XII
THE LAUGHING RED MARGRAVE OF FURSTENBERG
Ebearhard laughed, and took two steps forward. Whenever affairs becameserious, one could always depend on a laugh from Ebearhard.
"Excuse me, Commander," he said, "but you placed Greusel and me incharge of this pious and sober party; therefore I, being the least ofyour officers, must stand the first brunt of our failure to keep theselambs peaceable for the night. Greusel, stand behind me, and in front ofthe Commander. I, being reasonably sober, believe I can cut down six ofthe innocents before they finish with me. You will attend to the nextsix, leaving exactly half a dozen for Roland to eliminate in his ownfashion. Now, Herr Conrad Kurzbold, come on."
"We have no quarrel with you," said Kurzbold. "Stand aside."
"But I force a quarrel upon you, undisciplined pig. Defend yourself,for, by the Three Kings, I am going to tap your walking wine-barrel!"
Kurzbold, however, retreating with more haste than caution, one or twobehind him were sent sprawling, and the half-dozen which were Roland'sportion tumbled over one another down the steep ladder into the cabin.
Ebearhard laughed again when the last man disappeared.
"I think," he said to Roland, "that you will meet no further troublefrom our friends. They evidently broke open the lockers, alarmed becauseGreusel and I asked for a postponement of the counting, probablyintending to make the division without our assistance."
"Have you hidden the money?" asked Greusel.
"Not exactly," replied Roland; "but, in case anything should happen tome, I will tell you what I have done with it."
When he finished his recital, he added:
"I will give each of you a letter to Herr Goebel, identifying you. He isentitled to four thousand five hundred thalers of the money. The balanceyou will divide among those of us who survive."
Roland slept on deck, wrapped in his cloak. His two lieutenants tookturn in keeping watch, but nothing except snores came up from the cabin.The mutineers were not examples of early rising next morning. The sungave promise of another warm day, and Roland walked up and down thedeck, anxiety printed on his brow. He had made up his mind to knock atthe door of the Laughing Baron, a giant in stature, reported to be themost ingenious, most cruel, and bravest of all the robber noblemen ofthe Rhine, whose Castle was notoriously the hardest nut to crack alongthe banks of that famous river. For several reasons it would not be wiseto linger much longer in the neighborhood of Lorch. The three castlesthey had entered the day before were still visible on the western bank.News of the raid would undoubtedly travel to Furstenberg, also withinsight down the river, and thus the hilarious Margrave would be put onhis guard, overjoyed at the opportunity of trapping the moral marauders.Furstenberg was also a fief of Cologne, and any molestation of it wouldinvolve the meddler, if identified, in complications with the Church andthe Archbishop.
It was necessary, therefore, to move with caution, and to retreat, ifpossible, unobserved. These difficulties alone were enough to give pauseto the most intrepid, but Roland was further handicapped by his ownfollowing. How could he hope to accomplish any subtle movement requiringsilence, prompt obedience, and great alertness, supported by men whosebrains were muddled with drink, and whose conduct was saturated withconspiracy against him? They had wine enough on board to continue theirorgy, and he was quite unable to prevent their carouse. With a deep sighhe realized that he would be compelled to forego Furstenberg, and thusleave behind him a virgin citadel, which he knew was bad tactics from amilitary point of view.
During his meditations his men were coming up from the fuming cabin intothe fresh air and the sunlight. They appeared by twos and threes,yawning and rubbing their eyes, but no one ventured to interrupt theleader as, with bent head, he paced back and forth on the deck. The men,indeed, seemed exceedingly subdued. They passed with almost overdonenonchalance from the boat to the island, and sauntered towards its lowerend, from which, in the clear morning air, the grim fortress ofFurstenberg could be plainly discerned diagonally across the river. Itwas Ebearhard who broke in upon Roland's reverie.
"Our friends appear very quiet this morning, but I observe they have allhappened to coincide upon the northern part of the island as arendezvous for their before-breakfast walk. I surmise they are holding aformal meeting of the guild, but neither Greusel nor I have beeninvited, so I suppose that after last night's display we two are nolonger considered their brethren. This meekness on their part seems tome more dangerous than last night's flurry. I think they will demandfrom you a knowledge of what has been done with the gold. Have youdecided upon your answer?"
"Yes; it is their right to know, so I shall tell them the truth. By thistime Kruger is on his way somewhere between Ehrenfels and Wiesbaden. Hewill reach Frankfort to-night, and cannot be overtaken."
"Is there not danger that they will desert in a body, return toFrankfort, and demand from Herr Goebel their share of the spoil?"
"No matter for that," returned Roland. "Goebel will not part with aflorin except under security of such letters as I purpose giving you andGreusel, and even then only when you have proven to him that I am dead."
"That is all very well," demurred Ebearhard, "but don't you see what adangerous power you put into the hands of the rebels? Goebel is merely amerchant, and, though rich, politically powerless. He has already comeinto conflict with the authorities, and spent a term in prison. Do notforget that the Archbishops have refused to take action against theserobber Barons. Our men, if there happen to be one of brains among them,can easily terrify Goebel into parting with the treasure by threateningto confess their own and his complicity in the raids. Consider what anexcellent case they can put forward, stating quite truly that theyjoined this expedition in ignorance of its purport, but on the veryfirst day, learning what was afoot, they deserted their criminal leader,and are now endeavoring to make restitution. Goebel is helpless. If hesays that they first demanded the gold from him, they as strenuouslydeny it, and their denial must be believed, because they come of theirown free-will to the authorities. The merchant, already tainted withtreason, having suffered imprisonment, and narrowly escaped hanging,proves on investigation to be up to the neck in this affair. There is nodifficulty in learning that his barge went down the river, manned by acrew of his own choosing. Of course, it need never come to this, becauseGoebel, being a shrewd man, could at once see in what jeopardy he stood,and convinced from the men's own story that they were part, at least, ofyour contingent, would deliver up the treasure to them. Don't you see hemust do so to save his own neck?"
Roland pondered deeply on what had been said to him, but for the momentmade no reply. Greusel, who joined them during the conversation,remaining silent until Ebearhard had finished, now spoke:
"I quite agree with all that has been said."
"What, then, would you advise me to do?" asked Roland.
"I have been talking with one or two of the men," said Greusel. "(Theywon't speak to Ebearhard because he drew his sword on them.) I find theybelieve you took advantage of their absence to bury the gold in what yousuppose to be a safe place. They are sure you are acquainted with no onein Lorch to whom you could safely entrust it, and of course do notsuspect an emissary from Frankfort. I should advise you to say thatarrangements have been made for every man to get his share so long asnothing untoward happens to you. This will preserve your life shouldthey go so far as to threaten it, and compel them to stay on with us.After all, we are merely artisans, and not fighting men. I am convincedthat if ever we are really attacked, we shall make a very poor showing,even though we carry swords. Remember how the men tumbled over oneanother in their haste to get out of reach when Ebearhard flourished hisblade."
"I think Greusel's suggestion is an excellent one," put in Ebearhard.
"Very well," said Roland, "I shall adopt it, although I had made up mymind fully to enlighten them."
"There is one more matter that I should like to speak to you about,"continued Ebearhard. "Both at Assmannshausen, and a
t Lorch last night,we heard a good deal anent Furstenberg. It is the most dangerous castleon the Rhine to meddle with. The Laughing Baron, as they call him,although he is a Margrave, is the only man who dared to stop a king onhis way down the Rhine, and hold him for ransom."
"Yes," said Roland; "Adolf of Nassau, on his way to be crowned atAix-la-Chapelle."
"Quite so. Well, this huge ruffian--I never can remember his name; canyou, Greusel?"
"No, it beats me."
"Margrave Hermann von Katznellenbogenstahleck," said Roland, so solemnlythat Ebearhard laughed and even Greusel smiled.
"That's the individual," agreed Ebearhard, "and you must admit the nameitself is a formidable thing to attack, even without the giant itbelongs to."
"Banish all apprehension," said Roland. "I have already decided toremain here through the day, and drop quietly down the river to-night inthe darkness past Furstenberg."
"I think that is a wise decision," said Ebearhard.
"'Tis against all military rules," demurred Roland, "but neverthelesswith such an army as I lead it seems the only way. Do the men know thatFurstenberg is our point of greatest danger?"
"Yes; but they do not know so much as I. Last night I left them inGreusel's charge, being alarmed about what I heard of Furstenberg, andengaged a boatman to take me over there before the moon rose. Idiscovered that the Laughing Baron has caused a chain to be buoyed upjust below the surface of the water, running diagonally up the rivermore than half-way across it, so that any boat coming down is caught anddrawn into the landing, for the main flood of the Rhine, as you know,runs to the westward of this island. The boatman who ferried me knewabout this chain, but thought it had been abandoned since trafficstopped. He says it runs right up into the Castle, and the moment abarge strikes against it, a big bell is automatically rung inside thestronghold, causing the Baron to laugh so loudly that they sometimeshear him over in Lorch."
"This is very interesting, Ebearhard, and an excellent feat of scoutingmust be set down to your credit. Say nothing to the men, because,although we give Furstenberg the go-by on this occasion, I shall pay myrespects to Herman von Katznellenbogenstahleck on my return, and theknowledge you bring me will prove useful."
"Ha!" cried Greusel, "here are our infants returning, all in a body,Kurzbold at their head as usual. I imagine this morning they are goingto depend on rhetoric, and allow their swords to remain in scabbard.They have evidently come to some momentous decision."
The three retired to the prow of the boat as the guild clambored on atthe stern. The captain and two of his men had taken the skiff belongingto the barge, and were absent at Lorch, purchasing provisions. Rolandstood at the prow of the barge, slightly in advance of his twolieutenants, and awaited the approach of Kurzbold, with seventeen menbehind him.
"Commander," said the spokesman, with nothing of the late truculence inhis tone, "we have just held a meeting of the guild, and unanimouslyagreed to ask you one question, and offer you one suggestion."
"I shall be pleased," replied Roland, "to answer the first if I think itdesirable, and take the second into consideration."
He inclined his head to the delegation, and received a low bow inreturn. This was a most auspicious beginning, showing a certainimprovement of method on the part of the majority.
"The question is, Commander, what have you done with the gold wecaptured yesterday?"
"A very proper inquiry," replied Roland, "that it gives me much pleasureto answer. I have placed the money in a custody which I believe to beabsolute, arranging that if nothing happens to me, this money shall beproperly divided in my presence."
"Do you deny, sir, that the money belongs to us?"
"Part of it undoubtedly does, but I, as leader of the expedition, ammorally, if not legally, responsible to you all for its safe keeping.Our barge has stopped three times so far, and Captain Blumenfels tellsme that he has had no real violence to complain of, but as we progressfarther down the river, we are bound to encounter some Baron who is notso punctilious; for instance, the Margrave von Katznellenbogenstahleck,whose stronghold you doubtless saw from the latest meeting-place of theguild. Such a man as the Margrave is certain to do what you yourselvesdid without hesitation last night, that is, break open the lockers, andif gold were there you may depend it would not long remain in ourpossession after the discovery."
"You miss, or rather, evade the point, Commander. Is the gold ours, oris it yours?"
"I have admitted that part of it is yours."
"Then by what right do you assert the power to deal with it, lacking ourconsent? If you will pardon me for saying so, you, the youngest of ourcompany, treat the rest of us as though we were children."
"If I possessed a child that acted at once so obstreperously and in socowardly a manner as you did last night, I should cut a stick from theforest here, and thrash him with such severity that he would neverforget it. As I have not done this to you, I deny that I treat you likechildren. The truth is that, although the youngest, I am your commander.We are engaged in acts of war, therefore military law prevails, and notthe code of Justinian. It is my duty to protect your treasure and myown, and ensure that each man shall receive his share. After thedivision you may do what you please with the money, for you will then beunder the common law, and I should not presume even to advise concerningits disposal."
"You refuse to tell us, then, what you have done with the gold?"
"I do. Now proceed with your suggestion."
"I fear I put the case too mildly when I called it a suggestion,considering the unsatisfactory nature of your reply to my question,therefore I withdraw the word 'suggestion,' and substitute the word'command.'"
Kurzbold paused, to give his ultimatum the greater force. Behind himrose a murmur of approval.
"Words do not matter in the least. I deal with deeds. Out, then, withyour command!" cried Roland, for the first time exhibiting impatience.
"The command unanimously adopted is this: the Castle of Furstenberg mustbe left alone. We know more of that Castle than you do, especially aboutits owner and his garrison. We have been gathering information as wejourneyed, and have not remained sulking in the barge."
"Well, that is encouraging news to hear," said Roland. "I thought youwere engaged in sampling wine."
"You hear the command. Will you obey?"
"I will not," said Roland decisively.
Ebearhard took a step forward to the side of his chief, and glanced athim reproachfully. Greusel remained where he was, but neither man spoke.
"You intend to attack Furstenberg?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"This afternoon."
Kurzbold turned to his following:
"Brethren," he said, "you have heard this conversation, and it needs nocomment from me."
Apparently the discussion was to receive no comment from the otherseither. They stood there glum and disconcerted, as if the trend ofaffairs had taken an unexpected turn.
"I think," said one, "we had better retire and consult again."
This was unanimously agreed to, and once more they disembarked upon theisland, and moved forward to their Witenagemot. Still Greusel andEbearhard said nothing, but watched the men disappear through the trees.Roland looked at one after another with a smile.
"I see," he said, "that you disapprove of my conduct."
Greusel remained silent, but Ebearhard laughed and spoke.
"You came deliberately to the conclusion that it was unwise to attackFurstenberg. Now, because of Kurzbold's lack of courtesy, you deflectfrom your own mature judgment, and hastily jump into a course oppositeto that which you marked out for yourself after sober, unbiasedthought."
"My dear Ebearhard, the duty of a commander is to give, and not toreceive, commands."
"Quite so. Command and suggestion are merely words, as you yourselfpointed out, saying that they did not matter."
"In that, Ebearhard, I was wrong. Words do matter, although Kurzboldwasn't clever enough to correct me. For
example, I hold no man in higheresteem than yourself, yet you might use words that would cause meinstantly to draw my sword upon you, and fight until one or other of ussuccumbed."
Ebearhard laughed.
"You put it very flatteringly, Roland. Truth is, you'd fight till Isuccumbed, my swordsmanship being no match for yours. I shall say thewords, however, that will cause you to draw your sword, and they are:Commander, I will stand by you whatever you do."
"And I," said Greusel curtly.
Roland shook hands in turn with the two men.
"Right," he cried. "If we are fated to go down, we will fall withbanners flying."
After a time the captain returned with his supplies, but still themajority of the guild remained engaged in deliberation. Evidentlydiscussion was not proceeding with that unanimity which Kurzbold alwaysinsisted was the case.
At noon Roland requested the captain to send some of his men with a mealfor those in prolonged session, and also to carry them a cask which hadbeen half-emptied either that morning or the night before.
"They will enjoy a picnic under the trees by the margin of the river,"said Roland, as he and his two backers sat down in the empty cabin totheir own repast.
"Do you think they are purposely delaying, so that you cannot cross overthis afternoon?"
"'Tis very likely," said Roland. "I'll wait here until the sun sets, andthen when they realize that I am about to leave them on an uninhabitedisland, without anything to eat, I think you will see them scrambleaboard."
"But suppose they don't," suggested Greusel. "There are at least threeof them able to swim across this narrow branch of the Rhine, and engagea boatman to take them off, should their signaling be unobserved."
"Again no matter. My plan for the undoing of the castles does not dependon force, but on craft. We three cannot carry away as much gold as cantwenty-one, but our shares will be the same, and then we are not likelyto find again so full a treasury as that at Rheinstein. My belief thatthese chaps would fight was dispelled by their conduct last night. Thinkof eighteen armed men flying before one sword!"
"Ah, you are scarce just in your estimate, Commander. They were underthe influence of wine."
"True; but a brave man will fight, drunk or sober."
Although the sun sank out of sight, the men did not return. There hadbeen more wine in the cask than Roland supposed, for the cheery songs ofthe guild echoed through the sylvan solitude. Roland told the captain toset his men at work and row round the top of the island into the mainstream of the Rhine. The revelers had evidently appointed watchmen, forthey speedily came running through the woods, and followed the movementsof the boat from the shore, keeping pace with it. When the craft reachedthe opposite side of the island, the rowers drew in to the beach.
"Are you coming aboard?" asked Roland pleasantly.
"Will you agree to pass Furstenberg during the night?" demandedKurzbold.
"No."
"Do you expect to succeed, as you did with the other castles?"
"Certainly; otherwise I shouldn't make the attempt."
"I was wrong," said Kurzbold mildly, "in substituting the word 'command'for 'suggestion,' which I first employed. There are many grave reasonsfor deferring an attempt on Furstenberg. In the heat of argument thesereasons were not presented to you. Will you consent to listen to them ifwe go on board?"
"Yes; if you, on your part, will unanimously promise to abide by mydecision."
"Do you think," said Kurzbold, "that your prejudice against me, whichperhaps you agree does exist--"
"It exists," confessed Roland.
"Very well. Will you allow that prejudice to prevent you from renderinga decision in the men's favor?"
"No. If they present reasons that convince Greusel and Ebearhard againstthe attack on Furstenberg, I shall do what these two men advise, evenalthough I myself believe in a contrary course. Thus you see, HerrKurzbold, that my admitted dislike of you shall not come into play atall."
"That is quite satisfactory," said Kurzbold. "Will you tie up againstthe farther shore until your decision is rendered?"
"With pleasure," replied Roland; and accordingly the raiders tumbledimpetuously on board the barge, whereupon the sailors bent to their longoars, and quickly reached the western bank, at a picturesque spot out ofsight of any castle, where the trees came down the mountain-side to thewater's edge. Here the sailors, springing ashore, tied their stout ropesto the tree-trunks, and the great barge lay broadside on to the land,with her nose pointing down the stream.
"You see," said Roland to his lieutenants, "without giving way in theleast I allow you two the decision, and so I take it Furstenberg orourselves will escape disaster on this occasion."
"Aside from all other considerations," replied the cautious Greusel, "Ithink it good diplomacy on this occasion to agree with the men, sincethey have stated their case so deferentially. They are improving,Commander."
"It really looks like it," he agreed. "You and Ebearhard had better goaft, and counsel them to begin the conference at once, for if we are toattack we must do so before darkness sets in. I'll remain here as usualat the prow."
Some of the men were strolling about the deck, but the majority remainedin the cabin, down whose steps the lieutenants descended. Roland'simpatience increased with the waning of the light.
Suddenly a cry that was instantly smothered rose from the cabin, then ashout:
"Treachery! Look out for yourself!"
Roland attempted to stride forward, but four men fell on him, pinioninghis arms to his side, preventing the drawing of his weapon. Kurzbold,with half a dozen others, mounted on deck.
"Disarm him!" he commanded, and one of the men drew Roland's sword fromits sheath, flinging it along the deck to Kurzbold's feet. The othersnow came up, bringing the two lieutenants, both gagged, with their armstied behind them. Roland ceased his struggles, which he knew to befruitless.
"We wish an amicable settlement of this matter," said Kurzbold,addressing the lieutenants, "and regret being compelled to use measuresthat may appear harsh. I do this only to prevent unnecessary bloodshed.Earlier in the day," he continued, turning to Roland, "when we found allappeals to you were vain, we unanimously deposed you from theleadership, which is our right, and also our duty."
"Not under martial law," said Roland.
"I beg to point out that there was no talk of martial law before we leftFrankfort. It was not till later that we learned we had appointed anunreasoning tyrant over us. We have deposed him, and I am elected in hisplace, with John Gensbein as my lieutenant. We will keep you three hereuntil complete darkness sets in, then put you ashore unarmed. Bacharach,on this side of the Rhine, is to be our next resting-place, anddoubtless so clever a man as you, Roland, may say that we chooseBacharach because it is named for Bacchus, the god of drunkards.Nevertheless, to show our good intentions towards you, we will remainthere all day to-morrow. You can easily reach Bacharach along thehilltops before daybreak. We have written a charter of comradeship whichall have signed except yourselves. If at Bacharach you give us your wordto act faithfully under my leadership, we will reinstate you in theguild, and return your swords. By way of recompense for this leniency,we ask you to direct the captain to obey my commands as he has doneyours."
"Captain Blumenfels," said Roland to the honest sailor, who stoodlooking on in amaze at this turn of affairs, "you are to wait here untilit is completely dark. See that no lights are burning to give warning tothose in Furstenberg; and, by the way," added Roland, turning to hisformer company, "I advise you not to drink anything until you are wellpast the Castle. If you sing the songs of the guild within earshot ofFurstenberg, you are like to sing on the other side of your mouthsbefore morning. Don't forget that Margrave Hermann vonKatznellenbogenstahleck is the chief hangman of Germany." Then once moreto the captain:
"As the Castle of Furstenberg stands high above the river, and well backfrom it, you will be out of sight if you keep near this shore. However,you can easily judge your distance, beca
use the towers are visible evenin the darkness against the sky. No man on the ramparts of the Castlecan discern you down here on the black surface of the water, so long asyou do not carry a light."
"Roland, my deposed friend," said Kurzbold, "I fear you bear resentment,for you are giving the captain orders instead of telling him to obeymine."
"Kurzbold, you are mistaken. I resign command with great pleasure, and,indeed, Greusel and Ebearhard will testify that I had already determinedto pass Furstenberg unseen. As my former lieutenants are disarmed,surely the company, with eighteen swords, is not so frightened as tokeep them gagged and bound. 'Tis no wonder you wish to avoid theLaughing Baron, if that is all the courage you possess."
Stung by these taunts, Kurzbold gruffly ordered his men to release theirprisoners, but when the gags were removed, and before the cords werecut, he addressed the lieutenants:
"Do you give me your words not to make any further resistance, if Ipermit you to remain unbound?"
"I give you my word on nothing, you mutinous dog!" cried Greusel; "andif I did, how could you expect me to keep it after such an example oftreachery from you who pledged your faith, and then broke it? I shallobey my Commander, and none other."
"I am your Commander," asserted Kurzbold.
"You are not," proclaimed Greusel.
Ebearhard laughed.
"No need to question me," he said. "I stand by my colleagues."
"Gag them again," ordered Kurzbold.
"No, no!" cried Roland. "We are quite helpless. Give your words,gentlemen."
Gloomily Greusel obeyed, and merrily Ebearhard. Darkness was nowgathering, and when it fell completely the three men were put off intothe forest.
"You have not yet," said Kurzbold to Roland, "ordered the captain toobey me. I do not object to that, but it will be the worse for him andhis men if they refuse to accept my instructions."
"Do you know this district, Captain Blumenfels?" asked Roland.
"Yes, mein Herr."
"Is there a path along the top that will lead us behind Furstenberg onto Bacharach?"
"Yes, mein Herr, but it is a very rough track."
"Is it too far for you to guide us there, and return before the moonrises?"
"Oh no, mein Herr, I can conduct you to the trail in half an hour if youconsent to climb lustily."
"Very good. Herr Kurzbold, if you are not impatient to be off, and willpermit the captain to direct us on our way, I will tell him to obeyyou."
"How long before you can return, captain?" asked Kurzbold.
"I can be back well within the hour, mein Herr."
"You will obey me if the late Commander orders you to do so?"
"Yes, mein Herr."
"Captain," said Roland, "I inform you in the hearing of these men thatHerr Kurzbold occupies my place, and is to be obeyed by you until Iresume command."
Kurzbold laughed.
"You mean until you are re-elected to membership in the guild, for we donot propose to make you commander again. Now, captain, to the hill, andsee that your return is not delayed."
The four men disappeared into the dark forest.
"Captain," said Roland, when they reached the track, "I have taken youup here not that I needed your guidance, for I know this land as well asyou do. You will obey Kurzbold, of course, but if he tells you to makefor Lorch, allow your boat to drift, and do not get beyond the middle ofthe river until opposite Furstenberg. There is a buoyed chain--"
"I know it well," interrupted the captain. "I have many times avoidedit, but twice became entangled with it, in spite of all my efforts, andwas robbed by the Laughing Baron."
"Very well; I intend you to be entrapped by that chain to-night. Offerno resistance, and you will be safe enough. Do not attempt to help theselads should they be set upon, and it will be hard luck if I am not incommand again before midnight. Keep close to this shore, but if theyorder you into the middle of the river, or across it, dally, my goodBlumenfels, dally, until you are stopped by the chain for the thirdtime."
When the captain returned to his barge, he found Kurzbold pacing thedeck in a masterly manner, impatient to be off. For once the combatants,with an effort, were refraining from drink.
"We will open a cask," said Kurzbold, "as soon as we have passed theSchloss."
He ordered the captain to follow the shore as closely as was safe, andtake care that they did not come within sight of Furstenberg's tall,round tower. All sat or reclined on the dark deck, saying no word as thebarge slid silently down the swift Rhine. Suddenly the speed of the boatwas checked so abruptly that one or two of the standing men were flungoff their feet. From up on the hillside there tolled out the deep noteof a bell. The barge swung round broadside on the current, and lay therewith the water rushing like hissing serpents along its side, the bellpealing out a loud alarm that seemed to keep time with the shuddering ofthe helpless boat.
"What's wrong, captain?" cried Kurzbold, getting on his feet again andrunning aft.
"I fear, sir, 'tis an anchored chain."
"Can't you cut it?"
"That is impossible, mein Herr."
"Then get out your sweeps, and turn back. Where are we, do you think?"
"Under the battlements of Furstenberg Castle."
"Damnation! Put some speed into your men, and let us get away fromhere."
The captain ordered his crew to hurry, but all their efforts could notrelease the boat from the chain, against which it ground up and downwith a tearing noise, and even the un-nautical swordsmen saw that thecurrent was impelling it diagonally toward the shore, and all the whilethe deep bell tolled on.
"What in the fiend's name is the meaning of that bell?" demandedKurzbold.
"It is the Castle bell, mein Herr," replied the captain.
Before Kurzbold could say anything more the air quivered with shoutafter shout of laughter. Torches began to glisten among the trees, andthere was a clatter of horses' hoofs on the echoing rock. A moremagnificent sight was never before presented to the startled eyes of sounappreciative a crowd. Along the zigzag road, and among the trees,spluttered the torches, each with a trail of sparks like the tail of acomet. The bearers were rushing headlong down the slope, for woe to theman who did not arrive at the water's edge sooner than his master.
The torchlight gleamed on flashing swords and glittering points ofspears, but chief sight of all was the Margrave Hermann vonKatznellenbogenstahleck, a giant in stature, mounted on a magnificentstallion, as black as the night, and of a size that corresponded withits prodigious rider. The Margrave's long beard and flowing hair werered; scarlet, one may say, but perhaps that was the fiery reflectionfrom the torches. Servants, scullions, stablemen carried the lights; themen-at-arms had no encumbrance but their weapons, and the business-likeway in which they lined up along the shore was a study in discipline,and a terror to any one unused to war. Above all the din and clash ofarms rang the hearty, stentorian laughter of the Red Margrave actuallyechoing back in gusts of fiendish merriment from the hills on the otherside of the Rhine.
Now the boat's nose came dully against the ledge of rock, to whosesurface the swaying chain rose dripping from the water, sparkling like ajointed snake under the torchlight.
"God save us all!" cried the Margrave, "what rare show have we here? Bymy sainted patron, the Archbishop, merchants under arms! Whoever saw thelike? Ha! stout Captain Blumenfels, do I recognize you? Once more mychain has caught you. This makes the third time, does it not,Blumenfels?"
"Yes, your Majesty."
"You may as well call me 'your Holiness' as 'your Majesty.' I'mcontented with my title, the 'Laughing Baron,' Haw-haw-haw-haw! And soyour merchants have taken to arms again? The lesson at the Lorely taughtthem nothing! Are there any ropes aboard, captain?"
"Plenty, my lord."
"Then fling a coil ashore. Now, my tigers," he roared to hismen-at-arms, "hale me to land those damned shopkeepers."
With a clash of armor and weapons the brigands threw themselves on theboat, and in l
ess time than is taken to tell it, every man of the guildwas disarmed and flung ashore. Here another command of the Red Margravegave them the outlaw's knot, as he termed it, a most painful tying-up ofthe body and the limbs until each victim was rigid as a red of iron.They were flung face downwards in a row, and beaten black and blue withcudgels, despite their screams of agony and appeals for mercy.
"Now turn them over on their backs," commanded the Margrave, and it wasdone. The glare of the pitiless torches fell upon contorted faces. TheBaron turned his horse athwart the line of helpless men, and spurredthat animal over it from end to end, but the intelligent horse, moremerciful than its rider, stepped with great daintiness, despite itsunusual size, and never trod on one of the prostrate bodies. During whatfollowed, the Red Baron, shaking with laughter, marched his horse up anddown over the stricken men.
"Now, unload the boat, but do not injure any of the sailors! I hope tosee them often again. You cannot tell how we have missed you, captain.What are you loaded with this time? Sound Frankfort cloth?"
"Yes, your Majesty--I mean, my lord."
"No, you mean my Holiness, for I expect to be an Archbishop yet, if allgoes well," and his laughter echoed across the Rhine. "Uplift yourhatches, Blumenfels, and tell your men to help fling the goods ashore."
Delicately paced the fearful horse over the prone men, snorting, perhapsin sympathy, from his red nostrils, his jet-black coat a-quiver with theexcitement of the scene. The captain obeyed the Margrave with promptnessand celerity. The hatches were lifted, and his sailors, two and two,flung on the ledge of rock the merchant's bales. The men-at-arms, whoproved to be men-of-all-work, had piled their weapons in a heap, andwere carrying the bales a few yards inland. Through it all the Baronroared with laughter, and rode his horse along its living pavement,turning now at this end and now at the other.
"Do not be impatient," he cried down to them, "'twill not take long tostrip the boat of every bale, then I shall hang you on these trees, andsend back your bodies in the barge, as a lesson to Frankfort. You mustreturn, captain," he cried, "for you cannot sell dead bodies to my liegeof Cologne."
As he spoke a ruddy flush spread over the Rhine, as if some one hadflashed a red lantern upon the waters. The glow died out upon theinstant.
"What!" thundered the Margrave, "is that the reflection of my beard, orare Beelzebub and his fiends coming up from below for a portion of theFrankfort cloth? I will share with good brother Satan, but with no oneelse. Boil me if I ever saw a sight like that before! What was it,captain?"
"I saw nothing unusual, my lord."
"There, there!" exclaimed the Margrave, and as he spoke it seemed that acrimson film had fallen on the river, growing brighter and brighter.
"Oh, my lord," cried the captain, "the Castle is on fire!"
"Saints protect us!" shouted the Red Margrave, crossing himself, andturning to the west, where now both hearing and sight indicated that afurnace was roaring. The whole western sky was aglow, and although theflames could not be seen for the intervening cliff, every one knew therewas no other dwelling that could cause such an illumination.
Spurring his horse, and calling his men to come on, the nobleman dashedup the steep acclivity, and when the last man had departed, Roland,followed by his two lieutenants, stepped from the forest to the rightdown upon the rocky plateau.