THE STRONG ARM

BYROBERT BARR

CONTENTS

Chapter I. THE BEAUTIFUL JAILER OF GUDENFELS II. THE REVENGE OF THE OUTLAW III. A CITY OF FEAR IV. THE PERIL OF THE EMPEROR V. THE NEEDLE DAGGER VI. THE HOLY FEHM

THE COUNT'S APOLOGYCONVERTEDAN INVITATIONTHE ARCHBISHOP'S GIFTCOUNT KONRAD'S COURTSHIPTHE LONG LADDER"GENTLEMEN: THE KING!"THE HOUR-GLASSTHE WARRIOR MAID OF SAN CARLOSTHE AMBASSADOR'S PIGEONS

CHAPTER I

THE BEAUTIFUL JAILER OF GUDENFELS

The aged Emir Soldan sat in his tent and smiled; the crafty Orientalsmile of an experienced man, deeply grounded in the wisdom of thisworld. He knew that there was incipient rebellion in his camp; that theyoung commanders under him thought their leader was becoming too oldfor the fray; caution overmastering courage. Here were these dogs ofunbelievers setting their unhallowed feet on the sacred soil of Syria, and the Emir, instead of dashing against them, counselled coolness andprudence. Therefore impatience disintegrated the camp and resentmentthreatened discipline. When at last the murmurs could be no longerignored the Emir gathered his impetuous young men together in his tent, and thus addressed them. 

"It may well be that I am growing too old for the active field; it maybe that, having met before this German boar who leads his herd ofswine, I am fearful of risking my remnant of life against him, but Ihave ever been an indulgent general, and am now loath to let myinaction stand against your chance of distinction. Go you thereforeforth against him, and the man who brings me this boar's head shall notlack his reward. "

The young men loudly cheered this decision and brandished their weaponsaloft, while the old man smiled upon them and added:

"When you are bringing confusion to the camp of the unbelievers, Ishall remain in my tent and meditate on the sayings of the Prophet, praying him to keep you a good spear's length from the German's broadsword, which he is the habit of wielding with his two hands. "

The young Saracens went forth with much shouting, a gay prancing of thehorses underneath them and a marvellous flourishing of spears abovethem, but they learned more wisdom in their half hour's communion withthe German than the Emir, in a long life of counselling, had been ableto bestow upon them. The two-handed sword they now met for the firsttime, and the acquaintance brought little joy to them. Count Herbert, the leader of the invaders, did no shouting, but reserved his breathfor other purposes. He spurred his horse among them, and his foes wentdown around him as a thicket melts away before the well-swung axe of astalwart woodman. The Saracens had little fear of death, but mutilationwas another thing, for they knew that they would spend eternity inParadise, shaped as they had left this earth, and while a spear'sthrust or a wound from an arrow, or even the gash left by a short swordmay be concealed by celestial robes, how is a man to comport himself inthe Land of the Blest who is compelled to carry his head under his arm, or who is split from crown to midriff by an outlandish weapon thatfalls irresistible as the wrath of Allah! Again and again they threwthemselves with disastrous bravery against the invading horde, andafter each encounter they came back with lessened ranks and a morechastened spirit than when they had set forth. When at last, anothercounsel of war was held, the young men kept silence and waited for thesmiling Emir to speak. 

"If you are satisfied that there are other things to think of in warthan the giving and taking of blows I am prepared to meet this German, not on his own terms but on my own. Perhaps, however, you wish to tryconclusions with him again?"

The deep silence which followed this inquiry seemed to indicate that nosuch desire animated the Emir's listeners, and the old man smiledbenignly upon his audience and went on. 

"There must be no more disputing of my authority, either expressed orby implication. I am now prepared to go forth against him taking withme forty lancers. "

Instantly there was a protest against this; the number was inadequate, they said. 

"In his fortieth year our Prophet came to a momentous decision, "continued the Emir, unheeding the interruption, "and I take a spearwith me for every year of the Prophet's life, trusting that Allah willadd to our number, at the prophet's intervention, should such anaugmentation prove necessary. Get together then the forty _oldest_men under my command. Let them cumber themselves with nothing in theway of offence except one tall spear each, and see that every man isprovided with water and dates for twenty days' sustenance of horse andman in the desert. "

The Emir smiled as he placed special emphasis on the word "oldest, " andthe young men departed abashed to obey his orders. 

Next morning Count Herbert von Schonburg saw near his camp by thewater-holes a small group of horsemen standing motionless in thedesert, their lances erect, butt downward, resting on the sand, thelittle company looking like an oasis of leafless poplars. The Count wasinstantly astride his Arab charger, at the head of his men, ready tomeet whatever came, but on this occasion the enemy made no effort tobring on a battle, but remained silent and stationary, differinggreatly from the hordes that had preceded it. 

"Well, " cried the impatient Count, "if Mahomet will not come to themountain, the mountain for once will oblige him. "

He gave the word to charge, and put spurs to his horse, causing instantanimation in the band of Saracens, who fled before him as rapidly asthe Germans advanced. It is needless to dwell on the project of theEmir, who simply followed the example of the desert mirages he had sooften witnessed in wonder. Never did the Germans come within touch oftheir foes, always visible, but not to be overtaken. When at last CountHerbert was convinced that his horses were no match for the fleetsteeds of his opponents he discovered that he and his band werehopelessly lost in the arid and pathless desert, the spears of theseemingly phantom host ever quivering before him in the tremulousheated air against the cloudless horizon. Now all his energies werebent toward finding the way that led to the camp by the water-holes, but sense of locality seemed to have left him, and the ghostly companywhich hung so persistently on his flanks gave no indication ofdirection, but merely followed as before they had fled. One by one theCount's soldiers succumbed, and when at last the forty spears hedgedhim round the Emir approached a prisoner incapable of action. Theuseless sword which hung from his saddle was taken, and water was givento the exhausted man and his dying horse. 

When the Emir Soldan and his forty followers rode into camp with theirprisoner there was a jubilant outcry, and the demand was made that theforeign dog be instantly decapitated, but the Emir smiled and, holdingup his hand, said soothingly:

"Softly, softly, true followers of the only Prophet. Those whoneglected to remove his head while his good sword guarded it, shall notnow possess themselves of it, when that sword is in my hands. "

And against this there could be no protest, for the prisoner belongedto the Emir alone, and was to be dealt with as the captor ordained. 

When the Count had recovered speech, and was able to hold himself as aman should, the Emir summoned him, and they had a conference togetherin Soldan's tent. 

"Western barbarian, " said the Emir, speaking in that common tongue madeup of languages Asiatic and European, a strange mixture by means ofwhich invaders and invaded communicated with each other, "who are youand from what benighted land do you come?"

"I am Count Herbert von Schonburg. My castle overlooks the Rhine inGermany. "

"What is the Rhine? A province of which you are the ruler?"

"No, your Highness, it is a river; a lordly stream that neverdiminishes, but flows unceasingly between green vine-clad hills; wouldthat I had some of the vintage therefore to cheer me in my captivityand remove the taste of this brackish water!"

"In the name of the Prophet, then, why did you leave it?"

"Indeed, your Highness, I have often asked myself that question of lateand found but insufficient answer. "

"If I give you back your sword, which not I, but the demon Thirstcaptured from you, will you pledge me your word that you will draw itno more against those of my faith, but will return to your own land, safe escort being afforded you to the great sea where you can takeship?"

"As I have fought for ten years, and have come no nearer Jerusalem thanwhere I now stand, I am content to give you my word in exchange for mysword, and the escort you promise. "

And thus it came about that Count Herbert von Schonburg, although stilla young man, relinquished all thought of conquering the Holy Land, andfound himself one evening, after a long march, gazing on the placidbosom of the broad Rhine, which he had not seen since he bade good-byeto it, a boy of twenty-one, then as warlike and ambitious, as now, hewas peace loving and tired of strife. The very air of the Rhine valleybreathed rest and quiet, and Herbert, with a deep sigh, welcomed thethought of a life passed in comforting uneventfulness. 

"Conrad, " he said to his one follower, "I will encamp here for thenight. Ride on down the Rhine, I beg of you, and cross the river whereyou may, that you may announce my coming some time before I arrive. Myfather is an old man, and I am the last of the race, so I do not wishto come unexpectedly on him; therefore break to him with caution thefact that I am in the neighbourhood, for hearing nothing from me allthese years it is like to happen he believes me dead. "

Conrad rode down the path by the river and disappeared while hismaster, after seeing to the welfare of his horse, threw himself down ina thicket and slept the untroubled sleep of the seasoned soldier. Itwas daylight when he was awakened by the tramp of horses. Starting tohis feet, he was confronted by a grizzled warrior with half a dozen menat his back, and at first the Count thought himself again a prisoner, but the friendliness of the officer soon set all doubts at rest. 

"Are you Count Herbert von Schonburg?" asked the intruder. 

"Yes. Who are you?"

"I am Richart, custodian of Castle Gudenfels, and commander of thesmall forces possessed by her Ladyship, Countess von Falkenstein. Ihave to acquaint you with the fact that your servant and messenger hasbeen captured. Your castle of Schonburg is besieged, and Conrad, unaware, rode straight into custody. This coming to the ears of my ladythe Countess, she directed me to intercept you if possible, so that youmight not share the fate of your servant, and offer to you thehospitality of Gudenfels Castle until such time as you had determinedwhat to do in relation to the siege of your own. "

"I give my warmest thanks to the Countess for her thoughtfulness. Isher husband the Count then dead?"

"It is the young Countess von Falkenstein whose orders I carry. Herfather and mother are both dead, and her Ladyship, their only child, now holds Gudenfels. "

"What, that little girl? She was but a child when I left the Rhine. "

"Her Ladyship is a woman of nineteen now. "

"And how long has my father been besieged?"

"Alas! it grieves me to state that your father, Count von Schonburg, has also passed away. He has been dead these two years. "

The young man bowed his head and crossed himself. For a long time herode in silence, meditating upon this unwelcome intelligence, grievedto think that such a desolate home-coming awaited him. 

"Who, then, holds my castle against the besiegers?"

"The custodian Heinrich has stubbornly stood siege since the Count, your father, died, saying he carries out the orders of his lord untilthe return of the son. "

"Ah! if Heinrich is in command then is the castle safe, " cried theyoung man, with enthusiasm. "He is a born warrior and first taught methe use of the broad-sword. Who besieges us? The Archbishop of Mayence?He was ever a turbulent prelate and held spite against our house. "

Richart shifted uneasily in his saddle, and for the moment did notanswer. Then he said, with hesitation:

"I think the Archbishop regards the siege with favour, but I knowlittle of the matter. My Lady, the Countess, will possess you with fullinformation. "

Count Herbert looked with astonishment upon the custodian of CastleGudenfels. Here was a contest going on at his very doors, even if onthe opposite side of the river, and yet a veteran knew nothing of thecontest. But they were now at the frowning gates of Castle Gudenfels, with its lofty square pinnacled tower, and the curiosity of the youngCount was dimmed by the admiration he felt for this great stronghold ashe gazed upward at it. An instant later he with his escort passedthrough the gateway and stood in the courtyard of the castle. When hehad dismounted the Count said to Richart:

"I have travelled far, and am not in fit state to be presented to alady. Indeed, now that I am here, I dread the meeting. I have seennothing of women for ten years, and knew little of them before I leftthe Rhine. Take me, I beg of you, to a room where I may make somepreparation other than the camp has heretofore afforded, and bring me, if you can, a few garments with which to replenish this faded, torn anddusty apparel. "

"My Lord, you will find everything you wish in the rooms allotted toyou. Surmising your needs, I gave orders to that effect before I leftthe castle. "

"That was thoughtful of you, Richart, and I shall not forget it. "

The Custodian without replying led his guest up one stair and thenanother. The two traversed a long passage until they came to an opendoor. Richart standing aside, bowed low, and entreated his lordship toenter. Count Herbert passed into a large room from which a doorway ledinto a smaller apartment which the young man saw was fitted as abedroom. The rooms hung high over the Rhine, but the view of the riverwas impeded by the numerous heavy iron bars which formed a formidablelattice-work before the windows. The Count was about to thank hisconductor for providing so sumptuously for him, but, turning, he wasamazed to see Richart outside with breathless eagerness draw shut thestrong door that led to the passage from which he had entered, and amoment later, Herbert heard the ominous sound of stout bolts being shotinto their sockets. He stood for a moment gazing blankly now at thebolted door, now at the barred window, and then slowly there came tohim the knowledge which would have enlightened a more suspicious manlong before--that he was a prisoner in the grim fortress of Gudenfels. Casting his mind backward over the events of the morning, he now saw adozen sinister warnings that had heretofore escaped him. If a friendlyinvitation had been intended, what need of the numerous guard of armedmen sent to escort him? Why had Richart hesitated when certainquestions were asked him? Count Herbert paced up and down the longroom, reviewing with clouded brow the events of the past few hours, beginning with the glorious freedom of the open hillside in the earlydawn and ending with these impregnable stone walls that now environedhim. He was a man slow to anger, but resentment once aroused, burned inhis heart with a steady fervour that was unquenchable. He stopped atlast in his aimless pacing, raised his clinched fist toward thetimbered ceiling, and cursed the Countess von Falkenstein. In hisstriding to and fro the silence had been broken by the clank of hissword on the stone floor, and he now smiled grimly as he realised thatthey had not dared to deprive him of his formidable weapon; they hadcaged the lion from the distant desert without having had the courageto clip his claws. The Count drew his broadsword and swung it hissingthrough the air, measuring its reach with reference to the walls oneither hand, then, satisfying himself that he had free play, he took upa position before the door and stood there motionless as the statue ofa war-god. "Now, by the Cross I fought for, " he muttered to himself, "the first man who sets foot across this threshold enters the chamberof death. "

He remained thus, leaning with folded arms on the hilt of his longsword, whose point rested on the flags of the floor, and at last hispatience was rewarded. He heard the rattle of the bolts outside, and atense eagerness thrilled his stalwart frame. The door came cautiouslyinward for a space of perhaps two feet and was then brought to a standby the tightening links of a stout chain, fastened one end to the door, the other to the outer wall. Through the space that thus gave a view ofthe wide outer passage the Count saw Richart stand with pale face, wellback at a safe distance in the centre of the hall. Two men-at-arms helda position behind their master. 

"My Lord, " began Richart in trembling voice, "her Ladyship, theCountess, desires----"

"Open the door, you cringing Judas!" interrupted the stern command ofthe count; "open the door and set me as free as your villainy found me. I hold no parley with a traitor. "

"My Lord, I implore you to listen. No harm is intended you, and myLady, the Countess, asks of you a conference touching----"

The heavy sword swung in the air and came down upon the chain with aforce that made the stout oaken door shudder. Scattering sparks cast amomentary glow of red on the whitened cheeks of the startled onlookers. The edge of the sword clove the upper circumference of an iron link, leaving the severed ends gleaming like burnished silver, but the chainstill held. Again and again the sword fell, but never twice in the samespot, anger adding strength to the blows, but subtracting skill. 

"My Lord! my Lord!" beseeched Richart, "restrain your fury. You cannotescape from this strong castle even though you sever the chain. "

"I'll trust my sword for that, " muttered the prisoner between his setteeth. 

There now rang out on the conflict a new voice; the voice of a woman, clear and commanding, the tones instinct with that inborn quality ofimperious authority which expects and usually obtains instantobedience. 

"Close the door, Richart, " cried the unseen lady. The servitor made amotion to obey, but the swoop of the sword seemed to paralyse him wherehe stood. He cast a beseeching look at his mistress, which said asplainly as words: "You are ordering me to my death. " The Count, hisweapon high in mid-air, suddenly swerved it from its course, for thereappeared across the opening a woman's hand and arm, white and shapely, fleecy lace falling away in dainty folds from the rounded contour ofthe arm. The small, firm hand grasped bravely the almost severed chainand the next instant the door was drawn shut, the bolts clanking intotheir places. Count Herbert, paused, leaning on his sword, gazingbewildered at the closed door. 

"Ye gods of war!" he cried; "never have I seen before such cool courageas that!"

For a long time the Count walked up and down the spacious room, stopping now and then at the window to peer through the iron grille atthe rapid current of the river far below, the noble stream as typicalof freedom as were the bars that crossed his vision, of captivity. Itseemed that the authorities of the castle had abandoned all thought offurther communication with their truculent prisoner. Finally he enteredthe inner room and flung himself down, booted and spurred as he was, upon the couch, and, his sword for a bedmate, slept. The day was farspent when he awoke, and his first sensation was that of gnawinghunger, for he was a healthy man. His next, that he had heard in hissleep the cautious drawing of bolts, as if his enemies purposed toproject themselves surreptitiously in upon him, taking him at adisadvantage. He sat upright, his sword ready for action, and listenedintently. The silence was profound, and as the Count sat breathless, the stillness seemed to be emphasised rather than disturbed by a long-drawn sigh which sent a thrill of superstitious fear through thestalwart frame of the young man, for he well knew that the Rhine wasinfested with spirits animated by evil intentions toward human beings, and against such spirits his sword was but as a willow wand. Heremembered with renewed awe that this castle stood only a few leaguesabove the Lurlei rocks where a nymph of unearthly beauty lured men totheir destruction, and the knight crossed himself as a protectionagainst all such. Gathering courage from this devout act, andabandoning his useless weapon, he tiptoed to the door that led to thelarger apartment, and there found his worst anticipations realised. With her back against the closed outer door stood a Siren of the Rhine, and, as if to show how futile is the support of the Evil One in acrisis, her very lips were pallid with fear and her blue eyes were widewith apprehension, as they met those of the Count von Schonburg. Herhair, the colour of ripe yellow wheat, rose from her smooth whiteforehead and descended in a thick braid that almost reached to thefloor. She was dressed in the humble garb of a serving maiden, thesquare bit of lace on her crown of fair hair and the apron she wore, asspotless as new fallen snow. In her hand she held a tray whichsupported a loaf of bread and a huge flagon brimming with wine. Onseeing the Count, her quick breathing stopped for the moment and shedropped a low courtesy. 

"My Lord, " she said, but there came a catch in her throat, and shecould speak no further. 

Seeing that he had to deal with no spirit, but with an inhabitant ofthe world he knew and did not fear, there arose a strange exultation inthe heart of the Count as he looked upon this fair representative ofhis own country. For ten years he had seen no woman, and now a suddensense of what he had lost overwhelmed him, his own breath comingquicker as the realisation of this impressed itself upon him. He stroderapidly toward her, and she seemed to shrink into the wall at hisapproach, wild fear springing into her eyes, but he merely took theladen tray from her trembling hands and placed it upon a bench. Thenraising the flagon to his lips, he drank a full half of its contentsbefore withdrawing it. A deep sigh of satisfaction followed, and hesaid, somewhat shamefacedly:

"Forgive my hurried greed, maiden, but the thirst of the desert seemsto be in my throat, and the good wine reminds me that I am a German. "

"It was brought for your use, " replied the girl, demurely, "and I amgratified that it meets your commendation, my Lord. "

"And so also do you, my girl. What is your name and who are you?"

"I am called Beatrix, my Lord, a serving-maid of this castle, thedaughter of the woodman Wilhelm, and, alas! that it should be so, forthe present your jailer. "

"If I quarrelled as little with my detention, as I see I am like to dowith my keeper, I fear captivity would hold me long in thrall. Are themen in the castle such cravens then that they bestow so unwelcome atask upon a woman?"

"The men are no cravens, my Lord, but this castle is at war with yours, and for each man there is a post. A woman would be less missed if sobrave a warrior as Count von Schonburg thought fit to war upon us. "

"But a woman makes war upon me, Beatrix. What am I to do? Surrenderhumbly?"

"Brave men have done so before now and will again, my Lord, where womenare concerned. At least, " added Beatrix, blushing and casting down hereyes, "I have been so informed. "

"And small blame to them, " cried the count, with enthusiasm. "I swearto you, my girl, that if women warriors were like the woodman'sdaughter, I would cast away all arms except these with which to enclaspher. "

And he stretched out his hands, taking a step nearer, while she shrankin alarm from him. 

"My Lord, I am but an humble messenger, and I beg of you to listen towhat I am asked to say. My Lady, the Countess, has commissioned me totell you that--"

A startling malediction of the Countess that accorded ill with thescarlet cross emblazoned on the young man's breast, interrupted thegirl. 

"I hold no traffic with the Countess, " he cried. "She has treacherouslylaid me by the heels, coming as I did from battling for the Cross thatshe doubtless professes to regard as sacred. "

"It was because she feared you, my Lord. These years back tales of yourvalour in the Holy Land have come to the Rhine, and now you return tofind your house at war with hers. What was she to do? The chances stoodeven with only your underling in command; judge then what her fate mustbe with your strong sword thrown in the balance against her. All's fairin war, said those who counselled her. What would you have done in suchan extremity, my Lord?"

"What would I have done? I would have met my enemy sword in hand andtalked with him or fought with him as best suited his inclination. "

"But a lady cannot meet you, sword in hand, my Lord. "

The Count paused in the walk he had begun when the injustice of hisusage impressed itself once more upon him. He looked admiringly at thegirl. 

"That is most true, Beatrix. I had forgotten. Still, I should not havebeen met with cozenry. Here came I from starvation in the wilderness, thirst in the desert, and from the stress of the battle-field, back tomine own land with my heart full of yearning love for it and for allwithin its boundaries. I came even from prison, captured in fair fight, by an untaught heathen, whose men lay slain by my hand, yet with thenobility of a true warrior, he asked neither ransom nor hostage, buthanded back my sword, saying, 'Go in peace. ' That in a heathen land!but no sooner does my foot rest on this Christian soil than I am met byfalse smiles and lying tongues, and my welcome to a neighbour's houseis the clank of the inthrust bolt. "

"Oh, it was a shameful act and not to be defended, " cried the girl, with moist eyes and quivering lip, the sympathetic reverberation of hervoice again arresting the impatient steps of the young man, causing himto pause and view her with a feeling that he could not understand, andwhich he found some difficulty in controlling. Suddenly all desire forrestraint left him, he sprang forward, clasped the girl in his arms anddrew her into the middle of the room, where she could not give thesignal that might open the door. 

"My Lord! my Lord!" she cried in terror, struggling without avail tofree herself. 

"You said all's fair in war and saying so, gave but half the proverb, which adds, all's fair in love as well, and maiden, nymph of thewoodland, so rapidly does a man learn that which he has never beentaught, I proclaim with confidence that I love thee. "

"A diffident and gentle lover you prove yourself!" she gasped withrising indignation, holding him from her. 

"Indeed, my girl, there was little of diffidence or gentleness in mywarring, and my wooing is like to have a touch of the same quality. Itis useless to struggle for I have thee firm, so take to yourself someof that gentleness you recommend to me. "

He strove to kiss her, but Beatrix held her head far from him, her openpalm pressed against the red cross that glowed upon his breast, keepinghim thus at arm's length. 

"Count von Schonburg, what is the treachery of any other compared withyours? You came heedlessly into this castle, suspecting as you say, nodanger: I came within this room to do you service, knowing my peril, but trusting to the honour of a true soldier of the Cross, and this ismy reward! First tear from your breast this sacred emblem, valorousassaulter of a defenceless woman, for it should be worn by none butstainless gentlemen. "

Count Herbert's arms relaxed, and his hands dropped listless to hissides. 

"By my sword, " he said, "they taught you invective in the forest. Youare free. Go. "

The girl made no motion to profit by her newly acquired liberty, butstood there, glancing sideways at him who scowled menacingly at her. 

When at last she spoke, she said, shyly: "I have not yet fulfilled mymission. "

"Fulfil it then in the fiend's name and begone. "

"Will you consent to see my Lady the Countess?"

"No. "

"Will you promise not to make war upon her if you are released?"

"No. "

"If, in spite of your boorishness, she sets you free, what will youdo?"

"I will rally my followers to my banner, scatter the forces thatsurround my castle, then demolish this prison trap. "

"Am I in truth to carry such answers to the Countess?"

"You are to do as best pleases you, now and forever. "

"I am but a simple serving-maid, and know nothing of high questions ofstate, yet it seems to me such replies do not oil prison bolts, andbelieve me, I grieve to see you thus detained. "

"I am grateful for your consideration. Is your embassy completed?"

The girl, her eyes on the stone floor, paused long before replying, then said, giving no warning of a change of subject, and still notraising her eyes to his:

"You took me by surprise; I am not used to being handled roughly; youforget the distance between your station and mine, you being a noble ofthe Empire, and I but a serving-maid; if, in my anger, I spoke in amanner unbecoming one so humble, I do beseech that your Lordship pardonme. "

"Now by the Cross to which you appealed, how long will you standchattering there? Think you I am made of adamant, and not of flesh andblood? My garments are tattered at best, I would in woman's companythey were finer, and this cross of Genoa red hangs to my tunic, but bya few frail threads. Beware, therefore, that I tear it not from mybreast as you advised, and cast it from me. "

Beatrix lifted one frightened glance to the young man's face and sawstanding on his brow great drops of sweat. His right hand grasped theupper portion of the velvet cross, partly detached from his doublet, and he looked loweringly upon her. Swiftly she smote the door twicewith her hand and instantly the portal opened as far as the chain wouldallow it. Count Herbert noticed that in the interval, three otherchains had been added to the one that formerly had baffled his sword. The girl, like a woodland pigeon, darted underneath the lower chain, and although the prisoner took a rapid step forward, the door, withgreater speed, closed and was bolted. 

The Count had requested the girl to be gone, and surely should havebeen contented now that she had withdrawn herself, yet so shifty athing is human nature, that no sooner were his commands obeyed than hebegan to bewail their fulfilment. He accused himself of being a doublefool, first, for not holding her when he had her; and secondly, havingallowed her to depart, he bemoaned the fact that he had acted rudely toher, and thus had probably made her return impossible. His prisonseemed inexpressibly dreary lacking her presence. Once or twice hecalled out her name, but the echoing empty walls alone replied. 

For the first time in his life the heavy sleep of the camp desertedhim, and in his dreams he pursued a phantom woman, who continuallydissolved in his grasp, now laughingly, now in anger. 

The morning found him deeply depressed, and he thought the unaccustomedrestraints of a prison were having their effect on the spirits of a manheretofore free. He sat silently on the bench watching the door. 

At last, to his great joy, he heard the rattle of bolts beingwithdrawn. The door opened slowly to the small extent allowed by thechains, but no one entered and the Count sat still, concealed from theview of whoever stood without. 

"My Lord Count, " came the sweet tones of the girl and the listener withjoy, fancied he detected in it a suggestion of apprehension, doubtlesscaused by the fact that the room seemed deserted. "My Lord Count, Ihave brought your breakfast; will you not come and receive it?"

Herbert rose slowly and came within range of his jailer's vision. Thegirl stood in the hall, a repast that would have tempted an epicurearrayed on the wooden trencher she held in her hands. 

"Beatrix, come in, " he said. 

"I fear that in stooping, some portion of this burden may fall. Willyou not take the trencher?"

The young man stepped to the opening and, taking the tray from her, placed it on the bench as he had previously done; then repeated hisinvitation. 

"You were displeased with my company before, my Lord, and I am loathagain to offend. "

"Beatrix, I beg you to enter. I have something to say to you. "

"Stout chains bar not words, my Lord. Speak and I shall listen. "

"What I have to say, is for your ear alone. "

"Then are the conditions perfect for such converse, my Lord. No guardstands within this hall. "

The Count sighed deeply, turned and sat again on the bench, burying hisface in his hands. The maiden having given excellent reasons why sheshould not enter, thus satisfying her sense of logic, now set logic atdefiance, slipped under the lowest chain and stood within the room, and, so that there might be no accusation that she did things byhalves, closed the door leaning her back against it. The knight lookedup at her and saw that she too had rested but indifferently. Her lovelyeyes half veiled, showed traces of weeping, and there was a wistfulexpression in her face that touched him tenderly, and made him long forher; nevertheless he kept a rigid government upon himself, and satthere regarding her, she flushing, slightly under his scrutiny, notdaring to return his ardent gaze. 

"Beatrix, " he said slowly, "I have acted towards you like a boor and aruffian, as indeed I am; but let this plead for me, that I have everbeen used to the roughness of the camp, bereft of gentler influences. Iask your forgiveness. "

"There is nothing to forgive. You are a noble of the Empire, and I buta lowly serving-maid. "

"Nay, that cuts me to the heart, and is my bitterest condemnation. Atrue man were courteous to high and low alike. Now, indeed, youoverwhelm me with shame, maiden of the woodlands. "

"Such was not my intention, my Lord. I hold you truly noble in natureas well as in rank, otherwise I stood not here. "

"Beatrix, does any woodlander come from the forest to the castle wallsand there give signal intended for you alone?"

"Oh, no, my Lord. "

"Perhaps you have kindly preference for some one within thisstronghold?"

"You forget, my Lord, that the castle is ruled by a lady, and that thepreference you indicate would accord ill with her womanly government. "

"In truth I know little of woman's rule, but given such, I suppose thecase would stand as you say. The Countess then frowns upon lovers'meetings. "

"How could it be otherwise?"

"Have you told her of--of yesterday?"

"You mean of your refusal to come to terms with her? Yes, my Lord. "

"I mean nothing of the kind, Beatrix. "

"No one outside this room has been told aught to your disadvantage, myLord, " said the girl blushing rose-red. 

"Then she suspects nothing?"

"Suspects nothing of what, my Lord?"

"That I love you, Beatrix. "

The girl caught her breath, and seemed about to fly, but gatheringcourage, remained, and said speaking hurriedly and in some confusion:"As I did not suspect it myself I see not how my Lady should have madeany such surmise, but indeed it may be so, for she chided me bitterlyfor remaining so long with you, and made me weep with her keen censure;yet am I here now against her express wish and command, but that isbecause of my strong sympathy for you and my belief that the Countesshas wrongfully treated you. "

"I care nothing for the opinion of that harridan, except that it maybring harsh usage to you; but Beatrix, I have told you bluntly of mylove for you, answer me as honestly. "

"My Lord, you spoke just now of a woodlander--"

"Ah, there is one then. Indeed, I feared as much, for there can be noneon all the Rhine as beautiful or as good as you. "

"There are many woodlanders, my Lord, and many women more beautifulthan I. What I was about to say was that I would rather be the wife ofthe poorest forester, and lived in the roughest hut on the hillside, than dwell otherwise in the grandest castle on the Rhine. "

"Surely, surely. But you shall dwell in my castle of Schonburg as mymost honoured wife, if you but will it so. "

"Then, my Lord, I must bid you beware of what you propose. Your wifemust be chosen from the highest in the land, and not from the lowliest. It is not fitting that you should endeavour to raise a serving-maid tothe position of Countess von Schonburg. You would lose caste among yourequals, and bring unhappiness upon us both. "

Count Herbert grasped his sword and lifting it, cried angrily: "By theCross I serve, the man who refuses to greet my wife as he would greetthe Empress, shall feel the weight of this blade. "

"You cannot kill a whisper with a sword, my Lord. "

"I can kill the whisperer. "

"That can you not, my Lord, for the whisperer will be a woman. "

"Then out upon them, we will have no traffic with them. I have livedtoo long away from the petty restrictions of civilisation to be bounddown by them now, for I come from a region where a man's sword and nothis rank preserved his life. " As he spoke he again raised his hugeweapon aloft, but now held it by the blade so that it stood out againstthe bright window like a black cross of iron, and his voice rang forthdefiantly: "With that blade I won my honour; by the symbol of its hiltI hope to obtain my soul's salvation, on both united I swear to be toyou a true lover and a loyal husband. "

With swift motion the girl covered her face with her hands and Herbertsaw the crystal drops trickle between her fingers. For long she couldnot speak and then mastering her emotion, she said brokenly:

"I cannot accept, I cannot now accept. I can take no advantage of ahelpless prisoner. At midnight I shall come and set you free, thus myact may atone for the great wrong of your imprisonment; atone partiallyif not wholly. When you are at liberty, if you wish to forget yourwords, which I can never do, then am I amply repaid that my poorpresence called them forth. If you remember them, and demand of theCountess that I stand as hostage for peace, she is scarce likely todeny you, for she loves not war. But know that nothing you have said isto be held against you, for I would have you leave this castle as freeas when you entered it. And now, my Lord, farewell. "

Before the unready man could make motion to prevent her, she had openedthe door and was gone, leaving it open, thus compelling the prisoner tobe his own jailer and close it, for he had no wish now to leave thecastle alone when he had been promised such guidance. 

The night seemed to Count Herbert the longest he had ever spent, as hesat on the bench, listening for the withdrawing of the bolts; if indeedthey were in their sockets, which he doubted. At last the door waspushed softly open, and bending under the chain, he stood in theoutside hall, peering through the darkness, to catch sight of hisconductor. A great window of stained glass occupied the southern end ofthe hall, and against it fell the rays of the full moon now high in theheavens, filling the dim and lofty apartment with a coloured radianceresembling his visions of the half tones of fairyland. Like a shadowstood the cloaked figure of the girl, who timidly placed her small handin his great palm, and that touch gave a thrill of reality to themysticism of the time and the place. He grasped it closely, fearing itmight fade away from him as it had done in his dream. She led himsilently by another way from that by which he had entered, and togetherthey passed through a small doorway that communicated with a narrowcircular stair which wound round and round downwards until they came toanother door at the bottom, which let them out in the moonlight at thefoot of a turret. 

"Beatrix, " whispered the young man, "I am not going to demand you ofthe Countess. I shall not be indebted to her for my wife. You must comewith me now. "

"No, no, " cried the girl shrinking from him, "I cannot go with you thussurreptitiously, and no one but you and me must ever learn that I ledyou from the castle. You shall come for me as a lord should for hislady, as if he thought her worthy of him. "

"Indeed, that do I. Worthy? It is I who am unworthy, but made moreworthy I hope in that you care for me. "

From where they stood the knight saw the moonlight fall on his owncastle of Schonburg, the rays seeming to transform the grey stone intothe whitest of marble, the four towers standing outlined against theblue of the cloudless sky. The silver river of romance, flowed silentlyat its feet reflecting again the snowy purity of the reality in aninverted quivering watery vision. All the young man's affection for thehome he had not seen for years seemed to blend with his love for thegirl standing there in the moonlight. Gently he drew her to him, andkissed her unresisting lips. 

"Woodland maiden, " he said tenderly, "here at the edge of the forest isyour rightful home and not in this grim castle, and here will I woothee again, being now a free man. "

"Indeed, " said the girl with a laugh in which a sob and a sighintermingled, "it is but scanty freedom I have brought to you; anexchange of silken fetters for iron chains. "

His arms still around her, he unloosed the ribbon that held in thrallthe thick braid of golden hair, and parting the clustering strandsspeedily encompassed her in a cloak of misty fragrance that seemed asunsubstantial as the moonlight that glittered through its meshes. Hestood back the better to admire the picture he seemed to have created. 

"My darling, " he cried, "you are no woodland woman, but the very spiritof the forest herself. You are so beautiful, I dare not leave you hereto the mercies of this demon, who, finding me gone, may revenge herselfon you. If before she dared to censure you, what may she not do nowthat you have set me free? Curse her that she stands for a momentbetween my love and me. "

He raised his clenched fist and shook it at the tower above him, andseemed about to break forth in new maledictions against the lady, whenBeatrix, clasping her hands cried in terror:

"No, no, Herbert, you have said enough. How can you pretend to love mewhen implacable hatred lies so near to your affection. You must forgivethe Countess. Oh, Herbert, Herbert, what more could I do to atone? Ihave withdrawn my forces from around your castle; I have set you freeand your path to Schonburg lies unobstructed. Even now your underling, thinking himself victorious, is preparing an expedition against me, andnothing but your word stands, between me and instant attack. Ponder, Ibeseech of you, on my position. War, not of my seeking, was bequeathedto me, and a woman who cannot fight must trust to her advisers, andthus may do what her own heart revolts against. They told me that if Imade you prisoner I could stop the war, and thus I consented to thatact of treachery for which you so justly condemn me. "

"Beatrix, " cried her amazed lover, "what madness has come over you?"

"No madness touched me, Herbert, until I met you, and I sometimes thinkthat you have brought back with you the eastern sorcery of which I haveheard--at least such may perhaps make excuse for my unmaidenlybehaviour. Herbert, I am Beatrix of Gudenfels, Countess vonFalkenstein, who is and ever will be, if you refuse to pardon her, amost unhappy woman. "

"No woodland maiden, but the Countess! The Countess von Falkenstein!"murmured her lover more to himself than to, his eager listener, thelines on his perplexed brow showing that he was endeavouring to adjustthe real and the ideal in his slow brain. 

"A Countess, Herbert, who will joyfully exchange the privileges of herstation for the dear preference shown to the serving-maid. "

A smile came to the lips of Von Schonburg as he held out his hands, inwhich the Countess placed her own. 

"My Lady Beatrix, " he said, "how can I refuse my pardon for the firstencroachment on my liberty, now that you have made me your prisoner forlife?"

"Indeed, my captured lord, " cried the girl, "you are but now coming toa true sense of your predicament. I marvelled that you felt soresentful about the first offence, when the second was so much moreserious. Am I then forgiven for both?"

It seemed that she was, and the Count insisted on returning to hiscaptivity, and coming forth the next day, freed by her commands, whereupon, in the presence of all her vassals, he swore allegiance toher with such deference that her advisers said to her that she must nowsee they had been right in counselling his imprisonment. Prison, theysaid, had a wonderfully quieting effect upon even the most truculent, the Count being quickly subdued when he saw his sword-play had butlittle effect on the chain. The Countess graciously acknowledged thatevents had indeed proved the wisdom of their course, and said it wasnot to be wondered at that men should know the disposition of aturbulent man, better than an inexperienced woman could know it. 

And thus was the feud between Gudenfels and Schonburg happily ended, and Count Herbert came from the Crusades to find two castles waitingfor him instead of one as he had expected, with what he had reason toprize above everything else, a wife as well. 

CHAPTER II

THE REVENGE OF THE OUTLAW

The position of Count Herbert when, at the age of thirty-one he took up hisresidence in the ancient castle of his line, was a most enviable one. Hismarriage with Beatrix, Countess von Falkenstein, had added the lustre of aruling family to the prestige of his own, and the renown of his valour inthe East had lost nothing in transit from the shores of the Mediterraneanto the banks of the Rhine. The Counts of Schonburg had ever been the mostconservative in counsel and the most radical in the fray, and thus Herberton returning, found himself, without seeking the honor, regarded by commonconsent as leader of the nobility whose castles bordered the renownedriver. The Emperor, as was usually the case when these imperial figure-heads were elected by the three archbishops and their four colleagues, wasa nonentity, who made no attempt to govern a turbulent land that so manywere willing to govern for him. His majesty left sword and sceptre to thosewho cared for such baubles, and employed himself in banding together themost notable company of meistersingers that Germany had ever listened to. But although harmony reigned in Frankfort, the capital, there was much lackof it along the Rhine, and the man with the swiftest and heaviest sword, usually accumulated the greatest amount of property, movable and otherwise. 

Among the truculent nobles who terrorised the country side, none was heldIn greater awe than Baron von Wiethoff, whose Schloss occupied a promontorySome distance up the stream from Castle Schonburg, on the same side of theriver. Public opinion condemned the Baron, not because he exacted tributefrom the merchants who sailed down the Rhine, for such collections wereuniversally regarded as a legitimate source of revenue, but because he wasin the habit of killing the goose that laid the golden egg, which actionwas looked upon with disfavour by those who resided between SchlossWiethoff and Cologne, as interfering with their right to exist, for amerchant, although well-plucked, is still of advantage to those inwhose hands he falls, if life and some of his goods are left to him. Whereas, when cleft from scalp to midriff by the Baron's long sword, hebecame of no value either to himself or to others. While many nobleswere satisfied with levying a scant five or ten per cent on a voyager'sbelongings, the Baron rarely rested contented until he had acquired thefull hundred, and, the merchant objecting, von Wiethoff would usuallyorder him hanged or decapitated, although at times when he was in goodhumour he was wont to confer honour upon the trading classes bydespatching the grumbling seller of goods with his own weapon, whichcreated less joy in the commercial community than the Baron seemed toexpect. Thus navigation on the swift current of the Rhine began tolanguish, for there was little profit in the transit of goods fromMayence to Cologne if the whole consignment stood in jeopardy and theowner's life as well, so the merchants got into the habit of carryingtheir gear overland on the backs of mules, thus putting the nobility togreat inconvenience in scouring the forests, endeavouring to interceptthe caravans. The nobility, with that stern sense of justice which hasever characterised the higher classes, placed the blame of thisdiversion of traffic from its natural channel not upon the merchantsbut upon the Baron, where undoubtedly it rightly belonged, andalthough, when they came upon an overland company which was seeking toavoid them, they gathered in an extra percentage of the goods to repayin a measure the greater difficulty they had in their woodland search, they always informed the merchants with much politeness, that, whenriver traffic was resumed, they would be pleased to revert to theoriginal exaction, which the traders, not without reason pointed outwas of little avail to them as long as Baron von Wiethoff was permittedto confiscate the whole. 

In their endeavours to resuscitate the navigation interests of theRhine, several expeditions had been formed against the Baron, but hiscastle was strong, and there were so many conflicting interests amongthose who attacked him that he had always come out victorious, andafter each onslaught the merchants suffered more severely than before. 

Affairs were in this unsatisfactory condition when Count Herbert ofSchonburg returned from the Holy Land, the fame of his deeds upon him, and married Beatrix of Gudenfels. Although the nobles of the UpperRhine held aloof from all contest with the savage Baron of SchlossWiethoff, his exactions not interfering with their incomes, many ofthose further down the river offered their services to Count Herbert, if he would consent to lead them against the Baron, but the Countpleaded that he was still a stranger in his own country, having sorecently returned from his ten contentious years in Syria, therefore hebegged time to study the novel conditions confronting him before givingan answer to their proposal. 

The Count learned that the previous attacks made upon Schloss Wiethoffhad been conducted with but indifferent generalship, and that failurehad been richly earned by desertions from the attacking force, eachnoble thinking himself justified in withdrawing himself and his men, when offended, or when the conduct of affairs displeased him, so vonSchonburg informed the second deputation which waited on him, that hewas more accustomed to depend on himself than on the aid of others, andthat if any quarrel arose between Castle Schonburg and SchlossWiethoff, the Count would endeavour to settle the dispute with his ownsword, which reply greatly encouraged the Baron when he heard of it, for he wished to try conclusions with the newcomer, and made no secretof his disbelief in the latter's Saracenic exploits, saying the Counthad returned when there was none left of the band he took with him, andhad, therefore, with much wisdom, left himself free from contradiction. 

There was some disappointment up and down the Rhine when time passedand the Count made no warlike move. It was well known that the Countesswas much averse to war, notwithstanding the fact that she was indebtedto war for her stalwart husband, and her peaceful nature was held toexcuse the non-combative life lived by the Count, although there wereothers who gave it as their opinion that the Count was really afraid ofthe Baron, who daily became more and more obnoxious as there seemed tobe less and less to fear. Such boldness did the Baron achieve that heeven organised a slight raid upon the estate of Gudenfels whichbelonged to the Count's wife, but still Herbert of Schonburg did notventure from the security of his castle, greatly to the disappointmentand the disgust of his neighbours, for there are on earth no people wholove a fight more dearly than do those who reside along the banks ofthe placid Rhine. 

At last an heir was born to Castle Schonburg, and the rejoicingsthroughout all the district governed by the Count were general andenthusiastic. Bonfires were lit on the heights and the noble riverglowed red under the illumination at night. The boy who had arrived atthe castle was said to give promise of having all the beauty of hismother and all the strength of his father, which was admitted byeverybody to be a desirable combination, although some shook theirheads and said they hoped that with strength there would come greatercourage than the Count appeared to possess. Nevertheless, the Counthad still some who believed in him, notwithstanding his long period ofinaction, and these said that on the night the boy was born, and wordwas brought to him in the great hall that mother and child were well, the cloud that had its habitual resting-place on the Count's browlifted and his lordship took down from its place his great broadsword, rubbed from its blade the dust and the rust that had collected, swungthe huge weapon hissing through the air, and heaved a deep sigh, as onewho had come to the end of a period of restraint. 

The boy was just one month old on the night that there was a thunderousknocking at the gate of Schloss Wiethoff. The Baron hastily buckled onhis armour and was soon at the head of his men eager to repel theinvader. In a marvellously short space of time there was a contest inprogress at the gates which would have delighted the heart of the mostquarrelsome noble from Mayence to Cologne. The attacking party whichappeared in large force before the gate, attempted to batter in theoaken leaves of the portal, but the Baron was always prepared for suchvisitors, and the heavy timbers that were heaved against the oak madelittle impression, while von Wiethoff roared defiance from the top ofthe wall that surrounded the castle and what was more to the purpose, showered down stones and arrows on the besiegers, grievously thinningtheir ranks. The Baron, with creditable ingenuity, had constructedabove the inside of the gate a scaffolding, on the top of which waspiled a mountain of huge stones. This scaffold was arranged in such away that a man pulling a lever caused it to collapse, thus piling thestones instantly against the inside of the gate, rendering itimpregnable against assault by battering rams. The Baron was alwaysjubilant when his neighbours attempted to force the gate, for he wasafforded much amusement at small expense to himself, and he caredlittle for the damage the front door received, as he had built hiscastle not for ornament but for his own protection. He was a man withan amazing vocabulary, and as he stood on the wall shaking his mailedfist at the intruders he poured forth upon them invective more personalthan complimentary. 

While thus engaged, rejoicing over the repulse of the besiegers, forthe attack was evidently losing its vigour, he was amazed to note asudden illumination of the forest-covered hill which he was facing. Theattacking party rallied with a yell when the light struck them, and theBaron, looking hastily over his shoulder to learn the source of theruddy glow on the trees, saw with dismay that his castle was on fireand that Count Herbert followed by his men had possession of thebattlements to the rear, while the courtyard swarmed with soldiers, whohad evidently scaled the low wall along the river front from rafts orboats. 

"Surrender!" cried Count Herbert, advancing along the wall. "Yourcastle is taken, and will be a heap of ruins within the hour. "

"Then may you be buried beneath them, " roared the Baron, springing tothe attack. 

Although the Baron was a younger man than his antagonist, it was soonproven that his sword play was not equal to that of the Count, and thebroadsword fight on the battlements in the light of the flamingstronghold, was of short duration, watched breathlessly as it was bymen of both parties above and below. Twice the Baron's guard wasbroken, and the third time, such was the terrific impact of iron oniron, that the Baron's weapon was struck from his benumbed hands andfell glittering through the air to the ground outside the walls. TheCount paused in his onslaught, refraining from striking a disarmed man, but again demanding his submission. The Baron cast one glance at hisburning house, saw that it was doomed, then, with a movement asreckless as it was unexpected, took the terrific leap from the wall topto the ground, alighting on his feet near his fallen sword which hespeedily recovered. For an instant the Count hovered on the brink tofollow him, but the swift thought of his wife and child restrained him, and he feared a broken limb in the fall, leaving him thus at the mercyof his enemy. The moment for decision was short enough, but the yearsof regret for this hesitation were many and long. There were a hundredmen before the walls to intercept the Baron, and it seemed useless tojeopardise life or limb in taking the leap, so the Count contentedhimself by giving the loud command: "Seize that man and bind him. "

It was an order easy to give and easy to obey had there been a dozenmen below as brave as their captain, or even one as brave, as stalwartand as skilful; but the Baron struck sturdily around him and mowed hisway through the throng as effectually as a reaper with a sickle clearsa path for himself in the standing corn. Before Herbert realised whatwas happening, the Baron was safe in the obscurity of the forest. 

The Count of Schonburg was not a man to do things by halves, eventhough upon the occasion of this attack he allowed the Baron to slipthrough his fingers. When the ruins of the Schloss cooled, he causedthem to be removed and flung stone by stone into the river, leaving nota vestige of the castle that had so long been a terror to the district, holding that if the lair were destroyed the wolf would not return. Inthis the Count proved but partly right. Baron von Wiethoff renouncedhis order, and became an outlaw, gathering round him in the forest allthe turbulent characters, not in regular service elsewhere, publishingalong the Rhine by means of prisoners he took and then released that asthe nobility seemed to object to his preying upon the merchants, hewould endeavour to amend his ways and would harry instead such castlesas fell into his hands. Thus Baron von Wiethoff became known as theOutlaw of the Hundsrück, and being as intrepid as he was merciless, soon made the Rhenish nobility withdraw attention from other people'squarrels in order to bestow strict surveillance upon their own. It ispossible that if the dwellers along the river had realised at first thekind of neighbour that had been produced by burning out the Baron, theymight, by combination have hunted him down in the widespread forests ofthe Hundsrück, but as the years went on, the Outlaw acquired suchknowledge of the interminable mazes of this wilderness, that it isdoubtful whether all the troops in the Empire could have brought hisband to bay. The outlaws always fled before a superior force, andalways massacred an inferior one, and like the lightning, no man couldpredict where the next stroke would fall. On one occasion he eventhreatened the walled town of Coblentz, and the citizens compoundedwith him, saying they had no quarrel with any but the surroundingnobles, which expression the thrifty burghers regretted when CountHerbert marched his men through their streets and for every coin they, had paid the Outlaw, exacted ten. 

The boy of Castle Schonburg was three years old, when he was allowed toplay on the battlements, sporting with a wooden sword and imagininghimself as great a warrior as his father had ever been. He was a bravelittle fellow whom nothing could frighten but the stories his nursetold him of the gnomes and goblins who infested the Rhine, and helonged for the time when he would be a man and wear a real sword. Oneday just before he had completed his fourth year, a man came slinkingout of the forest to the foot of the wall, for the watch was now slackas the Outlaw had not been heard of for months, and then was far awayin the direction of Mayence. The nurse was holding a most absorbingconversation with the man-at-arms, who should, instead, have beenpacing up and down the terrace while she should have been watching hercharge. The man outside gave a low whistle which attracted theattention of the child and then beckoned him to come further along thewall until he had passed the west tower. 

"Well, little coward, " said the man, "I did not think you would havethe courage to come so far away from the women. "

"I am not a coward, " answered the lad, stoutly, "and I do not careabout the women at all. "

"Your father was a coward. "

"He is not. He is the bravest man in the world. "

"He did not dare to jump off the wall after the Baron. "

"He will cut the Baron in pieces if he ever comes near our castle. "

"Yet he dared not jump as the Baron did. "

"The Baron was afraid of my father; that's why he jumped. "

"Not so. It was your father who feared to follow him, though he had asword and the Baron had none. You are all cowards in Castle Schonburg. I don't believe you have the courage to jump even though I held out myarms to catch you, but if you do I will give you the sword I wear. "

The little boy had climbed on the parapet, and now stood hovering onthe brink of the precipice, his childish heart palpitating through fearof the chasm before him, yet beneath its beatings was an insistentcommand to prove his impugned courage. For some moments there was deepsilence, the man below gazing aloft and holding up his hands. At lasthe lowered his outstretched arms and said in a sneering tone:

"Good-bye, craven son of a craven race. You dare not jump. "

The lad, with a cry of despair, precipitated himself into the empty airand came fluttering down like a wounded bird, to fall insensible intothe arms that for the moment saved him from death or mutilation. Aninstant later there was a shriek from the negligent nurse, and the man-at-arms ran along the battlements, a bolt on his cross-bow which hefeared to launch at the flying abductor, for in the speeding of it hemight slay the heir of Schonburg. By the time the castle was arousedand the gates thrown open to pour forth searchers, the man haddisappeared into the forest, and in its depths all trace of youngWilhelm was lost. Some days after, the Count von Schonburg came uponthe deserted camp of the outlaws, and found there evidences, notnecessary to be here set down, that his son had been murdered. Imposing secrecy on his followers, so that the Countess might stillretain her unshaken belief that not even an outlaw would harm a littlechild, the Count returned to his castle to make preparations for acomplete and final campaign of extinction against the scourge of theHundsrück, but the Outlaw had withdrawn his men far from the scene ofhis latest successful exploit and the Count never came up with him. 

Years passed on and the silver came quickly to Count Herbert's hair, heattributing the change to the hardships endured in the East, but allknowing well the cause sprang from his belief in his son's death. Therapid procession of years made little impression on the beauty of theCountess, who, although grieving for the absence of her boy, neverregarded him as lost but always looked for his return. "If he weredead, " she often said to her husband, "I should know it in my heart; Ishould know the day, the hour and the moment. "

This belief the Count strove to encourage, although none knew betterthan he how baseless it was. Beatrix, with a mother's fondness, keptlittle Wilhelm's room as it had been when he left it, his toys in theirplaces, and his bed prepared for him, allowing no one else to share thetask she had allotted to herself. She seemed to keep no count of theyears, nor to realise that if her son returned he would return as ayoung man and not as a child. To the mind of Beatrix he seemed alwaysher boy of four. 

When seventeen years had elapsed after the abduction of the heir ofSchonburg, there came a rumour that the Outlaw of Hundsrück was againat his depredations in the neighbourhood of Coblentz. He was at thistime a man of forty-two, and if he imagined that the long interval hadled to any forgetting on the part of the Count von Schonburg, a mostunpleasant surprise awaited him. The Count divided his forces equallybetween his two castles of Schonburg and Gudenfels situated on the westbank and the east bank respectively. If either castle were attacked, arrangements were made for getting word to the other, when the men inthat other would cross the Rhine and fall upon the rear of theinvaders, hemming them thus between two fires. The Count thereforeawaited with complacency whatever assault the Outlaw cared to deliver. 

It was expected that the attack would be made in the night, which wasthe usual time selected for these surprise parties that kept life fromstagnating along the Rhine, but to the amazement of the Count theonslaught came in broad daylight, which seemed to indicate that theOutlaw had gathered boldness with years. The Count from the battlementsscanned his opponents and saw that they were led, not by the Outlaw inperson, but by a young man who evidently held his life lightly, sorecklessly did he risk it. He was ever in the thick of the fray, dealing sword strokes with a lavish generosity which soon kindled adeep respect for him in the breasts of his adversaries. The Count hadnot waited for the battering in of his gates but had sent out his mento meet the enemy in the open, which was rash generalship, had he notknown that the men of Gudenfels were hurrying round to the rear of theoutlaws. Crossbowmen lined the battlements ready to cover the retreatof the defenders of the castle, should they meet a reverse, but nowthey stood in silence, holding their shafts, for in the mêslée there wasa danger of destroying friend as well as foe. But in spite of thesuperb leadership of the young captain, the outlaws, seemingly panic-stricken, when there was no particular reason, deserted their commanderin a body and fled in spite of his frantic efforts to rally them. Theyoung man found himself surrounded, and, after a brave defence, overpowered. When the Gudenfels men came up, there was none to opposethem, the leader of the enemy being within the gates of Schonburg, bound, bleeding and a prisoner. The attacking outlaws were nowhere tobe seen. 

The youthful captive, unkempt as he was, appeared in the great hall ofthe castle before its grey-headed commander, seated in his chair ofstate. 

"You are the leader of this unwarranted incursion?" said the Count, sternly, as he looked upon the pinioned lad. 

"Warranted or unwarranted, I was the leader. "

"Who are you?"

"I am Wilhelm, only son of the Outlaw of Hundsrück. "

"The only son, " murmured the Count, more to himself than to hisauditors, the lines hardening round his firm mouth. For some momentsthere was a deep silence in the large room, then the Count spoke in avoice that had no touch of mercy in it:

"You will be taken to a dungeon and your wounds cared for. Seven daysfrom now, at this hour, you will appear again before me, at which timejust sentence will be passed upon you, after I hear what you have tosay in your own defence. "

"You may hear that now, my Lord. I besieged your castle and wouldperhaps have taken it, had I not a pack of cowardly dogs at my heels. Iam now in your power, and although you talk glibly of justice, I knowwell what I may expect at your hands. Your delay of a week is the merepretence of a hypocrite, who wishes to give colour of legality to anact already decided upon. I do not fear you now, and shall not fear youthen, so spare your physicians unnecessary trouble, and give the wordto your executioner. "

"Take him away, attend to his wounds, and guard him strictly. Sevendays from now when I call for him; see to it that you can produce him. "

Elsa, niece of the Outlaw, watched anxiously for the return of hercousin from the long prepared for expedition. She had the utmostconfidence in his bravery and the most earnest belief in his success, yet she watched for the home-coming of the warriors with an anxiousheart. Perhaps a messenger would arrive telling of the capture of thecastle; perhaps all would return with news of defeat, but for whatactually happened the girl was entirely unprepared. That the wholecompany, practically unscathed, should march into camp with theastounding news that their leader had been captured and that they hadretreated without striking a blow on his behalf, seemed to her somonstrous, that her first thought was fear of the retribution whichwould fall on the deserters when her uncle realised the full import ofthe tidings. She looked with apprehension at his forbidding face andwas amazed to see something almost approaching a smile part his thinlips. 

"The attack has failed, then. I fear I sent out a leader incompetentand too young. We must make haste to remove our camp or the victoriousCount, emboldened by success, may carry the war into the forest. " Withthis amazing proclamation the Outlaw turned and walked to his hutfollowed by his niece, bewildered as one entangled in the mazes of adream. When they were alone together, the girl spoke. 

"Uncle, has madness overcome you?"

"I was never saner than now, nor happier, for years of waiting areapproaching their culmination. "

"Has, then, all valour left your heart?"

"Your question will be answered when next I lead my band. "

"When next you lead it? Where will you lead it?"

"Probably in the vicinity of Mayence, toward which place we are aboutto journey. "

"Is it possible that you retreat from here without attempting therescue of your son, now in the hands of your lifelong enemy?"

"All things are possible in an existence like ours. The boy wouldassault the castle; he has failed and has allowed himself to be taken. It is the fortune of war and I shall not waste a man in attempting hisrescue. "

Elsa stood for a moment gazing in dismay at her uncle, whose shiftyeyes evaded all encounter with hers, then she strode to the wall, tookdown a sword and turned without a word to the door. The Outlaw sprangbetween her and the exit. 

"What are you about to do?" he cried. 

"I am about to rally all who are not cowards round me, then at theirhead, I shall attack Castle Schonburg and set Wilhelm free or share hisfate. "

The Outlaw stood for a few moments, his back against the door of thehut, gazing in sullen anger at the girl, seemingly at a loss to knowhow she should be dealt with. At last his brow cleared and he spoke:"Is your interest in Wilhelm due entirely to the fact that you arecousins?"

A quick flush overspread the girl's fair cheeks with colour and hereyes sought the floor of the hut. The point of the sword she heldlowered until it rested on the stone flags, and she swayed slightly, leaning against its hilt, while the keen eyes of her uncle regarded hercritically. She said in a voice little above a whisper, contrastingstrongly with her determined tone of a moment before:

"My interest is due to our relationship alone. "

"Has no word of love passed between you?"

"Oh, no, no. Why do you ask me such a question?"

"Because on the answer given depends whether or not I shall entrust youwith knowledge regarding him. Swear to me by the Three Kings of Colognethat you will tell to none what I will now impart to you. "

"I swear, " said Elsa, raising her right hand, and holding aloft thesword with it. 

"Wilhelm is not my son, nor is he kin to either of us, but is the heirof the greatest enemy of our house, Count Herbert of Schonburg. I luredhim from his father's home as a child and now send him back as a man. Some time later I shall acquaint the Count with the fact that the youngman he captured is his only son. "

The girl looked at her uncle, her eyes wide with horror. 

"It is your purpose then that the father shall execute his own son?"

The Outlaw shrugged his shoulders. 

"The result lies not with me, but with the Count. He was once acrusader and the teaching of his master is to the effect that themeasure he metes to others, the same shall be meted to him, if Iremember aright the tenets of his faith. Count Herbert wreakingvengeance upon my supposed son, is really bringing destruction upon hisown, which seems but justice. If he show mercy to me and mine, he isbestowing the blessed balm thereof on himself and his house. In thisimperfect world, few events are ordered with such admirable equity asthe capture of young Lord Wilhelm, by that haughty and bloodthirstywarrior, his father. Let us then await with patience the outcome, taking care not to interfere with the designs of Providence. "

"The design comes not from God but from the evil one himself. "

"It is within the power of the Deity to overturn even the best plans ofthe fiend, if it be His will. Let us see to it that we do not intervenebetween two such ghostly potentates, remembering that we are but punycreatures, liable to err. "

"The plot is of your making, secretly held, all these years, withunrelenting malignity. The devil himself is not wicked enough to sendan innocent, loyal lad to his doom in his own mother's house, with hisfather as his executioner. Oh, uncle, uncle, repent and make reparationbefore it is too late. "

"Let the Count repent and make reparation. I have now nothing to dowith the matter. As I have said, if the Count is merciful, he is liketo be glad of it later in his life; if he is revengeful, visiting thesin of the father on the son, innocent, I think you called him, then hedeserves what his own hand deals out to himself. But we have talked toomuch already. I ask you to remember your oath, for I have told you thisso that you will not bring ridicule upon me by a womanish appeal to myown men, who would but laugh at you in any case and think me a dotardin allowing women overmuch to say in the camp. Get you back to yourwomen, for we move camp instantly. Even if I were to relent, as youterm it, the time is past, for Wilhelm is either dangling from thewalls of Castle Schonburg or he is pardoned, and all that we could dowould be of little avail. Prepare you then instantly for our journey. "

Elsa, with a sigh, went slowly to the women's quarters, her oath, themost terrible that may be taken on the Rhine, weighing heavily uponher. Resolving not to break it, yet determined in some way to saveWilhelm, the girl spent the first part of the journey in revolvingplans of escape, for she found as the cavalcade progressed that heruncle did not trust entirely to the binding qualities of the oath shehad taken, but had her closely watched as well. As the expeditionprogressed farther and farther south in the direction of Mayence, vigilance was relaxed, and on the evening of the second day, when acamp had been selected for the night, Elsa escaped and hurried eastwardthrough the forest until she came to the Rhine, which was to be herguide to the castle of Schonburg. The windings of the river made thereturn longer than the direct journey through the wilderness had been, and in addition to this, Elsa was compelled to circumambulate thenumerous castles, climbing the hills to avoid them, fearing capture anddelay, so it was not until the sun was declining on the sixth day afterthe assault on the castle that she stood, weary and tattered andunkempt, before the closed gates of Schonburg, and beat feebly with hersmall hand against the oak, crying for admittance. The guard of thegate, seeing through the small lattice but a single dishevelled womanstanding there, anticipating treachery, refused to open the little doorin the large leaf until his captain was summoned, who, after someparley, allowed the girl to enter the courtyard. 

"What do you want?" asked the captain, curtly. 

She asked instead of answered:

"Is your prisoner still alive?"

"The son of the Outlaw? Yes, but he would be a confident prophet whowould predict as much for him at this hour to-morrow. "

"Take me, I beg of you, to the Countess. "

"That is as it may be. Who are you and what is your business withher?"

"I shall reveal myself to her Ladyship, and to her will state theobject of my coming. "

"Your object is plain enough. You are some tatterdemalion of theforest come to beg the life of your lover, who hangs to-morrow, or I ama heathen Saracen. "

"I do beseech you, tell the Countess that a miserable woman cravespermission to speak with her. "

What success might have attended her petition is uncertain, but theproblem was solved by the appearance of the Countess herself on theterrace above them, which ran the length of the castle on its westernside. The lady leaned over the parapet and watched with evidentcuriosity the strange scene in the courtyard below, the captain and hismen in a ring around the maiden of the forest, who occupying the centreof the circle, peered now in one face, now in another, as if searchingfor some trace of sympathy in the stolid countenances of the warriorsall about her. Before the captain could reply, his lady addressed him. 

"Whom have you there, Conrad?"

It seemed as if the unready captain would get no word said, for againbefore he had made answer the girl spoke to the Countess. 

"I do implore your Ladyship to grant me speech with you. "

The Countess looked down doubtfully upon the supplicant, evidentlyprejudiced by her rags and wildly straying hair. The captain clearedhis throat and opened his mouth, but the girl eagerly forestalled him. 

"Turn me not away, my Lady, because I come in unhandsome guise, for Ihave travelled far through forest and over rock, climbing hills andskirting the river's brink to be where I am. The reluctant wilderness, impeding me, has enviously torn my garments, leaving me thus ashamedbefore you, but, dear Lady, let not that work to my despite. Grant mypetition and my prayer shall ever be that the dearest wish of your ownheart go not unsatisfied. "

"Alas!" said the Countess, with a deep sigh, "my dearest wish giveslittle promise of fulfilment. "

Conrad, seeing that the lady thought of her lost son, frowned angrily, and in low growling tones bade the girl have a care what she said, butElsa was not to be silenced and spoke impetuously. 

"Oh, Countess, the good we do often returns to us tenfold; mercy callsforth mercy. An acorn planted produces an oak; cruelty sown leaves uscruelty to reap. It is not beyond imagination that the soothing of mybruised heart may bring balm to your own. "

"Take the girl to the east room, Conrad, and let her await me there, "said the Countess. 

"With a guard, your Ladyship?"

"Without a guard, Conrad. "

"Pardon me, my Lady, but I distrust her. She may have designs againstyou. "

The Countess had little acquaintance with fear. She smiled at theanxious captain and said:

"Her only desire is to reach my heart, Conrad. "

"God grant it may not be with a dagger, " grumbled the captain, as hemade haste to obey the commands of the lady. 

When the Countess entered the room in which Elsa stood, her firstquestion was an inquiry regarding her visitor's name and station, thetelling of which seemed but an indifferent introduction for the girl, who could not help noting that the Countess shrank, involuntarily fromher when she heard the Outlaw mentioned. 

"Our house has little cause to confer favour on any kin of the Outlawof Hundsrück, " the lady said at last. 

"I do not ask for favour, my Lady. I have come to give your revengecompleteness, if it is revenge you seek. The young man now imprisonedin Schonburg is so little esteemed by my uncle that not a single blowhas been struck on his behalf. If the Count thinks to hurt the Outlawby executing Wilhelm, he will be gravely in error, for my uncle and hismen regard the captive so lightly that they have gone beyond Mayencewithout even making an effort toward his rescue. As for me, my unclebestows upon me such affection as he is capable of, and would be moregrieved should I die, than if any other of his kin were taken from him. Release Wilhelm and I will gladly take his place, content to receivesuch punishment as his Lordship, the Count, considers should be imposedon a relative of the Outlaw. "

"What you ask is impossible. The innocent should not suffer for theguilty. "

"My Lady, the innocent have suffered for others since the world began, and will continue to do so till it ends. Our only hope of enteringHeaven comes through Him who was free from sin being condemned in ourstead. I do beseech your Ladyship to let me take the place of Wilhelm. "

"You love this young man, " said the Countess, seating herself, andregarding the girl with the intent interest which women, whose own loveaffair has prospered, feel when they are confronted with an incidentthat reminds them of their youth. 

"Not otherwise than as a friend and dear companion, my Lady, " repliedElsa, blushing. "When he was a little boy and I a baby, he carried meabout in his arms, and since that time we have been comrades together. "

"Comradeship stands for much, my girl, " said the Countess, in kindlymanner, "but it rarely leads one friend willingly to accept death foranother. I have not seen this young man whom you would so gladlyliberate; the dealing with prisoners is a matter concerning my husbandalone; I never interfere, but if I should now break this rule becauseyou have travelled so far, and are so anxious touching the prisoner'swelfare, would you be willing to accept my conditions?"

"Yes, my Lady, so that his life were saved. "

"He is a comely young man doubtless, and there are some beautiful womenwithin this castle; would it content you if he were married to one ofmy women, and so escaped with life?"

A sudden pallor overspread the girl's face, and she clasped her handsnervously together. Tears welled into her eyes, and she stood thus fora few moments unable to speak. At last she murmured, with somedifficulty:

"Wilhelm can care nothing for any here, not having beheld them, and itwould be wrong to coerce a man in such extremity. I would rather diefor him, that he might owe his life to me. "

"But he would live to marry some one else. "

"If I were happy in heaven, why should I begrudge Wilhelm's happinesson earth?"

"Ah, why, indeed, Elsa? And yet you disclaim with a sigh. Be assuredthat I shall do everything in my power to save your lover, and that notat the expense of your own life or happiness. Now come with me, for Iwould have you arrayed in garments more suited to your youth and yourbeauty, that you may not be ashamed when you meet this most fascinatingprisoner, for such he must be, when you willingly risk so much for hissake. "

The Countess, after conducting the girl to the women's apartments, sought her husband, but found to her dismay that he showed little signof concurrence with her sympathetic views regarding the fate of theprisoner. It was soon evident to her that Count Herbert had determinedupon the young man's destruction, and that there was some concealedreason for this obdurate conclusion which the Count did not care todisclose. Herbert von Schonburg was thoroughly convinced that his sonwas dead, mutilated beyond recognition by the Outlaw of Hundsrück, yetthis he would not tell to Beatrix, his wife, who cherished the unshakenbelief that the boy still lived and would be restored to her before shedied. The Count for years had waited for his revenge, and even thoughhis wife now pleaded that he forego it, the Master of Schonburg was inno mind to comply, though he said little in answer to her persuading. The incoming of Elsa to the castle merely convinced him that some trickwas meditated on the part of the Outlaw, and the sentimentalconsideration urged by the Countess had small weight with him. He gavea curt order to his captain to double his guards around the stronghold, and relax no vigilance until the case of the prisoner had been finallydealt with. He refused permission for Elsa to see her cousin, even inthe presence of witnesses, as he was certain that her coming was forthe purpose of communicating to him some message from the Outlaw, thenews of whose alleged withdrawal he did not believe. 

"With the country at peace, the Outlaw has instigated, and his son hasexecuted, an attack upon this castle. The penalty is death. To-morrowI shall hear what he has to say in his defence, and shall deliverjudgment, I hope, justly. If his kinswoman wishes to see him, she maycome to his trial, and then will be in a position to testify to heruncle that sentence has been pronounced in accordance with the law thatrules the Rhine provinces. If she has communication to make to hercousin, let it be made in the Judgment Hall in the presence of alltherein. "

The Countess, with sinking heart, left her husband, having the tact notto press upon him too strongly the claims of mercy as well as ofjustice. She knew that his kind nature would come to the assistance ofher own suing, and deeply regretted that the time for milder influencesto prevail was so short. In a brief conference with Elsa, sheendeavoured to prepare the girl's mind for a disastrous ending of herhopes. 

Some minutes before the hour set for Wilhelm's trial, the CountessBeatrix, followed by Elsa, entered the Judgment Hall to find the Countseated moodily in the great chair at one end of the long room, in whoseample inclosure many an important state conference had been held, eachof the forefathers of the present owner being seated in turn aspresident of the assemblage. Some thought of this seemed to oppress theCount's mind, for seated here with set purpose to extinguish hisenemy's line, the remembrance that his own race died with him was notlikely to be banished. The Countess brought Elsa forward and in awhisper urged her to plead for her kinsman before his judge. The girl'seloquence brought tears to the eyes of Beatrix, but the Count'simpassive face was sphinx-like in its settled gloom. Only once duringthe appeal did he speak, and that was when Elsa offered herself as asacrifice to his revenge, then he said, curtly:

"We do not war against women. You are as free to go as you were tocome, but you must not return. "

A dull fear began to chill the girl's heart and to check her earnestpleading: She felt that her words were making no impression on thesilent man seated before her, and this knowledge brought weakhesitation to her tongue and faltering to her speech. In despair shewrung her hands and cried: "Oh, my Lord, my Lord, think of your own sonheld at the mercy of an enemy. Think of him as a young man just the ageof your prisoner, at a time when life is sweetest to him! Think, think, I beg of you----"

The Count roused himself like a lion who had been disturbed, and criedin a voice that resounded hoarsely from the rafters of the arched roof, startling the Countess with the unaccustomed fierceness of its tone:

"Yes, I will think of him--of my only son in the clutch of his bitterfoe, and I thank you for reminding me of him, little as I have forthese long years needed spur to my remembrance. Bring in the prisoner. "

When Wilhelm was brought in, heavy manacles on his wrists, walkingbetween the men who guarded him, Elsa looked from judge to culprit, andher heart leaped with joy. Surely such blindness could not strike thiswhole concourse that some one within that hall would not see that, hereconfronted, stood father and son, on the face of one a frown of anger, on the face of the other a frown of defiance, expressions almostidentical, the only difference being the thirty years that dividedtheir ages. For a few moments the young man did not distinguish Elsa inthe throng, then a glad cry of recognition escaped him, and the cloudcleared from his face as if a burst of sunshine had penetrated thesombre-coloured windows and had thrown its illuminating halo around hishead. He spoke impetuously, leaning forward:

"Elsa, Elsa, how came you here?" then, a shadow of concern crossing hiscountenance, "you are not a prisoner, I trust?"

"No, no, Wilhelm, I am here to beseech the clemency of the Count--"

"Not for me!" exclaimed the prisoner, defiantly, drawing himself upproudly: "not for me, Elsa. You must never ask favour from a robber anda coward like, Count von Schonburg, brave only in his own JudgmentHall. "

"Oh, Wilhelm, Wilhelm, have a care what you say, or you will break myheart. And your proclamation is far from true. The Count is a brave manwho has time and again proved himself so, and my only hope is that hewill prove as merciful as he is undoubtedly courageous. Join yourprayers with mine, Wilhelm, and beg for mercy rather than justice. "

"I beg from no man, either mercy or justice. I am here, my Lord Count, ready to receive whatever you care to bestow, and I ask you to make thewaiting brief for the sake of the women present, for I am I sure thebeautiful, white-haired lady there dislikes this traffic in men's livesas much as does my fair-haired cousin. "

"Oh, my lord Count, do not heed what he says; his words but show therecklessness of youth; hold them not against him. "

"Indeed I mean each word I say, and had I iron in my hand instead ofround my wrists, his Lordship would not sit so calmly facing me. "

Elsa, seeing how little she had accomplished with either man began toweep helplessly, and the Count, who had not interrupted the colloquy, listening unmoved to the contumely heaped upon him by the prisoner, nowsaid to the girl:

"Have you finished your questioning?"

Receiving no answer, he said to the prisoner after a pause:

"Why did you move against this castle?"

"Because I hoped to take it, burn it, and hang or behead its owner. "

"Oh, Wilhelm, Wilhelm!" wailed the girl. 

"And, having failed, what do you expect?"

"To be hanged, or beheaded, depending on whether your Lordship is themore expert with a cord or with an axe. "

"You called me a coward, and I might have retorted that in doing so youtook advantage of your position as prisoner, but setting that aside, and speaking as man to man, what ground have you for such anaccusation?"

"We cannot speak as man to man, for I am bound and you are free, buttouching the question of your cowardice, I have heard it said by thosewho took part in the defence of my father's castle, when you attackedit and destroyed it, commanding a vastly superior force, my fatherleaped from the wall and dared you to follow him. For a moment, theytold me, it seemed that you would accept the challenge, but youcontented yourself with calling on others to do what you feared to doyourself, and thus my father, meeting no opposition from a man of hisown rank, was compelled to destroy the unfortunate serfs who stood inhis way and, so cut out a path to safety. In refusing to accept theplunge he took, you branded yourself a coward, and once a toward alwaysa coward. "

"Oh, Wilhelm, " cried Elsa, in deep distress at the young man's lack ofdiplomacy, while she could not but admire his ill-timed boldness, "speak not so to the Count, for I am sure what you say is not true. "

"Indeed, " growled Captain Conrad, "the young villain is more craftythan we gave him credit for. Instead of a rope he will have a challengefrom the Count, and so die honourably like a man, in place of beingstrangled like the dog he is. "

"Dear Wilhelm, for my sake, do not persist in this course, but throwyourself on the mercy of the Count. Why retail here the irresponsiblegossip of a camp, which I am sure contains not a word of truth, so faras the Count is concerned. "

Herbert of Schonburg held up his hand for silence, and made confessionwith evident difficulty. 

"What the young man says with harshness is true in semblance, if notstrictly so in action. For the moment, thinking of my wife and child, Ihesitated, and when the hesitation was gone the opportunity was gonewith it. My punishment has been severe; by that moment's cowardice, Iam now a childless man, and therefore perhaps value my life less highlythan I held it at the time we speak of. Hear then, your sentence: Youwill be taken to the top of the wall, the iron removed from yourwrists, and your sword placed in your hand. You will then leap fromthat wall, and if you are unhurt, I will leap after you. Should yoursword serve you as well as your father's served him, you will be freeof the forest, and this girl is at liberty to accompany you. I ask hernow to betake herself to the field outside the gate, there to await theresult of our contest. "

At this there was an outcry on the part of Countess Beatrix, whoprotested against her husband placing himself in this unnecessaryjeopardy, but the Count was firm and would permit no interference withhis sentence. Elsa was in despair at the unaccountable blindness of allconcerned, not knowing that the Count was convinced his son was dead, and that the Countess thought continually of her boy as a child offour, taking no account of the years that had passed, although herreason, had she applied reason to that which touched her affectionsonly, would have told her, he must now be a stalwart young man and notthe little lad she had last held in her arms. For a moment Elsa waveredin her allegiance to the oath she had taken, but she saw against thewall the great crucifix which had been placed there by the firstcrusader who had returned to the castle from the holy wars and shebreathed a prayer as she passed it, that the heir of this stubbornhouse might not be cut off in his youth through the sightless rancourthat seemed to pervade it. 

The Count tried to persuade his weeping wife not to accompany him tothe walls, but she would not be left behind, and so, telling Conrad tokeep close watch upon her, in case that in her despair she mightattempt to harm herself, his lordship led the way to the battlements. 

Wilhelm, at first jubilant that he was allowed to take part in a swordcontest rather than an execution, paused for a moment as he came to thecourtyard, and looked about him in a dazed manner, once or twicedrawing his hand across his eyes, as if to perfect his vision. Someseeing him thus stricken silent and thoughtful, surmised that the youngman was like to prove more courageous in word than in action; othersimagined that the sudden coming from the semi-gloom of the castleinterior into the bright light dazzled him. The party climbed theflight of stone steps which led far upward to the platform edged by theparapet from which the spring was to be made. The young man walked upand down the promenade, unheeding those around him, seeming like one ina dream, groping for something he failed to find. The onlookers watchedhim curiously, wondering at his change of demeanour. 

Suddenly he dropped his sword on the stones at his feet, held up hishands and cried aloud:

"I have jumped from here before--when I was a lad--a baby almost--Iremember it all now--where am I--when was I here before--where is mywooden sword--and where is Conrad, who made it--Conrad, where are you?"

The captain was the first to realise what had happened. He steppedhurriedly forward, scrutinising his late prisoner, the light ofrecognition, in his eyes. 

"It is the young master, " he shouted. "My Lord Count, this is nokinsman of the Outlaw, but your own son, a man grown. "

The Count stood amazed, as incapable of motion as a statue of stone;the countess, gazing with dreamy eyes, seemed trying to adjust herinward vision of the lad of four with the outward reality of the man oftwenty-one. In the silence rose the clear sweet voice of Elsa withoutthe walls, her face upturned like a painting of the Madonna, her handsclasped in front of her. 

"Dear Virgin Mother in Heaven, I thank thee that my prayer was notunheard, and bear me witness that I have kept my oath--I have kept myoath, and may Thy intervention show a proud and sinful people theblackness of revenge. "

Count Herbert, rousing himself from his stupor, appealed loudly to thegirl. 

"Woman, is this indeed my son, and, if so, why did you not speak beforewe came to such extremity?"

"I cannot answer. I have sworn an oath. If you would learn who standsbeside you, send a messenger to the Outlaw, saying you have killed him, as indeed you purposed doing, " then stretching out her arms, she said, with faltering voice: "Wilhelm, farewell, " and turning, fled toward theforest. 

"Elsa, Elsa, come back!" the young man cried, foot on the parapet, butthe girl paid no heed to his commanding summons, merely waving her handwithout looking over her shoulder. 

"Elsa!"

The name rang out so thrillingly strange that its reverberationinstantly arrested the flying footsteps of the girl. Instinctively sheknew it was the voice of a man falling rapidly through the air. Sheturned in time to see Wilhelm strike the ground, the impetusprecipitating him prone on his face, where he lay motionless. The cryof horror from the battlements was echoed by her own as she spedswiftly toward him. The young man sprang to his feet as she approachedand caught her breathless in his arms. 

"Ah, Elsa, " he said, tenderly, "forgive me the fright I gave you, but Iknew of old your fleetness of foot, and if the forest once encircledyou, how was I ever to find you?"

The girl made no effort to escape from her imprisonment, and showedlittle desire to exchange the embrace she endured for that of theforest. 

"Though I should blush to say it, Wilhelm, I fear I am easily found, when you are the searcher. "

"Then let old Schloss Schonburg claim you, Elsa, that the walls whichbeheld a son go forth, may see a son and daughter return. "

CHAPTER III

A CITY OF FEAR

The Countess Beatrix von Schonburg warmly welcomed her lost son and hernewly-found daughter. The belief of Beatrix in Wilhelm's ultimatereturn had never wavered during all the long years of his absence, andalthough she had to translate her dream of the child of four into areality that included a stalwart young man of twenty-one, thereadjustment was speedily accomplished. Before a week had passed itseemed to her delighted heart that the boy had never left the castle. The Countess had liked Elsa from the first moment when she saw her, ragged, unkempt and forlorn, among the lowering, suspicious men-at-armsin the courtyard, and now that she knew the dangers and the privationsthe girl had braved for the sake of Wilhelm, the affectionate heart ofBeatrix found ample room for the motherless Elsa. 

With the Count, the process of mental reconstruction was slower, notonly on account of his former conviction that his son was dead, butalso because of the deep distrust in which he held the Outlaw. He saidlittle, as was his custom, but often sat with brooding brows, intentlyregarding his son, gloomy doubt casting a shadow over his sterncountenance. Might not this be a well-laid plot on the part of theOutlaw to make revenge complete by placing a von Weithoff in the hallsof Schonburg as master of that ancient stronghold? The circumstancesin which identity was disclosed, although sufficient to convince everyone else in the castle, appeared at times to the Count but the strongerevidence of the Outlaw's craft and subtlety. If the young man wereactually the son of von Weithoff, then undoubtedly the Outlaw had rungreat risk of having him hanged forthwith, but on the other hand, theprize to be gained, comprising as it did two notable castles and twowide domains, was a stake worth playing high for, and a stake whichappealed strongly to a houseless, landless man, with not even a nameworth leaving to his son. Thus, while the Countess lavished heraffection on young Wilhelm, noticing nothing of her husband'sdistraction in this excessive happiness, Count Herbert sat alone in thelofty Knight's Hall, his elbows resting on the table before him, hishead buried in his hands, ruminating on the strange transformation thathad taken place, endeavouring to weigh the evidence _pro_ and_con_ with the impartial mind of an outsider, becoming the morebewildered the deeper he penetrated into the mystery. 

It was in this despondent attitude that Elsa found him a few days afterthe leap from the wall that had caused her return to Schonburg, awilling captive. The Count did not look up when she entered, and thegirl stood for a few moments in silence near him. At last she spoke ina low voice, hesitating slightly, nevertheless going with incisivedirectness into the very heart of the problem that baffled CountHerbert. 

"My Lord, you do not believe that Wilhelm is indeed your son. "

The master of Schonburg raised his head slowly and looked searchinglyinto the frank face of the girl, gloomy distrust reflected from his owncountenance. 

"Were you sent by your uncle to allay my suspicion?

"No, my Lord. I thought that a hint of the truth being given, Naturewould come to the assistance of mutual recognition. Such has been thecase between my lady and her son, but I see that you are stillunconvinced. "

"For my sins, I know something of the wickedness of this world, aknowledge from which her purity has protected the Countess. Youbelieve that Wilhelm is my son?"

"I have never said so, my Lord. "

"What you did say was that you had taken an oath. You are too youngand doubtless too innocent to be a party to any plot, but you may havebeen the tool of an unscrupulous man, who knew the oath would be brokenwhen the strain of a strong affection was brought to bear upon it. "

"Yet, my Lord, I kept my oath, although I saw my--my--"

The girl hesitated and blushed, but finally spoke up bravely:

"I saw my lover led to his destruction. If Wilhelm is my cousin, thendid his father take a desperate chance in trusting first, to my escapefrom the camp, and second to my perjury. You endow him with more thanhuman foresight, my Lord. "

"He builded on your love for Wilhelm, which he had seen growing underhis eye before either you or the lad had suspicion of its existence. Iknow the man, and he is a match for Satan, his master. "

"But Satan has been discomfited ere now by the angels of light, andeven by holy men, if legend tells truly. I have little knowledge ofthe world, as you have said, but the case appears to me one of thesimplest. If my uncle wished the bitterest revenge on you, what couldbe more terrible than cause you to be the executioner of your own son?The vengeance, however, to be complete, depends on his being able toplace before you incontrovertible proof that you were the father of thevictim. Send, therefore, a messenger to him, one from Gudenfels, whoknows nothing of what has happened in this castle of Schonburg, and whois therefore unable to disclose, even if forced to confess, thatWilhelm is alive. Let the messenger inform my uncle that his son is nomore, which is true enough, and then await the Outlaw's reply. Andmeanwhile let me venture to warn you, my Lord, that it would be well toconceal your disbelief from Wilhelm, for he is high-spirited, and if hegets but an inkling that you distrust him, he will depart; for not allyour possessions will hold your son if he once learns that you doubthim, so you are like to find yourself childless again, if your presentmood masters you much longer. "

The Count drew a deep sigh, then roused himself and seemed to shake offthe influence that enchained him. 

"Thank you, my girl, " he cried, with something of the old ring in hisvoice, "I shall do as you advise, and if this embassy results as yousay, you will ever find your staunchest friend in me. "

He held out his hand to Elsa, and departed to his other castle ofGudenfels on the opposite side of the Rhine. From thence he sent amessenger who had no knowledge of what was happening in Schonburg. 

When at last the messenger returned from the Outlaw's camp, he broughtwith him a wailing woman and grim tidings that he feared to deliver. Thrice his lordship demanded his account, the last time with suchsternness that the messenger quailed before him. 

"My Lord, " he stammered at last, "a frightful thing has taken place--would that I had died before it was told to me. The young man yourlordship hanged was no other than----'

"Well, why do you pause? You were going to say he was my own son. Whatproof does the Outlaw offer that such was indeed the case?"

"Alas! my Lord, the proof seems clear enough. Here with me is youngLord Wilhelm's nurse, whose first neglect led to his abduction, and whofled to the forest after him, and was never found. She followed him tothe Outlaw's camp, and was there kept prisoner by him until she was atlast given charge of the lad, under oath that she would teach him toforget who he was, the fierce Outlaw threatening death to both womanand child were his orders disobeyed. She has come willingly with mehoping to suffer death now that one she loved more than son has diedthrough her first fault. "

Then to the amazement of the pallid messenger the Count laughed aloudand called for Wilhelm, who, when he was brought, clasped the tremblingold woman in his arms, overjoyed to see her again and eager to learnnews of the camp. How was the stout Gottlieb? Had the messenger seenCaptain Heinrich? and so on. 

"Indeed, my young Lord, " answered the overjoyed woman "there was suchturmoil in the camp that I was glad to be quit of it with unbrokenbones. When the Outlaw proclaimed that you were hanged, there wasinstant rebellion among his followers, who thought that your capturewas merely a trick to be speedily amended, being intended to form alaughing matter to your discomfiture when you returned. They sworethey would have torn down Schonburg with their bare hands rather thanhave left you in jeopardy, had they known their retreat imperilled yourlife. "

"The brave lads!" cried the young man in a glow of enthusiasm, "andhere have I been maligning them for cowards! What was the outcome?"

"That I do not know, my Lord, being glad to escape from the ruffianswith unfractured head. "

The result of the embassy was speedily apparent at Schonburg. Two dayslater, in the early morning, the custodians at the gate were startledby the shrill Outlaw yell, which had on so many occasions carriedterror with it into the hearts of Rhine strongholds. 

"Come out, Hangman of Schonburg!" they shouted, "come out, murderer ofa defenceless prisoner. Come out, before we drag you forth, for therope is waiting for your neck and the gallows tree is waiting for therope. "

Count Herbert was first on the battlements, and curtly he commanded hismen not to launch bolt at the invaders, knowing the outlaws mistakenlysupposed him to be the executioner of their former comrade. A momentlater young Wilhelm himself appeared on the wall above the gate, and, lifting his arms above his head raised a great shout of joy at seeingthere collected his old companions, calling this one or that by name ashe recognised them among the seething, excited throng. There was aninstant's cessation of the clamour, then the outlaws sent forth a cheerthat echoed from all the hills around. They brandished their weaponsaloft, and cheered again and again, the garrison of the castle, nowbristling along the battlements, joining in the tumult with stridentvoices. Gottlieb advanced some distance toward the gate, and holding uphis hand for silence addressed Wilhelm. 

"Young master, " he cried, "we have deposed von Weithoff, and would havehanged him, but that he escaped during the night, fled to Mayence andbesought protection of the Archbishop. If you will be our leader wewill sack Mayence and hang the Archbishop from his own cathedraltower. "

"That can I hardly do, Gottlieb, as a messenger has been sent to theArchbishop asking him to come to Schonburg and marry Elsa to me. Hemight take our invasion as an unfriendly act and refuse to perform theceremony. "

Gottlieb scratched his head as one in perplexity, seeing before him aquestion of etiquette that he found difficult to solve. At last hesaid:

"What need of Archbishop? You and Elsa have been brought up among us, therefore confer honour on our free company by being married by our ownMonk who has tied many a knot tight enough to hold the most wayward ofour band. The aisles of the mighty oaks are more grand than thecathedral at Mayence or the great hall of Schonburg. "

"Indeed I am agreed, if Elsa is willing. We will be married first inthe forest and then by the Archbishop in the great hall of Schonburg. "

"In such case there will be delay, for now that I bethink me, hisLordship of Mayence has taken himself to Frankfort, where he is to meetthe Archbishops of Treves and Cologne who will presently journey to thecapital We were thinking of falling upon his reverence of Cologne as hepassed up the river, unless he comes with an escort too numerous forus, which, alas! is most likely, so suspicious has the world grown. "

"You will be wise not to meddle with the princes of the Church, betheir escorts large or small. "

"Then, Master Wilhelm, be our leader, for we are likely to get intotrouble unless a man of quality is at our head. "

Wilhelm breathed a deep sigh and glanced sideways at his father, whostood some distance off, leaning on his two-handed sword, a silentspectator of the meeting. 

"The free life of the forest is no more for me, Gottlieb. My duty ishere in the castle of my forefathers, much though I grieve to part withyou. "

This decision seemed to have a depressing effect on the outlaws withinhearing. Gottlieb retired, and the band consulted together for a time, then their spokesman again advanced. 

"Some while since, " he began in dolorous tone, "we appealed to theEmperor to pardon us, promising in such case to quit our life ofoutlawry and take honest service with those nobles who needed stoutblades, but his Majesty sent reply that if we came unarmed to thecapital and tendered submission, he would be graciously pleased to hanga round dozen of us to be selected by him, scourge the rest through thestreets of Frankfort and so bestow his clemency on such as survived. This imperial tender we did not accept, as there was some uncertaintyregarding whose neck should feel the rope and whose back the scourge. While all were willing to admit that more than a dozen of us sorelyneeded hanging, yet each man seemed loath to claim precedence over hisneighbour in wickedness, and desired, in some sort, a voice in theselection of the victims. But if you will accept our following, MasterWilhelm, we will repair at once to Frankfort and make submission to hisMajesty the Emperor. The remnant being well scourged, will then returnto Schonburg to place themselves under your command. "

"Are you willing then to hang for me, Gottlieb?"

"I hanker not after the hanging, but if hang we must, there is no man Iwould rather hang for than Wilhelm, formerly of the forest, but now, alas! of Schonburg. And so say they all without dissent, therefore theunanimity must needs include the eleven other danglers. "

"Then draw nigh, all of you, to the walls and hear my decision. "

Gottlieb waving his arms, hailed the outlaws trooping to the walls, and, his upraised hand bringing silence, Wilhelm spoke:

"Such sacrifice as you propose, I cannot accept, yet I dearly wish tolead a band of men like you. Elsa and I shall be married by our ancientwoodland father in the forest and then by the Abbot of St. Werner inthe hall of Schonburg. We will make our wedding journey to Frankfort, and you shall be our escort and our protectors. "

There was for some moments such cheering at this that the young man wascompelled to pause in his address, and then as the outcry was again andagain renewed, he looked about for the cause and saw that Elsa and hismother had taken places on the balcony which overlooked the animatedscene. The beautiful girl had been recognised by the rebels and shewaved her hand in response to their shouting. 

"We will part company, " resumed Wilhelm, "as near Frankfort as it issafe for you to go, and my wife and I, accompanied by a score of menfrom this castle, will enter the capital. I will beg your completepardon from his Majesty and if at first it is refused, I think Elsawill have better success with the Empress, who may incline her imperialhusband toward clemency. All this I promise, providing I receive theconsent and support of my father, and I am not likely to be refused, for he already knows the persuasive power of my dear betrothed when shepleads for mercy. "

"My consent and support I most willingly bestow, " said the Count, witha fervour that left no doubt of his sincerity. 

The double marriage was duly solemnised, and Wilhelm, with his newly-made wife, completed their journey to Frankfort, escorted until almostwithin sight of the capital by five hundred and twenty men, but theyentered the gates of the city accompanied by only the score ofSchonburg men, the remaining five hundred concealing themselves in therough country, as they well knew how to do. 

Neither Wilhelm nor Elsa had ever seen a large city before, and silencefell upon them as they approached the western gate, for they werecoming upon a world strange to them, and Wilhelm felt an unaccustomedelation stir within his breast, as if he were on the edge of someadventure that might have an important bearing on his future. Insteadof passing peaceably through the gate as he had expected, the cavalcadewas halted after the two had ridden under the gloomy stone archway, andthe portcullis was dropped with a sudden clang, shutting out the twentyriders who followed. One of several officers who sat on a stone benchthat fronted the guard-house within the walls, rose and came forward. 

"What is your name and quality?" he demanded, gruffly. 

"I am Wilhelm, son of Count von Schonberg. "

"What is your business here in Frankfort?"

"My business relates to the emperor, and is not to be delivered to thefirst underling who has the impudence to make inquiry, " replied Wilhelmin a haughty tone, which could scarcely be regarded, in thecircumstances, as diplomatic. 

Nevertheless, the answer did not seem to be resented, but ratherappeared to have a subduing effect on the questioner, who turned, as iffor further instruction, to another officer, evidently his superior inrank. The latter now rose, came forward, doffing his cap, and said:

"I understand your answer better than he to whom it was given, myLord. "

"I am glad there is one man of sense at a gate of the capital, " saidWilhelm, with no relaxation of his dignity, but nevertheless bewilderedat the turn the talk had taken, seeing there was something underneathall this which he did not comprehend, yet resolved to carry matterswith a high hand until greater clearness came to the situation. 

"Will you order the portcullis raised and permit my men to follow me?"

"They are but temporarily detained until we decide where to quarterthem, my Lord. You know, " he added, lowering his voice, "the necessityfor caution. Are you for the Archbishop of Treves, of Cologne, or ofMayence?"

"I am from the district of Mayence, of course. "

"And are you for the archbishop?"

"For the archbishop certainly. He would have honoured me by performingour marriage ceremony had he not been called by important affairs ofstate to the capital, as you may easily learn by asking him, now thathe is within these walls. "

The officer bowed low with great obsequiousness and said:

"Your reply is more than sufficient, my Lord, and I trust you willpardon the delay we have caused you. The men of Mayence are quarteredin the Leinwandhaus, where room will doubtless be made for yourfollowers. 

"It is not necessary for me to draw upon the hospitality of the goodArchbishop, as I lodge in my father's town house near the palace, andthere is room within for the small escort I bring. "

Again the officer bowed to the ground, and the portcullis being by thistime raised, the twenty horsemen came clattering under the archway, andthus, without further molestation, they arrived at the house of theCount von Schonburg. 

"Elsa, " said Wilhelm, when they were alone in their room, "there issomething wrong in this city. Men look with fear one upon another, andpass on hurriedly, as if to avoid question. Others stand in groups atthe street corners and speak in whispers, glancing furtively over theirshoulders. "

"Perhaps that is the custom in cities, " replied Elsa. 

"I doubt it. I have heard that townsmen are eager for traffic, invitingall comers to buy, but here most of the shops are barred, and nocustomers are solicited. They seem to me like people under a cloud offear. What can it be?"

"We are more used to the forest path than to city streets, Wilhelm. They will all become familiar to us in a day or two, yet I feel as if Icould not get a full breath in these narrow streets and I long for thetrees already, but perhaps content will come with waiting. "

"'Tis deeper than that. There is something ominous in the air. Notedyou not the questioning at the gate and its purport? They asked me if Ifavoured Treves, or Cologne, or Mayence, but none inquired if I stoodloyal to the Emperor, yet I was entering his capital city ofFrankfort. "

"Perhaps you will learn all from the Emperor when you see him, "ventured Elsa. 

"Perhaps, " said Wilhelm. 

The chamberlain of the von Schonburg household, who had supervised thearrangements for the reception of the young couple, waited upon hismaster in the evening and informed him that the Emperor would not bevisible for some days to come. 

"He has gone into retreat, in the cloisters attached to the cathedral, and it is the imperial will that none disturb him on worldly affairs. Each day at the hour when the court assembles at the palace, theEmperor hears exhortation from the pious fathers in the Wahlkapelle ofthe cathedral; the chapel in which emperors are elected; theseexhortations pertaining to the ruling of the land, which his majestydesires to govern justly and well. 

"An excellent intention, " commented the young man, with suspicion ofimpatience in his tone, "but meanwhile, how are the temporal affairs ofthe country conducted?"

"The Empress Brunhilda is for the moment the actual head of the state. Whatever act of the ministers receives her approval, is sent by a monkto the Emperor, who signs any document so submitted to him. "

"Were her majesty an ambitious woman, such transference of power mightprove dangerous. "

"She is an ambitious woman, but devoted to her husband, who, it perhapsmay be whispered, is more monk than king, " replied the chamberlainunder his breath. "Her majesty has heard of your lordship's romanticadventures and has been graciously pleased to command that you and herladyship, your wife, be presented to her to-morrow in presence of thecourt. "

"This is a command which it will be a delight to obey. But tell me, what is wrong in this great town? There is a sinister feeling in theair; uneasiness is abroad, or I am no judge of my fellow-creatures. "

"Indeed, my Lord, you have most accurately described the situation. Noman knows what is about to happen. The gathering of the Electors isregarded with the gravest apprehension. The Archbishop of Mayence, whobut a short time since crowned the Emperor at the great altar of thecathedral, is herewith a thousand men at his back. The Count Palatineof the Rhine is also within these walls with a lesser entourage. It isrumoured that his haughty lordship, the Archbishop of Treves, willreach Frankfort to-morrow, to be speedily followed by that eminentPrince of the Church, the Archbishop of Cologne. Thus there will begathered in the capital four Electors, a majority of the college, aconjunction that has not occurred for centuries, except on the death ofan emperor, necessitating the nomination and election of hissuccessor. "

"But as the Emperor lives and there is no need of choosing another, wherein lies the danger?

"The danger lies in the fact that the college has the power to deposeas well as to elect. "

"Ah! And do the Electors threaten to depose?"

"No. Treves is much too crafty for any straight-forward statement ofpolicy. He is the brains of the combination, and has put forwardMayence and the Count Palatine as the moving spirits, although it iswell known that the former is but his tool and the latter is moved byambition to have his imbecile son selected emperor. "

"Even if the worst befall, it seems but the substitution of a weak-minded man for one who neglects the affairs of state, although I shouldthink the princes of the Church would prefer a monarch who is so muchunder the influence of the monks. "

"The trouble is deeper than my imperfect sketch of the situation wouldlead you to suppose, my Lord. The Emperor periodically emerges from hisretirement, promulgates some startling decree, unheeding the counsel ofany adviser, then disappears again, no man knowing what is coming next. Of such a nature was his recent edict prohibiting the harrying ofmerchants going down the Rhine and the Moselle, which, however just intheory, is impracticable, for how are the nobles to reap revenue ifsuch practices are made unlawful? This edict has offended all themagnates of both rivers, and the archbishops, with the Count Palatine, claim that their prerogatives have been infringed, so they come toFrankfort ostensibly to protest, while the Emperor in his cloisterrefuses to meet them. The other three Electors hold aloof, as the edicttouches them not, but they form a minority which is powerless, even iffriendly to the Emperor. Meanwhile his majesty cannot be aroused to anappreciation of the crisis, but says calmly that if it is the Lord'swill he remain emperor, emperor he will remain. "

"Then at its limit, chamberlain, all we have to expect is a peacefuldeposition and election?"

"Not so, my lord. The merchants of Frankfort are fervently loyal, tothe Emperor, who, they say, is the first monarch to give forth a justlaw for their protection. At present the subtlety of Treves hasnullified all combined action on their part, for he has given out thathe comes merely to petition his over-lord, which privilege is wellwithin his right, and many citizens actually believe him, but otherssee that a majority of the college will be within these walls beforemany days are past, and that the present Emperor may be legally deposedand another legally chosen. Then if the citizens object, they arerebels, while at this moment if they fight for the Emperor they arepatriots, so you see the position is not without its perplexities, forthe citizens well know that if they were to man the walls and keep outTreves and Cologne, the Emperor himself would most likely disclaimtheir interference, trusting as he does so entirely in Providence thata short time since he actually disbanded the imperial troops, much tothe delight of the archbishops, who warmly commended his action. Andnow, my Lord, if I may venture to tender advice unasked, I wouldstrongly counsel you to quit Frankfort as soon as your business here isconcluded, for I am certain that a change of government is intended. All will be done promptly, and the transaction will be consummatedbefore the people are aware that such a step is about to be taken. TheElectors will meet in the Wahlzimmer or election room of the Romer anddepose the Emperor, then they will instantly select his successor, adjourn to the Wahlkapelle and elect him. The Palatine's son is herewith his father, and will be crowned at the high altar by theArchbishop of Mayence. The new Emperor will dine with the Electors inthe Kaisersaal and immediately after show himself on the balcony to thepeople assembled in the Romerberg below. Proclamation of his electionwill then be made, and all this need not occupy more than two hours. The Archbishop of Mayence already controls the city gates, which sincethe disbanding of the imperial troops have been unguarded, and none canget in or out of the city without that potentate's permission. The menof Mayence are quartered in the centre of the town, the CountPalatine's troops are near the gate. Treves and Cologne will doubtlesscommand other positions, and thus between them they will control thecity. Numerous as the merchants and their dependents are, they willhave no chance against the disciplined force of the Electors, and thestreets of Frankfort are like to run with blood, for the nobles are buttoo eager to see a sharp check given to the rising pretensions of themercantile classes, who having heretofore led peaceful lives, will comeout badly in combat, despite their numbers; therefore I beg of you, myLord, to withdraw with her Ladyship before this hell's caldron isuncovered. "

"Your advice is good, chamberlain, in so far as it concerns my wife, and I will beg of her to retire to Schonburg, although I doubt if shewill obey, but, by the bones of Saint Werner which floated against thecurrent of the Rhine in this direction, if there must be a fray, I willbe in the thick of it. "

"Remember, my Lord, that your house has always stood by the Archbishopof Mayence. "

"It has stood by the Emperor as well, chamberlain. "

The Lady Elsa was amazed by the magnificence of the Emperor's court, when, accompanied by her husband, she walked the length of the greatroom to make obeisance before the throne. At first entrance she shranktimidly, closer to the side of Wilhelm, trembling at the ordeal ofpassing, simply costumed as she now felt herself to be, between twoassemblages of haughty knights and high-born dames, resplendent indress, with the proud bearing that pertained to their position in theEmpire. Her breath came and went quickly, and she feared that allcourage would desert her before she traversed the seemingly endlesslane, flanked by the nobility of Germany, which led to the royalpresence. Wilhelm, unabashed, holding himself the equal of any there, was not to be cowed by patronising glance, or scornful gaze. Thethought flashed through his mind:

"How can the throne fall, surrounded as it is by so many supporters?"

But when the approaching two saw the Empress, all remembrance of othersfaded from their minds. Brunhilda was a woman of superb stature. Shestood alone upon the dais which supported the vacant throne, one handresting upon its carven arm. A cloak of imperial ermine fell gracefullyfrom her shapely shoulders and her slightly-elevated position on theplatform added height to her goddess-like tallness, giving her theappearance of towering above every other person in the room, man orwoman. The excessive pallor of her complexion was emphasised by theraven blackness of her wealth of hair, and the sombre midnight of hereyes; eyes with slumbering fire in them, qualified by a haunted lookwhich veiled their burning intensity. Her brow was too broad and herchin too firm for a painter's ideal of beauty; her commanding presencegiving the effect of majesty rather than of loveliness. Deep lines ofcare marred the marble of her forehead, and Wilhelm said to himself:

"Here is a woman going to her doom; knowing it; yet determined to showno sign of fear and utter no cry for mercy. "

Every other woman there had eyes of varying shades of blue and gray, and hair ranging from brown to golden yellow; thus the Empress stoodbefore them like a creature from another world. 

Elsa was about to sink in lowly courtesy before the queenly woman whenthe Empress came forward impetuously and kissed the girl on eithercheek, taking her by the hand. 

"Oh, wild bird of the forest, " she cried, "why have you left the pureair of the woods, to beat your innocent wings in this atmosphere ofdeceit! And you, my young Lord, what brings you to Frankfort in thesetroublous times? Have you an insufficiency of lands or of honours thatyou come to ask augmentation of either?"

"I come to ask nothing for myself, your Majesty. "

"But to ask, nevertheless, " said Brunhilda, with a frown. 

"Yes, your Majesty. "

"I hope I may live to see one man, like a knight of old, approach thefoot of the throne without a request on his lips. I thought you mightprove an exception, but as it is not so, propound your question?"

"I came to ask if my sword, supplemented by the weapons of five hundredfollowers, can be of service to your Majesty. "

The Empress seemed taken aback by the young man's unexpected reply, andfor some moments she gazed at him searchingly in silence. 

At last she said:

"Your followers are the men of Schonburg and Gudenfels, doubtless?"

"No, your Majesty. Those you mention, acknowledge my father as theirleader. My men were known as the Outlaws of the Hundsrück, who havedeposed von Weithoff, chosen me as their chief, and now desire to leadhonest lives. "

The dark eyes of the Empress blazed again. 

"I see, my Lord, that you have quickly learned the courtier's language. Under proffer of service you are really demanding pardon for a band ofmarauders. "

Wilhelm met unflinchingly the angry look of this imperious woman, andwas so little a courtier that he allowed a frown to add sternness tohis brow. 

"Your Majesty puts it harshly, " he said, "I merely petition for astroke of the pen which will add half a thousand loyal men to the ranksof the Emperor's supporters. "

Brunhilda pondered on this, then suddenly seemed to arrive at adecision. Calling one of the ministers of state to her side, she said, peremptorily:

"Prepare a pardon for the Outlaws of the Hundsrück. Send the documentat once to the Emperor for signature, and then bring it to me in theRed Room. "

The minister replied with some hesitation:

"I should have each man's name to inscribe on the roll, otherwise everyscoundrel in the Empire will claim protection under the edict. "

"I can give you every man's name, " put in Wilhelm, eagerly. 

"It is not necessary, " said the Empress. 

"Your Majesty perhaps forgets, " persisted the minister, "that pardonhas already been proffered by the Emperor under certain conditions thatcommended themselves to his imperial wisdom, and that the clemency sograciously tendered was contemptuously refused. "

At this veiled opposition all the suspicion in Brunhilda's natureturned from Wilhelm to the high official, and she spoke to him in thetones of one accustomed to prompt obedience. 

"Prepare an unconditional pardon, and send it immediately to theEmperor without further comment, either to him or to me. "

The minister bowed low and retired. The Empress dismissed the court, detaining Elsa, and said to Wilhelm:

"Seek us half an hour later in the Red Room. Your wife I shall takewith me, that I may learn from her own lips the adventures which led toyour recognition as the heir of Schonburg, something of which I havealready heard. And as for your outlaws, send them word if you thinkthey are impatient to lead virtuous lives, which I take leave to doubt, that before another day passes they need fear no penalty for pastmisdeed, providing their future conduct escapes censure. "

"They are one and all eager to retrieve themselves in your Majesty'seyes!"

"Promise not too much, my young Lord, for they may be called upon toperform sooner than they expect, " said Brunhilda, with a significantglance at Wilhelm. 

The young man left the imperial presence, overjoyed to know that hismission had been successful. 

CHAPTER IV

THE PERIL OF THE EMPEROR

Wilhelm awaited with impatience the passing of the half hour theEmpress had fixed as the period of his probation, for he was anxious tohave the signed pardon for the outlaws actually in his hand, fearingthe intrigues of the court might at the last moment bring about itswithdrawal. 

When the time had elapsed he presented himself at the door of the RedRoom and was admitted by the guard. He found the Empress alone, and sheadvanced toward him with a smile on her face, which banished the formerhardness of expression. 

"Forgive me, " she said, "my seeming discourtesy in the Great Hall. I amsurrounded by spies, and doubtless Mayence already knows that youroutlaws have been pardoned, but that will merely make him more easyabout the safety of his cathedral town, especially as he holds Baronvon Weithoff their former leader. I was anxious that it should also bereported to him that I had received you somewhat ungraciously. Yourwife is to take up her abode in the palace, as she refuses to leaveFrankfort if you remain here. She tells me the outlaws are brave men. "

"The bravest in the world, your Majesty. "

"And that they will follow you unquestioningly. "

"They would follow me to the gates of--" He paused, and added as if inafterthought--"to the gates of Heaven. "

The lady smiled again. 

"From what I have heard of them, " she said, "I feared their route layin another direction, but I have need of reckless men, and although Ihand you their pardon freely, it is not without a hope that they willsee fit to earn it. "

"Strong bodies and loyal souls, we belong to your Majesty. Command andwe will obey, while life is left us. "

"Do you know the present situation of the Imperial Crown, my Lord?"

"I understand it is in jeopardy through the act of the Electors, who, it is thought, will depose the Emperor and elect a tool of their own. Iam also aware that the Imperial troops have been disbanded, and thatthere will be four thousand armed and trained men belonging to theElectors within the walls of Frankfort before many days are past. "

"Yes. What can five hundred do against four thousand?"

"We could capture the gates and prevent the entry of Treves andCologne. "

"I doubt that, for there are already two thousand troops obeyingMayence and the Count Palatine now in Frankfort. I fear we must meetstrength by craft. The first step is to get your five hundred secretlyinto this city. The empty barracks stand against the city wall; if youquartered your score of Schonburg men there, they could easily assistyour five hundred to scale the wall at night, and thus your force wouldbe at hand concealed in the barracks without knowledge of thearchbishops. Treves and his men will be here to-morrow, before it wouldbe possible for you to capture the gates, even if such a design werepracticable. I am anxious above all things to avoid bloodshed, and anyplan you have to propose must be drafted with that end in view. "

"I will ride to the place where my outlaws are encamped on the Rhine, having first quartered the Schonburg men in the barracks withinstructions regarding our reception. If the tales which the spies tellthe Archbishop of Mayence concerning my arrival and reception at courtlead his lordship to distrust me, he will command the guards at thegate not to re-admit me. By to-morrow morning, or the morning after atlatest, I expect to occupy the barracks with five hundred and twentymen, making arrangement meanwhile for the quiet provisioning of theplace. When I have consulted Gottlieb, who is as crafty as Satanhimself, I shall have a plan to lay before your Majesty. "

Wilhelm took leave of the Empress, gave the necessary directions to themen he left behind him, and rode through the western gate unmolestedand unquestioned. The outlaws hailed him that evening with acclamationsthat re-echoed from the hills which surrounded them, and their cheersredoubled when Wilhelm presented them with the parchment which madethem once more free citizens of the Empire. That night they marched in, five companies, each containing a hundred men, and the cat's task ofclimbing the walls of Frankfort in the darkness before the dawn, merelygave a pleasant fillip to the long tramp. Daylight, found them soundasleep, sprawling on the floors of the huge barracks. 

When Wilhelm explained the situation to Gottlieb the latter made lightof the difficulty, as his master expected he would. 

"'Tis the easiest thing in the world, " he said. 

"There are the Mayence men quartered in the Leinwandhaus. The men ofTreves are here, let us say, and the men of Cologne there. Very well, we divide our company into four parties, as there is also the CountPalatine to reckon with. We tie ropes round the houses containing thesesleeping men, set fire to the buildings all at the same time, and, pouf! burn the vermin where they lie. The hanging of the four Electorsafter, will be merely a job for a dozen of our men, and need not occupylonger than while one counts five score. "

Wilhelm laughed. 

"Your plan has the merit of simplicity, Gottlieb, but it does not fallin with the scheme of the Empress, who is anxious that everything beaccomplished legally and without bloodshed. But if we can burn them, wecan capture them, imprisonment being probably more to the taste of thevermin, as you call them, than cremation, and equally satisfactory tous. Frankfort prison is empty, the Emperor having recently liberatedall within it. The place will amply accommodate four thousand men. Treves has arrived to-day with much pomp, and Cologne will be here to-morrow. To-morrow night the Electors hold their first meeting in theelection chamber of the Romer. While they are deliberating, do youthink you and your five hundred could lay four thousand men by theheels and leave each bound and gagged in the city prison with goodstrong bolts shot in on them?"

"Look on it as already done, my Lord. It is a task that requires speed, stealth and silence, rather than strength. The main point is to seethat no alarm is prematurely given, and that no fugitive from onecompany escape to give warning to the others. We fall upon sleepingmen, and if some haste is used, all are tied and gagged before they arefull awake. "

"Very well. Make what preparations are necessary, as this venture maybe wrecked through lack of a cord or a gag, so see that you haveeverything at hand, for we cannot afford to lose a single trick. Thestake, if we fail, is our heads. "

Wilhelm sought the Empress to let her know that he had got his mensafely housed in Frankfort, and also to lay before her his plan fordepositing the Electors' followers in prison. 

Brunhilda listened to his enthusiastic recital in silence, then shookher head slowly. 

"How can five hundred men hope to pinion four thousand?" she asked. "Itneeds but one to make an outcry from an upper window, and, such is thestate of tension in Frankfort at the present moment that the whole citywill be about your ears instantly, thus bringing forth with the restthe comrades of those you seek to imprison. "

"My outlaws are tigers, your Majesty. The Electors' men will welcomeprison, once the Hundsrückers are let loose on them. "

"Your outlaws may understand the ways of the forest, but not those of acity. "

"Well, your Majesty, they have sacked Coblentz, if that is anyrecommendation for them. "

The reply of the Empress seemed irrelevant. 

"Have you ever seen the hall in which the Emperors are nominated--ordeposed?" she asked. 

"No, your Majesty. "

"Then follow me. "

The lady led him along a passage that seemed interminable, then down anarrow winding stair, through a vaulted tunnel, the dank air of whichstruck so cold and damp that the young man felt sure it wassubterranean; lastly up a second winding stair, at the top of which, pushing aside some hanging tapestry, they stood within the noblechamber known as the Wahlzimmer. The red walls were concealed byhanging tapestry, the rich tunnel groining of the roof was dim in itslofty obscurity. A long table occupied the centre of the room, withthree heavily-carved chairs on either side, and one, as ponderous as athrone, at the head. 

"There, " said the Empress, waving her hand, "sit the seven Electorswhen a monarch of this realm is to be chosen. There, to-morrow nightwill sit a majority of the Electoral College. In honour of thisassemblage I have caused these embroidered webs to be hung round thewalls, so you see, I, too, have a plan. Through this secret door whichthe Electors know nothing of, I propose to admit a hundred of your mento be concealed behind the tapestry. My plan differs from yours in thatI determine to imprison four men, while you would attempt to capturefour thousand; I consider therefore that my chances of success, compared with yours, are as a thousand to one. I strike at the head;you strike at the body. If I paralyse the head, the body is powerless. "

Wilhelm knit his brows, looked around the room, but made no reply. 

"Well, " cried the Empress, impatiently, "I have criticised your plan;criticise mine if you find a flaw in it. "

"Is it your Majesty's intention to have the men take their placesbehind the hangings before the archbishops assemble?"

"Assuredly. "

"Then you will precipitate a conflict before all the Electors are here, for it is certain that the first prince to arrive will have the placethoroughly searched for spies. So momentous a meeting will never beheld until all fear of eavesdroppers is allayed. "

"That is true, Wilhelm, " said the Empress with a sigh, "then there isnothing left but your project; which I fear will result in a mêlée andfrightful slaughter. "

"I propose, your Majesty, that we combine the two plans. We willimprison as many as may be of the archbishops' followers and then bymeans of the secret stairway surround their lordships. "

"But they will, in the silence of the room, instantly detect theincoming of your men. "

"Not so, if the panel which conceals the stair, work smoothly. My menare like cats, and their entrance and placement will not cause the mosttimid mouse to cease nibbling. "

"The panel is silent enough, and it may be that your men will reachtheir places without betraying their presence to the archbishops, butit would be well to instruct your leaders that in case of discoverythey are to rush forward, without waiting for your arrival or mine, hold the door of the Wahlzimmer at all hazards, and see that no Electorescapes. I am firm in my belief that once the persons of thearchbishops are secured, this veiled rebellion ends, whether youimprison your four thousand or not, for I swear by my faith that iftheir followers raise a hand against me, I will have the archbishopsslain before their eyes, even though I go down in disaster the momentafter. "

The stern determination of the Empress would have inspired a lessdevoted enthusiast than Wilhelm. He placed his hand on the hilt of hissword. 

"There will be no disaster to the Empress, " he said, fervently. 

They retired into the palace by the way they came, carefully closingthe concealed panel behind them. 

As Wilhelm passed through the front gates of the Palace to seekGottlieb at the barracks, he pondered over the situation and could notconceal from himself the fact that the task he had undertaken wasalmost impossible of accomplishment. It was an unheard of thing thatfive hundred men should overcome eight times their number and thatwithout raising a disturbance in so closely packed a city as Frankfort, where, as the Empress had said, the state of tension was alreadyextreme. But although he found that the pessimism of the Empressregarding his project was affecting his own belief in it, he set histeeth resolutely and swore that if it failed it would not be throughlack of taking any precaution that occurred to him. 

At the barracks he found Gottlieb in high feather. The sight of hischeerful, confident face revived the drooping spirits of the young man. 

"Well, master, " he cried, the freedom of outlawry still in theabruptness of his speech, "I have returned from a close inspection ofthe city. "

"A dangerous excursion" said Wilhelm. "I trust no one else left thebarracks. "

"Not another man, much as they dislike being housed, but it wasnecessary some one should know where our enemies are placed. TheArchbishop of Treves, with an assurance that might have been expectedof him, has stalled his men in the cathedral, no less, but a mostexcellent place for our purposes. A guard at each door, and there youare. 

"Ah, he has selected the cathedral not because of his assurance, but tointercept any communication with the Emperor, who is in the cloistersattached to it, and doubtless his lordship purposes to crown the newemperor before daybreak at the high altar. The design of the archbishopis deeper than appears on the surface, Gottlieb. His men in thecathedral gives him possession of the Wahlkapelle where emperors areelected, after having been nominated in the Wahlzimmer. His lordshiphas a taste for doing things legally. Where are the men of Cologne?"

"In a church also; the church of St. Leonhard on the banks of the Main. That is as easily surrounded and is as conveniently situated as if Ihad selected it myself. The Count Palatine's men are in a house nearthe northern gate, a house which has no back exit, and therefore callsbut for the closing of a street. Nothing could be better. "

"But the Drapers' Hall which holds the Mayence troops, almost adjoinsthe cathedral. Is there not a danger in this circumstance that aturmoil in the one may be heard in the other?"

"No, because we have most able allies. "

"What? the townsmen? You have surely taken none into your confidence, Gottlieb?"

"Oh, no, my Lord. Our good copartners are none other than thearchbishops themselves. It is evident they expect trouble to-morrow, but none to-night. Orders have been given that all their followers areto get a good night's rest, each man to be housed and asleep by sunset. The men of both Treves and Cologne are tired with their long andhurried march and will sleep like the dead. We will first attack themen of Mayence surrounding the Leinwandhaus, and I warrant you that nomatter what noise there is, the Treves people will not hear. Then beingon the spot, we will, when the Mayence soldiers are well bound, tie upthose in the cathedral. I purpose if your lordship agrees to leave ourbound captives where they are, guarded by a sufficient number ofoutlaws, in case one attempts to help the other, until we have pinionedthose of Cologne and the Count Palatine. When this is off our minds wecan transport all our prisoners to the fortress at our leisure. "

Thus it was arranged, and when night fell on the meeting of theElectors, so well did Gottlieb and his men apply themselves to the taskthat before an hour had passed the minions of the Electors lay packedin heaps in the aisles and the rooms where they lodged, to betransported to the prison at the convenience of their captors. 

Many conditions favoured the success of the seemingly impossible feat. Since the arrival of the soldiery there had been so many night brawlsin the streets that one more or less attracted little attention, eitherfrom the military or from the civilians. The very boldness andmagnitude of the scheme was an assistance to it. Then the stern cry of"_In the name of the Emperor!_" with which the assaulters onceinside cathedral, church or house, fell upon their victims, deadenedopposition, for the common soldiers, whether enlisted by Treves, Cologne, or Mayence, knew that the Emperor was over all, and they hadno inkling of the designs of their immediate masters. Then, as Gottliebhad surmised, the extreme fatigue of the followers of Treves andCologne, after their toilsome march from their respective cities, soovercame them that many went to sleep when being conveyed from churchand cathedral to prison. There was some resistance on the part ofofficers, speedily quelled by the victorious woodlanders, but asidefrom this there were few heads broken, and the wish of the Empress fora bloodless conquest was amply fulfilled. 

Two hours after darkness set in, Gottlieb, somewhat breathless, salutedhis master at the steps of the palace and announced that the followersof the archbishops and the Count Palatine were behind bars in theFrankfort prison, with a strong guard over them to discourage anyattempt at jailbreaking. When Wilhelm led his victorious soldierysilently up the narrow secret stair, pushed back, with muchcircumspection and caution, the sliding panel, listened for a moment tothe low murmur of their lordships' voices, waited until each of his menhad gone stealthily behind the tapestry, listened again and still heardthe drone of speech, he returned as he came, and accompanied by a guardof two score, escorted the Empress to the broad public stairway thatled up one flight to the door of the Wahlzimmer. The two sentinels atthe foot of the stairs crossed their pikes to bar the entrance ofBrunhilda, but they were overpowered and gagged so quickly and silentlythat their two comrades at the top had no suspicion of what was goingforward until they had met a similar fate. The guards at the closeddoor, more alert, ran forward, only to be carried away with theirfellow-sentinels. Wilhelm, his sword drawn, pushed open the door andcried, in a loud voice:

"My Lords, I am commanded to announce to you that her Majesty theEmpress honours you with her presence. "

It would have been difficult at that moment to find four men in allGermany more astonished than were the Electors. They saw the young manwho held open the door, bow low, then the stately lady so sonorouslyannounced come slowly up the hall and stand silently before them. Wilhelm closed the door and set his back against it, his naked swordstill in his right hand. Three of the Electors were about to rise totheir feet, but a motion of the hand by the old man of Treves, who satthe head of the table, checked them. 

"I have come, " said the Empress in a low voice, but distinctly heard inthe stillness of the room, "to learn why you are gathered here inFrankfort and in the Wahlzimmer, where no meeting has taken place forthree hundred years, except on the death of an emperor. "

"Madame, " said the Elector of Treves, leaning back in his chair andplacing the tips of his fingers together before him, "all present havethe right to assemble in this hall unquestioned, with the exception ofyourself and the young man who erroneously styled you Empress, withsuch unnecessary flourish, as you entered. You are the wife of ourpresent Emperor, but under the Salic law no woman can occupy the Germanthrone. If flatterers have misled you by bestowing a title to which youhave no claim, and if the awe inspired by that spurious appellation haswon your admission past ignorant guards who should have prevented yourapproach, I ask that you will now withdraw, and permit us to resumedeliberations that should not have been interrupted. "

"What is the nature of those deliberations, my Lord?"

"The question is one improper for you to ask. To answer it would be tosurrender our rights as Electors of the Empire. It is enough for you tobe assured, madame, that we are lawfully assembled, and that ourpurposes are strictly legal. "

"You rest strongly on the law, my Lord, so strongly indeed that were Ia suspicious person I might surmise that your acts deserved strictscrutiny. I will appeal to you, then, in the name of the law. Is it thelaw of this realm that he who directly or indirectly conspires againstthe peace and comfort of his emperor is adjudged a traitor, his actbeing punishable by death?"

"The law stands substantially as you have cited it, madame, but itsbearing upon your presence in this room is, I confess, hidden from me. "

"I shall endeavour to enlighten you, my Lord. Are you convened here tofurther the peace and comfort of his Majesty the Emperor?"

"We devoutly trust so, madame. His Majesty is so eminently fitted for acloister, rather than for domestic bliss or the cares of state, that wehope to pleasure him by removing all barriers in his way to amonastery. "

"Then until his Majesty is deposed you are, by your own confession, traitors. "

"Pardon me, madame, but the law regarding traitors which you quotedwith quite womanly inaccuracy, and therefore pardonable, does not applyto eight persons within this Empire, namely, the seven Electors and theEmperor himself. "

"I have been unable to detect the omission you state, my Lord. Thereare no exceptions, as I read the law. "

"The exceptions are implied, madame, if not expressly set down, for itwould be absurd to clothe Electors with a power in the exercise ofwhich they would constitute themselves traitors. But this discussion isas painful as it is futile, and therefore it must cease. In the name ofthe Electoral College here in session assembled, I ask you to withdraw, madame. "

"Before obeying your command, my Lord Archbishop, there is anotherpoint which I wish to submit to your honourable body, so learned in thelaw. I see three vacant chairs before me, and I am advised that it isillegal to depose an emperor unless all the members of the college arepresent and unanimous. "

"Again you have been misinformed. A majority of the college elects; amajority can depose, and in retiring to private life, madame, you havethe consolation of knowing that your intervention prolonged yourhusband's term of office by several minutes. For the third time Irequest you to leave this room, and if you again refuse I shall bereluctantly compelled to place you under arrest. Young man, open thedoor and allow this woman to pass through. "

"I would have you know, my Lord, " said Wilhelm, "that I am appointedcommander of the imperial forces, and that I obey none but his Majestythe Emperor. "

"I understood that the Emperor depended upon the Heavenly Hosts, " saidthe Archbishop, with the suspicion of a smile on his grim lips. 

"It does not become a prince of the Church to sneer at Heaven or itspower, " said the Empress, severely. 

"Nothing was further from my intention, madame, but you must excuse meif I did not expect to see the Heavenly Hosts commanded by a young manso palpably German. Still all this is aside from the point. Will youretire, or must I reluctantly use force?"

"I advise your lordship not to appeal to force. "

The old man of Treves rose slowly to his feet, an ominous glitter inhis eyes. He stood for some minutes regarding angrily the woman beforehim, as if to give her time to reconsider her stubborn resolve to holdher ground. Then raising his voice the Elector cried:

"Men of Treves! enter!"

While one might count ten, dense silence followed this outcry, theseated Electors for the first time glancing at their leader with looksof apprehension. 

"Treves! Treves! Treves!"

That potent name reverberated from the lips of its master, who hadnever known its magic to fail in calling round him stout defenders, andwho could not yet believe that its power should desert him at thisjuncture. Again there was no response. 

"As did the prophet of old, ye call on false gods. "

The low vibrant voice of the Empress swelled like the tones of a richorgan as the firm command she had held over herself seemed about todepart. 

"Lord Wilhelm, give them a name, that carries authority in its sound. "

Wilhelm strode forward from the door, raised his glittering sword highabove his head and shouted:

"THE EMPEROR! Cheer, ye woodland wolves!"

With a downward sweep of his sword, he cut the two silken cords which, tied to a ring near the door, held up the tapestry. The hangings fellinstantly like the drop curtain of a theatre, its rustle overwhelmed inthe vociferous yell that rang to the echoing roof. 

"Forward! Close up your ranks!"

With simultaneous movement the men stepped over the folds on the floorand stood shoulder to shoulder, an endless oval line of livingwarriors, surrounding the startled group in the centre of the greathall. 

"Aloft, rope-men. "

Four men, with ropes wound round their bodies, detached themselves fromthe circle, and darting to the four corners of the room, climbed likesquirrels until they reached the tunnelled roofing, where, making theirway to the centre with a dexterity that was marvellous, they threwtheir ropes over the timbers and came spinning down to the floor, likegigantic spiders, each suspended on his own line. The four men, loopednooses in hand, took up positions behind the four Electors, all of whomwere now on their feet. Wilhelm saluted the Empress, bringing the hiltof his sword to his forehead, and stepped back. 

The lady spoke:

"My Lords, learned in the law, you will perhaps claim with truth thatthere is no precedent for hanging an Electoral College, but neither isthere precedent for deposing an Emperor. It is an interesting legalpoint on which we shall have definite opinion pronounced in the inquirywhich will follow the death of men so distinguished as yourselves, andif it should be held that I have exceeded my righteous authority inthus pronouncing sentence upon you as traitors, I shall be nothingloath to make ample apology to the state. "

"Such reparation will be small consolation to us, your Majesty, " saidthe Archbishop of Cologne, speaking for the first time. "My preferenceis for an ante-mortem rather than a post-mortem adjustment of the law. My colleague of Treves, in the interests of a better understanding, Iask you to destroy the document of deposition, which you hold in yourhand, and which I beg to assure her Majesty, is still unsigned. "

The trembling fingers of the Archbishop of Treves proved powerless totear the tough parchment, so he held it for a moment until it wasconsumed in the flame of a taper which stood on the table. 

"And now, your Majesty, speaking entirely for myself, I give you myword as a prince of the Church and a gentlemen of the Empire, that myvote as an Elector will always be against the deposition of theEmperor, for I am convinced that imperial power is held in firm andcapable hands. "

The great prelate of Cologne spoke as one making graceful concession toa lady, entirely uninfluenced by the situation in which he sounexpectedly found himself. A smile lit up the face of the Empress asshe returned his deferential bow. 

"I accept your word with pleasure, my Lord, fully assured that, oncegiven, it will never be tarnished by any mental reservation. "

"I most cordially associate myself with my brother of Cologne and takethe same pledge, " spoke up his Lordship of Mayence. 

The Count Palatine of the Rhine moistened his dry lips and said:

"I was misled by ambition, your Majesty, and thus in addition to givingyou my word, I crave your imperial pardon as well. "

The Archbishop of Treves sat in his chair like a man collapsed. He hadmade no movement since the burning of the parchment. All eyes wereturned upon him in the painful stillness. With visible effort heenunciated in deep voice the two words: "And I. "

The face of the Empress took on a radiance that had long been absentfrom it. 

"It seems, my Lords, that there has been merely a slightmisunderstanding, which a few quiet words and some legal instructionhas entirely dissipated. To seal our compact, I ask you all to dinewith me to-morrow night, when I am sure it will afford intensegratification to prelates so pious as yourselves to send a message tohis Majesty the Emperor, informing him that his trust in Providence hasnot been misplaced. "

CHAPTER V

THE NEEDLE DAGGER

Wilhelm Von Schonburg, Commander of the Imperial Forces at Frankfort, applied himself to the task of building up an army round his nucleus offive hundred with all the energy and enthusiasm of youth. He first putparties of trusty men at the various city gates so that he mightcontrol, at least in a measure, the human intake and output of thecity. The power which possession of the gates gave him he knew to bemore apparent than real, for Frankfort was a commercial city, owing itsprosperity to traffic, and any material interference with the ebb orflow of travel had a depressing influence on trade. If the Archbishopsmeant to keep their words given to the Empress, all would be well, butof their good faith Wilhelm had the gravest doubts. It would beimpossible to keep secret the defeat of their Lordships, when severalthousands of their men lay immured in the city prison. The whole worldwould thus learn sooner or later that the great Princes of the Churchhad come to shear and had departed shorn; and this blow to their pridewas one not easily forgiven by men so haughty and so powerful as theprelates of Treves, Mayence and Cologne. Young as he was, Wilhelm'sfree life in the forest, among those little accustomed to control theraw passions of humanity, had made him somewhat a judge of character, and he had formed the belief that the Archbishop of Cologne, was agentleman, and would keep his word, that the Archbishop of Treves wouldhave no scruple in breaking his, while the Archbishop of Mayence wouldfollow the lead of Treves. This suspicion he imparted to the EmpressBrunhilda, but she did not agree with him, believing that all three, with the Count Palatine, would hereafter save their heads by attendingstrictly to their ecclesiastical business, leaving the rule of theEmpire in the hands which now held it. 

"Cologne will not break the pledge he has given me, " she said; "of thatI am sure. Mayence is too great an opportunist to follow anunsuccessful leader; and the Count Palatine is too great a coward toenter upon such a dangerous business as the deposing of an emperor whois _my_ husband. Besides, I have given the Count Palatine a postat Court which requires his constant presence in Frankfort, and so Ihave him in some measure a prisoner. The Electors are powerless if evenone of their number is a defaulter, so what can Treves do, no matterhow deeply his pride is injured, or how bitterly he thirsts forrevenge? His only resource is boldly to raise the flag of rebellion andmarch his troops on Frankfort. He is too crafty a man to take such riskor to do anything so open. For this purpose he must set about thecollection of an army secretly, while we may augment the Imperialtroops in the light of day. So, unless he strikes speedily, we willhave a force that will forever keep him in awe. "

This seemed a reasonable view, but it only partly allayed theapprehensions of Wilhelm. He had caught more than one fierce look ofhatred directed toward him by the Archbishop of Treves, since themeeting in the Wahlzimmer, and the regard of his Lordship of Mayencehad been anything but benign. These two dignitaries had left Frankforttogether, their way lying for some distance in the same direction. Wilhelm liberated their officers, and thus the two potentates had scantescort to their respective cities. Their men he refused to release, which refusal both Treves and Mayence accepted with bad grace, sayingthe withholding cast an aspersion on their honour. This example was notfollowed by the suave Archbishop of Cologne, who departed some daysafter his colleagues. He laughed when Wilhelm informed him that histroops would remain in Frankfort, and said he would be at the lessexpense in his journey down the Rhine, as his men were gross feeders. 

Being thus quit of the three Archbishops, the question was what to dowith their three thousand men. It was finally resolved to release themby detachments, drafting into the Imperial army such as were willing soto serve and take a special oath of allegiance to the Emperor, allowingthose who declined to enlist to depart from the city in whateverdirection pleased them, so that they went away in small parties. It wasfound, however, that the men cared little for whom they fought, providing the pay was good and reasonably well assured. Thus theImperial army received many recruits and the country round Frankfortfew vagrants. 

The departed Archbishops made no sign, the Count Palatine seemedengrossed with his duties about the Court, the army increased daily andlife went on so smoothly that Wilhelm began to cease all questioning ofthe future, coming at last to believe that the Empress was right in herestimate of the situation. He was in this pleasing state of mind whenan incident occurred which would have caused him greater anxiety thanit did had he been better acquainted with the governing forces of hiscountry. On arising one morning he found on the table of his room aparchment, held in place by a long thin dagger of peculiarconstruction. His first attention was given to the weapon and not tothe scroll. The blade was extremely thin and sharp at the point, andseemed at first sight to be so exceedingly frail as to be of littleservice in actual combat, but a closer examination proved that it waspractically unbreakable, and of a temper so fine that nothing made animpression on its keen edge. Held at certain angles, the thin bladeseemed to disappear altogether and leave the empty hilt in the hand. The hilt had been treated as if it were a crucifix, and in slightlyraised relief there was a figure of Christ, His outstretched armsextending along the transverse guard. On the opposite side of thehandle were the sunken letters "S. S. G. G. "

Wilhelm fingered this dainty piece of mechanism curiously, wonderingwhere it was made. He guessed Milan as the place of its origin, knowingenough of cutlery to admire the skill and knowledge of metallurgy thathad gone to its construction, and convinced as he laid it down that itwas foreign. He was well aware that no smith in Germany could fashion alancet so exquisitely tempered. He then turned his attention to thedocument which had been fastened to the table by this needle-likestiletto. At the top of the parchment were the same letters that hadbeen cut in the handle of the dagger. 

_S. S. G. G. _

_First warning. Wear this dagger thrust into your doublet over theheart, and allow him who accosts you, fearing nothing if your heart betrue and loyal. In strict silence safety lies_. 

Wilhelm laughed. 

"It is some lover's nonsense of Elsa's, " he said to himself. "'If yourheart be true and loyal, ' that is a woman's phrase and nothing else. "

Calling his wife, he held out the weapon to her and said:

"Where did you get this, Elsa? I would be glad to know who yourarmourer is, for I should dearly love to provide my men with weapons ofsuch temper. "

Elsa looked alternately at the dagger and at her husband, bewildered. 

"I never saw it before, nor anything like it, " she replied. "Where didyou find it? It is so frail it must be for ornament merely. "

"Its frailness is deceptive. It is a most wonderful instrument, and Ishould like to know where it comes from. I thought you had bought itfrom some armourer and intended me to wear it as a badge of my office. Perhaps it was sent by the Empress. The word 'loyalty' seems toindicate that, though how it got into this room and on this tableunknown to me is a mystery. "

Elsa shook her head as she studied the weapon and the messagecritically. 

"Her Majesty is more direct than this would indicate. If she had aughtto say to you she would say it without ambiguity. Do you intend to wearthe dagger as the scroll commands?"

"If I thought it came from the Empress I should, not otherwise. "

"You may be assured some one else has sent it. Perhaps it is intendedfor me, " and saying this Elsa thrust the blade of the dagger throughthe thick coil of her hair and turned coquettishly so that her husbandmight judge of the effect. 

"Are you ambitious to set a new fashion to the Court, Elsa?" askedWilhelm, smiling. 

"No; I shall not wear it in public, but I will keep the dagger if Imay. "

Thus the incident passed, and Wilhelm gave no more thought to themysterious warning. His duties left him little time for meditationduring the day, but as he returned at night from the barracks his mindreverted once more to the dagger, and he wondered how it came withouthis knowledge into his private room. His latent suspicion of theArchbishops became aroused again, and he pondered on the possibility ofan emissary of theirs placing the document on his table. He had givenstrict instructions that if any one supposed to be an agent of theirlordships presented himself at the gates he was to be permitted toenter the city without hindrance, but instant knowledge of such adventwas to be sent to the Commander, which reminded him that he had notseen Gottlieb that day, this able lieutenant having general charge ofall the ports. So he resolved to return to the barracks and questionhis underling regarding the recent admittances. Acting instantly onthis determination, he turned quickly and saw before him a man whom hethought he recognised by his outline in the darkness as von Brent, oneof the officers of Treves whom he had released, and who had accompaniedthe Archbishop on his return to that city. The figure, however, gavehim no time for a closer inspection, and, although evidently taken bysurprise, reversed his direction, making off with speed down thestreet. Wilhelm, plucking sword from scabbard, pursued no less fleetly. The scanty lighting of the city thoroughfares gave advantage to thefugitive, but Wilhelm's knowledge of the town was now astonishinglyintimate, considering the short time he had been a resident, and hiswoodlore, applied to the maze of tortuous narrow alleys made him ahunter not easily baffled. He saw the flutter of a cloak as its wearerturned down a narrow lane, and a rapid mental picture of the labyrinthilluminating his mind, Wilhelm took a dozen long strides to a cornerand there stood waiting. A few moments later a panting man with cloakstreaming behind him came near to transfixing himself on the point ofthe Commander's sword. The runner pulled himself up with a gasp andstood breathless and speechless. 

"I tender you good-evening, sir, " said Wilhelm, civilly, "and were Inot sure of your friendliness, I should take it that you were trying toavoid giving me salutation. "

"I did not recognise you, my Lord, in the darkness. "

The man breathed heavily, which might have been accounted for by hisunaccustomed exertion. 

"'Tis strange, then, that I should have recognised you, turningunexpectedly as I did, while you seemingly had me in your eye for sometime before. "

"Indeed, my Lord, and that I had not. I but just emerged from thiscrooked lane, and seeing you turn so suddenly, feared molestation, andso took to my heels, which a warrior should be shamed to confess, but Ihad no wish to be embroiled in a street brawl. "

"Your caution does you credit, and should commend you to so peacefully-minded a master as his Lordship of Treves, who, I sincerely trust, arrived safely in his ancient city. "

"He did, my Lord. "

"I am deeply gratified to hear it, and putting my knowledge of hislordship's methods in conjunction with your evident desire for secrecy, I should be loath to inquire into the nature of the mission that bringsyou to the capital so soon after your departure from it. "

"Well, my Lord, " said von Brent, with an attempt at a laugh, "I mustadmit that it was my purpose to visit Frankfort with as littlepublicity as possible. You are mistaken, however, in surmising that Iam entrusted with any commands from my lord, the Archbishop, who, atthis moment, is devoting himself with energy to his ecclesiasticalduties and therefore has small need for a soldier. This being the case, I sought and obtained leave of absence, and came to Frankfort onprivate affairs of my own. To speak truth, as between one young man andanother, not to be further gossiped about, while, stationed here somedays ago, I became acquainted with a girl whom I dearly wish to meetagain, and this traffic, as you know, yearns not for either bray oftrumpet or rattle of drum. "

"The gentle power of love, " said Wilhelm in his most affable tone, "isa force few of us can resist. Indeed, I am myself not unacquainted withits strength, and I must further congratulate you on your celerity ofconquest, for you came to Frankfort in the morning, and were my guestin the fortress in the evening, so you certainly made good use of thebrief interval. By what gate did you enter Frankfort?"

"By the western gate, my Lord. "

"This morning?"

"No, my Lord. I entered but a short time since, just before the gateswere closed for the night. "

"Ah! that accounts for my hearing no report of your arrival, for it ismy wish, when distinguished visitors honour us with their presence, that I may be able to offer them every courtesy. "

Von Brent laughed, this time with a more genuine ring to his mirth. 

"Seeing that your previous hospitality included lodging in the cityprison, my Lord, as you, a moment ago, reminded me, you can scarcely besurprised that I had no desire to invite a repetition of such courtesy, if you will pardon the frank speaking of a soldier. "

"Most assuredly. And to meet frankness with its like, I may add thatthe city prison still stands intact. But I must no longer delay animpatient lover, and so, as I began, I give you a very good evening, sir. "

Von Brent returned the salutation, bowing low, and Wilhelm watched himretrace his steps and disappear in the darkness. The Commander, returning his blade to its scabbard, sought Gottlieb at the barracks. 

"Do you remember von Brent, of Treves' staff?"

"That hangdog-looking officer? Yes, master. I had the pleasure ofknocking him down in the Cathedral before pinioning him. "

"He is in Frankfort to-night, and said he entered by the western gatejust before it was closed. "

"Then he is a liar, " commented Gottlieb, with his usual bluntness. 

"Such I strongly suspect him to be. Nevertheless, here he is, and thequestion I wish answered is, how did he get in?"

"He must have come over the wall, which can hardly be prevented if anincomer has a friend who will throw him a rope. "

"It may be prevented if the walls are efficiently patrolled. Seeinstantly to that, Gottlieb, and set none but our own woodlanders onwatch. "

Several days passed, and Wilhelm kept a sharp lookout for von Brent, orany other of the Archbishop's men, but he saw none such, nor could helearn that the lieutenant had left the city. He came almost to believethat the officer had spoken the truth, when distrust again assailed himon finding in the barracks a second document almost identical with thefirst, except that it contained the words, "Second warning, " and thedirk had been driven half its length into the lid of the desk. At firsthe thought it was the same parchment and dagger, but the differentwording showed him that at least the former was not the same. He calledGottlieb, and demanded to know who had been allowed to pass the guardsand enter that room. The honest warrior was dismayed to find such athing could have happened, and although he was unable to read thelettering, he turned the missive over and over in his hand as if heexpected close scrutiny to unravel the skein. He then departed andquestioned the guards closely, but was assured that no one had enteredexcept the Commander. 

"I cannot fathom it, " he said on returning to his master, "and, to telltruth, I wish we were well back in the forest again, for I like notthis mysterious city and its ways. We have kept this town as closesealed as a wine butt, yet I dare swear that I have caught glimpses ofthe Archbishop's men, flitting here and there like bats as soon asdarkness gathers. I have tried to catch one or two of them to makesure, but I seem to have lost all speed of foot on these slipperystones, and those I follow disappear as if the earth swallowed them. "

"Have you seen von Brent since I spoke to you about him?"

"I thought so, Master Wilhelm, but I am like a man dazed in the mazesof an evil dream, who can be certain of nothing. I am afraid of no manwho will stand boldly up to me, sword in hand, with a fair light onboth of us, but this chasing of shadows with nothing for a pike topierce makes a coward of me. "

"Well, the next shadow that follows me will get my blade in its vitals, for I think my foot is lighter than yours, Gottlieb. There is no shadowin this town that is not cast by a substance, and that substance willfeel a sword thrust if one can but get within striking distance. Keepstrict watch and we will make a discovery before long, never fear. Doyou think the men we have enlisted from the Archbishop's company aretrying to play tricks with us? Are they to be trusted?"

"Oh, they are stout rascals with not enough brains among them all toplan this dagger and parchment business, giving little thought toanything beyond eating and drinking, and having no skill of lettering. "

"Then we must look elsewhere for the explanation. It may be that yourelusive shadows will furnish a clue. "

On reaching his own house Wilhelm said carelessly to his wife, whom hedid not wish to alarm unnecessarily:

"Have you still in your possession that dagger which I found on mytable?"

"Yes, it is here. Have you found an owner for it or learned how it camethere?"

"No. I merely wished to look at it again. "

She gave it to him, and he saw at once that it was a duplicate of theone he had hidden under his doublet. The mystery was as far fromsolution as ever, and the closest examination of the weapon gave nohint pertaining to the purport of the message. Yet it is probable thatWilhelm was the only noble in the German Empire who was ignorant of thesignificance of the four letters, and doubtless the senders were amazedat his temerity in nonchalantly ignoring the repeated warnings, whichwould have brought pallor to the cheeks of the highest in the land. Wilhelm had been always so dependent on the advice of Gottlieb that itnever occurred to him to seek explanation from any one else, yet inthis instance Gottlieb, from the same cause of woodland training, wasas ignorant as his master. 

It is possible that the two warnings might have made a greaterimpression on the mind of the young man were it not that he wastroubled about his own status in the Empire. There had been much envyin the Court at the elevation of a young man practically unknown, tothe position of commander-in-chief of the German army, and highofficials had gone so far as to protest against what they said wasregarded as a piece of unaccountable favouritism. The Empress, however, was firm, and for a time comment seemed to cease, but it was well knownthat Wilhelm had no real standing, unless his appointment was confirmedby the Emperor, and his commission made legal by the royal signature. It became known, or, at least, was rumoured that twice the Empress hadsent this document to her husband and twice it had been returnedunsigned. The Emperor went so far as to refuse to see his wife, declining to have any discussion about the matter, and Wilhelm wellknew that every step he took in the fulfilment of his office was anillegal step, and if a hint of this got to the ears of the Archbishopsthey would be more than justified in calling him to account, for everyact he performed relating to the army after he knew that his monarchhad refused to sanction his nomination was an act of rebellion andusurpation punishable by death. The Empress was well aware of thejeopardy in which her _attaché_ stood, but she implored him not togive up the position, although helpless to make his appointmentregular. She hoped her husband's religious fervour would abate and thathe would deign to bestow some attention upon earthly things, allowinghimself to be persuaded of the necessity of keeping up a standing army, commanded by one entirely faithful to him. Wilhelm himself oftendoubted the wisdom of his interference, which had allowed the throne tobe held by a man who so neglected all its duties that intrigues andunrest were honeycombing the whole fabric of society, beginning at thetop and working its way down until now even the merchants were in astate of uncertainty, losing faith in the stability of the government. The determined attitude of Wilhelm, the general knowledge that he camefrom a family of fighters, and the wholesome fear of the wild outlaws, under his command, did more than anything else to keep down openrebellion in Court and to make the position of the Empress possible. Itwas believed that Wilhelm would have little hesitation in obliteratinghalf the nobility of the Court, or the whole of it for that matter, ifbut reasonable excuse were given him for doing so, and every one wascertain that his cut-throats, as they were called, would obey anycommand he liked to give, and would delight in whatever slaughterensued. The Commander held aloof from the Court, although, because ofhis position, he had a room in the palace which no one but the monarchand the chief officer of the army might enter, yet he rarely occupiedthis apartment, using, instead, the suite at the barracks. 

Some days after the second episode of the dagger he received a summonsfrom the Empress commanding his instant presence at the palace. Onarriving at the Court, he found Brunhilda attended by a group ofnobles, who fell back as the young commander approached. The Empresssmiled as he bent his knee and kissed her hand, but Wilhelm saw by theanxiety in her eye that something untoward had happened, guessing thathis commission was returned for the third time unsigned from theEmperor, and being correct in his surmise. 

"Await me in the Administration Room of the Army, " said the Empress. "Iwill see you presently. You have somewhat neglected that room of late, my Lord. "

"I found I could more adequately fulfil your Majesty's command and keepin closer touch with the army by occupying my apartments at thebarracks. "

"I trust, then, that you will have a good report to present to meregarding the progress of my soldiers, " replied the Empress, dismissinghim with a slight inclination of her head. 

Wilhelm left the audience chamber and proceeded along the corridor withwhich his room was connected. The soldier at the entrance saluted him, and Wilhelm entered the Administration Chamber. It was a large room andin the centre of it stood a large table. After closing the door Wilhelmpaused in his advance, for there in the centre of the table, buried toits very hilt through the planks, was a duplicate of the dagger he hadconcealed inside his doublet. It required some exertion of Wilhelm'sgreat strength before he dislodged the weapon from the timber intowhich it had been so fiercely driven. The scroll it affixed differedfrom each of the other two. It began with the words, "Final warning, "and ended with "To Wilhelm of Schonburg, so-called Commander of theImperial forces, " as if from a desire on the part of the writer thatthere should be no mistake regarding the destination of the missive. The young man placed the knife on the parchment and stood looking atthem both until the Empress was announced. He strode forward to meether and conducted her to a chair, where she seated herself, heremaining on his feet. 

"I am in deep trouble, " she began, "the commission authorising you tocommand the Imperial troops has been returned for the third timeunsigned; not only that, but the act authorising the reconstruction ofthe army, comes back also without the Emperor's signature. "

Wilhelm remained silent, for he well knew that the weakness of theirposition was the conduct of the Emperor, and this was an evil which hedid not know how to remedy. 

"When he returned both documents the first time, " continued theEmpress, "I sent to him a request for an interview that I might explainthe urgency and necessity of the matter. This request was refused, andalthough I know of course that my husband might perhaps be calledeccentric, still he had never before forbade my presence. This arousedmy suspicion. "

"Suspicion of what, your Majesty?" inquired Wilhelm. 

"My suspicion that the messages I sent him have been intercepted. "

"Who would dare do such a thing, your Majesty?" cried Wilhelm inamazement. 

"Where large stakes are played for, large risks must be taken, " went onthe lady. "I said nothing at the time, but yesterday I sent to him twoacts which he himself had previously sanctioned, but never carried out;these were returned to me to-day unsigned, and now I fear one of threethings. The Emperor is ill, is a prisoner, or is dead. "

"If it is your Majesty's wish, " said Wilhelm, "I will put myself at thehead of a body of men, surround the cathedral, search the cloisters, and speedily ascertain whether the Emperor is there or no. "

"I have thought of such action, " declared the Empress, "but I disliketo take it. It would bring me in conflict with the Church, and thenthere is always the chance that the Emperor is indeed within thecloisters, and that, of his own free will, he refuses to sign thedocuments I have sent to him. In such case what excuse could we givefor our interference? It might precipitate the very crisis we are soanxious to avoid. "

The Empress had been sitting by the table with her arm resting upon it, her fingers toying unconsciously with the knife while she spoke, andnow as her remarks reached their conclusion her eyes fell upon its hiltand slender blade. With an exclamation almost resembling a scream theEmpress sprang to her feet and allowed the dagger to fall clattering onthe floor. 

"Where did that come from?" she cried. "Is it intended for me?" and sheshook her trembling hands as if they had touched a poisonous scorpion. 

"Where it comes from I do not know, but it is not intended for yourMajesty, as this scroll will inform you. "

Brunhilda took the parchment he offered and held it at arm's lengthfrom her, reading its few words with dilated eyes, and Wilhelm wasamazed to see in them the fear which they failed to show when she facedthe three powerful Archbishops. Finally the scroll fluttered from hernerveless fingers to the floor and the Empress sank back in her chair. 

"You have received two other warnings then?" she said in a low voice. 

"Yes, your Majesty. What is their meaning?"

"They are the death warrants of the Fehmgerichte, a dread and secrettribunal before which even emperors quail. If you obey this mandate youwill never be seen on earth again; if you disobey you will be secretlyassassinated by one of these daggers, for after ignoring the thirdwarning a hundred thousand such blades are lying in wait for yourheart, and ultimately one of them will reach it, no matter in whatquarter of Germany you hide yourself. "

"And who are the members of this mysterious association, your Majesty?

"That, you can tell as well as I, better perhaps, for you may be amember while I cannot be. Perhaps the soldier outside this door belongsto the Fehmgerichte, or your own Chamberlain, or perhaps your mostdevoted lieutenant, the lusty Gottlieb. "

"That, your Majesty, I'll swear he is not, for he was as amazed as Iwhen he saw the dagger at the barracks. "

Brunhilda shook her head. 

"You cannot judge from pretended ignorance, " she said, "because amember is sworn to keep all secrets of the holy Fehm from wife andchild, father and mother, sister and brother, fire and wind; from allthat the sun shines on and the rain wets, and from every being betweenheaven and earth. Those are the words of the oath. "

Wilhelm found himself wondering how his informant knew so much aboutthe secret court if all those rules were strictly kept, but henaturally shrank from any inquiry regarding the source of herknowledge. Nevertheless her next reply gave him an inkling of thetruth. 

"Who is the head of this tribunal?" he asked. 

"The Emperor is the nominal head, but my husband never approved of theFehmgerichte; originally organised to redress the wrongs of tyranny, ithas become a gigantic instrument of oppression. The Archbishop ofCologne is the actual president of the order, not in his capacity as anelector, nor as archbishop, but because he is Duke of Westphalia, wherethis tragic court had its origin. "

"Your Majesty imagines then, that this summons comes from theArchbishop of Cologne?"

"Oh, no. I doubt if he has any knowledge of it. Each district has afreigraf, or presiding judge, assisted by seven assessors, orfreischoffen, who sit in so called judgment with him, but literallythey merely record the sentence, for condemnation is a foregoneconclusion. "

"Is the sentence always death?"

"Always, at this secret tribunal; a sentence of death immediatelycarried out. In the open Fehmic court, banishment, prison, or otherpenalty may be inflicted, but you are summoned to appear before thesecret tribunal. "

"Does your Majesty know the meaning of these cabalistic letters on thedagger's hilt and on the parchment?"

"The letters 'S. S. G. G. ' stand for Strick, Stein, Gras, Grün: Strickmeaning, it is said, the rope which hangs you; Stein, the stone at thehead of your grave, and Gras, Grün, the green grass covering it. "

"Well, your Majesty, " said Wilhelm, picking up the parchment from thefloor and tearing it in small pieces, "if I have to choose between therope and the dagger, I freely give my preference to the latter. I shallnot attend this secret conclave, and if any of its members think tostrike a dagger through my heart, he will have to come within theradius of my sword to do so. "

"God watch over you, " said the Empress fervently, "for this is a casein which the protection of an earthly throne is of little avail. Andremember, Lord Wilhelm, trust not even your most intimate friend withinarm's length of you. The only persons who may not become members ofthis dread order are a Jew, an outlaw, an infidel, a woman, a servant, a priest, or a person excommunicated. "

Wilhelm escorted the Empress to the door of the red room, and theretook leave of her; he being unable to suggest anything that mightassuage her anxiety regarding her husband, she being unable to protecthim from the new danger that threatened. Wilhelm was as brave as anyman need be, and in a fair fight was content to take whatever oddscame, but now he was confronted by a subtle invisible peril, againstwhich ordinary courage was futile. An unaccustomed shiver chilled himas the palace sentinel, in the gathering gloom of the corridor, raisedhis hand swiftly to his helmet in salute. He passed slowly down thesteps of the palace into the almost deserted square in front of it, forthe citizens of Frankfort found it expedient to get early indoors whendarkness fell. The young man found himself glancing furtively fromright to left, starting at every shadow and scrutinising every passerbywho was innocently hurrying to his own home. The name "Fehmgerichte"kept repeating itself in his brain like an incantation. He took themiddle of the square and hesitated when he came to the narrow streetdown which his way lay. At the street corner he paused, laid his handon the hilt of his sword and drew a deep breath. 

"Is it possible, " he muttered to himself, "that I am afraid? Am I atheart a coward? By the cross which is my protection, " he cried, "ifthey wish to try their poniarding, they shall have an opportunity!"

And drawing his sword he plunged into the dark and narrow street, hisfootsteps ringing defiantly in the silence on the stone beneath him ashe strode resolutely along. He passed rapidly through the city until hecame to the northern gate. Here accosting his warders and being assuredthat all was well, he took the street which, bending like a bow, followed the wall until it came to the river. Once or twice he stopped, thinking himself followed, but the darkness was now so impenetrablethat even if a pursuer had been behind him he was safe from detectionif he kept step with his victim and paused when he did. The streetwidened as it approached the river, and Wilhelm became convinced thatsome one was treading in his footsteps. Clasping his sword hilt morefirmly in his hand he wheeled about with unexpectedness that evidentlytook his follower by surprise, for he dashed across the street and spedfleetly towards the river. The glimpse Wilhelm got of him in the openspace between the houses made him sure that he was once more on thetrack of von Brent, the emissary of Treves. The tables were now turned, the pursuer being the pursued, and Wilhelm set his teeth, resolved toput a sudden end to this continued espionage. Von Brent evidentlyremembered his former interception, and now kept a straight course. Trusting to the swiftness of his heels, he uttered no cry, but directedall his energies toward flight, and Wilhelm, equally silent, followedas rapidly. 

Coming to the river, von Brent turned to the east, keeping in themiddle of the thoroughfare. On the left hand side was a row of houses, on the right flowed the rapid Main. Some hundreds of yards further upthere were houses on both sides of the street, and as the water of theriver flowed against the walls of the houses to the right, Wilhelm knewthere could be no escape that way. Surmising that his victim kept themiddle of the street in order to baffle the man at his heels, puzzlinghim as to which direction the fugitive intended to bolt, Wilhelm, notto be deluded by such a device, ran close to the houses on the left, knowing that if von Brent turned to the right he would be speedilystopped by the Main. The race promised to reach a sudden conclusion, for Wilhelm was perceptibly gaining on his adversary, when coming tothe first house by the river the latter swerved suddenly, jumped to adoor, pushed it open and was inside in the twinkling of an eye, butonly barely in time to miss the sword thrust that followed him. Quickas thought Wilhelm placed his foot in such a position that the doorcould not be closed. Then setting his shoulder to the panels, he forcedit open in spite of the resistance behind it. Opposition thus overborneby superior strength, Wilhelm heard the clatter of von Brent'sfootsteps down the dark passage, and next instant the door was closedwith a bang, and it seemed to the young man that the house hadcollapsed upon him. He heard his sword snap and felt it break beneathhim, and he was gagged and bound before he could raise a hand to helphimself. Then when it was too late, he realised that he had allowed theheat and fervour of pursuit to overwhelm his judgment, and had jumpedstraight into the trap prepared for him. Von Brent returned with alantern in his hand and a smile on his face, breathing quickly afterhis exertions. Wilhelm, huddled in a corner, saw a dozen stalwartruffians grouped around him, most of them masked, but two or three withfaces bare, their coverings having come off in the struggle. Theseslipped quickly out of sight, behind the others, as if not wishing togive clue for future recognition. 

"Well, my Lord, " said von Brent, smiling, "you see that gagging andbinding is a game that two may play at. "

There was no reply to this, first, because Wilhelm was temporarily in aspeechless condition, and, second, because the proposition was not oneto be contradicted. 

"Take him to the Commitment Room, " commanded von Brent. 

Four of the onlookers lifted Wilhelm and carried him down a longstairway, across a landing and to the foot of a second flight of steps, where he was thrown into a dark cell, the dimensions of which he couldnot estimate. When the door was closed the prisoner lay with his headleaning against it, and for a time the silence was intense. By and byhe found that by turning his head so that his ear was placed againstthe panel of the door, he heard distinctly the footfalls outside, andeven a shuffling sound near him, which seemed to indicate that a manwas on guard at the other side of the oak. Presently some oneapproached, and in spite of the low tones used, Wilhelm not only heardwhat was being said, but recognised the voice of von Brent, whoevidently was his jailer. 

"You have him safely then?"

"Gagged and bound, my Lord. "

"Is he disarmed?"

"His sword was broken under him, my Lord, when we fell upon him. "

"Very well. Remove the gag and place him with No. 13. Bar them in andlisten to their conversation. I think they have never met, but I wantto be sure of it. "

"Is there not a chance that No. 13 may make himself known, my Lord?"

"No matter if he does. In fact, it is my object to have No. 13 and No. 14 known to each other, and yet be not aware that we have suspicion oftheir knowledge. "

When the door of the cell was opened four guards came in. It wasmanifest they were not going to allow Wilhelm any chance to escape, andwere prepared to overpower him should he attempt flight or resistance. The gag was taken from his mouth and the thongs which bound his legswere untied, and thus he was permitted to stand on his feet. Onceoutside his cell he saw that the subterranean region in which he foundhimself was of vast extent, resembling the crypt of a cathedral, thelow roof being supported by pillars of tremendous circumference. Fromthe direction in which he had been carried from the foot of the stairshe surmised, and quite accurately, that this cavern was under the bedof the river. Those who escorted him and those whom he met were masked. No torches illuminated the gloom of this sepulchral hall, but eachindividual carried, attached in some way to his belt, a small hornlantern, which gave for a little space around a dim uncertain light, casting weird shadows against the pillars of the cavern. Once or twicethey met a man clothed in an apparently seamless cloak of black cloth, that covered the head and extended to the feet. Two holes in front ofthe face allowed a momentary glimpse of a pair of flashing eyes as theyellow light from the lanterns smote them. These grim figures werepresumably persons of importance, for the guards stopped, and saluted, as each one approached, not going forward until he had silently passedthem. When finally the door of the cell they sought was reached, theguards drew back the bolts, threw it open, and pushed Wilhelm into theapartment that had been designated for him. Before closing the door, however, one of the guards placed a lantern on the floor so that thefellow-prisoners might have a chance of seeing each other. Wilhelmbeheld, seated on a pallet of straw, a man well past middle-age, hisface smooth-shaven and of serious cast, yet having, nevertheless, atrace of irresolution in his weak chin. His costume was that of amendicant monk, and his face seemed indicative of the severity ofmonastic rule. There was, however, a serenity of courage in his eyewhich seemed to betoken that he was a man ready to die for hisopinions, if once his wavering chin allowed him to form them. Wilhelmremembering that priests were not allowed to join the order of theFehmgerichte reflected that here was a man who probably, from hisfearless denunciations of the order, had brought down upon himself thehatred of the secret tribunal, whose only penalty was that of death. The older man was the first to speak. 

"So you also are a victim of the Fehmgerichte?"

"I have for some minutes suspected as much, " replied von Schonburg. 

"Were you arrested and brought here, or did you come here willingly?"

"Oh, I came here willingly enough. I ran half a league in my eagernessto reach this spot and fairly jumped into it, " replied Wilhelm, with abitter laugh. 

"You were in such haste to reach this spot?" said the old man, sombrely, "what is your crime?"

"That I do not know, but I shall probably soon learn when I come beforethe court. "

"Are you a member of the order, then?"

"No, I am not. "

"In that case, it will require the oaths of twenty-one members to clearyou, therefore, if you have not that many friends in the order I lookupon you as doomed. "

"Thank you. That is as God wills. "

"Assuredly, assuredly. We are all in His hands, " and the good mandevoutedly crossed himself. 

"I have answered your questions, " said Wilhelm, "answer you some ofmine. Who are you?"

"I am a seeker after light. "

"Well, there it is, " said Wilhelm, touching the lantern with his footas he paced up and down the limits of the cell. 

"Earthly light is but dim at best, it is the light of Heaven I searchafter. "

"Well, I hope you may be successful in finding it. I know of no placewhere it is needed so much as here. "

"You speak like a scoffer. I thought from what you said of God's will, that you were a religious man. "

"I am a religious man, I hope, and I regret if my words seem lightlyspoken. 

"What action of man, think you then, is most pleasing to God?"

"That is a question which you, to judge by your garb, are more able toanswer than I. "

"Nay, nay, I want your opinion. "

"Then in my opinion, the man most pleasing to God is he who does hisduty here on earth. "

"Ah! right, quite right, " cried the older man, eagerly. "But there liesthe core of the whole problem. What _is_ duty; that is what I havespent my life trying to learn. "

"Then at a venture I should say your life has been a useless one. Dutyis as plain as the lighted lantern there before us. If you are apriest, fulfil your priestly office well; comfort the sick, console thedying, bury the dead. Tell your flock not to speculate too much onduty, but to try and accomplish the work in hand. "

"But I am not a priest, " faltered the other, rising slowly to his feet. 

"Then if you are a soldier, strike hard for your King. Kill the manimmediately before you, and if, instead, he kills you, be assured thatthe Lord will look after your soul when it departs through the rentthus made in your body. "

"There is a ring of truth in that, but it sounds worldly. How can wetell that such action is pleasing to God? May it not be better todepend entirely on the Lord, and let Him strike your blows for you?"

"Never! What does He give you arms for but to protect your own head, and what does He give you swift limbs for if not to take your body outof reach when you are threatened with being overmatched? God mustdespise such a man as you speak of, and rightly so. I am myself acommander of soldiers, and if I had a lieutenant who trusted all to meand refused to strike a sturdy blow on his own behalf I should tear hisbadge from him and have him scourged from out the ranks. "

"But may we not, by misdirected efforts, thwart the will of God?"

"Oh! the depths of human vanity! Thwart the will of God? What, a punyworm like you? You amaze me, sir, with your conceit, and I lose therespect for you which at first your garb engendered in my mind. Do yourwork manfully, and flatter not yourself that your most strenuousefforts are able to cross the design of the Almighty. My own poorbelief is that He has patience with any but a coward and a loiterer. "

The elder prisoner staggered into the centre of the room and raised hishands above his head. 

"Oh, Lord, have mercy upon me, " he cried. "Thou who hast brought lightto me in this foul dungeon which was refused to me in the radiance ofThy Cathedral. Have mercy on me, oh, Lord, the meanest of Thy servants--a craven Emperor. "

"The Emperor!" gasped Wilhelm, the more amazed because he had hisMajesty in mind when he spoke so bitterly of neglected duty, unconsciously blaming his sovereign rather than his own rashness forthe extreme predicament in which he found himself. 

Before either could again speak the door suddenly opened wide, and adeep voice solemnly enunciated the words:

"Wilhelm of Schonburg, pretended Commander of his Majesty's forces, youare summoned to appear instantly before the court of the Holy Fehm, nowin session and awaiting you. "

CHAPTER VI

THE HOLY FEHM

When the spokesman of the Fehmgerichte had finished his ominoussummons, his attendants crowded round Wilhelm swiftly and silently asif to forestall any attempt at resistance either on his part or on thepart of the Emperor. They hurried their victim immediately out of thecell and instantly barred the door on the remaining prisoner. Firstthey crossed the low-roofed, thickly-pillared great hall, passingthrough a doorway at which two armed men stood guard, masked, as wereall the others. The Judgment Hall of the dread Fehmgerichte was a roomof about ten times the extent of the cell Wilhelm had just left, butstill hardly of a size that would justify the term large. The walls andvaulted roof were of rough stone, and on the side opposite the entrancehad been cut deeply the large letters S. S. G. G. A few feet distantfrom this lettered wall stood a long table, and between the wall andthe table sat seven men. The Freigraf, as Wilhelm surmised him to be, occupied in the centre of this line a chair slightly more elevated thanthose of the three who sat on either hand. Seven staples had beendriven into the interstices of the stones above the heads of the Courtand from each staple hung a lighted lantern, which with those at thebelts of the guard standing round, illuminated the dismal chamberfairly well. To the left of the Court was a block draped in black andbeside it stood the executioner with his arms resting on the handle ofhis axe. In the ceiling above his head was an iron ring and from thisring depended a rope, the noose of which dangled at the shoulder of theheadsman, for it was the benevolent custom of the Court to allow itsvictim a choice in the manner of his death. It was also a habit of thejudges of this Court to sit until the sentence they had pronounced wascarried out, and thus there could be no chance of mistake or rescue. Nofeature of any judge was visible except the eyes through the holespierced for the purposes of vision in the long black cloaks whichcompletely enveloped their persons. 

As Wilhelm was brought to a stand before this assemblage, the Freigrafnodded his head and the guards in silence undid the thongs whichpinioned together wrists and elbows, leaving the prisoner absolutelyunfettered. --This done, the guard retreated backwards to the oppositewall, and Wilhelm stood alone before the seven sinister doomsmen. Heexpected that his examination, if the Court indulged in any such, wouldbe begun by the Freigraf, but this was not the case. The last man tothe left in the row had a small bundle of documents on the table beforehim. He rose to his feet, bowed low to his brother judges, and thenwith less deference to the prisoner. He spoke in a voice lacking anytrace of loudness, but distinctly heard in every corner of the roombecause of the intense stillness. There was a sweet persuasiveness inthe accents he used, and his sentences resembled those of a ladyanxious not to give offence to the person addressed. 

"Am I right in supposing you to be Wilhelm, lately of Schonburg, butnow of Frankfort?"

"You are right. "

"May I ask if you are a member of the Fehmgerichte?"

"I am not. I never heard of it until this afternoon. "

"Who was then your informant regarding the order?"

"I refuse to answer. "

The examiner inclined his head gracefully as if, while regretting thedecision of the witness, he nevertheless bowed to it. 

"Do you acknowledge his lordship the Archbishop of Mayence as your overlord?"

"Most assuredly. "

"Have you ever been guilty of an act of rebellion or insubordinationagainst his lordship?"

"My over-lord, the Archbishop of Mayence, has never preferred a requestto me which I have refused. "

"Pardon me, I fear I have not stated my proposition with sufficientclearness, and so you may have misunderstood the question. I had in mymind a specific act, and so will enter into further detail. Is it truethat in the Wahlzimmer you entered the presence of your over-lord witha drawn sword in your hand, commanding a body of armed men latelyoutlaws of the Empire, thus intimidating your over-lord in the justexercise of his privileges and rights as an Elector?"

"My understanding of the Feudal law, " said Wilhelm, "is that thecommands of an over-lord are to be obeyed only in so far as they do notrun counter to orders from a still higher authority. "

"Your exposition of the law is admirable, and its interpretation standsexactly as you have stated it. Are we to understand then that you wereobeying the orders of some person in authority who is empowered toexercise a jurisdiction over his lordship the Archbishop, similar tothat which the latter in his turn claims over you?"

"That is precisely what I was about to state. "

"Whose wishes were you therefore carrying out?

"Those of his Majesty the Emperor. "

The examiner bowed with the utmost deference when the august name wasmentioned. 

"I have to thank you in the name of the Court, " he went on, "for yourprompt and comprehensive replies, which have thus so speedily enabledus to come to a just and honourable verdict, and it gives me pleasureto inform you that the defence you have made is one that cannot begainsaid, and, therefore, with the exception of one slight formality, there is nothing more for us to do but to set you at liberty and askpardon for the constraint we regret having put upon you, and further torequest that you take oath that neither to wife nor child, father normother, sister nor brother, fire nor wind, will you reveal anythingthat has happened to you; that you will conceal it from all that thesun shines on and from all that the rain wets, and from every beingbetween heaven and earth. And now before our doors are thus opened Ihave to beg that you will favour the Court with the privilege ofexamining the commission that his Majesty the Emperor has signed. "

"You cannot expect me to carry my commission about on my person, moreespecially as I had no idea I should be called upon to undergoexamination upon it. "

"Such an expectation would certainly be doomed to disappointment, butyou are doubtless able to tell us where the document lies, and I canassure you that, wherever it is placed, an emissary of this order willspeedily fetch it, whether, it is concealed in palace or in hut. Allowme to ask you then, where this commission is?"

"I cannot tell you. "

"Do you mean you cannot, or you will not?"

"Take it whichever way you please, it is a matter of indifference tome. "

The examiner folded his arms under his black cloak and stood for somemoments in silence, looking reproachfully at the prisoner. At last hespoke in a tone which seemed to indicate that he was pained at theyoung man's attitude:

"I sincerely trust I am mistaken in supposing that you refuseabsolutely to assist this Court in the securing of a document which notonly stands between you and your liberty, but also between you and yourdeath. "

"Oh, a truce to this childish and feigned regret, " cried Wilhelm withrude impatience. "I pray you end the farce with less of verbiage and ofpretended justice. You have his Majesty here a prisoner. You have, through my own folly, my neck at the mercy of your axe or your rope. There stands the executioner eager for his gruesome work. Finish thatwhich you have already decided upon, and as sure as there is a God inheaven there will be quick retribution for the crimes committed in thisloathsome dungeon. "

The examiner deplored the introduction of heat into a discussion thatrequired the most temperate judgment. 

"But be assured, " he said, "that the hurling of unfounded accusationsagainst this honourable body will not in the least prejudice theirmembers in dealing with your case. "

"I know it, " said Wilhelm with a sneering laugh. 

"We have been informed that no such commission exists, that thedocument empowering you to take instant command of the Imperial troopsrests in the hands of the wife of his Majesty the Emperor and isunsigned. "

"If you know that, then why do you ask me so many questions about it?"

"In the sincere hope that by the production of the document itself, youmay be able to repudiate so serious an accusation. You admit then thatyou have acted without the shelter of a commission from his Majesty?"

"I admit nothing. "

The examiner looked up and down the row of silent figures as much as tosay, "I have done my best; shall any further questions be put?" Therebeing no response to this the examiner said, still without raising hisvoice:

"There is a witness in this case, and I ask him to stand forward. "

A hooded and cloaked figure approached the table. 

"Are you a member of the Fehmgerichte?"

"I am. "

"In good and honourable standing?"

"In good and honourable standing. "

"You swear by the order to which you belong that the evidence you giveshall be truth without equivocation and without mental reservation?"

"I swear it. "

"Has the prisoner a commission signed by the Emperor empowering him tocommand the Imperial troops?"

"He has not, and never has had such a commission. A document was madeout and sent three times to his Majesty for signature; to-day it wasreturned for the third time unsigned. "

"Prisoner, do you deny that statement?"

"I neither deny nor affirm. "

Wilhelm was well aware that his fate was decided upon. Even if he hadappeared before a regularly constituted court of the Empire instead ofat the bar of an underground secret association, the verdict mustinevitably have gone against him, so long as the Emperor's signaturewas not appended to the document which would have legalised hisposition. 

"It would appear then, " went on the examiner, "that in the action youtook against your immediate over-lord, the Archbishop of Mayence, youwere unprotected by the mandate of the Emperor. Freigraf andFreischoffen have heard question and answer. With extreme reluctance Iam compelled to announce to this honourable body, that nothing nowremains except to pronounce the verdict. "

With this the examiner sat down, and for a few moments there wassilence, then the Freigraf enunciated in a low voice the single word:

"Condemned. "

And beginning at the right hand, each member of the Court pronouncedthe word "Condemned. "

Wilhelm listened eagerly to the word, expecting each moment to hear thevoice of one or other of the Archbishops, but in this he wasdisappointed. The low tone universally used by each speaker gave acertain monotony of sound which made it almost impossible todistinguish one voice from another. This evident desire for concealmentraised a suspicion in the young man's mind that probably each member ofthe Court did not know who his neighbours were. When the examiner atthe extreme left had uttered the word "Condemned" the Freigraf againspoke:

"Is there any reason why the sentence just pronounced be notimmediately carried out?"

The examiner again rose to his feet and said quietly, but with greatrespect:

"My Lord, I ask that this young man be not executed immediately, but onthe contrary, be taken to his cell, there to be held during thepleasure of the Court. "

There seemed to be a murmured dissent to this, but a whisperedexplanation passed along the line and the few that had at firstobjected, nodded their heads in assent. 

"Our rule cannot be set aside, " said the Freigraf, "unless withunanimous consent. Does any member demur?"

No protests being made the Freigraf ordered Wilhelm to be taken to acell, which was accordingly done. 

The young man left alone in the darkness felt a pleasure in being ableto stretch his arms once more, and he paced up and down the narrowlimits of his cell, wondering what the next move would be in thismysterious drama. In the Judgment Chamber he had abandoned all hope, and had determined that when the order was given to seize him he wouldpluck the dagger of the order from the inside of his doublet, andspringing over the table, kill one or more of these illegal judgesbefore he was overpowered. The sudden change in tactics persuaded himthat something else was required of him rather than the death whichseemed so imminent. It was palpable that several members of the Courtat least were unacquainted with the designs of the master mind whichwas paramount in his prosecution. They had evinced surprise when theexaminer had demanded postponement of the execution. There wassomething behind all this that betrayed the crafty hand of theArchbishop of Treves. He was not long left in doubt. The door of thecell opened slowly and the pale rays of a lantern illuminated theblackness which surrounded him. The young man stopped in his walk andawaited developments. There entered to him one of the cloak-envelopedfigures, who might, or might not, be a member of the Holy Court. Wilhelm thought that perhaps his visitor was the examiner, but themoment the silence was broken, in spite of the fact that the speakerendeavoured to modulate his tones as the others had done, the young manknew the incomer was not the person who had questioned him. 

"We are somewhat loth, " the intruder began, "to cut short the career ofone so young as you are, and one who gives promise of becoming anotable captain. "

"What have you seen of me, " inquired Wilhelm, "that leads you tosuppose I have the qualities of a capable officer in me?"

The other did not reply for a moment or two; then he said slowly:

"I do not say that I have seen anything to justify such a conclusion, but I have heard of your action in the Wahlzimmer, and by the accountgiven, I judge you to be a young man of resource. "

"I am indebted to you for the good opinion you express. It is quite inyour power to set me free, and then the qualities you are kind enoughto commend, may have an opportunity for development. "

"Alas!" said the visitor, "it is not in my power to release you; thatlies entirely with yourself. "

"You bring comforting news. What is the price?"

"You are asked to become a member of the Fehmgerichte. "

"I should suppose that to be easily accomplished, as I am now apartaker of its hospitality. What else?"

"The remaining proviso is that you take service, with his lordship, theArchbishop of Treves, and swear entire allegiance to him. "

"I am already in the service of the Emperor. "

"It has just been proven that you are not. "

"How could the Archbishop expect faithful service from me, if I provetraitor to the one I deem my master?"

"The Archbishop will probably be content to take the risk of that. "

"Are you commissioned to speak for the Archbishop?"

"I am. "

"Are you one of the Archbishop's men?"

"My disposition towards him is friendly; I cannot say that I am one ofhis men. "

"Granting, then, that I took service with the Archbishop to save mylife, what would he expect me to do?"

"To obey him in all things. "

"Ah, be more explicit, as the examiner said. I am not a man to enterinto a bargain blindly. I must know exactly what is required of me. "

"It is probable that your first order would be to march your army fromFrankfort to Treves. Would the men follow you, do you think?"

"Undoubtedly. The men will follow wherever I choose to lead them. Another question. What becomes of the Emperor in case I make thisbargain?"

"That question it is impossible at the present moment, to answer. TheCourt of the Holy Fehm is now awaiting my return, and when I take myplace on the bench the Emperor will be called upon to answer for hisneglect of duty. "

"Nevertheless you may hazard a guess regarding his fate. "

"I hazard this guess then, that his fate will depend largely uponhimself, just as your fate depends upon yourself. "

"I must see clearly where I am going, therefore I request you to bemore explicit. What will the Court demand of the Emperor that he maysave his life?"

"You are questioning me touching the action of others; therefore, all Ican do is merely to surmise. My supposition is that if the Emperorpromises to abdicate he will be permitted to pass unscathed from thehalls of the Fehmgerichte. "

"And should he refuse?"

"Sir, I am already at the end of my patience through your numerousquestions, " and as the voice rose in something approaching anger, Wilhelm seemed to recognise its ring. "I came here, not to answer yourquestions, but to have you answer mine. What is your decision?"

"My decision is that you are a confessed traitor; die the death ofsuch!"

Wilhelm sprang forward and buried the dagger of the Fehmgerichte intothe heart of the man before him. His action was so unexpected that thevictim could make no motion to defend himself. So truly was the fierceblow dealt that the doomed man, without a cry or even a groan, sank inhis death collapse at the young man's feet in a heap on the floor. 

Wilhelm, who thought little of taking any man's life in a fair fight, shuddered as he gazed at the helpless bundle at his feet; a momentbefore, this uncouth heap stood erect, a man like himself, conversingwith him, then the swift blow and the resulting huddle of clay. 

"Oh, God above me, Over-lord of all, I struck for my King, yet I feelmyself an assassin. If I am, indeed, a murderer in Thy sight, wither mewhere I stand, and crush me to the ground, companion to this deadbody. "

For a few moments Wilhelm stood rigid, his face uplifted, listening tothe pulsations in his own throat and the strident beatings of his ownheart. No bolt from heaven came to answer his supplication. Stooping, he, with some difficulty, drew the poniard from its resting-place. Themalignant ingenuity of its construction had caused its needle point topenetrate the chain armour, while its keen double edge cut link afterlink of the hard steel as it sunk into the victim's breast. The severedends of the links now clutched the blade as if to prevent its removal. Not a drop of blood followed its exit, although it had passed directlythrough the citadel of life itself. Again concealing the weapon withinhis doublet, a sudden realisation of the necessity for speed overcamethe assaulter. He saw before him a means of escape. He had but to donthe all-concealing cloak and walk out of this subterranean charnelhouse by the way he had entered it, if he could but find the foot ofthe stairs, down which they had carried him. Straightening out the bodyhe pulled the cloak free from it, thus exposing the face to the yellowlight of the lantern. His heart stood still as he saw that the man hehad killed was no other than that exalted Prince of the Church, thevenerable Archbishop of Treves. He drew the body to the pallet of strawin the corner of the cell, and there, lying on its face, he left it. Amoment later he was costumed as a high priest of the order of theFehmgerichte. Taking the lantern in his hand he paused before theclosed door. He could not remember whether or not he had heard thebolts shot after the Archbishop had entered. Conning rapidly in hismind the startling change in the situation, he stood there until he hadrecovered command of himself, resolved that if possible no mistake onhis part should now mar his chances of escape, and in this there was nothought of saving his own life, but merely a determination to get oncemore into the streets of Frankfort, rally his men, penetrate into thesesubterranean regions, and rescue the Emperor alive. He pushed with allhis might against the door, and to his great relief the heavy barrierswung slowly round on its hinges. Once outside he pushed it shut again, and was startled by two guards springing to his assistance, one of themsaying:

"Shall we thrust in the bolts, my Lord?"

"Yes, " answered Wilhelm in the low tone which all, costumed as he was, had used. He turned away but was dismayed to find before him twobrethren of the order arrayed in like manner to himself, who hadevidently been waiting for him. 

"What is the result of the conference? Does he consent?"

Rapidly Wilhelm had to readjust events in his own mind to meet thisunexpected emergency. 

"No, " he replied slowly, "he does not consent, at least, not just atthe moment. He has some scruples regarding his loyalty to the Emperor. "

"Those scruples will be speedily removed then, when we remove hisMajesty. The other members of the Court are but now awaiting us in theJudgment Chamber. Let us hasten there, and make a quick disposal of theEmperor. "

Wilhelm saw that there was no possibility of retreat. Any attempt atflight would cause instant alarm and the closing of the exits, thenboth the Emperor and himself would be caught like rats in a trap, yetthere was almost equal danger in entering the Council Chamber. He hadnot the remotest idea which seat at the table he should occupy, and heknew that a mistake in placing himself would probably lead todiscovery. He lagged behind, but the others persistently gave himprecedence, which seemed to indicate that they knew the real quality ofthe man they supposed him to be. He surmised that his seat was probablythat of the Freigraf in the centre, but on crossing the threshold pastthe saluting guards, he saw that the Freigraf occupied the elevatedseat, having at his left three Freischoffen, while the remaining seatsat his right were unoccupied. It was a space of extreme anxiety whenhis two companions stopped to allow him to go first. He dared not takethe risk of placing himself wrongly at the board. There was scant timefor consideration, and Wilhelm speedily came to a decision. It wasmerely one risk to take where several were presented, and he chose thatwhich seemed to be the safest. Leaning towards his companions he saidquietly:

"I beg of you, be seated. I have a few words to address to the HolyCourt. "

The two inclined their heads in return, and one of them in passing himmurmured the scriptural words, "The first shall be last, " which remarkstill further assisted in reversing Wilhelm's former opinion andconvinced him that the identity of the Archbishop was known to them. When they were seated, the chair at the extreme right was the only onevacant, and Wilhelm breathed easier, having nothing further to fearfrom that source, if he could but come forth scatheless from hisspeech. 

"I have to acquaint the Court of the Holy Fehm, " he said, speakingaudibly, but no more, "that my mission to the cell of the prisoner whohas just left us, resulted partly in failure and partly in success. Theyoung man has some hesitation in placing himself in open opposition tothe Emperor. I therefore suggest that we go on with our deliberations, leaving the final decision of his case until a later period. "

To this the Court unanimously murmured the word: "Agreed, " and Wilhelmtook his place at the table. 

"Bring in prisoner No. 13, " said the Freigraf, and a few moments laterthe Emperor of Germany stood before the table. 

He regarded the dread tribunal with a glance of haughty scorn whilecountenance and demeanour exhibited a dignity which Wilhelm had fanciedwas lacking during their interview in the cell. 

The examiner rose to his feet and in the same suave tones he had usedin questioning Wilhelm, propounded the usual formal interrogatoryregarding name and quality. When he was asked:

"Are you a member of the Holy Order of the Fehmgerichte?" the Emperor'sreply seemed to cause some consternation among the judges. 

"I am not only a member of the Fehmgerichte, but by its constitution, Iam the head of it, and I warn you that any action taken by this Courtwithout my sanction, is, by the statutes of the order, illegal. "

The examiner paused in his questioning apparently taken aback by thisassertion, and looked towards the Freigraf as if awaiting a decisionbefore proceeding further. 

"We acknowledge freely, " said the Freigraf, "that you are the figure-head of the order, and that in all matters pertaining to a change ofconstitution your consent would probably be necessary, but stretchingyour authority to its utmost limit, it does not reach to the Courts ofthe Holy Fehm, which have before now sat in judgment on the highest inthe land. For more than a century the position of the Emperor as headof the Fehmgerichte has been purely nominal, and I know of no precedentwhere the ruler of the land has interfered with the proceedings of thesecret Court. We avow allegiance to the actual head of the order, whois the Duke of Westphalia. "

"Is the Duke of Westphalia here present?"

"That is a question improper for you to ask. "

"If the Duke of Westphalia is one of the members of this Court, Icommand him by the oath which he took at his installation, to descendfrom his place and render his seat to me, the head of this order. "

"The nominal head, " corrected the Freigraf. 

"The actual head, " persisted the prisoner. "The position remainednominal only because the various occupants did not choose to exercisethe authority vested in them. It is my pleasure to resume the functionwhich has too long remained in abeyance, thus allowing inferiorofficers to pretend to a power which is practical usurpation, andwhich, according to the constitution of our order, is not to betolerated. Disobey at your peril. I ask the Archbishop of Cologne, Dukeof Westphalia, as the one, high vassal of the Empire, as the other, mysubordinate in the Fehmgerichte, to stand forth and salute his chief. "

Wilhelm's heart beat rapidly underneath his black cloak as he saw thisspectacle of helpless prisoner defying a power, which, in its sphere ofaction, was almost omnipotent. It was manifest that the Emperor'strenchant sentences had disturbed more than one member of theconvention, and even the Freigraf glanced in perplexity towards thesupposed Archbishop of Treves as if for a hint anent the answer thatshould be given. As if in response to the silent appeal, Wilhelm roseslowly to his feet, while the examiner seated himself. 

"It is my privilege, " he began, "on behalf of my fellow members, toinform the prisoner that the Court of the Holy Fehm has ever based itsaction on the broad principles of eternal justice. "

A sarcastic smile wreathed the lips of the Emperor at this. Wilhelmwent on unheeding. 

"A point of law has been raised by the prisoner, which, I think, atleast merits our earnest consideration, having regard for the futurewelfare of this organisation, and being anxious not to allow anyprecedent to creep in, which may work to the disadvantage of those whofollow us. In order that our deliberations may have that calmimpartiality which has ever distinguished them, I ask unanimous consentto my suggestion that the prisoner be taken back to his cell until wecome to a decision regarding the matter in dispute. "

This proposition being agreed to without a dissenting voice, theprisoner was removed from the room and the eyes of all the judges wereturned towards Wilhelm. The Freigraf was the first to break thesilence. 

"Although I have agreed to the removal of the prisoner, " he said, "yetI see not the use of wasting so many words on him. While there isundoubted wisdom in winning to our side the man who controls the army, there seems to me little to gain in prolonging discussion with theEmperor, who is a nonentity at best, and has no following. The path tothe throne must be cleared, and there is but one way of doing it. "

"Two, I think, " murmured Wilhelm. 

"What other than by this prisoner's death?"

"His abdication would suffice. "

"But, as you know, he has already refused to abdicate. "

"Ah, that was before he saw the executioner standing here. I think heis now in a condition to reconsider his determination. Thus we willavoid discussion of the knotty points which he raised, and which I, forone, would prefer to see remain where they are. The moment he consentsto abdicate, the commander of the forces is willing to swear allegianceto us. It must not be forgotten that even if we execute these two menwe have still the troops who hold the city of Frankfort to reckon with, and although their leader may have disappeared, the young man has somesturdy lieutenants who will give us trouble. "

"What do you propose?" asked the Freigraf. 

"If the colleague at my left will accompany me, we will visit theprisoner and may have some proposals to submit to you on our return. "

This being acceded to, the two left the Judgment Chamber and proceededslowly to the cell of No. 13. On the way thither Wilhelm said to hiscompanion:

"As the prisoner may be on his guard if we enter together, I prefer tosound him first alone, and at the proper moment, if you stay outsidethe door of the cell, I shall summon you to enter. "

This meeting the sanction of Wilhelm's companion, the young man enteredthe cell alone, carefully closing the door behind him. 

"Your Majesty, " he whispered, "the situation is extremely critical, andI entreat you to maintain silence while I make explanation to you. I amWilhelm, the loyal commander of the Imperial forces, your Majesty'smost devoted servant. "

"Are you then, " said the amazed monarch, "also a member of theFehmgerichte? I thought you came here as a prisoner, and, like myself, a victim. "

Wilhelm drew off over his head the cloak which enveloped him, leavinghis limbs free, standing thus in his own proper person before theEmperor. 

"I was, indeed, a prisoner, and was visited in my cell by theArchbishop of Treves. It was in his robe that I emerged from my cellundetected, hoping to escape and bring rescue to your Majesty, butother brethren were awaiting me outside, and I found myself compelledto sit in the Court before which you made such an able defence. "

"It was you, then, who proposed that I should be taken back to mycell?"

"Yes, your Majesty. And now a colleague remains outside this door, whowaits, expecting a summons to enter, but first I came to give warningto your Majesty that you may make no outcry, if you should see whatappears to be two brothers of the order struggling together. "

"I shall keep strict silence. Is the Archbishop of Treves then aprisoner in your cell?"

"He is, I assure you, a fast prisoner. "

"You propose that I should don the cloak of the incomer, and that thuswe make our escape together. We must be in haste, then, for if theArchbishop releases himself from his bonds, he may produce such anuproar in his cell that suspicion will be aroused. "

"The bonds in which I left the Archbishop of Treves will hold him firmuntil we are outside this nest of vipers. And now, your Majesty, I begyou to put on this cloak which I have been wearing, which will leave mefree speedily to overpower our visitor. "

The Emperor arrayed himself and stood, as he was fully entitled to do, a fully costumed member of the Fehmgerichte. Wilhelm opened the doorand said softly:

"Enter, brother, that I may learn if the arrangements just made areconfirmed by your wisdom. "

The light within had been placed at the further end of the cell, andthe visitor's own lantern gave but scant illumination. The moment thedoor was firmly closed Wilhelm sprang upon him and bore him to theground. If the assaulted man attempted to make any sound, it wasmuffled by the folds of his own cloak. A moment later, however, Wilhelmgot a firm grip on his bare throat, and holding him thus, pulled awayhis disguise from him, revealing the pallid face of the Archbishop ofMayence. The young man plucked the dagger from the inside of hisdoublet and placed it at the breast of the prostrate man. 

"If you make the slightest sound, " he whispered, "I shall bury thisdagger in your heart. It is the weapon of the Fehmgerichte and you knowit will penetrate chain armour. "

It was evident that the stricken Archbishop was much too frightened todo anything to help himself, and Wilhelm unbuckling his own emptysword-belt, proceeded to tie his trembling limbs. The Emperorwhispered:

"The cords which bound me are still here, as well as the gag whichsilenced me. "

Wilhelm put those instruments of tyranny to immediate use, and shortlythe Archbishop was a helpless silent heap in the further corner of theroom. Wilhelm and the Emperor each with a lantern, and eachindistinguishable from other members of the secret organisation, pushedopen the door and emerged from the cell. Closing the door again, Wilhelm said to the guard:

"Bolt this portal firmly and allow no one to enter who does not giveyou this password. "

The young man stooped and whispered into the ear of the guard the word"Elsa. " The two fugitives then walked slowly along the great hall, theyoung man peering anxiously to his right for any sign of the stairwayby which he had descended. They passed numerous doors, all closed, andat last Wilhelm began to wonder if one of these covered the exit whichhe sought. Finally they came to the end of the large hall withoutseeing trace of any outlet, and Wilhelm became conscious of the factthat getting free from this labyrinth was like to prove more difficultthan the entering had been. Standing puzzled, not knowing where next toturn, aware that precious time was being wasted fruitlessly, Wilhelmsaw a man masked and accoutred as a guard approach them. 

"Is there anything in which I can pleasure your Lordships?" he askeddeferentially. 

"Yes, " said Wilhelm, "we desire to have a breath of fresh air; where isthe exit?"

"If your Lordship has the password, you may go out by the entrance inthe city. If you have not the word, then must you use the exit withoutthe wall, which is a long walk from here. "

"That does not matter, " replied Wilhelm, "it is the country air we wishto breathe. "

"I cannot leave my post, but I shall get one who will guide you. "

So saying, the man left them for several anxious minutes, going into aroom that apparently was used as guard-house, and reappearing with aman who rubbed his eyes sleepily, as if newly awakened. Then the firstguard drew bolts from a stout door and pulled it open, revealing a darkchasm like the entrance to a cell. Both Wilhelm and the Emperor viewedthis black enigma with deep suspicion, but their guide with his lanternplunged into it and they followed, after which the door was closed andbarred behind them. 

It was, indeed, as the first man had said, a long walk, as Wilhelm knewit must be if it extended under the western gate and out into thecountry. The passage was so narrow that two could not walk abreast, andfrequently the arched ceiling was so low that the guide ahead warnedthem to stoop as they came on. At last he reached the foot of astairway, and was about to mount when Wilhelm said to him:

"Stand here till we return. Allow no one to pass who does not give youthis word, " and again he whispered the word "Elsa" in the man's ear. 

To the dismay of Wilhelm, the Emperor addressed the guard:

"Are there many prisoners within?"

"There are two only, " replied the man, "numbers 13 and 14. I helped tocarry No. 14 down the stair, and am glad his sword broke beneath him ashe fell, for, indeed, we had trouble enough with him as it was. "

Here Wilhelm took the liberty of touching the Emperor on the arm as ifto warn him that such discourse was untimely and dangerous. Withbeating heart the young man led the way up the stairs, and at the topof the second flight, came into what seemed to be the vestibule of ahouse, in which, on benches round the wall, there sat four menseemingly on guard, who immediately sprang to their feet when they sawthe ghostly apparitions before them. 

"Unbar the door, " said Wilhelm, quietly, in the tone of one whoseauthority is not to be disputed. "Close it after us and allow none toenter or emerge who does not give you the word 'Elsa. '"

This command was so promptly obeyed that Wilhelm could scarcely believethey had won so easily to the outer air. The house stood alone on thebank of the river at the end of a long garden which extended to theroad. Facing the thoroughfare and partly concealing the house from anychance straggler was a low building which Wilhelm remembered was usedas a wayside drinking-place, in which wine, mostly of a poor quality, was served to thirsty travellers. The gate to the street appeareddeserted, but as the two approached by the walk leading from the house, a guard stood out from the shadow of the wall, scrutinised for a momenttheir appearance, then saluting, held the gate open for them. 

Once on the road, the two turned towards the city, whose black wallbarred their way some distance ahead, and whose towers and spires stoodout dimly against the starlit sky. A great silence, broken only by thesoothing murmur of the river, lay on the landscape. Wilhelm cast aglance aloft at the star-sprinkled dome of heaven, and said:

"I judge it to be about an hour after midnight. "

"It may be so, " answered the Emperor, "I have lost all count of time. 

"Has your Majesty been long in prison?"

"That I do not know. I may have lain there two days or a dozen. I hadno means of measuring the length of my imprisonment. "

"May I ask your Majesty in what manner you were lured into the halls ofthe Fehmgerichte?"

"It was no lure. While I lay asleep at night in the cloisters by theCathedral I was bound and gagged, carried through the dark streetshelpless on a litter and finally flung into the cell in which you foundme. "

"May I further inquire what your Majesty's intentions are regarding thefulfilment of the duties imposed upon you by your high office?"

There was a long pause before the Emperor replied, then he said:

"Why do you ask?"

"Because, your Majesty, I have on several occasions imperilled my lifefor an Emperor who does not rule, who has refused even to sign mycommission as officer of his troops. "

"Your commission was never sent to me. "

"I beg your Majesty's pardon, but it was sent three times to you in thecloisters of the Cathedral, and returned three times unsigned. "

"Then it is as I suspected, " returned the Emperor, "the monks must haveconnived at my capture. I have pleasure in confirming your appointment. I am sure that the command could not be in more capable hands. And infurther reply to your question, if God permits me to see the light ofday, I shall be an emperor who rules. "

"It delights my heart to hear you say so. And now I ask, as a favour, that you allow me to deal untrammelled with the Fehmgerichte. "

"I grant that most willingly. "

By this time they were almost under the shadow of the great wall of thecity, and Wilhelm, stopping, said to the Emperor:

"I think it well that we now divest ourselves of these disguises. "

They had scarcely thrown their cloaks behind the bushes at the side ofthe road when they were accosted by the guard at the top of the wall. 

"Halt! Who approaches the gate?"

Wilhelm strode forward. 

"Is Gottlieb at the guard-house or at the barracks?" he asked. 

"He is at the guard-house, " replied the sentinel, recognising thequestioner. 

"Then arouse him immediately, and open the gates. "

"Gottlieb, " said Wilhelm, when once within the walls, "take a score ofmen with you and surround the first house on the margin of the river upthis street. I shall accompany you so that there may be no mistake. Send another score under a trusty leader to the house which standsalone outside of the gates also on the margin of the stream. Giveorders that the men are to seize any person who attempts to enter or tocome out; kill if necessary, but let none escape you. Let a dozen menescort me to the Palace. "

Having seen the Emperor safely housed in the Palace, Wilhelm returnedquickly to the place where Gottlieb and his score held guard over thetown entrance of the cellars he had quitted. 

"Gottlieb, are you fully awake?" asked Wilhelm. 

"Oh, yes, master; awake and ready for any emergency. "

"Then send for some of your most stalwart sappers with tools to breakthrough a stone wall, and tell them to bring a piece of timber tobatter in this door. "

When the men arrived three blows from the oaken log sent the doorshattering from its hinges. Wilhelm sprang at once over the prostrateportal, but not in time to prevent the flight of the guard down thestairway. Calling the sappers to the first landing, and pointing to thestone wall on the right:

"Break through that for me, " he cried. 

"Master, " expostulated Gottlieb, "if you break through that wall I warnyou that the river will flow in. "

"Such is my intention, Gottlieb, and a gold piece to each man who worksas he has never wrought before. "

For a few moments there was nothing heard but the steady ring of ironon stone as one by one the squares were extracted, the water beginningto ooze in as the energetic sappers reached the outer course. At lastthe remaining stones gave way, carried in with a rush by the torrent. 

"Save yourselves!" cried Wilhelm, standing knee deep in the flood andnot stepping out until each man had passed him. There was a strainingcrash of rending timber, and Gottlieb, dashing down, seized his masterby the arm, crying:

"My Lord, my Lord, the house is about to fall!"

With slight loss of time commander and lieutenant stood together in thestreet and found that the latter's panic was unwarranted, for thehouse, although it trembled dangerously and leaned perceptibly towardthe river, was stoutly built of hewn stone. Grey daylight now began tospread over the city, but still Wilhelm stood there listening to theinrush of the water. 

"By the great wine tub of Hundsrück!" exclaimed Gottlieb in amazement, "that cellar is a large one. It seems to thirst for the whole flood ofthe Main. "

"Send a messenger, " cried Wilhelm, "to the house you are guardingoutside the gates and discover for me whether your men have capturedany prisoners. "

It was broad daylight when the messenger returned, and the torrent downthe stair had become a rippling surface of water at the level of theriver, showing that all the cavern beneath was flooded. 

"Well, messenger, what is your report?" demanded his commander. 

"My Lord, the officer in charge says that a short time ago the door ofthe house was blown open as if by a strong wind; four men rushed outand another was captured in the garden; all were pinioned and gagged, as you commanded. "

"Are the prisoners men of quality or common soldiers?"

"Common soldiers, my Lord. "

"Very well; let them be taken to the prison. I will visit them later inthe day. "

As Wilhelm, thoroughly fatigued after a night so exciting, walked thestreets of Frankfort toward his home the bells of the city suddenlybegan to ring a merry peal, and, as if Frankfort had become awakened bythe musical clangor, windows were raised and doors opened, whilecitizens inquired of each other the meaning of the clangor, a questionwhich no one seemed prepared to answer. 

Reaching his own house, Wilhelm found Elsa awaiting him with less ofanxiety on her face than he had expected. 

"Oh, Wilhelm!" she cried, "what a fright you gave me, and not until Iknew where you were, did any peace come to my heart. "

"You knew where I was?" said Wilhelm in amazement. "Where was I, then?"

"You were with the Emperor, of course. That is why the bells areringing; the Emperor has returned, as you know, and is resolved to takehis proper place at the head of the state, much to the delight of theEmpress, I can assure you. But what an anxious time we spent untilshortly after midnight, when the Emperor arrived and told us you hadbeen with him. "

"How came you to be at the Palace?"

"It happened in this way. You had hardly left the court last night whenhis lordship the Archbishop of Cologne came and seemed anxious aboutthe welfare of the Emperor. "

"The Archbishop of Cologne! Is he still there or did he go elsewhere?"

"He is still there, and was there when the Emperor came in. Why do youask so eagerly? Is there anything wrong?"

"Not so far as the Archbishop is concerned, apparently. He has kept hisword and so there is one less high office vacant. Well, what did theArchbishop say?"

"He wished to see you, and so the Empress sent for you, but search aswe would, you were nowhere to be found. On hearing this I becamealarmed and went at once to the Palace. The Archbishop seemed in deeptrouble, but he refused to tell the Empress the cause of it, and soincreased our anxiety. However, all was right when the Emperor came, and now they are ringing the bells, for he is to appear before thepeople on the balcony of the Romer, as if he were newly crowned. Wemust make haste if we are to see him. "

Wilhelm escorted his wife to the square before the Romer, but so densewas the cheering crowd that it was impossible for him to force a waythrough. They were in time to see the Emperor appear on the balcony, and Wilhelm, raising his sword aloft, shouted louder than any in thatthrong, Elsa herself waving a scarf above her head in the enthusiasm ofthe moment. 

THE COUNT'S APOLOGY

The fifteen nobles, who formed the Council of State for the MoselleValley, stood in little groups in the Rittersaal of Winneburg's Castle, situated on a hill-top in the Ender Valley, a league or so from thewaters of the Moselle. The nobles spoke in low tones together, for agreater than they were present, no other than their over-lord, theArchbishop of Treves, who, in his stately robes of office, paced up anddown the long room, glancing now and then through the narrow windowswhich gave a view down the Ender Valley. 

There was a trace of impatience in his Lordship's bearing, and wellthere might be, for here was the Council of State in assemblage, yettheir chairman was absent, and the nobles stood there helplessly, likea flock of sheep whose shepherd is missing. The chairman was the Countof Winneburg, in whose castle they were now collected, and his lack ofpunctuality was thus a double discourtesy, for he was host as well aspresident. 

Each in turn had tried to soothe the anger of the Archbishop, for allliked the Count of Winneburg, a bluff and generous-hearted giant, whowould stand by his friends against all comers, was the quarrel his ownor no. In truth little cared the stalwart Count of Winneburg whosequarrel it was so long as his arm got opportunity of wielding a blow init. His Lordship of Treves had not taken this championship of theabsent man with good grace, and now strode apart from the group, holding himself haughtily; muttering, perhaps prayers, perhapssomething else. 

When one by one the nobles had arrived at Winneburg's Castle, they wereinformed that its master had gone hunting that morning, saying he wouldreturn in time for the mid-day meal, but nothing had been heard of himsince, although mounted messengers had been sent forth, and the greatbell in the southern tower had been set ringing when the Archbishoparrived. It was the general opinion that Count Winneburg, becominginterested in the chase, had forgotten all about the Council, for itwas well known that the Count's body was better suited for athleticsports or warfare than was his mind for the consideration of questionsof State, and the nobles, themselves of similar calibre, probably likedhim none the less on that account. 

Presently the Archbishop stopped in his walk and faced the assemblage. "My Lords, " he said, "we have already waited longer than the utmoststretch of courtesy demands. The esteem in which Count Winneburg holdsour deliberations is indicated by his inexcusable neglect of a dutyconferred upon him by you, and voluntarily accepted by him. I shalltherefore take my place in his chair, and I call upon you to seatyourselves at the Council table. "

Saying which the Archbishop strode to the vacant chair, and seatedhimself in it at the head of the board. The nobles looked one at theother with some dismay, for it was never their intention that theArchbishop should preside over their meeting, the object of which wasrather to curb that high prelate's ambition, than to confirm stillfurther the power he already held over them. 

When, a year before, these Councils of State had been inaugurated, theArchbishop had opposed them, but, finding that the Emperor was inclinedto defer to the wishes of his nobles, the Lord of Treves had insistedupon his right to be present during the deliberations, and this rightthe Emperor had conceded. He further proposed that the meeting shouldbe held at his own castle of Cochem, as being conveniently situatedmidway between Coblentz and Treves, but to this the nobles had, withfervent unanimity, objected. Cochem Castle, they remembered, possessedstrong walls and deep dungeons, and they had no desire to trustthemselves within the lion's jaws, having little faith in hisLordship's benevolent intentions towards them. 

The Emperor seemed favourable to the selection of Cochem as aconvenient place of meeting, and the nobles were nonplussed, becausethey could not give their real reason for wishing to avoid it, and theArchbishop continued to press the claims of Cochem as being of equaladvantage to all. 

"It is not as though I asked them to come to Treves, " said theArchbishop, "for that would entail a long journey upon those livingnear the Rhine, and in going to Cochem I shall myself be called upon totravel as far as those who come from Coblentz. "

The Emperor said:

"It seems a most reasonable selection, and, unless some strongobjection be urged, I shall confirm the choice of Cochem. "

The nobles were all struck with apprehension at these words, and knewnot what to say, when suddenly, to their great delight, up spoke thestalwart Count of Winneburg. 

"Your Majesty, " he said, "my Castle stands but a short league fromCochem, and has a Rittersaal as large as that in the pinnacled palaceowned by the Archbishop. It is equally convenient for all concerned, and every gentleman is right welcome to its hospitality. My cellars arewell filled with good wine, and my larders are stocked with anabundance of food. All that can be urged in favour of Cochem applieswith equal truth to the Schloss Winneburg. If, therefore, the membersof the Council will accept of my roof, it is theirs. "

The nobles with universal enthusiasm cried:

"Yes, yes; Winneburg is the spot. "

The Emperor smiled, for he well knew that his Lordship of Treves wassomewhat miserly in the dispensing of his hospitality. He preferred tosee his guests drink the wine of a poor vintage rather than tap thecask which contained the yield of a good year. His Majesty smiled, because he imagined his nobles thought of the replenishing of theirstomachs, whereas they were concerned for the safety of their necks;but seeing them unanimous in their choice, he nominated SchlossWinneburg as the place of meeting, and so it remained. 

When, therefore, the Archbishop of Treves set himself down in the amplechair, to which those present had, without a dissenting vote, electedCount Winneburg, distrust at once took hold of them, for they were everjealous of the encroachments of their over-lord. The Archbishop glaredangrily around him, but no man moved from where he stood. 

"I ask you to be seated. The Council is called to order. "

Baron Beilstein cleared his throat and spoke, seemingly with somehesitation, but nevertheless with a touch of obstinacy in his voice:

"May we beg a little more time for Count Winneburg? He has doubtlessgone farther afield than he intended when he set out. I myself knowsomething of the fascination of the chase, and can easily understandthat it wipes out all remembrance of lesser things. "

"Call you this Council a lesser thing?" demanded the Archbishop. "Wehave waited an hour already, and I shall not give the laggard a momentmore. "

"Indeed, my Lord, then I am sorry to hear it. I would not willingly bethe man who sits in Winneburg's chair, should he come suddenly uponus. "

"Is that a threat?" asked the Archbishop, frowning. 

"It is not a threat, but rather a warning. I am a neighbour of theCount, and know him well, and whatever his virtues may be, calmpatience is not one of them. If time hangs heavily, may I venture tosuggest that your Lordship remove the prohibition you proclaimed whenthe Count's servants offered us wine, and allow me to act temporarilyas host, ordering the flagons to be filled, which I think will pleaseWinneburg better when he comes, than finding another in his chair. "

"This is no drunken revel, but a Council of State, " said the Archbishopsternly; "and I drink no wine when the host is not here to proffer it. 

"Indeed, my Lord, " said Beilstein, with a shrug of the shoulders, "someof us are so thirsty that we care not who makes the offer, so long asthe wine be sound. "

What reply the Archbishop would have made can only be conjectured, forat that moment the door burst open and in came Count Winneburg, a headand shoulders above any man in that room, and huge in proportion. 

"My Lords, my Lords, " he cried, his loud voice booming to the rafters, "how can I ask you to excuse such a breach of hospitality. What! Not asingle flagon of wine in the room? This makes my deep regret almostunbearable. Surely, Beilstein, you might have amended that, if only forthe sake of an old and constant comrade. Truth, gentlemen, until Iheard the bell of the castle toll, I had no thought that this was theday of our meeting, and then, to my despair, I found myself an houraway, and have ridden hard to be among you. "

Then, noticing there was something ominous in the air, and anunaccustomed silence to greet his words, he looked from one to theother, and his eye, travelling up the table, finally rested upon theArchbishop in his chair. Count Winneburg drew himself up, his ruddyface colouring like fire. Then, before any person could reach out handto check him, or move lip in counsel, the Count, with a fierce oath, strode to the usurper, grasped him by the shoulders, whirled his heelshigh above his head, and flung him like a sack of corn to the smoothfloor, where the unfortunate Archbishop, huddled in a helpless heap, slid along the polished surface as if he were on ice. The fifteennobles stood stock-still, appalled at this unexpected outrage upontheir over-lord. Winneburg seated himself in the chair with an emphasisthat made even the solid table rattle, and bringing down his huge fistcrashing on the board before him, shouted:

"Let no man occupy my chair, unless he has weight enough to remainthere. "

Baron Beilstein, and one or two others, hurried to the prostrateArchbishop and assisted him to his feet. 

"Count Winneburg, " said Beilstein, "you can expect no sympathy from usfor such an act of violence in your own hall. "

"I want none of your sympathy, " roared the angry Count. "Bestow it onthe man now in your hands who needs it. If you want the Archbishop ofTreves to act as your chairman, elect him to that position and welcome. I shall have no usurpation in my Castle. While I am president I sit inthe chair, and none other. "

There was a murmur of approval at this, for one and all were deeplysuspicious of the Archbishop's continued encroachments. 

His Lordship of Treves once more on his feet, his lips pallid, and hisface colourless, looked with undisguised hatred at his assailant. "Winneburg, " he said slowly, "you shall apologise abjectly for thisinsult, and that in presence of the nobles of this Empire, or I willsee to it that not one stone of this castle remains upon another. "

"Indeed, " said the Count nonchalantly, "I shall apologise to you, myLord, when you have apologised to me for taking my place. As to thecastle, it is said that the devil assisted in the building of it, andit is quite likely that through friendship for you, he may preside overits destruction. "

The Archbishop made no reply, but, bowing haughtily to the rest of thecompany, who looked glum enough, well knowing that the episode they hadwitnessed meant, in all probability, red war let loose down the smilingvalley of the Moselle, left the Rittersaal. 

"Now that the Council is duly convened in regular order, " said CountWinneburg, when the others had seated themselves round his table, "whatquestions of state come up for discussion?"

For a moment there was no answer to this query, the delegates lookingat one another speechless. But at last Baron Beilstein shrugging hisshoulder, said drily:

"Indeed, my Lord Count, I think the time for talk is past, and Isuggest that we all look closely to the strengthening of our walls, which are likely to be tested before long by the Lion of Treves. It wasperhaps unwise, Winneburg, to have used the Archbishop so roughly, hebeing unaccustomed to athletic exercise; but, let the consequences bewhat they may, I, for one, will stand by you. "

"And I; and I; and I; and I, " cried the others, with the exception ofthe Knight of Ehrenburg, who, living as he did near the town ofCoblentz, was learned in the law, and not so ready as some of hiscomrades to speak first and think afterwards. 

"My good friends, " cried their presiding officer, deeply moved by thistoken of their fealty, "what I have done I have done, be it wise or thereverse, and the results must fall on my head alone. No words of minecan remove the dust of the floor from the Archbishop's cloak, so if hecomes, let him come. I will give him as hearty a welcome as it is in mypower to render. All I ask is fair play, and those who stand asideshall see a good fight. It is not right that a hasty act of mine shouldembroil the peaceful country side, so if Treves comes on I shall meethim alone here in my castle. But, nevertheless, I thank you all foryour offers of help; that is all, except the Knight of Ehrenburg, whosetender of assistance, if made, has escaped my ear. "

The Knight of Ehrenburg had, up to that moment, been studying thetexture of the oaken table on which his flagon sat. Now he looked upand spoke slowly. 

"I made no proffer of help, " he said, "because none will be needed, Ibelieve, so far as the Archbishop of Treves is concerned. The Count amoment ago said that all he wanted was fair play, but that is just whathe has no right to expect from his present antagonist. The Archbishopwill make no attempt on this castle; he will act much more subtly thanthat. The Archbishop will lay the redress of his quarrel upon theshoulders of the Emperor, and it is the oncoming of the Imperial troopsyou have to fear, and not an invasion from Treves. Against the forcesof the Emperor we are powerless, united or divided. Indeed, his Majestymay call upon us to invest this castle, whereupon, if we refuse, we arerebels who have broken our oaths. "

"What then is there left for me to do?" asked the Count, dismayed atthe coil in which he had involved himself. 

"Nothing, " advised the Knight of Ehrenburg, "except to apologiseabjectly to the Archbishop, and that not too soon, for his Lordship mayrefuse to accept it. But when he formally demands it, I should renderit to him on his own terms, and think myself well out of an awkwardposition. "

The Count of Winneburg rose from his seat, and lifting his clinchedfist high above his head, shook it at the timbers of the roof. 

"That, " he cried, "will I never do, while one stone of Winneburg standsupon another. "

At this, those present, always with the exception of the Knight ofEhrenburg, sprang to their feet, shouting:

"Imperial troops or no, we stand by the Count of Winneburg!"

Some one flashed forth a sword, and instantly a glitter of blades wasin the air, while cheer after cheer rang to the rafters. When theuproar had somewhat subsided, the Knight of Ehrenburg said calmly:

"My castle stands nearest to the capital, and will be the first tofall, but, nevertheless, hoping to do my shouting when the war isended, I join my forces with those of the rest of you. "

And amidst this unanimity, and much emptying of flagons, the assemblagedissolved, each man with his escort taking his way to his ownstronghold, perhaps to con more soberly, next day, the problem thatconfronted him. They were fighters all, and would not flinch when thepinch came, whatever the outcome. 

Day followed day with no sign from Treves. Winneburg employed the timein setting his house in order to be ready for whatever chanced, andjust as the Count was beginning to congratulate himself that his deedwas to be without consequences, there rode up to his castle gates ahorseman, accompanied by two lancers, and on the newcomer's breast wereemblazoned the Imperial arms. Giving voice to his horn, the gates wereat once thrown open to him, and, entering, he demanded instant speechwith the Count. 

"My Lord, Count Winneburg, " he said, when that giant had presentedhimself, "His Majesty the Emperor commands me to summon you to thecourt at Frankfort. "

"Do you take me as prisoner, then?" asked the Count. 

"Nothing was said to me of arrest. I was merely commissioned to deliverto you the message of the Emperor. "

"What are your orders if I refuse to go?"

A hundred armed men stood behind the Count, a thousand more were withincall of the castle bell; two lances only were at the back of themessenger; but the strength of the broadcast empire was betokened bythe symbol on his breast. 

"My orders are to take back your answer to his Imperial Majesty, "replied the messenger calmly. 

The Count, though hot-headed, was no fool, and he stood for a momentpondering on the words which the Knight of Ehrenburg had spoken ontaking his leave:

"Let not the crafty Archbishop embroil you with the Emperor. "

This warning had been the cautious warrior's parting advice to him. 

"If you will honour my humble roof, " said the Count slowly, "by takingrefreshment beneath it, I shall be glad of your company afterwards toFrankfort, in obedience to his Majesty's commands. "

The messenger bowed low, accepted the hospitality, and together theymade way across the Moselle, and along the Roman road to the capital. 

Within the walls of Frankfort the Count was lodged in rooms near thepalace, to which his conductor guided him, and, although it was stillheld that he was not a prisoner, an armed man paced to and fro beforehis door all night. The day following his arrival, Count Winneburg wassummoned to the Court, and in a large ante-room found himself one of anumerous throng, conspicuous among them all by reason of his greatheight and bulk. 

The huge hall was hung with tapestry, and at the further end were heavycurtains, at each edge of which stood half-a-dozen armoured men, thedetachments being under command of two gaily-uniformed officers. Occasionally the curtains were parted by menials who stood there toperform that duty, and high nobles entered, or came out, singly and ingroups. Down the sides of the hall were packed some hundreds of people, chattering together for the most part, and gazing at those who passedup and down the open space in the centre. 

The Count surmised that the Emperor held his Court in whateverapartment was behind the crimson curtains. He felt the eyes of themultitude upon him, and shifted uneasily from one foot to another, cursing his ungainliness, ashamed of the tingling of the blood in hischeeks. He was out of plaice in this laughing, talking crowd, experiencing the sensations of an uncouth rustic suddenly thrust intothe turmoil of a metropolis, resenting bitterly the supposed sneersthat were flung at him. He suspected that the whispering and thegiggling were directed towards himself, and burned to draw his swordand let these popinjays know for once what a man could do. As a matterof fact it was a buzz of admiration at his stature which went up whenhe entered, but the Count had so little of self-conceit in his soulthat he never even guessed the truth. 

Two nobles passing near him, he heard one of them say distinctly:

"That is the fellow who threw the Archbishop over his head, " while theother, glancing at him, said:

"By the Coat, he seems capable of upsetting the three of them, and I, for one, wish more power to his muscle should he attempt it. "

The Count shrank against the tapestried walls, hot with anger, wishinghimself a dwarf that he might escape the gaze of so many inquiringeyes. Just as the scrutiny was becoming unbearable, his companiontouched him on the elbow, and said in a low voice:

"Count Winneburg, follow me. "

He held aside the tapestry at the back of the Count, and that noble, nothing loth, disappeared from view behind it. 

Entering a narrow passage-way, they traversed it until they came to aclosed door, at each lintel of which stood a pikeman, fronted with ashining breastplate of metal. The Count's conductor knocked gently atthe closed door, then opened it, holding it so that the Count couldpass in, and when he had done so, the door closed softly behind him. Tohis amazement, Winneburg saw before him, standing at the further end ofthe small room, the Emperor Rudolph, entirely alone. The Count wasabout to kneel awkwardly, when his liege strode forward and preventedhim. 

"Count Winneburg, " he said, "from what I hear of you, your elbow-jointsare more supple than those of your knees, therefore let us be thankfulthat on this occasion there is no need to use either. I see you areunder the mistaken impression that the Emperor is present. Put thatthought from your mind, and regard me simply as Lord Rudolph--onegentleman wishing to have some little conversation with another. "

"Your Majesty--" stammered the Count. 

"I have but this moment suggested that you forget that title, my Lord. But, leaving aside all question of salutation, let us get to the heartof the matter, for I think we are both direct men. You are summoned toFrankfort because that high and mighty Prince of the Church, theArchbishop of Treves, has made complaint to the Emperor against youalleging what seems to be an unpardonable indignity suffered by him atyour hands. "

"Your Majesty--my Lord, I mean, " faltered the Count. "The indignity wasof his own seeking; he sat down in my chair, where he had no right toplace himself, and I--I--persuaded him to relinquish his position. "

"So I am informed--that is to say, so his Majesty has been informed, "replied Rudolph, a slight smile hovering round his finely chiselledlips. "We are not here to comment upon any of the Archbishop'sdelinquencies, but, granting, for the sake of argument, that he hadencroached upon your rights, nevertheless, he was under your roof, andhonestly, I fail to see that you were justified in cracking his heelsagainst the same. "

"Well, your Majesty--again I beg your Majesty's pardon--"

"Oh, no matter, " said the Emperor, "call me what you like; namessignify little. "

"If then the Emperor, " continued the Count, "found an intruder sittingon his throne, would he like it, think you?"

"His feeling, perhaps, would be one of astonishment, my Lord Count, butspeaking for the Emperor, I am certain that he would never lay hands onthe usurper, or treat him like a sack of corn in a yeoman's barn. "

The Count laughed heartily at this, and was relieved to find that thisquitted him of the tension which the great presence had at firstinspired. 

"Truth to tell, your Majesty, I am sorry I touched him. I should haverequested him to withdraw, but my arm has always been more prompt inaction than my tongue, as you can readily see since I came into thisroom. "

"Indeed, Count, your tongue does you very good service, " continued theEmperor, "and I am glad to have from you an expression of regret. Ihope, therefore, that you will have no hesitation in repeating thatdeclaration to the Archbishop of Treves. "

"Does your Majesty mean that I am to apologise to him?"

"Yes, " answered the Emperor. 

There was a moment's pause, then the Count said slowly:

"I will surrender to your Majesty my person, my sword, my castle, andmy lands. I will, at your word, prostrate myself at your feet, andhumbly beg pardon for any offence I have committed against you, but totell the Archbishop I am sorry when I am not, and to cringe before himand supplicate his grace, well, your Majesty, as between man and man, I'll see him damned first. "

Again the Emperor had some difficulty in preserving that rigidity ofexpression which he had evidently resolved to maintain. 

"Have you ever met a ghost, my Lord Count?" he asked. 

Winneburg crossed himself devoutly, a sudden pallor sweeping over hisface. 

"Indeed, your Majesty, I have seen strange things, and things for whichthere was no accounting; but it has been usually after a contest withthe wine flagon, and at the time my head was none of the clearest, so Icould not venture to say whether they were ghosts or no. "

"Imagine, then, that in one of the corridors of your castle at midnightyou met a white-robed transparent figure, through whose form your swordpassed scathlessly. What would you do, my Lord?"

"Indeed, your Majesty, I would take to my heels, and bestow myselfelsewhere as speedily as possible. "

"Most wisely spoken and you, who are no coward, who fear not to facewillingly in combat anything natural, would, in certain circumstances, trust to swift flight for your protection. Very well, my Lord, you arenow confronted with something against which your stout arm is asunavailing as it would be if an apparition stood in your path. There isbefore you the spectre of subtlety. Use arm instead of brain, and youare a lost man. 

"The Archbishop expects no apology. He looks for a stalwart, stubbornman, defying himself and the Empire combined. You think, perhaps, thatthe Imperial troops will surround your castle, and that you may stand asiege. Now the Emperor would rather have you fight with him thanagainst him, but in truth there will be no contest. Hold to yourrefusal, and you will be arrested before you leave the precincts ofthis palace. You will be thrown into a dungeon, your castle and yourlands sequestered; and I call your attention to the fact that yourestate adjoins the possessions of the Archbishop at Cochem, and Heavenfend me for hinting that his Lordship casts covetous eyes over hisboundary; yet, nevertheless, he will probably not refuse to accept yourpossessions in reparation for the insult bestowed upon him. Put it thisway if you like. Would you rather pleasure me or pleasure theArchbishop of Treves?"

"There is no question as to that, " answered the Count. 

"Then it will please me well if you promise to apologise to hisLordship the Archbishop of Treves. That his Lordship will be equallypleased, I very much doubt. "

"Will your Majesty command me in open Court to apologise?"

"I shall request you to do so. I must uphold the Feudal law. "

"Then I beseech your Majesty to command me, for I am a loyal subject, and will obey. "

"God give me many such, " said the Emperor fervently, "and bestow uponme the wisdom to deserve them!"

He extended his hand to the Count, then touched a bell on the tablebeside him. The officer who had conducted Winneburg entered silently, and acted as his guide back to the thronged apartment they had left. The Count saw that the great crimson curtains were now looped up, giving a view of the noble interior of the room beyond, thronged withthe notables of the Empire. The hall leading to it was almost deserted, and the Count, under convoy of two lancemen, himself nearly as tall astheir weapons, passed in to the Throne Room, and found all eyes turnedupon him. 

He was brought to a stand before an elevated dais, the centre of whichwas occupied by a lofty throne, which, at the moment, was empty. Nearit, on the elevation, stood the three Archbishops of Treves, Cologne, and Mayence, on the other side the Count Palatine of the Rhine with theremaining three Electors. The nobles of the realm occupied placesaccording to their degree. 

As the stalwart Count came in, a buzz of conversation swept over thehall like a breeze among the leaves of a forest. A malignant scowldarkened the countenance of the Archbishop of Treves, but the faces ofCologne and Mayence expressed a certain Christian resignation regardingthe contumely which had been endured by their colleague. The Countstood stolidly where he was placed, and gazed at the vacant throne, turning his eyes neither to the right nor the left. 

Suddenly there was a fanfare of trumpets, and instant silence smote theassembly. First came officers of the Imperial Guard in shining armour, then the immediate advisers and councillors of his Majesty, and last ofall, the Emperor himself, a robe of great richness clasped at histhroat, and trailing behind him; the crown of the Empire upon his head. His face was pale and stern, and he looked what he was, a monarch, anda man. The Count rubbed his eyes, and could scarcely believe that hestood now in the presence of one who had chatted amiably with him but afew moments before. 

The Emperor sat on his throne and one of his councillors whispered forsome moments to him; then the Emperor said, in a low, clear voice, thatpenetrated to the farthest corner of the vast apartment:

"Is the Count of Winneburg here?"

"Yes, your Majesty. "

"Let him stand forward. "

The Count strode two long steps to the front, and stood there, red-faced and abashed. The officer at his side whispered:

"Kneel, you fool, kneel. "

And the Count got himself somewhat clumsily down upon his knees, likean elephant preparing to receive his burden. The face of the Emperorremained impassive, and he said harshly:

"Stand up. "

The Count, once more upon his feet, breathed a deep sigh ofsatisfaction at finding himself again in an upright posture. 

"Count of Winneburg, " said the Emperor slowly, "it is alleged that uponthe occasion of the last meeting of the Council of State for theMoselle valley, you, in presence of the nobles there assembled, cast aslight upon your over-lord, the Archbishop of Treves. Do you questionthe statement?"

The Count cleared his throat several times, which in the stillness ofthat vaulted room sounded like the distant booming of cannon. 

"If to cast the Archbishop half the distance of this room is to cast aslight upon him, I did so, your Majesty. "

There was a simultaneous ripple of laughter at this, instantlysuppressed when the searching eye of the Emperor swept the room. 

"Sir Count, " said the Emperor severely, "the particulars of youroutrage are not required of you; only your admission thereof. Hear, then, my commands. Betake yourself to your castle of Winneburg, andhold yourself there in readiness to proceed to Treves on a dayappointed by his Lordship the Archbishop, an Elector of this Empire, there to humble yourself before him, and crave his pardon for theoffence you have committed. Disobey at your peril. "

Once or twice the Count moistened his dry lips, then he said:

"Your Majesty, I will obey any command you place upon me. "

"In that case, " continued the Emperor, his severity visibly relaxing, "I can promise that your over-lord will not hold this incident againstyou. Such, I understand, is your intention, my Lord Archbishop?" andthe Emperor turned toward the Prince of Treves. 

The Archbishop bowed low, and thus veiled the malignant hatred in hiseyes. "Yes, your Majesty, " he replied, "providing the apology is givenas publicly as was the insult, in presence of those who were witnessesof the Count's foolishness. "

"That is but a just condition, " said the Emperor. "It is my pleasurethat the Council be summoned to Treves to hear the Count's apology. Andnow, Count of Winneburg, you are at liberty to withdraw. "

The Count drew his mammoth hand across his brow, and scattered to thefloor the moisture that had collected there. He tried to speak, butapparently could not, then turned and walked resolutely towards thedoor. There was instant outcry at this, the Chamberlain of the Courtstanding in stupefied amazement at a breach of etiquette whichexhibited any man's back to the Emperor; but a smile relaxed theEmperor's lips, and he held up his hand. 

"Do not molest him, " he said, as the Count disappeared. "He is unusedto the artificial manners of a Court. In truth, I take it as a friendlyact, for I am sure the valiant Count never turned his back upon a foe, "which Imperial witticism was well received, for the sayings of anEmperor rarely lack applause. 

The Count, wending his long way home by the route he had come, spentthe first half of the journey in cursing the Archbishop, and the latterhalf in thinking over the situation. By the time he had reached hiscastle he had formulated a plan, and this plan he proceeded to put intoexecution on receiving the summons of the Archbishop to come to Treveson the first day of the following month and make his apology, theArchbishop, with characteristic penuriousness, leaving the inviting ofthe fifteen nobles, who formed the Council, to Winneburg, and thus hisLordship of Treves was saved the expense of sending special messengersto each. In case Winneburg neglected to summon the whole Council, theArchbishop added to his message, the statement that he would refuse toreceive the apology if any of the nobles were absent. 

Winneburg sent messengers, first to Beilstein, asking him to attend atTreves on the second day of the month, and bring with him an escort ofat least a thousand men. Another he asked for the third, another forthe fourth, another for the fifth, and so on, resolved that before acomplete quorum was present, half of the month would be gone, and withit most of the Archbishop's provender, for his Lordship, according tothe laws of hospitality, was bound to entertain free of all charge tothemselves the various nobles and their followings. 

On the first day of the month Winneburg entered the northern gate ofTreves, accompanied by two hundred horsemen and eight hundred footsoldiers. At first, the officers of the Archbishop thought that aninvasion was contemplated, but Winneburg suavely explained that if athing was worth doing at all, it was worth doing well, and he was notgoing to make any hole-and-corner affair of his apology. Next dayBeilstein came along accompanied by five hundred cavalry, and fivehundred foot soldiers. 

The Chamberlain of the Archbishop was in despair at having to findquarters for so many, but he did the best he could, while theArchbishop was enraged to observe that the nobles did not assemble ingreater haste, but each as he came had a plausible excuse for hisdelay. Some had to build bridges, sickness had broken out in anothercamp, while a third expedition had lost its way and wandered in theforest. 

The streets of Treves each night resounded with songs of revelry, varied by the clash of swords, when a party of the newcomers fell foulof a squad of the town soldiers, and the officers on either side hadmuch ado to keep the peace among their men. The Archbishop's wine cupswere running dry, and the price of provisions had risen, the wholesurrounding country being placed under contribution for provender anddrink. When a week had elapsed the Archbishop relaxed his dignity andsent for Count Winneburg. 

"We will not wait for the others, " he said. "I have no desire tohumiliate you unnecessarily. Those who are here shall bear witness thatyou have apologised, and so I shall not insist on the presence of thelaggards, but will receive your apology to-morrow at high noon in thegreat council chamber. "

"Ah, there speaks a noble heart, ever thinking generously of those whodespitefully use you, my Lord Archbishop, " said Count Winneburg. "Butno, no, I cannot accept such a sacrifice. The Emperor showed me plainlythe enormity of my offence. In the presence of all I insulted you, wretch that I am, and in the presence of all shall I abase myself. "

"But I do not seek your abasement, " protested the Archbishop, frowning. 

"The more honour, then, to your benevolent nature, " answered the Count, "and the more shameful would it be of me to take advantage of it. As Istood a short time since on the walls, I saw coming up the river thebanners of the Knight of Ehrenburg. His castle is the furthest removedfrom Treves, and so the others cannot surely delay long. We will wait, my Lord Archbishop, until all are here. But I thank you just as muchfor your generosity as if I were craven enough to shield myself behindit. "

The Knight of Ehrenburg in due time arrived, and behind him histhousand men, many of whom were compelled to sleep in the publicbuildings, for all the rooms in Treves were occupied. Next day theArchbishop summoned the assembled nobles and said he would hear theapology in their presence. If the others missed it, it was their ownfault--they should have been in time. 

"I cannot apologise;" said the Count, "until all are here. It was theEmperor's order, and who am I to disobey my Emperor? We must awaittheir coming with patience, and, indeed, Treves is a goodly town, inwhich all of us find ourselves fully satisfied. "

"Then, my blessing on you all, " said the Archbishop in a sour tone mostunsuited to the benediction he was bestowing. "Return, I beg of you, instantly, to your castles. I forego the apology. "

"But I insist on tendering it, " cried the Count, his mournful voicegiving some indication of the sorrow he felt at his offence if it wentunrequited. "It is my duty, not only to you, my Lord Archbishop, butalso to his Majesty the Emperor. "

"Then, in Heaven's name get on with it and depart. I am willing toaccept it on your own terms, as I have said before. "

"No, not on my own terms, but on yours. What matters the delay of aweek or two? The hunting season does not begin for a fortnight, and weare all as well at Treves as at home. Besides, how could I ever face myEmperor again, knowing I had disobeyed his commands?"

"I will make it right with the Emperor, " said the Archbishop. 

The Knight of Ehrenburg now spoke up, calmly, as was his custom:

"'Tis a serious matter, " he said, "for a man to take another's wordtouching action of his Majesty the Emperor. You have clerks here withyou; perhaps then you will bid them indite a document to be signed byyourself absolving my friend, the Count of Winneburg, from allnecessity of apologising, so that should the Emperor take offence athis disobedience, the parchment may hold him scathless. "

"I will do anything to be quit of you, " muttered the Archbishop more tohimself than to the others. 

And so the document was written and signed. With this parchment in hissaddle-bags the Count and his comrades quitted the town, drinking inhalf flagons the health of the Archbishop, because there was not leftin Treves enough wine to fill the measures to the brim. 

CONVERTED

In the ample stone-paved courtyard of the Schloss Grunewald, with itsmysterious bubbling spring in the centre, stood the Black Baron besidehis restive horse, both equally eager to be away. Round the Baron weregrouped his sixteen knights and their saddled chargers, all waiting theword to mount. The warder was slowly opening the huge gates that hungbetween the two round entrance towers of the castle, for it was theBaron's custom never to ride out at the head of his men until the greatleaves of the strong gate fell full apart, and showed the greenlandscape beyond. The Baron did not propose to ride unthinkingly out, and straightway fall into an ambush. 

He and his sixteen knights were the terror of the country-side, andmany there were who would have been glad to venture a bow shot at himhad they dared. There seemed to be some delay about the opening of thegates, and a great chattering of underlings at the entrance, as ifsomething unusual had occurred, whereupon the rough voice of the Baronroared out to know the cause that kept him waiting, and every onescattered, each to his own affair, leaving only the warder, whoapproached his master with fear in his face. 

"My Lord, " he began, when the Baron had shouted what the devil ailedhim, "there has been nailed against the outer gate; sometime in thenight, a parchment with characters written thereon. "

"Then tear it down and bring it to me, " cried the Baron. "What's allthis to-do about a bit of parchment?"

The warder had been loath to meddle with it, in terror of thatwitchcraft which he knew pertained to all written characters; but hefeared the Black Baron's frown even more than the fiends who hadundoubtedly nailed the documents on the gate, for he knew no man in allthat well-cowed district would have the daring to approach the castleeven in the night, much less meddle with the gate or any otherbelonging of the Baron von Grunewald; so, breathing a request to hispatron saint (his neglect of whom he now remembered with remorse) forprotection, he tore the document from its fastening and brought it, trembling, to the Baron. The knights crowded round as von Grunewaldheld the parchment in his hand, bending his dark brows upon it, for itconveyed no meaning to him. Neither the Baron nor his knights couldread. 

"What foolery, think you, is this?" he said, turning to the knightnearest him. "A Defiance?"

The knight shook his head. "I am no clerk, " he answered. 

For a moment the Baron was puzzled; then he quickly bethought himselfof the one person in the castle who could read. 

"Bring hither old Father Gottlieb, " he commanded, and two of thosewaiting ran in haste towards the scullery of the place, from which theypresently emerged dragging after them an old man partly in the habit ofa monk and partly in that of a scullion, who wiped his hands on thecoarse apron, that was tied around his waist, as he was hurriedforward. 

"Here, good father, excellent cook and humble servitor, I trust yourresidence with us has not led you to forget the learning you put tosuch poor advantage in the Monastery of Monnonstein. Canst thouconstrue this for us? Is it in good honest German or bastard Latin?"

"It is in Latin, " said the captive monk, on glancing at the document inthe other's hand. 

"Then translate it for us, and quickly. "

Father Gottlieb took the parchment handed him by the Baron, and as hiseyes scanned it more closely, he bowed his head and made the sign ofthe cross upon his breast. 

"Cease that mummery, " roared the Baron, "and read without more waitingor the rod's upon thy back again. Who sends us this?"

"It is from our Holy Father the Pope, " said the monk, forgetting hismenial position for the moment, and becoming once more the scholar ofthe monastery. The sense of his captivity faded from him as he realisedthat the long arm of the Church had extended within the impregnablewalls of that tyrannical castle. 

"Good. And what has our Holy Father the Pope to say to us? Demands hethe release of our excellent scullion, Father Gottlieb?"

The bent shoulders of the old monk straightened, his dim eyebrightened, and his voice rang clear within the echoing walls of thecastle courtyard. 

"It is a ban of excommunication against thee, Lord Baron von Grunewald, and against all within these walls, excepting only those unlawfullywithheld from freedom, " "Which means thyself, worthy Father. Read on, good clerk, and let us hear it to the end. "

As the monk read out the awful words of the message, piling curse oncurse with sonorous voice, the Baron saw his trembling servitors turnpale, and even his sixteen knights, companions in robbery and rapine, fall away from him. Dark red anger mounted to his temples; he raisedhis mailed hand and smote the reading monk flat across the mouth, felling the old man prone upon the stones of the court. 

"That is my answer to our Holy Father the Pope, and when thou swearestto deliver it to him as I have given it to thee, the gates are open andthe way clear for thy pilgrimage to Rome. "

But the monk lay where he fell and made no reply. 

"Take him away, " commanded the Baron impatiently, whereupon several ofthe menials laid hands on the fallen monk and dragged him into thescullery he had left. 

Turning to his men-at-arms, the Baron roared: "Well, my gentle wolves, have a few words in Latin on a bit of sheep-skin turned you all tosheep?"

"I have always said, " spoke up the knight Segfried, "that no good cameof captured monks, or meddling with the Church. Besides, we are nobleall, and do not hold with the raising of a mailed hand against anunarmed man. "

There was a low murmur of approval among the knights at Segfried'sboldness. 

"Close the gates, " shouted the maddened Baron. Every one flew at theword of command, and the great oaken hinges studded with iron, slowlycame together, shutting out the bit of landscape their opening haddiscovered. The Baron flung the reins on his charger's neck, and smotethe animal on the flank, causing it to trot at once to its stable. 

"There will be no riding to-day, " he said, his voice ominouslylowering. The stablemen of the castle came forward and led away thehorses. The sixteen knights stood in a group together with Segfried attheir head, waiting with some anxiety on their brows for the next movein the game. The Baron, his sword drawn in his hand, strode up and downbefore them, his brow bent on the ground, evidently struggling to getthe master hand over his own anger. If it came to blows the odds wereagainst him and he was too shrewd a man to engage himself single-handedin such a contest. 

At length the Baron stopped in his walk and looked at the group. Hesaid, after a pause, in a quiet tone of voice: "Segfried, if you doubtmy courage because I strike to the ground a rascally monk, step forth, draw thine own good sword, our comrades will see that all is fairbetwixt us, and in this manner you may learn that I fear neither mailednor unmailed hand. "

But the knight made no motion to lay his hand upon his sword, nor didhe move from his place. "No one doubts your courage, my Lord, " he said, "neither is it any reflection on mine that in answer to your challengemy sword remains in its scabbard. You are our overlord and it is notmeet that our weapons should be raised against you. "

"I am glad that point is firmly fixed in your minds. I thought a momentsince that I would be compelled to uphold the feudal law at the perilof my own body. But if that comes not in question, no more need besaid. Touching the unarmed, Segfried, if I remember aright you showedno such squeamishness at our sacking of the Convent of St. Agnes. "

"A woman is a different matter, my Lord, " said Segfried uneasily. 

The Baron laughed and so did some of the knights, openly relieved tofind the tension of the situation relaxing. 

"Comrades!" cried the Baron, his face aglow with enthusiasm, all tracesof his former temper vanishing from his brow. "You are excellent in amêlée, but useless at the council board. You see no further ahead ofyou than your good right arms can strike. Look round you at these stoutwalls; no engine that man has yet devised can batter a breach in them. In our vaults are ten years' supply of stolen grain. Our cellars arefull of rich red wine, not of our vintage, but for our drinking. Herein our court bubbles forever this good spring, excellent to drink whenwine gives out, and medicinal in the morning when too much wine hasbeen taken in. " He waved his hand towards the overflowing well, chargedwith carbonic acid gas, one of the many that have since made thisregion of the Rhine famous. "Now I ask you, can this Castle ofGrunewald ever be taken--excommunication or no excommunication?"

A simultaneous shout of "No! Never!" arose from the knights. 

The Baron stood looking grimly at them for several moments. Then hesaid in a quiet voice, "Yes, the Castle of Grunewald _can_ betaken. Not from without but from within. If any crafty enemy sowsdissension among us; turns the sword of comrade against comrade; thenfalls the Castle of Grunewald! To-day we have seen how nearly that hasbeen done. We have against us in the monastery of Monnonstein no fat-headed Abbot, but one who was a warrior before he turned a monk. 'Tisbut a few years since, that the Abbot Ambrose stood at the right handof the Emperor as Baron von Stern, and it is known that the Abbot'srobes are but a thin veneer over the iron knight within. His hand, grasping the cross, still itches for the sword. The fighting Archbishopof Treves has sent him to Monnonstein for no other purpose than toleave behind him the ruins of Grunewald, and his first bolt was shotstraight into our courtyard, and for a moment I stood alone, without asingle man-at-arms to second me. "

The knights looked at one another in silence, then cast their eyes tothe stone-paved court, all too shamed-faced to attempt reply to whatall knew was the truth. The Baron, a deep frown on his brow, gazedsternly at the chap-fallen group. .. . "Such was the effect of the firstshaft shot by good Abbot Ambrose, what will be the result of thesecond?"

"There will be no second, " said Segfried stepping forward. "We mustsack the Monastery, and hang the Abbot and his craven monks in theirown cords. "

"Good, " cried the Baron, nodding his head in approval, "the worthyAbbot, however, trusts not only in God, but in walls three cloth yardsthick. The monastery stands by the river and partly over it. Thebesieged monks will therefore not suffer from thirst. Their larder isas amply provided as are the vaults of this castle. The militant Abbotunderstands both defence and sortie. He is a master of siege-craftinside or outside stone walls. How then do you propose to sack andhang, good Segfried?"

The knights were silent. They knew the Monastery was as impregnable asthe castle, in fact it was the only spot for miles round that had neverowned the sway of Baron von Grunewald, and none of them were wellenough provided with brains to venture a plan for its successfulreduction. A cynical smile played round the lips of their over-lord, ashe saw the problem had overmatched them. At last he spoke. 

"We must meet craft with craft. If the Pope's Ban cast such terroramong my good knights, steeped to the gauntlets in blood, what effect, think you, will it have over the minds of devout believers in theChurch and its power? The trustful monks know that it has been launchedagainst us, therefore are they doubtless waiting for us to come to themonastery, and lay our necks under the feet of their Abbot, begging hisclemency. They are ready to believe any story we care to tell touchingthe influence of such scribbling over us. You Segfried, owe me somereparation for this morning's temporary defection, and to you, therefore, do I trust the carrying out of my plans. There was alwayssomething of the monk about you, Segfried, and you will yet end yourdays sanctimoniously in a monastery, unless you are first hanged atTreves or knocked on the head during an assault. 

"Draw, then, your longest face, and think of the time when you will bea monk, as Ambrose is, who, in his day, shed as much blood as ever youhave done. Go to the Monastery of Monnonstein in most dejected fashion, and unarmed. Ask in faltering tones, speech of the Abbot, and say tohim, as if he knew nought of it, that the Pope's Ban is on us. Say thatat first I defied it, and smote down the good father who was readingit, but add that as the pious man fell, a sickness like unto apestilence came over me and over my men, from which you only are free, caused, you suspect, by your loudly protesting against the felling ofthe monk. Say that we lie at death's door, grieving for our sins, andgroaning for absolution. Say that we are ready to deliver up the castleand all its contents to the care of the holy Church, so that the Abbotbut sees our tortured souls safely directed towards the gates ofParadise. Insist that all the monks come, explaining that you fear wehave but few moments to live, and that the Abbot alone would be ashelpless as one surgeon on a battle-field. Taunt them with fear of thepestilence if they hesitate, and that will bring them. "

Segfried accepted the commission, and the knights warmly expressedtheir admiration of their master's genius. As the great red sun beganto sink behind the westward hills that border the Rhine, Segfrieddeparted on horseback through the castle gates, and journeyed towardthe monastery with bowed head and dejected mien. The gates remainedopen, and as darkness fell, a lighted torch was thrust in a wroughtiron receptacle near the entrance at the outside, throwing a fitful, flickering glare under the archway and into the deserted court. Within, all was silent as the ruined castle is to-day, save only the tinklingsound of the clear waters of the effervescing spring as it flowed overthe stones and trickled down to disappear under the walls at one cornerof the courtyard. 

The Baron and his sturdy knights sat in the darkness, with growingimpatience, in the great Rittersaal listening for any audible token ofthe return of Segfried and his ghostly company. At last in the stillnight air there came faintly across the plain a monkish chant growinglouder and louder, until finally the steel-shod hoofs of Segfried'scharger rang on the stones of the causeway leading to the castle gates. Pressed behind the two heavy open leaves of the gates stood the warderand his assistants, scarcely breathing, ready to close the gatessharply the moment the last monk had entered. 

Still chanting, led by the Abbot in his robes of office, the monksslowly marched into the deserted courtyard, while Segfried reined hishorse close inside the entrance. "Peace be upon this house and allwithin, " said the deep voice of the Abbot, and in unison the monksmurmured "Amen, " the word echoing back to them in the stillness fromthe four grey walls. 

Then the silence was rudely broken by the ponderous clang of theclosing gates and the ominous rattle of bolts being thrust into theirplaces with the jingle of heavy chains. Down the wide stairs from theRittersaal came the clank of armour and rude shouts of laughter. Newlylighted torches flared up here and there, illuminating the courtyard, and showing, dangling against the northern wall a score of ropes withnooses at the end of each. Into the courtyard clattered the Baron andhis followers. The Abbot stood with arms folded, pressing a gildedcross across his breast. He was a head taller than any of hisfrightened, cowering brethren, and his noble emaciated face was thinwith fasting caused by his never-ending conflict with the world thatwas within himself. His pale countenance betokened his office and theChurch; but the angry eagle flash of his piercing eye spoke of theworld alone and the field of conflict. 

The Baron bowed low to the Abbot, and said: Welcome, my Lord Abbot, tomy humble domicile! It has long been the wish of my enemies to standwithin its walls, and this pleasure is now granted you. There is littleto be made of it from without. "

"Baron Grunewald, " said the Abbot, "I and my brethren are come hitheron an errand of mercy, and under the protection of your knightly word. "

The Baron raised his eyebrows in surprise at this, and, turning toSegfried, he said in angry tones: "Is it so? Pledged you my word forthe safety of these men?"

"The reverend Abbot is mistaken, " replied the knight, who had not yetdescended from his horse. "There was no word of safe conduct betweenus. "

"Safe conduct is implied when an officer of the Church is summoned toadminister its consolations to the dying, " said the Abbot. 

"All trades, " remarked the Baron suavely, "have their dangers--yoursamong the rest, as well as ours. If my follower had pledged my wordregarding your safety, I would now open the gates and let you free. Ashe has not done so, I shall choose a manner for your exit more inkeeping with your lofty aspirations. "

Saying this, he gave some rapid orders; his servitors fell upon theunresisting monks and bound them hand and foot. They were thenconducted to the northern wall, and the nooses there adjusted round theneck of each. When this was done, the Baron stood back from thepinioned victims and addressed them:

"It is not my intention that you should die without having time torepent of the many wicked deeds you have doubtless done during yourlives. Your sentence is that ye be hanged at cockcrow to-morrow, whichwas the hour when, if your teachings cling to my memory, the first ofyour craft turned traitor to his master. If, however, you tire of yourall-night vigil, you can at once obtain release by crying at the top ofyour voices 'So die all Christians. ' Thus you will hang yourselves, andso remove some responsibility from my perhaps overladen conscience. Thehanging is a device of my own, of which I am perhaps pardonably proud, and it pleases me that it is to be first tried on so worthy anassemblage. With much labour we have elevated to the battlements anoaken tree, lopped of its branches, which will not burn the lessbrightly next winter in that it has helped to commit some of you tohotter flames, if all ye say be true. The ropes are tied to this log, and at the cry 'So die all Christians, ' I have some stout knaves inwaiting up above with levers, who will straightway fling the log overthe battlements on which it is now poised, and the instant after yourbroken necks will impinge against the inner coping of the northernwall. And now good-night, my Lord Abbot, and a happy release for youall in the morning. "

"Baron von Grunewald, I ask of you that you will release one of us whomay thus administer the rites of the Church to his brethren and receivein turn the same from me. "

"Now, out upon me for a careless knave!" cried the Baron. "I hadforgotten that; it is so long since I have been to mass and such likeceremonies myself. Your request is surely most reasonable, and I likeyou the better that you keep up the farce of your calling to the veryend. But think not that I am so inhospitable, as to force one guest towait upon another, even in matters spiritual. Not so. We keep with us aghostly father for such occasions, and use him between times to wait onus with wine and other necessaries. As soon as he has filled ourflagons, I will ask good Father Gottlieb to wait upon you, and I doubtnot he will shrive with any in the land, although he has been thiswhile back somewhat out of practice. His habit is rather tattered andstained with the drippings of his new vocation, but I warrant you, youwill know the sheep, even though his fleece be torn. And now, again, good-night, my Lord. "

The Baron and his knights returned up the broad stairway that led tothe Rittersaal. Most of the torches were carried with them. Thedefences of the castle were so strong that no particular pains weretaken to make all secure, further than the stationing of an armed manat the gate. A solitary torch burnt under the archway, and here a guardpaced back and forth. The courtyard was in darkness, but the top of thehighest turrets were silvered by the rising moon. The doomed men stoodwith the halters about their necks, as silent as a row of spectres. 

The tall windows of the Rittersaal, being of coloured glass, threwlittle light into the square, although they glowed with a rainbowsplendour from the torches within. Into the silence of the square brokethe sound of song and the clash of flagons upon the oaken table. 

At last there came down the broad stair and out into the court a figurein the habit of a monk, who hurried shufflingly across the stones tothe grim row of brown-robed men. He threw himself sobbing at the feetof the tall Abbot. 

"Rise, my son, and embrace me, " said his superior. When Father Gottliebdid so, the other whispered in his ear: "There is a time to weep and atime for action. Now is the time for action. Unloosen quickly the bondsaround me, and slip this noose from my neck. "

Father Gottlieb acquitted himself of his task as well as his agitationand trembling hands would let him. 

"Perform a like service for each of the others, " whispered the Abbotcurtly. "Tell each in a low voice to remain standing just as if he werestill bound. Then return to me. "

When the monk had done what he was told, he returned to his superior. 

"Have you access to the wine cellar?" asked the Abbot. 

"Yes, Father. "

"What are the strongest wines?"

"Those of the district are strong. Then there is a barrel or two of thered wine of Assmannshausen. "

"Decant a half of each in your flagons. Is there brandy?"

"Yes, Father. "

"Then mix with the two wines as much brandy as you think their alreadydrunken palates will not detect. Make the potation stronger with brandyas the night wears on. When they drop off into their sodden sleep, bring a flagon to the guard at the gate, and tell him the Baron sendsit to him. "

"Will you absolve me, Father, for the--"

"It is no falsehood, Gottlieb. I, the Baron, send it. I came hither theAbbot Ambrose: I am now Baron von Stern, and if I have any influencewith our mother Church the Abbot's robe shall fall on thy shoulders, ifyou but do well what I ask of you to-night. It will be somecompensation for what, I fear, thou hast already suffered. "

Gottlieb hurried away, as the knights were already clamouring for morewine. As the night wore on and the moon rose higher the sounds ofrevelry increased, and once there was a clash of arms and much uproar, which subsided under the over-mastering voice of the Black Baron. Atlast the Abbot, standing there with the rope dangling behind him, sawGottlieb bring a huge beaker of liquor to the sentinel, who at once satdown on the stone bench under the arch to enjoy it. 

Finally, all riot died away in the hall except one thin voice singing, waveringly, a drinking song, and when that ceased silence reignedsupreme, and the moon shone full upon the bubbling spring. 

Gottlieb stole stealthily out and told the Abbot that all the knightswere stretched upon the floor, and the Baron had his head on the table, beside his overturned flagon. The sentinel snored upon the stone bench. 

"I can now unbar the gate, " said Father Gottlieb, "and we may allescape. "

"Not so, " replied the Abbot. "We came to convert these men toChristianity, and our task is still to do. "

The monks all seemed frightened at this, and wished themselves oncemore within the monastery, able to say all's well that ends so, butnone ventured to offer counsel to the gaunt man who led them. He badeeach bring with him the cords that had bound him, and without a wordthey followed him into the Rittersaal, and there tied up the knightsand their master as they themselves had been tied. 

"Carry them out, " commanded the Abbot, "and lay them in a row, theirfeet towards the spring and their heads under the ropes. And go you, Gottlieb, who know the ways of the castle, and fasten the doors of allthe apartments where the servitors are sleeping. "

When this was done, and they gathered once more in the moonlitcourtyard, the Abbot took off his robes of office and handed them toFather Gottlieb, saying significantly: "The lowest among you thatsuffers and is true shall be exalted. " Turning to his own flock, hecommanded them to go in and obtain some rest after such a disquietingnight; then to Gottlieb, when the monks had obediently departed: "Bringme, an' ye know where to find such, the apparel of a fighting man and asword. "

Thus arrayed, he dismissed the old man, and alone in the silence, withthe row of figures like effigies on a tomb beside him, paced up anddown through the night, as the moon dropped lower and lower, in theheavens. There was a period of dark before the dawn, and at last theupper walls began to whiten with the coming day, and the Black Baronmoaned uneasily in his drunken sleep. The Abbot paused in his walk andlooked down upon them, and Gottlieb stole out from the shadow of thedoor and asked if he could be of service. He had evidently not slept, but had watched his chief, until he paused in his march. 

"Tell our brothers to come out and see the justice of the Lord. "

When the monks trooped out, haggard and wan, in the pure light of thedawn, the Abbot asked Gottlieb to get a flagon and dash water from thespring in the faces of the sleepers. 

The Black Baron was the first to come to his senses and realise dimly, at first, but afterwards more acutely, the changed condition ofaffairs. His eye wandered apprehensively to the empty noose swayingslightly in the morning breeze above him. He then saw that the tall, ascetic man before him had doffed the Abbot's robes and wore a sword byhis side, and from this he augured ill. At the command of the Abbot themonks raised each prostrate man and placed him against the north wall. 

"Gottlieb, " said, the Abbot slowly, "the last office that will berequired of you. You took from our necks the nooses last night. Placethem, I pray you, on the necks of the Baron and his followers. "

The old man, trembling, adjusted the ropes. 

"My Lord Abbot----" began the Baron. 

"Baron von Grunewald, " interrupted the person addressed, "the AbbotAmbrose is dead. He was foully assassinated last night. In his placestands Conrad von Stern, who answers for his deeds to the Emperor, andafter him, to God. "

"Is it your purpose to hang me, Baron?"

"Was it your purpose to have hanged us, my Lord?"

"I swear to heaven, it was not. 'Twas but an ill-timed pleasantry. HadI wished to hang you I would have done so last night. "

"That seems plausible. "

The knights all swore, with many rounded oaths, that their over-lordspoke the truth, and nothing was further from their intention than anexecution. 

"Well, then, whether you hang or no shall depend upon yourselves. "

"By God, then, " cried the Baron, "an' I have aught to say on thatpoint, I shall hang some other day. "

"Will you then, Baron, beg admittance to Mother Church, whose kindlytenets you have so long outraged?"

"We will, we do, " cried the Baron fervently, whispering through hisclenched teeth to Segfried, who stood next him: "Wait till I have theupper hand again. " Fortunately the Abbot did not hear the whisper. Theknights all echoed aloud the Baron's pious first remark, and, perhaps, in their hearts said "Amen" to his second. 

The Abbot spoke a word or two to the monks, and they advanced to thepinioned men and there performed the rites sacred to their office andto the serious situation of the penitents. As the good brothers stoodback, they begged the Abbot for mercy to be extended towards the newconverts, but the sphinx-like face of their leader gave no indicationas to their fate, and the good men began to fear that it was theAbbot's intention to hang the Baron and his knights. 

"Now--brothers, " said the Abbot, with a long pause before he spoke thesecond word, whereupon each of the prisoners heaved a sigh of relief, "I said your fate would depend on yourselves and on your good intent. "

They all vociferously proclaimed that their intentions were and hadbeen of the most honourable kind. 

"I trust that is true, and that you shall live long enough to show yourfaith by your works. It is written that a man digged a pit for hisenemy and fell himself therein. It is also written that as a man sows, so shall he reap. If you meant us no harm then your signal shouted tothe battlements will do you no harm. "

"For God's sake, my Lord. .. . " screamed the Baron. The Abbot, unheeding, raised his face towards the northern wall and shouted at the top of hisvoice:

"So die SUCH Christians!" varying the phrase by one word. Asimultaneous scream rose from the doomed men, cut short as by a knife, as the huge log was hurled over the outer parapet, and the seventeenvictims were jerked into the air and throttled at the coping around theinner wall. 

Thus did the Abbot Ambrose save the souls of Baron von Grunewald andhis men, at some expense to their necks. 

AN INVITATION

The proud and warlike Archbishop Baldwin of Treves was well mounted, and, although the road by the margin of the river was in places bad, the august horseman nevertheless made good progress along it, for hehad a long distance to travel before the sun went down. The way hadbeen rudely constructed by that great maker of roads--the army--and thetroops who had built it did not know, when they laboured at it, thatthey were preparing a path for their own retreat should disasterovertake them. The grim and silent horseman had been the brains, wherethe troops were the limbs; this thoroughfare had been of his planning, and over it, back into Treves, had returned a victorious, not adefeated, army. The iron hand of the Archbishop had come down on everytruculent noble in the land, and every castle gate that had not openedto him through fear, had been battered in by force. Peace now spreadher white wings over all the country, and where opposition to hisLordship's stubborn will had been the strongest, there was silence aswell, with, perhaps, a thin wreath of blue smoke hovering over theblackened walls. The provinces on each bank of the Moselle from Trevesto the Rhine now acknowledged Baldwin their over-lord--a suzeraintytechnically claimed by his Lordship's predecessors--but the ironArchbishop had changed the nominal into the actual, and it had takensome hard knocks to do it. His present journey was well earned, for hewas betaking himself from his more formal and exacting Court at Trevesto his summer palace at Cochem, there to rest from the fatigues of acampaign in which he had used not only his brain, but his good rightarm as well. 

The palace which was to be the end of his journey was in some respectsadmirably suited to its master, for, standing on an eminence high aboveCochem, with its score of pinnacles glittering in the sun, it seemed, to one below, a light and airy structure; but it was in reality afortress almost impregnable, and three hundred years later it sent intoa less turbulent sphere the souls of one thousand six hundred Frenchmenbefore its flag was lowered to the enemy. 

The personal appearance of the Archbishop and the smallness of hisescort were practical illustrations of the fact that the land was atpeace, and that he was master of it. His attire was neither clericalnor warlike, but rather that of a nobleman riding abroad where no enemycould possibly lurk. He was to all appearance unarmed, and had noprotection save a light chain mail jacket of bright steel, which wasworn over his vesture, and not concealed as was the custom. This jacketsparkled in the sun as if it were woven of fine threads strung withsmall and innumerable diamonds. It might ward off a dagger thrust, orturn aside a half-spent arrow, but it was too light to be of muchservice against sword or pike. The Archbishop was well mounted on apowerful black charger that had carried him through many a hot contest, and it now made little of the difficulties of the ill-constructed road, putting the other horses on their mettle to equal the pace set to them. 

The escort consisted of twelve men, all lightly armed, for Gottlieb, the monk, who rode sometimes by the Archbishop's side, but more oftenbehind him, could hardly be counted as a combatant should defencebecome necessary. When the Archbishop left Treves his oldest generalhad advised his taking an escort of a thousand men at least, putting iton the ground that such a number was necessary to uphold the dignity ofhis office; but Baldwin smiled darkly, and said that where _he_rode the dignity of the Electorship would be safe, even though nonerode beside or behind him. Few dared offer advice to the Elector, butthe bluff general persisted, and spoke of danger in riding down theMoselle valley with so small a following. 

"Who is there left to molest me?" asked the Archbishop; and the generalwas forced to admit that there was none. 

An army builds a road along the line of the least resistance; andoften, when a promontory thrust its rocky nose into the river, the wayled up the hill through the forest, getting back into the valley againas best it could. During these inland excursions, the monk, evidentlyunused to equestrianism, fell behind, and sometimes the whole troop washalted by command of its chief, until Gottlieb, clinging to his horse'smane, emerged from the thicket, the Archbishop curbing the impatienceof his charger and watching, with a cynical smile curling his sternlips, the reappearance of the good father. 

After one of the most laborious ascents and descents they hadencountered that day, the Archbishop waited for the monk; and when hecame up with his leader, panting and somewhat dishevelled, the lattersaid, "There appears to be a lesson in your tribulations whichhereafter you may retail with profit to your flock, relating how a goodman leaving the right and beaten path and following his own devices inthe wilderness may bring discomfiture upon himself. "

"The lesson it conveys to me, my Lord, " said the monk, drily, "is thata man is but a fool to leave the stability of good stout sandals withwhich he is accustomed, to venture his body on a horse that pays littleheed to his wishes. "

"This is our last detour, " replied the Elector; "there are now manymiles of winding but level road before us, and you have thus a chanceto retrieve your reputation as a horseman in the eyes of our troop. "

"In truth, my Lord, I never boasted of it, " returned the monk, "but Iam right glad to learn that the way will be less mountainous. To whatdistrict have we penetrated?"

"Above us, but unseen from this bank of the river, is the castle of theWidow Starkenburg. Her days of widowhood, however, are nearly passed, for I intend to marry her to one of my victorious knights, who willhold the castle for me. "

"The Countess of Starkenburg, " said the monk, must surely now be at anage when the thoughts turn toward Heaven rather than toward matrimony. "

"I have yet to meet the woman, " replied the Archbishop, gazing upward, "who pleads old age as an excuse for turning away from a suitablelover. It is thy misfortune, Gottlieb, that in choosing a woollen cowlrather than an iron head-piece, thou should'st thus have lost a chanceof advancement. The castle, I am told, has well-filled wine vaults, andold age in wine is doubtless more to thy taste than the same quality inwoman. 'Tis a pity thou art not a knight, Gottlieb. "

"The fault is not beyond the power of our Holy Father to remedy byspecial dispensation, " replied the monk, with a chuckle. 

The Elector laughed silently, and looked down on his comrade in kindlyfashion, shaking his head. 

"The wines of Castle Starkenburg are not for thy appreciative palate, ghostly father. I have already selected a mate for the widow. "

"And what if thy selection jumps not with her approval. They tell methe countess has a will of her own. "

"It matters little to me, and I give her the choice merely because I amloth to war with a woman. The castle commands the river and holds thedistrict. The widow may give it up peaceably at the altar, or forciblyat the point of the sword, whichever method most commends itself to herladyship. The castle must be in the command of one whom I can trust. "

The conversation here met a startling interruption. The Archbishop andhis guard were trotting rapidly round a promontory and following a bendof the river, the nature of the country being such that it wasimpossible to see many hundred feet ahead of them. Suddenly, they cameupon a troop of armed and mounted men, standing like statues beforethem. The troop numbered an even score, and completely filled the waybetween the precipice on their left and the stream on their right. Although armed, every sword was in its scabbard, with the exception ofthe long two-handed weapon of the leader, who stood a few paces inadvance of his men, with the point of his sword resting on the ground. The black horse, old in campaigns, recognised danger ahead, and stoppedinstantly, without waiting for the drawing of the rein, planting histwo forefeet firmly in front, with a suddenness of action that wouldhave unhorsed a less alert rider. Before the archbishop could questionthe silent host that barred his way, their leader raised his long sworduntil it was poised perpendicularly in the air above his head, and, with a loud voice, in measured tones, as one repeats a lesson he haslearned by rote, he cried, "My Lord Archbishop of Treves, the CountessLaurette von Starkenburg invites you to sup with her. "

In the silence that followed, the leader's sword still remaineduplifted untrembling in the air. Across the narrow gorge, from thewooded sides of the opposite mountains, came, with mocking cadence, theecho of the last words of the invitation, clear and distinct, as ifspoken again by some one concealed in the further forest. A deep frowndarkened the brow of the fighting archbishop. 

"The Countess is most kind, " he said, slowly. "Convey to her myrespectful admiration, and express my deep regret that I am unable toaccept her hospitality, as I ride to-night to my Castle at Cochem. "

The leader of the opposing host suddenly lowered his upraised sword, asif in salute, but the motion seemed to be a preconcerted signal, forevery man behind him instantly whipped blade from scabbard, and stoodthere with naked weapon displayed. The leader, raising his sword oncemore to its former position, repeated in the same loud and monotonousvoice, as if the archbishop had not spoken. "My Lord Archbishop ofTreves, the Countess Laurette von Starkenburg invites you to sup withher. "

The intelligent war-horse, who had regarded the obstructing force withhead held high, retreated slowly step by step, until now a considerabledistance separated the two companies. The captain of the guard had seenfrom the first that attack or defence was equally useless, and, withhis men, had also given way gradually as the strange colloquy went on. Whether any of the opposing force noticed this or not, they made noattempt to recover the ground thus almost imperceptibly stolen fromthem, but stood as if each horse were rooted to the spot. 

Baldwin the Fighter, whose compressed lips showed how loth he was toturn his back upon any foe, nevertheless saw the futility ofresistance, and in a quick, clear whisper, he said, hastily, "Back!Back! If we cannot fight them, we can at least out-race them. "

The good monk had taken advantage of his privilege as a non-combatantto retreat well to the rear while the invitation was being given anddeclined, and in the succeeding flight found himself leading the van. The captain of the guard threw himself between the Starkenburg men andthe prince of the Church, but the former made no effort at pursuit, standing motionless as they had done from the first until the roundingpromontory hid them from view. Suddenly, the horse on which the monkrode stood stock still, and its worthy rider, with a cry of alarm, clinging to the animal's mane, shot over its head and came heavily tothe ground. The whole flying troop came to a sudden halt, for thereahead of them was a band exactly similar in numbers and appearance tothat from which they were galloping. It seemed as if the same companyhad been transported by magic over the promontory and placed across theway. The sun shone on the uplifted blade of the leader, reminding thearchbishop of the flaming sword that barred the entrance of our firstparents to Paradise. 

The leader, with ringing voice, that had a touch of menace in it, cried:

"My Lord Archbishop of Treves, the Countess Laurette von Starkenburginvites you to sup with her. "

"Trapped, by God!" muttered the Elector between his clinched teeth. Hiseyes sparkled with anger, and the sinister light that shot from themhad before now made the Emperor quail. He spurred his horse toward theleader, who lowered his sword and bowed to the great dignitaryapproaching him. 

"The Countess of Starkenburg is my vassal, " cried the Archbishop. "Youare her servant; and in much greater degree, therefore, are you mine. Icommand you to let us pass unmolested on our way; refuse at yourperil. "

"A servant, " said the man, slowly, "obeys the one directly above him, and leaves that one to account to any superior authority. My men obeyme; I take my orders from my lady the countess. If you, my Lord, wishto direct the authority which commands me, my lady the countess awaitsyour pleasure at her castle of Starkenburg. "

"What are your orders, fellow?" asked the Archbishop, in a calmer tone. 

"To convey your Lordship without scathe to the gates of Starkenburg. "

"And if you meet resistance, what then?"

"The orders stand, my Lord. "

"You will, I trust, allow this mendicant monk to pass peaceably on hisway to Treves. "

"In no castle on the Moselle does even the humblest servant of theChurch receive a warmer welcome than at Starkenburg. My lady would holdme to blame were she prevented from offering her hospitality to themendicant. "

"Does the same generous impulse extend to each of my followers?"

"It includes them all, my Lord. "

"Very well. We will do ourselves the honour of waiting upon this mostbountiful hostess. "

By this time the troop which had first stopped the Archbishop'sprogress came slowly up, and the little body-guard of the Elector foundthemselves hemmed in with twenty men in the front and twenty at therear, while the rocky precipice rose on one hand and the rapid riverflowed on the other. 

The _cortège_ reformed and trotted gently down the road until it cameto a by-way leading up the hill. Into this by-way the leaders turned, reducing their trot to a walk because of the steepness of the ascent. The Archbishop and his men followed, with the second troop ofStarkenburg bringing up the rear. His Lordship rode at first in sullensilence, then with a quick glance of his eye he summoned the captain tohis side. He slipped the ring of office from his finger and passed itunperceived into the officer's hand. 

"There will be some confusion at the gate, " he said, in a low voice. "Escape then if you can. Ride for Treves as you never rode before. Stopnot to fight with any; everything depends on outstripping pursuit. Takewhat horses you need wherever you find them, and kill them all ifnecessary, but stop for nothing. This ring will be warrant for whateveryou do. Tell my general to invest this castle instantly with tenthousand men and press forward the siege regardless of my fate. Tellhim to leave not one stone standing upon another, and to hang the widowof Starkenburg from her own blazing timbers. Succeed, and a knighthoodand the command of a thousand men awaits you. "

"I will succeed or die, my Lord. "

"Succeed and live, " said the Archbishop, shortly. 

As the horses slowly laboured up the zigzagging road, the view alongthe silvery Moselle widened and extended, and at last the strong greywalls of the castle came into sight, with the ample gates wide open. The horsemen in front drew up in two lines on each side of the gateswithout entering, and thus the Archbishop, at the head of his littleband, slowly rode first under the archway into the courtyard of thecastle. 

On the stone steps that led to the principal entrance of the castlestood a tall, graceful lady, with her women behind her. She was robedin black, and the headdress of her snow-white hair gave her theappearance of a dignified abbess at her convent door. Her serene andplacid face had undoubtedly once been beautiful; and age, which hadleft her form as straight and slender as one of her own forest pines, forgetting to place its customary burden upon her graceful shoulders, had touched her countenance with a loving hand. With all herwomanliness, there was, nevertheless, a certain firmness in the finely-moulded chin that gave evidence of a line of ancestry that had neverbeen too deferential to those in authority. 

The stern Archbishop reined in his black charger when he reached themiddle of the courtyard, but made no motion to dismount. The lady cameslowly down the broad stone steps, followed by her feminine train, and, approaching the Elector, placed her white hand upon his stirrup, inmute acknowledgment of her vassalage. 

"Welcome, prince of the Church and protector of our Faith, " she said. "It is a hundred years since my poor house has sheltered so august aguest. "

The tones were smooth and soothing as the scarcely audible plash of adistant fountain; but the incident she cited struck ominously on theArchbishop's recollection, rousing memory and causing him to dart aquick glance at the countess, in which was blended sharp enquiry andawakened foreboding; but the lady, unconscious of his scrutiny, stoodwith drooping head and downcast eyes, her shapely hand still on hisstirrup-iron. 

"If I remember rightly, madame, my august predecessor slept wellbeneath this roof. "

"Alas, yes!" murmured the lady, sadly. "We have ever accounted it thegreatest misfortune of our line, that he should have died mysteriouslyhere. Peace be to his soul!"

"Not so mysteriously, madame, but that there were some shrewd guessesconcerning his malady. "

"That is true, my Lord, " replied the countess, simply. "It was supposedthat in his camp upon the lowlands by the river he contracted a feverfrom which he died. "

"My journey by the Moselle has been of the briefest. I trust, therefore, I have not within me the seeds of his fatal distemper. "

"I most devoutly echo that trust, my Lord, and pray that God, whowatches over us all, may guard your health while sojourning here. "

"Forgive me, madame, if, within the shadow of these walls, I say 'Amen'to your prayer with some emphasis. "

The Countess Laurette contented herself with bowing low and humblycrossing herself, making no verbal reply to his Lordship's remark. Shethen beseeched the Archbishop to dismount, saying something of his needof rest and refreshment, begging him to allow her to be his guide tothe Rittersaal. 

When the Archbishop reached the topmost step that led to the castledoor, he cast an eye, not devoid of anxiety, over the court-yard, tosee how his following had fared. The gates were now fast closed, andforty horses were ranged with their tails to the wall, the silentriders in their saddles. Rapid as was his glance, it showed him hisguard huddled together in the centre of the court, his own blackcharger, with empty saddle, the only living thing among them thatshowed no sign of dismay. Between two of the hostile horsemen stood hiscaptain, with doublet torn and headgear awry, evidently a discomfitedprisoner. 

The Archbishop entered the gloomy castle with a sense of defeat tuggingdown his heart to a lower level than he had ever known it to reachbefore; for in days gone by, when fate had seemed to press against him, he had been in the thick of battle, and had felt an exultation inrallying his half-discouraged followers, who had never failed torespond to the call of a born leader of men. But here he had toencounter silence, with semi-darkness over his head, cold stone underfoot, and round him the unaccustomed hiss of women's skirts. 

The Countess conducted her guest through the lofty Knight's Hall, inwhich his Lordship saw preparations for a banquet going forward. Anarched passage led them to a small room that seemed to be within aturret hanging over a precipice, as if it were an eagle's nest. Thisroom gave an admirable and extended view over the winding Moselle andmuch of the surrounding country. On a table were flagons of wine andempty cups, together with some light refection, upon all of which theArchbishop looked with suspicious eye. He did not forget the rumouredpoisoning of his predecessor in office. The countess asked him, withdeference, to seat himself; then pouring out a cup of wine, she bowedto him and drank it. Turning to rinse the cup in a basin of water whicha serving-woman held, she was interrupted by her guest, who now, forthe first time, showed a trace of gallantry. 

"I beg of you, madame, " said the Archbishop, rising; and, taking theunwashed cup from her hand, he filled it with wine, drinking prosperityto herself and her home. Then, motioning her to a chair, he saidseating himself: "Countess von Starkenburg, I am a man more used to theuncouth rigour of a camp than the dainty etiquette of a lady's boudoir. Forgive me, then, if I ask you plainly, as a plain man may, why youhold me prisoner in your castle. "

"Prisoner, my lord?" echoed the lady, with eyebrows raised inamazement. "How poorly are we served by our underlings, if such athought has been conveyed to your lordship's mind. I asked them toinvite you hither with such deference as a vassal should hold toward anover-lord. I am grievously distressed to learn that my commands havebeen so ill obeyed. "

"Your commands were faithfully followed, madame, and I have made nocomplaint regarding lack of deference, but when two-score armed mencarry a respectful invitation to one having a bare dozen at his back, then all option vanishes, and compulsion takes its place. "

"My lord, a handful of men were fit enough escort for a neighbouringbaron should he visit us, but, for a prince of the Church, all myretainers are but scanty acknowledgment of a vassal's regard. I wouldthey had been twenty thousand, to do you seemly honour. "

"I am easily satisfied, madame, and had they been fewer I might havemissed this charming outlook. I am to understand, then, that you haveno demands to make of me; and that I am free to depart, accompanied byyour good wishes. "

"With my good wishes now and always, surely, my Lord. I have no demandsto make--the word ill befits the lips of a humble vassal; but, beinghere----"

"Ah! But, being here----" interrupted the Archbishop, glancing keenlyat her. 

"I have a favour to beg of you. I wish to ask permission to build acastle on the heights above Trarbach, for my son. "

"The Count Johann, third of the name?"

"The same, my Lord, who is honoured by your Lordship's remembrance ofhim. "

"And you wish to place this stronghold between your castle ofStarkenburg and my town of Treves? Were I a suspicious man, I mightimagine you had some distrust of me. "

"Not so, my lord. The Count Johann will hold the castle in yourdefence. "

"I have ever been accustomed to look to my own defence, " said theArchbishop, drily; adding, as if it were an afterthought, "with theblessing of God upon my poor efforts. "

The faintest suspicion of a smile hovered for an instant on the lips ofthe countess, that might have been likened to the momentary passing ofa gleam of sunshine over the placid waters of the river far below; forshe well knew, as did all others, that it was the habit of the fightingArchbishop to smite sturdily first, and ask whatever blessing might beneeded on the blow afterwards. 

"The permission being given, what follows?"

"That you will promise not to molest me during the building. "

"A natural corollary. 'Twould be little worth to give permission andthen bring up ten thousand men to disturb the builders. That granted, remains there anything more?"

"I fear I trespass on your Lordship's patience but this is now the end. A strong house is never built with a weak purse. I do entreat yourlordship to cause to be sent to me from your treasury in Trevesthousand pieces of gold, that the castle may be a worthy addition toyour province. "

The Archbishop arose with a scowl on his face, and paced the narrowlimits of the room like a caged lion. The hot anger mounted to his browand reddened it, but he strode up and down until he regained control ofhimself, then spoke with a touch of hardness in his voice:

"A good fighter, madame, holds his strongest reserves to the last. Youhave called me a prince of the Church, and such I am. But you flatterme, madame; you rate me too high. The founder of our Church, whenbetrayed, was sold for silver, and for a lesser number of pieces thanyou ask in gold. "

The lady, now standing, answered nothing to this taunt, but the colourflushed her pale cheeks. 

"I am, then, a prisoner, and you hold me for ransom, but it will availyou little. You may close your gates and prevent my poor dozen offollowers from escaping, but news of this outrage will reach Treves, and then, by God, your walls shall smoke for it. There will be none ofthe Starkenburgs left, either to kidnap or to murder futurearchbishops. "

Still the lady stood silent and motionless as a marble statue. TheElector paced up and down for a time, muttering to himself, then smotehis open palm against a pillar of the balcony, and stood gazing on thefair landscape of river and rounded hill spread below and around him. Suddenly he turned and looked at the Countess, meeting her clear, fearless grey eyes, noticing, for the first time, the resolute contourof her finely-moulded chin. 

"Madame, " he said, with admiration in his tone, "you are a bravewoman. "

"I am not so brave as you think me, my Lord, " she answered, coldly. "There is one thing I dare not do. I am not brave enough to allow yourLordship to go free, if you refuse what I ask. "

"And should I not relent at first, there are dungeons in Starkenburgwhere this proud spirit, with which my enemies say I am cursed, willdoubtless be humbled. "

"Not so, my Lord. You will be treated with that consideration whichshould be shown to one of your exalted station. "

"Indeed! And melted thus by kindness, how long, think you, will theprocess take?"

"It will be of the shortest, my Lord, for if, as you surmise rumourshould get abroad and falsely proclaim that the Archbishop lodges hereagainst his will, there's not a flying baron or beggared knight in allthe land but would turn in his tracks and cry to Starkenburg, 'In God'sname, hold him, widow, till we get our own again!' Willingly would theymake the sum I beg of you an annual tribute, so they might be certainyour Lordship were well housed in this castle. "

"Widow, there is truth in what you say, even if a woman hath spokenit, " replied the Archbishop, with a grim smile on his lips andundisguised admiration gleaming from his dark eye. "This cowardly worldis given to taking advantage of a man when opportunity offers. Butthere is one point you have not reckoned upon: What of my stout armylying at Treves?"

"What of the arch when the keystone is withdrawn? What of the sheepwhen the shepherd disappears? My Lord, you do yourself and your greatmilitary gifts a wrong. Through my deep regard for you I gave strictcommand that not even the meanest of your train should be allowed towander till all were safe within these gates, for I well knew that, didbut a whisper of my humble invitation and your gracious acceptance ofthe same reach Treves, it might be misconstrued; and although somesturdy fellows would be true, and beat their stupid heads against thesewalls, the rest would scatter like a sheaf of arrows suddenly unloosed, and seek the strongest arm upraised in the mêlée sure to follow. Against your army, leaderless, I would myself march out at the head ofmy two-score men without a tremor at my heart; before that leader, alone and armyless, I bow my head with something more akin to fear thanI have ever known before, and crave his generous pardon for my boldrequest. "

The Archbishop took her unresisting hand, and, bending, raised it tohis lips with that dignified courtesy which, despite his disclaimer, heknew well how, upon occasion, to display. 

"Madame, " he said, "I ask you to believe that your request was grantedeven before you marshalled such unanswerable arguments to stand, likearmoured men, around it. There is a tern and stringent law of our greatChurch which forbids its servants suing for a lady's hand. Countess, Inever felt the grasp of that iron fetter until now. "

Thus came the strong castle above Trarbach to be builded, and that notat the expense of its owners. 

THE ARCHBISHOP'S GIFT

Arras, blacksmith and armourer, stood at the door of his hut in thevalley of the Alf, a league or so from the Moselle, one summer evening. He was the most powerful man in all the Alf-thal, and few could liftthe iron sledge-hammer he wielded as though it were a toy. Arras hadtwelve sons scarce less stalwart than himself, some of whom helped himin his occupation of blacksmith and armourer, while the others tilledthe ground near by, earning from the rich soil of the valley suchsustenance as the whole family required. 

The blacksmith thus standing at his door, heard, coming up the valleyof the Alf, the hoof-beats of a horse, and his quick, experienced eartold him, though the animal was yet afar, that one of its shoes wasloose. As the hurrying rider came within call, the blacksmith shoutedto him in stentorian tones:

"Friend, pause a moment, until I fasten again the shoe on your horse'sfoot. "

"I cannot stop, " was the brief answer. 

"Then your animal will go lame, " rejoined the blacksmith. 

"Better lose a horse than an empire, " replied the rider, hurrying by. 

"Now what does that mean?" said the blacksmith to himself as he watchedthe disappearing rider, while the click-clack of the loosened shoebecame fainter and fainter in the distance. 

Could the blacksmith have followed the rider into Castle Bertrich, ashort distance further up the valley, he would speedily have learnedthe meaning of the hasty phrase the horseman had flung behind him as herode past. Ascending the winding road that led to the gates of thecastle as hurriedly as the jaded condition of his beast would permit, the horseman paused, unloosed the horn from his belt, and blew a blastthat echoed from the wooded hills around. Presently an officer appearedabove the gateway, accompanied by two or three armed men, and demandedwho the stranger was and why he asked admission. The horseman, amazedat the officer's ignorance of heraldry that caused him to inquire as tohis quality, answered with some haughtiness:

"Messenger of the Archbishop of Treves, I demand instant audience withCount Bertrich. "

The officer, without reply, disappeared from the castle wall, andpresently the great leaves of the gate were thrown open, whereupon thehorseman rode his tired animal into the courtyard and flung himselfoff. 

"My horse's shoe is loose, " he said to the Captain. "I ask you to haveyour armourer immediately attend to it. "

"In truth, " replied the officer, shrugging his shoulders, "there ismore drinking than fighting in Castle Bertrich; consequently we do notpossess an armourer. If you want blacksmithing done you must betakeyourself to armourer Arras in the valley, who will put either horse orarmour right for you. "

With this the messenger was forced to be content; and, begging theattendants who took charge of his horse to remember that it hadtravelled far and had still, when rested, a long journey before it, hefollowed the Captain into the great Rittersaal of the castle, where, onentering, after having been announced, he found the Count of Bertrichsitting at the head of a long table, holding in his hand a giganticwine flagon which he was industriously emptying. Extending down eachside of the table were many nobles, knights, and warriors, who, tojudge by the hasty glance bestowed upon them by the Archbishop'smessenger, seemed to be energetically following the example set them bytheir over-lord at the head. Count Bertrich's hair was unkempt, hisface a purplish red, his eye bloodshot; and his corselet, open at thethroat, showed the great bull-neck of the man, on whose gigantic frameconstant dissipation seemed to have merely temporary effect. 

"Well!" roared the nobleman, in a voice that made the rafters ring. "What would you with Count Bertrich?"

"I bear an urgent despatch to you from my Lord the Archbishop ofTreves, " replied the messenger. 

"Then down on your knees and present it, " cried the Count, beating thetable with his flagon. 

"I am Envoy of his Lordship of Treves, " said the messenger, sternly. 

"You told us that before, " shouted the Count; "and now you stand in thehall of Bertrich. Kneel, therefore, to its master. "

"I represent the Archbishop, " reiterated the messenger, "and I kneel tonone but God and the Emperor. "

Count Bertrich rose somewhat uncertainly to his feet, his whole frametrembling with anger, and volleyed forth oaths upon threats. The tallnobleman at his right hand also rose, as did many of the others who satat the table, and, placing his hand on the arm of his furious host, said warningly:

"My Lord Count, the man is right. It is against the feudal law that heshould kneel, or that you should demand it. The Archbishop of Treves isyour overlord, as well as ours, and it is not fitting that hismessenger should kneel before us. "

"That is truth--the feudal law, " muttered others down each side of thetable. 

The enraged Count glared upon them one after another, partially subduedby their breaking away from him. 

The Envoy stood calm and collected, awaiting the outcome of the tumult. The Count, cursing the absent Archbishop and his present guests withequal impartiality, sat slowly down again, and flinging his emptyflagon at an attendant, demanded that it should be refilled. The otherslikewise resumed their seats; and the Count cried out, but with less oftruculence in his tone:

"What message sent the Archbishop to Castle Bertrich?"

"My Lord, the Archbishop of Treves requires me to inform Count Bertrichand the assembled nobles that the Hungarians have forced passage acrossthe Rhine, and are now about to make their way through the defiles ofthe Eifel into this valley, intending to march thence upon Treves, laying that ancient city in ruin and carrying havoc over thesurrounding country. His Lordship commands you, Count Bertrich, torally your men about you and to hold the infidels in check in thedefiles of the Eifel until the Archbishop comes, at the bead of hisarmy, to your relief from Treves. "

There was deep silence in the vast hall after this startlingannouncement. Then the Count replied:

"Tell the Archbishop of Treves that if the Lords of the Rhine cannotkeep back the Hungarians, it is hardly likely that we, less powerful, near the Moselle, can do it. "

"His Lordship urges instant compliance with his request, and I am tosay that you refuse at your peril. A few hundred men can hold theHungarians in check while they are passing through the narrow ravinesof the Eifel, while as many thousands might not be successful againstthem should they once reach the open valleys of the Alf and theMoselle. His Lordship would also have you know that this campaign is asmuch in your own interest as in his, for the Hungarians, in theirdevastating march, spare neither high nor low. "

"Tell his Lordship, " hiccoughed the Count, "that I sit safely in myCastle of Bertrich, and that I defy all the Hungarians who were everlet loose to disturb me therein. If the Archbishop keeps Treves astightly as I shall hold Castle Bertrich, there is little to fear fromthe invaders. "

"Am I to return to Treves then with your refusal?" asked the Envoy. 

"You may return to Treves as best pleases you, so that you rid us ofyour presence here, where you mar good company. "

The Envoy, without further speech, bowed to Count Bertrich and also tothe assembled nobles, passed silently out of the hall, once morereaching the courtyard of the castle, where he demanded that his horsebe brought to him. 

"The animal has had but scant time for feeding and rest, " said theCaptain. 

"'Twill be sufficient to carry us to the blacksmith's hut, " answeredthe Envoy, as he put his foot in stirrup. 

The blacksmith, still standing at the door of his smithy, heard, comingfrom the castle, the click of the broken shoe, but this time the riderdrew up before him and said:

"The offer of help which you tendered me a little ago I shall now beglad to accept. Do your work well, smith, and know that in performingit, you are obliging an envoy of the Archbishop of Treves. "

The armourer raised his cap at the mention of the august name, andinvoked a blessing upon the head of that renowned and warlike prelate. 

"You said something, " spoke up the smith, "of loss of empire, as yourode by. I trust there is no disquieting news from Treves?"

"Disquieting enough, " replied the messenger. "The Hungarians havecrossed the Rhine, and are now making their way towards the defiles ofthe Eifel. There a hundred men could hold the infidels in check; butyou breed a scurvy set of nobles in the Alf-thal, for Count Bertrichdisdains the command of his over-lord to rise at the head of his menand stay the progress of the invader until the Archbishop can come tohis assistance. "

"Now, out upon the drunken Count for a base coward!" cried the armourerin anger. "May his castle be sacked and himself hanged on the highestturret, for refusing aid to his over-lord in time of need. I and mytwelve sons know every rock and cave in the Eifel. Would theArchbishop, think you, accept the aid of such underlings as we, whoseonly commendation is that our hearts are stout as our sinews?"

"What better warranty could the Archbishop ask than that?" replied theEnvoy. "If you can hold back the Hungarians for four or five days, thenI doubt not that whatever you ask of the Archbishop will speedily begranted. "

"We shall ask nothing, " cried the blacksmith, "but his blessing, and bedeeply honoured in receiving it. "

Whereupon the blacksmith, seizing his hammer, went to the door of hishut, where hung part of a suit of armour, that served at the same timeas a sign of his profession and as a tocsin. He smote the hanging ironwith his sledge until the clangorous reverberation sounded through thevalley, and presently there came hurrying to him eight of his stalwartsons, who had been occupied in tilling the fields. 

"Scatter ye, " cried the blacksmith, "over the land. Rouse the people, and tell them the Hungarians are upon us. Urge all to collect here atmidnight, with whatever of arms or weapons they may possess. Those whohave no arms, let them bring poles, and meanwhile your brothers andmyself will make pike-heads for them. Tell them they are called to, action by a Lord from the Archbishop of Treves himself, and that Ishall lead them. Tell them they fight for their homes, their wives, andtheir children. And now away. "

The eight young men at once dispersed in various directions. The smithhimself shod the Envoy's horse, and begged him to inform the Archbishopthat they would defend the passes of the Eifel while a man of themremained alive. 

Long before midnight the peasants came straggling to the smithy fromall quarters, and by daylight the blacksmith had led them over thevolcanic hills to the lip of the tremendous pass through which theHungarians must come. The sides of this chasm were precipitous andhundreds of feet in height. Even the peasants themselves, knowing therocks as they did, could not have climbed from the bottom of the passto the height they now occupied. They had, therefore, no fear that theHungarians could scale the walls and decimate their scanty band. 

When the invaders appeared the blacksmith and his men rolled greatstones and rocks down upon them, practically annihilating the advanceguard and throwing the whole army into confusion. The week's strugglethat followed forms one of the most exciting episodes in Germanhistory. Again and again the Hungarians attempted the pass, but nothingcould withstand the avalanche of stones and rocks wherewith they wereoverwhelmed. Still, the devoted little band did not have everything itsown way. They were so few--and they had to keep watch night and day--that ere the week was out many turned longing eyes towards thedirection whence the Archbishop's army was expected to appear. It wasnot until the seventh day that help arrived, and then the Archbishop'sforces speedily put to flight the now demoralised Hungarians, andchased them once more across the Rhine. 

"There is nothing now left for us to do, " said the tired blacksmith tohis little following; "so I will get back to my forge and you to yourfarms. "

And this without more ado they did, the cheering and inspiring ring ofiron on anvil awakening the echoes of the Alf-thal once again. 

The blacksmith and his twelve sons were at their noon-day meal when animposing cavalcade rode up to the smithy. At the head was no other thanthe Archbishop himself, and the blacksmith and his dozen sons werecovered with confusion to think that they had such a distinguishedvisitor without the means of receiving him in accordance with hisstation. But the Archbishop said:

"Blacksmith Arras, you and your sons would not wait for me to thankyou; so I am now come to you that in presence of all these followers ofmine I may pay fitting tribute to your loyalty and your bravery. "

Then, indeed, did the modest blacksmith consider he had received morethan ample compensation for what he had done, which, after all, as hetold his neighbours, was merely his duty. So why should a man bethanked for it?

"Blacksmith, " said the Archbishop, as he mounted his horse to return toTreves, "thanks cost little and are easily bestowed. I hope, however, to have a present for you that will show the whole country round howmuch I esteem true valour. "

At the mouth of the Alf-thal, somewhat back from the small village ofAlf and overlooking the Moselle, stands a conical hill that completelycommands the valley. The Archbishop of Treves, having had a lessonregarding the dangers of an incursion through the volcanic region ofthe Eifel, put some hundreds of men at work on this conical hill, anderected on the top a strong castle, which was the wonder of thecountry. The year was nearing its end when this great stronghold wascompleted, and it began to be known throughout the land that theArchbishop intended to hold high revel there, and had invited to thecastle all the nobles in the country, while the chief guest was noother than the Emperor himself. Then the neighbours of the blacksmithlearned that a gift was about to be bestowed upon that stalwart man. Heand his twelve sons received notification to attend at the castle, andto enjoy the whole week's festivity. He was commanded to come in hisleathern apron, and to bring with him his huge sledge-hammer, which, the Archbishop said, had now become a weapon as honourable as the two-handed sword itself. 

Never before had such an honour been bestowed upon a common man, andthough the peasants were jubilant that one of their caste should bethus singled out to receive the favour of the famous Archbishop, andmeet not only great nobles, but even the Emperor himself, still, it wasgossiped that the Barons grumbled at this distinction being placed upona serf like the blacksmith Arras, and none were so loud in theircomplaints as Count Bertrich, who had remained drinking in the castlewhile the blacksmith fought for the land. Nevertheless, all thenobility accepted the invitation of the powerful Archbishop of Treves, and assembled in the great room of the new castle, each equipped in allthe gorgeous panoply of full armour. It had been rumoured among thenobles that the Emperor would not permit the Archbishop to sully thecaste of knighthood by asking the Barons to recognise or hold conversewith one in humble station of life. Indeed, had it been otherwise, Count Bertrich, with the Barons to back him, were resolved to speak outboldly to the Emperor, upholding the privileges of their class, andprotesting against insult to it in presence of the blacksmith and hissons. 

When all assembled in the great hall they found at the centre of thelong side wall a magnificent throne erected, with a daïs in front ofit, and on this throne sat, the Emperor in state, while at his righthand stood the lordly Archbishop of Treves. But what was moredisquieting, they beheld also the blacksmith standing before the daïs, some distance in front of the Emperor, clad in his leathern apron, withhis big brawny hands folded over the top of the handle of his hugesledge-hammer. Behind him were ranged his twelve sons. There were deepfrowns on the brows of the nobles when they saw this, and, afterkneeling and protesting their loyalty to the Emperor, they stood aloofand apart, leaving a clear space between themselves and the plebeianblacksmith on whom they cast lowering looks. When the salutations ofthe Emperor had been given, the Archbishop took a step forward on thedaïs and spoke in a clear voice that could be heard to the furthermostcorner of the room. 

"My Lords, " he said, "I have invited you hither that you may have theprivilege of doing honour to a brave man. I ask you to salute theblacksmith Arras, who, when his country was in danger, crushed theinvaders as effectually as ever his right arm, wielding sledge, crushedhot iron. "

A red flush of confusion overspread the face of the blacksmith, butloud murmurs broke out among the nobility, and none stepped forward tosalute him. One, indeed, stepped forward, but it was to appeal to theEmperor. 

"Your Majesty, " exclaimed Count Bertrich, "this is an unwarrantedbreach of our privileges. It is not meet that we, holding noble names, should be asked to consort with an untitled blacksmith. I appeal toyour Majesty against the Archbishop under the feudal law. "

All eyes turned upon the Emperor, who, after a pause, said:

"Count Bertrich is right, and I sustain his appeal. "

An expression of triumph came into the red bibulous face of CountBertrich, and the nobles shouted joyously:

"The Emperor, the Emperor!"

The Archbishop, however, seemed in no way non-plussed by his defeat, but, addressing the armourer, said:

"Advance, blacksmith, and do homage to your Emperor and mine. "

When the blacksmith knelt before the throne, the Emperor, taking hisjewelled sword from his side, smote the kneeling man lightly on hisbroad shoulders, saying:

"Arise, Count Arras, noble of the German Empire, and first Lord of theAlf-thal. "

The blacksmith rose slowly to his feet, bowed lowly to the Emperor, andbacked to the place where he had formerly stood, again resting hishands on the handle of his sledge-hammer. The look of exultation fadedfrom the face of Count Bertrich, and was replaced by an expression ofdismay, for he had been until that moment, himself first Lord of theAlf-thal, with none second. 

"My Lords, " once more spoke up the Archbishop, "I ask you to saluteCount Arras, first Lord of the Alf-thal. "

No noble moved, and again Count Bertrich appealed to the Emperor. 

"Are we to receive on terms of equality, " he said, "a landless man; thecount of a blacksmith's hut; a first lord of a forge? For the secondtime I appeal to your Majesty against such an outrage. "

The Emperor replied calmly:

"Again I support the appeal of Count Bertrich. "

There was this time no applause from the surrounding nobles, for manyof them had some smattering idea of what was next to happen, though themuddled brain of Count Bertrich gave him no intimation of it. 

"Count Arras, " said the Archbishop, "I promised you a gift when last Ileft you at your smithy door. I now bestow upon you and your heirsforever this castle of Burg Arras, and the lands adjoining it. I askyou to hold it for me well and faithfully, as you held the pass of theEifel. My Lords, " continued the Archbishop, turning to the nobles, witha ring of menace in his voice, "I ask you to salute Count Arras, yourequal in title, your equal in possessions, and the superior of any oneof you in patriotism and bravery. If any noble question his courage, let him neglect to give Count of Burg Arras his title and salutation ashe passes before him. "

"Indeed, and that will not I, " said the tall noble who had sat atBertrich's right hand in his castle, "for, my Lords, if we hesitatelonger, this doughty blacksmith will be Emperor before we know it. "Then, advancing towards the ex-armourer, he said: "My Lord, Count ofBurg Arras, it gives me pleasure to salute you, and to hope that whenEmperor or Archbishop are to be fought for, your arm will be no lesspowerful in a coat of mail than it was when you wore a leathern apron. "

One by one the nobles passed and saluted as their leader had done. Count Bertrich hung back until the last, and then, as he passed the newCount of Burg Arras, he hissed at him, with a look of rage, the singleword, "_Blacksmith!_"

The Count of Burg Arras, stirred to sudden anger, and forgetting inwhose presence he stood, swung his huge sledge-hammer round his head, and brought it down on the armoured back of Count Bertrich, roaring theword "ANVIL!"

The armour splintered like crushed ice, and Count Bertrich fell proneon his face and lay there. There was instant cry of "Treason! Treason!"and shouts of "No man may draw arms in the Emperor's presence. "

"My Lord Emperor, " cried the Count of Burg Arras, "I crave pardon if Ihave done amiss. A man does not forget the tricks of his old callingwhen he takes on new honours. Your Majesty has said that I am a Count. This man, having heard your Majesty's word, proclaims me blacksmith, and so gave the lie to his Emperor. For this I struck him, and wouldagain, even though he stood before the throne in a palace, or the altarin a cathedral. If that be treason, take from me your honours, and letme back to my forge, where this same hammer will mend the armour it hasbroken, or beat him out a new back-piece. "

"You have broken no tenet of the feudal law, " said the Emperor. "Youhave broken nothing, I trust, but the Count's armour, for, as I see, heis arousing himself, doubtless no bones are broken as well. The feudallaw does not regard a blacksmith's hammer as a weapon. And as fortreason, Count of Burg Arras, may my throne always be surrounded bysuch treason as yours. "

And for centuries after, the descendants of the blacksmith were Countsof Burg Arras, and held the castle of that name, whose ruins to-dayattest the excellence of the Archbishop's building. 

COUNT KONRAD'S COURTSHIP

It was nearly midnight when Count Konrad von Hochstaden reached hiscastle on the Rhine, with a score of very tired and hungry men behindhim. The warder at the gate of Schloss Hochstaden, after some cautiousparley with the newcomers, joyously threw apart the two great iron-studded oaken leaves of the portal when he was convinced that it wasindeed his young master who had arrived after some tumultuous years atthe crusades, and Count Konrad with his followers rode clattering underthe stone arch, into the ample courtyard. It is recorded that, in thegreat hall of the castle, the Count and his twenty bronzed and scarredknights ate such a meal as had never before been seen to disappear inHochstaden, and that after drinking with great cheer to the downfall ofthe Saracene and the triumph of the true cross, they all lay on thefloor of the Rittersaal and slept the remainder of the night, the wholeof next day, and did not awaken until the dawn of the second morning. They had had years of hard fighting in the east, and on the way homethey had been compelled to work their passage through the domains ofturbulent nobles by good stout broadsword play, the only argument theiropposers could understand, and thus they had come through to the Rhinewithout contributing aught to their opponents except fierce blows, which were not commodities as marketable as yellow gold, yet with thissole exchange did the twenty-one win their way from Palestine to thePalatinate, and thus were they so long on the road that those inSchloss Hochstaden had given up all expectation of their coming. 

Count Konrad found that his father, whose serious illness was the causeof his return, had been dead for months past, and the young manwandered about the castle which, during the past few years, he hadbeheld only in dreams by night and in the desert mirages by day, saddened because of his loss. He would return to the Holy Land, he saidto himself, and let the castle be looked after by its custodian untilthe war with the heathen was ended. 

The young Count walked back and forth on the stone paved terrace whichcommanded from its height such a splendid view of the winding river, but he paid small attention to the landscape, striding along with hishands clasped behind him; his head bent, deep in thought. He wasawakened from his reverie by the coming of the ancient custodian of thecastle, who shuffled up to him and saluted him with reverentialrespect, for the Count was now the last of his race; a fighting line, whose members rarely came to die peaceably in their beds as Konrad'sfather had done. 

The Count, looking up, swept his eye around the horizon and then to hisastonishment saw the red battle flag flying grimly from the highnorthern tower of Castle Bernstein perched on the summit of the nexthill to the south. In the valley were the white tents of an encampment, and fluttering over it was a flag whose device, at that distance, theCount could not discern. 

"Why is the battle flag flying on Bernstein, Gottlieb, and what meansthose tents in the valley?" asked Konrad. 

The old man looked in the direction of the encampment, as if the sightwere new to him, but Konrad speedily saw that the opposite was thecase. The tents had been there so long that they now seemed a permanentpart of the scenery. 

"The Archbishop of Cologne, my Lord, is engaged in the besiegement ofSchloss Bernstein, and seems like to have a long job of it. He has beenthere for nearly a year now. "

"Then the stout Baron is making a brave defence; good luck to him!"

"Alas, my Lord, I am grieved to state that the Baron went to his reston the first day of the assault. He foolishly sallied out at the headof his men and fell hotly on the Archbishop's troops, who weresurrounding the castle. There was some matter in dispute between theBaron and the Archbishop, and to aid the settlement thereof, his mightyLordship of Cologne sent a thousand armed men up the river, and it issaid that all he wished was to have parley with Baron Bernstein, and tooverawe him in the discussion, but the Baron came out at the head ofhis men and fell upon the Cologne troops so mightily that he nearly putthe whole battalion to flight, but the officers rallied their panic-stricken host, seeing how few were opposed to them, and the order wasgiven that the Baron should be taken prisoner, but the old man wouldnot have it so, and fought so sturdily with his long sword, that henearly entrenched himself with a wall of dead. At last the old man wascut down and died gloriously, with scarcely a square inch unwounded onhis whole body. The officers of the Archbishop then tried to carry thecastle by assault, but the Lady of Bernstein closed and barred thegate, ran, up the battle flag on the northern tower and bid defiance tothe Archbishop and all his men. "

"The Lady of Bernstein? I thought the Baron was a widower. Whom, then, did he again marry?"

"'Twas not his wife, but his daughter. "

"His daughter? Not Brunhilda? She's but a child of ten. "

"She was when you went away, my Lord, but now she is a woman ofeighteen, with all the beauty of her mother and all the bravery of herfather. "

"Burning Cross of the East, Gottlieb! Do you mean to say that for ayear a prince of the Church has been warring with a girl, and herbrother, knowing nothing of this cowardly assault, fighting the battlesfor his faith on the sands of the desert? Let the bugle sound! Call upmy men and arouse those who are still sleeping. "

"My Lord, my Lord, I beg of you to have caution in this matter. "

"Caution? God's patience! Has caution rotted the honour out of thebones of all Rhine men, that this outrage should pass unmolested beforetheir eyes! The father murdered; the daughter beleaguered; while thosewho call themselves men sleep sound in their safe castles! Out of myway, old man! Throw open the gates!"

But the ancient custodian stood firmly before his over-lord, whose redangry face seemed like that of the sun rising so ruddily behind him. 

"My Lord, if you insist on engaging in this enterprise it must be goneabout sanely. You need the old head as well as the young arm. You havea score of well-seasoned warriors, and we can gather into the castleanother hundred. But the Archbishop has a thousand men aroundBernstein. Your score would but meet the fate of the old Baron andwould not better the case of those within the castle. The Archbishophas not assaulted Bernstein since the Baron's death, but has drawn atight line around it and so has cut off all supplies, daily summoningthe maiden to surrender. What they now need in Bernstein is not iron, but food. Through long waiting they keep slack watch about the castle, and it is possible that, with care taken at midnight, you mightreprovision Bernstein so that she could hold out until her brothercomes, whom it is said she has summoned from the Holy Land. "

"Thou art wise, old Gottlieb, " said the Count slowly, pausing in hiswrath as the difficulties of the situation were thus placed in arraybefore him; "wise and cautious, as all men seem to be who now keep wardon the Rhine. What said my father regarding this contest?"

"My Lord, your honoured father was in his bed stricken with the longillness that came to be his undoing at the last, and we never let himknow that the Baron was dead or the siege in progress. "

"Again wise and cautious, Gottlieb, for had he known it, he would haverisen from his deathbed, taken down his two-handed sword from the wall, and struck his last blow in defence of the right against tyranny. "

"Indeed, my Lord, under danger of your censure, I venture to say thatyou do not yet know the cause of the quarrel into which you design toprecipitate yourself. It may not be tyranny on the part of theoverlord, but disobedience on the part of the vassal, which causes theenvironment of Bernstein. And the Archbishop is a prince of our holyChurch. "

"I leave those nice distinctions to philosophers like thee, Gottlieb. It is enough for me to know that a thousand men are trying to starveone woman, and as for being a prince of the Church, I shall give hisdevout Lordship a taste of religion hot from its birthplace, and showhim how we uphold the cause in the East, for in this matter theArchbishop grasps not the cross but the sword, and by the sword shallhe be met. And now go, Gottlieb, set ablaze the fires on all our ovensand put the bakers at work. Call in your hundred men as speedily aspossible, and bid each man bring with him a sack of wheat. Spend theday at the baking and fill the cellars with grain and wine. It will bereason enough, if any make inquiry, to say that the young Lord hasreturned and intends to hold feasts in his castle. Send hither myCaptain to me. "

Old Gottlieb hobbled away, and there presently came upon the terrace astalwart, grizzled man, somewhat past middle age, whose brown faceshowed more seams of scars than remnants of beauty. He saluted hischief and stood erect in silence. 

The Count waved his hand toward the broad valley and said grimly:

"There sits the Archbishop of Cologne, besieging the Castle ofBernstein. "

The Captain bowed low and crossed himself. 

"God prosper his Lordship, " he said piously. 

"You may think that scarcely the phrase to use, Captain, when I tellyou that you will lead an assault on his Lordship to-night. "

"Then God prosper us, my Lord, " replied the Captain cheerfully, for hewas ever a man who delighted more in fighting than in inquiring keenlyinto the cause thereof. 

"You may see from here that a ridge runs round from this castle, bending back from the river, which it again approaches, touching thusSchloss Bernstein. There is a path along the summit of the ridge whichI have often trodden as a boy, so I shall be your guide. It is scarcelikely that this path is guarded, but if it is we will have to throwits keepers over the precipice; those that we do not slay outright, when we come upon them. "

"Excellent, my Lord, most excellent, " replied the Captain, gleefullyrubbing his huge hands one over the other. 

"But it is not entirely to fight that we go. You are to act as convoyto those who carry bread to Castle Bernstein. We shall leave here atthe darkest hour after midnight and you must return before daybreak sothat the Archbishop cannot estimate our numbers. Then get out all theold armour there is in the castle and masquerade the peasants in it. Arrange them along the battlements so that they will appear as numerousas possible while I stay in Castle Bernstein and make terms with theArchbishop, for it seems he out-mans us, so we must resort, in somemeasure, to strategy. On the night assault let each man yell as if hewere ten and lay about him mightily. Are the knaves astir yet?"

"Most of them, my Lord, and drinking steadily the better to endure thedryness of the desert when we go eastward again. "

"Well, see to it that they do not drink so much as to interfere withclean sword-play against to-night's business. "

"Indeed, my Lord, I have a doubt if there is Rhine wine enough in thecastle's vaults to do that, and the men yell better when they have afew gallons within them. "

At the appointed hour Count Konrad and his company went silently forth, escorting a score more who carried sacks of the newly baked bread ontheir backs, or leathern receptacles filled with wine, as well as astout cask of the same seductive fluid. Near the Schloss Bernstein therescuing party came upon the Archbishop's outpost, who raised the alarmbefore the good sword of the Captain cut through the cry. There werebugle calls throughout the camp and the sound of men hurrying to theirweapons, but all the noise of preparation among the besiegers was asnothing to the demoniac din sent up by the Crusaders, who rushed to theonslaught with a zest sharpened by their previous rest and inactivity. The wild barbaric nature of their yells, such as never before wereheard on the borders of the placid Rhine, struck consternation into theopposition camp, because some of the Archbishop's troops had foughtagainst the heathen in the East, and they now recognised the clamourwhich had before, on many an occasion, routed them, and they thoughtthat the Saracenes had turned the tables and invaded Germany; indeedfrom the deafening clamour it seemed likely that all Asia was let looseupon them. The alarm spread quickly to Castle Bernstein itself, andtorches began to glimmer on its battlements. With a roar the Crusadersrushed up to the foot of the wall, as a wave dashes against a rock, sweeping the frightened bread-carriers with them. By the light of thetorches Konrad saw standing on the wall a fair young girl clad in chainarmour whose sparkling links glistened like countless diamonds in therays of the burning pitch. She leaned on the cross-bar of her father'ssword and, with wide-open, eager eyes peered into the darkness beyond, questioning the gloom for reason of the terrifying tumult. When Konradstrode within the radius of the torches, the girl drew back slightlyand cried:

"So the Archbishop has at last summoned courage to attack, after allthis patient waiting. "

"My Lady, " shouted the Count, "these are my forces and not theArchbishop's. I am Konrad, Count of Hochstaden. "

"The more shame, then, that you, who have fought bravely with men, should now turn your weapons against a woman, and she your neighbourand the sister of your friend. "

"Indeed, Lady Brunhilda, you misjudge me. I am come to your rescue andnot to your disadvantage. . The Archbishop's men were put to someinconvenience by our unexpected arrival, and to gather from the soundsfar down the valley they have not ceased running yet. We come withbread, and use the sword but as a spit to deliver it. "

"Your words are welcome were I but sure of their truth, " said the ladywith deep distrust in her tone, for she had had experience of theArchbishop's craft on many occasions, and the untimely hour of thesuccour led her to fear a ruse. "I open my gates neither to friend norto foe in the darkness, " she added. 

"Tis a rule that may well be commended to others of your bewitchingsex, " replied the Count, "but we ask not the opening of the gates, although you might warn those within your courtyard to beware whatcomes upon them presently. "

So saying, he gave the word, and each two of his servitors seized asack of bread by the ends and, heaving it, flung it over the wall. Someof the sacks fell short, but the second effort sent them into thecourtyard, where many of them burst, scattering the round loaves alongthe cobble-stoned pavement, to be eagerly pounced upon by the starvingservitors and such men-at-arms as had escaped from the encounter withthe Archbishop's troops when the Baron was slain. The cries of joy thatrang up from within the castle delighted the ear of the Count andsoftened the suspicion of the lady on the wall. 

"Now, " cried Konrad to his Captain, "back to Schloss Hochstaden beforethe dawn approaches too closely, and let there be no mistake in theArchbishop's camp that you are on the way. "

They all departed in a series of earsplitting, heart-appalling whoopsthat shattered the still night air and made a vocal pandemonium of thatportion of the fair Rhine valley. The colour left the cheeks of theLady of Bernstein as she listened in palpable terror to the fiendishoutcry which seemed to scream for blood and that instantly, lookingdown she saw the Knight of Hochstaden still there at the foot of herwall gazing up at her. 

"My Lord, " she said with concern, "if you stay thus behind your noisytroop you will certainly be captured when it comes day. "

"My Lady of Bernstein, I am already a captive, and all the Archbishop'smen could not hold me more in thrall did they surround me at thismoment. "

"I do not understand you, sir, " said Brunhilda coldly, drawing herselfup with a dignity that well became her, "your language seems to partakeof an exaggeration that doubtless you have learned in the tropicalEast, and which we have small patience with on the more temperate banksof the Rhine. "

"The language that I use, fair Brunhilda, knows neither east nor west;north nor south, but is common to every land, and if it be a strangerto the Rhine, the Saints be witness 'tis full time 'twere introducedhere, and I hold myself as competent to be its spokesman, as thosescreeching scoundrels of mine hold themselves the equal in battle toall the archbishops who ever wore the robes of that high office. "

"My Lord, " cried Brunhilda, a note of serious warning in her voice, "mygates are closed and they remain so. I hold myself your debtor forunasked aid, and would fain see you in a place of safety. "

"My reverenced Lady, that friendly wish shall presently be gratified, "and saying this, the Count unwound from his waist a thin rope woven ofhorse-hair, having a long loop at the end of it. This he whirled roundhis head and with an art learned in the scaling of eastern walls flungthe loop so that it surrounded one of the machicolations of thebastion, and, with his feet travelling against the stone work, hewalked up the wall by aid of this cord and was over the parapet beforeany could hinder his ascent. The Maid of the Schloss, her brows drawndown in anger, stood with sword ready to strike, but whether it was theunwieldiness of the clumsy weapon, or whether it was the great celeritywith which the young man put his nimbleness to the test, or whether itwas that she recognised him as perhaps her one friend on earth, who cantell; be that as it may, she did not strike in time, and a moment, later the Count dropped on one knee and before she knew it raised oneof her hands to his bending lips. 

"Lovely Warder of Bernstein, " cried Count Konrad, with a tremor ofemotion in his voice that thrilled the girl in spite of herself, "I laymy devotion and my life at your feet, to use them as you will. "

"My Lord, " she said quaveringly, with tears nearer the surface than shewould have cared to admit, "I like not this scaling of the walls; mypermission unasked. "

"God's truth, my Lady, and you are not the first to so object, but theothers were men, and I may say, without boasting, that I bent not theknee to them when I reached their level, but I have been told thatcustom will enable a maid to look more forgivingly on such escapades ifher feeling is friendly toward the invader, and I am bold enough tohope that the friendship with which your brother has ever regarded mein the distant wars, may be extended to my unworthy self by his sisterat home. "

Count Konrad rose to his feet and the girl gazed at him in silence, seeing how bronzed and manly he looked in his light well-polishedeastern armour, which had not the cumbrous massiveness of western mail, but, while amply protecting the body, bestowed upon it lithe freedomfor quick action; and unconsciously she compared him, not to hisdisadvantage, with the cravens on the Rhine, who, while sympathisingwith her, dared not raise weapon on her behalf against so powerful anover-lord as the warlike Archbishop. The scarlet cross of the Crusaderon his broad breast seemed to her swimming eyes to blaze with lambentflame in the yellow torchlight. She dared not trust her voice to answerhim, fearing its faintness might disown the courage with which she hadheld her castle for so long, and he, seeing that she struggled to holdcontrol of herself, standing there like a superb Goddess of the Rhine, pretended to notice nothing and spoke jauntily with a wave of his hand:"My villains have brought to the foot of the walls a cask of our bestwine which we dared not adventure to cast into the courtyard with thatfreedom which forwarded the loaves; there is also a packet of daintiesmore suited to your Ladyship's consideration than the coarse bread fromour ovens. Give command, I beg of you, that the gates be opened andthat your men bring the wine and food to safety within the courtyard, and bestow on me the privilege of guarding the open gate while this isbeing done. "

Then gently, with insistent deference, the young man took from her thesword of her father which she yielded to him with visible reluctance, but nevertheless yielded, standing there disarmed before him. Togetherin silence they went down the stone steps that led from the battlementsto the courtyard, followed by the torch-bearers, whom the lighteningeast threatened soon to render unnecessary. A cheer went up, the firstheard for many days within those walls, and the feasters, flingingtheir caps in the air, cried "Hochstaden! Hochstaden!" The Count turnedto his fair companion and said, with a smile:

"The garrison is with me, my Lady. "

She smiled also, and sighed, but made no other reply, keeping her eyessteadfast on the stone steps beneath her. Once descended, she gave theorder in a low voice, and quickly the gates were thrown wide, creakinggrumblingly on their hinges, long unused. Konrad stood before theopening with the sword of Bernstein in his hands, swinging it this wayand that to get the hang of it, and looking on it with the admirationwhich a warrior ever feels for a well hung, trusty blade, while themen-at-arms nodded to one another and said: "There stands a man whoknows the use of a weapon. I would that he had the crafty Archbishopbefore him to practise on. "

When the barrel was trundled in, the Lady of Bernstein had it broachedat once, and with her own hand served to each of her men a flagon ofthe golden wine. Each took his portion, bowing low to the lady, thendoffing cap, drank first to the Emperor, and after with an enthusiasmabsent from the Imperial toast, to the young war lord whom the nighthad flung thus unexpectedly among them. When the last man had refreshedhimself, the Count stepped forward and begged a flagon full that hemight drink in such good company, and it seemed that Brunhilda hadanticipated such a request, for she turned to one of her women and heldout her hand, receiving a huge silver goblet marvellously engraved thathad belonged to her forefathers, and plenishing it, she gave it to theCount, who, holding it aloft, cried, "The Lady of Bernstein, " whereuponthere arose such a shout that the troubled Archbishop heard it in hisdistant tent. 

"And yet further of your hospitality must I crave, " said Konrad, "forthe morning air is keen, and gives me an appetite for food of which Iam deeply ashamed, but which nevertheless clamours for an earlybreakfast. "

The lady, after giving instruction to the maids who waited upon her, led the way into the castle, where Konrad following, they arrived inthe long Rittersaal, at the end of which, facing the brightening east, was placed a huge window of stained glass, whose great breadth wasgradually lightening as if an unseen painter with magic brush wastinting the glass with transparent colour, from the lofty timberedceiling to the smoothly polished floor. At the end of the table, withher back to the window, Brunhilda sat, while the Count took a placenear her, by the side, turning so that he faced her, the ever-increasing radiance illumining his scintillating armour. The girl atesparingly, saying little and glancing often at her guest. He fell tolike the good trencherman he was, and talked unceasingly of the wars inthe East, and the brave deeds done there, and as he talked the girlforgot all else, rested her elbows on the table and her chin in herhands, regarding him intently, for he spoke not of himself but of herbrother, and of how, when grievously pressed, he had borne himself sonobly that more than once, seemingly certain defeat was changed intoglorious victory. Now and then when Konrad gazed upon Brunhilda, hiseloquent tongue faltered for a moment and he lost the thread of hisnarrative, for all trace of the warrior maid had departed, and there, outlined against the glowing window of dazzling colours, she seemedindeed a saint with her halo of golden hair, a fit companion to theangels that the marvellous skill of the artificer had placed in thatgorgeous collection of pictured panes, lead-lined and cut in variousshapes, answering the needs of their gifted designer, as a paint-brushfollows the will of the artist. From where the young man sat, the girlagainst the window seemed a member of that radiant company, and thus hepaused stricken speechless by her beauty. 

She spoke at last, the smile on her lips saddened by the down turningof their corners, her voice the voice of one hovering uncertain betweenlaughter and tears. 

"And you, " she said, "you seem to have had no part in all this stirringrecital. It was my brother and my brother and my brother, and to hearyou one would think you were all the while hunting peacefully in yourRhine forests. Yet still I do believe the Count of Hochstaden gave theheathen to know he was somewhat further to the east of Germany. "

"Oh, of me, " stammered the Count. "Yes, I was there, it is true, andsometimes--well, I have a fool of a captain, headstrong and reckless, who swept me now and then into a melee, before I could bring coolinvestigation to bear upon his mad projects, and once in the fray ofcourse I had to plead with my sword to protect my head, otherwise mybones would now be on the desert sands, so I selfishly lay about me anddid what I could to get once more out of the turmoil. "

The rising sun now struck living colour into the great window ofstained glass, splashing the floor and the further wall with crimsonand blue and gold. Count Konrad sprang to his feet. "The day is here, "he cried, standing in the glory of it, while the girl rose more slowly. "Let us have in your bugler and see if he has forgotten the battle callof the Bernsteins. Often have I heard it in the desert. 'Give us thebattle call, ' young Heinrich would cry and then to its music all hisfollowers would shout 'Bernstein! Bernstein!' until it seemed the far-off horizon must have heard. "

The trumpeter came, and being now well fed, blew valiantly, giving tothe echoing roof the war cry of the generations of fighting men it hadsheltered. 

"That is it, " cried the Count, "and it has a double significance. Achallenge on the field, and a summons to parley when heard from thewalls. We shall now learn whether or no the Archbishop has forgottenit, and I crave your permission to act as spokesman with his Lordship. "

"That I most gratefully grant, " said the Lady of the Castle. 

Once more on the battlements, the Lord of Hochstaden commanded thetrumpeter to sound the call The martial music rang out in the stillmorning air and was echoed mockingly by the hills on the other side ofthe river. After that, all was deep silence. 

"Once again, " said Konrad. 

For a second time the battle blast filled the valley, and for a secondtime returned faintly back from the hills. Then from near the greattent of the Archbishop, by the margin of the stream, came the answeringcall, accepting the demand for a parley. 

When at last the Archbishop, mounted on a black charger, came slowly upthe winding path which led to the castle, attended by only two of hisofficers, he found the Count of Hochstaden awaiting him on thebattlements above the gate. The latter's hopes arose when he saw thatCologne himself had come, and had not entrusted the business to anenvoy, and it was also encouraging to note that he came so poorlyattended, for when a man has made up his mind to succumb he wishes asfew witnesses as possible, while if he intends further hostilities, hecomes in all the pomp of his station. 

"With whom am I to hold converse?" began the Archbishop, "I am here atthe behest of the Bernstein call to parley, but I see none, of thatname on the wall to greet me. "

"Heinrich, Baron Bernstein, is now on his way to his castle from theHoly Land, and were he here it were useless for me to summon a parley, for he would answer you with the sword and not with the tongue when helearned his father was dead at your hand. "

"That is no reply to my question. With whom do I hold converse?"

"I am Konrad, Count of Hochstaden, and your Lordship's vassal. "

"I am glad to learn of your humility and pleased to know that I neednot call your vassalage to your memory, but I fear that in the darknessyou have less regard for either than you now pretend in the light ofday. "

"In truth, my Lord, you grievously mistake me, for in the darkness Istood your friend. I assure you I had less than a thousand rascals atmy back last night, and yet nothing would appease them but that theymust fling themselves upon your whole force, had I not held them incheck. I told them you probably outnumbered us ten to one, but theyheld that one man who had gone through an eastern campaign was worthten honest burghers from Cologne, which indeed I verily believe, andfor the fact that you were not swept into the Rhine early this morningyou have me and my peaceful nature to thank, my Lord. Perhaps you heardthe rogues discussing the matter with me before dawn, and going angrilyhome when I so ordered them. "

"A man had need to be dead and exceedingly deep in his grave not tohave heard them" growled the Archbishop. 

"And there they stand at this moment, my Lord, doubtless grumblingamong themselves that I am so long giving the signal they expect, whichwill permit them to finish this morning's work. The men I can generallycontrol, but my captains are a set of impious cut-throats who wouldsooner sack an Archbishop's palace than listen to the niceties of thefeudal law which protects over-lords from such pleasantries. "

The Archbishop turned on his horse and gazed on the huge bulk ofSchloss Hochstaden, and there a wonderful sight met his eye. The wallsbristled with armed men, the sun glistening on their polishedbreastplates like the shimmer of summer lightning. The Archbishopturned toward the gate again, as though the sight he beheld broughtsmall comfort to him. 

"What is your desire?" he said with less of truculence in his tone thanthere had been at the beginning. 

"I hold it a scandal, " said the Count gravely, "that a prince of theChurch should assault Christian walls while their owner is absent inthe East venturing his life in the uplifting of the true faith. You cannow retreat without loss of prestige; six hours hence that may beimpossible. I ask you then to give your assurance to the Lady ofBernstein, pledging your knightly word that she will be no longerthreatened by you, and I ask you to withdraw your forces immediately toCologne where it is likely they will find something to do if BaronHeinrich, as I strongly suspect, marches directly on that city. "

"I shall follow the advice of my humble vassal, for the strength of aprince is in the sage counsel of his war lords. Will you escort thelady to the battlements?"

Then did Count Konrad von Hochstaden see that his cause was won, anddescending he came up again, leading the Lady Brunhilda by the hand. 

"I have to acquaint you, madame, " said the Archbishop, "that the siegeis ended, and I give you my assurance that you will not again bebeleaguered by my forces. "

The Lady of Bernstein bowed, but made no answer. She blushed deeplythat the Count still held her hand, but she did not withdraw it. 

"And now, my Lord Archbishop, that this long-held contention isamicably adjusted, " began Von Hochstaden, "I crave that you bestow onus two your gracious blessing, potentate of the Church, for this ladyis to be my wife"

"What!" cried Brunhilda in sudden anger, snatching her hand from his, "do you think you can carry me by storm as you did my castle, withouteven asking my consent?"

"Lady of my heart, " said Konrad tenderly, "I did ask your consent. Myeyes questioned in the Rittersaal and yours gave kindly answer. Isthere then no language but that which is spoken? I offer you herebefore the world my open hand; is it to remain empty?"

He stood before her with outstretched palm, and she gazed steadfastlyat him, breathing quickly. At length a smile dissolved the sternness ofher charming lips, she glanced at his extended hand and said:

"'Twere a pity so firm and generous a hand should remain tenantless, "and with that she placed her palm in his. 

The Archbishop smiled grimly at this lovers' by-play, then solemnly, with upraised hands, invoked God's blessing upon them. 

THE LONG LADDER

Every fortress has one traitor within its walls; the Schloss Eltz hadtwo. In this, curiously enough, lay its salvation; for as some Easternpoisons when mixed neutralise each other and form combined a harmlessfluid, so did the two traitors unwittingly react, the one upon theother, to the lasting glory of Schloss Eltz, which has never beencaptured to this day. 

It would be difficult to picture the amazement of Heinrich vonRichenbach when he sat mute upon his horse at the brow of the woodedheights and, for the first time, beheld the imposing pile which hadbeen erected by the Count von Eltz. It is startling enough to comesuddenly upon a castle where no castle should be; but to find acrossone's path an erection that could hardly have been the product of otheragency than the lamp of Aladdin was stupefying, and Heinrich drew thesunburned back of his hand across his eyes, fearing that they wereplaying him a trick; then seeing the wondrous vision still before him, he hastily crossed himself, an action performed somewhat clumsilythrough lack of practice, so that he might ward off enchantment, if, asseemed likely, that mountain of pinnacles was the work of the devil, and not placed there, stone on stone, by the hand of man. But in spiteof crossing and the clearing of his eyes, Eltz Castle remained firmlyseated on its stool of rock, and, when his first astonishment hadsomewhat abated, Von Richenbach, who was a most practical man, began torealise that here, purely by a piece of unbelievable good luck, thevery secret he had been sent to unravel had been stumbled upon, thesolving of which he had given up in despair, returning empty-handed tohis grim master, the redoubtable Archbishop Baldwin of Treves. 

It was now almost two months since the Archbishop had sent him on themission to the Rhine from which he was returning as wise as he went, well knowing that a void budget would procure him scant welcome fromhis imperious ruler. Here, at least, was important matter for thewarlike Elector's stern consideration--an apparently impregnablefortress secretly built in the very centre of the Archbishop's domain;and knowing that the Count von Eltz claimed at least partialjurisdiction over this district, more especially that portion known asthe Eltz-thal, in the middle of which this mysterious citadel had beenerected. Heinrich rightly surmised that its construction had been thework of this ancient enemy of the Archbishop. 

Two months before, or nearly so, Heinrich von Richenbach had beensummoned into the presence of the Lion of Treves at his palace in thatvenerable city. When Baldwin had dismissed all within the room saveonly Von Richenbach, the august prelate said:

"It is my pleasure that you take horse at once and proceed to my cityof Mayence on the Rhine, where I am governor. You will inspect thegarrison there and report to me. "

Heinrich bowed, but said nothing. 

"You will then go down the Rhine to Elfield, where my new castle isbuilt, and I shall be pleased to have an opinion regarding it. "

The Archbishop paused, and again his vassal bowed and remained silent. 

"It is my wish that you go without escort, attracting as littleattention as possible, and perhaps it may be advisable to return by thenorthern side of the Moselle, but some distance back from the river, asthere are barons on the banks who might inquire your business, andregret their curiosity when they found they questioned a messenger ofmine. We should strive, during our brief sojourn on this inquisitiveearth, to put our fellow creatures to as little discomfort aspossible. "

Von Richenbach saw that he was being sent on a secret and possiblydangerous mission, and he had been long enough in the service of thecrafty Archbishop to know that the reasons ostensibly given for hisjourney were probably not those which were the cause of it, so hecontented himself with inclining his head for the third time andholding his peace. The Archbishop regarded him keenly for a fewmoments, a derisive smile parting his firm lips; then said, as if hiswords were an afterthought:

"Our faithful vassal, the Count von Eltz, is, if I mistake not, aneighbor of ours at Elfield?"

The sentence took, through its inflection, the nature of a query, andfor the first time Heinrich von Richenbach ventured reply. 

"He is, my Lord. "

The Archbishop raised his eyes to the vaulted ceiling, and seemed for atime lost in thought, saying, at last, apparently in soliloquy, ratherthan by direct address:

"Count von Eltz has been suspiciously quiet of late for a man soimpetuous by nature. It might be profitable to know what interests himduring this unwonted seclusion. It behooves us to acquaint ourselveswith the motives that actuate a neighbour, so that, opportunityarising, we may aid him with counsel or encouragement. If, therefore, it should so chance that, in the intervals of your inspection ofgovernorship or castle, aught regarding the present occupation of thenoble count comes to your ears, the information thus received mayperhaps remain in your memory until you return to Treves. "

The Archbishop withdrew his eyes from the ceiling, the lids loweringover them, and flashed a keen, rapier-like glance at the man who stoodbefore him. 

Heinrich von Richenbach made low obeisance and replied:

"Whatever else fades from my memory, my Lord, news of Count von Eltzshall remain there. "

"See that you carry nothing upon you, save your commission asinspector, which my secretary will presently give to you. If you arecaptured it will be enough to proclaim yourself my emissary and exhibityour commission in proof of the peaceful nature of your embassy. Andnow to horse and away. "

Thus Von Richenbach, well mounted, with his commission legiblyengrossed in clerkly hand on parchment, departed on the Roman road forMayence, but neither there nor at Elfield could he learn more of Countvon Eltz than was already known at Treves, which was to the effect thatthis nobleman, repenting him, it was said, of his stubborn oppositionto the Archbishop, had betaken himself to the Crusades in expiation ofhis wrong in shouldering arms against one who was both his temporal andspiritual over-lord; and this rumour coming to the ears of Baldwin, hadthe immediate effect of causing that prince of the Church to despatchVon Richenbach with the purpose of learning accurately what his oldenemy was actually about; for Baldwin, being an astute man, placedlittle faith in sudden conversion. 

When Heinrich von Richenbach returned to Treves he was immediatelyushered into the presence of his master. 

"You have been long away, " said the Archbishop, a frown on his brow. "Itrust the tidings you bring offer some slight compensation for thedelay. " Then was Heinrich indeed glad that fate, rather than his ownperspicacity, had led his horse to the heights above Schloss Eltz. 

"The tidings I bring, my Lord, are so astounding that I could notreturn to Treves without verifying them. This led me far afield, for myinformation was of the scantiest; but I am now enabled to vouch for thetruth of my well-nigh incredible intelligence. "

"Have the good deeds of the Count then translated him bodily to heaven, as was the case with Elijah? Unloose your packet, man, and waste not somuch time in the vaunting of your wares. "

"The Count von Eltz, my Lord, has built a castle that is part palace, part fortress, and in its latter office well-nigh impregnable. "

"Yes? And where?"

"In the Eltz-thal, my Lord, a league and a quarter from the Moselle. "

"Impossible!" cried Baldwin, bringing his clenched fist down on thetable before him. "Impossible! You have been misled, Von Richenbach. "

"Indeed, my Lord, I had every reason to believe so until I viewed thestructure with my own eyes. "

"This, then, is the fruit of Von Eltz's contrition! To build a castlewithout permission within my jurisdiction, and defy me in my owndomain. By the Coat, he shall repent his temerity and wish himselftwice over a captive of the Saracen ere I have done with him. I willdespatch at once an army to the Eltz-thal, and there shall not be leftone stone upon another when it returns. "

"My Lord, I beseech you not to move with haste in this matter. Iftwenty thousand men marched up to the Eltz-thal they could not take thecastle. No such schloss was ever built before, and none to equal itwill ever be built again, unless, as I suspect to be the case in thisinstance, the devil lends his aid. "

"Oh, I doubt not that Satan built it, but he took the form and name ofCount von Eltz while doing so, " replied the Archbishop, his naturalanger at this bold defiance of his power giving way to his habitualcaution, which, united with his resources and intrepidity, had much todo with his success. "You hold the castle, then, to be unassailable. Isits garrison so powerful, or its position so strong?"

"The strength of its garrison, my Lord, is in its weakness; I doubt ifthere are a score of men in the castle, but that is all the better, asthere are fewer mouths to feed in case of siege, and the Count has somefour years' supplies in his vaults. The schloss is situated on a lofty, unscalable rock that stands in the centre of a valley, as if it were afortress itself. Then the walls of the building are of unbelievableheight, with none of the round or square towers which castles usuallypossess, but having in plenty conical turrets, steep roofs, and thelike, which give it the appearance of a fairy palace in a wide, enchanted amphitheatre of green wooded hills, making the Schloss Eltz, all in all, a most miraculous sight, such as a man may not behold inmany years' travel. "

"In truth, Von Richenbach, " said the Archbishop, with a twinkle in hiseye, "we should have made you one of our scrivening monks rather than awarrior, so marvellously do you describe the entrancing handiwork ofour beloved vassal, the Count von Eltz. Perhaps you think it pity todestroy so fascinating a creation. "

"Not so, my Lord. I have examined the castle well, and I think were Ientrusted with the commission I could reduce it. "

"Ah, now we have modesty indeed! You can take the stronghold where Ishould fail. "

"I did not say that you would fail, my Lord. I said that twentythousand men marching up the valley would fail, unless they werecontent to sit around the castle for four years or more. "

"Answered like a courtier, Heinrich. What, then, is your method ofattack?"

"On the height to the east, which is the nearest elevation to thecastle, a strong fortress might be built, that would in a measurecommand the Schloss Eltz, although I fear the distance would be toogreat for any catapult to fling stones within its courtyard. Still, wemight thus have complete power over the entrance to the schloss, and nomore provender could be taken in. "

"You mean, then, to wear Von Eltz out? That would be as slow a methodas besiegement. "

"To besiege would require an army, my Lord, and would have thisdisadvantage, that, besides withdrawing from other use so many of yourmen, rumour would spread abroad that the Count held you in check. Thebuilding of a fortress on the height would merely be doing what theCount has already done, and it could be well garrisoned by twoscore menat the most, vigilant night and day to take advantage of any movementof fancied security to force way into the castle. There need be noformal declaration of hostilities, but a fortress built in allamicableness, to which the Count could hardly object, as you would bebut following his own example. "

"I understand. We build a house near his for neighbourliness. There isindeed much in your plan that commends itself to me, but I confess aliking for the underlying part of a scheme. Remains there anything elsewhich you have not unfolded to me?"

"Placing in command of the new fortress a stout warrior who was at thesame time a subtle man----"

"In other words, thyself, Heinrich--well, what then?"

"There is every chance that such a general may learn much of the castlefrom one or other of its inmates. It might be possible that, throughneglect or inadvertence, the drawbridge would be left down some nightand the portcullis raised. In other words, the castle, impervious todirect assault, may fall by strategy. "

"Excellent, excellent, my worthy warrior! I should dearly love to havecaptain of mine pay such an informal visit to his estimable Countship. We shall build the fortress you suggest, and call it Baldwineltz. Youshall be its commander, and I now bestow upon you Schloss Eltz, theonly proviso being that you are to enter into possession of it bywhatever means you choose to use. "

Thus the square, long castle of Baldwineltz came to be builded, andthus Heinrich von Richenbach, brave, ingenious, and unscrupulous, wasinstalled captain of it, with twoscore men to keep him company, together with a plentiful supply of gold to bribe whomsoever he thoughtworth suborning. 

Time went on without much to show for its passing, and Heinrich beganto grow impatient, for his attempt at corrupting the garrison showedthat negotiations were not without their dangers. Stout Baumstein, captain of the gate, was the man whom Heinrich most desired topurchase, for Baumstein could lessen the discipline at the portal ofSchloss Eltz without attracting undue attention. But he was anirascible German, whose strong right arm was readier than his tongue;and when Heinrich's emissary got speech with him, under a flag oftruce, whispering that much gold might be had for a casual raising ofthe portcullis and lowering of the drawbridge, Baumstein at first couldnot understand his purport, for he was somewhat thick in the skull; butwhen the meaning of the message at last broke in upon him, he wasted notime in talk, but, raising his ever-ready battle-axe, clove the Envoyto the midriff. The Count von Eltz himself, coming on the scene at thismoment, was amazed at the deed, and sternly demanded of his gate-captain why he had violated the terms of a parley. Baumstein's slownessof speech came near to being the undoing of him, for at first he merelysaid that such creatures as the messenger should not be allowed to liveand that an honest soldier was insulted by holding converse with him;whereupon the Count, having nice notions, picked up in politecountries, regarding the sacredness of a flag of truce, was about tohang Baumstein, scant though the garrison was, and even then it was butby chance that the true state of affairs became known to the Count. Hewas on the point of sending back the body of the Envoy to VonRichenbach with suitable apology for his destruction and offer ofrecompense, stating that the assailant would be seen hanging outsidethe gate, when Baumstein said that while he had no objection to beinghanged if it so pleased the Count, he begged to suggest that the goldwhich the Envoy brought with him to bribe the garrison should be takenfrom the body before it was returned, and divided equally among theguard at the gate. As Baumstein said this, he was taking off his helmetand unbuckling his corselet, thus freeing his neck for the greaterconvenience of the castle hangman. When the Count learned that thestout stroke of the battle-axe was caused by the proffer of a bribe forthe betraying of the castle, he, to the amazement of all present, begged the pardon of Baumstein; for such a thing was never before knownunder the feudal law that a noble should apologise to a common man, andBaumstein himself muttered that he wot not what the world was coming toif a mighty Lord might not hang an underling if it so pleased him, cause or no cause. 

The Count commanded the body to be searched, and finding thereon somefive bags of gold, distributed the coin among his men, as a goodcommander should, sending back the body to Von Richenbach, with a mostpolite message to the effect that as the Archbishop evidently intendedthe money to be given to the garrison, the Count had endeavoured tocarry out his Lordship's wishes, as was the duty of an obedient vassal. But Heinrich, instead of being pleased with the courtesy of themessage, broke into violent oaths, and spread abroad in the land thefalse saying that Count von Eltz had violated a flag of truce. 

But there was one man in the castle who did not enjoy a share of thegold, because he was not a warrior, but a servant of the Countess. Thiswas a Spaniard named Rego, marvellously skilled in the concocting ofvarious dishes of pastry and other niceties such as high-born ladieshave a fondness for. Rego was disliked by the Count, and, in fact, byall the stout Germans who formed the garrison, not only because it isthe fashion for men of one country justly to abhor those of another, foreigners being in all lands regarded as benighted creatures whom wemarvel that the Lord allows to live when he might so easily havepeopled the whole world with men like unto ourselves; but, aside fromthis, Rego had a cat-like tread, and a furtive eye that never metanother honestly as an eye should. The count, however, endured thepresence of this Spaniard, because the Countess admired his skill inconfections, then unknown in Germany, and thus Rego remained under herorders. 

The Spaniard's eye glittered when he saw the yellow lustre of the gold, and his heart was bitter that he did not have a share of it. He soonlearned where it came from, and rightly surmised that there was more inthe same treasury, ready to be bestowed for similar service to thatwhich the unready Baumstein had so emphatically rejected; so Rego, watching his opportunity, stole away secretly to Von Richenbach andoffered his aid in the capture of the castle, should suitablecompensation be tendered him. Heinrich questioned him closely regardingthe interior arrangements of the castle, and asked him if he could findany means of letting down the drawbridge and raising the portcullis inthe night. This, Rego said quite truly, was impossible, as the guard atthe gate, vigilant enough before, had become much more so since theattempted bribery of the Captain. There was, however, one way by whichthe castle might be entered, and that entailed a most perilousadventure. There was a platform between two of the lofty, steep roofs, so elevated that it gave a view over all the valley. On this platform asentinel was stationed night and day, whose duty was that of outlook, like a man on the cross-trees of a ship. From this platform a stair, narrow at the top, but widening as it descended to the lower stories, gave access to the whole castle. If, then, a besieger constructed aladder of enormous length, it might be placed at night on the narrowledge of rock far below this platform, standing almost perpendicular, and by this means man after man would be enabled to reach the roof ofthe castle, and, under the guidance of Rego, gain admittance to thelower rooms unsuspected. 

"But the sentinel?" objected Von Richenbach. 

"The sentinel I will myself slay. I will steal up behind him in thenight when you make your assault, and running my knife into his neck, fling him over the castle wall; then I shall be ready to guide you downinto the courtyard. "

Von Richenbach, remembering the sheer precipice of rock at the foot ofthe castle walls and the dizzy height of the castle roof above therock, could scarcely forbear a shudder at the thought of climbing sohigh on a shaky ladder, even if such a ladder could be made, of whichhe had some doubts. The scheme did not seem so feasible as the Spaniardappeared to imagine. 

"Could you not let down a rope ladder from the platform when you hadslain the sentinel, and thus allow us to climb by that?"

"It would be impossible for me to construct and conceal a contrivancestrong enough to carry more than one man at a time, even if I had thematerials, " said the wily Spaniard, whose thoughtfulness and ingenuityHeinrich could not but admire, while despising him as an oilyforeigner. "If you made the rope ladder there would be no method ofgetting it into Schloss Eltz; besides, it would need to be double thelength of a wooden ladder, for you can place your ladder at the foot ofthe ledge, then climb to the top of the rock, and, standing there, pullthe ladder up, letting the higher end scrape against the castle walluntil the lower end stands firm on the ledge of rock. Your whole troopcould then climb, one following another, so that there would be nodelay. "

Thus it was arranged, and then began and was completed the constructionof the longest and most wonderful ladder ever made in Germany oranywhere else, so far as history records. It was composed of numeroussmall ladders, spliced and hooped with iron bands by the castlearmourer. At a second visit, which Rego paid to Baldwineltz when theladder was completed, all arrangements were made and the necessarysignals agreed upon. 

It was the pious custom of those in the fortress of Baldwineltz to ringthe great bell on Saints' days and other festivals that called forspecial observance, because Von Richenbach conducted war on thestrictest principles, as a man knowing his duty both spiritual andtemporal. It was agreed that on the night of the assault, when it wasnecessary that Rego should assassinate the sentinel, the great bell ofthe fortress should be rung, whereupon the Spaniard was to hie himselfup the stair and send the watchman into another sphere of duty by meansof his dagger. The bell-ringing seems a perfectly justifiable device, and one that will be approved by all conspirators, for the sounding ofthe bell, plainly heard in Schloss Eltz, would cause no alarm, as itwas wont to sound at uncertain intervals, night and day, and was knownto give tongue only during moments allotted by the Church to devoutthoughts. But the good monk Ambrose, in setting down on parchment thechronicles of this time, gives it as his opinion that no prosperitycould have been expected in thus suddenly changing the functions of thebell from sacred duty to the furtherance of a secular object. Still, Ambrose was known to be a sympathiser with the house of Eltz, and, aside from this, a monk in his cell cannot be expected to take the sameview of military necessity that would commend itself to a warrior on abastion; therefore, much as we may admire Ambrose as an historian, weare not compelled to accept his opinions on military ethics. 

On the important night, which was of great darkness, made the moreintense by the black environment of densely-wooded hills whichsurrounded Schloss Eltz, the swarthy Spaniard became almost pale withanxiety as he listened for the solemn peal that was to be his signal. At last it tolled forth, and he, with knife to hand in his girdle, crept softly along the narrow halls to his fatal task. The interior ofSchloss Eltz is full of intricate passages, unexpected turnings, here afew steps up, there a few steps down, for all the world like a maze, inwhich even one knowing the castle might well go astray. At one of theturnings Rego came suddenly upon the Countess, who screamed at sight ofhim, and then recognising him said, half laughing, half crying, being anervous woman:

"Ah, Rego, thank heaven it is you! I am so distraught with the dolefulringing of that bell that I am frightened at the sound of my ownfootsteps. Why rings it so, Rego?"

"'Tis some Church festival, my Lady, which they, fighting for theArchbishop, are more familiar with than I, " answered the tremblingSpaniard, as frightened as the lady herself at the unexpected meeting. But the Countess was a most religious woman, well skilled in theobservances of her Church, and she replied:

"No, Rego. There is no cause for its dolorous music, and to-night thereseems to me something ominous and menacing in its tone, as if disasterimpended. "

"It may be the birthday of the Archbishop, my Lady, or of the Popehimself. "

"Our Holy Father was born in May, and the Archbishop in November. Ah, Iwould that this horrid strife were done with! But our safety lies inHeaven, and if our duty be accomplished here on earth, we should havenaught to fear; yet I tremble as if great danger lay before me. Come, Rego, to the chapel, and light the candles at the altar. "

The Countess passed him, and for one fateful moment Rego's hand hoveredover his dagger, thinking to strike the lady dead at his feet; but therisk was too great, for there might at any time pass along the corridorone of the servants, who would instantly raise the alarm and bringdisaster upon him. He dare not disobey. So grinding his teeth inimpotent rage and fear, he followed his mistress to the chapel, and, asquickly as he could, lit one candle after another, until the usualnumber burned before the sacred image. The Countess was upon her kneesas he tried to steal softly from the room. "Nay, Rego, " she said, raising her bended head, "light them all to-night. Hearken! That ravenbell has ceased even as you lighted the last candle. "

The Countess, as has been said was a devout lady, and there stood anunusual number of candles before the altar, several of which burnedconstantly, but only on notable occasions were all the candles lighted. As Rego hesitated, not knowing what to do in this crisis, the ladyrepeated: "Light _all_ the candles to-night, Rego. "

"You said yourself, my Lady, " murmured the agonised man, cold sweatbreaking out on his forehead, "that this was not a Saint's day. "

"Nevertheless, Rego, " persisted the Countess, surprised that even afavourite servant should thus attempt to thwart her will, "I ask you tolight each candle. Do so at once. "

She bowed her head as one who had spoken the final word, and again herfate trembled in the balance; but Rego heard the footsteps of the Countentering the gallery above him, that ran across the end of the chapel, and he at once resumed the lighting of the candles, making less speedin his eagerness than if he had gone about his task with more care. 

The monk Ambrose draws a moral from this episode, which is sufficientlyobvious when after-events have confirmed it, but which we need not herepause to consider, when an episode of the most thrilling nature isgoing forward on the lofty platform on the roof of Eltz Castle. 

The sentinel paced back and forward within his narrow limit, listeningto the depressing and monotonous tolling of the bell and cursing it, for the platform was a lonely place and the night of inky darkness. Atlast the bell ceased, and he stood resting on his long pike, enjoyingthe stillness, and peering into the blackness surrounding him, whensuddenly he became aware of a grating, rasping sound below, as if someone were attempting to climb the precipitous beetling cliff of castlewall and slipping against the stones. His heart stood still with fear, for he knew it could be nothing human. An instant later somethingappeared over the parapet that could be seen only because it wasblacker than the distant dark sky against which it was outlined. Itrose and rose until the sentinel saw it was the top of a ladder, whichwas even more amazing than if the fiend himself had scrambled over thestone coping, for we know the devil can go anywhere, while a laddercannot. But the soldier was a common-sense man, and, dark as was thenight, he knew that, tall as such a ladder must be, there seemed alikelihood that human power was pushing it upward. He touched it withhis hands and convinced himself that there was nothing supernaturalabout it. The ladder rose inch by inch, slowly, for it must have beenno easy task for even twoscore men to raise it thus with ropes or otherdevices, especially when the bottom of it neared the top of the ledge. The soldier knew he should at once give the alarm: but he was thesecond traitor in the stronghold, corrupted by the sight of theglittering gold he had shared, and only prevented from selling himselfbecause the rigours of military rule did not give him opportunity ofgoing to Baldwineltz as the less exacting civilian duties had allowedthe Spaniard to do and thus market his ware. So the sentry made nooutcry, but silently prepared a method by which he could negotiate withadvantage to himself when the first head appeared above the parapet. Hefixed the point of his lance against a round of the ladder, and whenthe leading warrior, who was none other than Heinrich von Richenbach, himself came slowly and cautiously to the top of the wall, thesentinel, exerting all his strength, pushed the lance outward, and thetop of the ladder with it, until it stood nearly perpendicular some twoyards back from the wall. 

"In God's name, what are you about? Is that you, Rego?"

The soldier replied, calmly:

"Order your men not to move, and do not move yourself, until I havesome converse with you. Have no fear if you are prepared to accept myterms; otherwise you will have ample time to say your prayers beforeyou reach the ground, for the distance is great. "

Von Richenbach, who now leaned over the top round, suspended thusbetween heaven and earth, grasped the lance with both hands, so thatthe ladder might not be thrust beyond the perpendicular. In quiveringvoice he passed down the word that no man was to shift foot or handuntil he had made bargain with the sentinel who held them in suchextreme peril. 

"What terms do you propose to me, soldier?" he asked, breathlessly. 

"I will conduct you down to the courtyard, and when you have surprisedand taken the castle you will grant me safe conduct and give me fivebags of gold equal in weight to those offered to our captain. "

"All that will I do and double the treasure. Faithfully and truly do Ipromise it. "

"You pledge me your knightly word, and swear also by the holy coat ofTreves?"

"I pledge and swear. And pray you be careful; incline the ladder yet alittle more toward the wall. "

"I trust to your honour, " said the traitor, for traitors love to prateof honour, "and will now admit you to the castle; but until we are inthe courtyard there must be silence. "

"Incline the ladder gently, for it is so weighted that if it comesuddenly against the wall, it may break in the middle. "

At this supreme moment, as the sentinel was preparing to bring themcautiously to the wall, when all was deep silence, there crept swiftlyand noiselessly through the trap-door the belated Spaniard. His catlikeeyes beheld the shadowy form of the sentinel bending apparently overthe parapet, but they showed him nothing beyond. With the speed andprecipitation of a springing panther, the Spaniard leaped forward anddrove his dagger deep into the neck of his comrade, who, with agurgling cry, plunged headlong forward, and down the precipice, thrusting his lance as he fell. The Spaniard's dagger went with thedoomed sentinel, sticking fast in his throat, and its presence therepassed a fatal noose around the neck of Rego later, for they wronglythought the false sentinel had saved the castle and that the Spaniardhad murdered a faithful watchman. 

Rego leaned panting over the stone coping, listening for the thud ofthe body. Then was he frozen with horror when the still night air wassplit with the most appalling shriek of combined human voice in anagony of fear that ever tortured the ear of man. The shriek ended in aterrorising crash far below, and silence again filled the valley. 

"GENTLEMEN: THE KING!"

The room was large, but with a low ceiling, and at one end of thelengthy, broad apartment stood a gigantic fireplace, in which washeaped a pile of blazing logs, whose light, rather than that of severallanterns hanging from nails along the timbered walls, illuminated thefaces of the twenty men who sat within. Heavy timbers, blackened withage and smoke, formed the ceiling. The long, low, diamond-paned windowin the middle of the wall opposite the door, had been shuttered ascompletely as possible, but less care than usual was taken to preventthe light from penetrating into the darkness beyond, for the night wasa stormy and tempestuous one, the rain lashing wildly against thehunting châlet, which, in its time, had seen many a merry hunting partygathered under its ample roof. 

Every now and then a blast of wind shook the wooden edifice from garretto foundation, causing a puff of smoke to come down the chimney, andthe white ashes to scatter in little whirlwinds over the hearth. On theopposite side from the shuttered window was the door, heavily barred. Along, oaken table occupied the centre of the room, and round this ingroups, seated and standing, were a score of men, all with swords attheir sides; bearing, many of them, that air of careless hauteur whichis supposed to be a characteristic of noble birth. 

Flagons were scattered upon the table, and a barrel of wine stood in acorner of the room farthest from the fireplace, but it was evident thatthis was no ordinary drinking party, and that the assemblage wasbrought about by some high purport, of a nature so serious that itstamped anxiety on every brow. No servants were present, and each manwho wished a fresh flagon of wine had to take his measure to the barrelin the corner and fill for himself. 

The hunting châlet stood in a wilderness, near the confines of thekingdom of Alluria, twelve leagues from the capital, and was theproperty of Count Staumn, whose tall, gaunt form stood erect at thehead of the table as he silently listened to the discussion which everymoment was becoming more and more heated, the principal speaking partsbeing taken by the obstinate, rough-spoken Baron Brunfels, on the onehand, and the crafty, fox-like ex-Chancellor Steinmetz on the other. 

"I tell you, " thundered Baron Brunfels, bringing his fist down on thetable, "I will not have the King killed. Such a proposal goes beyondwhat was intended when we banded ourselves together. The King is afool, so let him escape like a fool. I am a conspirator, but not anassassin. "

"It is justice rather than assassination, " said the ex-Chancellorsuavely, as if his tones were oil and the Baron's boisterous talk weretroubled waters. 

"Justice!" cried the Baron, with great contempt. "You have learned thatcant word in the Cabinet of the King himself, before he thrust you out. He eternally prates of justice, yet, much as I loathe him, I have nowish to compass his death, either directly or through gabbling ofjustice. "

"Will you permit me to point out the reason that induces me to believehis continued exemption, and State policy, will not run together?"replied the advocate of the King's death. "If Rudolph escape, he willtake up his abode in a neighbouring territory, and there willinevitably follow plots and counter-plots for his restoration--thusAlluria will be kept in a state of constant turmoil. There willdoubtless grow up within the kingdom itself a party sworn to hisrestoration. We shall thus be involved in difficulties at home andabroad, and all for what? Merely to save the life of a man who is anenemy to each of us. We place thousands of lives in jeopardy, renderour own positions insecure, bring continual disquiet upon the State, when all might be avoided by the slitting of one throat, even thoughthat throat belong to the King. "

It was evident that the lawyer's persuasive tone brought many to hisside, and the conspirators seemed about evenly divided upon thequestion of life or death to the King. The Baron was about to break outagain with some strenuousness in favour of his own view of the matter, when Count Staumn made a proposition that was eagerly accepted by allsave Brunfels himself. 

"Argument, " said Count Staumn, "is ever the enemy of good comradeship. Let us settle the point at once and finally, with the dice-box. BaronBrunfels, you are too seasoned a gambler to object to such a mode ofterminating a discussion. Steinmetz, the law, of which you are sodistinguished a representative, is often compared to a lottery, so youcannot look with disfavour upon a method that is conclusive, and asreasonably fair as the average decision of a judge. Let us throw, therefore, for the life of the King. I, as chairman of this meeting, will be umpire. Single throws, and the highest number wins. BaronBrunfels, you will act for the King, and, if you win, may bestow uponthe monarch his life. Chancellor Steinmetz stands for the State. If hewins, then is the King's life forfeit. Gentlemen, are you agreed?"

"Agreed, agreed, " cried the conspirators, with practically unanimousvoice. 

Baron Brunfels grumbled somewhat, but when the dice-horn was brought, and he heard the rattle of the bones within the leathern cylinder, thelight of a gambler's love shone in his eyes, and he made no furtherprotest. 

The ex-Chancellor took the dice-box in his hand, and was about toshake, when there came suddenly upon them three stout raps against thedoor, given apparently with the hilt of a sword. Many not alreadystanding, started to their feet, and nearly all looked one upon anotherwith deep dismay in their glances. The full company of conspirators waspresent; exactly a score of men knew of the rendezvous, and now thetwenty-first man outside was beating the oaken panels. The knocking wasrepeated, but now accompanied by the words:

"Open, I beg of you. "

Count Staumn left the table and, stealthily as a cat, approached thedoor. 

"Who is there?" he asked. 

"A wayfarer, weary and wet, who seeks shelter from the storm. "

"My house is already filled, " spoke up the Count. "I have no room foranother. "

"Open the door peacefully, " cried the outlander, "and do not put me tothe necessity of forcing it. "

There was a ring of decision in the voice which sent quick pallor tomore than one cheek. Ex-Chancellor Steinmetz rose to his feet withchattering teeth, and terror in his eyes; he seemed to recognise thetones of the invisible speaker. Count Staumn looked over his shoulderat the assemblage with an expression that plainly said: "What am I todo?"

"In the fiend's name, " hissed Baron Brunfels, taking the precaution, however, to speak scarce above his breath, "if you are so frightenedwhen it comes to a knock at the door, what will it be when the realknocks are upon you. Open, Count, and let the insistent stranger in. Whether he leave the place alive or no, there are twenty men here toanswer. "

The Count undid the fastenings and threw back the door. There entered atall man completely enveloped in a dark cloak that was dripping wet. Drawn over his eyes was a hunter's hat of felt, with a droopingbedraggled feather on it. 

The door was immediately closed and barred behind him, and thestranger, pausing a moment when confronted by so many inquiring eyes, flung off his cloak, throwing it over the back of a chair; then heremoved his hat with a sweep, sending the raindrops flying. Theintriguants gazed at him, speechless, with varying emotions. They sawbefore them His Majesty, Rudolph, King of Alluria. 

If the King had any suspicion of his danger, he gave no token of it. Onhis smooth, lofty forehead there was no trace of frown, and no sign offear. His was a manly figure, rather over, than under, six feet inheight; not slim and gaunt, like Count Staumn, nor yet stout to excess, like Baron Brunfels. The finger of Time had touched with frost the hairat his temples, and there were threads of white in his pointed beard, but his sweeping moustache was still as black as the night from whichhe came. 

His frank, clear, honest eyes swept the company, resting momentarily oneach, then he said in a firm voice, without the suspicion of a tremorin it: "Gentlemen, I give you good evening, and although thehospitality of Count Staumn has needed spurring, I lay that not upagainst him, because I am well aware his apparent reluctance arosethrough the unexpectedness of my visit; and, if the Count will act ascup-bearer, we will drown all remembrance of a barred door in a flagonof wine, for, to tell truth, gentlemen, I have ridden hard in order tohave the pleasure of drinking with you. "

As the King spoke these ominous words, he cast a glance of piercingintensity upon the company, and more than one quailed under it. Hestrode to the fireplace, spurs jingling as he went, and stood with hisback to the fire, spreading out his hands to the blaze. Count Staumnleft the bolted door, took an empty flagon from the shelf, filled it atthe barrel in the corner, and, with a low bow, presented the brimmingmeasure to the King. 

Rudolph held aloft his beaker of Burgundy, and, as he did so, spoke ina loud voice that rang to the beams of the ceiling:

"Gentlemen, I give you a suitable toast. May none here gatheredencounter a more pitiless storm than that which is raging without!"

With this he drank off the wine, and, inclining his head slightly tothe Count, returned the flagon. No one, save the King, had spoken sincehe entered. Every word he had uttered seemed charged with doublemeaning and brought to the suspicious minds of his hearers visions of atrysting place surrounded by troops, and the King standing there, playing with them, as a tiger plays with its victims. His easyconfidence appalled them. 

When first he came in, several who were seated remained so, but one byone they rose to their feet, with the exception of Baron Brunfels, although he, when the King gave the toast, also stood. It was clearenough their glances of fear were not directed towards the King, buttowards Baron Brunfels. Several pairs of eyes beseeched him in silentsupplication, but the Baron met none of these glances, for his gaze wasfixed upon the King. 

Every man present knew the Baron to be reckless of consequences;frankly outspoken, thoroughly a man of the sword, and a despiser ofdiplomacy. They feared that at any moment he might blurt out thepurport of the meeting, and more than one was thankful for the craftyex-Chancellor's planning, who throughout had insisted there should beno documentary evidence of their designs, either in their houses or ontheir persons. Some startling rumour must have reached the King's earto bring him thus unexpectedly upon them. 

The anxiety of all was that some one should persuade the King they weremerely a storm-besieged hunting party. They trembled in anticipation ofBrunfels' open candor, and dreaded the revealing of the real cause oftheir conference. There was now no chance to warn the Baron; a man whospoke his mind; who never looked an inch beyond his nose, even thoughhis head should roll off in consequence, and if a man does not valuehis own head, how can he be expected to care for the heads of hisneighbours?

"I ask you to be seated, " said the King, with a wave of the hand. 

Now, what should that stubborn fool of a Baron do but remain standing, when all but Rudolph and himself had seated themselves, thus drawingHis Majesty's attention directly towards him, and making a colloquybetween them well-nigh inevitable. Those next the ex-Chancellor werenudging him, in God's name, to stand also, and open whatever discussionthere must ensue between themselves and His Majesty, so that it mightbe smoothly carried on, but the Chancellor was ashen grey with fear, and his hand trembled on the table. 

"My Lord of Brunfels, " said the King, a smile hovering about his lips, "I see that I have interrupted you at your old pleasure of dicing;while requesting you to continue your game as though I had not joinedyou, may I venture to hope the stakes you play for are not high?"

Every one held his breath, awaiting with deepest concern the reply ofthe frowning Baron, and when it came growling forth, there was littlein it to ease their disquiet. 

"Your Majesty, " said Baron Brunfels, "the stakes are the highest that agambler may play for. "

"You tempt me, Baron, to guess that the hazard is a man's soul, but Isee that your adversary is my worthy ex-Chancellor, and as I shouldhesitate to impute to him the character of the devil, I am led, therefore, to the conclusion that you play for a human life. Whose lifeis in the cast, my Lord of Brunfels?"

Before the Baron could reply, ex-Chancellor Steinmetz arose, with someindecision, to his feet. He began in a trembling voice:

"I beg your gracious permission to explain the reason of our gathering--"

"Herr Steinmetz, " cried the King sternly, "when I desire yourinterference I shall call for it; and remember this, Herr Steinmetz;the man who begins a game must play it to the end, even though he findsluck running against him. "

The ex-Chancellor sat down again, and drew his hand across his dampforehead. 

"Your Majesty, " spoke up the Baron, a ring of defiance in his voice, "Ispeak not for my comrades, but for myself. I begin no game that I fearto finish. We were about dice in order to discover whether Your Majestyshould live or die. "

A simultaneous moan seemed to rise from the assembled traitors. Thesmile returned to the King's lips. 

"Baron, " he said, "I have ever chided myself for loving you, for youwere always a bad example to weak and impressionable natures. Even whenyour overbearing, obstinate intolerance compelled me to dismiss youfrom the command of my army, I could not but admire your sturdyhonesty. Had I been able to graft your love of truth upon some of mycouncillors, what a valuable group of advisers might I have gatheredround me. But we have had enough of comedy and now tragedy sets in. Those who are traitors to their ruler must not be surprised if a doubletraitor is one of their number. Why am I here? Why do two hundredmounted and armed men surround this doomed châlet? Miserable wretches, what have you to say that judgment be not instantly passed upon you?"

"I have this to say, " roared Baron Brunfels, drawing his sword, "thatwhatever may befall this assemblage, you, at least, shall not live toboast of it. "

The King stood unmoved as Baron Brunfels was about to rush upon him, but Count Staumn and others threw themselves between the Baron and hisvictim, seeing in the King's words some intimation of mercy to be heldout to them, could but actual assault upon his person be prevented. 

"My Lord of Brunfels, " said the King, calmly, "sheath your sword. Yourancestors have often drawn it, but always for, and never against theoccupant of the Throne. Now, gentlemen, hear my decision, and abidefaithfully by it. Seat yourselves at the table, ten on each side, thedice-box between you. You shall not be disappointed, but shall play outthe game of life and death. Each dices with his opposite. He who throwsthe higher number escapes. He who throws the lower places his weaponson the empty chair, and stands against yonder wall to be executed forthe traitor that he is. Thus half of your company shall live, and theother half seek death with such courage as may be granted them. Do youagree, or shall I give the signal?"

With unanimous voice they agreed, all excepting Baron Brunfels, whospoke not. 

"Come, Baron, you and my devoted ex-Chancellor were about to play whenI came in. Begin the game. "

"Very well, " replied the Baron nonchalantly. "Steinmetz, the dice-boxis near your hand: throw. "

Some one placed the cubes in the leathern cup and handed it to the ex-Chancellor, whose shivering fingers relieved him of the necessity ofshaking the box. The dice rolled out on the table; a three, a four, anda one. Those nearest reported the total. 

"Eight!" cried the King. "Now, Baron. "

Baron Brunfels carelessly threw the dice into their receptacle, and amoment after the spotted bones clattered on the table. 

"Three sixes!" cried the Baron. "Lord, if I only had such luck when Iplayed for money!"

The ex-Chancellor's eyes were starting from his head, wild with fear. 

"We have three throws, " he screamed. 

"Not so, " said the King. 

"I swear I understood that we were to have three chances, " shriekedSteinmetz, springing from his chair. "But it is all illegal, and not tobe borne. I will not have my life diced away to please either King orcommons. "

He drew his sword and placed himself in an attitude of defence. 

"Seize him; disarm him, and bind him, " commanded the King. "There areenough gentlemen in this company to see that the rules of the game areadhered to. "

Steinmetz, struggling and pleading for mercy, was speedily overpoweredand bound; then his captors placed him against the wall, and resumedtheir seats at the table. The next man to be doomed was Count Staumn. The Count arose from his chair, bowed first to the King and then to theassembled company; drew forth his sword, broke it over his knee, andwalked to the wall of the condemned. 

The remainder of the fearful contest was carried on in silence, butwith great celerity, and before a quarter of an hour was past, ten menhad their backs to the wall, while the remaining ten were seated at thetable, some on one side, and some on the other. 

The men ranged against the wall were downcast, for however bravely asoldier may meet death in hostile encounter, it is a different matterto face it bound and helpless at the hands of an executioner. 

A shade of sadness seemed to overspread the countenance of the King, who still occupied the position he had taken at the first, with hisback towards the fire. 

Baron Brunfels shifted uneasily in his seat, and glanced now and thenwith compassion at his sentenced comrades. He was first to break thesilence. 

"Your Majesty, " he said, "I am always loath to see a coward die. Thewhimpering of your former Chancellor annoys me; therefore, will Igladly take his place, and give to him the life and liberty you perhapsdesign for me, if, in exchange, I have the privilege of speaking mymind regarding you and your precious Kingship. "

"Unbind the valiant Steinmetz, " said the King. "Speak your mind freely, Baron Brunfels. "

The Baron rose, drew sword from scabbard, and placed it on the table. 

"Your Majesty, backed by brute force, " he began, "has condemned todeath ten of your subjects. You have branded us as traitors, and suchwe are, and so find no fault with your sentence; merely recognisingthat you represent, for the time being, the upper hand. You havereminded me that my ancestors fought for yours, and that they neverturned their swords against their sovereign. Why, then, have our bladesbeen pointed towards your breast? Because, King Rudolph, you areyourself a traitor. You belong to the ruling class and have turned yourback upon your order. You, a King, have made yourself a brother to thedemagogue at the street corner; yearning for the cheap applause of theserf. You have shorn nobility of its privileges, and for what?"

"And for what?" echoed the King with rising voice. "For this; that theploughman on the plain may reap what he has sown; that the shepherd onthe hillside may enjoy the increase which comes to his flock; thattaxation may be light; that my nobles shall deal honestly with thepeople, and not use their position for thievery and depredation; thatthose whom the State honours by appointing to positions of trust shallcontent themselves with the recompense lawfully given, and refrain frompeculation; that peace and security shall rest on the land; and thatbloodthirsty swashbucklers shall not go up and down inciting the peopleto carnage and rapine under the name of patriotism. This is the task Iset myself when I came to the Throne. What fault have you to find withthe programme, my Lord Baron?"

"The simple fault that it is the programme of a fool, " replied theBaron calmly. "In following it you have gained the resentment of yournobles, and have not even received the thanks of those pitiable hinds, the ploughman in the valley or the shepherd on the hills. You haveimpoverished us so that the clowns may have a few more coins with whichto muddle in drink their already stupid brains. You are hated in cotand castle alike. You would not stand in your place for a moment, werenot an army behind you. Being a fool, you think the common people lovehonesty, whereas, they only curse that they have not a share in thethieving. "

"The people, " said the King soberly, "have been misled. Their ear hasbeen abused by calumny and falsehood. Had it been possible for mepersonally to explain to them the good that must ultimately accrue to aland where honesty rules, I am confident I would have had theirundivided support, even though my nobles deserted me. "

"Not so, Your Majesty; they would listen to you and cheer you, but whenthe next orator came among them, promising to divide the moon, and givea share to each, they would gather round his banner and hoot you fromthe kingdom. What care they for rectitude of government? They see nofarther than the shining florin that glitters on their palm. When yournobles were rich, they came to their castles among the people, andscattered their gold with a lavish hand. Little recked the peasants howit was got, so long as they shared it. 'There, ' they said, 'the coincomes to us that we have not worked for. '

"But now, with castles deserted, and retainers dismissed, the peoplehave to sweat to wring from traders the reluctant silver, and they cry:'Thus it was not in times of old, and this King is the cause of it, 'and so they spit upon your name, and shrug their shoulders, when yourhonesty is mentioned. And now, Rudolph of Alluria, I have done, and Igo the more jauntily to my death that I have had fair speech with youbefore the end. "

The King looked at the company, his eyes veiled with moisture. "Ithought, " he said slowly, "until to-night, that I had possessed somequalities at least of a ruler of men. I came here alone among you, andalthough there are brave men in this assembly, yet I had the orderingof events as I chose to order them, notwithstanding that odds stood ascore to one against me. I still venture to think that whateverfailures have attended my eight years' rule in Alluria arose fromfaults of my own, and not through imperfections in the plan, or want ofappreciation in the people. 

"I have now to inform you that if it is disastrous for a King to actwithout the co-operation of his nobles, it is equally disastrous forthem to plot against their leader. I beg to acquaint you with the factthat the insurrection so carefully prepared has broken out prematurely. My capital is in possession of the factions, who are industriouslycutting each other's throats to settle which one of two smooth-tonguedrascals shall be their President. While you were dicing to settle thefate of an already deposed King, and I was sentencing you to a mythicaldeath, we were all alike being involved in common ruin. 

"I have seen to-night more property in flames than all my savingsduring the last eight years would pay for. I have no horsemen at myback, and have stumbled here blindly, a much bedraggled fugitive, having lost my way in every sense of the phrase. And so I beg of thehospitality of Count Staumn another flagon of wine, and either a placeof shelter for my patient horse, who has been left too long in thestorm without, or else direction towards the frontier, whereupon myhorse and I will set out to find it. "

"Not towards the frontier!" cried Baron Brunfels, grasping again hissword and holding it aloft, "but towards the capital. We will surroundyou, and hew for you a way through that fickle mob back to the throneof your ancestors. "

Each man sprang to his weapon and brandished it above his head, while aringing cheer echoed to the timbered ceiling. 

"The King! The King!" they cried. 

Rudolph smiled and shook his head. 

"Not so, " he said. "I leave a thankless throne with a joy I find itimpossible to express. As I sat on horseback, half-way up the hillabove the burning city, and heard the clash of arms, I was filled withamazement to think that men would actually fight for the position ofruler of the people. Whether the insurrection has brought freedom tothemselves or not, the future alone can tell, but it has at leastbrought freedom to me. I now belong to myself. No man may questioneither my motives or my acts. Gentlemen, drink with me to the newPresident of Alluria, whoever he may be. "

But the King drank alone, none other raising flagon to lip. Then BaronBrunfels cried aloud:

"_Gentlemen: the King!_"

And never in the history of Alluria was a toast so heartily honoured. 

THE HOUR-GLASS

Bertram Eastford had intended to pass the shop of his old friend, thecuriosity dealer, into whose pockets so much of his money had gone fortrinkets gathered from all quarters of the globe. He knew it wasweakness on his part, to select that street when he might have takenanother, but he thought it would do no harm to treat himself to oneglance at the seductive window of the old curiosity shop, where thedealer was in the habit of displaying his latest acquisitions. Thewindow was never quite the same, and it had a continued fascination forBertram Eastford; but this time, he said to himself resolutely, hewould not enter, having, as he assured himself, the strength of mind toforego this temptation. However, he reckoned without his window, for init there was an old object newly displayed which caught his attentionas effectually as a half-driven nail arrests the hem of a cloak. On thecentral shelf of the window stood an hour-glass, its framework of somewood as black as ebony. He stood gazing at it for a moment, then turnedto the door and went inside, greeting the ancient shopman, whom he knewso well. 

"I want to look at the hour-glass you have in the window, " he said. 

"Ah, yes, " replied the curiosity dealer; "the cheap watch has driventhe hour-glass out of the commercial market, and we rarely pick up athing like that nowadays. " He took the hour-glass from the shelf in thewindow, reversed it, and placed it on a table. The ruddy sand began topour through into the lower receptacle in a thin, constant stream, asif it were blood that had been dried and powdered. Eastford watched theever-increasing heap at the bottom, rising conically, changing itsshape every moment, as little avalanches of the sand fell away from itsheightening sides. 

"There is no need for you to extol its antiquity, " said Eastford, witha smile. "I knew the moment I looked at it that such glasses are rare, and you are not going to find me a cheapening customer. "

"So far from over-praising it, " protested the shopman, "I was about tocall your attention to a defect. It is useless as a measurer of time. "

"It doesn't record the exact hour, then?" asked Eastford. 

"Well, I suppose the truth is, they were not very particular in the olddays, and time was not money, as it is now. It measures the hour withgreat accuracy, " the curio dealer went on--"that is, if you watch it;but, strangely enough, after it has run for half an hour, orthereabouts, it stops, because of some defect in the neck of the glass, or in the pulverising of the sand, and will not go again until theglass is shaken. "

The hour-glass at that moment verified what the old man said. The tinystream of sand suddenly ceased, but resumed its flow the moment itsowner jarred the frame, and continued pouring without furtherinterruption. 

"That is very singular, " said Eastford. "How do you account for it?"

"I imagine it is caused by some inequality in the grains of sand;probably a few atoms larger than the others come together at the neck, and so stop the percolation. It always does this, and, of course, Icannot remedy the matter because the glass is hermetically sealed. "

"Well, I don't want it as a timekeeper, so we will not allow thatdefect to interfere with the sale. How much do you ask for it?"

The dealer named his price, and Eastford paid the amount. 

"I shall send it to you this afternoon. "

"Thank you, " said the customer, taking his leave. 

That night in his room Bertram Eastford wrote busily until a late hour. When his work was concluded, he pushed away his manuscript with a sighof that deep contentment which comes to a man who has not wasted hisday. He replenished the open fire, drew his most comfortable arm-chairin front of it, took the green shade from his lamp, thus filling theluxurious apartment with a light that was reflected from armour andfrom ancient weapons standing in corners and hung along the walls. Helifted the paper-covered package, cut the string that bound it, andplaced the ancient hour-glass on his table, watching the thin stream ofsand which his action had set running. The constant, unceasing, steadydownfall seemed to hypnotise him. Its descent was as silent as thefootsteps of time itself. Suddenly it stopped, as it had done in theshop, and its abrupt ceasing jarred on his tingling nerves like anunexpected break in the stillness. He could almost imagine an unseenhand clasping the thin cylinder of the glass and throttling it. Heshook the bygone time-measurer and breathed again more steadily whenthe sand resumed its motion. Presently he took the glass from the tableand examined it with some attention. 

He thought at first its frame was ebony, but further inspectionconvinced him it was oak, blackened with age. On one round end wascarved rudely two hearts overlapping, and twined about them a pair ofserpents. 

"Now, I wonder what that's for?" murmured Eastford to himself. "Anattempt at a coat of arms, perhaps. "

There was no clue to the meaning of the hieroglyphics, and Eastford, with the glass balanced on his knee, watched the sand still running, the crimson thread sparkling in the lamplight. He fancied he sawdistorted reflections of faces in the convex glass, although his reasontold him they were but caricatures of his own. The great bell in thetower near by, with slow solemnity, tolled twelve. He counted itsmeasured strokes one by one, and then was startled by a decisive knockat his door. One section of his brain considered this visit untimely, another looked on it as perfectly usual, and while the two were arguingthe matter out, he heard his own voice cry: "Come in. "

The door opened, and the discussion between the government and theopposition in his mind ceased to consider the untimeliness of thevisit, for here, in the visitor himself, stood another problem. He wasa young man in military costume, his uniform being that of an officer. Eastford remembered seeing something like it on the stage, and knowinglittle of military affairs, thought perhaps the costume of the visitorbefore him indicated an officer in the Napoleonic war. 

"Good evening!" said the incomer. "May I introduce myself? I amLieutenant Sentore, of the regular army. "

"You are very welcome, " returned his host. "Will you be seated?"

"Thank you, no. I have but a few moments to stay. I have come for myhour-glass, if you will be good enough to let me have it. "

"_Your_ hour-glass?" ejaculated Eastford, in surprise. "I thinkyou labour under a misapprehension. The glass belongs to me; I boughtit to-day at the old curiosity shop in Finchmore Street. "

"Rightful possession of the glass would appear to rest with you, technically; but taking you to be a gentleman, I venture to believethat a mere statement of my priority of claim will appeal to you, eventhough it might have no effect on the minds of a jury of ourcountrymen. "

"You mean to say that the glass has been stolen from you and has beensold?"

"It has been sold undoubtedly over and over again, but never stolen, sofar as I have been able to trace its history. "

"If, then, the glass has been honestly purchased by its differentowners, I fail to see how you can possibly establish any claim to it. "

"I have already admitted that my claim is moral rather than legal, "continued the visitor. "It is a long story; have I your permission totell it?"

"I shall be delighted to listen, " replied Eastford, "but before doingso I beg to renew my invitation, and ask you to occupy this easy-chairbefore the fire. "

The officer bowed in silence, crossed the room behind Eastford, and satdown in the arm-chair, placing his sword across his knees. The strangerspread his hands before the fire, and seemed to enjoy the comfortingwarmth. He remained for a few moments buried in deep reflection, quiteignoring the presence of his host, who, glancing upon the hour-glass indispute upon his knees, seeing that the sands had all run out silentlyreversed it and set them flowing again. This action caught the cornerof the stranger's eye, and brought him to a realisation of why he wasthere. Drawing a heavy sigh, he began his story. 

 * * * * *

"In the year 1706 I held the post of lieutenant in that part of theBritish Army commanded by General Trelawny, the supreme command, ofcourse, being in the hands of the great Marlborough. "

Eastford listened to this announcement with a feeling that there wassomething wrong about the statement. The man sitting there was calmlytalking of a time one hundred and ninety-two years past, and yet hehimself could not be a day more than twenty-five years old. Somewhereentangled in this were the elements of absurdity. Eastford foundhimself unable to unravel them, but the more he thought of the matter, the more reasonable it began to appear, and so, hoping his visitor hadnot noted the look of surprise on his face, he said, quietly, castinghis mind back over the history of England, and remembering what he hadlearned at school:--

"That was during the war of the Spanish Succession?"

"Yes: the war had then been in progress four years, and many brilliantvictories had been won, the greatest of which was probably the Battleof Blenheim. "

"Quite so, " murmured Eastford. 

 "It was the English, " Casper cried, "That put the French to rout; "But what they killed each other for, "I never could make out. "

The officer looked up in astonishment. 

"I never heard anything like that said about the war. The reason for itwas perfectly plain. We had to fight or acknowledge France to be thedictator of Europe. Still, politics have nothing to do with my story. General Trelawny and his forces were in Brabant, and were under ordersto join the Duke of Marlborough's army. We were to go through thecountry as speedily as possible, for a great battle was expected. Trelawny's instructions were to capture certain towns and cities thatlay in our way, to dismantle the fortresses, and to parole theirgarrisons. We could not encumber ourselves with prisoners, and somarched the garrisons out, paroled them, destroyed their arms, and badethem disperse. But, great as was our hurry, strict orders had beengiven to leave no strongholds in our rear untaken. 

"Everything went well until we came to the town of Elsengore, which wecaptured without the loss of a man. The capture of the town, however, was of little avail, for in the centre of it stood a strong citadel, which we tried to take by assault, but could not. General Trelawny, avery irascible, hotheaded man, but, on the whole, a just and capableofficer, impatient at this unexpected delay, offered the garrisonalmost any terms they desired to evacuate the castle. But, having hadwarning of our coming, they had provisioned the place, were wellsupplied with ammunition, and their commander refused to make termswith General Trelawny. 

"'If you want the place, ' said the Frenchman, 'come and take it. '

"General Trelawny, angered at this contemptuous treatment, flung hismen again and again at the citadel, but without making the slightestimpression on it. 

"We were in no wise prepared for a long siege, nor had we expectedstubborn resistance. Marching quickly, as was our custom heretofore, wepossessed no heavy artillery, and so were at a disadvantage whenattacking a fortress as strong as that of Elsengore. Meanwhile, GeneralTrelawny sent mounted messengers by different roads to his chief givingan account of what had happened, explaining his delay in joining themain army, and asking for definite instructions. He expected that oneor two, at least, of the mounted messengers sent away would reach hischief and be enabled to return. And that is exactly what happened, forone day a dusty horseman came to General Trelawny's headquarters with abrief note from Marlborough. The Commander-in-Chief said:--

"'I think the Frenchman's advice is good. We want the place; therefore, take it. '

"But he sent no heavy artillery to aid us in this task, for he couldnot spare his big guns, expecting, as he did, an important battle. General Trelawny having his work thus cut out for him, settled down toaccomplish it as best he might. He quartered officers and men invarious parts of the town, the more thoroughly to keep watch on thecitizens, of whose good intentions, if the siege were prolonged, wewere by no means sure. 

"It fell to my lot to be lodged in the house of Burgomaster Seidelmier, of whose conduct I have no reason to complain, for he treated me well. I was given two rooms, one a large, low apartment on the first floor, and communicating directly with the outside, by means of a hall and aseparate stairway. The room was lighted by a long, many-paned window, leaded and filled with diamond-shaped glass. Beyond this large drawing-room was my bedroom. I must say that I enjoyed my stay in BurgomasterSeidelmier's house none the less because he had an only daughter, amost charming girl. Our acquaintance ripened into deep friendship, andafterwards into----but that has nothing to do with what I have to tellyou. My story is of war, and not of love. Gretlich Seidelmier presentedme with the hour-glass you have in your hand, and on it I carved thejoined hearts entwined with our similar initials. "

"So they are initials, are they?" said Eastford, glancing down at whathe had mistaken for twining serpents. 

"Yes, " said the officer; "I was more accustomed to a sword than to anetching tool, and the letters are but rudely drawn. One evening, afterdark, Gretlich and I were whispering together in the hall, when weheard the heavy tread of the general coming up the stair. The girl fledprecipitately, and I, holding open the door, waited the approach of mychief. He entered and curtly asked me to close the door. 

"'Lieutenant, ' he said, 'it is my intention to capture the citadel to-night. Get together twenty-five of your men, and have them ready underthe shadow of this house, but give no one a hint of what you intend todo with them. In one hour's time leave this place with your men asquietly as possible, and make an attack on the western entrance of thecitadel. Your attack is to be but a feint and to draw off their forcesto that point. Still, if any of your men succeed in gaining entrance tothe fort they shall not lack reward and promotion. Have you a watch?'

"'Not one that will go, general; but I have an hourglass here. '

"'Very well, set it running. Collect your men, and exactly at the hourlead them to the west front; it is but five minutes' quick march fromhere. An hour and five minutes from this moment I expect you to beginthe attack, and the instant you are before the western gate make asmuch noise as your twenty-five men are capable of, so as to lead theenemy to believe that the attack is a serious one. '

"Saying this, the general turned and made his way, heavy-footed, through the hall and down the stairway. 

"I set the hour-glass running, and went at once to call my men, stationing them where I had been ordered to place them. I returned tohave a word with Gretlich before I departed on what I knew was adangerous mission. Glancing at the hour-glass, I saw that not more thana quarter of the sand had run down during my absence. I remained in thedoorway, where I could keep an eye on the hour-glass, while the girlstood leaning her arm against the angle of the dark passageway, supporting her fair cheek on her open palm; and, standing thus in thedarkness, she talked to me in whispers. We talked and talked, engagedin that sweet, endless conversation that murmurs in subdued tone roundthe world, being duplicated that moment at who knows how many places. Absorbed as I was in listening, at last there crept into myconsciousness the fact that the sand in the upper bulb was notdiminishing as fast as it should. This knowledge was fully in my mindfor some time before I realised its fearful significance. Suddenly thedim knowledge took on actuality. I sprang from the door-lintel, saying:--

"'Good heavens, the sand in the hour-glass has stopped running!'

"I remained there motionless, all action struck from my rigid limbs, gazing at the hour-glass on the table. 

"Gretlich, peering in at the doorway, looking at the hour-glass and notat me, having no suspicion of the ruin involved in the stoppage of thatminiature sandstorm, said, presently:--

"'Oh, yes, I forgot to tell you it does that now and then, and so youmust shake the glass. '

"She bent forward as if to do this when the leaden windows shuddered, and the house itself trembled with the sharp crash of our light cannon, followed almost immediately by the deeper detonation of the heavierguns from the citadel. The red sand in the glass began to fall again, and its liberation seemed to unfetter my paralysed limbs. Bareheaded asI was, I rushed like one frantic along the passage and down the stairs. The air was resonant with the quick-following reports of the cannon, and the long, narrow street was fitfully lit up as if by sudden flashesof summer lightning. My men were still standing where I had placedthem. Giving a sharp word of command, I marched them down the streetand out into the square, where I met General Trelawny coming back fromhis futile assault. Like myself, he was bareheaded. His militarycountenance was begrimed with powder-smoke, but he spoke to me with notrace of anger in his voice. 

"'Lieutenant Sentore, ' he said, 'disperse your men. '

"I gave the word to disband my men, and then stood at attention beforehim. 

"'Lieutenant Sentore, ' he said, in the same level voice, 'return toyour quarters and consider yourself under arrest. Await my comingthere. '

"I turned and obeyed his orders. It seemed incredible that the sandshould still be running in the hour-glass, for ages appeared to havepassed over my head since last I was in that room. I paced up and down, awaiting the coming of my chief, feeling neither fear nor regret, butrather dumb despair. In a few minutes his heavy tread was on the stair, followed by the measured tramp of a file of men. He came into the room, and with him were a sergeant and four soldiers, fully armed. Thegeneral was trembling with rage, but held strong control over himself, as was his habit on serious occasions. 

"'Lieutenant Sentore, ' he said, 'why were you not at your post?"

"'The running sand in the hour-glass' (I hardly recognised my own voiceon hearing it) 'stopped when but half exhausted. I did not notice itsinterruption until it was too late. '

"The general glanced grimly at the hour-glass. The last sands werefalling through to the lower bulb. I saw that he did not believe myexplanation. 

"'It seems now to be in perfect working order, ' he said, at last. 

"He strode up to it and reversed it, watching the sand pour for a fewmoments, then he spoke abruptly:--

"'Lieutenant Sentore, your sword. '

"I handed my weapon to him without a word. Turning to the sergeant, hesaid: 'Lieutenant Sentore is sentenced to death. He has an hour forwhatever preparations he cares to make. Allow him to dispose of thathour as he chooses, so long as he remains within this room and holdsconverse with no one whatever. When the last sands of this hour-glassare run, Lieutenant Sentore will stand at the other end of this roomand meet the death merited by traitors, laggards, or cowards. Do youunderstand your duty, sergeant?'

"'Yes, general. '

"General Trelawny abruptly left the room, and we heard his heavy stepsechoing throughout the silent house, and later, more faintly on thecobble-stones of the street. When they had died away a deep stillnessset in, I standing alone at one end of the room, my eyes fixed on thehour-glass, and the sergeant with his four men, like statues at theother, also gazing at the same sinister object. The sergeant was thefirst to break the silence. 

"'Lieutenant, ' he said, 'do you wish to write anything----?'

"He stopped short, being an unready man, rarely venturing far beyond'Yes' and 'No. '

"'I should like to communicate with one in this household, ' I said, 'but the general has forbidden it, so all I ask is that you shall havemy body conveyed from this room as speedily as possible after theexecution. '

"'Very good, lieutenant, ' answered the sergeant. 

"After that, for a long time no word was spoken. I watched my life runredly through the wasp waist of the transparent glass, then suddenlythe sand ceased to flow, half in the upper bulb, half in the lower. 

"'It has stopped, ' said the sergeant; 'I must shake the glass. '

"'Stand where you are!' I commanded, sharply. 'Your orders do not runto that. '

"The habit of obedience rooted the sergeant to the spot. 

"'Send one of your men to General Trelawny, ' I said, as if I had stillthe right to be obeyed. 'Tell him what has happened, and ask forinstructions. Let your man tread lightly as he leaves the room. '

"The sergeant did not hesitate a moment, but gave the order I requiredof him. The soldier nearest the door tip-toed out of the house. As weall stood there the silence seeming the deeper because of the stoppingof the sand, we heard the hour toll in the nearest steeple. Thesergeant was visibly perturbed, and finally he said:--

"'Lieutenant, I must obey the general's orders. An hour has passedsince he left here, for that clock struck as he was going down thestair. Soldiers, make ready. _Present_. '

"The men, like impassive machines levelled their muskets at my breast. I held up my hand. 

"'Sergeant, ' I said as calmly as I could, 'you are now about to exceedyour instructions. Give another command at your peril. The exact wordsof the general were, 'When the last sands of this hour-glass are run. 'I call your attention to the fact that the conditions are notfulfilled. Half of the sand remains in the upper bulb. '

"The sergeant scratched his head in perplexity, but he had no desire tokill me, and was only actuated by a soldier's wish to adhere strictlyto the letter of his instructions, be the victim friend or foe. After afew moments he muttered, 'It is true, ' then gave a command that put hismen into their former position. 

"Probably more than half an hour passed, during which time no manmoved; the sergeant and his three remaining soldiers seemed afraid tobreathe; then we heard the step of the general himself on the stair. Ifeared that this would give the needed impetus to the sand in theglass, but, when Trelawny entered, the _status quo_ remained. Thegeneral stood looking at the suspended sand, without speaking. 

"' That is what happened before, general, and that is why I was not atmy place. I have committed the crime of neglect, and have thusdeservedly earned my death; but I shall die the happier if my generalbelieves I am neither a traitor nor a coward. '

"The general, still without a word, advanced to the table, slightlyshook the hour-glass, and the sand began to pour again. Then he pickedthe glass up in his hand, examining it minutely, as if it were somestrange kind of toy, turning it over and over. He glanced up at me andsaid, quite in his usual tone, as if nothing in particular had comebetween us:--

"'Remarkable thing that, Sentore, isn't it?'

"'Very, ' I answered, grimly. 

"He put the glass down. 

"'Sergeant, take your men to quarters. Lieutenant Sentore, I return toyou your sword; you can perhaps make better use of it alive than dead;I am not a man to be disobeyed, reason or no reason. Remember that, andnow go to bed. '

"He left me without further word, and buckling on my sword, I proceededstraightway to disobey again. 

"I had a great liking for General Trelawny. Knowing how he fumed andraged at being thus held helpless by an apparently impregnable fortressin the unimportant town of Elsengore, I had myself studied the citadelfrom all points, and had come to the conclusion that it might besuccessfully attempted, not by the great gates that opened on thesquare of the town, nor by the inferior west gates, but by scaling theseemingly unclimbable cliffs at the north side. The wall at the top ofthis precipice was low, and owing to the height of the beetling cliff, was inefficiently watched by one lone sentinel, who paced thebattlements from corner tower to corner tower. I had made my plans, intending to ask the general's permission to risk this venture, but nowI resolved to try it without his knowledge or consent, and thusretrieve, if I could, my failure of the foregoing part of the night. 

"Taking with me a long, thin rope which I had in my room, anticipatingsuch a trial for it, I roused five of my picked men, and silently wemade our way to the foot of the northern cliff. Here, with the ropearound my waist, I worked my way diagonally up along a cleft in therock, which, like others parallel to it, marked the face of theprecipice. A slip would be fatal. The loosening of a stone would givewarning to the sentinel, whose slow steps I heard on the wall above me, but at last I reached a narrow ledge without accident, and standing upin the darkness, my chin was level with the top of the wall on whichthe sentry paced. The shelf between the bottom of the wall and the topof the cliff was perhaps three feet in width, and gave ample room for aman careful of his footing. Aided by the rope, the others, less expertclimbers than myself, made their way to my side one by one, and the sixof us stood on the ledge under the low wall. We were all in ourstockinged feet, some of the men, in fact, not even having stockingson. As the sentinel passed, we crouching in the darkness under thewall, the most agile of our party sprang up behind him. The soldier hadtaken off his jacket, and tip-toeing behind the sentinel, he threw thegarment over his head, tightening it with a twist that almost strangledthe man. Then seizing his gun so that it would not clatter on thestones, held him thus helpless while we five climbed up beside him. Feeling under the jacket, I put my right hand firmly on the sentinel'sthroat, and nearly choking the breath out of him, said:--

"'Your life depends on your actions now. Will you utter a sound if Ilet go your throat?'

"The man shook his head vehemently, and I released my clutch. 

"'Now, ' I said to him, 'where is the powder stored? Answer in awhisper, and speak truly. '

"'The bulk of the powder, ' he answered, 'is in the vault below thecitadel. '

"'Where is the rest of it?' I whispered. 

"'In the lower room of the round tower by the gate. '

"'Nonsense, ' I said: 'they would never store it in a place so liable toattack. '

"'There was nowhere else to put it, ' replied the sentinel, 'unless theyleft it in the open courtyard, which would be quite as unsafe. '

"'Is the door to the lower room in the tower bolted?'

"'There is no door, ' replied the sentry, 'but a low archway. Thisarchway has not been closed, because no cannon-balls ever come from thenorthern side. '

"'How much powder is there in this room?'

"'I do not know; nine or ten barrels, I think. '

"It was evident to me that the fellow, in his fear, spoke the truth. Now, the question was, how to get down from the wall into the courtyardand across that to the archway at the southern side? Cautioning thesentinel again, that if he made the slightest attempt to escape or givethe alarm, instant death would be meted to him, I told him to guide usto the archway, which he did, down the stone steps that led from thenorthern wall into the courtyard. They seemed to keep loose watchinside, the only sentinels in the place being those on the upper walls. But the man we had captured not appearing at his corner in time, hiscomrade on the western side became alarmed, spoke to him, and obtainingno answer, shouted for him, then discharged his gun. Instantly theplace was in an uproar. Lights flashed, and from different guard-roomssoldiers poured out. I saw across the courtyard the archway thesentinel had spoken of, and calling my men made a dash for it. Thebesieged garrison, not expecting an enemy within, had been rushing upthe stone steps at each side to the outer wall to man the cannon theyhad so recently quitted, and it was some minutes before a knowledge ofthe real state of things came to them. These few minutes were all weneeded, but I saw there was no chance for a slow match, while if wefired the mine we probably would die under the tottering tower. 

"By the time we reached the archway and discovered the powder barrels, the besieged, finding everything silent outside, came to a realisationof the true condition of affairs. We faced them with bayonets fixed, while Sept, the man who had captured the sentinel, took the hatchet hehad brought with him at his girdle, flung over one of the barrels onits side, knocked in the head of it, allowing the dull black powder topour on the cobblestones. Then filling his hat with the explosive, hecame out towards us, leaving a thick trail behind him. By this time wewere sorely beset, and one of our men had gone down under the fire ofthe enemy, who shot wildly, being baffled by the darkness, otherwiseall of us had been slaughtered. I seized a musket from a comrade andshouted to the rest:--

"'Save yourselves', and to the garrison, in French, I gave the samewarning; then I fired the musket into the train of powder, and the nextinstant found myself half stunned and bleeding at the farther end ofthe courtyard. The roar of the explosion and the crash of the fallingtower were deafening. All Elsengore was groused by the earthquakeshock, I called to my men when I could find my voice, and Sept answeredfrom one side, and two more from another. Together we tottered acrossthe _débris_-strewn courtyard. Some woodwork inside the citadelhad taken fire and was burning fiercely, and this lit up the ruins andmade visible the great gap in the wall at the fallen gate. Into thesquare below we saw the whole town pouring, soldiers and civiliansalike coming from the narrow streets into the open quadrangle. I mademy way, leaning on Sept, over the broken gate and down the causewayinto the square, and there, foremost of all, met my general, with acloak thrown round him, to make up for his want of coat. 

"'There, general, ' I gasped, 'there is your citadel, and through thisgap can we march to meet Marlborough. '

"'Pray, sir, who the deuce are you?' cried the general, for my face waslike that of a blackamoor. 

"'I am the lieutenant who has once more disobeyed your orders, general, in the hope of retrieving a former mistake. '

"'Sentore!' he cried, rapping out an oath. 'I shall have you court-martialled, sir. '

"'I think, general, ' I said, 'that I am court-martialled already, ' forI thought then that the hand of death was upon me, which shows theeffect of imagination, for my wounds were not serious, yet I sank downunconscious at the general's feet. He raised me in his arms as if I hadbeen his own son, and thus carried me to my rooms. Seven years later, when the war ended, I got leave of absence and came back to Elsengorefor Gretlich Seidelmier and the hour-glass. "

As the lieutenant ceased speaking, Eastford thought he heard again theexplosion under the tower, and started to his feet in nervous alarm, then looked at the lieutenant and laughed, while he said:--

"Lieutenant, I was startled by that noise just now, and imagined forthe moment that I was in Brabant. You have made good your claim to thehour-glass, and you are welcome to it. "

But as Eastford spoke, he turned his eyes towards the chair in whichthe lieutenant had been seated, and found it vacant. Gazing round theroom, in half somnolent dismay, he saw that he was indeed alone. At hisfeet was the shattered hour-glass, which had fallen from his knee, itsblood-red sand mingling with the colours on the carpet. Eastford said, with an air of surprise:--

"By Jove!"

THE WARRIOR MAID OF SAN CARLOS

The young naval officer came into this world with two eyes and twoarms; he left it with but one of each--nevertheless the remaining eyewas ever quick to see, and the remaining arm ever strong to seize. Evenhis blind eye became useful on one historic occasion. But the loss ofeye or arm was as nothing to the continual loss of his heart, whichoften led him far afield in the finding of it. Vanquished when he metthe women; invincible when he met the men; in truth, a most human hero, and so we all love Jack--the we, in this instant, as the old joke hasit, embracing the women. 

In the year 1780 Britain ordered Colonel Polson to invade Nicaragua. The task imposed on the gallant Colonel was not an onerous one, for theNicaraguans never cared to secure for themselves the militaryreputation of Sparta. In fact, some years after this, a singleAmerican, Walker, with a few Californian rifles under his command, conquered the whole nation and made himself President of it, andperhaps would have been Dictator of Nicaragua to-day if his own countryhad not laid him by the heels. It is no violation of history to statethat the entire British fleet was not engaged in subduing Nicaragua, and that Colonel Polson felt himself amply provided for the necessitiesof the crisis by sailing into the harbour of San Juan del Norte withone small ship. There were numerous fortifications at the mouth of theriver, and in about an hour after landing, the Colonel was inpossession of them all. 

The flight of time, brief as it was, could not be compared in celeritywith the flight of the Nicaraguans, who betook themselves to thebackwoods with an impetuosity seldom seen outside of a race-course. There was no loss of life so far as the British were concerned, and theonly casualties resulting to the Nicaraguans were colds caught throughthe overheating of themselves in their feverish desire to exploreimmediately the interior of their beloved country. "He who bolts andruns away will live to bolt another day, " was the motto of theNicaraguans. So far, so good, or so bad, as the case may be. 

The victorious Colonel now got together a flotilla of some half a scoreof boats, and the flotilla was placed under the command of the youngnaval officer, the hero of this story. The expedition proceededcautiously up the river San Juan, which runs for eighty miles, orthereabouts, from Lake Nicaragua to the salt water. The voyage was asort of marine picnic. Luxurious vegetation on either side, and noopposition to speak of, even from the current of the river; for LakeNicaragua itself is but a hundred and twenty feet above the sea level, and a hundred and twenty feet gives little rapidity to a river eightymiles long. 

As the flotilla approached the entrance to the lake caution increased, for it was not known how strong Fort San Carlos might prove. This fort, perhaps the only one in the country strongly built, stood at once onthe shore of the lake and bank of the stream. There was one chance in athousand that the speedy retreat of the Nicaraguans had been merely adevice to lure the British into the centre of the country, where thelittle expedition of two hundred sailors and marines might beannihilated. In these circumstances Colonel Poison thought it well, before coming in sight of the fort, to draw up his boats along thenorthern bank of the San Juan River, sending out scouts to bring innecessary information regarding the stronghold. 

The young naval officer all through his life was noted for hisenergetic and reckless courage, so it was not to be wondered at thatthe age of twenty-two found him impatient with the delay, loth to lieinactive in his boat until the scouts returned; so he resolved upon anaction that would have justly brought a court-martial upon his head hada knowledge of it come to his superior officer. He plunged alone intothe tropical thicket, armed only with two pistols and a cutlass, determined to force his way through the rank vegetation along the bankof the river, and reconnoitre Fort San Carlos for himself. If he hadgiven any thought to the matter, which it is more than likely he didnot, he must have known that he ran every risk of capture and death, for the native of South America, then as now, has rarely shown anyhesitation about shooting prisoners of war. Our young friend, therefore, had slight chance for his life if cut off from his comrades, and, in the circumstances, even a civilised nation would have beenperfectly within its right in executing him as a spy. 

After leaving the lake the river San Juan bends south, and then northagain. The scouts had taken the direct route to the fort across theland, but the young officer's theory was that, if the Nicaraguans meantto fight, they would place an ambush in the dense jungle along theriver, and from this place of concealment harass the flotilla before itgot within gunshot of the fort. This ambuscade could easily fall backupon the fort if directly attacked and defeated. This, the young manargued was what he himself would have done had he been in command ofthe Nicaraguan forces, so it naturally occurred to him to discoverwhether the same idea had suggested itself to the commandant at SanCarlos. 

Expecting every moment to come upon this ambuscade, the boy proceeded, pistol in hand, with the utmost care, crouching under the luxurianttropical foliage, tunnelling his way, as one might say, along the darkalleys of vegetation, roofed in by the broad leaves overhead. Throughcross-alleys he caught glimpses now and then of the broad river, ofwhich he was desirous to keep within touch. Stealthily crossing one ofthese riverward alleys the young fellow came upon his ambuscade, andwas struck motionless with amazement at the form it took. Silhouettedagainst the shining water beyond was a young girl. She knelt at thevery verge of the low, crumbling cliff above the water; her left hand, outspread, was on the ground, her right rested against the rough trunkof a palm-tree, and counter-balanced the weight of her body, whichleaned far forward over the brink. Her face was turned sideways towardshim, and her lustrous eyes peered intently down the river at theBritish flotilla stranded along the river's bank. So intent was hergaze, so confident was she that she was alone, that the leopard-likeapproach of her enemy gave her no hint of attack. Her perfect profilebeing towards him, he saw her cherry-red lips move silently as if shewere counting the boats and impressing their number upon her memory. 

A woman in appearance, she was at this date but sixteen years old, andthe breathless young man who stood like a statue regarding her thoughthe had never seen a vision of such entrancing beauty, and, as I havebefore intimated, he was a judge of feminine loveliness. Pullinghimself together, and drawing a deep but silent breath, he went forwardwith soft tread, and the next instant there was a grip of steel on thewrist of the young girl that rested on the earth. With a cry of dismayshe sprang to her feet and confronted her assailant, nearly topplingover the brink as she did so; but he grasped her firmly, and drew her astep or two up the arcade. As he held her left wrist there was in theair the flash of a stiletto, and the naval officer's distinguishedcareer would have ended on that spot had he not been a little quickerthan his fair opponent. His disengaged hand gripped the descendingwrist and held her powerless. 

"Ruffian!" she hissed, in Spanish. 

The young man had a workable knowledge of the language, and he thankedhis stars now that it was so. He smiled at her futile struggles to freeherself, then said:--

"When they gave me my commission, I had no hope that I should meet socharming an enemy. Drop the knife, señorita, and I will release yourhand. "

The girl did not comply at first. She tried to wrench herself free, pulling this way and that with more strength than might have beenexpected from one so slight. But finding herself helpless in thoserigid bonds, she slowly relaxed the fingers of her right hand, and letthe dagger drop point downward into the loose soil, where it stood andquivered. 

"Now let me go, " she said, panting. "You promised. "

The young man relinquished his hold, and the girl, with the quickmovement of a humming-bird, dived into the foliage, and would havedisappeared, had he not with equal celerity intercepted her, againimprisoning her wrist. 

"You liar!" she cried, her magnificent eyes ablaze with anger. "Faithless minion of a faithless race, you promised to let me go. "

"And I kept my promise, " said the young man, still with a smile. "Isaid I would release your hand, and I did so; but as for yourself, thatis a different matter. You see, señorita, to speak plainly, you are aspy. I have caught you almost within our lines, counting our boats, and, perhaps, our men. There is war between our countries, and I arrestyou as a spy. "

"A brave country, yours, " she cried, "to war upon women!"

"Well, " said the young man, with a laugh, "what are we to do? The menwon't stay and fight us. "

She gave him a dark, indignant glance at this, which but heightened herswarthy beauty. 

"And what are you, " she said, "but a spy?"

"Not yet, " he replied. "If you had found me peering at the fort, then, perhaps, I should be compelled to plead guilty. But as it is, you arethe only spy here at present, señorita. Do you know what the fate of aspy is?"

The girl stood there for a few moments, her face downcast, the livinggyves still encircling her wrists. When she looked up it was with asmile so radiant that the young man gasped for breath, and his heartbeat faster than ever it had done in warfare. 

"But you will not give me up?" she murmured, softly. 

"Then would I be in truth a faithless minion, " cried the young man, fervently; "not, indeed, to my country, but to your fascinating sex, which I never adored so much as now. "

"You mean that you would be faithless to your country, but not to me?"

"Well, " said the young man, with some natural hesitation, "I shouldn'tcare to have to choose between my allegiance to one or the other. England can survive without warring upon women, as you have said; so Ihope that if we talk the matter amicably over, we may find that my dutyneed not clash with my inclination. "

"I am afraid that is impossible, " she answered, quickly. "I hate yourcountry. "

"But not the individual members of it, I hope. "

"I know nothing of its individual members, nor do I wish to, as youshall soon see, if you will but let go my wrist. "

"Ah, señorita, " exclaimed the young man, "you are using an argument nowthat will make me hold you forever. "

"In that case, " said the girl, "I shall change my argument, and giveinstead a promise. If you release me I shall not endeavour to escape--Imay even be so bold as to expect your escort to the fort, where, if Iunderstand you aright, you were but just now going. "

"I accept your promise, and shall be delighted if you will accept myescort. Meanwhile, in the interest of our better acquaintance, can Ipersuade you to sit down, and allow me to cast myself at your feet?"

The girl, with a clear, mellow laugh, sat down, and the young manreclined in the position he had indicated, gazing up at her withintense admiration in his eyes. 

"If this be war, " he said to himself, "long may I remain a soldier. "Infatuated as he certainly was, his natural alertness could not butnotice that her glance wandered to the stiletto, the perpendicularshining blade of which looked like the crest of a glittering, dangerousserpent, whose body was hidden in the leaves. She had seated herself asclose to the weapon as possible, and now, on one pretext or another, edged nearer and nearer to it. At last the young man laughed aloud, and, sweeping his foot round, knocked down the weapon, then indolentlystretching out his arm, he took it. 

"Señorita, " he said, examining its keen edge, "will you give me thisdagger as a memento of our meeting?"

"It is unlucky, " she murmured, "to make presents of stilettos. "

"I think, " said the young man, glancing up at her with a smile on hislips, "it will be more lucky for me if I place it here in my belt thanif I allow it to reach the possession of another. "

"Do you intend to steal it, señor?"

"Oh, no. If you refuse to let me have it, I will give it back to youwhen our interview ends; but I should be glad to possess it, if youallow me to keep it. "

"It is unlucky, as I have said; to make a present of it, but I willexchange. If you will give me one of your loaded pistols, you may havethe stiletto. "

"A fair exchange, " he laughed, but he made no motion to fulfil his partto the barter. "May I have the happiness of knowing your name, señorita?" he asked. 

"I am called Donna Rafaela Mora, " answered the girl, simply. "I amdaughter of the Commandant of Fort San Carlos. I am no Nicaraguan, buta Spaniard And, señor, what is your name?"

"Horatio Nelson, an humble captain in His Majesty's naval forces, to beheard from later, I hope, unless Donna Rafaela cuts short my thread oflife with her stiletto. "

"And does a captain in His Majesty's forces condescend to play the partof a spy?" asked the girl, proudly. 

"He is delighted to do so when it brings him the acquaintance ofanother spy so charming as Donna Rafaela. My spying, and I imagineyours also, is but amateurish, and will probably be of little value toour respective forces. Our real spies are now gathered round your fort, and will bring to us all the information we need. Thus, I can reclineat your feet, Donna Rafaela, with an easy conscience, well aware thatmy failure as a spy will in no way retard our expedition. "

"How many men do you command, Señor Captain?" asked the girl, with ill-concealed eagerness. 

"Oh, sometimes twenty-five, sometimes fifty, or a hundred or twohundred, or more, as the case may be, " answered the young man, carelessly. 

"But how many are there in your expedition now?"

"Didn't you count them, Donna? To answer truly, I must not, to answerfalsely, I will not, Donna. "

"Why?" asked the girl, impetuously. "There is no such secrecy about ourforces; we do not care who knows the number in our garrison. "

"No? Then how many are there, Donna?"

"Three hundred and forty, " answered the girl. 

"Men, or young ladies like yourself, Donna? Be careful how you answer, for if the latter, I warn you that nothing will keep the British out ofFort San Carlos. We shall be with you, even if we have to go asprisoners. In saying this, I feel that I am speaking for our entirecompany. "

The girl tossed her head scornfully. 

"There are three hundred and forty men, " she said, "as you shall findto your cost, if you dare attack the fort. "

"In that case, " replied Nelson, "you are nearly two to one, and Iventure to think that we have not come up the river for nothing. "

"What braggarts you English are!"

"Is it bragging to welcome a stirring fight? Are you well provided withcannon?"

"You will learn that for yourself when you come within sight of thefort. Have you any more questions to ask, Señor Sailor?"

"Yes; one. The number in the fort, which you give, corresponds withwhat I have already heard. I have heard also that you were wellsupplied with cannon, but I have been told that you have no cannonballsin Fort San Carlos. "

"That is not true; we have plenty. 

"Incredible as it may seem, I was told that the cannon-balls were madeof clay. When I said you had none, I meant that you had none of iron. "

"That also is quite true, " answered the girl. "Do you mean to say thatyou are going to shoot baked clay at us? It will be like heavingbricks, " and the young man threw back his head and laughed. 

"Oh, you may laugh, " cried the girl, "but I doubt if you will be somerry when you come to attack the fort. The clay cannon-balls weremade under the superintendence of my father, and they are filled withlinks of chain, spikes, and other scraps of iron. "

"By Jove!" cried young Nelson, "that's an original idea. I wonder howit will work?"

"You will have every opportunity of finding out, if you are foolishenough to attack the fort. "

"You advise us then to retreat?"

"I most certainly do. "

"And why, Donna, if you hate our country, are you so anxious that weshall not be cut to pieces by your scrap-iron?"

The girl shrugged her pretty shoulders. 

"It doesn't matter in the least to me what you do, " she said, rising toher feet. "Am I your prisoner, Señor Nelson?"

"No, " cried the young man, also springing up; "I am yours, and havebeen ever since you looked at me. "

Again the girl shrugged her shoulders. She seemed to be in no humourfor light compliments, and betrayed an eagerness to be gone. 

"I have your permission, then, to depart? Do you intend to keep yourword?"

"If you will keep yours, Donna. "

"I gave you no promise, except that I would not run away, and I havenot done so. I now ask your permission to depart. "

"You said that I might accompany you to the fort. "

"Oh, if you have the courage, yes, " replied the girl, carelessly. 

They walked on together through the dense alleys of vegetation, andfinally came to an opening which showed them a sandy plain, and acrossit the strong white stone walls of the fort, facing the wide river, andbehind it the blue background of Lake Nicaragua. 

Not a human form was visible either on the walls or on the plain. FortSan Carlos, in spite of the fact that it bristled with cannon, seemedlike an abandoned castle. The two stood silent for a moment at themargin of the jungle, the young officer running his eye rapidly overthe landscape, always bringing back his gaze to the seemingly desertedstronghold. 

"Your three hundred and forty men keep themselves well hidden, " he saidat last. 

"Yes, " replied the girl, nonchalantly, "they fear that if they showthemselves you may hesitate to attack a fortress that is impregnable. "

"Well, you may disabuse their minds of that error when you return. "

"Are you going to keep my stiletto?" asked the girl, suddenly changingthe subject. 

"Yes, with your permission. "

"Then keep your word, and give me your pistol in return. "

"Did I actually promise it?"

"You promised, Señor. "

"Then in that case, the pistol is yours. "

"Please hand it to me. "

Her eagerness to obtain the weapon was but partially hidden, and theyoung man laughed as he weighed the fire-arm in his hand, holding it bythe muzzle. 

"It is too heavy for a slim girl like you to handle, " he said, at last. "It can hardly be called a lady's toy. "

"You intend, then, to break your word, " said the girl, with quickintuition, guessing with unerring instinct his vulnerable point. 

"Oh, no, " he cried, "but I am going to send the pistol half-way homefor you, " and with that, holding it still by the barrel, he flung itfar out on the sandy plain, where it fell, raising a little cloud ofdust. The girl was about to speed to the fort, when, for the thirdtime, the young man grasped her wrist. She looked at him with indignantsurprise. 

"Pardon me, " he said, "but in case you should wish to fire the weapon, you must have some priming. Let me pour a quantity of this gunpowderinto your hand. "

"Thank you, " she said, veiling her eyes, to hide their hatred. 

He raised the tiny hand to his lips, without opposition, and then intoher satin palm, from his powderhorn, he poured a little heap of theblack grains. 

"Good-bye, señor, " she said, hurrying away. She went directly to wherethe pistol had fallen, stooped and picked it up. He saw her pour thepowder from her hand on its broad, unshapely pan. She knelt on thesand, studied the clumsy implement, resting her elbow on her knee. Theyoung man stood there motionless, bareheaded, his cap in his hand. There was a flash and a loud report; and the bullet cut the foliagebehind him, a little nearer than he expected. He bowed low to her, andshe, rising with an angry gesture, flung the weapon from her. 

"Donna Rafaela, " he shouted, "thank you for firing the pistol. Itsreport brings no one to the walls of San Carlos. Your fortress isdeserted, Donna. Tomorrow may I have the pleasure of showing you how toshoot?"

The girl made no answer, but turning, ran as fast as she could towardsthe fort. 

The young man walked toward the fort, picked up his despised weapon, thrust it in his belt, and went back to the camp. The scouts werereturning, and reported that, as far as they could learn, the threehundred and forty Nicaraguans had, in a body, abandoned Fort SanCarlos. 

"It is some trick, " said the Colonel. "We must approach the fortresscautiously, as if the three hundred and forty were there. "

The flotilla neared the fort in a long line. Each boat was filled withmen, and in each prow was levelled a small cannon--a man with a lightedmatch beside it--ready to fire the moment word was given. Nelsonhimself stood up in his boat, and watched the silent fort. Suddenly thesilence was broken by a crash of thunder, and Nelson's boat (and theone nearest to it) was wrecked, many of the men being killed, andhimself severely wounded. 

"Back, back!" cried the commander. "Row out of range, for your lives!"The second cannon spoke, and the whole line of boats was thrown intoinextricable confusion. Cannon after cannon rang out, and of the twohundred men who sailed up the river San Juan only ten reached the shipalive. 

The Commandant of the fort lay ill in his bed, unable to move, but hisbrave daughter fired the cannon that destroyed the flotilla. HereNelson lost his eye, and so on a celebrated occasion was unable to seethe signals that called upon him to retreat. Thus victory ultimatelyrose out of disaster. 

The King of Spain decorated Donna Rafaela Mora, made her a colonel, andgave her a pension for life. So recently as 1857, her grandson, GeneralMartinez, was appointed President of Nicaragua solely because he was adescendant of the girl who defeated Horatio Nelson. 

THE AMBASSADOR'S PIGEONS

Haziddin, the ambassador, stood at the door of his tent and gazed downupon the famous city of Baalbek, seeing it now for the first time. Thenight before, he had encamped on the heights to the south of Baalbek, and had sent forward to that city, messengers to the Prince, carryinggreetings and acquainting him with the fact that an embassy from theGovernor of Damascus awaited permission to enter the gates. The sun hadnot yet risen, but the splendour in the East, lighting the sky withwondrous colourings of gold and crimson and green, announced the speedycoming of that god which many of the inhabitants of Baalbek stillworshipped. The temples and palaces of the city took their tints fromthe flaming sky, and Haziddin, the ambassador, thought he had neverseen anything so beautiful, notwithstanding the eulogy Mahomet himselfhad pronounced upon his own metropolis of Damascus. 

The great city lay in silence, but the moment the rim of the sunappeared above the horizon the silence was broken by a faint sound ofchanting from that ornate temple, seemingly of carven ivory, which hadbestowed upon the city its Greek name of Heliopolis. The Temple of theSun towered overall other buildings in the place, and, as if the day-god claimed his own, the rising sun shot his first rays upon thisedifice, striking from it instantly all colour, leaving its rows ofpillars a dazzling white as if they were fashioned from the pure snowsof distant Lebanon. The sun seemed a mainspring of activity, as well asan object of adoration, for before it had been many minutes above thehorizon the ambassador saw emerging from the newly opened gate themounted convoy that was to act as his escort into the city; so, turning, he gave a quick command which speedily levelled the tents, andbrought his retinue; into line to receive their hosts. 

The officer, sent by the Prince of Baalbek to welcome the ambassadorand conduct him into the city, greeted the visitor with thatdeferential ceremony so beloved of the Eastern people, and togetherthey journeyed down the hill to the gates, the followers of the onemingling fraternally with the followers of the other. As if the deitiesof the wonderful temples they were approaching wished to show thefutility of man's foresight, a thoughtless remark made by one of theleast in the ambassador's retinue to one of the least who followed theBaalbek general, wrought ruin to one empire, and saved another fromdisaster. 

A mule-driver from Baalbek said to one of his lowly a profession fromDamascus that the animals of the northern city seemed of superior breedto those of the southern. Then the Damascus man, his civic pridedisturbed by the slighting remark, replied haughtily that if the mulesof Baalbek had endured such hardships as those of Damascus, journeyingfor a month without rest through a rugged mountain country, they wouldperhaps look in no better condition than those the speaker then drove. 

"Our mules were as sleek as yours a month ago, when we left Damascus. "

As Baalbek is but thirty-one miles north of Damascus, the muleteer ofthe former place marvelled that so long a time had been spent on thejourney, and he asked his fellow why they had wandered among themountains. The other could but answer that so it was, and he knew noreason for it, and with this the man of Baalbek had to content himself. And so the tale went from mouth to ear of the Baalbek men until itreached the general himself. He thought little of it for the moment, but, turning to the ambassador, said, having nothing else to say:

"How long has it taken you from Damascus to Baalbek?"

Then the ambassador answered:

"We have done the journey in three days; it might have taken us buttwo, or perhaps it could have been accomplished in one, but there beingno necessity for speed we travelled leisurely. "

Then the general, remaining silent, said to himself:

"Which has lied, rumour or the ambassador?"

He cast his eyes over the animals the ambassador had brought with him, and saw that they indeed showed signs of fatigue, and perhaps ofirregular and improper food. 

Prince Ismael himself received Haziddin, ambassador of Omar, Governorof Damascus, at the gates of Baalbek, and the pomp and splendour ofthat reception was worthy of him who gave it, but the general foundopportunity to whisper in the ear of the Prince:

"The ambassador says he was but three days coming, while a follower ofhis told a follower of mine that they have been a month on the road, wandering among the mountains. "

Suspicion is ever latent in the Eastern mind, and the Prince was quickto see a possible meaning for this sojourn among the mountains. Itmight well be that the party were seeking a route at once easy andunknown by which warriors from Damascus might fall upon Baalbek; yet, if this were the case, why did not the explorers return directly toDamascus rather than venture within the walls of Baalbek? It seemed toPrince Ismael that this would have been the more crafty method topursue, for, as it was, unless messengers had returned to Damascus toreport the result of their mountain excursion, he had the whole partypractically prisoners within the walls of his city, and he could easilywaylay any envoy sent by the ambassador to his chief in Damascus. ThePrince, however, showed nothing in his manner of what was passingthrough his mind, but at the last moment he changed the programme hehad laid out for the reception of the ambassador. Preparation had beenmade for a great public breakfast, for Haziddin was famed throughoutthe East, not only as a diplomatist, but also as physician and a man ofscience. The Prince now gave orders that his officers were to entertainthe retinue of the ambassador at the public breakfast, while hebestowed upon the ambassador the exceptional honour of asking him tohis private table, thus giving Haziddin of Damascus no opportunity toconfer with his followers after they had entered the gates of Baalbek. 

It was impossible for Haziddin to demur, so he could but bow low andaccept the hospitality which might at that moment be most unwelcome, asindeed it was. The Prince's manner was so genial and friendly that, thephysician, Haziddin, soon saw he had an easy man to deal with, and hesuspected no sinister motive beneath the cordiality of the Prince. 

The red wine of Lebanon is strong, and his Highness, Ismael, pressed itupon his guest, urging that his three days' journey had been fatiguing. The ambassador had asked that his own servant might wait upon him, butthe Prince would not hear of it, and said that none should serve himwho were not themselves among the first nobles in Baalbek. 

"You represent Omar, Governor of Damascus, son of King Ayoub, and assuch I receive you on terms of equality with myself. "

The ambassador, at first nonplussed with a lavishness that was mostunusual, gradually overcame his diffidence, became warm with the wine, and so failed to notice that the Prince himself remained cool, anddrank sparingly. At last the head of Haziddin sank on his breast, andhe reclined at full length on the couch he occupied, falling into adrunken stupor, for indeed he was deeply fatigued, and had spent thenight before sleepless. As his cloak fell away from him it left exposeda small wicker cage attached to his girdle containing four pigeonsclosely huddled, for the cage was barely large enough to hold them, andhere the Prince saw the ambassador's swift messengers to Damascus. Letloose from the walls of Baalbek, and flying direct, the tidings would, in a few hours, be in the hands of the Governor of Damascus. Haziddinthen was spy as well as ambassador. The Prince also possessed carrierpigeons, and used them as a means of communication between his armiesat Tripoli and at Antioch, so he was not ignorant of their consequence. The fact that the ambassador himself carried this small cage under hiscloak attached to his girdle showed the great importance that wasattached to these winged messengers, otherwise Haziddin would haveentrusted them to one of his subordinates. 

"Bring me, " whispered the Prince to his general, "four of my ownpigeons. Do not disturb the thongs attached to the girdle when you openthe cage, but take the ambassador's pigeons out and substitute four ofmy own. Keep these pigeons of Damascus separate from ours; we may yethave use for them in communicating with the Governor. "

The general, quick to see the scheme which was in the Prince's mind, brought four Baalbek pigeons, identical with the others in size andcolour. He brought with him also a cage into which the Damascus pigeonswere put, and thus the transfer was made without the knowledge of theslumbering ambassador. His cloak was arranged about him so that itconcealed the cage attached to the girdle, then the ambassador's ownservants were sent for, and he was confided to their care. 

When Haziddin awoke he found himself in a sumptuous room of the palace. He had but a hazy remembrance of the latter part of the meal with thePrince, and his first thought went with a thrill of fear towards thecage under his cloak; finding, however, that this was intact, he wasmuch relieved in his mind, and could but hope that in his cups he hadnot babbled anything of his mission which might arouse suspicion in themind of the Prince. His first meeting with the ruler of Baalbek afterthe breakfast they had had together, set all doubts finally at rest, because the Prince received him with a friendship which wasunmistakable. The physician apologised for being overcome by thepotency of the wine, and pleaded that he had hitherto been unused toliquor of such strength. The Prince waved away all reference to thesubject, saying that he himself had succumbed on the same occasion, andhad but slight recollection of what had passed between them. 

Ismael assigned to the ambassador one of the palaces near the Pantheon, and Haziddin found himself free to come and go as he pleased withoutespionage or restriction. He speedily learned that one of the armies ofBaalbek was at the north, near Antioch, the other to the west atTripoli, leaving the great city practically unprotected, and thisunprecedented state of affairs jumped so coincident with the designs ofhis master, that he hastened to communicate the intelligence. He wrote:

"If Baalbek is immediately attacked, it cannot be protected. Half ofthe army is on the shore of the Mediterranean, near Tripoli, the otherhalf is north, at Antioch. The Prince has no suspicion. If you concealthe main body of your army behind the hills to the south of Baalbek, and come on yourself with a small: retinue, sending notice to thePrince of your arrival, he will likely himself come out to the gates tomeet you, and having secured his person, while I, with my followers, hold the open gates, you can march into Baalbek unmolested. Once with aforce inside the walls of Baalbek, the city is as nearly as possibleimpregnable, and holding the Prince prisoner, you may make with himyour own terms. The city is indescribably rich, and probably neverbefore in the history of the world has there been opportunity ofaccumulating so much treasure with so little risk. "

This writing Haziddin attached to the leg of a pigeon, and throwing thebird aloft from the walls, it promptly disappeared over the housetops, and a few moments later was in the hands of its master, the Prince ofBaalbek, who read the treacherous message with amazement. Then, imitating the ambassador's writing, he penned a note, saying that thiswas not the time to invade Baalbek, but as there were rumours that thearmies were about to leave the city, one going to the north and theother to the west, the ambassador would send by another pigeon news ofthe proper moment to strike. 

This communication the Prince attached to the leg of one of theDamascus pigeons, and throwing it into the air, saw with satisfactionthat the bird flew straight across the hills towards the south. 

Ismael that night sent messengers mounted on swift Arabian horses toTripoli and to Antioch recalling his armies, directing his generals toavoid Baalbek and to join forces in the mountains to the south of thatcity and out of sight of it. This done, the Prince attended in state abanquet tendered to him by the ambassador from Damascus, where hecharmed all present by his genial urbanity, speaking touchingly on theblessings of peace, and drinking to a thorough understanding betweenthe two great cities of the East, Damascus and Baalbek, sentimentswhich, were cordially reciprocated by the ambassador. 

Next morning the second pigeon came to the palace of the Prince. 

"Ismael is still unsuspicious, " the document ran. "He will fall an easyprey if action be prompt. In case of a failure to surprise, it would bewell to impress upon your generals the necessity of surrounding thecity instantly so that messengers cannot be sent to the two armies. Itwill then be advisable to cut off the water-supply by diverting thecourse of the small river which flows into Baalbek. The walls of thecity are incredibly strong, and a few men can defend them successfullyagainst a host, once the gates are shut. Thirst, however, will sooncompel them, to surrender. Strike quickly, and Baalbek is yours. "

The Prince sent a note of another tenor to Damascus, and the calm dayspassed serenely on, the ambassador watching anxiously from his house-top, his eyes turned to the south, while the Prince watched asanxiously from the roof of his palace, his gaze turning now westwardnow northward. 

The third night after the second message had been sent, the ambassadorpaced the long level promenade of his roof, ever questioning the south. A full moon shone down on the silent city, and in that clear air theplain outside the walls and the nearer hills were as distinctly visibleas if it were daylight. There was no sign of an approaching army. Baalbek lay like a city of the dead, the splendid architecture of itscountless temples gleaming ghostlike, cold, white and unreal in thepure refulgence of the moon. Occasionally the ambassador paused in hiswalk and leaned on the parapet. He had become vaguely uneasy, wonderingwhy Damascus delayed, and there crept over him that sensation of dumbfear which comes to a man in the middle of the night and leaves himwith the breaking of day. He realised keenly the extreme peril of hisown position--imprisoned and at the mercy of his enemy should histreachery be discovered. And now as he leaned over the parapet in thebreathless stillness, his alert ear missed an accustomed murmur of thenight. Baalbek was lulled to sleep by the ever-present tinkle ofrunning water, the most delicious sound that can soothe an Eastern ear, accustomed as it is to the echoless silence of the arid rainlessdesert. 

The little river which entered Baalbek first flowed past the palace ofthe Prince, then to the homes of the nobles and the priests, meanderingthrough every street and lane until it came to the baths left by theRomans, whence it flowed through the poorer quarters, and at lastdisappeared under the outer wall. It might be termed a liquid guide toBaalbek, for the stranger, leaving the palace and following itscurrent, would be led past every temple and residence in the city. Itwas the limpid thread of life running through the veins of the town, and without it Baalbek could not have existed. As the ambassador leanedover the parapet wondering whether it was his imagination which madethis night seem more still than all that had gone before since he cameto the city, he suddenly became aware that what he missed was thepurling trickle of the water. Peering over the wall of his house, andgazing downward on the moonlit street, he saw no reflecting glitter ofthe current, and realised, with a leap of the heart, that the streamhad run dry. 

The ambassador was quick to understand the meaning of this suddendrying of the stream. Notwithstanding his vigilance, the soldiers ofDamascus had stolen upon the city unperceived by him, and had alreadydiverted the water-course. Instantly his thoughts turned toward his ownescape. In the morning the fact of the invasion would be revealed, andhis life would lie at the mercy of an exasperated ruler. To flee fromBaalbek in the night he knew to be no easy task; all the gates wereclosed, and not one of them would be opened before daybreak, exceptthrough the intervention of the Prince himself. To spring from even thelowest part of the wall would mean instant death. In this extremity thenatural ingenuity of the man came to his rescue. That which gave himwarning would also provide an avenue of safety. 

The stream, conveyed to the city by a lofty aqueduct, penetrated thethick walls through a tunnel cut in the solid stone, just large enoughto receive its volume. The tunnel being thus left dry, a man couldcrawl on his hands and knees through it, and once outside, walk uprighton the top of the viaduct, along the empty bed of the river, until hereached the spot where the water had been diverted, and there find hiscomrades. Wasting not a thought on the jeopardy in which he left hisown followers, thus helplessly imprisoned in Baalbek, but bent only onhis own safety, he left his house silently, and hurried, deep in theshadow, along the obscure side of the street. He knew he must avoid theguards of the palace, and that done, his path to the invading army wasclear. But before he reached the palace of the Prince there remainedfor him another stupefying surprise. 

Coming to a broad thoroughfare leading to the square in which stood theTemple of Life, he was amazed to see at his feet, flowing rapidly, thefull tide of the stream, shattering into dancing discs of light thereflection of the full moon on its surface, gurgling swiftly towardsthe square. The fugitive stood motionless and panic-stricken at themargin of this transparent flood. He knew that his retreat had been cutoff. What had happened? Perhaps the strong current had swept away theimpediment placed against it by the invaders, and thus had resumed itscourse into the city. Perhaps--but there was little use in surmising, and the ambassador, recovering in a measure his self-possession, resolved to see whether or not it would lead him to his own palace. 

Crossing the wide thoroughfare into the shadow beyond, he followed ittowards the square, keeping his eye on the stream that rippled in themoonlight. The rivulet flowed directly across the square to the Templeof Life; there, sweeping a semicircle half round the huge building, itresumed its straight course. The ambassador hesitated before crossingthe moonlit square, but a moment's reflection showed him that nosuspicion could possibly attach to his movements in this direction, forthe Temple of Life was the only sacred edifice in the city for everopen. 

The Temple of Life consisted of a huge dome, which was supported by adouble circle of pillars, and beneath this dome had been erected agigantic marble statue, representing the God of Life, who stoodmotionless with outstretched arms, as if invoking a blessing upon thecity. A circular opening at the top of the dome allowed the rays of themoon to penetrate and illuminate the head of the statue. Against thewhite polished surface of the broad marble slab, which lay at the footof the statue, the ambassador saw the dark forms of several prostratefigures, and knew that each was there to beg of the sightless statue, life for some friend, lying at that moment somewhere on a bed ofillness. For this reason the Temple of Life was always open, andsupplicants prostrated themselves within it at any hour of the night orday. Remembering this, and knowing that it was the resort of high andlow alike, for Death respects not rank, Haziddin, with gatheringconfidence, entered the moonlit square. At the edge of the greatcircular temple he paused, meeting there his third surprise. He sawthat the stream was not deflected round the lower rim of the edifice, but that a stone had been swung at right angles with the lower step, cutting off the flow of the stream to the left, and allowing its watersto pour underneath the temple. Listening, the ambassador heard the lowmuffled roar of pouring water, and instantly his quick mind jumped atan accurate conclusion. Underneath the Temple was a gigantic tank forthe storage of water, and it was being filled during the night. Did theauthorities of Baalbek expect a siege, and were they thus preparing forit? Or was the filling of the tank an ordinary function performedperiodically to keep the water sweet? The ambassador would have givenmuch for an accurate answer to these questions, but he knew not whom toask. 

Entering the Temple he prostrated himself on the marble slab, andremained there for a few moments, hoping that, if his presence had beenobserved, this action would provide excuse for his nocturnalwanderings. Rising, he crossed again the broad square, and hurried upthe street by which he had entered it. This street led to the northerngate, whose dark arch he saw at the end of it, and just as he was aboutto turn down a lane which led to his palace, he found himselfconfronted with a fourth problem. One leaf of the ponderous gate swunginward, and through the opening he caught a glimpse of the moonlitcountry beyond. Knowing that the gates were never opened at night, except through the direct order of the Prince, he paused for a moment, and then saw a man on horseback enter, fling himself hurriedly from hissteed, leaving it in care of those in charge of the gates, anddisappear down the street that led directly to the Prince's palace. Ina most perturbed state of mind the ambassador sought his own house, andthere wrote his final despatch to Damascus. He told of his discovery ofthe water-tank, and said that his former advice regarding the divertingof the stream was no longer of practical value. He said he wouldinvestigate further the reservoir under the Temple of Life, anddiscover, if possible, how the water was discharged. If he succeeded inhis quest he would endeavour, in case of a long siege, to set freeBaalbek's store of water; but he reiterated his belief that it wasbetter to attempt the capture of the city by surprise and fierceassault. The message that actually went to Damascus, carried by thethird pigeon, was again different in tenor. 

"Come at once, " it said. "Baalbek is unprotected, and the Prince hasgone on a hunting expedition. March through the Pass of El-Zaid, whichis unprotected, because it is the longer route. The armies of Baalbekare at Tripoli and at Antioch, and the city is without even a garrison. The southern gate will be open awaiting your coming. "

Days passed, and the ambassador paced the roof of his house, looking invain towards the south. The streamed flowed as usual through the city. Anxiety at the lack of all tidings from Damascus began to ploughfurrows in his brow. He looked careworn and haggard. To the kindlyinquiries of the Prince regarding his health, he replied that there wasnothing amiss. 

One evening, an urgent message came from the palace requesting hisattendance there. The Prince met him with concern on his brow. 

"Have you had word from your master, Omar, Governor of Damascus, sinceyou parted with him?" asked Ismael. 

"I have had no tidings, " replied the ambassador. 

"A messenger has just come in from Damascus, who says that Omar is indeadly peril. I thought you should know this speedily, and so I sentfor you. "

"Of what nature is this peril?" asked the ambassador, turning pale. 

"The messenger said something of his falling a prisoner, sorelywounded, in the hands of his enemies. "

"Of his enemies, " echoed the ambassador. "He has many. Which one hasbeen victorious?"

"I have had no particulars and perhaps the news may not be true, "answered the Prince, soothingly. 

"May I question your messenger?"

"Assuredly. He has gone to the Temple of Life, to pray for some of hisown kin, who are in danger. Let us go there together and find him. "

But the messenger had already left the Temple before the arrival of hismaster, and the two found the great place entirely empty. Standing nearthe edge of the slab before the mammoth statue, the Prince said:

"Stand upon that slab facing the statue, and it will tell you morefaithfully than any messenger whether your master shall live or die, and when. "

"I am a Moslem, " answered Haziddin, "and pray to none but Allah. "

"In Baalbek, " said the Prince, carelessly, "all religions aretolerated. Here we have temples for the worship of the Roman and theGreek gods and mosques for the Moslems. Here Christian, or Jew, Sun-worshipper or Pagan implore their several gods unmolested, and thus isBaalbek prosperous. I confess a liking for this Temple of Life, andcome here often. I should, however, warn you that it is the generalbelief of those who frequent this place that he who steps upon themarble slab facing the god courts disaster, unless his heart is asfree, from treachery and guile as this stone beneath him is free fromflaw. Perhaps you have heard the rumour, and therefore hesitate. "

"I have not heard it heretofore, but having heard it, do not hesitate. "Saying which, the ambassador stepped upon the stone. Instantly, themarble turned under him, and falling, he clutched its polished surfacein vain, dropping helplessly into the reservoir beneath. The air underhis cloak bore him up and kept him from sinking. The reservoir intowhich he had fallen proved to be as large as the Temple itself, circular in form, as was the edifice above it. Steps rose from thewater in unbroken rings around it, but even if he could have reachedthe edge of the huge tank in which he found himself, ascent by thesteps was impossible, for upon the first three burned vigorously somechemical substance, which luridly illuminated the surface of thissubterranean lake. He was surrounded immediately by water, and beyondthat by rising rings of flame, and he rightly surmised that thissubstance was Greek fire, for where it dripped into the water it stillburned, floating on the surface. A moment later the Prince appeared onthe upper steps, outside the flaming circumference. 

"Ambassador, " he cried, "I told you that if you stepped on the marbleslab, you would be informed truly of the fate of your master. I nowannounce to you that he dies to-night, being a prisoner in my hands. His army was annihilated in the Pass of El-Zaid, while he was on hisway to capture this city through your treachery. In your lastcommunication to him you said that you would investigate our waterstorage, and learn how it was discharged. This secret I shall proceedto put you in possession of, but before doing so, I beg to tell youthat Damascus has fallen and is in my possession. The reservoir, youwill observe, is emptied by pulling this lever, which releases a trap-door at the centre of the bottom of the tank. "

The Prince, with both hands on the lever, exerted his strength anddepressed it. Instantly the ambassador felt the result. First, a smallwhirlpool became indented in the placid surface of the water, exactlyin the centre of the disc: enlarging its influence, it grew and grewuntil it reached the outer edges of the reservoir, bringing lines offire round with it. The ambassador found himself floating withincreased rapidity, dizzily round and round. He cried out in a voicethat rang against the stone ceiling:

"An ambassador's life is sacred, Prince of Baalbek. It is contrary tothe law of nations to do me injury, much less to encompass my death. "

"An ambassador is sacred, " replied the Prince, "but not a spy. Asidefrom that, it is the duty of an ambassador to precede his master, andthat you are about to do. Tell him, when you meet him, the secret ofthe reservoir of Baalbek. "

This reservoir, now a whirling maelstrom, hurled its shrieking victiminto its vortex, and then drowned shriek and man together.