Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-16
CHAPTER VII.
His Majesty Sleeps in Strelsau.

l BuppOTtcu ulm Jul u tuC SCAidis Ni o"Ahe
| the battered door close after me- For ten
minutes or more we sat silent in the dining
| room. Then old Sapt rubbed his knuckles
was himself again. As the clock on the
mantelpiece struck 1 he stamped his foot
on the floor, saying:
They've got the kng!''
YES" said I, "'alrs WE'LL as Black Mi
chaers dispatch said. What a moment it
must have been for him when the royal
| salutes were fired at Strelsau this morning I!
I wonder when he got the message?"
1T must have been sent in the morning"
| said Sapt. They must have sent 1t before
news of your arrival at Strelsau reached
Zenda[I suppose it came from Zenda."
And he's carried 1t about all day!" I ex-
| claimed. Upon my honor, I'm not the
| only man who's had trying day! What
did he think, Sapt?'
| what does that matter? What does he
think, Lad, now?'
I'VE must get back" said, land rouse
every soldier in Strelsau. We ought to be
! in pursuit Of Michael before midday
Old Sapt pulled out his pipe and carefully
! table.
The king may be murdered while we sit
| here!" urged.
| Sapt smoked on for moment in silence.
''She must have attracted their attention
| somehow. 1 see the game. They came up
| to kidnap the king, and-as say-somehow
| they found him. If you hadn't gone to
Strelsau you and l and Fritz had been in
heaven by now!"
And the king?"
WHO knows where the king is now2'' he
asked.
Come, let's be Off" said 1; but he sat
still. And suddenly he burst into one Of
| his grating chnckles:
by Jove, we've shaken up Black Mi
! chael!"
Come; comet repeated impatiently.
"And we'll shake him up a bit more" he
| added cunning smile broadening on his
| wrinkled, weather-beaten face and his
teeth working on an end OF his ETH grikzle 60
| Strelsal. The king shall be in his capital
again tomorrow"
1.-The king?"
1.-THE crowned king?"
You're mad!' l cried.
IF We go back and tell the trick we
| played what would you give for our lives?"
Just what they're worth" said l.:
| And for the kings throne? Do you
| think that the mobiles and the people will
enjoy being fooled as you've fooled them?
| Do you think they'll love a king who was
| too drunk to be crowned, and sent a SER
want to personate him?'
HE was drugged-and I'm no servant.
Mine will be Black Michael s version"
He rose, came to me and laid his hand on
my shoulder.
Lad" he said. 'if you play the man you
| may save the king yet. Go back and keep
| his throne warm for him."
| But the duke knows-the villains he has
employed know"
Aye, but they can't speak, roared Sapt
| in grim triumph. We've got EN-! How
! can they denounce you without denouncing
themselves? This is not TIE king, because
we kidnapped the king and murdered his
servant Can they say that?"
Hba AaSh IL
chael knew me not he could not speak
Unless he produced the king, what could
| he do? And if he produced the king, where
was he? For a moment I was carried
| cuties came strong upon me.
II must be found out" l urged.
Perhaps; but every hours something.
| Above ali, we must have king in Strelsau,
| or the city will be Michael's in four-and-
| twenty hours, and what would the king
| life be worth then-or his throne? Lad,
| you must do it!'
Suppose they kill the king?"
They'll kill him. If you don't
"Sapt, suppose they have killed the
king?"
''Then. by heaven, you're as good an
| Elphberg as Black Michael, and you shall
reign in Ruritania! But I don't believe
| they have; nor will they kill him If you're
| on the throne VIII they kill him to put
you in?'
| hopeless than the trick we had already car
ried through; but as 1 listened to Sapt L
saw the strong points in our game And
| then was a young man and l loved action,
! and I was offered such a hand in such a
| game as perhaps never man played yet
II shall be found out" l said.
| sau! We shall be caught like rats in trap
| If we stay here"
| "sapt," 1 cried, "I'H try it!''
| well Played! said he. II hope they've
| left US the horses. I'll go and see;"
I'VE must bury that poor fellow" said L.
IN. mo time" said sapt'
Hang your he grinned. II make you a
| king, and Well, do 1t. Go and fetch
him, while look to the horses He He cant
| about that Poor little Josef! He was an
| honest bit OF man"
| He went out and l went to the cellar. I
raised poor Josef in my arms and bore him
into the passage and thence toward the
door of the house. just inside l laid him
| down, remembering that I must find spades
| for our tas" Al this instant Sapt came up.
THE horses are all right; there the own
| brother to the one that brought you mere.
! But your may save yourself that job
/ "Tll not go before he's buried
| Yes, you will" :,
Not l. Col. Sapt; not for all Ruritania.'
| You fool!' said he. Come here
| He drew me to the door. The moon was
sinking. but about 500 yards away coming
| along the road from Zenda, l made out a
| party Oh men. 1neTe were seven VI ci6Ht
| Of them; four were on horseback and the
| rest were walking, and l saw that they car
ried long implements, which 1 guessed to
| be spades and mattocks, on their shoulders.
They'll save you the trouble, said Sapt.
| Come along.
! He was right The approaching party
| must, beyond doubt, be Duke Michael s
men, come to remove traces of their evil
work / hesitated no longer, but an ire
/ sistible desire seized me. Pointing to the
| corpse of poor little Joseph, said to Sapt:
Colonel, we ought to strike blow for
/ him.
You'd like to give him some company,
| Ell? But It's too risky work, your majesty"
ct must have slap at en- said 1.
] Sapt wavered.
well" said he, its not business. you
know, but you've been good boy-and If
we come to grief. why, hang me, it'n save
us a lot of thinking! III show you how to
touch them
| He cautiously closed the open chink of
the door. Then we retreated through the
1 house and made our way to the back en-
trance. Here our horses were standing. A
carriage drive swept all around the lodge.
Revolver ready?" asked Sapt.
mo: steel for me-" said l..
Cad, you're thirsty tonight" chuckled
| Sapt so be It.
L