the mad king-第27部分

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ea　sort　of　forlorn　hopeand　that　was　to　risk　fate　and　make　a　dash　beneath　the　sentry's　nose　for　the　opposite　alley　mouth。

〃Well；　here　goes；〃　thought　Barney。　　He　had　heard　that　many　of　the　Austrians　were　excellent　shots。　　Visions　of　Bea…　trice；　Nebraska；　swarmed　his　memory。　　They　were　pleasant　visions；　made　doubly　alluring　by　the　thought　that　the　reali…　ties　of　them　might　never　again　be　for　him。

He　turned　once　more　toward　the　sounds　of　pursuitthe　men　upon　his　track　could　not　be　over　a　square　awaythere　was　not　an　instant　to　be　lost。　　And　then　from　above　him；　upon　the　opposite　side　of　the　alley；　came　a　low：　〃S…s…t！〃

Barney　looked　up。　　Very　dimly　he　could　see　the　dark　out…　line　of　a　window　some　dozen　feet　from　the　pavement；　and　framed　within　it　the　lighter　blotch　that　might　have　been　a　human　face。　　Again　came　the　challenging：　〃S…s…t！〃　　Yes；　there　was　someone　above；　signaling　to　him。

〃S…s…t！〃　replied　Barney。　　He　knew　that　he　had　been　dis…　covered；　and　could　think　of　no　better　plan　for　throwing　the　discoverer　off　his　guard　than　to　reply。

Then　a　soft　voice　floated　down　to　hima　woman's　voice！

〃Is　that　you？〃　　The　tongue　was　Serbian。　　Barney　could　understand　it；　though　he　spoke　it　but　indifferently。

〃Yes；〃　he　replied　truthfully。

〃Thank　Heaven！〃　came　the　voice　from　above。　　〃I　have　been　watching　you；　and　thought　you　one　of　the　Austrian　pigs。　　Quick！　　They　are　comingI　can　hear　them；〃　and　at　the　same　instant　Barney　saw　something　drop　from　the　win…　dow　to　the　ground。　　He　crossed　the　alley　quickly；　and　could　have　shouted　in　relief　for　what　he　found　therethe　end　of　a　knotted　rope　dangling　from　above。

His　pursuers　were　almost　upon　him　when　he　seized　the　rude　ladder　to　clamber　upward。　　At　the　window's　ledge　a　firm；　young　hand　reached　out　and；　seizing　his　own；　almost　dragged　him　through　the　window。　　He　turned　to　look　back　into　the　alley。　　He　had　been　just　in　time；　the　Austrian　sentry；　alarmed　by　the　sound　of　approaching　footsteps　down　the　alley；　had　stepped　into　view。　　He　stood　there　now　with　leveled　rifle；　a　challenge　upon　his　lips。　　From　the　advancing　party　came　a　satisfactory　reply。

At　the　same　instant　the　girl　beside　him　in　the　Stygian　blackness　of　the　room　threw　her　arms　about　Barney's　neck　and　drew　his　face　down　to　hers。

〃Oh；　Stefan；〃　she　whispered；　〃what　a　narrow　escape！　　It　makes　me　tremble　to　think　of　it。　　They　would　have　shot　you；　my　Stefan！〃

The　American　put　an　arm　about　the　girl's　shoulders；　and　raised　one　hand　to　her　cheekit　might　have　been　in　caress；　but　it　wasn't。　　It　was　to　smother　the　cry　of　alarm　he　antici…　pated　would　follow　the　discovery　that　he　was　not　〃Stefan。〃　He　bent　his　lips　close　to　her　ear。

〃Do　not　make　an　outcry；〃　he　whispered　in　very　poor　Serbian。　　〃I　am　not　Stefan；　but　I　am　a　friend。〃

The　exclamation　of　surprise　or　fright　that　he　had　expected　was　not　forthcoming。　　The　girl　lowered　her　arms　from　about　his　neck。

〃Who　are　you？〃　she　asked　in　a　low　whisper。

〃I　am　an　American　war　correspondent；〃　replied　Barney；　〃but　if　the　Austrians　get　hold　of　me　now　it　will　be　mighty　difficult　to　convince　them　that　I　am　not　a　spy。〃　　And　then　a　sudden　determination　came　to　him　to　trust　his　fate　to　this　unknown　girl；　whose　face；　even；　he　had　never　seen。　　〃I　am　entirely　at　your　mercy；〃　he　said。　　〃There　are　Austrian　soldiers　in　the　street　below。　　You　have　but　to　call　to　them　to　send　me　before　the　firing　squador；　you　can　let　me　remain　here　until　I　can　find　an　opportunity　to　get　away　in　safety。　　I　am　trying　to　reach　Serbia。〃

〃Why　do　you　wish　to　reach　Serbia？〃　asked　the　girl　sus…　piciously。

〃I　have　discovered　too　many　enemies　in　Austria　tonight　to　make　it　safe　for　me　to　remain；〃　he　replied；　〃and；　further；　my　original　intention　was　to　report　the　war　from　the　Serbian　side。〃

The　girl　hesitated　for　a　while；　evidently　in　thought。

〃They　are　moving　on；〃　suggested　Barney。　　〃If　you　are　going　to　give　me　up　you'd　better　do　it　at　once。〃

〃I'm　not　going　to　give　you　up；〃　replied　the　girl。　　〃I'm　going　to　keep　you　prisoner　until　Stefan　returnshe　will　know　best　what　to　do　with　you。　　Now　you　must　come　with　me　and　be　locked　up。　　Do　not　try　to　escapeI　have　a　revolver　in　my　hand；〃　and　to　give　her　prisoner　physical　proof　of　the　weapon　he　could　not　see　she　thrust　the　muzzle　against　his　side。

〃I'll　take　your　word　for　the　gun；〃　said　Barney；　〃if　you'll　just　turn　it　in　the　other　direction。　　Go　aheadI'll　follow　you。〃

〃No；　you　won't；〃　replied　the　girl。　　〃You'll　go　first；　but　before　that　you'll　raise　your　hands　above　your　head。　　I　want　to　search　you。〃

Barney　did　as　he　was　bid　and　a　moment　later　felt　deft　fingers　running　over　his　clothing　in　search　of　concealed　weapons。　　Satisfied　at　last　that　he　was　unarmed；　the　girl　directed　him　to　precede　her；　guiding　his　steps　from　behind　with　a　hand　upon　his　arm。　　Occasionally　he　felt　the　muzzle　of　her　revolver　touch　his　body。　　It　was　a　most　unpleasant　sensation。

They　crossed　the　room　to　a　door　which　his　captor　directed　him　to　open；　and　after　they　had　passed　through　and　she　had　closed　it　behind　them　the　girl　struck　a　match　and　lit　a　candle　which　stood　upon　a　little　bracket　on　the　partition　wall。　　The　dim　light　of　the　tallow　dip　showed　Barney　that　he　was　in　a　narrow　hall　from　which　several　doors　opened　into　different　rooms。　　At　one　end　of　the　hall　a　stairway　led　to　the　floor　below；　while　at　the　opposite　end　another　flight　disappeared　into　the　darkness　above。

〃This　way；〃　said　the　girl；　motioning　toward　the　stairs　that　led　upward。

Barney　had　turned　toward　her　as　she　struck　the　match；　obtaining　an　excellent　view　of　her　features。　　They　were　clear…　cut　and　regular。　　Her　eyes　were　large　and　very　dark。　　Dark　also　was　her　hair；　which　was　piled　in　great　heaps　upon　her　finely　shaped　head。　　Altogether　the　face　was　one　not　easily　to　be　forgotten。　　Barney　could　scarce　have　told　whether　the　girl　was　beautiful　or　not；　but　that　she　was　striking　there　could　be　no　doubt。

He　preceded　her　up　the　stairway　to　a　door　at　the　top。　　At　her　direction　he　turned　the　knob　and　entered　a　small　room　in　which　was　a　cot；　an　ancient　dresser　and　a　single　chair。

〃You　will　remain　here；〃　she　said；　〃until　Stefan　returns。　Stefan　will　know　what　to　do　with　you。〃　　Then　she　left　him；　taking　the　light　with　her；　and　Barney　heard　a　key　turn　in　the　lock　of　the　door　after　she　had　closed　it。　　Presently　her　footfalls　died　out　as　she　descended　to　the　lower　floors。

〃Anyhow；〃　thought　the　American；　〃this　is　better　than　the　Austrians。　　I　don't　know　what　Stefan　will　do　with　me；　but　I　have　a　rather　vivid　idea　of　what　the　Austrians　would　have　done　to　me　if　they'd　caught　me　sneaking　through　the　alleys　of　Burgova　at　midnight。〃

Throwing　himself　on　the　cot　Barney　was　soon　asleep；　for　though　his　predicament　was　one　that；　under　ordinary　cir…　cumstances　might　have　made　sleep　impossible；　yet　he　had　so　long　been　without　the　boon　of　slumber　that　tired　nature　would　no　longer　be　denied。

When　he　awoke　it　was　broad　daylight。　　The　sun　was　pouring　in　through　a　skylight　in　the　ceiling　of　his　tiny　chamber。　　Aside　from　this　there　were　no　windows　in　the　room。　　The　sound　of　voices　came　to　him　with　an　uncanny　distinctness　that　made　it　seem　that　the　speakers　must　be　in　this　very　chamber；　but　a　glance　about　the　blank　walls　con…　vinced　him　that　he　was　alone。

Presently　he　espied　a　small　opening　in　the　wall　at　the　head　of　his　cot。　　He　rose　and　examined　it。　　The　voices　ap…　peared　to　be　coming　from　it。　　In　fact；　they　were。　　The　opening　was　at　the　top　of　a　narrow　shaft　that　seemed　to　lead　to　the　basement　of　the　structureapparently　once　the　shaft　of　a　dumb…waiter　or　a　chute　for　refuse　or　soiled　clothes。

Barney　put　his　ear　close　to　it。　　The　voices　that　came　from　below　were　those　of　a　man　and　a　woman。　　He　heard　every　word　distinctly。

〃We　must　search　the　house；　fraulein；〃　came　in　the　deep　voice　of　a　man。

〃Whom　do　you　seek？〃　inquired　a　woman's　voice。　　Barney　recognized　it　as　the　voice　of　his　captor。

〃A　Serbian　spy；　Stefan　Drontoff；〃　replied　the　man。　　〃Do　you　know　him？〃

There　was　a　considerable　pause　on　the　girl's　part　before　she　answered；　and　then　her　reply　was　in　such　a　low　voice　that　Barney　could　barely　hear　it。

〃I　do　not　know　him；〃　she　said。　　〃There　are　several　men　who　lodge　here。　　What　may　this　Stefan　Drontoff　look　like？〃

〃I　have　never　seen　him；〃　replied　the　officer；　〃but　by　ar…　resting　all　the　men　in　the　house　we　must　get　this　Stefan　also；　if　he　is　here。〃

〃Oh！〃　cried　the　girl；　a　new　note　in　her　voice；　〃I　guess　I　know　now　whom　you　mean。　　There　is　one　man　here　I　have　heard　them　call　Stefan；　though　for　the　moment　I　had　for…　gotten　it。　　He　is　in　the　small　attic…room　at　the　head　of　the　stairs。　　Here　is　a　key　that　will　fit　the　lock。　　Yes；　I　am　sure　that　he　is　Stefan。　　You　will　find　him　there；　and　it　should　be　easy　to　take　him；　for　I　know　that　he　is　unarmed。　　He　told　me　so　last　night　when　he　came　in。〃

〃The　devil！〃　muttered　Barney　Custer；　but　whether　he　referred　to　his　predicament　or　to　the　girl　it　would　be　im…　possible　to　tell。　　Already　the　sound　of　heavy　boots　on　the　stairs　announced　the　coming　of　menseveral　of　them。　　Bar…　ney　heard　the　rattle　of　accoutermentsthe　clank　of　a　scab…　bardthe　scraping　of　gun　butts　against　the　walls。　　The　Austrians　were　coming！

He　looked　about。　　There　was　no　way　of　escape　except　the　door　and　the　skylight；　and　the　door　was　impossible。

Quickly　he　tilted　the　cot　against　the　door；　wedging　its　legs　against　a　crack　in　the　floorthat　would　stop　them　for　a　minute　or　two。　　then　he　wheeled　the　dresser　beneath　the　sky…　light　and；　placing　the　chair　on　top　of　it；　scrambled　to　the　seat　of　the　latter。　　His　head　was　at　the　height　of　the　sky…　light。　　to　force　the　skylight　from　its　frame　required　but　a　moment。　　A　key　entered　the　lock　of　the　door　from　the　op…　posite　side　and　turned。　　He　knew　that　someone　without　was　pushing。　　Then　he　heard　an　oath　and　heavy　battering　upon　the　panels。　　A　moment　later　he　had　drawn　himself　through　the　skylight　and　stood　upon　the　roof　of　the　building。　　Be…　fore　him　stretched　a　series　of　uneven　roofs　to　the　end　of　the　street。　　Barney　did　not　hesitate。　　He　started　on　a　rapid　trot　toward　the　adjoining　roof。　　From　that　he　clambered　to　a　higher　one　beyond。

On　he　went；　now　leaping　narrow　courts；　now　dropping　to　low　sheds　and　again　clambering　to　the　heights　of　the　higher　buildings；　until