Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-23
CHAPTER XIV.
A Night Outside the Castle.


for. according to the official reports. had
suffered q grievous and dangerous hurt
from an accidental spear thrust, received In
the course of my sport. I caused the bull
letins to be Of very serious character, and
created great public excitement whereby
three things occurred: First. I gravely Of
Tended the medical faculty Of StrelsRu by
refusing to summon to my bedside ahy OF
them save a young man. friend of Frftz's,
whom we could trust; secondly, received
word from Marshal Strakencz that my or
ders seemed to have no more weight than
his. and that the Princess Flavia was ieav-
ing for the Tarlenheim under his unwilling
escort news whereat I strove not to be
glad and proud; and thirdly. my brother
the Duke Of Strelsau, although too well In
formed to believe the account of the origin
of my sickness, was yet persuaded by the
reports and by my seeming inactivity that
was In truth incapable Of action, and that
my life was in some danger This learned
from the man Johann. whom was COM
PEELED to trust and send back to Zenda.
where's. by the way. Rupert Hentzau had
him soundly logged for daring to smirch
night In the pursuits Of love. This, from
Rupert, Johann deeply resented, and the
dukes approval OF it did more to bind the
keeper to my side than all my promises.
On F1avias arrival I cannot dwell. Her
Joy at finding me up and well. instead of
on my back and fighting with death. makes
a picture that even now dances before my
eyes till they grow too dim to see 1t; and
her reprOacheS that l had not trusted even
her must excuse the means took to quiet
them. In truth to have her with me once
more was like a taste of heaven to a
damned SOUL the sweeter for the inevitable
doom that was to follow: and l rejoiced In
being able to waste two whole days with
her. And when I had wasted two days the
Duke of Strelsau arranged hunting party.
The stroke was near now. For Sapt and
I 10 hn ~
solved that we must risk blow; our resO-
luton being cinched by Johann's news that
the king grew peaked. pale. and ILL., and
that his health was breaking down under
his rigorous confinement. Now man-be
he king or no king-may as we'll die swiftly,
and, as becomes a gentleman. from bullet
or thrust, as rot his life out in a cellar!
That thought made prompt action advisable
in the interests Of the king: from my own
point of view 1t grew more and more neces-
sary. For Strakencz urged on me the need
of speedy marriage. and my own inclina-
lions seconded him with such terrible insist
not believe that should have done the deed
I dreamt Of; but I might have come to
flight. and my flight would have ruined the
cause. And-yes. 1 am no saint TASK my
little sister-in-law)-and worse still might
have happened.
1t is perhaps as strange a thing as has
ever been in the history Of country that
the kings brother and the kings person.
ator. in a time Of profound outward peace,
near a placid, undisturbed country town,
under semblance Of amity, should wage
desperate war for the person and life of
the king. Yet such was the struggle that
began now between Zenda and Tarlenheim.
When look back on the time I seem to
myself to have been half mad. Sapt has
told me that I suffered no interference and
listened to no circumstances; and If ever a
King of Ruritania ruled like a deSpot I
was, in those days. the man. Look where
1 would I saw nothing that made life sweet
- all e. L., I. ov,I
carried 1t carelessly as a man bangles an
old glove. At first they strove to guard me.
to keep me safe. to persuade me not to ex-
pose myself; but when they saw how I was
set there grew up among them-whether
they knew the truth or not-a feeling that
Fate ruled the issue, and that I must be
left to play my game with Michael my own
way.
Late next night rose from table. where
Flavia had sat by me. and conducted her to
tho door Of her apartments. There 1 kissed
her hand. and bade her sleep sound and
wake to happy days Then changed my
waiting for me with three men and the
horses. Over his saddle Sapt carried long
coil Of rope. and both were heavily armed.
1 had with me a short, stout cudgel and
long knife. Making circuit we avoided
the town. and in an hour found ourselves
slowly mounting the hill that led to the
castle of Zenda. The night was dark and
very stormy; gusts of wind and spits Of
rain caught US as we breasted the incline,
and the great trees moaned and sighed.
When we came to a thick clump. about a
quarter of a mile from the castle, we babe
our three friends hide there with the
horses. Sapt had whistle. and they could
rejoin US in few moments IL danger came:
but up till now We had met no one. I
hoped that Michael was still off his guard.
believing me to be safe In bed. However
that might be- we gained the top of the hill
without accident and found ourselves on
the edge of the moat where it sweeps under
A tree stood on the edge of the bank. and
Sapt silently and diligently set to make fast
the rope. I stripped off my boots, took
pull at a flask of brandy, loosened the knife
in It's sheath. and took the cudgel between
my teeth. Then I shook hands with my
friends, not needing a last look Of entreaty
from Fritz. and laid hold of the rope. I
was going to have look at Jacobs ladder.
Though the night were wild. the day had
been warm and bright and the water was
not cold. I struck out and began to swim
round the great walls which frowned above
me. could see only three yards ahead. I
had then good hopes of not being seen. as
crept along close under the damp. moss
grown masonry. There were lights from
the new part of the castle on the other
side, and now and again heard laughter
and merry shouts I fancied I recognized
young Rupert Hentzau's ringing tones. and
pictured him flushed with wipe. Recalling
my thoughts to the business in hand,
rested a moment. II Johann's description
were right must be near the window now.
Very slowly moved; and out of the dark
ness ahead doomed a shape. 1t was the
pipe, curving from the window to the wa
ter. About two feet Of its surface was dis
played: 1t was as big round as two men.
was about to approach it when saw some
thing else, and my heart stood still. The
nose of boat protruded beyond the pipe
on the other side; and listening intently.
hoard a slight shuffle-as of man shifting
his position. Who was the man who guard
ed Michaels invention? Was he awake or
was he asleep? I felt il my knife were
ready. and trod water. AS did so found
bottom under my feet. The foundations of
the castle extended some fifteen inches,
making a ledge; and stood on It, out Of
water from my armpits upward. Then
crouched and peered through the darkness
under the pipe. where. curving. it left
space
There was a man in the boat. A rifle lay
by him-I saw the CLEAN Of the barrel.
Here was the sentinel! He sat very still.
listened: he breathed heavily. regularly,
monotonously. By Heaven. he slept! Kneel-
ing on the shelf. drew forward under the
pipe till my face was within two feet of
his. He was big man, saw. 1t was Max
Holt. the brother Of Johann. My hand stole
to my belt, and drew out my knife. OF
all the deeds Of my life love the least to