the mad king-第29部分

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yard。　　Ah；　what　visions　were　their　eyes　beholding　for　the　last　time！　　What　memories　of　happy　firesides！　　What　dear；　loved　faces　were　limned　upon　that　sordid　clay！

His　reveries　were　interrupted　by　the　hoarse　voice　of　a　sergeant；　breaking　rudely　in　upon　the　silence　and　the　dumb　terror。　　The　fellow　was　herding　the　prisoners　into　position。　When　he　was　done　Barney　found　himself　in　the　front　rank　of　the　little；　hopeless　band。　　Opposite　them；　at　a　few　paces；　stood　the　firing　squad；　their　gun　butts　resting　upon　the　ground。

The　young　lieutenant　stood　at　one　side。　　He　issued　some　instructions　in　a　low　tone；　then　he　raised　his　voice。

〃Ready！〃　he　commanded。　　Fascinated　by　the　horror　of　it；　Barney　watched　the　rifles　raised　smartly　to　the　soldiers'　hipsthe　movement　was　as　precise　as　though　the　men　were　upon　parade。　　Every　bolt　clicked　in　unison　with　its　fellows。

〃Aim！〃　　the　pieces　leaped　to　the　hollows　of　the　men's　shoulders。　　The　leveled　barrels　were　upon　a　line　with　the　breasts　of　the　condemned。　　A　man　at　Barney's　right　moaned。　Another　sobbed。

〃Fire！〃　　There　was　the　hideous　roar　of　the　volley。　　Barney　Custer　crumpled　forward　to　the　ground；　and　three　bodies　fell　upon　his。　　A　moment　later　there　was　a　second　volley　all　had　not　fallen　at　the　first。　　Then　the　soldiers　came　among　the　bodies；　searching　for　signs　of　life；　but　evidently　the　two　volleys　had　done　their　work。　　The　sergeant　formed　his　men　in　line。　　The　lieutenant　marched　them　away。　　Only　silence　remained　on　guard　above　the　pitiful　dead　in　the　factory　yard。

The　day　wore　on　and　still　the　stiffening　corpses　lay　where

they　had　fallen。　　Twilight　came　and　then　darkness。　　A　head　appeared　above　the　top　of　the　wall　that　had　enclosed　the　grounds。　　Eyes　peered　through　the　night　and　keen　ears　lis…　tened　for　any　sign　of　life　within。　　At　last；　evidently　satisfied　that　the　place　was　deserted；　a　man　crawled　over　the　summit　of　the　wall　and　dropped　to　the　ground　within。　　Here　again　he　paused；　peering　and　listening。

What　strange　business　had　he　here　among　the　dead　that　demanded　such　caution　in　its　pursuit？　　Presently　he　ad…　vanced　toward　the　pile　of　corpses。　　Quickly　he　tore　open　coats　and　searched　pockets。　　He　ran　his　fingers　along　the　fingers　of　the　dead。　　Two　rings　had　rewarded　his　search　and　he　was　busy　with　a　third　that　encircled　the　finger　of　a　body　that　lay　beneath　three　others。　　It　would　not　come　off。　He　pulled　and　tugged；　and　then　he　drew　a　knife　from　his　pocket。

But　he　did　not　sever　the　digit。　　Instead　he　shrank　back　with　a　muffled　scream　of　terror。　　The　corpse　that　he　would　have　mutilated　had　staggered　suddenly　to　its　feet；　flinging　the　dead　bodies　to　one　side　as　it　rose。

〃You　fiend！〃　broke　from　the　lips　of　the　dead　man；　and　the　ghoul　turned　and　fled；　gibbering　in　his　fright。

The　tramp　of　soldiers　in　the　street　beyond　ceased　sud…　denly　at　the　sound　from　within　the　factory　yard。　　It　was　a　detail　of　the　guard　marching　to　the　relief　of　sentries。　　A　moment　later　the　gates　swung　open　and　a　score　of　soldiers　entered。　　They　saw　a　figure　dodging　toward　the　wall　a　dozen　paces　from　them；　but　they　did　not　see　the　other　that　ran　swiftly　around　the　corner　of　the　factory。

This　other　was　Barney　Custer　of　Beatrice。　　When　the　com…　mand　to　fire　had　been　given　to　the　squad　of　riflemen；　a　single　bullet　had　creased　the　top　of　his　head；　stunning　him。　All　day　he　had　lain　there　unconscious。　　It　had　been　the　tugging　of　the　ghoul　at　his　ring　that　had　roused　him　to　life　at　last。

Behind　him；　as　he　scurried　around　the　end　of　the　factory　building；　he　heard　the　scattering　fire　of　half　a　dozen　rifles；　followed　by　a　screamthe　fleeing　hyena　had　been　hit。　　Bar…　ney　crouched　in　the　shadow　of　a　pile　of　junk。　　He　heard　the　voices　of　soldiers　as　they　gathered　about　the　wounded　man；　questioning　him；　and　a　moment　later　the　imperious　tones　of　an　officer　issuing　instructions　to　his　men　to　search　the　yard。　　That　he　must　be　discovered　seemed　a　certainty　to　the　American。　　He　crouched　further　back　in　the　shadows　close　to　the　wall；　stepping　with　the　utmost　caution。

Presently　to　his　chagrin　his　foot　touched　the　metal　cover　of　a　manhole；　there　was　a　resultant　rattling　that　smote　upon　Barney's　ears　and　nerves　with　all　the　hideous　clatter　of　a　boiler　shop。　　He　halted；　petrified；　for　an　instant。　　He　was　no　coward；　but　after　being　so　near　death；　life　had　never　looked　more　inviting；　and　he　knew　that　to　be　discovered　meant　certain　extinction　this　time。

The　soldiers　were　circling　the　building。　　Already　he　could　hear　them　nearing　his　position。　　In　another　moment　they　would　round　the　corner　of　the　building　and　be　upon　him。　For　an　instant　he　contemplated　a　bold　rush　for　the　fence。　　In　fact；　he　had　gathered　himself　for　the　leaping　start　and　the　quick　sprint　across　the　open　under　the　noses　of　the　soldiers　who　still　remained　beside　the　dying　ghoul；　when　his　mind　suddenly　reverted　to　the　manhole　beneath　his　feet。　　Here　lay　a　hiding　place；　at　least　until　the　soldiers　had　departed。

Barney　stooped　and　raised　the　heavy　lid；　sliding　it　to　one　side。　　How　deep　was　the　black　chasm　beneath　he　could　not　even　guess。　　Doubtless　it　led　into　a　coal　bunker；　or　it　might　open　over　a　pit　of　great　depth。　　There　was　no　way　to　dis…　cover　other　than　to　plumb　the　abyss　with　his　body。　　Above　was　deathbelow；　a　chance　of　safety。

The　soldiers　were　quite　close　when　Barney　lowered　him…　self　through　the　manhole。　　Clinging　with　his　fingers　to　the　upper　edge　his　feet　still　swung　in　space。　　How　far　beneath　was　the　bottom？　　He　heard　the　scraping　of　the　heavy　shoes　of　the　searchers　close　above　him；　and　then　he　closed　his　eyes；　released　the　grasp　of　his　fingers；　and　dropped。




IV

A　RACE　TO　LUTHA

BARNEY'S　FALL　was　not　more　than　four　or　five　feet。　　He　found　himself　upon　a　slippery　floor　of　masonry　over　which　two　or　three　inches　of　water　ran　sluggishly。　　Above　him　he　heard　the　soldiers　pass　the　open　manhole。　　It　was　evident　that　in　the　darkness　they　had　missed　it。

For　a　few　minutes　the　fugitive　remained　motionless；　then；　hearing　no　sounds　from　above　he　started　to　grope　about　his　retreat。　　Upon　two　sides　were　blank；　circular　walls；　upon　the　other　two　circular　openings　about　four　feet　in　diameter。　　It　was　through　these　openings　that　the　tiny　stream　of　water　trickled。

Barney　came　to　the　conclusion　that　he　had　dropped　into　a　sewer。　　To　get　out　the　way　he　had　entered　appeared　im…　possible。　　He　could　not　leap　upward　from　the　slimy；　concave　bottom　the　distance　he　had　dropped。　　To　follow　the　sewer　upward　would　lead　him　nowhere　nearer　escape。　　There　remained　no　hope　but　to　follow　the　trickling　stream　down…　ward　toward　the　river；　into　which　his　judgment　told　him　the　entire　sewer　system　of　the　city　must　lead。

Stooping；　he　entered　the　ill…smelling　circular　conduit；　grop…　ing　his　way　slowly　along。　　As　he　went　the　water　deepened。　It　was　half　way　to　his　knees　when　he　plunged　unexpectedly　into　another　tube　running　at　right　angles　to　the　first。　　The　bottom　of　this　tube　was　lower　than　that　of　the　one　which　emptied　into　it；　so　that　Barney　now　found　himself　in　a　swiftly　running　stream　of　filth　that　reached　above　his　knees。　Downward　he　followed　this　floodfaster　now　for　the　fear　of　the　deadly　gases　which　might　overpower　him　before　he　could　reach　the　river。

The　water　deepened　gradually　as　he　went　on。　　At　last　he　reached　a　point　where；　with　his　head　scraping　against　the　roof　of　the　sewer；　his　chin　was　just　above　the　surface　of　the　stream。　　A　few　more　steps　would　be　all　that　he　could　take　in　this　direction　without　drowning。　　Could　he　retrace　his　way　against　the　swift　current？　　He　did　not　know。　　He　was　weak…　ened　from　the　effects　of　his　wound；　from　lack　of　food　and　from　the　exertions　of　the　past　hour。　　Well；　he　would　go　on　as　far　as　he　could。　　The　river　lay　ahead　of　him　somewhere。　Behind　was　only　the　hostile　city。

He　took　another　step。　　His　foot　found　no　support。　　He　surged　backward　in　an　attempt　to　regain　his　footing；　but　the　power　of　the　flood　was　too　much　for　him。　　He　was　swept　forward　to　plunge　into　water　that　surged　above　his　head　as　he　sank。　　An　instant　later　he　had　regained　the　surface　and　as　his　head　emerged　he　opened　his　eyes。

He　looked　up　into　a　starlit　heaven！　　He　had　reached　the　mouth　of　the　sewer　and　was　in　the　river。　　For　a　moment　he　lay　still；　floating　upon　his　back　to　rest。　　Above　him　he　heard　the　tread　of　a　sentry　along　the　river　front；　and　the　sound　of　men's　voices。

The　sweet；　fresh　air；　the　star…shot　void　above；　acted　as　a　powerful　tonic　to　his　shattered　hopes　and　overwrought　nerves。　　He　lay　inhaling　great　lungsful　of　pure；　invigorating　air。　　He　listened　to　the　voices　of　the　Austrian　soldiery　above　him。　　All　the　buoyancy　of　his　inherent　Americanism　returned　to　him。

〃This　is　no　place　for　a　minister's　son；〃　he　murmured；　and　turning　over　struck　out　for　the　opposite　shore。　　The　river　was　not　wide；　and　Barney　was　soon　nearing　the　bank　along　which　he　could　see　occasional　camp　fires。　　Here；　too；　were　Austrians。　　He　dropped　down…stream　below　these；　and　at　last　approached　the　shore　where　a　wood　grew　close　to　the　water's　edge。　　The　bank　here　was　steep；　and　the　American　had　some　difficulty　in　finding　a　place　where　he　could　clamber　up　the　precipitous　wall　of　rock。　　But　finally　he　was　success…　ful；　finding　himself　in　a　little　clump　of　bushes　on　the　river's　brim。　　Here　he　lay　resting　and　listeningalways　lis…　tening。　　It　seemed　to　Barney　that　his　ears　ached　with　the　constant　strain　of　unflagging　duty　that　his　very　existence　demanded　of　them。

Hearing　nothing；　he　crawled　at　last　from　his　hiding　place　with　the　purpose　of　making　his　way　toward　the　south　and　to　the　frontier　as　rapidly　as　possible。　　He　could　hope　only　to　travel　by　night；　and　he　guessed　that　this　night　must　be　nearly　spent。　　Stooping；　he　moved　cautiously　away　from　the　river。　　Through　the　shadows　of　the　wood　he　made　his　way　for　perhaps　a　hundred　yards　when　he　was　suddenly　con…　fronted　by　a　figure　that　stepped　from　behind　the　bole　of　a　tree。

〃Halt！　　Who　goes　there？〃　came　the　challenge。

Barney's　heart　stood　still。　　With　all　his　care　he　had　run　straight　into　the　arms　of　an　Austrian　sentry。　　To　run　would　be　to　be　shot。　　To　advance　would　mean　capture；　and　that　too　would　mean　death。

For　the　barest　fraction　of　an　instant　he　hesitated；　and　then　his　quick　American　wits　came　to　his　a