the mad king-第47部分

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Through　the　window　overlooking　the　courtyard　came　a　piteous　wailing。　　Barney　ran　to　the　casement　and　looked　out。　Butzow　was　at　his　side。

〃Himmel！〃　ejaculated　the　Luthanian。　　〃They　are　about　to　shoot　him。　　Quick；　your　majesty；〃　and　without　waiting　to　see　if　he　were　followed　the　lieutenant　raced　for　the　door　of　the　apartment。　　Close　behind　him　came　the　American　and　the　seventeen。

It　took　but　a　moment　to　reach　the　stairway　down　which　the　rescuers　tumbled　pell…mell。

Maenck　was　giving　his　commands　to　the　firing　squad　with　fiendish　deliberation　and　delay。　　He　seemed　to　enjoy　dragging　out　the　agony　that　the　condemned　man　suffered。　But　it　was　this　very　cruelty　that　caused　Maenck's　undoing　and　saved　the　life　of　Leopold　of　Lutha。　　Just　before　he　gave　the　word　to　fire　Maenck　paused　and　laughed　aloud　at　the　pitiable　figure　trembling　and　whining　against　the　stone　wall　before　him；　and　during　that　pause　a　commotion　arose　at　the　tower　doorway　behind　the　firing　squad。

Maenck　turned　to　discover　the　cause　of　the　interruption；　and　as　he　turned　he　saw　the　figure　of　the　king　leaping　to…　ward　him　with　leveled　revolver。　　At　the　king's　back　a　com…　pany　of　troopers　of　the　Royal　Horse　Guard　was　pouring　into　the　courtyard。

Maenck　snatched　his　own　revolver　from　his　hip　and　fired　point…blank　at　the　〃king。〃　　The　firing　squad　had　turned　at　the　sound　of　assault　from　the　rear。　　Some　of　them　discharged　their　pieces　at　the　advancing　troopers。　　Butzow　gave　a　com…　mand　and　seventeen　carbines　poured　their　deadly　hail　into　the　ranks　of　the　Blentz　retainers。　　At　Maenck's　shot　the　〃king〃　staggered　and　fell　to　the　pavement。

Maenck　leaped　across　his　prostrate　form；　yelling　to　his　men　〃Shoot　the　American。〃　　Then　he　was　lost　to　Barney's　sight　in　the　hand…to…hand　scrimmage　that　was　taking　place。　The　American　tried　to　regain　his　feet；　but　the　shock　of　the　wound　in　his　breast　had　apparently　paralyzed　him　for　the　moment。　　A　Blentz　soldier　was　running　toward　the　prisoner　standing　open…mouthed　against　the　wall。　　The　fellow's　rifle　was　raised　to　his　hiphis　intention　was　only　too　obvious。

Barney　drew　himself　painfully　and　slowly　to　one　elbow。　The　man　was　rapidly　nearing　the　true　Leopold。　　In　another　moment　he　would　shoot。　　The　American　raised　his　revolver　and；　taking　careful　aim；　fired。　　The　soldier　shrieked；　covered　his　face　with　his　hands；　spun　around　once；　and　dropped　at　the　king's　feet。

The　troopers　under　Butzow　were　forcing　the　men　of　Blentz　toward　the　far　end　of　the　courtyard。　　Two　of　the　Blentz　fac…　tion　were　standing　a　little　apart；　backing　slowly　away　and　at　the　same　time　deliberately　firing　at　the　king。　　Barney　seemed　the　only　one　who　noticed　them。　　Once　again　he　raised　his　revolver　and　fired。　　One　of　the　men　sat　down　suddenly；　looked　vacantly　about　him；　and　then　rolled　over　upon　his　side。　　The　other　fired　once　more　at　the　king　and　the　same　instant　Barney　fired　at　the　soldier。　　Soldier　and　kingwould…be　assassin　and　his　victimfell　simultaneously。　　Barney　gri…　maced。　　The　wound　in　his　breast　was　painful。　　He　had　done　his　best　to　save　the　king。　　It　was　no　fault　of　his　that　he　had　failed。　　It　was　a　long　way　to　Beatrice。　　He　wondered　if　Emma　von　der　Tann　would　be　on　the　station　platform；　awaiting　himthen　he　swooned。

Butzow　and　his　seventeen　had　it　all　their　own　way　in　the　courtyard　and　castle　of　Blentz。　　After　the　first　resistance　the　soldiery　of　Peter　fled　to　the　guardroom。　　Butzow　followed　them；　and　there　they　laid　down　their　arms。　　Then　the　lieu…　tenant　returned　to　the　courtyard　to　look　for　the　king　and　Barney　Custer。　　He　found　them　both；　and　both　were　wounded。　　He　had　them　carried　to　the　royal　apartments　in　the　north　tower。　　When　Barney　regained　consciousness　he　found　the　scowling　portrait　of　the　Blentz　princess　frowning　down　upon　him。　　He　lay　upon　a　great　bed　where　the　soldiers；　thinking　him　king；　had　placed　him。　　Opposite　him；　against　the　farther　wall；　the　real　king　lay　upon　a　cot。　　Butzow　was　working　over　him。

〃Not　so　bad；　after　all；　Barney；〃　the　lieutenant　was　saying。　〃Only　a　flesh　wound　in　the　calf　of　the　leg。〃

The　king　made　no　reply。　　He　was　afraid　to　declare　his　identity。　　First　he　must　learn　the　intentions　of　the　impostor。　He　only　closed　his　eyes　wearily。　　Presently　he　asked　a　ques…　tion。

〃Is　he　badly　wounded？〃　and　he　indicated　the　figure　upon　the　great　bed。

Butzow　turned　and　crossed　to　where　the　American　lay。　He　saw　that　the　latter's　eyes　were　open　and　that　he　was　conscious。

〃How　does　your　majesty　feel？〃　he　asked。　　There　was　more　respect　in　his　tone　than　ever　before。　　One　of　the　Blentz　sol…　diers　had　told　him　how　the　〃king；〃　after　being　wounded　by　Maenck；　had　raised　himself　upon　his　elbow　and　saved　the　prisoner's　life　by　shooting　three　of　his　assailants。

〃I　thought　I　was　done　for；〃　answered　Barney　Custer；　〃but　I　rather　guess　the　bullet　struck　only　a　glancing　blow。　　It　couldn't　have　entered　my　lungs；　for　I　neither　cough　nor　spit　blood。　　To　tell　you　the　truth；　I　feel　surprisingly　fit。　How's　the　prisoner？〃

〃Only　a　flesh　wound　in　the　calf　of　his　left　leg；　sire；〃　re…　plied　Butzow。

〃I　am　glad；〃　was　Barney's　only　comment。　　He　didn't　want　to　be　king　of　Lutha；　but　he　had　foreseen　that　with　the　death　of　the　king　his　imposture　might　be　forced　upon　him　for　life。

After　Butzow　and　one　of　the　troopers　had　washed　and　dressed　the　wounds　of　both　men　Barney　asked　them　to　leave　the　room。

〃I　wish　to　sleep；〃　he　said。　　〃If　I　require　you　I　will　ring。〃

Saluting；　the　two　backed　from　the　apartment。　　Just　as　they　were　passing　through　the　doorway　the　American　called　out　to　Butzow。

〃You　have　Peter　of　Blentz　and　Maenck　in　custody？〃　he　asked。

〃I　regret　having　to　report　to　your　majesty；〃　replied　the　officer；　〃that　both　must　have　escaped。　　A　thorough　search　of　the　entire　castle　has　failed　to　reveal　them。〃

Barney　scowled。　　He　had　hoped　to　place　these　two　con…　spirators　once　and　for　all　where　they　would　never　again　threaten　the　peace　of　the　throne　of　Luthain　hell。　　For　a　moment　he　lay　in　thought。　　Then　he　addressed　the　officer　again。

〃Leave　your　force　here；〃　he　said；　〃to　guard　us。　　Ride；　your…　self；　to　Lustadt　and　inform　Prince　von　der　Tann　that　it　is　the　king's　desire　that　every　effort　be　made　to　capture　these　two　men。　　Have　them　brought　to　Lustadt　immediately　they　are　apprehended。　　Bring　them　dead　or　alive。〃

Again　Butzow　saluted　and　prepared　to　leave　the　room。

〃Wait；〃　said　Barney。　　〃Convey　our　greetings　to　the　Prin…　cess　von　der　Tann；　and　inform　her　that　my　wound　is　of　small　importance；　as　is　also　that　of　theMr。　Custer。　　You　may　go；　lieutenant。〃

When　they　were　alone　Barney　turned　toward　the　king。　The　other　lay　upon　his　side　glaring　at　the　American。　　When　he　caught　the　latter's　eyes　upon　him　he　spoke。

〃What　do　you　intend　doing　with　me？〃　he　said。　　〃Are　you　going　to　keep　your　word　and　return　my　identity？〃

〃I　have　promised；〃　replied　Barney；　〃and　what　I　promise　I　always　perform。〃

〃Then　exchange　clothing　with　me　at　once；〃　cried　the　king；　half　rising　from　his　cot。

〃Not　so　fast；　my　friend；〃　rejoined　the　American。　　〃There　are　a　few　trifling　details　to　be　arranged　before　we　resume　our　proper　personalities。〃

〃Do　you　realize　that　you　should　be　hanged　for　what　you　have　done？〃　snarled　the　king。　　〃You　assaulted　me；　stole　my　clothing；　left　me　here　to　be　shot　by　Peter；　and　sat　upon　my　throne　in　Lustadt　while　I　lay　a　prisoner　condemned　to　death。〃

〃And　do　you　realize；〃　replied　Barney；　〃that　by　so　doing　I　saved　your　foolish　little　throne　for　you；　that　I　drove　the　invaders　from　your　dominions；　that　I　have　unmasked　your　enemies；　and　that　I　have　once　again　proven　to　you　that　the　Prince　von　der　Tann　is　your　best　friend　and　most　loyal　supporter？〃

〃You　laid　your　plebeian　hands　upon　me；〃　cried　the　king；　raising　his　voice。　　〃You　humiliated　me；　and　you　shall　suffer　for　it。〃

Barney　Custer　eyed　the　king　for　a　long　moment　before　he　spoke　again。　　It　was　difficult　to　believe　that　the　man　was　so　devoid　of　gratitude；　and　so　blind　as　not　to　see　that　even　the　rough　treatment　that　he　had　received　at　the　American's　hands　was　as　nothing　by　comparison　with　the　service　that　the　American　had　done　him。　　Apparently　Leopold　had　al…　ready　forgotten　that　three　times　Barney　Custer　had　saved　his　life　in　the　courtyard　below。　　From　the　man's　demeanor；　now　that　his　life　was　no　longer　at　stake；　Barney　caught　an　inkling　of　what　his　attitude　might　be　when　once　again　he　was　returned　to　the　despotic　power　of　his　kingship。

〃It　is　futile　to　reason　with　you；〃　he　said。　　〃There　is　only　one　way　to　handle　such　as　you。　　At　present　I　hold　the　power　to　coerce　you；　and　I　shall　continue　to　hold　that　power　until　I　am　safely　out　of　your　two…by…four　kingdom。　　If　you　do　as　I　say　you　shall　have　your　throne　back　again。　　If　you　refuse；　why　by　Heaven　you　shall　never　have　it。　　I'll　stay　king　of　Lutha　myself。〃

〃What　are　your　terms？〃　asked　the　king。

〃That　Prince　Peter　of　Blentz；　Captain　Ernst　Maenck；　and　old　Von　Coblich　be　tried；　convicted；　and　hanged　for　high　treason；〃　replied　the　American。

〃That　is　easy；〃　said　the　king。　　〃I　should　do　so　anyway　immediately　I　resumed　my　throne。　　Now　get　up　and　give　me　my　clothes。　　Take　this　cot　and　I　will　take　the　bed。　None　will　know　of　the　exchange。〃

〃Again　you　are　too　fast；〃　answered　Barney。　　〃There　is　an…　other　condition。〃

〃Well？〃

〃You　must　promise　upon　your　royal　honor　that　Ludwig；　Prince　von　der　Tann；　remain　chancellor　of　Lutha　during　your　life　or　his。〃

〃Very　well；〃　assented　the　king。　　〃I　promise；〃　and　again　he　half　rose　from　his　cot。

〃Hold　on　a　minute；〃　admonished　the　American；　〃there　is　yet　one　more　condition　of　which　I　have　not　made　mention。〃

〃What；　another？〃　exclaimed　Leopold　testily。　　〃How　much　do　you　want　for　returning　to　me　what　you　have　stolen？〃

〃So　far　I　have　asked　for　nothing　for　myself；〃　replied　Bar…　ney。　　〃Now　I　am　coming　to　that　part　of　the　agreement。　The　Princess　Emma　von　der　Tann　is　betrothed　to　you。　　She　does　not　love　you。　　She　has　honored　me　with　her　affection；　but　she　will　not　wed　until　she　has　been　formally　released　from　her　promise　to　wed　Leopold　of　Lutha。　　The　king　must　sign　such　a　release　and　also　a　sanction　of　her　marriage　to　Barney　Custer；　of　Beatrice。　　Do　you　understand　what　I　want？〃

The　king　went　livid。　　He　came　to　his　feet　beside　the　cot。　For　the　moment；　his　wound　was　forgotten。　　He　tot