Bogalusa enterprise. [volume] (Bogalusa, La.) 1914-1918, 1916-01-06
CHAPTER Lxxv.
The Last Sieqe.


the young American-"Ex l
intrude, but perhaps
What is it," demanded the noble
man calmly. Are they calling US
from our own port?'
Precisely that, excellency. We
have a wireless call. We were sum-
moned out, and now are summoned
back again. They demand that we
shall come quickly
What is wrong?" demanded Count
Frederick, springlng to his feet.
Everything, excellency! Word has
come that Grahoffen is marching
against US once moreover now our
city may be besieged.'
For moment Count Frederick
stood silent Il see" said he. THAT
faithless tyrant Cortislaw has forgot
his treaty and is going to war against
US when he thinks US unprepared. His
traitor and spy, Sachio, has kept him
we'll advised-I warrant that. How
are they coming this time?"
In part by land, but also in a
strong feet by sea-
$50 they are attacking on what they
think the weaker side Of our works.
Is there no such thing as faith among
kings-is there nowhere honesty in
all the worlds there no man OF
faithfulness and power any more?'
Sire" said the prime minister, un.
covering and bowling to him, there is
one such in our own country"
Michael, our king-that man?'
"No, sire, not Michael, our king. It
is none other than yourself l mean. In
you only can orr kingdom have any
hope-that is palmer now than it has
ever been in all our history. Times
must chango or we are undone. We
must dethrone our king at last. Take
the place, 5eseech you, excellency,
which belongs to you, the place which
you only can hold, for, believe me, it
is only in you that Gretzhoffen may
have any hope.
Il trust that you will remember
that it was myself that first made
this plain to your excellency," he
added, thoughtfully.
Time for all that later" said Count
Frederick hastily. First we must
get back to port and pull together
such forces as we can"
"Excellency, l. myself, attempted
something of that before we left"
said the prime minister. 81 attempted
to carry out such orders as fancied
you would have given had you been
there. Some of the regiments, no
doubt, have assembled. The guns
may be ready on cur sea-front pow."
very we'll Full speed ahead then.
We may not be in time
They were but barely in time. Be.
fore the Adelina locked in Gretzhof.
fen port there might have been seen
in the bay the smoke Of the adyanc.
ing fleet-the Grahoffen expeditionary
force already was crowding in for the
landing. At the same time, upon the
opposite side of the city, the army of
Grahoffen, in full force, was advancing
over the route which heretofore had
carried the assault Already this col
umn, composed Of cavalry, infantry
and the full artillery of Grahoffen
had passed the neutral strip, and was
entering tne suburbs below the castle
walls of the Gretzhoffen citadel.
They came exultantly, confident Of
their victory, and swept on as though
eager to begin the sacking Of the city
And the sacking Of Gretzhoffen surely
had begun but for the arrival of one
man.
The prime minister was right. Tn.
confidence of the people of Gretzhof
fen, as much of it as was left for AM
one man, now rested solely in the
nobleman who held so prominent F.:
: part in the countrys affairs of late
Count Frederick of Gretzhoffen. Swift
ly enough passed from lip to lip tn
news that Count Frederick had come
that he would lead the army, that h,
would direct the defense of the city
that his mind was organizing the re
sistance. And as this word passed
cheers followed it. The men flocke'
> readily to the standards, and ono
more abided the shock of arms.
: In this strained moment Coun
Sachio Of Grahoffen made good hi
promise to his king-he fought in tn
front rank of his own troops, and no
: even the jealous eyes of Cortisla,
! himself could find fault with his coul
! age or his judgment. He himself le
: the last assault against the walls
which finally broke through the cute
I defenses. The forces of Grahoffen a(
9 vanced so rapidly that it seemed II
4 deed as though Cortislaw would max
r good his threat to leave standing nc
b one stone upon another in this capits
' of his enemy.
q This was Sachio's opportunity, an
4 he knew tit was his crucial hou
One thought even more potent tina
/. his ambition for military glory sti
y ruled the soul Of this warlike nObl
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