XVI
MY LADY SCATTERS THE FREEBOOTERS AND CAPTURES THEIR CHIEF
Greusel appeared on one of the balconies, and called down to his leader.
"There are," he said, "a number of women in the western rooms of theCastle. They have bolted their doors, but tell me that the rooms containthe Pfalzgravine von Stahleck and other noble ladies, with theirtirewomen. What am I to do?"
"Place a guard in the corridor, Greusel, to make sure that these ladiescommunicate with no one outside the fortress."
"I thought it well," explained Greusel, "not to break in the doorswithout definite instructions from you to that effect."
"Quite right. Tell the ladies we will not molest them."
"You molested me!" cried the handsome girl in the courtyard, her darkeyes flashing in the glow of the torches.
"This person," said the unemotional Greusel, betraying no eye forbeauty, "called us every uncomplimentary name she could think of. Wewere the scum of the earth, according to her account."
The girl laughed scornfully.
"But I would not have dislodged her," continued Greusel, unperturbed,"had she not said there was a window in her room, which is on theeastern side of the Castle, overlooking the operations of the Pfalzgrafon the barge, and she proclaimed her determination to warn Stahleck thathis Castle was filled with freebooters, as soon as she could make hervoice heard above the din at the landing. Therefore I broke in the door,ordering her and the tirewomen to descend to the courtyard. On examiningher room I find there is no such window as she described, and she couldnot communicate with the Count, so I advise that you send her backagain."
Once more the young lady laughed, and exclaimed:
"I could not break down the door for myself, so compelled you and yourclods to do it. I am immured here; a reluctant captive. You will nothave me sent back to my cell, I hope, Commander?"
"No; if you are really my fellow-prisoner, and not one of the enemy."
"She may be deluding you also," warned Greusel.
"I will take the risk of that," replied Roland, smiling at the girl, whosmiled back at him. She had a will of her own, but seemed sensitivelyresponsive to fair treatment.
"Are there any men-servants?" asked Roland.
"Only three, and they are tottering with age," replied Greusel, "morefrightened than the women themselves. Nevertheless, one of the retainersis important, being, as he told me, keeper of the treasure-house. Irelieved him of his keys, and find that the strong-room is well suppliedwith bags of gold. 'Twill be the richest haul yet, excepting our twobarrels of coin from--"
"Hush, hush!" cried Roland. "Mention no names. Did you discover anyother exit excepting the door by which we entered?"
"No; but at the northern end there is a window through which a man ofordinary size might pass. It is, however, high above the rocks, and Idiscern floating in the tide a fleet of small boats."
"Ah," said Roland, "that is important."
"Taken in conjunction with the gold, most amiable robber," suggested thegirl.
"Taken in conjunction with the gold," repeated Roland, smiling again;and adding, "Taken also in conjunction with a lady who, if I understandher, wishes to escape from the Pfalz."
"You are right," agreed the young girl archly. "Do I receive a share ofthe money?"
"Yes; if you join our band."
"Oh!" she cried, with a pout of feigned disappointment, "I thought youhad already accepted me as a member. And what am I to call my newoverlord, who acquires wealth so successfully that he does not wish theamount mentioned, or the place from which it was taken specified?"
"My name is Roland. Will you consent to a fair exchange?"
"I am called Hilda by my friends."
"Then, Hilda," said the young man, looking at her with admiration, "Iwelcome you as one of my lieutenants."
"One, indeed!" she exclaimed, with affected indignation. "I shall befirst lieutenant or nothing."
"Up to this moment Herr Joseph Greusel, who so unceremoniously made youracquaintance, has been my chief lieutenant, but I willingly depose him,and give you his place."
"Do you hear that, Joseph?" Hilda called up to the man leaning over thebalcony.
The deposed one made a grimace, but no reply.
"Set your guard, and come down, Greusel."
Presently Greusel appeared in the courtyard, followed by four men.
"I have left two on guard," he said.
"Right. What have you done with the servants?"
"Tied them up in a hard knot. I found a loft full of ropes."
"Right again. Take your four men, and stand guard at the door. SendEbearhard to me."
Before Ebearhard arrived, Roland turned to the girl.
"Retire to your room," he said, "and bid your women gather togetherwhatever you wish to carry with you."
"I'd rather stay where I am," protested Hilda, "being anxious to hearwhat your plans are. I confess I don't know how you can emerge from thisCastle in safety."
"Fraeulein Hilda, the first duty of a chief lieutenant is obedience."
"Refusing that, what will you do?"
"I shall call two of my men, cause you to be transported to your room,and order them to see that you do not leave it again."
"Remaining here when you have departed?"
"That, of course."
"You will take the gold, however."
"Certainly; the gold obeys me; doing what I ask of it."
For a few moments the girl stood there, gazing defiance at him, butalthough a slight smile hovered about his lips, she realized in somesubtle way--woman's intuition, perhaps--that he meant what he said. Hereyes lowered, and an expression of pique came into her pretty face; thenshe breathed a long sigh.
"I shall go to my room," she said very quietly.
"I will call upon you the moment I have given some instructions to mythird lieutenant."
"You need not trouble," she replied haughtily, speaking, however, asmildly as himself. "I remain a prisoner of the Pfalzgraf von Stahleck,who, though a distinguished pillager like yourself, neverthelesspossesses some instincts of a gentleman."
With that, the young woman retired slowly up the stairway, anddisappeared, followed by her two servants.
"Ebearhard," said Roland, when that official appeared, "Greusel hasdiscovered a window to the north through which yourself and a number ofyour men can get down to the rocks with the aid of a cord, and he tellsme there is a loft full of ropes. A flotilla of boats is tied up at thelower end of the Castle. He has visited the treasury, and finds it wellsupplied with bags of coin. I intend to effect a junction between thosebags and that flotilla. Our position here is quite untenable, for thereis probably some secret entrance to this Castle that we know nothing of.There are also a number of women within whom we cannot coerce, and mustnot starve. Truth to tell, I fear them more than I do the ruffiansoutside. Have any of the men-at-arms discovered that we pulled up theladder and closed the door?"
"I think not, for in such case they would return from their pillages asquickly as did the Red Margrave when he found his house was ablaze. Myopinion is that they are making a clean job of looting the barge."
"If that is so, our barrels of gold are gone, rendering it the morenecessary that we should carry away every kreuzer our friend Stahleckpossesses. Call, therefore, every man except one from the door. Greuselhas the keys, and will lead you to the treasury. Hoist the bags to thenorth window. While your men are doing this, rive a stout rope so thatyou may all speedily descend to the rocks, except as many as arenecessary to lower the bags. When this is accomplished, Greusel is toreport to me from the balcony, and then descend, taking with him the manon guard at the door. Apportion men and bags in all the boats but one.That one I shall take charge of. Put Greusel in command of the flotilla,and tell him to convey his fleet as quietly as possible to the easternshore; then paddle up in slack water until he is, say, a third of aleague above Pfalz. There he must await my skiff. You will stand by thatskiff until I join you.
I shall likely be accompanied by three women, soretain the largest and most comfortable of the small boats."
Ebearhard raised his eyebrows at the mention of the women, but saidnothing.
Roland went in person to the room occupied by the young woman, andknocked at her door, whereupon it was opened very promptly.
"Madam," he said, "there is opportunity for escape if you care to availyourself of it."
The girl had been seated when he entered, but now she rose, speaking ina voice that was rather tremulous.
"Sir, I was wrong to disobey you when you had treated me so kindly. Ishall therefore punish myself by remaining where I am."
"In that case, Madam, you will punish me as well; and, indeed, I deserveit, forgetting as I did for the moment that I addressed a lady. If youwill give me the pleasure of escorting you, I shall conduct you insafety to whatever place of refuge you wish to reach."
"Sir, you are most courteous, but I fear my intended destination mighttake you farther afield than would be convenient for you."
"My time is my own, and nothing could afford me greater gratificationthan the assurance of your security. Tell me your destination."
"It is the Convent of Nonnenwerth, situated on an island larger thanthis, near Rolandseck."
"I shall be happy to convoy you thither."
"Again I thank you. It is my desire to join the Sisterhood there."
"Not to become a nun?" cried Roland, an intonation of disappointment inhis voice.
"Yes; although to this determination my guardian is opposed."
"Alas," said Roland, with a sigh, "I confess myself in agreement withhim so far as your taking the veil is concerned. Still, imprisonmentseems an unduly harsh alternative."
The girl's seriousness fled, and she smiled at him.
"As you have had some experience of my obstinacy, and proposed an evenharsher remedy than that--"
"Ah, you forget," interrupted Roland, "that I apologized for my lack ofmanners. I hope during our journey to Nonnenwerth I may earn completeforgiveness."
"Oh, you are forgiven already, which is magnanimous of me, when yourecollect that the fault was wholly my own. I will join you in thecourtyard at once if I may."
"Very well. I shall be down there after I have given final instructionsto my men."
Roland arrived at the north window, and saw that the flotilla hadalready departed. He could discern Ebearhard standing with his hand onthe prow of the remaining boat, so pulled up the rope, untied it fromthe ring to which it was fastened, and threw it down to his lieutenant.
"A rope is always useful," he whispered, "and we will puzzle the goodPfalzgraf regarding our exit."
In the courtyard he found the three women awaiting him. Quietly he drewback the heavy bolts, and undid the stout chains. Holding the doorslightly ajar, he peered out at the scene on the landing, brightlyilluminated by numerous torches which the servants held aloft.
The men-at-arms were enjoying themselves hugely, and the great heap ofbales already on the rocks showed that they resolved not to leave evenone package on the barge. The fact that they stood in the lightprevented their seeing the exit of the quartette from the Castle, evenhad any been on the outlook.
Roland swung the door wide, placed the ladder in exactly the sameposition it had formerly occupied, assisted the three women to theground, and then led them round the western side of the Castle throughthe darkness to Ebearhard and his skiff. Dipping their paddles withgreat caution, they kept well out of the torchlight radius.
As they left the shadow of the Castle, and came within sight of theparty on the landing, they were somewhat startled by a lusty cheer.
"Ah," said Ebearhard, "they have discovered our barrels of gold."
"'Tis very likely," replied Roland.
"Still," added Ebearhard consolingly, "I think we have made a goodexchange. There appears to be more money in Stahleck's bags than in ourtwo barrels."
"By the Three Kings!" cried Roland, staring upstream, "the barge isgetting away. They have looted her completely, and are giving her aparting salute. The robbers evidently bear no malice against our popularcaptain. Hear them inviting him to call again!"
They listened to the rattle of the big chain. It was more amenable thanthat at Furstenberg, confirming Roland in his belief that Stahleck wasthe inventor of the device. They saw half a dozen men paying out a rope,while the first section of the chain sank, leaving a passage-way for thebarge. Silhouetted against the torchlight, the boatmen were gettingready with their sweeps, prepared to dip them into the water as soon asthe vessel got clear of the rocky island.
"We will paddle alongside before they begin to row," said Roland; andCaptain Blumenfels was gently hailed from the river, much to hisastonishment.
"Make for the eastern bank, captain," whispered Roland, "and keep alookout ahead for a number of small boats like this."
Presently, rowing up the river strenuously, close to the shore, thebarge came upon the flotilla. Here Roland bade Hilda remain where shewas, and leaving Ebearhard in charge of the skiff, he clambered up onthe barge, ordering Greusel to range his boats alongside and flingaboard the treasure.
"Well, captain, did his Excellency of Pfalz leave you anything at all?"
"Not a rag," replied the captain. "The barge is empty as a drum."
"In that case there is nothing for it but a speedy return to Frankfort.I do not regret the cloth, which has been paid for over and over again,but I am mercenary enough to grudge Stahleck our two barrels of gold."
"Oh, as to the gold," replied the captain gravely, "I took the libertyof reversing your plan at Lorch."
"What plan?"
"Your honor poured gold into wine barrels, but I poured the red wine ofLorch into the gold barrels, and threw the empty cask overboard. Perhapsyou know that the Pfalzgraf grows excellent white wine round his Castleof Stahleck, and despises the red wine of Lorch and Assmannshausen. Hetasted the wine, which had not been improved by being poured into thedirty gold barrels, spat it out with an oath, and said we were welcometo keep it. He has also promised to send me a cask of good white wine toFrankfort."
"Captain, despite your quiet, unassuming manner, you are the mostingenious of men."
"Indeed, I but copied your honor's ingenuity."
"However it happened, you saved the gold, and that action alone willmake a rich man of you, for you must accept my third share of themoney."
By this time the bags had been heaved aboard. Greusel followed them, andstood ready to receive further orders.
"You will all make for Frankfort," said Roland, "keeping close aspossible to this side of the river. No man is to be allowed ashore untilyou reach the capital. Captain, are there provisions enough aboard forthe voyage?"
"Yes, your honor."
"Very well. Put every available person at the oars, and get pastFurstenberg before daybreak. My men, who have not had an opportunity todistinguish themselves as warriors, will take their turn at the sweeps.You and Ebearhard," he continued, turning to Greusel, "will employ thetime in counting the money and making a fair division. With regard tothe two barrels, the captain will receive my third share, and also beone of us in the apportionment of the gold we secured to-night. It wasthrough his thoughtfulness that the barrels were saved. Whatever portionyou find me entitled to, place in the keeping of the merchant, HerrGoebel. And now I shall tie four bags to my belt for emergencies."
"Are you not coming with us, Roland?" asked Greusel anxiously.
"No. Urgent business requires my presence in the neighborhood of Bonn,but I shall meet you in the Kaiser cellar before a month is out."
Saying this, he shook hands with the captain and Greusel, and descendedinto the small boat, bidding farewell to Ebearhard.
"Urge them," were his last words, "to get well out of sight of Pfalz andFurstenberg before the day breaks, and as for the small boats, turn themloose; present them as a peace-offering to the Rhine."
In the darkness Prince Roland allowed his frail barque to flo
at down thestream, using his paddle merely to keep it toward the east, so to avoidthe chain. He found himself accompanied by a silent, spectral fleet; theempty boats that his men had sent adrift. To all appearance the littlesquadron lay motionless, while the dim Castle of Pfalz, with its scoreof pointed turrets piercing a less dark sky, seemed like a great shipmoving slowly up the Rhine. When it had disappeared to the south, Rolandventured to speak, in a low voice.
"Madam," he said, "tell your women so to arrange what extra apparel youhave brought to form a couch, where you may recline, and sleep for therest of the night."
"Captain Roland," she replied, her gentle little laugh floating with somusical a cadence athwart the waters that he found himself regrettingsuch a sweet voice should be kept from the world by the unappreciativewalls of a convent,--"Captain Roland, I was never more awake than I amat this moment. Life has somehow become unexpectedly interesting. Iexperience the deliciously guilty feeling of belonging to a stealthysociety of banditti. Do not, I beg of you, deprive me of that pleasureby asking me to sleep."
"In the morning, Madam, there will be little opportunity for rest. Wemust put all the distance we can between ourselves and the Pfalzgrafvon Stahleck. I expect you to ride far and fast to-morrow."
"Do you intend, then, to abandon this boat?"
"I must, Madam. The river has been long so empty that this flotilla,which I cannot shake off, being unaccustomed to oars or paddle, willattract attention from both sides of the Rhine, and when the darknesslifts we are almost certain to be stopped. The boats will be recognizedas belonging to the Pfalzgraf, and I wish to sever all connectionbetween this night's work and my own future."
"What, then, do you propose?"
"As soon as day breaks we will come to land, and allow our boat to floataway with the rest. Can you walk?"
"I love walking," cried the girl with enthusiasm. "I ask your pity formyself, immured in that windowless dungeon, situated on a tiny point ofrock; I, who have roamed the hills and explored the valleys of my ownland on foot, breathing the air of freedom with delight. Let me,therefore, I beg of you, remain awake that I may taste the pleasure ofanticipation in my thoughts; or is such a wish disobedience on the partof your first lieutenant? I do not mean it so, and will quietly crymyself to sleep if you insist."
"Indeed, Hilda," said Roland, laughing, and abandoning the more formaltitle of "madam," "I am no such tyrant as you suppose. Besides, youroffice of first lieutenant has lapsed, because our men have all gonesouth, while we travel north."
"Then may I talk with you?"
"Nothing would please me better. I was thinking of your own welfare, andnot of my desire, when I counseled slumber."
"Oh, I assure you I slept very well during the first part of the night,for, there being nothing else to do, I went to bed early, and was quiteunconscious until the dreadful ringing of that alarm bell, which set thewhole Castle astir."
"Why were you imprisoned?"
"Because--because," she replied haltingly, "I had chosen the religiouslife, the which my guardian opposed. He appeared to think that someexperience of the rigors of the convent might make me less eager toimmure myself in a nunnery, which, like Pfalz Castle, is also on arestricted island."
"Then his remedy has proved unavailing?"
"Quite. The Sisters will be very good to me, for I shall enrich theirconvent with my wealth. 'Twill be vastly different from incarceration inPfalz."
"Hilda, I doubt that. Captivity is captivity, under whatever name youterm it. I cannot understand why one who spoke so enthusiastically justnow of hills and valleys and liberty should take the irrevocable stepwhich you propose; a step that will rob you forever of those joys."
The girl remained silent, and he went on, speaking earnestly:
"I think in one respect you are like myself. You love the murmur of thetrees, and the song of the running stream."
"I do, I do," she whispered, as if to herself.
"The air that blows around the mountain-top inspires you, and you cannotview the hills on the horizon without wishing to explore them, and learnwhat is on the other side."
There was light enough for him to see that the girl's head sank into heropen hand.
"You, I take it, have never been restricted by discipline."
Her head came up quickly.
"You think that because of what I said in the courtyard?"
"No; my mind was running towards the future rather than to the past. Therigor of strict rules would prove as irksome to you as would a cage to afree bird of the forest."
"I fear you are in the right," she said with a sigh; and then,impatiently, "Oh, you do not understand the situation, and I cannotexplain! The convent is merely a retreat for me; the lesser of two evilspresented."
"You spoke of your land. Where is that land?"
"Do you know Schloss Sayn?" she asked.
"Sayn? Sayn?" he repeated. "Where have I heard that name before, andrecently too? I thought I knew every castle on the Rhine, but I do notremember Sayn."
The girl laughed.
"You will find no fellow-craftsman there, Pirate Roland, if ever youvisit it. The Schloss is not on the Rhine, and, perhaps on that account,rather than because of its owner's honesty, is free from the taint yousuggest. It stands high in the valley of the Saynbach, more than half aleague from this river."
"Ah, that accounts for my ignorance. I never saw Sayn Castle, although Iseem to have heard of it. Are you its owner?"
"Yes; I told you I was wealthy."
"Where is the Schloss situated?"
"Below Coblentz, on the eastern side of the river."
"Then why not let me take you there instead of to the convent?"
"Willingly, if you had brought your barge-load of armed men, but in SaynCastle I am helpless, commanding a peaceful retinue of servants who,although devoted to me, are useless when it comes to defense."
"I cannot account for it," said Roland in meditative tone, "but thethought of that convent becomes more and more distasteful. You will befree of your guardian, no doubt, but you merely exchange one whom youknow for another whom you don't, and that other a member of your ownsex."
"Do you disparage my sex, then?"
"No; but I cannot imagine any man being discourteous to you. Surelyevery gentleman with a sword by his side should spring at once to yourdefense."
The girl laughed.
"Ah, Captain Roland, you are very young, and, I fear, inexperienced,despite your filibustering. However, this lovely, still, summer night,with its warm, velvety darkness, was made for pleasant thoughts. Enoughabout myself. Let me hear something of you. Did you come up the river ordown, with your barge?"
"We came down."
"How long since you adopted a career of crime? You do not seem to be ahardened villain."
"Believe me," protested Roland earnestly, "I am not, and I do not admitthat my career is one of crime."
"Indeed," said the girl, laughing again, "I am not so gullible as youthink. I could almost fancy that you were the incendiary of FurstenbergCastle."
"What!" exclaimed Roland in consternation. "How came you to learn of itsdestruction?"
"There!" cried the girl gleefully, "you have all but confessed. You areas startled as if I had said: 'I arrest you in the name of theEmperor!'"
"Who told you that Furstenberg Castle was burned?" demanded the youngman sternly.
"Yesterday morning there came swiftly down the river, with no less thantwelve oarsmen, a long, thin boat, traveling like the wind. It did notpause at Pfalz, but the man standing in the stern hailed the Castle, andshouted to the Pfalzgraf that Furstenberg had been burned by the outlawsof the Hunsruck. He was on his way to Bonn to inform the Archbishop ofCologne, and he carried also Imperial news for his Lordship: tidingsthat the Emperor is dead."
"Dead!" breathed Roland in horror, scarcely above his breath. "TheEmperor dead! I wonder if that can be true."
"Little matter whether it is true or no," said the girl indifferently."He doubtless pa
ssed away in a drunken sleep, and I am told his drunkenson will be elected in his place."
"Madam!" said Roland harshly, awakened from his stupor by her words, "Imust inform your ignorance that the Emperor's son is not a drunkard,and, indeed, scarcely touches wine at all, being a most strenuousopposer to its misuse. How can one so fair, and, as I believed, sohonest, repeat such unfounded slander?"
"Are you a partisan of his?"
"I come from Frankfort; have seen the Prince, and know I speak thetruth."
"Ah, well," replied the girl lightly, "you and I will not quarrel overhis Highness. I accept your amendment, and will never more bear falsewitness against him. After all, it makes slight difference one way orthe other. An Emperor goes, and an Emperor is elected in his place aspowerless as his predecessor. 'Tis the Archbishops who rule."
"You seem well versed in politics, Madam."
The girl leaned forward to him.
"Do not 'madam' me, I beg of you, Roland. I dare say rumor hasprejudiced me against the young man, but I have promised not to speakslightingly of him again. I wish this veil of darkness was lifted, thatI might see your face, to note the effect of anger. Do you know, I amdisappointed in you, Roland? You spoke in such level tones in thecourtyard that I thought anger was foreign to your nature."
"I am not angry," said Roland gruffly, "but I detest malicious gossip."
"Oh, so do I, so do I! I spoke thoughtlessly. I will kneel to the newEmperor and beg his pardon, if you insist."
Roland remained silent, and for a time they floated thus down the river,she trailing her fingers in the water, which made a pleasant rippleagainst them, looking up at him now and then. Perceptibly the darknesswas thinning. One seemed to smell morning in the air. A bird pipeddreamily in the forest at intervals, as if only half-awakened. The twowomen reclining in the prow were sound asleep.
Roland picked up the paddle, and with a strong, sweeping stroke turnedthe head of the boat towards the land. Now she could see his loweringbrow, and if the sight pleased her, 'twas not manifested in her nextremark.
She took her hand from the water, drew herself up proudly, and said:
"I shall not apologize to you again, and I hate your blameless Prince!"
"Madam, I ask for no apology, and whether you hate or like the Princematters nothing to me, or, I dare say, to him, either."
"Cannot you even allow a woman her privilege of the last word?" shecried indignantly.
Roland's brow cleared, and a smile came to his lips, as he remainedsilent, thus bestowing upon her the prerogative she seemed to crave.Hilda lay back in the prow of the boat between her sleeping women, withhands clasped behind her head, and her eyes closed. More and more thelight increased, and sturdily with his paddle Roland propelled the boattowards the shore, bringing it alongside the low bank at last. He sprangout on the turf, and with the paddle in one hand held the boat to landwith the other.
"We are now," he said, "a short distance above St. Goarhausen, where Ihope to purchase horses. Will you kindly disembark?"
The girl, without moving, or opening her eyes, said quietly:
"Please throw the paddle into the boat again. I shall make forNonnenwerth in this craft, which is more comfortable than a saddle."
The paddle came rattling down upon the bottom of the skiff. Rolandstooped, and before she knew what he was about, took Hilda in his arms,lifted her ashore, and laid her carefully on the grass.
"Come," he cried to the newly-awakened serving-women, "tumble out ofthat without further delay," and they obeyed him in haste.
He stepped into the skiff, flung their belongings on the sward, turnedthe prow to the west, and, leaping ashore, bestowed a kick upon the boatthat impelled it like an arrow far out into the stream.
Hilda was standing on her feet now, speechless with indignation.
"Come along," urged Roland cheerfully, "breakfast awaits us when we earnit;" but seeing that she made no move, the frown furrowed his browagain.
"Madam," he said, "I tell you frankly that to be thwarted by petulanceannoys me. It happens that time is of the utmost importance until we aremuch farther from Pfalz. If you think that the ownership of wealth and acastle gives you the right to flout a plain, ordinary man, you take amistaken view of things. I care nothing for your castle, or for yourwealth. You may be a lady of title for aught I know, but even that doesnot impress me. We must not stand here like two quarrelsome children. Iwill conduct you to the Adler Inn at St. Goarhausen, where I know fromexperience you will be taken care of. I shall then purchase four horses,and return to the inn after you have breakfasted. Three of these horsesare at your disposal, also the fourth and myself, if you will condescendto make use of us. If not, I shall ask you to accept what money you needfor your journey, so that you may travel north unmolested, while I takemy way in the other direction."
"How can I repay the money," she demanded, "if I do not know who andwhat you are?"
"I shall send for it, either to your Castle of Sayn, or the Convent ofNonnenwerth. You need be under no obligation to me."
"But," cried the girl with a sob, "I am already under obligation to you;an obligation which I cannot repay."
"Oh yes, you can."
"How?"
"By coming with me, who will persuade you, as readily as you did withyour guardian, who coerced you."
"I am an ungrateful simpleton," she murmured. "Of course your way is theright one, and I am quite helpless if you desert me."
"There," cried Roland, with enthusiasm, "you have more than repaidwhatever you may owe."
After breakfasting at St. Goarhausen and purchasing the horses, theyjourneyed down the rough road that extended along the right bank of theRhine. Roland and Hilda rode side by side, the other two following somedistance to the rear. The young man maintained a gloomy silence, and thegirl, misapprehending his thoughts, remained silent also, with downcasteyes, seeing nothing of the beautiful scenery they were passing. Everynow and then Roland cast a sidelong glance at her, and his melancholydeepened as he remembered how heedlessly he had pledged his word to thethree Archbishops regarding his marriage.
"I see," she said at last, "that I have offended you more seriously thanI feared."
"No, no," he assured her. "There is a burden that I cannot cast from mymind."
"May I know what it is?"
"I dare not tell you, Hilda. I have been a fool. I am in the position ofa man who must break his oath and live dishonored, or keep it, andremain for ever unhappy. Which would you do were you in my place?"
"Once given, I should keep my oath," she replied promptly, "unless thosewho accepted it would release me."
Roland shook his head.
"They will not release me," he said dolefully.
Again they rode together in silence, content to be near each other,despite the young man's alternations of elation and despair. 'Twas, allin all, a long summer's day of sweet unhappiness for each.
One of Roland's reasons for choosing the right bank of the Rhine was toavoid the important city of Coblentz, with its inevitable questioning,and it was late afternoon when they saw this town on the farther shore,passing it without hindrance.
"You will rest this night," she said, "in my Castle of Sayn, and then,as time is pressing, to-morrow you must return. We have met nointerference even by this dangerous route, and I shall make my way alonewithout fear to Nonnenwerth, for I know you are anxious to be inFrankfort once more."
"I swear to you, Hilda, that if, without breaking my oath, I shouldnever see Frankfort again, I would be the most joyous of men."
"Does your oath relate to Frankfort?"
"My oath relates to a woman," he said shortly.
"Ah," she breathed, "then you must keep it," and so they fell intosilence and unhappiness again.
She had talked of security on the road they traversed, but turning acorner north of Vallandar they speedily found that a Rhine road is neversafe.
Both reined in their horses as if moved by the same impulse, but toretreat
now would simply draw pursuit upon them. Mounted on a splendidwhite charger, gorgeous with trappings, glittering with silver and gold,rode a dignified man in the outdoor habit of a general in times ofpeace.
Following him came an escort of twoscore horsemen; they in the fullpanoply of war; and behind them, on foot, in procession extending like agigantic snake down the Rhine road, an army of at least three thousandmen, the setting sun flashing fire from the points of their spears. Hereand there, down the line, floated above them silken flags, and Rolandrecognized the device on the foremost one.
"God!" he shouted in dismay. "The Archbishop of Cologne!"
The girl uttered a little frightened cry, and edged her horse nearer tothat of her escort.
"My guardian! My guardian!" she breathed. "I shall be rearrested!"
Seeing them standing as if stricken to stone, two horsemen detachedthemselves from the cavalry and galloped forward.
"Make way there, you fools!" cried the leader. "Get ye to the side; intothe river; where you like; out of the path of my Lord the Archbishop."
Nevertheless Roland stood his ground, and dared even to frown at theofficers of his Lordship.
"Stand aside _you_," he commanded in a tone of mastery, "and do notventure to intrude between the Archbishop and me."
The rider knew that no man who valued his head would dare use suchlanguage in the very presence of the Archbishop, unless he were thehighest in the land. His dignified Lordship looked up to see the causeof this interruption, and of these angry words.
First came into his face an expression of amazement, then a smile meltedthe stern lips as he looked on Roland and recognized him. The impetuoushorsemen faded away to the background. There was no answering smile onRoland's face. He reached out and clasped the hand of the girl.
"Now, by the Three Kings!" he whispered, "I shall break my oath."
Hilda glanced up at him, frightened by his vehemence, wincing under hisiron grasp.
An unexpected sound interrupted the tension. The Archbishop had come toa stand, and "Halt! Halt! Halt!" rang out the word along the line ofmen, whose feet ceased to stir the dust of the road. The unexpectedsound was that of hearty laughter from the dignified and mighty Princeof the Church.
"Forgive me, your Highness!" he cried, "but I laugh to think of thecountenances of my somber brothers, Treves and Mayence, when they learnhow sturdily you have kept your word with them. By the true Cross,Prince Roland, although we wished you to marry her, we had no thoughtthat you would break into the Castle of Pfalz to win her hand. Ah, dear,what a pity 'tis we grow old! The impetuousness of youth outweighs thecalculated wisdom of the three greatest prelates outside Rome. Judgingby your fair face (and I have always held it to be beautiful, remember),you, Hildegunde Lauretta Priscilla Agnes, Countess of Sayn, are notmoving northward to Nonnenwerth. I always insisted that the Saalhof atFrankfort was a more cheerful edifice than any nunnery on the Rhine, yetyou never turned upon me such a glance of confidence as I see you bestowon your future Emperor."
"I hope, my Lord and Guardian," cried the girl, "that I have met you intime to deflect your course to my Castle of Sayn."
"Sweet Countess, I thank you for the invitation. My men can go on totheir camp in the stronghold of my brother of Mayence, SchlossMartinsburg, and I shall gladly return with you to the hospitable hearthof Sayn. Indeed," said the Archbishop, lowering his voice, "I shall feelsafer there than in enjoying the hospitality I had intended to accept."
"Are you not surprised to meet me?" asked the lady, with a laugh,adjusting words and manner to the new situation, which she more quicklycomprehended than did her companion, who glanced with bewilderment fromCountess to prelate, and back again.
The Archbishop waved his hand.
"Nothing you could do would surprise me, since your interview with theCourt of Archbishops. I am on my way to Frankfort." Then, moreseriously, to Prince Roland: "You heard of your father's death?"
"I learned it only this morning, my Lord. I shall return to Frankfortwhen I am assured that this gentlewoman is in a place of safety."
"Ah, Countess, there will be no lack of safety now! But will you notease an old man's conscience by admitting he was in the right?"
The Countess looked up at Roland with a smile.
"Yes, dear Guardian," she said. "You were in the right."