the mad king-第50部分

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aned　their　necks。　　A　sudden　burst　of　exclamations　rose　throughout　the　cathedral；　and　then　Lieutenant　Butzow；　shouldering　his　way　past　the　chancel；　carried　the　Princess　Emma　to　a　little　anteroom　off　the　east　transept。　　Behind　him　walked　the　king；　the　bishop；　and　Prince　Ludwig。




XV

MAENCK　BLUNDERS

AFTER　a　hurried　breakfast　Peter　of　Blentz　and　Captain　Ernst　Maenck　left　the　castle　of　Blentz。　　Prince　Peter　rode　north　toward　the　frontier；　Austria；　and　safety；　Captain　Maenck　rode　south　toward　Lustadt。　　Neither　knew　that　gen…　eral　orders　had　been　issued　to　soldiery　and　gendarmerie　of　Lutha　to　capture　them　dead　or　alive。　　So　Prince　Peter　rode　carelessly；　but　Captain　Maenck；　because　of　the　nature　of　his　business　and　the　proximity　of　enemies　about　Lustadt；　proceeded　with　circumspection。

Prince　Peter　was　arrested　at　Tafelberg；　and；　though　he　stormed　and　raged　and　threatened；　he　was　immediately　packed　off　under　heavy　guard　back　toward　Lustadt。

Captain　Ernst　Maenck　was　more　fortunate。　　He　reached　the　capital　of　Lutha　in　safety；　though　he　had　to　hide　on　several　occasions　from　detachments　of　troops　moving　toward　the　north。　　Once　within　the　city　he　rode　rapidly　to　the　house　of　a　friend。　　Here　he　learned　that　which　set　him　into　a　fine　state　of　excitement　and　profanity。　　The　king　and　the　Princess　Emma　von　der　Tann　were　to　be　wed　that　very　afternoon！　It　lacked　but　half　an　hour　to　four　o'clock。

Maenck　grabbed　his　cap　and　dashed　from　the　house　be…　fore　his　astonished　friend　could　ask　a　single　question。　　He　hurried　straight　toward　the　cathedral。　　The　king　had　just　arrived；　and　entered　when　Maenck　came　up；　breathless。　　The　guard　at　the　doorway　did　not　recognize　him。　　If　they　had　they　would　have　arrested　him。　　Instead　they　contented　them…　selves　with　refusing　him　admission；　and　when　he　insisted　they　threatened　him　with　arrest。

To　be　arrested　now　would　be　to　ruin　his　fine　plan；　so　he　turned　and　walked　away。　　At　the　first　cross　street　he　turned　up　the　side　of　the　cathedral。　　The　grounds　were　walled　up　on　this　side；　and　he　sought　in　vain　for　entrance。　　At　the　rear　he　discovered　a　limousine　standing　in　the　alley　where　its　chauffeur　had　left　it　after　depositing　his　passengers　at　the　front　door　of　the　cathedral。　　The　top　of　the　limousine　was　but　a　foot　or　two　below　the　top　of　the　wall。

Maenck　clambered　to　the　hood　of　the　machine；　and　from　there　to　the　top。　　A　moment　later　he　dropped　to　the　earth　inside　the　cathedral　grounds。　　Before　him　were　many　win…　dows。　　Most　of　them　were　too　high　for　him　to　reach；　and　the　others　that　he　tried　at　first　were　securely　fastened。　　Pass…　ing　around　the　end　of　the　building；　he　at　last　discovered　one　that　was　openit　led　into　the　east　transept。

Maenck　crawled　through。　　He　was　within　the　building　that　held　the　man　he　sought。　　He　found　himself　in　a　small　room　evidently　a　dressing…room。　　There　were　two　doors　leading　from　it。　　He　approached　one　and　listened。　　He　heard　the　tones　of　subdued　conversation　beyond。

Very　cautiously　he　opened　the　door　a　crack。　　He　could　not　believe　the　good　fortune　that　was　revealed　before　him。　　On　a　couch　lay　the　Princess　Emma　von　der　Tann。　　Beside　her　her　father。　　At　the　door　was　Lieutenant　Butzow。　　The　bishop　and　a　doctor　were　talking　at　the　head　of　the　couch。　　Pacing　up　and　down　the　room；　resplendent　in　the　marriage　robes　of　a　king　of　Lutha；　was　the　man　he　sought。

Maenck　drew　his　revolver。　　He　broke　the　barrel；　and　saw　that　there　was　a　good　cartridge　in　each　chamber　of　the　cyl…　inder。　　He　closed　it　quietly。　　Then　he　threw　open　the　door；　stepped　into　the　room；　took　deliberate　aim；　and　fired。

The　old　man　with　the　ax　moved　cautiously　along　the　cor…　ridor　upon　the　second　floor　of　the　Castle　of　Blentz　until　he　came　to　a　certain　door。　　Gently　he　turned　the　knob　and　pushed　the　door　inward。　　Holding　the　ax　behind　his　back；　he　entered。　　In　his　pocket　was　a　great　roll　of　money；　and　there　was　to　be　an　equal　amount　waiting　him　at　Lustadt　when　his　mission　had　been　fulfilled。

Once　within　the　room；　he　looked　quickly　about　him。　Upon　a　great　bed　lay　the　figure　of　a　man　asleep。　　His　face　was　turned　toward　the　opposite　wall　away　from　the　side　of　the　bed　nearer　the　menacing　figure　of　the　old　servant。　　On　tiptoe　the　man　with　the　ax　approached。　　The　neck　of　his　victim　lay　uncovered　before　him。　　He　swung　the　ax　behind　him。　　a　single　blow；　as　mighty　as　his　ancient　muscles　could　deliver；　would　suffice。

Barney　Custer　opened　his　eyes。　　Directly　opposite　him　upon　the　wall　was　a　dark…toned　photogravure　of　a　hunting　scene。　　It　tilted　slightly　forward　upon　its　wire　support。　　As　Barney's　opened　it　chanced　that　they　were　directed　straight　upon　the　shiny　glass　of　the　picture。　　The　light　from　the　window　struck　the　glass　in　such　a　way　as　to　transform　it　into　a　mirror。　　The　American's　eyes　were　glued　with　horror　upon　the　reflection　that　he　saw　therean　old　man　swinging　a　huge　ax　down　upon　his　head。

It　is　an　open　question　as　to　which　of　the　two　was　the　most　surprised　at　the　cat…like　swiftness　of　the　movement　that　carried　Barney　Custer　out　of　that　bed　and　landed　him　in　temporary　safety　upon　the　opposite　side。

With　a　snarl　the　old　man　ran　around　the　foot　of　the　bed　to　corner　his　prey　between　the　bed　and　the　wall。　　He　was　swinging　the　ax　as　though　to　hurl　it。　　So　close　was　he　that　Barney　guessed　it　would　be　difficult　for　him　to　miss　his　mark。　　The　least　he　could　expect　would　be　a　frightful　wound。　To　have　attempted　to　escape　would　have　necessitated　turn…　ing　his　back　to　his　adversary；　inviting　instant　death。　　To　grapple　with　a　man　thus　armed　appeared　an　equally　hope…　less　alternative。

Shoulder…high　beside　him　hung　the　photogravure　that　had　already　saved　his　life　once。　　Why　not　again？　　He　snatched　it　from　its　hangings；　lifted　it　above　his　head　in　both　hands；　and　hurled　it　at　the　head　of　the　old　man。　　The　glass　shat…　tered　full　upon　the　ancient's　crown；　the　man's　head　went　through　the　picture；　and　the　frame　settled　over　his　shoul…　ders。　　At　the　same　instant　Barney　Custer　leaped　across　the　bed；　seized　a　light　chair；　and　turned　to　face　his　foe　upon　more　even　turns。

The　old　man　did　not　pause　to　remove　the　frame　from　about　his　neck。　　Blood　trickled　down　his　forehead　and　cheeks　from　deep　gashes　that　the　broken　glass　had　made。　　Now　he　was　in　a　berserker　rage。

As　he　charged　again　he　uttered　a　peculiar　whistling　noise　from　between　his　set　teeth。　　To　the　American　it　sounded　like　the　hissing　of　a　snake；　and　as　he　would　have　met　a　snake　he　met　the　venomous　attack　of　the　old　man。

When　the　short　battle　was　over　the　Blentz　servitor　lay　unconscious　upon　the　floor；　while　above　him　leaned　the　American；　uninjured；　ripping　long　strips　from　a　sheet　torn　from　the　bed；　twisting　them　into　rope…like　strands　and；　with　them；　binding　the　wrists　and　ankles　of　his　defeated　foe。　Finally　he　stuffed　a　gag　between　the　toothless　gums。

Running　to　the　wardrobe；　he　discovered　that　the　king's　uniform　was　gone。　　That；　with　the　witness　of　the　empty　bed；　told　him　the　whole　story。　　The　American　smiled。　　〃More　nerve　than　I　gave　him　credit　for；〃　he　mused；　as　he　walked　back　to　his　bed　and　reached　under　the　pillow　for　the　two　papers　he　had　forced　the　king　to　sign。　　They；　too；　were　gone。　　Slowly　Barney　Custer　realized　his　plight；　as　there　filtered　through　his　mind　a　suggestion　of　the　possibilities　of　the　trick　that　had　been　played　upon　him。

Why　should　Leopold　wish　these　papers？　　Of　course；　he　might　merely　have　taken　them　that　he　might　destroy　them；　but　something　told　Barney　Custer　that　such　was　not　the　case。　　And　something；　too；　told　him　whither　the　king　had　ridden　and　what　he　would　do　there　when　he　arrived。

He　ran　back　to　the　wardrobe。　　In　it　hung　the　peasant　attire　that　he　had　stolen　from　the　line　of　the　careless　house　frau；　and　later　wished　upon　his　majesty　the　king。　　Barney　grinned　as　he　recalled　the　royal　disgust　with　which　Leopold　had　fingered　the　soiled　garments。　　He　scarce　blamed　him。　Looking　further　toward　the　back　of　the　wardrobe；　the　American　discovered　other　clothing。

He　dragged　it　all　out　upon　the　floor。　　There　was　an　old　shooting　jacket；　several　pairs　of　trousers　and　breeches；　and　a　hunting　coat。　　In　a　drawer　at　the　bottom　of　the　wardrobe　he　found　many　old　shoes；　puttees；　and　boots。

From　this　miscellany　he　selected　riding　breeches；　a　pair　of　boots；　and　the　red　hunting　coat　as　the　only　articles　that　fitted　his　rather　large　frame。　　Hastily　he　dressed；　and；　taking　the　ax　the　old　man　had　brought　to　the　room　as　the　only　weapon　available；　he　walked　boldly　into　the　corridor；　down　the　spiral　stairway　and　into　the　guardroom。

Barney　Custer　was　prepared　to　fight。　　He　was　desperate。　He　could　have　slunk　from　the　Castle　of　Blentz　as　he　had　entered　itthrough　the　secret　passageway　to　the　ravine；　but　to　attempt　to　reach　Lustadt　on　foot　was　not　at　all　compatible　with　the　urgent　haste　that　he　felt　necessary。　　He　must　have　a　horse；　and　a　horse　he　would　have　if　he　had　to　fight　his　way　through　a　Blentz　army。

But　there　were　no　armed　retainers　left　at　Blentz。　　The　guardroom　was　vacant；　but　there　were　arms　there　and　am…　munition。　　Barney　commandeered　a　sword　and　a　revolver；　then　he　walked　into　the　courtyard　and　crossed　to　the　stables。　The　way　took　him　by　the　garden。　　In　it　he　saw　a　coffin…like　box　resting　upon　planks　above　a　grave…like　excavation。　　Bar…　ney　investigated。　　The　box　was　empty。　　Once　again　he　grinned。　〃It　is　not　always　wise；〃　he　mused；　〃to　count　your　corpses　before　they're　dead。　　What　a　lot　of　work　the　old　man　might　have　spared　himself　if　he'd　only　caught　his　cadaver　first　or　at　least　tried　to。〃

Passing　on　by　his　own　grave；　he　came　to　the　stables。　　A　groom　was　carrying　a　strong；　clean…limbed　hunter　haltered　in　the　doorway。　　The　man　looked　up　as　Barney　approached　him。　　A　puzzled　expression　entered　the　fellow's　eyes。　　He　was　a　young　mana　stupid…looking　lout。　　It　was　evident　that　he　half　recognized　the　face　of　the　newcomer　as　one　he　had　seen　before。　　Barney　nodded　to　him。

〃Never　mind　finishing；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　in　a　hurry。　　You　may　saddle　him　at　once。〃　　The　voice　was　authoritativeit　brooked　no　demur。　　The　groom　touched　his　forehead；　dropped　the　currycomb　and　brush；　and　turned　back　into　the　stable　to　fetch　saddle　and　bridle。

Five　minutes　later　Barney　was　riding　toward　the　gate。　The　portcullis　was　raisedthe　drawbridge