Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-28
CHAPTER XIX.
Face to Face In the Forest.

the glare Of lanterns and torches caught
me full in the eyes from the other side of
the bridge. But soon the scene grew
clear; and 1t was q strange scene. The
bridge was in its place. At the far end of
| 1t stood q group Of the dukes servants;
| two or three carried the lights which had
dazzled me- three or four held pixies in rest.
They were huddled together; their weap-
ons protruded before them; their faces
were pale and agitated. To put 1t plainly.
| they looked In as arrant q fright as have
seen men look. and they gazed apprehen-
sively at a man who stood In the middle
| OF the bridge. sYord In hand. rupert
white linen was stained with blood; but
| his easy, buoyant pose told me that he
was himself either not touched at all or
merely scratched. There he stood, hold
ing the bridge against them. and daring
them to come on; or, rather. bidding them
and Black Michael to him and they. hav-
Ing no firearms, covered before the des-
perate man and dared not attack him.
They whispered to one another; and in the
backmost rank I saw my friend Johann,
| leaning against the portal Of the door and
stanching with a handkerchief the blood
which flowed from wound In his cheek.
By marvellous chance 1 was master. The
| cravens would oppose me no more than
they dared attack Rupert. I had but to
raise my revolver, and 1 sent him to his
account with his sins on his head. He
did not SO much as know that was there.
did nothing-why, hardly know to this
day. I had killed one man stealthily that
night and another by luck rather than
skill-perhaps it was that. Again. villain
as the man was, 1 did not relish being one
| of crowd against him-perhaps it was
| that. But stronger than either of these
| fascination which held me spellbound.
| watching for the outcome of the scene.
Michael, you dog! Michael! If you can
| stand, come on!' cried Rupert; and he adj
yyo M OF fhn hrt ktnc ha @,
little before him. michael. you bastard!
come on!'
The answer to his taunts came in the
wild cry of a woman:
Dead! shouted Rupert. II struck bet
| ter than ] knewr' and he laughed tri-
umphantly. Then he went ON -'Down
| with your weapons there! I'm your master
now! Down with them, I say!'
I believe they would have obeyed, but as
he spoke came new things. First. there
arose distant sound, as Of shouts and
| knockings from the other side Of tho
chateau. My heart leaped. 1t must be
my men, come by happy disobedience to
seek me. The noise continued, but none
Of the rest seemed to heed it. Their at
tenttun was chained by what now hap
pened before their eyes. The group of
| servants parted and woman staggered on
| to the bridge. Antoinette de Mauban was
| streamed over her shoulders, her face was
CHASTITY pale and her eyes cleaned wildly
| in the light of the torches. In her shak-
| ing hand she held revolver. and as she
| tottered forward she fired 1t at Rupert
Hentzau. The ball missed him and struck
the woodwork over my head.
Faith, madame" laughed Rupert, had
your eyes been no more deadly than your
shooting I had not been In this scrape-
nor Black Michael in helI-tonightr'
She took no notice of his words. With a
wonderful effort she Gained herself till
she stood still and rigid Then, very
10 a M Sh Tn
her arm again, taking most careful aim.
He would be mad to risk it. He must
rush on her, CHANGING the bullet, or re-
treat toward me. 1 covered him with my
weapon.
He did neither. Before she had got her
aim he bowed in his most graceful fash
ion. cried. II can't kill where I've kissed"
and before she or l could stop him laid
his hand on the parapet Of the bridge. and
lightly leaped into the moat.
At the very moment I heard q rush of
God! it's the duke-dead% Then 1 knew
that the king needed me no more. and,
throwing down my revolver, I sprang out
on the bridge. There was a cry of wild
wonder, THE king!' and then /, like Ru-
pert Hentzau, sword in hand, vaulted over
the parapet. intent on finishing my quar-
rel with him where I saw his curly head
fifteen yards off in the water of the moat.
| weary and half crippled with my wounded
arm. I could not gain on him. For a
time I made no sound. but as we rounded
the re-. corner Of the old keep cried:
stop. Rupert, stop!'
I saw him look over his shoulder, but he
swan on. He was under the bank now,
searching, as I guessed, for spot that he
could climb. I knew there to be none
but there was my rope, which would still
be hanging where had left 1t. He would
come to where 1t was before 1 could. Per-
haps he would miss it-perhaps he would
find 1t; and If he drew it up after him he
w0llld get a good nf T RI
all my remaining strength and pressed on.
At last began to gain on him; for he, oc-
| cupied with his search. unconsciously
All. he had found It! low shout of tri-
umph came from him. He laid hold of 1t
and began to haul himself up. l was near
devil comes this here?'' was at the rope
and he hanging in midair, saw me; but
could not reach him.
"Hullo! who's here?" he cried in startled
tones.
For a moment I believe he took me for
the king-I dare say I was pale enough to
lend color to the thought; but an instant
later he cried:
why, it's the play-actor! How came
you here, man?'
And so saying he gained the bank.
I laid hold Of the rope, but I paused. He
stood on the bank. sword in hand, and he
could cut my head open or spit me through
the heart as l came up. l let go the rope.
Never mind" said I; but as I'm here
I think I'll stay.
He smiled doVn on me.
These women are the deuce" he be-
gan. when suddenly the great bell Of the
castle began to ring furiously and loud
shout reached US from the moat.
Rupert smiled again and waved his hand
to me.
1T should like a turn with you, but It's a
little too hot!' said he, and he disappeared
from above me.
In an instant. without thinking of dan
ger, laid my hand to the rope. I was
up. saw him thirty yards off, running
like q deer toward the shelter of the for
est. For once Rupert Hentzau had chosen
discretion for his part. laid my feet to
the ground and rushed after him. calling
to him to stand He would not. I'm
| wounded and vigorous, he gained on me
at every step; but, forgetting everything in
the world except him and my thirst for his
blood I pressed on, and soon the deep
shades Of the forest Of Zenda engulfed US
both, pursued and pursuer.
| In was o'clock now and day was
dawning. I was on long, straight grass
avenue, and a hundred yards ahead ran
young Rupert, his curls waving in the
fresh breeze I was weary and painting;
he looked over his shoulder and waved his
hand again to me. He was hooking me,
for he saw he had the pace of me. I was