the mad king-第18部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



Peter　scowled　at　the　now　frightened　hospital　attendant。

〃Tomorrow　I　shall　be　riding　through　the　lowlands；　Cob…　lich；　and　so　you　may　not　find　means　to　communicate　with　me；　but　before　noon　of　the　fifth　have　word　at　your　town　house　in　Lustadt　for　me　of　the　success　of　your　venture。〃

They　had　reached　the　point　now　where　the　road　to　Tafel…　berg　branches　from　that　to　Blentz；　and　the　four　who　were　to　fetch　the　king　wheeled　their　horses　into　the　left…hand　fork　and　cantered　off　upon　their　mission。

The　direct　road　between　Lustadt　and　Tafelberg　is　but　little　more　than　half　the　distance　of　that　which　Coblich　and　his　companions　had　to　traverse　because　of　the　wide　detour　they　had　made　by　riding　almost　to　Blentz　first；　and　so　it　was　that　when　they　cantered　into　the　little　mountain　town　near　midnight　Barney　Custer　and　Lieutenant　Butzow　were　but　a　mile　or　two　behind　them。

Had　the　latter　had　even　the　faintest　of　suspicions　that　the　identity　of　the　hiding　place　of　the　king　might　come　to　the　knowledge　of　Peter　of　Blentz　they　could　have　reached　Tafelberg　ahead　of　Coblich　and　his　party；　but　all　unsus…　pecting　they　rode　slowly　to　conserve　the　energy　of　their　mounts　for　the　return　trip。

In　silence　the　two　men　approached　the　grounds　sur…　rounding　the　sanatorium。　　In　the　soft　dirt　of　the　road　the　hoofs　of　their　mounts　made　no　sound；　and　the　shadows　of　the　trees　that　border　the　front　of　the　enclosure　hid　them　from　the　view　of　the　trooper　who　held　four　riderless　horses　in　a　little　patch　of　moonlight　that　broke　through　the　opening　in　the　trees　at　the　main　gate　of　the　institution。

Barney　was　the　first　to　see　the　animals　and　the　man。

〃S…s…st；〃　he　hissed；　reining　in　his　horse。

Butzow　drew　alongside　the　American。

〃What　can　it　mean？〃　asked　Barney。　　〃That　fellow　is　a　trooper；　but　I　cannot　make　out　his　uniform。〃

〃Wait　here；〃　said　Butzow；　and　slipping　from　his　horse　he　crept　closer　to　the　man；　hugging　the　dense　shadows　close　to　the　trees。

Barney　reined　in　nearer　the　low　wall。　　From　his　saddle　he　could　see　the　grounds　beyond　through　the　branches　of　a　tree。　　As　he　looked　his　attention　was　suddenly　riveted　upon　a　sight　that　sent　his　heart　into　his　throat。

Three　men　were　dragging　a　struggling；　half…naked　figure　down　the　gravel　walk　from　the　sanatorium　toward　the　gate。　One　kept　a　hand　clapped　across　the　mouth　of　the　prisoner；　who　struck　and　fought　his　assailants　with　all　the　frenzy　of　despair。

Barney　leaped　from　his　saddle　and　ran　headlong　after　Butzow。　　The　lieutenant　had　reached　the　gate　but　an　instant　ahead　of　him　when　the　trooper；　turning　suddenly　at　some　slight　sound　of　the　officer's　foot　upon　the　ground；　detected　the　man　creeping　upon　him。　　In　an　instant　the　fellow　had　whipped　out　a　revolver；　and　raising　it　fired　point…blank　at　Butzow's　chest；　but　in　the　same　instant　a　figure　shot　out　of　the　shadows　beside　him；　and　with　the　report　of　the　revolver　a　heavy　fist　caught　the　trooper　on　the　side　of　the　chin；　crumpling　him　to　the　ground　as　if　he　were　dead。

The　blow　had　been　in　time　to　deflect　the　muzzle　of　the　firearm；　and　the　bullet　whistled　harmlessly　past　the　lieu…　tenant。

〃Your　majesty！〃　exclaimed　Butzow　excitedly。　　〃Go　back。　He　might　have　killed　you。〃

Barney　leaped　to　the　other's　side　and　grasping　him　by　the　shoulders　wheeled　him　about　so　that　he　faced　the　gate。

〃There；　Butzow；〃　he　cried；　〃there　is　your　king；　and　from　the　looks　of　it　he　never　needed　a　loyal　subject　more　than　he　does　this　moment。　　Come！〃　　Without　waiting　to　see　if　the　other　followed　him；　Barney　Custer　leaped　through　the　gate　full　in　the　faces　of　the　astonished　trio　that　was　dragging　Leopold　of　Lutha　from　his　sanctuary。

At　sight　of　the　American　the　king　gave　a　muffled　cry　of　relief；　and　then　Barney　was　upon　those　who　held　him。　　A　stinging　uppercut　lifted　Coblich　clear　of　the　ground　to　drop　him；　dazed　and　bewildered；　at　the　foot　of　the　monarch　he　had　outraged。　　Maenck　drew　a　revolver　only　to　have　it　struck　from　his　hand　by　the　sword　of　Butzow；　who　had　followed　closely　upon　the　American's　heels。

Barney；　seizing　the　king　by　the　arm；　started　on　a　run　for　the　gateway。　　In　his　wake　came　Butzow　with　a　drawn　sword　beating　back　Stein；　who　was　armed　with　a　cavalry　saber；　and　Maenck　who　had　now　drawn　his　own　sword。

The　American　saw　that　the　two　were　pressing　Butzow　much　too　closely　for　safety　and　that　Coblich　had　now　re…　covered　from　the　effects　of　the　blow　and　was　in　pursuit；　drawing　his　saber　as　he　ran。　　Barney　thrust　the　king　behind　him　and　turned　to　face　the　enemy；　at　Butzow's　side。

The　three　men　rushed　upon　the　two　who　stood　between　them　and　their　prey。　　The　moonlight　was　now　full　in　the　faces　of　Butzow　and　the　American。　　For　the　first　time　Maenck　and　the　others　saw　who　it　was　that　had　interrupted　them。

〃The　impostor！〃　cried　the　governor　of　Blentz。　　〃The　false　king！〃

Imbued　with　temporary　courage　by　the　knowledge　that　his　side　had　the　advantage　of　superior　numbers　he　launched　himself　full　upon　the　American。　　To　his　surprise　he　met　a　sword…arm　that　none　might　have　expected　in　an　American；　for　Barney　Custer　had　been　a　pupil　of　the　redoubtable　Colonel　Monstery；　who　was；　as　Barney　was　wont　to　say；　〃one　of　the　thanwhomest　of　fencing　masters。〃

Quickly　Maenck　fell　back　to　give　place　to　Stein；　but　not　before　the　American's　point　had　found　him　twice　to　leave　him　streaming　blood　from　two　deep　flesh　wounds。

Neither　of　those　who　fought　in　the　service　of　the　king　saw　the　trembling；　weak…kneed　figure；　which　had　stood　be…　hind　them；　turn　and　scurry　through　the　gateway；　leaving　the　men　who　battled　for　him　to　their　fate。

The　trooper　whom　Barney　had　felled　had　regained　con…　sciousness　and　as　he　came　to　his　feet　rubbing　his　swollen　jaw　he　saw　a　disheveled；　half…dressed　figure　running　toward　him　from　the　sanatorium　grounds。　　The　fellow　was　no　fool；　and　knowing　the　purpose　of　the　expedition　as　he　did　he　was　quick　to　jump　to　the　conclusion　that　this　fleeing　personi…　fication　of　abject　terror　was　Leopold　of　Lutha；　and　so　it　was　that　as　the　king　emerged　from　the　gateway　in　search　of　freedom　he　ran　straight　into　the　widespread　arms　of　the　trooper。

Maenck　and　Coblich　had　seen　the　king's　break　for　liberty；　and　the　latter　maneuvered　to　get　himself　between　Butzow　and　the　open　gate　that　he　might　follow　after　the　fleeing　monarch。

At　the　same　instant　Maenck；　seeing　that　Stein　was　being　worsted　by　the　American；　rushed　in　upon　the　latter；　and　thus　relieved；　the　rat…faced　doctor　was　enabled　to　swing　a　heavy　cut　at　Barney　which　struck　him　a　glancing　blow　upon　the　head；　sending　him　stunned　and　bleeding　to　the　sward。

Coblich　and　the　governor　of　Blentz　hastened　toward　the　gate；　pausing　for　an　instant　to　overwhelm　Butzow。　　In　the　fierce　scrimmage　that　followed　the　lieutenant　was　over…　thrown；　though　not　before　his　sword　had　passed　through　the　heart　of　the　rat…faced　one。　　Deserting　their　fallen　com…　rade　the　two　dashed　through　the　gate；　where　to　their　im…　mense　relief　they　found　Leopold　safe　in　the　hands　of　the　trooper。

An　instant　later　the　precious　trio；　with　Leopold　upon　the　horse　of　the　late　Dr。　Stein；　were　galloping　swiftly　into　the　darkness　of　the　wood　that　lies　at　the　outskirts　of　Tafelberg。

When　Barney　regained　consciousness　he　found　himself　upon　a　cot　within　the　sanatorium。　　Close　beside　him　lay　Butzow；　and　above　them　stood　an　interne　and　several　nurses。　　No　sooner　had　the　American　regained　his　scattered　wits　than　he　leaped　to　the　floor。　　The　interne　and　the　nurses　tried　to　force　him　back　upon　the　cot；　thinking　that　he　was　in　the　throes　of　a　delirium；　and　it　required　his　best　efforts　to　convince　them　that　he　was　quite　rational。

During　the　melee　Butzow　regained　consciousness；　his　wound　being　as　superficial　as　that　of　the　American；　the　two　men　were　soon　donning　their　clothing；　and；　half…dressed；　rushing　toward　the　outer　gate。

The　interne　had　told　them　that　when　he　had　reached　the　scene　of　the　conflict　in　company　with　the　gardener　he　had　found　them　and　another　lying　upon　the　sward。

Their　companion；　he　said；　was　quite　dead。

〃That　must　have　been　Stein；〃　said　Butzow。　　〃And　the　others　had　escaped　with　the　king！〃

〃The　king？〃　cried　the　interne。

〃Yes；　the　king；　manLeopold　of　Lutha。　　Did　you　not　know　that　he　who　has　lain　here　for　three　weeks　was　the　king？〃　replied　Butzow。

The　interne　accompanied　them　to　the　gate　and　beyond；　but　everywhere　was　silence。　　The　king　was　gone。




X

ON　THE　BATTLEFIELD

ALL　THAT　night　and　the　following　day　Barney　Custer　and　his　aide　rode　in　search　of　the　missing　king。

They　came　to　Blentz；　and　there　Butzow　rode　boldly　into　the　great　court；　admitted　by　virtue　of　the　fact　that　the　guard　upon　the　gate　knew　him　only　as　an　officer　of　the　royal　guard　whom　they　believed　still　loyal　to　Peter　of　Blentz。

The　lieutenant　learned　that　the　king　was　not　there；　nor　had　he　been　since　his　escape。　　He　also　learned　that　Peter　was　abroad　in　the　lowland　recruiting　followers　to　aid　him　forcibly　to　regain　the　crown　of　Lutha。

The　lieutenant　did　not　wait　to　hear　more；　but；　hurrying　from　the　castle；　rode　to　Barney　where　the　latter　had　re…　mained　in　hiding　in　the　wood　below　the　moatthe　same　wood　through　which　he　had　stumbled　a　few　weeks　previ…　ously　after　his　escape　from　the　stagnant　waters　of　the　moat。

〃The　king　is　not　here；〃　said　Butzow　to　him；　as　soon　as　the　former　reached　his　side。　　〃Peter　is　recruiting　an　army　to　aid　him　in　seizing　the　palace　at　Lustadt；　and　king　or　no　king；　we　must　ride　for　the　capital　in　time　to　check　that　move。　Thank　God；〃　he　added；　〃that　we　shall　have　a　king　to　place　upon　the　throne　of　Lutha　at　noon　tomorrow　in　spite　of　all　that　Peter　can　do。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Barney。　　〃Have　you　any　clue　to　the　whereabouts　of　Leopold？〃

〃I　saw　the　man　at　Tafelberg　whom　you　say　is　king；〃　replied　Butzow。　　〃I　saw　him　tremble　and　whimper　in　the　face　of　danger。　　I　saw　him　run　when　he　might　have　seized　some…　thing；　even　a　stone；　and　fought　at　the　sides　of　the　men　who　were　come　to　rescue　him。　　And　I　saw　you　there　also。

〃The　truth　and　the　falsity　of　this　whole　strange　business　is　beyond　me；　but　this　I　know：　if　you　are　not　the　king　today　I　pray　God　that　the　other　may　not　find　his　way　to　Lustadt　before　noon　tomorrow；　for　by　then　a　brave　man　will　sit　upon　the　throne　of　Lutha；　your　majesty。〃

Barney　laid　his　hand　up