The Spectator., 1916-02-01
FOURTEENTH INSTALLMENT
The Last Arbitrament.
CHAPTER u.

The call to arms was as music to Count Frederick's ears. Leaving his idle, added king steeped in his follies he hurried to the front.
 The army was ready enough to put itself under his control recognized him as the one ruler in all the realm His quick orders, supplementiug the arrangements of the day before, soon set all events in train. 1t had been his plan to mask his men deep within the town; and, as has been said, the jaws of the trap now were sprung.
 The charge of the forces of King Cortislaw was met by the counter shock of the GretzhoffGn arms. Fred erick S forces sprang forward with the enthusiasm of troops long in leash, and swept back the invaders For few moments the two lines wriJhed here and there in deadly embrace. as two well-matched wrestiers, neither having the advantage.
 Deep within the palace Kitty had forgotten her errand in the greater import of these sudden events. Tho coin had done all this-it was indeed a thing of omen, a thing of destiny,
 She peered from the palace win dows here and there. seeking to gain some knowledge of the fray. Now and then a wounded man lmped back Others came, carried by the litter bearers of the palace Defeat was at hand for the defenders of the palace.
 'Is there no hope, them she de- manded of one of the high officials of the household Where are our re- serves? See, our men can hold them no Ionger-they must have help or all Is lost
 The official, thus adjured, pulled himself together for a moment of thought.
 "Yes,' he exclaimed, there is a regiment held in reserve back of the palace, toward the water front"
 Then summon them at once!" ex- claimed the young woman.
 Presently the retiring troops heard the sound of bugles. the chatter of hoofs from the opposite direction; saw the advance of the Gretzhoffen reserves so badly needed, They swept on now to the front rallying their retreating men. The leader of the reserves looked around for the com mander of the battle; instead he saw the figure of young girl flash down the palace steps and hurry toward them
 "YonderH she cried "He is at the front, supporting their full attack"
 It was time now for the reserves. that was sure. Close to his own thin ming front line, Frederick sat, from his saddle scanning the work of @ bat tery hidden somewhere hack of the advance of the Grahoffen troops. which was raining ruin on his own men. It was hidden somewhere he could not tell where. although he swept the line beyond with the glasses time after time
 At last he found t. marked it by tine smoke belched from screen of grten-green branches lashed to the frames of guns.
 Count Frederick called an officer to him. We must take that battery" he said. If we don't. in five minutes we will he gone"
 Meantime SaChio himself, bold lead CT of armed men albeit self-sceking courier openly eXulted at what seemed to him the quick success of his country's arms. He held on, di- rectly under the eye Of CortisIaw him self, and no unsHned soldier he now showed himself to be.
 Tn five minutes, your majesty" said he, we will have broken their front, There will remain nothing but for us to advance"
 His eye, skilled in observation in such scenes, caught sight of the mounted figure of Count Frederick. leader of the Gretzhoffen arms. He recognized him in the distance-and quickly sent orders to the officer of the battery Whether or not it was due to this slight change of aim, the next salvo from the hidden guns ac- complished that which Sachio most desired. Sachio turned his glasses once more upon the spot where his enemy had sat. His horse was down, blown to pieces by the explosion of a shell, and the tall figure of Frederick himself lay prone!
 Now forward, men!" cried Sachio. "They have broken! They will run! At them with the bayonet! Charge!"
 The Grahoffen troops swept for ward. Man to man, now. the ultimate issue must be determined. It was at this moment that, coming on at a ha xfs A. ace grounds, the reserve regiment de