AS THE TWO riders approached the edge of the village of Blentz a sentry barred their way. To his challenge the American replied that they were "friends from the castle.""Advance," directed the sentry, "and give the counter-sign."
Barney rode to the fellow's side, and leaning from the saddle whispered in his ear the word "Slankamen."Would it pass them out as it had passed Maenck in?
Barney scarcely breathed as he awaited the result of his experiment. The soldier brought his rifle to present and directed them to pass. With a sigh of relief that was almost audible the two rode into the village and the Austrian lines.
Once within they met with no further obstacle until they reached the last line of sentries upon the far side of the town. It was with more confidence that Barney gave the countersign here, nor was he surprised that the soldier passed them readily; and now they were upon the high-road to Lustadt, with nothing more to bar their way.
For hours they rode on in silence. Barney wanted to talk with his companion, but as king he found nothing to say to her. The girl's mind was filled with morbid reflections of the past few hours and dumb terror for the future. She would keep her promise to the king; but after--life would not be worth the living; why should she live? She glanced at the man beside her in the light of the coming dawn. Ah, why was he so like her American in outward appearances only?
Their own mothers could scarce have distinguished them, and yet in character no two men could have differed more widely. The man turned to her.
"We are almost there," he said. "You must be very tired."The words reflected a consideration that had never been a characteristic of Leopold. The girl began to wonder if there might not possibly be a vein of nobility in the man, after all, that she had never discovered. Since she had en-tered his apartments at Blentz he had been in every way a different man from the Leopold she had known of old. The boldness of his escape from Blentz supposed a courage that the king had never given the slightest indication of in the past. Could it be that he was ****** a genuine effort to become a man--to win her respect?
They were approaching Lustadt as the sun rose. A troop of horse was just emerging from the north gate. As it neared them they saw that the cavalrymen wore the uniforms of the Royal Horse Guard. At their head rode a lieutenant. As his eyes fell upon the face of the princess and her com-panion, he brought his troopers to a halt, and, with in-credulity plain upon his countenance, advanced to meet them, his hand raised in salute to the king. It was Butzow.
Now Barney was sure that he would be recognized. For two years he and the Luthanian officer had been inseparable.
Surely Butzow would penetrate his disguise. He returned his friend's salute, looked him full in the eyes, and asked where he was riding.
"To Blentz, your majesty," replied Butzow, "to demand an audience. I bear important word from Prince von der Tann. He has learned the Austrians are moving an entire army corps into Lutha, together with siege howitzers. Serbia has demanded that all Austrian troops be withdrawn from Luthanian territory at once, and has offered to assist your majesty in maintaining your neutrality by force, if neces-sary."
As Butzow spoke his eyes were often upon the Princess Emma, and it was quite evident that he was much puzzled to account for her presence with the king. She was sup-posed to be at Tann, and Butzow knew well enough her estimate of Leopold to know that she would not be in his company of her own volition. His expression as he addressed the man he supposed to be his king was far from deferen-tial. Barney could scarce repress a smile.
"We will ride at once to the palace," he said. "At the gate you may instruct one of your sergeants to telephone to will act as our escort."Butzow saluted and turned to his troopers, giving the necessary commands that brought them about in the wake of the pseudo-king. Once again Barney Custer, of Beatrice, rode into Lustadt as king of Lutha. The few people upon the streets turned to look at him as he passed, but there was little demonstration of love or enthusiasm.
Leopold had awakened no emotions of this sort in the hearts of his subjects. Some there were who still remembered the gallant actions of their ruler on the field of battle when his forces had defeated those of the regent, upon that other occasion when this same American had sat upon the throne of Lutha for two days and had led the little army to victory; but since then the true king had been with them daily in his true colors. Arrogance, haughtiness, and petty tyranny had marked his reign. Taxes had gone even higher than under the corrupt influence of the Blentz regime.
The king's days were spent in bed; his nights in dissipation.
Old Ludwig von der Tann seemed Lutha's only friend at court. Him the people loved and trusted.
It was the old chancellor who met them as they entered the palace--the Princess Emma, Lieutenant Butzow, and the false king. As the old man's eyes fell upon his daughter, he gave an exclamation of surprise and of incredulity. He looked from her to the American.
"What is the meaning of this, your majesty?" he cried in a voice hoarse with emotion. "What does her highness in your company?"There was neither fear nor respect in Prince Ludwig's tone--only anger. He was demanding an accounting from Leopold, the man; not from Leopold, the king. Barney raised his hand.
"Wait," he said, "before you judge. The princess was brought to Blentz by Prince Peter. She will tell you that Ihave aided her to escape and that I have accorded her only such treatment as a woman has a right to expect from a king."The girl inclined her head.