the mad king-第28部分

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On　he　went；　now　leaping　narrow　courts；　now　dropping　to　low　sheds　and　again　clambering　to　the　heights　of　the　higher　buildings；　until　he　had　come　almost　to　the　end　of　the　row。　　Suddenly；　behind　him　he　heard　a　hoarse　shout；　fol…　lowed　by　the　report　of　a　rifle。　　With　a　whir；　a　bullet　flew　a　few　inches　above　his　head。　　He　had　gained　the　last　roof　a　large；　level　roofand　at　the　shot　he　turned　to　see　how　near　to　him　were　his　pursuers。

Fatal　turn！

Scarce　had　he　taken　his　eyes　from　the　path　ahead　than　his　foot　fell　upon　a　glass　skylight；　and　with　a　loud　crash　he　plunged　through　amid　a　shower　of　broken　glass。

His　fall　was　a　short　one。　　Directly　beneath　the　skylight　was　a　bed；　and　on　the　bed　a　fat　Austrian　infantry　captain。　Barney　lit　upon　the　pit　of　the　captain's　stomach。　　With　a　howl　of　pain　the　officer　catapulted　Barney　to　the　floor。　　There　were　three　other　beds　in　the　room；　and　in　each　bed　one　or　two　other　officers。　　Before　the　American　could　regain　his　feet　they　were　all　sitting　on　himall　except　the　infantry　captain。　　He　lay　shrieking　and　cursing　in　a　painful　attempt　to　regain　his　breath；　every　atom　of　which　Barney　had　knocked　out　of　him。

The　officers　sitting　on　Barney　alternately　beat　him　and　questioned　him；　interspersing　their　interrogations　with　lurid　profanity。

〃If　you　will　get　off　of　me；〃　at　last　shouted　the　American；　〃I　shall　be　glad　to　explainand　apologize。〃

They　let　him　up；　scowling　ferociously。　　He　had　promised　to　explain；　but　now　that　he　was　confronted　by　the　immedi…　ate　necessity　of　an　explanation　that　would　prove　at　all　satis…　factory　as　to　how　he　happened　to　be　wandering　around　the　rooftops　of　Burgova；　he　discovered　that　his　powers　of　in…　vention　were　entirely　inadequate。　　The　need　for　explaining；　however；　was　suddenly　removed。　　A　shadow　fell　upon　them　from　above；　and　as　they　glanced　up　Barney　saw　the　figure　of　an　officer　surrounded　by　several　soldiers　looking　down　upon　him。

〃Ah；　you　have　him！〃　cried　the　new…comer　in　evident　satis…　faction。　　〃It　is　well。　　Hold　him　until　we　descend。〃

A　moment　later　he　and　his　escort　had　dropped　through　the　broken　skylight　to　the　floor　beside　them。

〃Who　is　the　mad　man？〃　cried　the　captain　who　had　broken　Barney's　fall。　　〃The　assassin！　　He　tried　to　murder　me。〃

〃I　cannot　doubt　it；〃　replied　the　officer　who　had　just　de…　scended；　〃for　the　fellow　is　no　other　than　Stefan　Drontoff；　the　famous　Serbian　spy！〃

〃Himmel！　ejaculated　the　officers　in　chorus。　　〃You　have　done　a　good　days'　work；　lieutenant。〃

〃The　firing　squad　will　do　a　better　work　in　a　few　minutes；〃　replied　the　lieutenant；　with　a　grim　pointedness　that　took　Barney's　breath　away。




III

BEFORE　THE　FIRING　SQUAD

THEY　MARCHED　Barney　before　the　staff　where　he　urged　his　American　nationality；　pointing　to　his　credentials　and　passes　in　support　of　his　contention。

The　general　before　whom　he　had　been　brought　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃They　are　all　Americans　as　soon　as　they　are　caught；〃　he　said；　〃but　why　did　you　not　claim　to　be　Prince　Peter　of　Blentz？　　You　have　his　passes　as　well。　　How　can　you　expect　us　to　believe　your　story　when　you　have　in　your　pos…　session　passes　for　different　men？

〃We　have　every　respect　for　our　friends　the　Americans。　　I　would　even　stretch　a　point　rather　than　chance　harming　an　American；　but　you　will　admit　that　the　evidence　is　all　against　you。　　You　were　found　in　the　very　building　where　Drontoff　was　known　to　stay　while　in　Burgova。　　The　young　woman　whose　mother　keeps　the　place　directed　our　officer　to　your　room；　and　you　tried　to　escape；　which　I　do　not　think　that　an　innocent　American　would　have　done。

〃However；　as　I　have　said；　I　will　go　to　almost　any　length　rather　than　chance　a　mistake　in　the　case　of　one　who　from　his　appearance　might　pass　more　readily　for　an　American　than　a　Serbian。　　I　have　sent　for　Prince　Peter　of　Blentz。　　If　you　can　satisfactorily　explain　to　him　how　you　chance　to　be　in　possession　of　military　passes　bearing　his　name　I　shall　be　very　glad　to　give　you　the　benefit　of　every　other　doubt。〃

Peter　of　Blentz。　　Send　for　Peter　of　Blentz！　　Barney　won…　dered　just　what　kind　of　a　sensation　it　was　to　stand　facing　a　firing　squad。　　He　hoped　that　his　knees　wouldn't　tremble　they　felt　a　trifle　weak　even　now。　　There　was　a　chance　that　the　man　might　not　recall　his　face；　but　a　very　slight　chance。　It　had　been　his　remarkable　likeness　to　Leopold　of　Lutha　that　had　resulted　in　the　snatching　of　a　crown　from　Prince　Peter's　head。

Likely　indeed　that　he　would　ever　forget　his；　Barney's；　face；　though　he　had　seen　it　but　once　without　the　red　beard　that　had　so　added　to　Barney's　likeness　to　the　king。　　But　Maenck　would　be　along；　of　course；　and　Maenck　would　have　no　doubtshe　had　seen　Barney　too　recently　in　Beatrice　to　fail　to　recognize　him　now。

Several　men　were　entering　the　room　where　Barney　stood　before　the　general　and　his　staff。　　A　glance　revealed　to　the　prisoner　that　Peter　of　Blentz　had　come；　and　with　him　Von　Coblich　and　Maenck。　　At　the　same　instant　Peter's　eyes　met　Barney's；　and　the　former；　white　and　wide…eyed　came　al…　most　to　a　dead　halt；　grasping　hurriedly　at　the　arm　of　Maenck　who　walked　beside　him。

〃My　God！〃　was　all　that　Barney　heard　him　say；　but　he　spoke　a　name　that　the　American　did　not　hear。　　Maenck　also　looked　his　surprise；　but　his　expression　was　suddenly　changed　to　one　of　malevolent　cunning　and　gratification。　　He　turned　toward　Prince　Peter　with　a　few　low…whispered　words。　　A　look　of　relief　crossed　the　face　of　the　Blentz　prince。

〃You　appear　to　know　the　gentleman；〃　said　the　general　who　had　been　conducting　Barney's　examination。　　〃He　has　been　arrested　as　a　Serbian　spy；　and　military　passes　in　your　name　were　found　upon　his　person　together　with　the　papers　of　an　American　newspaper　correspondent；　which　he　claims　to　be。　　He　is　charged　with　being　Stefan　Drontoff；　whom　we　long　have　been　anxious　to　apprehend。　　Do　you　chance　to　know　anything　about　him；　Prince　Peter？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Peter　of　Blentz；　〃I　know　him　well　by　sight。　He　entered　my　room　last　night　and　stole　the　military　passes　from　my　coatwe　all　saw　him　and　pursued　him；　but　he　got　away　in　the　dark。　　There　can　be　no　doubt　but　that　he　is　the　Serbian　spy。〃

〃He　insists　that　he　is　Bernard　Custer；　an　American；〃　urged　the　general；　who；　it　seemed　to　Barney；　was　anxious　to　make　no　mistake；　and　to　give　the　prisoner　every　reasonable　chance　a　state　of　mind　that　rather　surprised　him　in　a　European　military　chieftain；　all　of　whom　appeared　to　share　the　popu…　lar　obsession　regarding　the　prevalence　of　spies。

〃Pardon　me；　general；〃　interrupted　Maenck。　　〃I　am　well　acquainted　with　Mr。　Custer；　who　spent　some　time　in　Lutha　a　couple　of　years　ago。　　This　man　is　not　he。〃

〃That　is　sufficient；　gentlemen；　I　thank　you；〃　said　the　gen…　eral。　　He　did　not　again　look　at　the　prisoner；　but　turned　to　a　lieutenant　who　stood　near…by。　　〃You　may　remove　the　pris…　oner；〃　he　directed。　　〃He　will　be　destroyed　with　the　others　here　is　the　order；〃　and　he　handed　the　subaltern　a　printed　form　upon　which　many　names　were　filled　in　and　at　the　bot…　tom　of　which　the　general　had　just　signed　his　own。　　It　had　evidently　been　waiting　the　outcome　of　the　examination　of　Stefan　Drontoff。

Surrounded　by　soldiers；　Barney　Custer　walked　from　the　presence　of　the　military　court。　　It　was　to　him　as　though　he　moved　in　a　strange　world　of　dreams。　　He　saw　the　look　of　satisfaction　upon　the　face　of　Peter　of　Blentz　as　he　passed　him；　and　the　open　sneer　of　Maenck。　　As　yet　he　did　not　fully　realize　what　it　all　meantthat　he　was　marching　to　his　death！　　For　the　last　time　he　was　looking　upon　the　faces　of　his　fellow　men；　for　the　last　time　he　had　seen　the　sun　rise；　never　again　to　see　it　set。

He　was　to　be　〃destroyed。〃　　He　had　heard　that　expression　used　many　times　in　connection　with　useless　horses；　or　vicious　dogs。　　Mechanically　he　drew　a　cigarette　from　his　pocket　and　lighted　it。　　There　was　no　bravado　in　the　act。　　On　the　contrary　it　was　done　almost　unconsciously。　　The　soldiers　marched　him　through　the　streets　of　Burgova。　　The　men　were　entirely　im…　passiveeven　so　early　in　the　war　they　had　become　accus…　tomed　to　this　grim　duty。　　The　young　officer　who　commanded　them　was　more　nervous　than　the　prisonerit　was　his　first　detail　with　a　firing　squad。　　He　looked　wonderingly　at　Bar…　ney；　expecting　momentarily　to　see　the　man　collapse；　or　at　least　show　some　sign　of　terror　at　his　close　impending　fate；　but　the　American　walked　silently　toward　his　death；　puffing　leisurely　at　his　cigarette。

At　last；　after　what　seemed　a　long　time；　his　guard　turned　in　at　a　large　gateway　in　a　brick　wall　surrounding　a　factory。　As　they　entered　Barney　saw　twenty　or　thirty　men　in　civilian　dress；　guarded　by　a　dozen　infantrymen。　　They　were　stand…　ing　before　the　wall　of　a　low　brick　building。　　Barney　noticed　that　there　were　no　windows　in　the　wall。　　It　suddenly　oc…　curred　to　him　that　there　was　something　peculiarly　grim　and　sinister　in　the　appearance　of　the　dead；　blank　surface　of　weather…stained　brick。　　For　the　first　time　since　he　had　faced　the　military　court　he　awakened　to　a　full　realization　of　what　it　all　meant　to　himhe　was　going　to　be　lined　up　against　that　ominous　brick　wall　with　these　other　men　they　were　going　to　shoot　them。

A　momentary　madness　seized　him。　　He　looked　about　upon　the　other　prisoners　and　guards。　　A　sudden　break　for　liberty　might　give　him　temporary　respite。　　He　could　seize　a　rifle　from　the　nearest　soldier；　and　at　least　have　the　satisfaction　of　selling　his　life　dearly。　　As　he　looked　he　saw　more　soldiers　entering　the　factory　yard。

A　sudden　apathy　overwhelmed　him。　　What　was　the　use？　He　could　not　escape。　　Why　should　he　wish　to　kill　these　soldiers？　　It　was　not　they　who　were　responsible　for　his　plight　they　were　but　obeying　orders。　　The　close　presence　of　death　made　life　seem　very　desirable。　　These　men；　too；　desired　life。　Why　should　he　take　it　from　them　uselessly。　　At　best　he　might　kill　one　or　two；　but　in　the　end　he　would　be　killed　as　surely　as　though　he　took　his　place　before　the　brick　wall　with　the　others。

He　noticed　now　that　these　others　evinced　no　inclination　to　contest　their　fates。　　Why　should　he；　then？　　Doubtless　many　of　them　were　as　innocent　as　he；　and　all　loved　life　as　well。　　He　saw　that　several　were　weeping　silently。　　Others　stood　with　bowed　heads　gazing　at　the　hard…packed　earth　of　the　factory　yard。　　Ah；　what　visions　were　their　eyes　beholding　for　the　last　time