The National tribune., 1906-10-11
obpyrlghted 1893 by Henry Holt & O.


fully sounded by my two friends, and
al were devotedly attached to the per-
son of the King. They were told a
part Of the truth. The attempt on my
life in the Summerhouse was revealed
to them as a spur to their loyalty and
an Indictment against Michael. They
were also informed that a friend of
the Kings was suspected to be forcibly
confined within the castle of Zenda.
His rescue was one of the objects of
the expedition; but, 1t was added, the
Kings main desire was to carry into
effect certain steps against his treach-
erous brother, as to the precise nature
of which they could not at present be
further enlightened. Enough that the
King commanded their services and
would rely on their devotion when oc-
casion arose to call for 1t. Young,
well-bred, brave, and loyal, they
asked no more. They were ready to
prove their dutiful obedience, and
prayed for fight as the best and most
exhilarating mode of showing it.
Thus the scene was shifted from
Etrelsau to the chateau of Tarlenheim
and castle of Zenda, which frowned at
US across the valley. l tried to shift
my Thoughts also, to forget my love,
and to bend all my energies to The task
before me. 1t was to get the King out
of the castle alive. Force was useless:
IN some trick lay the chance; and /
had already an inkling of what we
must do. But was terribly hampered
by the publicity which attended my
movements. Michael must know by
now of my expedition; and ! knew
Michael too well to suppose that his
eyes would be blinded by the feint Of
the boar hunt. He would understand
very well what the real quarry was
That hnu-ryIr he riGkal--tha a
and all it might mean; for Sapt, no less
than myself, recognized that the pres
ent state of things had become unen-
durable. And there was one thing
that l dared to calculate on-not, as
/ now know, without warrant. 1t was
this-that Black Michael would not
believe that / meant well by the King
He could not appreciate will moi
say an honest man, for the thoughts OF
my own heart have been revealed
but a man acting honestly. He saw
my opportunity as ! had seen it, as
Sapt had seen it; he knew the Prin.
cess-nay (and ] declare that a sneak.
ing sort of pity for him invaded
mel. in his way he loved her; he would
think that Sapt and Fritz could b,
bribed. so the bribe were large enough
Thinking thus, would he kill the King
my rival and my danger? Aye, verify
that he would, with as little compunc
tOn as he WOuiu XIII a rat. But NJ
would kill Rudolph Rassendyll first
II he could; and nothing but the Ger
tainty of being utterly damned by th'
release OF the King alive and his resto
ration to the throne would drive hin
to throw away the trump card whci
he held in reserve tc balk the supposed
game of the impudent impostor Ras
sendyll Musing on all this as ] rod
along. ] took courage.
Michael knew of my coming, sur
enough. | had not been in the hous
am iIuuT :, iI5II 5p1i imposing aITiSa1:5: -
rived from him. He did not quit
reach the impudence of sending m
would-be assassins. but he sent tn
other three of his famous Sixth
three Ruritanian gentlemen-Lauen
gram, Krafstein, and Rupert HentZar
A fine, strapping trio they We're, splen
didly horsed and admirably equipped
Young Rupert, who looked a dare
devil, and could not have been NOR
than % or %, took the lead, and mad
us the neatest speech. wherein my de
voted subject and loving brother
Michael of Strelsau. prayed me to par
don him for not paying his addresses i
person, and further, for not putting HI
castle at my disposal; the reason 70
both of these apparent derelictions be
Ing that he and several of his servant
lay sick of scarlet fever and were in
very sad, and also a very infection
state. So declared young Rupert wit
IN insolent smile on his curling uppe