CHAPTER XXV
THE VALOR OF THE SOUTH
"Hold the lantern higher, Bev--" In the fury of the fight, he rememberedthe risk and importance of not mentioning her name, and stoppedshort. He was fighting fast but warily, for he realized that his presentadversary was no mean one. As the swords played back and forth in fiercethrusts and parries, he spoke assuringly to Beverly: "Don't befrightened! As soon as I finish with this fellow, we will go on! Ah!Bravo! Well parried, my man! How the deuce could such a swordsman as youbecome a cutthroat of Marlanx?"
Beverly had been standing still all this time holding the light highabove her head, according to her lover's orders, for she knew now thatsuch he was and that she loved him with all her heart. She was a weirdpicture standing there as she watched Baldos fighting for their lives,her beautiful face deathlike in its pallor. Not a cry escaped her lips,as the sword-blades swished and clashed; she could hear the deepbreathing of the combatants in that tomb-like passage.
Suddenly she started and listened keenly. From behind her, back there inthe darkness, hurried footsteps were unmistakably approaching. What shehad heard, then, was not the scurrying of a rat. Some one was followingthem. A terrible anguish seized her. Louder and nearer came the heavysteps. "Oh, my God! Baldos!" she screamed in terror, "Another iscoming!"
"Have no fear, dear one!" he sung out gaily. His voice was infinitelymore cheerful than he felt, for he realized only too well the desperatesituation; he was penned in and forced to meet an attack from front andrear. He fell upon his assailant with redoubled fury, aiming to finishhim before the newcomer could give aid.
From out of the gloom came a fiendish laugh. Instantly, the dark figureof a man appeared, his face completely hidden by a broad slouch hat andthe long cloak which enveloped him. A sardonic voice hissed, "Trapped atlast! My lady and her lover thought to escape, did they!" The voice wasunfamiliar, but the atmosphere seemed charged with Marlanx. "Kill him,Zem!" he shouted. "Don't let him escape you! I will take care of thelittle witch, never fear!" He clutched at the girl and tried to draw herto him.
"Marlanx! By all the gods!" cried Baldos in despair. He had wounded hisman several times, though not seriously. He dared not turn to Beverly'said.
The scene was thrilling, grewsome. Within this narrow, dimly-lightedunderground passage, with its musty walls sweating with dampness andthick with the tangled meshes of the spider's web, a brave girt and herlover struggled and fought back to back.
To her dismay, Beverly saw the point of a sword at her throat.
"Out of the way, girl," the man in the cloak snarled, furious at herresistance. "You die as well as your lover unless you surrender. Hecannot escape me."
"And if I refuse," cried the girl, trying desperately to gain time.
"I will drive my blade through your heart and tell the world it was thedeed of your lover."
Baldos groaned. His adversary, encouraged by the change in thesituation, pressed him sorely.
"Don't you dare to touch me, Count Marlanx. I know you!" she hissed. "Iknow what you would do with me. It is not for Graustark that you seekhis life."
The sword came nearer. The words died in her throat. She grewfaint. Terror paralyzed her. Suddenly, her heart gave a great thump ofjoy. The resourcefulness of the trapped was surging to her relief. Thevalor of the South leaped into life. The exhilaration of conflict beatdown all her fears. "Take away that sword, then, please," she cried, hervoice trembling, but not with terror now; it was exultation. "Will youpromise to spare his life? Will you swear to let him go, if I--"
"No, no, never! God forbid!" implored Baldos.
"Ha, ha!" chuckled the man in the cloak. "Spare his life! Oh, yes; aftermy master has revelled in your charms. How do you like that, my handsomegoathunter?"
"You infernal scoundrel! I'll settle you yet!" Baldos fairly fumed withrage. Gathering himself together for a final effort, he rushed madly onhis rapidly-weakening antagonist.
"Baldos!" she cried hopelessly and in a tone of resignation. "I must doit! It is the only way!"
The man in the cloak as well as Baldos was deceived by the girl'scry. He immediately lowered his sword. The lantern dropped fromBeverly's hands and clattered to the floor. At the same instant she drewfrom her pocket her revolver, which she had placed there before leavingthe castle, and fired point blank at him. The report sounded like athunder clap in their ears. It was followed quickly by a sharp cry andimprecation from the lips of her persecutor, who fell, striking his headwith a terrible force on the stones.
Simultaneously, there was a groan and the noise of a limp body slippingto the ground, and, Baldos, victor at last, turned in fear and tremblingto find Beverly standing unhurt staring at the black mass at her feet.
"Thank God! You are safe!" Grasping her hand he led her out of thedarkness into the moonlight.
Not a word was spoken as they ran swiftly on until they reached a littleclump of trees, not far from one of the gates. Here Baldos gentlyreleased her hand. She was panting for breath; but he realized she mustnot be allowed to risk a moment's delay. She must pass the sentry atonce.
"Have you the watchword?" he eagerly asked.
"Watchword?" she repeated feebly.
"Yes, the countersign for the night. It is Ganlook. Keep your face wellcovered with your hood. Advance boldly to the gates and give the word.There will be no trouble. The guard is used to pleasure seekersreturning at all hours of night."
"Is he dead?" she asked timorously, returning to the scene of horror.
"Only wounded, I think, as are the other men, though they all deservedeath."
He went with her as close to the gate as he thought safe. Taking herhand he kissed it fervently. "Good-bye! It won't be for long!" anddisappeared.
She stood still and lifeless, staring after him, for ages, it seemed. Hewas gone. Gone forever, no doubt. Her eyes grew wilder and wilder withthe pity of it all. Pride fled incontinently. She longed to call himback. Then it occurred to her that he was hurrying off to that otherwoman. No, he said he would return. She must be brave, true to herself,whatever happened. She marched boldly up to the gate, gave thecountersign and passed through, not heeding the curious glances castupon her by the sentry; turned into the castle, up the grand staircase,and fled to the princess's bed-chamber.
Beverly, trembling and sobbing, threw herself in the arms of theprincess. Incoherently, she related all that had happened, then swooned.
After she had been restored, the promise of Yetive to protect her,whatever happened, comforted her somewhat.
"It must have been Marlanx," moaned Beverly.
"Who else could it have been?" replied the princess, who was visiblyexcited.
Summoning all her courage, she went on: "First, we must find out if heis badly hurt. We'll trust to luck. Cheer up!" She touched a bell. Therecame a knock at the door. A guard was told to enter. "Ellos," sheexclaimed, "did you hear a shot fired a short time ago?"
"I thought I did, your highness, but was not sure."
"Baldos, the guard, was escaping by the secret passage," continued theprincess, a wonderful inspiration coming to her rescue. "He passedthrough the chapel. Miss Calhoun was there. Alone, and single-handed,she tried to prevent him. It was her duty. He refused to obey hercommand to stop and she followed him into the tunnel and fired athim. I'm afraid you are too late to capture him, but you may--, Oh,Beverly, how plucky you were to follow him! Go quickly, Ellos! Searchthe tunnel and report at once." As the guard saluted, with wonder,admiration and unbelief, he saw the two conspirators locked in eachother's arms.
Presently he returned and reported that the guards could find no traceof anyone in the tunnel, but that they found blood on the floor near theexit and that the door was wide open.
The two girls looked at each other in amazement. They were dumbfounded,but a great relief was glowing in their eyes.
"Ellos," inquired the princess, considerably less agitated, "does anyone else know of this?"
"No, your highness, there was no one
on guard but Max, Baldos, andmyself."
"Well, for the present, no one else must know of his flight. Do youunderstand? Not a word to any one. I, myself, will explain when theproper time comes. You and Max have been very careless, but I supposeyou should not be punished. He has tricked us all. Send Max to me atonce."
"Yes, your highness," said Ellos, and he went away with his headswimming. Max, the other guard, received like orders and then the twoyoung women sank limply upon a divan.
"Oh, how clever you are, Yetive," came from the American girl. "But whatnext?"
"We may expect to hear something disagreeable from Count Marlanx, mydear," murmured the perplexed, but confident princess, "but I think wehave the game in our own hands, as you would say in America."