the mad king-第44部分

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of　the　monarch；　searching　for　some　proof　that　after　all　he　was　not　Leopold。

〃Direct　the　commanders　of　forts　three　and　four　to　con…　centrate　their　fire　on　the　enemy's　guns　directly　north　of　Fort　No。　3；〃　Barney　directed　an　aide。　　〃Simultaneously　let　the　cavalry　and　Colonel　Kazov's　infantry　make　a　determined　as…　sault　on　the　Austrian　trenches。〃

Then　he　turned　his　horse　toward　the　left　of　his　line；　where；　a　little　to　the　rear；　lay　the　fresh　troops　that　he　had　been　holding　in　readiness　against　this　very　moment。　　As　he　gal…　loped　across　the　plain；　his　staff　at　his　heels；　shrapnel　burst　about　them。　　Von　der　Tann　spurred　to　his　side。

〃Sire；〃　he　cried；　〃it　is　unnecessary　that　you　take　such　grave　risks。　　Your　staff　is　ready　and　willing　to　perform　such　service　that　you　may　be　preserved　to　your　people　and　your　throne。〃

〃I　believe　the　men　fight　better　when　they　think　their　king　is　watching　them；〃　said　the　American　simply。

〃I　know　it；　sire；〃　replied　Von　der　Tann；　〃but　even　so；　Lutha　could　ill　afford　to　lose　you　now。　　I　thank　God；　your　majesty；　that　I　have　lived　to　see　this　dayto　see　the　last　of　the　Rubinroths　upholding　the　glorious　traditions　of　the　Rubinroth　blood。〃

Barney　led　the　reserves　slowly　through　the　wood　to　the　rear　of　the　extreme　left　of　his　line。　　The　attack　upon　the　Austrian　right　center　appeared　to　be　meeting　with　much　greater　success　than　the　American　dared　to　hope　for。　　Al…　ready；　through　his　glasses；　he　could　see　indications　that　the　enemy　was　concentrating　a　larger　force　at　this　point　to　repulse　the　vicious　assaults　of　the　Luthanians。　　To　do　this　they　must　be　drawing　from　their　reserves　back　of　other　por…　tions　of　their　line。

It　was　what　Barney　had　desired。　　The　three　bombs　from　the　aeroplane　had　told　him　that　the　Serbians　had　been　sighted　three　miles　away。　　Already　they　were　engaging　the　Austrians。　　He　could　hear　the　rattle　of　rifles　and　quick…firers　and　the　roar　of　cannon　far　to　the　northeast。　　And　now　he　gave　the　word　to　the　commander　of　the　reserve。

At　a　rapid　trot　the　men　moved　forward　behind　the　ex…　treme　left　end　of　the　Luthanian　left　wing。　　They　were　almost　upon　the　Austrians　before　they　emerged　from　the　shelter　of　the　wood；　and　then　with　hoarse　shouts　and　leveled　bayonets　they　charged　the　enemy's　position。　　The　fight　there　was　the　bloodiest　of　the　two　long　days。　　Back　and　forth　the　tide　of　battle　surged。　　In　the　thick　of　it　rode　the　false　king　en…　couraging　his　men　to　greater　effort。　　Slowly　at　last　they　bore　the　Austrians　from　their　trenches。　　Back　and　back　they　bore　them　until　retreat　became　a　rout。　　The　Austrian　right　was　crumpled　back　upon　its　center！

Here　the　enemy　made　a　determined　stand；　but　just　be…　fore　dark　a　great　shouting　arose　from　the　heights　to　their　left；　where　the　bulk　of　their　artillery　was　stationed。　　Both　the　Luthanian　and　Austrian　troops　engaged　in　the　plain　saw　Austrian　infantry　and　artillery　running　down　the　slopes　in　disorderly　rout。　　Upon　their　heads　came　a　cheering　line　of　soldiers　firing　as　they　ran；　and　above　them　waved　the　battle…　flag　of　Serbia。

A　mighty　shout　rose　from　the　Luthanian　ranksan　an…　swering　groan　from　the　throats　of　the　Austrians。　　Hemmed　in　between　the　two　lines　of　allies；　the　Austrians　were　help…　less。　　Their　artillery　was　captured；　retreat　cut　off。　　There　was　but　a　single　alternative　to　massacrethe　white　flag。

A　few　regiments　between　Lustadt　and　Blentz；　but　nearer　the　latter　town；　escaped　back　into　Austria；　the　balance　Bar…　ney　arranged　with　the　Serbian　minister　to　have　taken　back　to　Serbia　as　prisoners　of　war。　　The　Luthanian　army　corps　that　the　American　had　promised　the　Serbs　was　to　be　utilized　along　the　Austrian　frontier　to　prevent　the　passage　of　Austrian　troops　into　Serbia　through　Lutha。

The　return　to　Lustadt　after　the　battle　was　made　through　cheering　troops　and　along　streets　choked　with　joy…mad　citizenry。　　The　name　of　the　soldier…king　was　upon　every　tongue。　　Men　went　wild　with　enthusiasm　as　the　tall　figure　rode　slowly　through　the　crowd　toward　the　palace。

Von　der　Tann；　grim　and　martial；　found　his　lids　damp　with　the　moisture　of　a　great　happiness。　　Even　now　with　all　the　proofs　of　reality　about　him；　it　seemed　impossible　that　this　scene　could　be　aught　but　the　ephemeral　vapors　of　a　dream　that　Leopold　of　Lutha；　the　coward；　the　craven；　could　have　become　in　a　single　day　the　heroic　figure　that　had　loomed　so　large　upon　the　battlefield　of　Lustadtthe　simple；　modest　gentleman　who　received　the　plaudits　of　his　subjects　with　bowed　head　and　humble　mien。

As　Barney　Custer　rode　up　Margaretha　Street　toward　the　royal　palace　of　the　kings　of　Lutha；　a　dust…covered　horseman　in　the　uniform　of　an　officer　of　the　Horse　Guards　entered　Lustadt　from　the　south。　　It　was　the　young　aide　of　Prince　von　der　Tann's　staff；　who　had　been　sent　to　Blentz　nearly　a　week　earlier　with　a　message　for　the　king；　and　who　had　been　captured　and　held　by　the　Austrians。

During　the　battle　before　Lustadt　all　the　Austrian　troops　had　been　withdrawn　from　Blentz　and　hurried　to　the　front。　It　was　then　that　the　aide　had　been　transferred　to　the　castle；　from　which　he　had　escaped　early　that　morning。　　To　reach　Lustadt　he　had　been　compelled　to　circle　the　Austrian　posi…　tion；　coming　to　Lustadt　from　the　south。

Once　within　the　city　he　rode　straight　to　the　palace；　flung　himself　from　his　jaded　mount；　and　entered　the　left　wing　of　the　buildingthe　wing　in　which　the　private　apartments　of　the　chancellor　were　located。

Here　he　inquired　for　the　Princess　Emma；　learning　with　evident　relief　that　she　was　there。　　A　moment　later；　white　with　dust；　his　face　streamed　with　sweat；　he　was　ushered　into　her　presence。

〃Your　highness；〃　he　blurted；　〃the　king's　commands　have　been　disregardedthe　American　is　to　be　shot　tomorrow。　　I　have　just　escaped　from　Blentz。　　Peter　is　furious。　　He　realizes　that　whether　the　Austrians　win　or　lose；　his　standing　with　the　king　is　gone　forever。

〃In　a　fit　of　rage　he　has　ordered　that　Mr。　Custer　be　sacri…　ficed　to　his　desire　for　revenge；　in　the　hope　that　it　will　in…　sure　for　him　the　favor　of　the　Austrians。　　Something　must　be　done　at　once　if　he　is　to　be　saved。〃

For　a　moment　the　girl　swayed　as　though　about　to　fall。　The　young　officer　stepped　quickly　to　support　her；　but　be…　fore　he　reached　her　side　she　had　regained　complete　mastery　of　herself。　　From　the　street　without　there　rose　the　blare　of　trumpets　and　the　cheering　of　the　populace。

Through　senses　numb　with　the　cold　of　anguish　the　mean…　ing　of　the　tumult　slowly　filtered　to　her　brainthe　king　had　come。　　He　was　returning　from　the　battlefield；　covered　with　honors　and　flushed　with　glorythe　man　who　was　to　be　her　husband；　but　there　was　no　rejoicing　in　the　heart　of　the　Princess　Emma。

Instead；　there　was　a　dull　ache　and　impotent　rebellion　at　the　injustice　of　the　thingthat　Leopold　should　be　reap…　ing　these　great　rewards；　while　he　who　had　made　it　possible　for　him　to　be　a　king　at　all　was　to　die　on　the　morrow　be…　cause　of　what　he　had　done　to　place　the　Rubinroth　upon　his　throne。

〃Perhaps　Lieutenant　Butzow　might　find　a　way；〃　suggested　the　officer。　　〃He　or　your　father；　they　are　both　fond　of　Mr。　Custer。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　girl　dully；　〃see　Lieutenant　Butzowhe　would　do　the　most。〃

The　officer　bowed　and　hastened　from　the　apartment　in　search　of　Butzow。　　The　girl　approached　the　window　and　stood　there　for　a　long　time；　looking　out　at　the　surging　multi…　tude　that　pressed　around　the　palace　gates；　filling　Margaretha　Street　with　a　solid　mass　of　happy　faces。

They　cheered　the　king；　the　chancellor；　the　army；　but　most　often　they　cheered　the　king。　　From　a　despised　monarch　Leo…　pold　had　risen　in　a　single　bound　to　the　position　of　a　national　idol。

Repeatedly　he　was　called　to　the　balcony　over　the　grand　entrance　that　the　people　might　feast　their　eyes　on　him。　　The　princess　wondered　how　long　it　was　before　she　herself　would　be　forced　to　offer　her　congratulations　and；　perchance；　suffer　his　caresses。　　She　shivered　and　cringed　at　the　thought；　and　then　there　came　a　knock　upon　the　door；　and　in　answer　to　her　permission　it　opened；　and　the　king　stood　upon　the　threshold　alone。

At　a　glance　the　man　took　in　the　pain　and　sorrow　mir…　rored　upon　the　girl's　face。　　He　stepped　quickly　across　the　room　toward　her。

〃What　is　it？〃　he　asked。　　〃What　is　the　matter？〃

For　a　moment　he　had　forgotten　the　part　that　he　had　been　playingforgot　that　the　Princess　Emma　was　ignorant　of　his　identity。　　He　had　come　to　her　to　share　with　her　the　happiness　of　the　hourthe　glory　of　the　victorious　arms　of　Lutha。　　For　a　time　he　had　almost　forgotten　that　he　was　not　the　king；　and　now　he　was　forgetting　that　he　was　not　Barney　Custer　to　the　girl　who　stood　before　him　with　misery　and　hopelessness　writ　so　large　upon　her　countenance。

For　a　brief　instant　the　girl　did　not　reply。　　She　was　weigh…　ing　the　problematical　value　of　an　attempt　to　enlist　the　king　in　the　cause　of　the　American。　　Leopold　had　shown　a　spark　of　magnanimity　when　he　had　written　a　pardon　for　Mr。　Custer；　might　he　not　rise　again　above　his　petty　jealousy　and　save　the　American's　life？　　It　was　a　forlorn　hope　to　the　woman　who　knew　the　true　Leopold　so　well；　but　it　was　a　hope。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　the　king　repeated。

〃I　have　just　received　word　that　Prince　Peter　has　ignored　your　commands；　sire；〃　replied　the　girl；　〃and　that　Mr。　Custer　is　to　be　shot　tomorrow。〃

Barney's　eyes　went　wide　with　incredulity。　　Here　was　a　pretty　pass；　indeed！　　The　princess　came　close　to　him　and　seized　his　arm。

〃You　promised；　sire；〃　she　said；　〃that　he　would　not　be　harmedyou　gave　your　royal　word。　　You　can　save　him。　　You　have　an　army　at　your　command。　　Do　not　forget　that　he　once　saved　you。〃

The　note　of　appeal　in　her　voice　and　the　sorrow　in　her　eyes　gave　Barney　Custer　a　twinge　of　compunction。　　The　necessity　for　longer　concealing　his　identity　in　so　far　as　the　salvation　of　Lutha　was　concerned　seemed　past；　but　the　American　had　intended　to　carry　the　deception　to　the　end。

He　had　given　the　matter　much　thought；　but　he　could　find　no　grounds　for　belief　that　Emma　von　der　Tann　would　be　any　happier　in　the　knowledge　that　her　future　husband　had　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　victory　of　his　army。　　If　she　was　doomed　to　a　life　at　his　side；　why　not　permit　her　the　grain　of　comfort　that　she　might　derive　from　the　memory　of　her　husband's　achievements　upon　the　battlefield　of　Lustadt？　　Why　rob　her　of　that　li