as　the　minister　was　announced。

Von　der　Tann　bowed　himself　out　as　the　Austrian　entered　the　king's　presence。　　For　the　first　time　in　two　years　the　chancellor　felt　that　the　destiny　of　Lutha　was　safe　in　the　hands　of　her　king。　　What　had　caused　the　metamorphosis　in　Leopold　he　could　not　guess。　　He　did　not　seem　to　be　the　same　man　that　had　whined　and　growled　at　their　last　audi…　ence　a　week　before。

The　Austrian　minister　entered　the　king's　presence　with　an　expression　of　ill…concealed　surprise　upon　his　face。　　Two　days　before　he　had　left　Leopold　safely　ensconced　at　Blentz；　where　he　was　to　have　remained　indefinitely。　　He　glanced　hurriedly　about　the　room　in　search　of　Prince　Peter　or　an…　other　of　the　conspirators　who　should　have　been　with　the　king。　　He　saw　no　one。　　The　king　was　speaking。　　The　Austrian's　eyes　went　wider；　not　only　at　the　words；　but　at　the　tone　of　voice。

〃Count　Zellerndorf；〃　said　the　American；　〃you　were　doubt…　less　aware　of　the　embarrassment　under　which　the　king　of　Lutha　was　compelled　at　Blentz　to　witness　the　entry　of　a　foreign　army　within　his　domain。　　But　we　are　not　now　at　Blentz。　　We　have　summoned　you　that　you　may　receive　from　us；　and　transmit　to　your　emperor；　the　expression　of　our　surprise　and　dismay　at　the　unwarranted　violation　of　Luth…　anian　neutrality。〃

〃But；　your　majesty〃　interrupted　the　Austrian。

〃But　nothing；　your　excellency；〃　snapped　the　American。　〃The　moment　for　diplomacy　is　passed；　the　time　for　action　has　come。　　You　will　oblige　us　by　transmitting　to　your　govern…　ment　at　once　a　request　that　every　Austrian　soldier　now　in　Lutha　be　withdrawn　by　noon　tomorrow。〃

Zellerndorf　looked　his　astonishment。

〃Are　you　mad；　sire？〃　he　cried。　　〃It　will　mean　war！〃

〃It　is　what　Austria　has　been　looking　for；〃　snapped　the　American；　〃and　what　people　look　for　they　usually　get；　es…　pecially　if　they　chance　to　be　looking　for　trouble。　　When　can　you　expect　a　reply　from　Vienna？〃

〃By　noon；　your　majesty；〃　replied　the　Austrian；　〃but　are　you　irretrievably　bound　to　your　present　policy？　　Remember　the　power　of　Austria；　sire。　　Think　of　your　throne。　　Think〃

〃We　have　thought　of　everything；〃　interrupted　Barney。　〃A　throne　means　less　to　us　than　you　may　imagine；　count；　but　the　honor　of　Lutha　means　a　great　deal。〃



XI

THE　BATTLE

AT　FIVE　o'clock　that　afternoon　the　sidewalks　bordering　Mar…　garetha　Street　were　crowded　with　promenaders。　　The　little　tables　before　the　cafes　were　filled。　　Nearly　everyone　spoke　of　the　great　war　and　of　the　peril　which　menaced　Lutha。　Upon　many　a　lip　was　open　disgust　at　the　supine　attitude　of　Leopold　of　Lutha　in　the　face　of　an　Austrian　invasion　of　his　country。　　Discontent　was　open。　　It　was　ripening　to　some…　thing　worse　for　Leopold　than　an　Austrian　invasion。

Presently　a　sergeant　of　the　Royal　Horse　Guards　cantered　down　the　street　from　the　palace。　　He　stopped　here　and　there；　and；　dismounting；　tacked　placards　in　conspicuous　places。　　At　the　notice；　and　in　each　instance　cheers　and　shouting　fol…　lowed　the　sergeant　as　he　rode　on　to　the　next　stop。

Now；　at　each　point　men　and　women　were　gathered；　eagerly　awaiting　an　explanation　of　the　jubilation　farther　up　the　street。　　Those　whom　the　sergeant　passed　called　to　him　for　an　explanation；　and　not　receiving　it；　followed　in　a　quickly　growing　mob　that　filled　Margaretha　Street　from　wall　to　wall。　　When　he　dismounted　he　had　almost　to　fight　his　way　to　the　post　or　door　upon　which　he　was　to　tack　the　next　placard。　　The　crowd　surged　about　him　in　its　anxiety　to　read　what　the　placard　bore；　and　then；　between　the　cheering　and　yelling；　those　in　the　front　passed　back　to　the　crowd　the　tidings　that　filled　them　with　so　great　rejoicing。

〃Leopold　has　declared　war　on　Austria！〃　　〃The　king　calls　for　volunteers！〃　　〃Long　live　the　king！〃


The　battle　of　Lustadt　has　passed　into　history。　　Outside　of　the　little　kingdom　of　Lutha　it　received　but　passing　notice　by　the　world　at　large；　whose　attention　was　riveted　upon　the　great　conflicts　along　the　banks　of　the　Meuse；　the　Marne；　and　the　Aisne。　　But　in　Lutha！　　Ah；　it　will　be　told　and　re…　told；　handed　down　from　mouth　to　mouth　and　from　genera…　tion　to　generation　to　the　end　of　time。

How　the　cavalry　that　the　king　sent　north　toward　Blentz　met　the　advancing　Austrian　army。　　How；　fighting；　they　fell　back　upon　the　infantry　which　lay；　a　thin　line　that　stretched　east　and　west　across　the　north　of　Lustadt；　in　its　first　line　of　trenches。　　A　pitifully　weak　line　it　was；　numerically；　in　com…　parison　with　the　forces　of　the　invaders；　but　it　stood　its　ground　heroically；　and　from　the　heights　to　the　north　of　the　city　the　fire　from　the　forts　helped　to　hold　the　enemy　in　check　for　many　hours。

And　then　the　enemy　succeeded　in　bringing　up　their　heavy　artillery　to　the　ridge　that　lies　three　miles　north　of　the　forts。　　Shells　were　bursting　in　the　trenches；　the　forts；　and　the　city。　　To　the　south　a　stream　of　terror…stricken　refugees　was　pouring　out　of　Lustadt　along　the　King's　Road。　　Rich　and　poor；　animated　by　a　common　impulse；　filled　the　narrow　street　that　led　to　the　city's　southern　gate。　　Carts　drawn　by　dogs；　laden　donkeys；　French　limousines；　victorias；　wheel…　barrowsevery　conceivable　wheeled　vehicle　and　beast　of　burdenwere　jammed　in　a　seemingly　inextricable　tangle　in　the　mad　rush　for　safety。

Rumor　passed　back　and　forth　through　the　fleeing　thou…　sands。　　Now　came　word　that　Fort　No。　2　had　been　silenced　by　the　Austrian　guns。　　Immediately　followed　news　that　the　Luthanian　line　was　falling　back　upon　the　city。　　Fear　turned　to　panic。　　Men　fought　to　outdistance　their　neighbors。

A　shell　burst　upon　a　roof…top　in　an　adjoining　square。

Women　fainted　and　were　trampled。　　Hoarse　shouts　of　anger　mingled　with　screams　of　terror；　and　then　into　the　midst　of　it　from　Margaretha　Street　rode　a　man　on　horse…　back。　　Behind　him　were　a　score　of　officers。　　A　trumpeter　raised　his　instrument　to　his　lips；　and　above　the　din　of　the　fleeing　multitude　rose　the　sharp；　triple　call　that　an…　nounces　the　coming　of　the　king。　　The　mob　halted　and　turned。

Looking　down　upon　them　from　his　saddle　was　Leopold　of　Lutha。　　His　palm　was　raised　for　silence　and　there　was　a　smile　upon　his　lips。　　Quite　suddenly；　and　as　by　a　miracle；　fear　left　them。　　They　made　a　line　for　him　and　his　staff　to　ride　through。　　One　of　the　officers　turned　in　his　saddle　to　address　a　civilian　friend　in　an　automobile。

〃His　majesty　is　riding　to　the　firing　line；〃　he　said　and　he　raised　his　voice　that　many　might　hear。　　Quickly　the　word　passed　from　mouth　to　mouth；　and　as　Barney　Custer；　of　Beatrice；　passed　along　Margaretha　Street　he　was　followed　by　a　mad　din　of　cheering　that　drowned　the　booming　of　the　distant　cannon　and　the　bursting　of　the　shells　above　the　city。

The　balance　of　the　day　the　pseudo…king　rode　back　and　forth　along　his　lines。　　Three　of　his　staff　were　killed　and　two　horses　were　shot　from　beneath　him；　but　from　the　moment　that　he　appeared　the　Luthanian　line　ceased　to　waver　or　fall　back。　　The　advanced　trenches　that　they　had　abandoned　to　the　Austrians　they　took　again　at　the　point　of　the　bayonet。　Charge　after　charge　they　repulsed；　and　all　the　time　there　hovered　above　the　enemy　Lutha's　sole　aeroplane；　watching；　watching；　ever　watching　for　the　coming　of　the　allies。　　Some…　where　to　the　northeast　the　Serbians　were　advancing　toward　Lustadt。　　Would　they　come　in　time？

It　was　five　o'clock　in　the　morning　of　the　second　day；　and　though　the　Luthanian　line　still　held；　Barney　Custer　knew　that　it　could　not　hold　for　long。　　The　Austrian　artillery　fire；　which　had　been　rather　wild　the　preceding　day；　had　now　become　of　deadly　accuracy。　　Each　bursting　shell　filled　some　part　of　the　trenches　with　dead　and　wounded；　and　though　their　places　were　taken　by　fresh　men　from　the　reserve；　there　would　soon　be　no　reserve　left　to　call　upon。

At　his　left；　in　the　rear；　the　American　had　massed　the　bulk　of　his　reserves；　and　at　the　foot　of　the　heights　north　of　the　city　and　just　below　the　forts　the　major　portion　of　the　cavalry　was　drawn　up　in　the　shelter　of　a　little　ravine。　　Bar…　ney's　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　soaring　aeroplane。

In　his　hand　was　his　watch。　　He　would　wait　another　fifteen　minutes；　and　if　by　then　the　signal　had　not　come　that　the　Serbians　were　approaching；　he　would　strike　the　blow　that　he　had　decided　upon。　　From　time　to　time　he　glanced　at　his　watch。

The　fifteen　minutes　had　almost　elapsed　when　there　flut…　tered　from　the　tiny　monoplane　a　paper　parachute。　　It　dropped　for　several　hundred　feet　before　it　spread　to　the　air　pressure　and　floated　more　gently　toward　the　earth　and　a　moment　later　there　burst　from　its　basket　a　puff　of　white　smoke。　　Two　more　parachutes　followed　the　first　and　two　more　puffs　of　smoke。　　Then　the　machine　darted　rapidly　off　toward　the　northeast。

Barney　turned　to　Prince　von　der　Tann　with　a　smile。　　〃They　are　none　too　soon；〃　he　said。

The　old　prince　bowed　in　acquiescence。　　He　had　been　very　happy　for　two　days。　　Lutha　might　be　defeated　now；　but　she　could　never　be　subdued。　　She　had　a　king　at　lasta　real　king。　　Gott！　　How　he　had　changed。　　It　reminded　Prince　von　der　Tann　of　the　day　he　had　ridden　beside　the　imposter　two　years　before　in　the　battle　with　the　forces　of　Peter　of　Blentz。　Many　times　he　had　caught　himself　scrutinizing　the　face　of　the　monarch；　searching　for　some　proof　that　after　all　he　was　not　Leopold。

〃Direct　the　commander