IX
THE CAPTURE
The capture of Princess Emma von der Tann and Barney Custer was arelatively simple matter. Open fields spread in all directions aboutthe crossroads at which their car had come to its humiliating stop.There was no cover. To have sought escape by flight, thus in theopen, would have been to expose the princess to the fire of thetroopers. Barney could not do this. He preferred to surrender andtrust to chance to open the way to escape later.
When Captain Ernst Maenck drove up he found the prisoners disarmed,standing beside the now-useless car. He alighted from his ownmachine and with a low bow saluted the princess, an ironical smileupon his thin lips. Then he turned his attention toward hercompanion.
"Who are you?" he demanded gruffly. In the darkness he failed torecognize the American whom he thought dead in Austria.
"A servant of the house of Von der Tann," replied Barney.
"You deserve shooting," growled the officer, "but we'll leave thatto Prince Peter and the king. When I tell them the trouble you havecaused us--well, God help you."
The journey to Blentz was a short one. They had been much nearerthat grim fortress than either had guessed. At the outskirts of thetown they were challenged by Austrian sentries, through which Maenckpassed with ease after the sentinel had summoned an officer. Fromthis man Maenck received the password that would carry them throughthe line of outposts between the town and the castle--"Slankamen."Barney, who overheard the word, made a mental note of it.
At last they reached the dreary castle of Peter of Blentz. In thecourtyard Austrian soldiers mingled with the men of the bodyguard ofthe king of Lutha. Within, the king's officers fraternized with theofficers of the emperor. Maenck led his prisoners to the great hallwhich was filled with officers and officials of both Austria andLutha.
The king was not there. Maenck learned that he had retired to hisapartments a few minutes earlier in company with Prince Peter ofBlentz and Von Coblich. He sent a servant to announce his returnwith the Princess von der Tann and a man who had attempted toprevent her being brought to Blentz.
Barney had, as far as possible, kept his face averted from Maencksince they had entered the lighted castle. He hoped to escaperecognition, for he knew that if his identity were guessed it mightgo hard with the princess. As for himself, it might go even harder,but of that he gave scarcely a thought--the safety of the princesswas paramount.
After a few minutes of waiting the servant returned with the king'scommand to fetch the prisoners to his apartments. The face of thePrincess Emma was haggard. For the first time Barney saw signs offear upon her countenance. With leaden steps they accompanied theirguard up the winding stairway to the tower rooms that had beenfurnished for the king. They were the same in which Emma von derTann had been imprisoned two years before.
On either side of the doorway stood a soldier of the king'sbodyguard. As Captain Maenck approached they saluted. A servantopened the door and they passed into the room. Before them werePeter of Blentz and Von Coblich standing beside a table at whichLeopold of Lutha was sitting. The eyes of the three men were uponthe doorway as the little party entered. The king's face was flushedwith wine. He rose as his eyes rested upon the face of the princess.
"Greetings, your highness," he cried with an attempt at cordiality.
The girl looked straight into his eyes, coldly, and then bent herknee in formal curtsy. The king was about to speak again when hiseyes wandered to the face of the American. Instantly his own wentwhite and then scarlet. The eyes of Peter of Blentz followed thoseof the king, widening in astonishment as they rested upon thefeatures of Barney Custer.
"You told me he was dead," shouted the king. "What is the meaningof this, Captain Maenck?"
Maenck looked at his male prisoner and staggered back as thoughstruck between the eyes.
"Mein Gott," he exclaimed, "the impostor!"
"You told me he was dead," repeated the king accusingly.
"As God is my judge, your majesty," cried Peter of Blentz, "this manwas shot by an Austrian firing squad in Burgova over a week ago."
"Sire," exclaimed Maenck, "this is the first sight I have had of theprisoners except in the darkness of the night; until this instant Ihad not the remotest suspicion of his identity. He told me that hewas a servant of the house of Von der Tann."
"I told you the truth, then," interjected Barney.
"Silence, you ingrate!" cried the king.
"Ingrate?" repeated Barney. "You have the effrontery to call me aningrate? You miserable puppy."
A silence, menacing in its intensity, fell upon the littleassemblage. The king trembled. His rage choked him. The otherslooked as though they scarce could believe the testimony of theirown ears. All there, with the possible exception of the king, knewthat he deserved even more degrading appellations; but they wereEuropeans, and to Europeans a king is a king--that they can neverforget. It had been the inherent suggestion of kingship that hadbent the knee of the Princess Emma before the man she despised.
But to the American a king was only what he made himself. In thisinstance he was not even a man in the estimation of Barney Custer.Maenck took a step toward the prisoner--a menacing step, for hishand had gone to his sword. Barney met him with a level look frombetween narrowed lids. Maenck hesitated, for he was a great coward.Peter of Blentz spoke:
"Sire," he said, "the fellow knows that he is already as good asdead, and so in his bravado he dares affront you. He has beenconvicted of spying by the Austrians. He is still a spy. It isunnecessary to repeat the formality of a trial."
Leopold at last found his voice, though it trembled and broke as hespoke.
"Carry out the sentence of the Austrian court in the morning," hesaid. "A volley now might arouse the garrison in the town and bemisconstrued."
Maenck ordered Barney escorted from the apartment, then he turnedtoward the king.
"And the other prisoner, sire?" he inquired.
"There is no other prisoner," he said. "Her highness, the Princessvon der Tann, is a guest of Prince Peter. She will be escorted toher apartment at once."
"Her highness, the Princess von der Tann, is not a guest of PrincePeter." The girl's voice was low and cold. "If Mr. Custer is aprisoner, her highness, too, is a prisoner. If he is to be shot, shedemands a like fate. To die by the side of a MAN would be infinitelypreferable to living by the side of your majesty."
Once again Leopold of Lutha reddened. For a moment he paced theroom angrily to hide his emotion. Then he turned once to Maenck.
"Escort the prisoner to the north tower," he commanded, "and thisinsolent girl to the chambers next to ours. Tomorrow we shall talkwith her again."
Outside the room Barney turned for a last look at the princess as hewas being led in one direction and she in another. A smile ofencouragement was on his lips and cold hopelessness in his heart.She answered the smile and her lips formed a silent "good-bye." Theyformed something else, too--three words which he was sure he couldnot have mistaken, and then they parted, he for the death chamberand she for what fate she could but guess.
As his guard halted before a door at the far end of a long corridorBarney Custer sensed a sudden familiarity in his surroundings. Hewas conscious of that sensation which is common to all of us--ofhaving lived through a scene at some former time, to each minutestdetail.
As the door opened and he was pushed into the room he realized thatthere was excellent foundation for the impression--he immediatelyrecognized the apartment as the same in which he had once beforebeen imprisoned. At that time he had been mistaken for the mad kingwho had escaped from the clutches of Peter of Blentz. The same kingwas now visiting as a guest the fortress in which he had spent tenbitter years as a prisoner.
"Say your prayers, my friend," admonished Maenck, as he was about toleave him alone, "for at dawn you die--and this time the firingsquad will make a better job of it."
Barney did not answer him, and the captain departed, locking thedoor after him and leaving two men on guard in th
e corridor. Alone,Barney looked about the room. It was in no wise changed since hisformer visit to it. He recalled the incidents of the hour of hisimprisonment here, thought of old Joseph who had aided his escape,looked at the paneled fireplace, whose secret, it was evident, noteven the master of Blentz was familiar with--and grinned.
"'For at dawn you die!'" he repeated to himself, still smilingbroadly. Then he crossed quickly to the fireplace, running hisfingers along the edge of one of the large tiled panels that hid theentrance to the well-like shaft that rose from the cellars beneathto the towers above and which opened through similar concealed exitsupon each floor. If the floor above should be untenanted he might beable to reach it as he and Joseph had done two years ago when theyopened the secret panel in the fireplace and climbed a hidden ladderto the room overhead; and then by vacant corridors reached the farend of the castle above the suite in which the princess had beenconfined and near which Barney had every reason to believe she wasnow imprisoned.
Carefully Barney's fingers traversed the edges of the panel. Nohidden latch rewarded his search. Again and again he examined theperfectly fitted joints until he was convinced either that there wasno latch there or that it was hid beyond possibility of discovery.With each succeeding minute the American's heart and hopes sanklower and lower. Two years had elapsed since he had seen the secretportal swing to the touch of Joseph's fingers. One may forget muchin two years; but that he was at work upon the right panel Barneywas positive. However, it would do no harm to examine its mate whichresembled it in minutest detail.
Almost indifferently Barney turned his attention to the other panel.He ran his fingers over it, his eyes following them. What was that?A finger-print? Upon the left side half way up a tiny smudge wasvisible. Barney examined it more carefully. A round, white figure ofthe conventional design that was burned into the tile bore thetelltale smudge.
Otherwise it differed apparently in no way from the numerous otherround, white figures that were repeated many times in the scheme ofdecoration. Barney placed his thumb exactly over the mark thatanother thumb had left there and pushed. The figure sank into thepanel beneath the pressure. Barney pushed harder, breathless withsuspense. The panel swung in at his effort. The American could havewhooped with delight.
A moment more and he stood upon the opposite side of the secret doorin utter darkness, for he had quickly closed it after him. To strikea match was but the matter of a moment. The wavering light revealedthe top of the ladder that led downward and the foot of anotherleading aloft. He struck still more matches in search of the rope.It was not there, but his quest revealed the fact that the well atthis point was much larger than he had imagined--it broadened into asmall chamber.
The light of many matches finally led him to the discovery of apassageway directly behind the fireplace. It was narrow, and afterspanning the chimney descended by a few rough steps to a slightlylower level. It led toward the opposite end of the castle. Could itbe possible that it connected directly with the apartments in thefarther tower--in the tower where the king was and the PrincessEmma? Barney could scarce hope for any such good luck, but at leastit was worth investigating--it must lead somewhere.
He followed it warily, feeling his way with hands and feet andoccasionally striking a match. It was evident that the corridor layin the thick wall of the castle, midway between the bottoms of thewindows of the second floor and the tops of those upon thefirst--this would account for the slightly lower level of thepassage from the floor of the second story.
Barney had traversed some distance in the darkness along theforgotten corridor when the sound of voices came to him from beyondthe wall at his right. He stopped, motionless, pressing his earagainst the side wall. As he did so he became aware of the fact thatat this point the wall was of wood--a large panel of hardwood. Nowhe could hear even the words of the speaker upon the opposite side.
"Fetch her here, captain, and I will talk with her alone." The voicewas the king's. "And, captain, you might remove the guard frombefore the door temporarily. I shall not require them, nor do I wishthem to overhear my conversation with the princess."
Barney could hear the officer acknowledge the commands of the king,and then he heard a door close. The man had gone to fetch theprincess. The American struck a match and examined the panel beforehim. It reached to the top of the passageway and was some three feetin width.
At one side were three hinges, and at the other an ancient springlock. For an instant Barney stood in indecision. What should he do?His entry into the apartments of the king would result in alarmingthe entire fortress. Were he sure the king was alone it might beaccomplished. Should he enter now or wait until the Princess Emmahad been brought to the king?
With the question came the answer--a bold and daring scheme. Hisfingers sought the lock. Very gently, he unlatched it and pushedoutward upon the panel. Suddenly the great doorway gave beneath histouch. It opened a crack letting a flood of light into his dark cellthat almost blinded him.
For a moment he could see nothing, and then out of the glaring blurgrew the figure of a man sitting at a table--with his back towardthe panel.
It was the king, and he was alone. Noiselessly Barney Custerentered the apartment, closing the panel after him. At his back nowwas the great oil painting of the Blentz princess that had hid thesecret entrance to the room. He crossed the thick rugs until hestood behind the king. Then he clapped one hand over the mouth ofthe monarch of Lutha and threw the other arm about his neck.
"Make the slightest outcry and I shall kill you," he whispered inthe ear of the terrified man.
Across the room Barney saw a revolver lying upon a small table. Heraised the king to his feet and, turning his back toward the weapondragged him across the apartment until the table was within easyreach. Then he snatched up the revolver and swung the king aroundinto a chair facing him, the muzzle of the gun pressed against hisface.
"Silence," he whispered.
The king, white and trembling, gasped as his eyes fell upon the faceof the American.
"You?" His voice was barely audible.
"Take off your clothes--every stitch of them--and if any one asksfor admittance, deny them. Quick, now," as the king hesitated. "Mylife is forfeited unless I can escape. If I am apprehended I shallsee that you pay for my recapture with your life--if any one entersthis room without my sanction they will enter it to find a dead kingupon the floor; do you understand?"
The king made no reply other than to commence divesting himself ofhis clothing. Barney followed his example, but not before he hadcrossed to the door that opened into the main corridor and shot thebolt upon the inside. When both men had removed their clothingBarney pointed to the little pile of soiled peasant garb that he hadworn.
"Put those on," he commanded.
The king hesitated, drawing back in disgust. Barney paused,half-way into the royal union suit, and leveled the revolver atLeopold. The king picked up one of the garments gingerly between thetips of his thumb and finger.
"Hurry!" admonished the American, drawing the silk half-hose of theruler of Lutha over his foot. "If you don't hurry," he added,"someone may interrupt us, and you know what the result would be--toyou."
Scowling, Leopold donned the rough garments. Barney, fully clothedin the uniform the king had been wearing, stepped across theapartment to where the king's sword and helmet lay upon the sidetable that had also borne the revolver. He placed the helmet uponhis head and buckled the sword-belt about his waist, then he facedthe king, behind whom was a cheval glass. In it Barney saw hisimage. The king was looking at the American, his eyes wide and hisjaw dropped. Barney did not wonder at his consternation. He himselfwas dumbfounded by the likeness which he bore to the king. It waspositively uncanny. He approached Leopold.
"Remove your rings," he said, holding out his hand. The king did ashe was bid, and Barney slipped the two baubles upon his fingers. Oneof them was the royal ring of the kings of Lutha.
The American now blindfolded the king and led hi
m toward the panelwhich had given him ingress to the room. Through it the two menpassed, Barney closing the panel after them. Then he conducted theking back along the dark passageway to the room which the Americanhad but recently quitted. At the back of the panel which led intohis former prison Barney halted and listened. No sound came frombeyond the partition. Gently Barney opened the secret door atrifle--just enough to permit him a quick survey of the interior ofthe apartment. It was empty. A smile crossed his face as he thoughtof the difficulty Leopold might encounter the following morning inconvincing his jailers that he was not the American.
Then he recalled his reflection in the cheval glass and frowned.Could Leopold convince them? He doubted it--and what then? TheAmerican was sentenced to be shot at dawn. They would shoot the kinginstead. Then there would be none to whom to return the kingship.What would he do with it? The temptation was great. Again a thronelay within his grasp--a throne and the woman he loved. None mightever know unless he chose to tell--his resemblance to Leopold wastoo perfect. It defied detection.
With an exclamation of impatience he wheeled about and dragged thefrightened monarch back to the room from which he had stolen him. Ashe entered he heard a knock at the door.
"Do not disturb me now," he called. "Come again in half an hour."
"But it is Her Highness, Princess Emma, sire," came a voice frombeyond the door. "You summoned her."
"She may return to her apartments," replied Barney.
All the time he kept his revolver leveled at the king, from his eyeshe had removed the blind after they had entered the apartment. Hecrossed to the table where the king had been sitting when hesurprised him, motioning the ragged ruler to follow and be seated.
"Take that pen," he said, "and write a full pardon for Mr. BernardCuster, and an order requiring that he be furnished with money andset at liberty at dawn."
The king did as he was bid. For a moment the American stood lookingat him before he spoke again.
"You do not deserve what I am going to do for you," he said. "AndLutha deserves a better king than the one my act will give her; butI am neither a thief nor a murderer, and so I must forbear leavingyou to your just deserts and return your throne to you. I shall doso after I have insured my own safety and done what I can forLutha--what you are too little a man and king to do yourself.
"So soon as they liberate you in the morning, make the best of yourway to Brosnov, on the Serbian frontier. Await me there. When I can,I shall come. Again we may exchange clothing and you can return toLustadt. I shall cross over into Siberia out of your reach, for Iknow you too well to believe that any sense of honor or gratitudewould prevent you signing my death-warrant at the first opportunity.Now, come!"
Once again Barney led the blindfolded king through the dark corridorto the room in the opposite tower--to the prison of the American. Atthe open panel he shoved him into the apartment. Then he drew thedoor quietly to, leaving the king upon the inside, and retraced hissteps to the royal apartments. Crossing to the center table, hetouched an electric button. A moment later an officer knocked at thedoor, which, in the meantime, Barney had unbolted.
"Enter!" said the American. He stood with his back toward the dooruntil he heard it close behind the officer. When he turned he wasapparently examining his revolver. If the officer suspected hisidentity, it was just as well to be prepared. Slowly he raised hiseyes to the newcomer, who stood stiffly at salute. The officerlooked him full in the face.
"I answered your majesty's summons," said the man.
"Oh, yes!" returned the American. "You may fetch the PrincessEmma."
The officer saluted once more and backed out of the apartment.Barney walked to the table and sat down. A tin box of cigarettes laybeside the lamp. Barney lighted one of them. The king had good tastein the selection of tobacco, he thought. Well, a man must need havesome redeeming characteristics.
Outside, in the corridor, he heard voices, and again the knock atthe door. He bade them enter. As the door opened Emma von der Tann,her head thrown back and a flush of anger on her face, entered theroom. Behind her was the officer who had been despatched to bringher. Barney nodded to the latter.
"You may go," he said. He drew a chair from the table and asked theprincess to be seated. She ignored his request.
"What do you wish of me?" she asked. She was looking straight intohis eyes. The officer had withdrawn and closed the door after him.They were alone, with nothing to fear; yet she did not recognizehim.
"You are the king," she continued in cold, level tones, "but if youare also a gentleman, you will at once order me returned to myfather at Lustadt, and with me the man to whom you owe so much. I donot expect it of you, but I wish to give you the chance.
"I shall not go without him. I am betrothed to you; but untiltonight I should rather have died than wed you. Now I am ready tocompromise. If you will set Mr. Custer at liberty in Serbia andreturn me unharmed to my father, I will fulfill my part of ourbetrothal."
Barney Custer looked straight into the girl's face for a longmoment. A half smile played upon his lips at the thought of hersurprise when she learned the truth, when suddenly it dawned uponhim that she and he were both much safer if no one, not even herloyal self, guessed that he was other than the king. It is notdifficult to live a part, but often it is difficult to act one. Somelittle word or look, were she to know that he was Barney Custer,might betray them; no, it was better to leave her in ignorance,though his conscience pricked him for the disloyalty that his actimplied.
It seemed a poor return for her courage and loyalty to him that herstatement to the man she thought king had revealed. He marveled thata Von der Tann could have spoken those words--a Von der Tann who butthe day before had refused to save her father's life at the loss ofthe family honor. It seemed incredible to the American that he hadwon such love from such a woman. Again came the mighty temptation tokeep the crown and the girl both; but with a straightening of hisbroad shoulders he threw it from him.
She was promised to the king, and while he masqueraded in the king'sclothes, he at least would act the part that a king should. He drewa folded paper from his inside pocket and handed it to the girl.
"Here is the American's pardon," he said, "drawn up and signed bythe king's own hand."
She opened it and, glancing through it hurriedly, looked up at theman before her with a questioning expression in her eyes.
"You came, then," she said, "to a realization of the enormity ofyour ingratitude?"
The man shrugged.
"He will never die at my command," he said.
"I thank your majesty," she said simply. "As a Von der Tann, I havetried to believe that a Rubinroth could not be guilty of suchbaseness. And now, tell me what your answer is to my proposition."
"We shall return to Lustadt tonight," he replied. "I fear thepurpose of Prince Peter. In fact, it may be difficult--evenimpossible--for us to leave Blentz; but we can at least make theattempt."
"Can we not take Mr. Custer with us?" she asked. "Prince Peter maydisregard your majesty's commands and, after you are gone, have himshot. Do not forget that he kept the crown from Peter of Blentz--itis certain that Prince Peter will never forget it."
"I give you my word, your highness, that I know positively that if Ileave Blentz tonight Prince Peter will not have Mr. Custer shot inthe morning, and it will so greatly jeopardize his own plans if weattempt to release the prisoner that in all probability we ourselveswill be unable to escape."
She looked at him thoughtfully for a moment.
"You give me your word that he will be safe?" she asked.
"My royal word," he replied.
"Very well, let us leave at once."
Barney touched the bell once more, and presently an officer of theBlentz faction answered the summons. As the man closed the door andapproached, saluting, Barney stepped close to him.
"We are leaving for Tann tonight," he said, "at once. You willconduct us from the castle and procure horses for us. All the time Ishall
walk at your elbow, and in my hand I shall carry this," and hedisplayed the king's revolver. "At the first indication of defectionupon your part I shall kill you. Do you perfectly understand me?"
"But, your majesty," exclaimed the officer, "why is it necessarythat you leave thus surreptitiously? May not the king go and come inhis own kingdom as he desires? Let me announce your wishes to PrincePeter that he may furnish you with a proper escort. Doubtless hewill wish to accompany you himself, sire."
"You will do precisely what I say without further comment," snappedBarney. "Now get a--" He had been about to say: "Now get a move onyou," when it occurred to him that this was not precisely the sortof language that kings were supposed to use to their inferiors. Sohe changed it. "Now get a couple of horses for her highness andmyself, as well as your own, for you will accompany us to Tann."
The officer looked at the weapon in the king's hand. He measuredthe distance between himself and the king. He well knew the reputedcowardice of Leopold. Could he make the leap and strike up theking's hand before the timorous monarch found even the courage ofthe cornered rat to fire at him? Then his eyes sought the face ofthe king, searching for the signs of nervous terror that would makehis conquest an easy one; but what he saw in the eyes that boredstraight into his brought his own to the floor at the king's feet.
What new force animated Leopold of Lutha? Those were not the eyesof a coward. No fear was reflected in their steely glitter. Theofficer mumbled an apology, saluted, and turned toward the door. Athis elbow walked the impostor; a cavalry cape that had belonged tothe king now covered his shoulders and hid the weapon that pressedits hard warning now and again into the short-ribs of the Blentzofficer. Just behind the American came the Princess Emma von derTann.
The three passed through the deserted corridors of the sleepingcastle, taking a route at Barney's suggestion that led them to thestable courtyard without necessitating traversing the main corridorsor the great hall or the guardroom, in all of which there still wereAustrian and Blentz soldiers, whose duties or pleasures had keptthem from their blankets.
At the stables a sleepy groom answered the summons of the officer,whom Barney had warned not to divulge the identity of himself or theprincess. He left the princess in the shadows outside the building.After what seemed an eternity to the American, three horses were ledinto the courtyard, saddled, and bridled. The party mounted andapproached the gates. Here, Barney knew, might be encountered themost serious obstacle in their path. He rode close to the side oftheir unwilling conductor. Leaning forward in his saddle, hewhispered in the man's ear.
"Failure to pass us through the gates," he said, "will be the signalfor your death."
The man reined in his mount and turned toward the American.
"I doubt if they will pass even me without a written order fromPrince Peter," he said. "If they refuse, you must reveal youridentity. The guard is composed of Luthanians--I doubt if they willdare refuse your majesty."
Then they rode on up to the gates. A soldier stepped from thesentry box and challenged them.
"Lower the drawbridge," ordered the officer. "It is CaptainKrantzwort on a mission for the king."
The soldier approached, raising a lantern, which he had brought fromthe sentry box, and inspected the captain's face. He seemed ill atease. In the light of the lantern, the American saw that he wasscarce more than a boy--doubtless a recruit. He saw the expressionof fear and awe with which he regarded the officer, and it occurredto him that the effect of the king's presence upon him would beabsolutely overpowering. Still the soldier hesitated.
"My orders are very strict, sir," he said. "I am to let no oneleave without a written order from Prince Peter. If the sergeant orthe lieutenant were here they would know what to do; but they areboth at the castle--only two other soldiers are at the gates withme. Wait, and I will send one of them for the lieutenant."
"No," interposed the American. "You will send for no one, my man.Come closer--look at my face."
The soldier approached, holding his lantern above his head. As itsfeeble rays fell upon the face and uniform of the man on horseback,the sentry gave a little gasp of astonishment.
"Now, lower the drawbridge," said Barney Custer, "it is your king'scommand."
Quickly the fellow hastened to obey the order. The chains creakedand the windlass groaned as the heavy planking sank to place acrossthe moat.
As Barney passed the soldier he handed him the pardon Leopold hadwritten for the American.
"Give this to your lieutenant," he said, "and tell him to hand it toPrince Peter before dawn tomorrow. Do not fail."
A moment later the three were riding down the winding road towardBlentz. Barney had no further need of the officer who rode withthem. He would be glad to be rid of him, for he anticipated that thefellow might find ample opportunity to betray them as they passedthrough the Austrian lines, which they must do to reach Lustadt.
He had told the captain that they were going to Tann in order that,should the man find opportunity to institute pursuit, he might bethrown off the track. The Austrian sentries were no great distanceahead when Barney ordered a halt.
"Dismount," he directed the captain, leaping to the ground himselfat the same time. "Put your hands behind your back."
The officer did as he was bid, and Barney bound his wrists securelywith a strap and buckle that he had removed from the cantle of hissaddle as he rode. Then he led him off the road among some weeds andcompelled him to lie down, after which he bound his ankles togetherand stuffed a gag in his mouth, securing it in place with a bit ofstick and the chinstrap from the man's helmet. The threat of therevolver kept Captain Krantzwort silent and obedient throughout thehasty operations.
"Good-bye, captain," whispered Barney, "and let me suggest that youdevote the time until your discovery and release in pondering thevalue of winning your king's confidence in the future. Had youchosen your associates more carefully in the past, this need nothave occurred."
Barney unsaddled the captain's horse and turned him loose, then heremounted and, with the princess at his side, rode down towardBlentz.