The National tribune., 1906-11-08

tfldii i, ne SOofl knew tnat the KING
was not dead nor. if properly attended
would die. And they covered his face
and carried him to Duke Michaers
room, and laid him there; and Antoin-
cite rose from praying by the body of
the Duke and went to bathe the Kings
head and dress his wounds till a doctor
came. And Sapt. seeing had been
there, and having heard Antoinette's
story. sent Fritz to search the moat and
then the forest. He dared send no one
else. And Fritz found my horse, and
feared the worst. Then, as have told,
he found me, guided by the shout with
which 1 had called on Rupert to stop
and face me. And I think a man has
never been more glad to find his own
brother alive than was Fritz to come
on me; So that, in love and anxiety for
me, he thought nothing of a thing so
great as would have been the death of
Rupert Hentzau. Yet had Fritz killed
him 1 should have grudged it.
The enterprise of the Kings rescue
being thus prosperously concluded, it
lay on Colonel Sapt to secure security
as to the King ever having been in
need of rescue. Antoinette de Mauban
and Johann, the keeper (who, indeed,
was too much hurt to be wagging his
tongue just now), were sworn to re-
veal nothing; and Fritz went forth to
find-not the King, but the unnamed
friend of the King, who had lain in
Zenda and flashed for moment before
the dazed eyes of Duke Michaers ser
wants on the drawbridge. The meta
| morphosis had happened; and the
King, wounded almost to death by the
| attacks of the jailers who guarded his
friend, had at last overcome them, and
| rested now. wounded, but alive, in
Black Michaers own room in the cas-
tie. There he had been carried, his
NI-tf h n fln fy>.
cell; and thence orders issued that if
| his friend were found he should be
brought directly and privately to the
| King, and that meanwhile messengers
| should ride at full speed to Tarlenheim
to tell Marshal Strakencz to assure the
Princess of the Kings safety, and to
come himself with all speed to greet
the King. The Princess was enjoined
to remain at Tarlenheim, and there
await her cousins coming or his fur
ther injunctions. Thus the King would
come to his own again, having wrought
brave deeds and escaped, almost by a
miracle. the treacherous assault of his
unnatural brother.
l This ingenious arrangement Of my
y 1ong-headed old friend prospered in
every way, save where it encountered
a force that often defeats the most
cunning schemes. / mean nothing else
than the pleasure of a woman. Fol
let her cousin and sovereign send what
command he chose Cor Col. Sapt chose
for him), and let Marshal Strakencs
insist as he would, the Princess F'lavia
was in no way minded to rest at Tar.
lenheim while her lover lay wounded
at Zenda; and when the Marshal, with
a small suite, rode forth from TarIen.
helm en- the way to Zenda the Prin.
cess's carriage followed immediatel,
behind, and in this order they passed
I, hn xrha ha
already rife that the King, going tn,
night before to demonstrate with hi
brother, in all friendliness. for that HI
, held one of the Kings friends in con
|, finement in the castle, had been mos
traitorously set upon; that there hat
been desperate conflict; that th'
? Duke was slain with several of his gen
tlemen; and that the King, wounded a!
! he was. had seized and held the castl
of Zenda. All of which talk made, a
may be supposed, mighty excitement
. /. and the wires were set in motion, ant
? . the tidings came to Strelsau only jus
after orders had been sent thither I,
I parade the troops and overawe the dis
!, satisfied quarters Of the town with
display of force.
S Thus the Princess Flavia came +
e Zenda. And as she drove up the hill
with the Marshal riding by the whee
J, and still imploring her to return II
obedience. to the Kings orders. Frit
r Won Tarlenheim. with the prisoner O
I. Zenda. came to the edge of the forest
e i had revived from my swoon, an
d walked, resting on 'Fritz's arm: an
I looking out from the cover of the trees
e, 1 saw the Princess. Suddenly under
:, standing from a glance at my com
: panion's face that we must not NEE
: her, / sank on my knees behind
e clump of bushes. But there was on
whom we had forgotten, but who fol
a lowed us, and was not disposed to le
islip the chance of earning a smile an,
: maybe a crown or two; and while W.