Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-08-16
g !;!,s prisoner
81: : 81: Ct Fl Zenda.
HOPE
copyriahted 1894 1895 by Henry Holt q Company
h

AT Zenda new force came into play,
the daring of young Rupert. He was
caught by her beauty, perhaps. Fer
haps it was enough for him that she
belonged to another man and that she
hated him. For many days there had
been uuarrels and i'll will between him
and the duke and the scene which
had witnessed in the dukes room was
but one of many. Rupeft's proposals
TO me. OF which she had of course been
ignorant, in no way surprised her when
I related them. She had herself warn
ed Michael against Rupert even when
she was calling on me to deliver her
from both of them. On this night,
then, Rupert when she had gone to her
room. having furnished himself with Il
key to it, made his entrance. Her cries
had brought the duke. and there in the
dark room while she screamed the
men had fought, and Rupert, having
wounded his master with a mortal
blow. had on the servants rushing III
escaped through the window, as L nave
described. The dukes blood, squirting
out, had stained his opponents shirt;
but Rupert not knowing that he had
dealt Michael his death, was eager to
finish the encounter. How he meant to
deal with the other three of the band |
know not. dare say he did not think,
for the killing of Michael was not pre-
meditated. Antoinette, left alone with
the duke, had tried to stanch his
wound, and thus was she busted till he
died. and then, hearing Ruperts
taunts. she had come forth to avenge
him. Me she had not seen, nor did she
till / darted out of my ambush and
leaped after Rupert into the moat.
The same moment found my friends
on the scene. They had reached the
chateau in due time and waited ready
by the door. But Johann, swept with
the rest to the rescue of the duke, did
not open it-nay, he took part against
Rupert, putting himself forward more
bravely than any in his anxiety to
avert suspicion, and he had received a
wound, in the embrasure Of the win
dow. Till nearly half past 2 Saptwait-
ed; then, following my orders, he had
sent Fritz to search the banks of the
moat. l was not there. Fastening
back. Fritz told Sapt, and Sapt was
for following orders still and riding at
full speed back to Tarlenheim, While
Fritz would not hear of abandoning
me. let me have ordered what 1 would
On this they disputed some few min
utes; then Sapt, persuaded by Fritz
detached a party under Bernensteln tC
gallon back to Tarlenheim and bring
I'D the marshal, while the rest fell tC
on the great door of the chateau. Fol
near fifteen minutes it resisted them
thea, just as AntOnette de Maubar
fired at Rupert Hentzau on the bridge
they broke in, eight of them in aursfdnt
the first door they came n,sswas thu
door of Michael's TUorn, and Michae
lay dead acrcsssthe threshold, with
sword thruf through his breast. Sap
cried out DIT his death, as had heard
- and they rushed on the servants, bu
these in fear dropped their weapons
and Antoinette flung herself weeping
at Sapt's feet. And all she cried wa'
that / had been at the end of thu
bridge and had leaped off. What o.
the prisOner?" asked Sapt, but she
shook her head Then Sapt and Fritz
with the gentlemen behind them, cross
ed the bridge, slowly, warily and with
out noise, and Fritz stumbled over the
body of De Gautet in the way OF the
door. They felt him and found hin
dead.
Then they consulted, listening eager
Iy for any sound from the cells below
but there came none, and they were
greatly afraid that the kings guards
had killed him and, having pushed his
body through the great pipe, had es
caped the same way themselves. Yet
because had been seen here they had
still some hope thus, indeed, Fritz in
his friendship told mel, and, going back
to Michael's body, pushing aside An
toinette, who prayed by it, they found
q key to the door which l had locked
and opened the door. The staircase
was dark, and they would not use
torch at first lest they should be the
more exposed to fire. but soon Fritz
cried: 1.-The door down there is open
See. there is lightw So they went Oh
boldly and found none to oppose them
And when they came to the outer room
and saw the Belgian, Bersonin, lying
dead they thanked God, Sapt saying
"Aye. he has been here" Then, rush
ing into the kings cell, they found
Detchard lying dead across the deac
physician and the king on his back
with his chair by him. And Fritz cried
.sHe's deadv' and Sapt drove all out OF
Z The room except Fritz and knelt down
blythe king, and, having learned more
'of wounds and the signs of death than
I, he soon knew that the king was not
dead nor If properly attended would
die. And they covered his face and
carried him to Duke Michaels room
and laid him there, and AntOinette
rose from praying by the body of the
duke and went to battle the kings head
and dress his wounds till doctor
came. And Sapt, seeing l had been
there and having heard Ant0lnette'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
aakshe found me, guided by the
with which had called on Ru'
stop and face me. And think