 CHAPTER XII. THE LAUGHING RED MARGRAVE OF FIRSTENBURG Eberhard laughed and took two steps forward. Whenever affairs became serious, one could always depend on a laugh from Eberhard. "'Excuse me, Commander,' he said, but you placed Groussel and me in charge of this pious and sober party. Therefore I, being the least of your officers, must stand the first brunt of our failure to keep these lambs peaceable for the night. Groussel, stand behind me, and in front of the Commander, I, being reasonably sober, believe I can cut down six of the innocents before they finish with me. You will attend to the next six, leaving exactly half a dozen for Roland to eliminate in his own fashion. 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 two behind him were since sprawling, and the half-dozen which were Roland's portion tumbled over one another down the steep ladder into the cabin. Eberhard laughed again when the last man disappeared. I think, he said to Roland, that you will meet no further trouble from our friends. They evidently broke open the lockers, alarmed because Groussel and I asked for a postponement of the counting, probably intending to make the division without our assistance. Have you hidden the money, asked Groussel? Not exactly, replied Roland, but in case anything should happen to me 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 Gobel identifying you. He is entitled to four thousand five hundred thailers of the money. The balance you will divide among those of us who survive. Roland slept on deck, wrapped in his cloak. His two lieutenants took turn in keeping watch, but nothing except snores came up from the cabin. The mutineers were not examples of early rising next morning. The sun gave promise of another warm day, and Roland walked up and down the deck, anxiety printed on his brow. He had made up his mind to knock at the door of the laughing baron. A giant in stature reported to be the most ingenious, most cruel, and bravest of all the robber noblemen of the Rhine, whose castle was notoriously the hardest nut to crack along the banks of that famous river. For several reasons it would not be wise to linger much longer in the neighborhood of Lorch. The three castles they had entered the day before were still visible on the western bank. News of the raid would undoubtedly travel to Firstenburg also within sight down the river, and thus the hilarious margrave would be put on his guard overjoyed at the opportunity of trapping the moral marauders. Firstenburg was also a fife of Cologne, and any molestation of it would involve the meddler, if identified, in complications with the church and the archbishop. It was necessary therefore to move with caution, and to retreat if possible unobserved. These difficulties alone were enough to give pause to the most intrepid, but Roland was further handicapped by his own following. How could he hope to accomplish any subtle movement requiring silence, prompt obedience, and great alertness, supported by men whose brains were muddled with drink, and whose conduct was saturated with conspiracy against him? They had whine enough on board to continue their orgy, and he was quite unable to prevent their carousel. With a deep sigh he realized that he would be compelled to forego Firstenburg, and thus leave behind him a virgin citadel which he knew was bad tactics from a military point of view. During his meditations his men were coming up from the fuming cabin into the fresh air and the sunlight. They appeared, by two's and three's, yawning and rubbing their eyes, but no one ventured to interrupt the leader as, with bent head, he paced back and forth on the deck. The men indeed seemed exceedingly subdued. They passed with almost overdone nonchalance from the boat to the island, and sauntered towards its lower end from which, in the clear morning air, the grim fortress of Firstenburg could be plainly discerned diagonally across the river. It was Eberhard who broke in upon Roland's reverie. Our friends appear very quiet this morning, but I observe they have all happened to coincide upon the northern part of the island, as have rendezvoused for their before-breakfast walk. I surmise they are holding a formal meeting of the guild, but neither Grosselle nor I have been invited, so I suppose that after last night's display, we too are no longer considered their brethren. This meekness on their part seems to me more dangerous than last night's flurry. I think they will demand from you a knowledge of what has been done with the gold. Have you decided upon your answer? Yes, it is their right to know, so I shall tell them the truth. By this time Kruger is on his way somewhere between Erenfels and Wiesbaden. He will reach Frankfurt tonight and cannot be overtaken. Is there not danger that they will desert and a body return to Frankfurt and demand from her gobel their share of the spoil? No matter for that, returned Roland, gobel will not part with a florin except under security of such letters as I purpose giving you and Grosselle, and even then only when you have proven to him that I am dead. That is all very well, demured Eberhard, but don't you see what a dangerous power you put into the hands of the rebels? Gobel is merely a merchant and though rich, politically powerless, he has already come into conflict with the authorities and spent a term in prison. Do not forget that the archbishops have refused to take action against these robber barons. Our men, if there happen to be one of brains among them, can easily terrify gobel into parting with the treasure by threatening to confess their own and his complicity in the raids. Consider what an excellent case they can put forward, stating quite truly that they joined this expedition in ignorance of its purport. But on the very first day, learning what was afoot, they deserted their criminal leader and are now endeavoring to make restitution. Gobel is helpless. If he says that they first demanded the gold from him, they as strenuously deny it, and their denial must be believed because they come of their own free will to the authorities. The merchant, already tainted with treason, having suffered imprisonment and narrowly escaped hanging, proves on investigation to be up to the neck in this affair. There is no difficulty in learning that his barge went down the river, manned by a crew of his own choosing. Of course, it need never come to this because Gobel, 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, of your contingent would deliver up the treasure to them. Don't you see he must do so to save his own neck? Roll and ponder deeply on what had been said to him, but for the moment made no reply. Grussell, who joined them during the conversation, remaining silent until Eberhard had finished, now spoke. I quite agree with all that has been said. What then would you advise me to do? asked Rolland. I have been talking with one or two of the men, said Grussell. They won't speak to Eberhard because he drew his sword on them. I find they believe you took advantage of their absence to bury the gold in what you supposed to be a safe place. They are sure you are acquainted with no one in large to whom you could safely entrust it. And, of course, do not suspect an emissary from Frankfurt. I should advise you to say that arrangements have been made for every man to get his share so long as nothing untoward happens to you. This will preserve your life should they 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 convinced that if ever we are really attacked we shall make a very poor showing, even though we carry swords. Remember how the men tumbled over one another in their haste to get out of reach when Eberhard flourished his blade? I think Grussell's suggestion is an excellent one, put in Eberhard. Very well, said Roland, I shall adopt it, although I had made up my mind fully to enlighten them. There is one more matter that I should like to speak to about, continued Eberhard. Both at Esmondhausen and at Lorch last night, we heard a good deal anent Firstenburg. It is the most dangerous castle on 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 on his way down the Rhine and hold him for ransom. Yes, said Roland, Adolf of Nassau, on his way to be crowned at Eilat Chapelle. Quite so. Well, this huge ruffian I never can remember his name. Can you, Grussell? No, it beats me. Margrave Hermann von Katznelenbogenstallich, said Roland so solemnly that Eberhard laughed and even Grussell smiled. That's the individual, agreed Eberhard, and you must admit the name itself is a formidable thing to attack, even without the giant it belongs to. Banish all apprehension, said Roland. I have already decided to remain here through the day and drop quietly down the river tonight in the darkness past Firstenburg. I think that is a wise decision, said Eberhard. Tail against all military rules, demurred Roland, but nevertheless, with such an army as I lead, it seems the only way. Do the men know that Firstenburg is our point of greatest danger? Yes, but they do not know so much as I. Last night I left them in Grussell's charge, being alarmed about what I heard of Firstenburg and engaged a boatman to take me over there before the moon rose. I discovered that the laughing baron has caused a chain to be buoyed up just below the surface of the water, running diagonally up the river more than halfway across it so that any boat coming down is caught and drawn 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 knew about this chain but thought it had been abandoned since traffic stopped. He says it runs right up into the castle and the moment a barge strikes against it, a big bell is automatically wrong inside the stronghold, causing the baron to laugh so loudly that they sometimes hear him over in lurch. This is very interesting, Eberhard, and an excellent feat of scouting must be set down to your credit. Say nothing to the men, because although we give Firstenburg the go-by on this occasion, I shall pay my respects to Hermann von Katznel and Bogan Stalik on my return, and the knowledge you bring me will prove useful. Ha ha, cried Grussell, here are our infants returning, all in a body, curse-bold at their head as usual. I imagine this morning they are going to 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 clambered on at the stern. The captain and two of his men had taken the skiff belonging to the barge and were absent at lurch, purchasing provisions. Rowland stood at the prow of the barge slightly in advance of his two lieutenants and awaited the approach of curse-bold with 17 men behind him. Commander, said the spokesman, with nothing of the late trochulence in his tone, we have just held a meeting of the guild and unanimously agreed to ask you one question and offer you one suggestion. I shall be pleased, replied Rowland, to answer the first if I think it desirable, and take the second into consideration. He inclined his head to the delegation and received a low bow in return. This was a most auspicious beginning showing a certain improvement of method on the part of the majority. The question is, Commander, what have you done with the gold we captured yesterday? A very proper inquiry, replied Rowland, that it gives me much pleasure to answer. I have placed the money in a custody which I believe to be absolute, arranging that if nothing happens to me, this money shall be properly 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, am morally, if not legally, responsible to you all for its safekeeping. Our barge has stopped three times so far, and Captain Blumenfeld tells me that he has had no real violence to complain of, but as we progress farther down the river, we are bound to encounter some baron who is not so punctilious. For instance, the Margrave von Katznellenbogen Stalich, whose stronghold you doubtless saw from the latest meeting place of the Guild. Such a man as the Margrave is certain to do what you yourselves did without hesitation last night. That is, break open the lockers, and if gold were there, you may depend. It would not long remain in our possession after the discovery. You miss, or rather evade the point, Commander. Is the gold ours, or is 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 our consent, if you will pardon me for saying so? You, the youngest of our company, treat the rest of us as though we were children. If I possessed a child that acted at once so obstreperously and in so cowardly a manner as you did last night, I should cut a stick from the forest here and thrash him with such severity that he would never forget it. As I have not done this to you, I deny that I treat you like children. The truth is that, although the youngest, I am your commander. We are engaged in acts of war, therefore military law prevails, and not the Code of Justinian. It is my duty to protect your treasure and my own, and ensure that each man shall receive his share. After the division, you may do what you please with the money, for you will then be under the common law, and I should not presume even to advise concerning its 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 him rose a murmur of approval. Words do not matter in the least. I deal with deeds. Out, then, with your command, cried Roland, for the first time exhibiting impatience. The command unanimously adopted is this. The castle of Firstenburg must be left alone. We know more of that castle than you do, especially about its owner and his garrison. We have been gathering information as we journeyed and have not remained sulking in the barge. Well, that is encouraging news to hear, said Roland. I thought you were engaged in sampling wine. You hear the command. Will you obey? I will not, said Roland decisively. Eberhard took a step forward to the side of his chief and glanced at him reproachfully. Grussell remained where he was, but neither man spoke. You intend to attack Firstenburg? Yes, when? This afternoon. Kurzbold turned to his following. Brethren, he said, you have heard this conversation, and it needs no comment from me. Apparently, the discussion was to receive no comment from the others, either. They stood there glum and disconcerted as if the trend of affairs 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 the island and moved forward to their wittent agamot. Still, Grussell and Eberhard said nothing, but watch 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. Grussell remained silent, but Eberhard laughed and spoke. You came deliberately to the conclusion that it was unwise to attack Firstenburg. Now, because of Kurzbold's lack of courtesy, you deflect from your own mature judgment and hastily jump into a course opposite to that which you marked out for yourself after sober and biased thought. My dear Eberhard, the duty of a commander is to give and not to receive commands. Quite so, command and suggestion are merely words, as you yourself pointed out, saying that they did not matter. In that, Eberhard, I was wrong. Words do matter, although Kurzbold wasn't clever enough to correct me. For example, I hold no man in higher esteem than yourself, yet you might use words that would cause me instantly to draw my sword upon you and fight until one or other of us succumbed. Eberhard laughed. You put it very flatteringly, Roland. Truth is, you'd fight till I succumbed, my swordsmanship being no match for yours. I shall say the words, however, that will cause you to draw your sword, and they are Commander, I will stand by you whatever you do. And I, said Grusel Kurtle, Roland shook hands in turn with the two men. Right, he cried, if we are fated to go down, we will fall with banners flying. After a time, the captain returned with his supplies, but still the majority of the guild remained engaged in deliberation. Evidently, discussion was not proceeding with that unanimity, which Kurzbold always insisted was the case. At noon, Roland requested the captain to send some of his men with a meal for those in prolonged session, and also to carry them a casque which had been 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 chair to their own repast. Do you think they are purposely delaying so that you cannot cross over this afternoon? Tis very likely, said Roland, I'll wait here until the sun sets, and then when they realize that I am about to leave them on an uninhabited island without anything to eat, I think you will see them scramble aboard. But suppose they don't, suggested Grusel, there are at least three of them able to swim across this narrow branch of the Rhine and engage a boatman to take them off, should their signaling be unobserved. Again, no matter, my plan for the undoing of the castles does not depend on force but on craft. We three cannot carry away as much gold as can twenty-one, but our shares will be the same, and then we are not likely to find again so full a treasury as that at Rheinstein. My belief that these chaps would fight was dispelled by their conduct last night. Think of eighteen armed men flying before one sword. You are scarce just in your estimate, Commander. They were under the influence of wine. True, but a brave man will fight drunk or sober. Although the sun sank out of sight, the man did not return. There had been more wine in the cask than Roland supposed, for the cheery songs of the guild echoed through the Sylvan solitude. Roland told the captain to set his men at work and row round the top of the island into the mainstream of the Rhine. The revelers had evidently appointed watchmen, for they speedily came running through the woods and followed the movements of the boat from the shore, keeping pace with it. When the craft reached the opposite side of the island, the rowers drew into the beach. Are you coming aboard, asked Roland pleasantly? Will you agree to pass Firstenberg during the night, demanded Curseboat? 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 Curseboat mildly, in substituting the word Command for Suggestion, which I first employed. There are many grave reasons for deferring an attempt on Firstenberg. In the heat of argument, these reasons were not presented to you. Will you consent to listen to them if we go on board? Yes, if you on your part will unanimously promise to abide by my decision. Do you think, said Curseboat, that your prejudice against me, which perhaps you agree does exist? It exists, confessed Roland. Will you allow that prejudice to prevent you from rendering a decision in the men's favor? No. If they present reasons that convince Grossell and Eberhard against the attack on Firstenberg, I shall do what these two men advise, even though I myself believe in a contrary course. Thus you see, Herr Curseboat, that my admitted dislike of you shall not come into play at all. That is quite satisfactory, said Curseboat. Will you tie up against the farthest shore until your decision is rendered? With pleasure, replied Roland, and accordingly the raiders tumbled impetuously on board the barge, whereupon the sailors bent to their long oars and quickly reached the western bank at a picturesque spot out of sight of any castle where the trees came down the mountainside to the water's edge. Here the sailors, springing ashore, tied their stout ropes to the tree trunks, and the great barge lay broadside onto the land, with her nose pointing down the stream. You see, said Roland to his lieutenants, without giving way in the least I allow you to the decision, and so I take it Firstenberg or ourselves will escape disaster on this occasion. Aside from all other considerations, replied the cautious Grossell, I think it good diplomacy on this occasion to agree with the men, since they have stated their case so deferentially, they are improving commander. It really looks like it, he agreed. You and Eberhard had better go aft and counsel them to begin the conference at once, for if we are to attack we must do so before darkness sets in. I'll remain here as usual at the prow. Some of the men were strolling about the deck, but the majority remained in the cabin, down whose steps the lieutenants descended. Roland's impatience increased with the waning of the light. Suddenly a cry that was instantly smothered rose from the cabin, then a shout, treachery, look out for yourself. Roland attempted to stride forward, but four men fell on him, pinioning his arms to his side, preventing the drawing of his weapon. Cursebolt, with half a dozen others, mounted on deck. Disarm him, he commanded, and one of the men drew Roland's sword from its sheath, flinging it along the deck to Cursebolt's feet. The others now came up, bringing the two lieutenants both gagged with their arms tied behind them. Roland ceased his struggles, which he knew to be fruitless. We wish an amicable settlement of this matter, said Cursebolt, addressing the lieutenants, and regret being compelled to use measures that may appear harsh. I do this only to prevent unnecessary bloodshed. Earlier in the day he continued turning to Roland, when we found all appeals to you were vain, we unanimously deposed you from the leadership, 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 left Frankfurt. It was not till later that we learned we had appointed an unreasoning tyrant over us. We have deposed him, and I am elected in his place with John Gensbein as my lieutenant. We will keep you three here until complete darkness sets in, then put you ashore unarmed. Baccarac on this side of the Rhine is to be our next resting place, and doubtless so clever a man as you, Roland, may say that we choose Baccarac because it is named for Bacchus, the god of drunkards. Nevertheless, to show our good intentions toward you, we will remain there all day tomorrow. You can easily reach Baccarac along the hilltops before daybreak. We have written a charter of comradeship which all have signed except yourselves. If at Baccarac you give us your word to act faithfully under my leadership, we will reinstate you in the guild 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 done yours. Captain Blumenfels said, Roland, to the honest sailor who stood looking on in a maze at this turn of affairs, you are to wait here until it is completely dark. See that no lights are burning to give warning to those in Firstenburg, and by the way added Roland turning to his former company. I advise you not to drink anything until you are well past the castle. If you sing the songs of the guild within earshot of Firstenburg, you are like to sing on the other side of your mouths before mourning. Don't forget that Margrave Hermann von Katznellen Bogenstalich is the chief hangman of Germany. Then, once more to the captain. As the castle of Firstenburg stands high above the river and well back from it, you will be out of sight if you keep near this shore. However, you can easily judge your distance because the towers are visible even in the darkness against the sky. No man on the ramparts of the castle can discern you down here on the black surface of the water so long as you 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 obey mine. Kurzbold, you are mistaken. I resign command with great pleasure and, indeed, Grosselle and Eberhard will testify that I had already determined to pass Firstenburg unseen. As my former lieutenants are disarmed, surely the company with eighteen swords is not so frightened as to keep them gagged and bound. Tis no wonder you wish to avoid the laughing baron if that is all the courage you possess. Stung by these taunts, Kurzbold gruffly ordered his men to release their prisoners, but when the gags were removed and before the cords were cut, he addressed the lieutenants, do you give me your words not to make any further resistance if I permit you to remain unbound? I give you my word on nothing, you mutantous dog, cried Grosselle, and if I did, how could you expect me to keep it after such an example of treachery from you who pledged your faith and then broke it? I shall obey my commander and none other. I am your commander, asserted, Kurzbold. You are not, proclaimed the Grosselle, Eberhard 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 Grosselle obeyed and merrily Eberhard. Darkness was now gathering, and when it fell completely, the three men were put off into the forest. You have not yet, said Kurzbold to Roland, ordered the captain to obey me. I do not object to that, but it will be the worst for him and his men if they refuse to accept my instructions. Do you know this district, Captain Blumenfels, asked Roland? Yes, mine hair. Is there a path along the top that will lead us behind Forstenberg onto Baccarac? Yes, mine hair, but it is a very rough track. Is it too far for you to guide us there and return before the moon rises? Oh no, mine hair, I can conduct you to the trail in half an hour if you consent to climb lustily. Very good, Herr Kurzbold, if you are not impatient to be off and will permit the captain to direct us on our way, I will tell him to obey you. How long before you can return, Captain, asked Kurzbold, I can be back well within the hour, mine hair. You will obey me if the late commander orders you to do so? Yes, mine hair. Captain, said Roland, I inform you in the hearing of these men that Herr Kurzbold occupies my place and is to be obeyed by you until I resume command. Kurzbold laughed. You mean until you are re-elected to membership in the guild, for we do not propose to make you commander again. Now, Captain, to the hill and see 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 you up here, not that I needed your guidance, for I know this land as well as you do. You will obey Kurzbold, of course, but if he tells you to make for lurch, allow your boat to drift, and do not get beyond the middle of the river until opposite Firstenburg, there is a buoyed chain. I know it well, interrupted the captain, I have many times avoided it, but twice became entangled with it in spite of all my efforts, and was robbed by the laughing baron. Very well, I intend you to be entrapped by that chain tonight. Offer no resistance, and you will be safe enough. Do not attempt to help these lads, should they be set upon, and it will be hard luck if I am not in command again before midnight. Keep close to this shore, but if they order you into the middle of the river, or across it, dally, my good Blumenfels, dally, until you are stopped by the chain for the third time. When the captain returned to his barge, he found Kurzbold pacing the deck 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 the Schloss. He ordered the captain to follow the shore as closely as was safe, and take care that they did not come with inside of Furstenberg's tall round tower. All sat or reclined on the dark deck, saying no word as the barge slid silently down the swift rine. Suddenly the speed of the boat was checked so abruptly that one or two of the standing men were flung off their feet. From up on the hillside they're told out the deep note of a bell. The barge swung round broadside on their current and lay there with the water rushing like hissing serpents along its side, the bell peeling out a loud alarm that seemed to keep time with the shuddering of the helpless boat. What's wrong captain? cried Kurzbold, getting on his feet again and rushing aft. I fear so it is an anchored chain. Can't you cut it? That is impossible mine here. 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 from here. The captain ordered his crew to hurry, but all their efforts could not release the boat from the chain against which it ground up and down with a tearing noise and even the unnautical swordsmen saw that the current was impelling it diagonally toward the shore and all the while the deep bell tolled on. What in the fiend's name is the meaning of that bell demanded Kurzbold? It is the castle bell mine here replied the captain. Before Kurzbold could say anything more the air quivered with shout after shout of laughter. Torches began to glisten among the trees and there was a clatter of horses hooves on the echoing rock. A more magnificent sight was never before presented to the startled eyes of so unappreciative a crowd. Along the zigzag road and among the trees spluttered the torches each with a trail of sparks like the tail of a comet. The bearers were rushing headlong down the slope for woe to the man who did not arrive at the water's edge sooner than his master. The torchlight gleamed on flashing swords and glittering points of spears but chief site of all was the Margrave Hermann von Katznelen Bogenstahlik. A giant in stature mounted on a magnificent stallion as black as the night and of a size that corresponded with its prodigious rider. The Margrave's long beard and flowing hair were red scarlet one may say but perhaps that was the fiery reflection from the torches. Servants, Scullions, stablemen carried the lights, the men at arms had no encumbrance but their weapons and the business-like way in which they lined up along the shore was a study in discipline and a terror to anyone unused to war. Above all the din and clash of arms rang the hardy stentorian laughter of the red Margrave actually echoing back in gusts of fiendish merriment from the hills on the other side of the Rhine. Now the boat's nose came dully against the ledge of rock to whose surface the swaying chain rose dripping from the water sparkling like a jointed snake under the torchlight. God save us all cried the Margrave what rare show have we here by my sainted patron the archbishop merchants under arms who ever saw the like ah stout captain Blumenfels do I recognize you once more my chain 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'm contented with my title the laughing Baron ha ha ha and so your merchants have taken two arms again the lesson at the lordly taught them nothing are there any ropes aboard captain plenty my lord then fling a coil ashore now my tigers he roared to his men at arms hail me to land those damned shopkeepers with a clash of armor and weapons the brigands threw themselves on the boat and in less time than it's taken to tell it every man of the guild was disarmed and flung ashore here another command of the red margrave gave them the outlaws knot as he termed it a most painful tying up of the 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 with cudgels despite their screams of agony and appeals for mercy now turned them over on their backs commanded the margrave and it was done the glare of the pitiless torches fell upon contorted faces the baron turned his horse a thwart the line of helpless men and spurred that animal over it from end to end but the intelligent horse more merciful than its rider stepped with great daintiness despite its unusual size and never trod on one of the prostrate bodies during what followed the red baron shaking with laughter marched his horse up and down over the stricken men now unload the boat but do not injure any of the sailors i hope to see 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 all goes well and his laughter echoed across the rind uplift your hatches blooming fails and tell your men to help fling the goods ashore delicately paced the fearful horse over the prone men snorting perhaps in sympathy from his red nostrils his jet black coat a quiver with the excitement of the scene the captain obeyed the margrave with promptness and 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 who proved to be men of all work had piled their weapons in a heap and were carrying the bales a few yards inland threw it all the baron roared 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 two will not take long to strip the boat of every bail then i shall hang you on these trees and send back your bodies in the barge as a lesson to frankfort you must return captain he cried for you cannot sell dead bodies to my liege of cologne as he spoke a ruddy flush spread over the rind as if someone had flashed a red lantern upon the waters the glow died out upon the instant what thundered the margrave is that the reflection of my beard or our beezle pub and his fiends coming up from below for a portion of the frankfort cloth i will share with good brother satan but with no one else 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 a crimson 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 and turning to the west where now both hearing and sight indicated that a furnace was roaring the whole western sky was a glow and although the flames could not be seen for the intervening cliff everyone knew there was no other dwelling that could cause such an illumination sparring his horse and calling his men to come on their nobleman dashed up the steep aclivity and when the last man had departed roland followed by his two lieutenants stepped from the forest to the right down upon the rocky plateau end of chapter 12 chapter 13 of the sword maker this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox.org recording by josh kibby the sword maker by robert bar chapter 13 a sentence come prepare captain said roland quietly bring your crew ashore and fling these bales on board again as quickly as you can an instant later the sailors were at work on doing their former efforts and mercy's name roland wailed one of the stricken get a sword and cut our bonds all in good time replied roland the bales are more valuable to me than you are and we have two barrels of gold at the foot of the cliff to bring in if they haven't sunk in the rine grazel do you and ever hard take two of the crew launch the small boat and rescue the barrels if you can find them mercy honest roland mercy moaned his former comrades i've already wasted too much mercy upon you he said if i rescue you now i shall be compelled to hang you in the morning as breakers of law so i may as well leave you where you are and allow the red margrave to save me the trouble the loss of his castle will not make him more compassionate especially if he learns you were the cause of it you will then experience some refined tortures i imagine for like myself he may think hanging too good for you i should never have fired his castle had to not been for your rebellion the men on the ground groaned but made no further appeal some of them were far seen enough to realize that an important change had come over the young man they thought so well known to them who stood there with an air of indifference throwing out a suggestion now and then for the more effective handling of the bales suggestions carrying an impalpable force of authority that caused them to be very promptly obeyed they did not know that this person whom they had regarded as one of themselves the youngest at that treating him accordingly had but a dare to before received a tremendous assurance which would have turned the head of almost any individual in the realm old or young the assurance that he was to be supreme ruler over millions of creatures like themselves a ruler whose lightest word might carry their extinction with it yet such as the strange littleness of human nature that although this potent knowledge had been gradually exercising its effect on Roland's character it was not the rebellion of the eighteen or their mutinous words that now made him hard as a granite towards them it is the trivial fact that four of them had dared to manhandle him and made a personal thought upon him had pinioned his helpless arms and flung a sword that insignia of honor to the feet of Kurzball leader of the revolt the lord's anointed he was coming to consider himself although not yet had the sacred ointment been placed upon his head a temporal emperor and a vice-regent of heaven upon earth his hand was destined to hold the invisible hilt of the almighty sword of vengeance the words i will repay were to reach their fulfillment through his action notwithstanding his youth or perhaps because of it he was animated by deep religious feeling and this rather than ambition explained the celerity with which he agreed to the proposals of the archbishops the personage the prisoner saw standing on the rock ledge of first and burg was vastly different from the young man who a comrade of comrades had departed from frankfort in their company they beheld him plainly enough for there was now no need of torches along the foreshore the night was crimson in its brilliancy and down the hill came a continuous roar like that of the rye and fall seventy leagues away into this red glare the small boat and its four occupants entered and roland saw with a smile that two well-filled casks formed its freight the bales were now aboard the barge again and the commander ordered the crew to help the quartet in the small boat with the lifting of the heavy barrels graze all the neighborhood clambered over the side and came thus to the ledge where roland stood as the crew rolled the barrels down into the cabin lieutenant said the commander select two stout battle axes from that heap followed the chain up the hill until you reach that point where it is attached to the thick rope cut the rope with your axes and draw down the chain with you thus clearing a passage for the barge the two men chose battle axes then turned to their leader should we not get our men aboard they said before the barge is free these rebels are prisoners of the red margrave they belong to him and not to me where they are there they remain the lieutenants with one impulse advanced to their commander who frowned as they did so a cry of despair went up from the pinioned men but kurs bold shouted cut him down abrahad and then release us in the name of the guild i call on you to act he is unarmed cut him down to his foul murder to desert us thus the cutting down could easily have been accomplished for roland stood at their mercy weaponless since they aim ute on the barge notwithstanding the seriousness of the occasion the optimistic abrahad laughed although everyone else was grave enough thank you kurs bold for your suggestion we have come forward not to use force but to try persuasion roland you cannot desert to death the men whom you conducted out of frankfurt why can i not i should have said a moment ago that you will not but now i say you cannot kurs bold has just shown what an irreclaimable beast he is and on that account because birth or training or something has made you one of different caliber you cannot thus desert him to the repaisal of that red fiend up the hill if i save him now it will be but to hang him an hour later i am no hangman while the margrave is i prefer that he should attend to my executions again abrahad laughed there's no use roland pretending abandonment for you will not abandon i thoroughly favor choking the life out of kurs bold and one or two of the others and will myself volunteer for the office of headsman caring as i do the axe but let's everything be done decently and in order that a dignified execution may follow on a fair trial commander shot at the captain from the deck of the barge make haste i beg of you the rope connecting with the castle has been burnt and the chain is dragging free the current is swift and this barge heavy we shall be away within minutes get your crew ashore on the instant cried roland and fling me these despicable burdens aboard i man at the head another at the heels and toss each into the barge is there time captain to take this heap of cutlery with us as trophies of the fray yes replied the captain if we are quick about it the howling human packages were hurled from ledge to barge the strong unerring sailors accustomed to the task heaved no man into the water others as speedily fell upon the heap of weapons and threw them clattering on the deck all then leap to board and roland motioning his lieutenants to proceed him was the last to climb over the prowl the chain came down over the stones with the clattering run and fell with a great splash into the river the barge now clear swung with the current stern foremost the sailors got to their oars and gradually drew their craft away from the shore a little farther from the landing those on deck looking upstream enjoyed an uninterrupted view of the magnificent conflagration the huge stone castles seemed to glow white hot the roof had fallen in and a seething furnace read into the midnight sky like a flaming torch the great tower roared to the heavens the whole hilltop resembled the crater of an active volcano timber floors and wooden partitions long seasoned proved excellent material for the incendiaries and even the stones were crumbling away falling into the gulf of fire sending up a dazzling eruption of sparks as section after section tumbled into this earthly Hades the long barge floated placently down a river resembling molten gold the boat was in disarray covered with bales of cloth not yet lowered into the hold cluttered here and there with swords battle axes and spears in the various positions where they had been flung lay the helpless men some on their faces some on their backs the deck was as light as if the red setting sun were casting his rays upon it Roland seated himself on a bale and said to the captain turn all these men face upward and the captain did so eberhard you said execution should take place after a fair trial there is no necessity to call witnesses or to go through any court of law formalities you two are perfectly cognizant of everything that has taken place and to know testimony will either strengthen or weaken that knowledge as a preliminary take kersbald the new president and against buying his lieutenant from among that group and set them apart two members of the crew will carry out this order which was carried out accordingly Roland rose walked among the prostrate row and selected apparently at haphazard four others then said to the members of his crew place these four men beside their leader left to myself he continued to his lieutenants i should hang the six however i shall take no hand in the matter i point you joseph grausel and you godly beberhard is judges with power of life and death if you're verdict on any or all of the accused is death i shall use neither the axe nor the cord but propose flinging them into the river and if god wills them to reach the shore alive their binding will be no hindrance to escape kersbald and his lieutenant broke out into alternate curses and appeals protesting that grausel and eberhard had not been expelled from the guild and calling upon them by their solemn oath of brotherhood to release them now that they possessed the power to these appeals the newly appointed judges made no reply and for once eberhard did not laugh the other four directed their applications to roland himself they had been misled they cried and deeply regretted it already they suffered punishment of a severity almost beyond power of human endurance and they feared their bones were broken with the cuddling since which assault their bonds grievously tortured them all swore amendment and their grim commander still remaining silent they asked him in what respect they were more guilty than the dozen others whom seemingly he intended to spare at last roland replied you for he said sternly dared to lay hands upon me and for that i demand from the judges a sentence of death even his two lieutenants gazed at him in amazement that he should make so much of an action which they themselves had endured and nothing said of it surely the laying on of hands even in rudeness was not a capital crime yet they saw to their astonishment that roland was in deadly earnest the leader turned a calm face toward their scrutiny but there was a frown upon his brow work why you have the light he said judges consider your decision and deliver your verdict graze all neighbor hard turn their backs on everyone walked slowly aft and down into the cabin roland resumed his seat on the bail of cloth elbows on his knees and facing his hands all appeals had ceased and deep silence reigned every man aboard the boat in a state of painful tension the fire in the distant castle lowered and lowered and darkness was returning to the deck of the barge at last the judges emerged from the cabin and came slowly forward it was graze all spoke we wish to know if only these six are on trial only these six replied roland our verdict is death said graze all curse baldingins being are to be thrown into the ryan bound as they lie but the other four receive one chance for life and that the court shall be cut leaving their limbs free this seeming mercy brought no consolation to the quartet for each plaintively proclaimed that he could not swim i thank you for your judgment said roland which i am sure you must have formed with great reluctance having proven yourself such excellent judges i doubt not you will now act with equal wisdom as advisors a phrase of yours ever hard persists in my mind despite all efforts to dislodge it you entered on the ledge of rock yonder something to the effect that we left frankfords comrades together that is very true and unless you override my resolution i have come to the conclusion that if any of us are fated to die the penalty shall be dealt by some other hand than mine the 12 who lie here are scarcely less guilty than the six now under sentence and i propose therefore to put ashore on the east bank curse baldingins being one a rogue the other a fool the 16 who remain have so definitely proven themselves to be simpletons that i trust they will not resent my calling them such if however they abandon all claim to the comradeship that has been so much praided about swearing by the three kings of cologne faithfully to follow me and obey my every word without caviel or argument i will pardon them but the first man who rebels will show that my clemency has been misplaced and i can assure them that it shall not be exercised again captain your sailors are familiar with knotted ropes bid them release all these men except the six condemned the boatmen with great celerity freed the prostrate captives from their bonds but some of the mutineers had been so cruelly used in the cuddling that it was necessary to assist them to their feet the early summer daybreak was at hand its approach heralded by the perceptible diluting of the darkness that surrounded them and a ghastly pallid grayness began to overspread the surface of the broad river down the stream to the west the towers of bakarok could be faintly distinguished looking like a dream city the lower gloom of which was picked out here and there by points of light each betokaning an early riser it was a deeply dejected silent group that stood in this weird half light awaiting the development of roland's mind regarding them he the youngest of their company quiet unemotional whose dominion no one now thought of disputing captain he continued steer for the eastern shore i know that bakarok is the greatest wine mart on the rine and who else sustains the reputation of the drunken god for whom it is named but we will nevertheless avoid it there's a long island opposite the town but a little farther down i dare say you know it well place that island between us and bakarok and to tie up to the mainland out of view from the stronghold of bakas he is a misleading god with whom we shall hold no further commerce now joseph grausel and god libeberhard do you to administer the oath of the three kings to these twelve men but before doing so give each one his choice permitting him to say whether he will follow kursbold on the land or be me on the water here kursbold broke out again in trembling anger you pretended fairness as a sham and your bogus option a piece of your own sneaking dishonesty what a chance if we townsmen put ashore penniless in an unknown wilderness far from any human habitation knowing nothing of the way back to frankfort your fraudulent clemency rescues us from drowning merely to doom us to starvation the daylight had so increased that all might see the gentle smile coming to roland's lips and the twinkle in his eye as he looked at the wrathful kursbold a most intelligent leader of men are you here comrade i suppose this dozen will stampede to join your leadership they must indeed be proud of you when they learn the truth i shall present to each of you out of my own store of gold that came from the castle you so bravely attacked last night one half the amount that is your due this will be more money than any of you ever possessed before each portion indeed excelling the total that you 18 accumulated during your whole lives i could easily bestow your share without perceptible diminution of the fund we three unaided extracted from the coffers of the red margrave the reason i do not pay in full as this when you reach frankfort i must be assured that you will keep your foolish tongues silent if any man speaks of our labours i shall hear of it on my return and will find that man is a remaining half share it distresses me to expose your ignorance kursbold but i put you ashore amply provided with money barely two-thirds of a league from lorch where you spend so jovial an evening and where a man with golden his pouch need fear neither hunger nor thirst lorch may be attained by a leisurely walker in less than half an hour indeed it is barely two leagues from this spot to osmond's housing and assuredly you know the road from that storehouse of red wine to the capital city of frankfort having once traversed it a child of six kursbold might be safely put ashore where you shall set foot on land therefore lieutenants let each man know he will receive a bag of coin and may land unmolested to accompany the brave and intelligent kursbold as he finished this declamation that caused even some of the beaten warriors to laugh at their leader the barge came gently alongside the strand well out of sight of bakarok each of the dozens swore the terrible unbreakable oath of the three kings to be an obedient henchman to roland you may said roland depart the cabin where a flag of wine will be served to every man and also an early breakfast after that you are permitted to lie down and relax your swollen limbs meditating on the extract from holy writ which relates the fate of the blind when led by the blind when the dozen limped away the chief turned to his prisoners against you for a bear resentment that i thought could not be appeased except by your expulsion but your reflection shows me that you acted under instruction from the foolish leader you selected and therefore the principal not the agent is most to blame i give you the same choice i have accorded to the rest unloose them captain and while this is being done grazil get two empty bags from the locker open one of the casks and place in each bag an amount which you estimate to be one half the share which is kursbold's do the four men standing up took the oath and thanked roland for his mercy hurrying away at a sign from him to the bread and wine sin hither cried roland after them two of the men who have already refreshed themselves each with a loaf of bread and a full flagon of wine and now captain and release kursbold and ginsbeen when these two stood up and stretched themselves the bears of bread and wine presented them with this refreshment and after they had partaken of it grazil gave them each a bag of gold which they tied to their belts without a word while grazil and abrahad waited to escort them to land we want our swords said kursbold solemnly abrahad looked at his chief but he shook his head they have disgraced their swords he said which now by right belong to the margrave herman von cutsnell and bogan stolik put them ashore lieutenant it was broad daylight and the men had all come up from the cabin standing in a silent group at the stern kursbold on the bank foaming at the mouth with fury shook his fist at them roaring cowards pigs dolts asses paltrons the men made no reply but abrahad's hardy laugh rang through the forest you have given us your titles kursbold he cried send us your address whenever you get one captain said roland cast off cross to this side of that island and tie up there for the day set a man on watch relieving this internal every two hours we have spent an exciting night and will sleep till evening your honor may i first owe away these bales and dispose of the battle axes spears into broadswords so to clear the deck you may do that captain at sunset as for the bales they make a very comfortable catch upon which i intend to rest end of chapter 13 of the sword maker this is a liverbox recording all liverbox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit liverbox.org recording by rita butros the sword maker by robert barre chapter 14 the prisoner of erin fels there is inspiration in the site of armed men marching steadily together men well disciplined keeping step to the measured clank of their armor like a great serpent the soldiers of cologne issued from the forest coming down two and two for the path was narrow they would march for a breast when they reached the river road and the evolutions which accomplished this doubling of the columns without changing step or causing confusion called forth praise from the two southern archbishops a beautiful tableau of amity and brotherly love was presented to the troops as they looked up at the three archbishops standing together on the balcony in relief against the gray walls of the castle the officers who were on horseback raised their swords sky pointing from their helmets for they recognized their overlord and his two notable confrers with the motion of one man the three archbishops acknowledged the salute the troops cheered and cheered as the anaconda made its sinuous way down the mountainside and company after company came abreast the castle the archbishops stood there until the last man disappeared down the river road on his way to cob lengths may i ask you said mayans addressing trev to conduct me to the flat roof of your castle will you accompany us he inquired of cologne cologne and trev being for once in agreement the latter led the way and presently the three stood on the broad stone plateau which afforded a truly striking panorama of the rine the july sun sinking in the west transformed the river into a crimson flood and at that height the cool evening breeze was delicious cologne stood with one hand on the parapet and gazed and tranced at the scene but the practical mayans paid no attention whatever to it your troublesome guest trev has one more request to make which is that you order his flag hoisted to the top of that pole trev at once departed to give this command while cologne with clouded brow turned from his appreciation of the view my lord he said you have requested the raising of a signal yes was the reply a signal which calls you meant from the land to the landing at stalls and fells yes repeated mayans my lord i have kept my promise not only to the letter but in the spirit as well my troops are marching peaceably away and will reach their barracks sometime tomorrow although i exacted no promise from you you implied there was a truce between us and that your army like my company was not to be called into action of any kind your understanding of our pact is concisely stated even though my share in that pact remained unspoken a truce did you say is it not more than that i hope that my seconding of the nomination you proposed proved me in complete accord with your views i am not in effect your prisoner then surely not so contrary to the fact is such an assumption that i implore you to accept my hospitality this signal which i see is now at the masthead calls for one barge only and that contains no soldier merely a captain and his ten stout rowers whom you may at this moment if you turn round see emerging from the mouth of the lawn i present to you and to the count is once saying my schloss of martinsburg for as long as you may require it it is well furnished well provisioned and attended to by a group of capable servants who are at your command i suggest that you cross in my barge in company with the countess and her kinsmen the reverend father you agree i take it to convoy the lady safely to her temporary restraint in falls it was her own request you remember i shall convoy her thither i am trusting to you entirely the distance is but 13 leagues and can be accomplished easily in a day once on the other side of the river she may dispatch her kinsmen or some more trustworthy messenger to her own castle and thus summon the two waiting women who will share her seclusion is it your intention my lord that her imprisonment shall the archbishop of mayans held up his thin hand with a gesture of deprecation i use no word so harsh as imprisonment the penance if you wish so to characterize it is rather in the nature of a retreat giving her needed opportunity for reflection and i hope for regret nevertheless my lord your action seems to me unnecessarily severe how long do you propose to detain her i am pained to hear you term it severity for her treatment will be of the mildest description i thought you would understand that no other course was open to me so far as i am personally concerned she might have said what pleased her with no adverse consequences but she flouted the highest court of the realm and such contempt cannot be overlooked as for the duration of her discipline it will continue until the new emperor is married after which celebration the countess is free to go with her she pleases i shall myself call at false four days from now that i may be satisfied the lady enjoys every comfort the castle of fords and also perhaps to be certain she is there in your man says thin lips indulged in a rye smile i need no such assurance he said since my lord of cologne has pledged his word to see that the order of the court is carried out the conversation was here interrupted by the return of trev already the great bard was halfway across the river the surging swift current swept at some distance below stows and fells on the roars fiver side were working strenuously to force it into slower waters lord lady and monk crossed over to the mouth of the lawn and the barge returned immediately to convey cross forces and escort as the valley of the lawn opened out it presented a picture of quiet silvan beauty apparently uninhabited by any living thing the archbishop of cologne rose on shading his eyes from the still radiant sun gazed intently up the little river no floating craft was anywhere in sight he turned to the captain where is the flotilla from mayans he asked flotilla my lord yes a hundred barges sailed down from mayans in the darkness either last night or the night before taking harbor here in the lawn my lord even one barge meant as this is could not have journeyed such a distance in so short a time and indeed for a flotilla to attempt the voyage except in daylight would have been impossible no barges have come down the rind for months on had they ventured the little lawn is too shallow to harbor them thank you captain i appear to be ignorant both of the history on the geography of this district if i were to ask you on your stout rose to take me down through the swiftest part of the river to coblent how soon would we reach that town very speedily my lord but i could undertake no such voyage except at the command of my master he is not one to be disobeyed i quite credit that said cologne sitting down again the momentary desire to recall his marching troops that had arisen when he saw the empty lawn dying down when he realized how effectively he had been outwitted when the horses were brought across father and bros at the request of the countess rode back to saiyan and sent forward the two waiting women whom she required and so well did he accomplish his task that they arrived at schloss martinsburg before 10 o'clock that night at an early hour next morning the little procession began its journey up the rind his lordship and the countess in front the six horsemen bringing up the rear the lady was in a mood of deep dejection the regret which mayans had anticipated as a result of imprisonment already enveloped her it was only too evident that the archbishop of cologne was bitterly disappointed for he rode silently by her side making no attempt at conversation they rested for several hours during midday arriving at cob before the red sunset on now the countess saw her pinnacle prison lying like an anchor ship in midstream at cob they were met by a bearded truckerland-looking ruffian who introduced himself to the archbishop as the false graph vongstallek you take us rather by surprise prince of cologne he said it is true that might overlord the archbishop of mayans called upon me several days ago while descending the rind in his ten-odd barge on said there was a remote chance that a prisoner might shortly be given into my care this had often happened before for my castle covers some gruesome cells that extend under the river cells with secret entrances not easily come by should anyone search the castle it is sometimes convenient that a prisoner of state should be immured in one of them when the archbishop has no room in his own schloss erin fels so i paid little attention and merely said the prisoner would receive a welcome on arrival this morning there came one of the archbishop's men from stahls in fels and both my wife and myself were astonished to learn that the prisoner would be here this evening under your escort my lord on that it was a woman we were to harbor further she was to be given the best suite of rooms we had in the castle on to be treated with all respect as a person of rank now this apartment is in no state of readiness to receive such a lady much less to house one of the dignity of your lordship it does not matter for me replied the archbishop being as i may say part soldier the bed on board of an inn is quite acceptable upon occasion oh no your highness such a hardship is not to be thought of the castle of gutten fels standing above us is comfortable as any on the rine its owner the count palatine is fellow elector of yours on a very close friend of my overlord of mayans and i am told they vote together whenever my overlord needs his assistance that is true commented cologne my overlord sent word that anything i needed for the accommodation of her ladyship he recognizing that my warning had been short i should requisition from the count palatine so at midday i went up to call upon him not saying anything of course about state prisoners male or female the moment he heard that you my lord were visiting this neighborhood he begged me to tender to you on to all your companions or following the hospitality of his castle for so long as you might honor him with your presence the count palatine is very gracious on i shall be glad to accept shelter on refreshment he would have been here to greet your highness but i was unable to inform him at what hour you would arrive so i waited for you myself and will be pleased to guide you to the gates of gutten fels the conversation was interrupted by a great clatter of galloping horses descending the hill with reckless speed on at its foot swinging round into the main street of the town ha cried the amateur jailer here is the count palatine himself on thus it is our fate to meet the fourth elector of the empire who added to the three archbishops formed a quorum so potent that it could elect or depose an emperor at will the cavalry of the count palatine was composed of 50 fully armed men on their gallop through the town rouse the echoes of that ancient ballywick which together with the castle belonged to the palatinate the powerful noble extended a cordial welcome to his fellow elector and together they mounted to the castle of gutten fels at dinner that night the count palatine proved an amiable host under his geniality the charming countess van sain gradually recovered her lost good spirit and forgot she was on her way to prison after all she was young naturally joyous and loved interesting company especially that of the two electors who were well informed and had seen much of the world the archbishop also shook off some of his somberness indeed all of it as the flagons flowed being asked his preference in wine he replied that yesterday he had been regaled with a very excellent sample of oboe vassal that is from this neighborhood replied the count oboe vassal lies but a very short distance below on the opposite side of the river but we contend that our beverage of cob is at least equal and sometimes superior you shall try a good vintage of both how did you come by oboe vassal so far north of stosenfels simply because i was so forward counting on the good nature of my friend of trev that i stipulated for oboe vassal i am anxious to know why for reasons of history not of the palette a fair english princess was guessed at stosenfels long ago on this wine was served to her in that case returned the count i also shall fall back on history on first order brimming tankards of old cob really madame he said turning to hildegund we should have had royalty here to meet you instead of two old wine bibbers like his highness and myself the girl looked startled at this mention of royalty bringing to her mind the turbulent events of yesterday nevertheless with great composure she smiled at her enthusiastic host still went on the count if we are not royal ourselves to say degree we are empowered to confer on indeed maybe very shortly called upon to bestow that is true from what i hear is it not your highness yes replied the archbishop gravely well as i was about to say this castle belonged to the falcon steins and was sold by them to the palatenate rumor legend history call it what you like asserts that the most beautiful woman ever born under rine was countess Beatrice of falcon stein but when i drink to the toast i am about to offer i shall madame he smiled at hildegund assert that the legend no longer holds a contention i am prepared to maintain by mortal combat nor then that the who was elected king of germany in 1257 met Beatrice of falcon stein in this castle the meeting was brought about by the electries themselves who stupid matchmakers attempted to coerce each into a marriage with the other Beatrice refused to marry a foreigner the chronicles are a little vague about the most interesting part of the negotiations but minutely plain about the outcome in some manner the earl on Beatrice met on he became instantly enamored of her this is the portion so deplorably slurred by these old monkish writers i need hardly tell you that the earl himself succeeded where the seven electries failed Beatrice became cornwall's wife on queen of germany on they lived happily ever afterwards i give you the toast cried the chivalrous count palatine rising to the cherished memory of the royal lovers of gutin fells the archbishop's eyes twinkled as he looked across the table at hildegund this seems to be a time of royal betrothals he said raising his flag on seems is the right word guardian replied the countess then she sipped the ancient wine of cob next morning hildegund was early afoot notwithstanding her trouble of mind she had slept well and awakened with the birds so great is the influence of youth on health during her last conscious moment the night before as she lay in the stately bed of the most noble room the castle contained she bitterly accused herself for the disastrous failure of the previous day the archbishop of cologne had given her good counsel that was not followed on his disappointment with the result generously as he endeavored to conceal it was doubtless the deeper because undiscussed thinking of coming captivity a dream of grim falls was expected but instead the girl's spirit wandered through the sweet seclusion of none in worth living again that happy earlier time free from politics on the tramp of armed men in the morning the porter at her behest withdrew bolt bar on chain allowing exit into the fresh cool air on skirting the castle she arrived at a broad terrace which fronted it a fleecy mist extending from shore to shore concealed the waters of the Rhine unpartially obliterated the little village of cob at the foot of the hill where she stood the air was crystal clear and she seemed to be looking out on a broad snowfield of purest white beyond cob its surface was pierced by the dozen sharp pinnacles of her future prison looking like a bed of spikes upon which one might imagine a giant martyr impaled by the verdict of a cruel archbishop gazing upon this nightmare castle whose tusks alone were revealed the girl formulated the resolution but faintly suggested the night before on her release shouldn't sue an abandonment of the world on the adoption of a nun's veil in the convent opposite dracon fells and island exchanged for an island turmoil for peace at breakfast she met again the jovial count palatine on her more sober guardian who both complimented her on the result of her beauty rest the one with great gallantry the other with more reserved as befitted a churchman the archbishop seemed old and haggard in the morning light and it was not difficult to guess that no beauty sleep had soothed his pillow it wronged the girls hard to look at him and again she accused herself for lack of all talk on discretion wishing that her guardian took his disappointment more vengefully setting her to some detested task that she might willingly perform they have spitable count eager that they should stop at least another night under his roof pressed his invitation upon them on the archbishop gave a tacit consent if the countess is not too tired said cologne i propose that she accompany me on a little journey i have in view farther up the river we will return here in the evening i should be delighted cried hildegund for all sense of fatigue has been swept away by a most restful night the good nature count left them to their own devices on shortly afterwards guardian on the water rode together down the steep declivity to the river the mist was already driven away except a whisk here on there clinging to the gray surface of the water trailing along as if drawn by the current where the air was motionless on there was promise of a sultry day they proceeded in silence until a band in a rind shut cob on its sinister water prison out of sight and then it was the girl who spoke guardian she said have i offended you beyond forgiveness a gentle smile came to his lips as he gazed upon her with affection you have not offended me at all my dear he said but i am grieved at thwarting circumstance i have been thinking over circumstances to unhook myself solely to blame for their baffling opposition i will submit without the mirror to whatever length of imprisonment may please and if possible soften the archbishop of mayans after my release i shall ask your consent that i may forthwith join the sisterhood at none and worth i wish to divide my wealth equally between yourself on the convent the archbishop shook his head i could not accept such donation why not the former archbishop of cologne accepted lint from my ancestors matilda that was intended to be bought a temporary loan well call my benefaction temporary if you like to be kept until i call for it but meanwhile to be used at your discretion it is quite impossible said the archbishop firmly does that mean you will not allow me to adopt a religious life it means my child that i should not feel justified in permitting this renunciation of the world until you knew more of what you are giving up i know enough already you think so but your experience of it is too recent for us to expect unbiased judgment this morning i should insist on a year at least on preferably two years part of that time to be spent in frankford and in cologne i anticipate a great improvement in frankford when the new emperor comes to the throne if at the end of two years you are still of the same mind i shall offer no further opposition i shall never change my intention perhaps not i am told that the determination of a woman is irrevocable so a little delay does not much matter meanwhile another problem passes my comprehension i have thought and thought about it and am convinced there is a misunderstanding somewhere which possibly will be cleared away too late i am quite certain that father ambrose did not need prince roland in frankfort do you then dispute the word of father ambrose asked the girl quickly checking the accent of indignation that arose in her voice for humility was to be her role ever after father ambrose is at once both the gentlest and most truthful of men he has undoubtedly seen somebody rob a merchant in frankfort he has undoubtedly been imprisoned among wine casks but that this thief and this jailer was roland is incredible to me who now the young men unphysically impossible for prince roland at that time was himself a prisoner as indeed he is today prince roland cannot be liberated from erin fells without an order signed by mayans trev aunt myself i alone have not the power to encompass his freedom aunt mayans is equally powerless although he is the owner of the castle some scoundrel is walking the streets of frankfort pretending to be roland in that case my lord he would not deny his identity when accosted on the bridge a very clever point my dear but it does not overcome my difficulty there might be a dozen reasons why the rascal would not incriminate himself to any stranger who thus took him by surprise however it is useless to argue the question for i persuade you as little as you persuade me the practical thing is to fathom the misunderstanding on remove it will you assist me in this willingly if i can guardian very well i must first inform you that your imprisonment is likely to be very short you are to know that the harmony supposed to exist in stalls and fells is largely mythical i left behind me the seeds of discord i proposed that the glum niece of trev whom you met at our historic lunch should be the future empress this nomination was seconded by mayans himself and received with unconcealed joy by my brother of trev then for once the court was unanimous i think your choice an admirable one the archbishop of mayans does not agree with you my dear then why did he second your nomination because he is so much more clever than trev who a few minutes later would have been the seconder why should his lordship of mayans think one thing and act another why is he always doing it no one can guess what mayans really thinks if he is judged by what he says where trev needs to become empress her uncle would speedily realize his power on mayans would lose his leadership could mayans today secretly promote you to the position of empress he would gladly do so but won't he at once look for someone else certainly that choice is now occupying his mind his seconding of the nomination was merely a ruse to gain time but if he proposes anyone else he will find both trev on myself against him his only hope of circumventing the ambition of trev is that something may happen causing you to change your mind concerning prince roland you forget guardian protested the girl that his lordship of mayans said he would not permit me to marry prince roland after the way i had spoken and acted he said that my dear under the influence of great resentment against you but mayans never allows resentment or any other feeling to stand in the way of his own interests if you wrote him a contrite letter regretting your defiance of him under expressing your willingness to bow to his wishes i am very sure he would welcome the communication as a happy solution of the quandary in which he finds himself you wish me to do this guardian she asked wistfully not until you are satisfied that prince roland is innocent of the charges you make against him how can i receive such assurance ah now you come to the object of this apparently purposeless journey i have had much experience in the world you are so anxious to renounce and although i have seen the wicked prosper for a time yet my faith has never been shaken in an overruling providence on what happened last night set me thinking so deeply that daylight stole in upon my meditations oh my poor guardian i knew you had not slept and all because of a worthless creature like myself and a wicked creature too for i did not see the hand of providence so visible to you surely my dear a moment's thought would reveal it to you remember how we came almost to the door of the prison when a temporary reprieve was handed to us by that coarse reprobate the false graph your suite of rooms was not yet ready on thus we found bestowed upon us another free day a day of untrammeled liberty quite unlooked for now much may be done in a day an empire has been lost on the one within a few hours with this gift came a revelation that wine blotched false graph would have shown no consideration for you to him a prisoner is a prisoner to be cast anywhere lock the door and have done but a wholesome fear had been instilled into him by his overlord the archbishop of mayans had taken thought for your comfort ordering that the best rooms in the castle should be placed at your disposal hence after all that had passed his lordship felt no malignancy against you and i dare say would have been glad to rescind the order for your imprisonment were it not that he would never admit defeat oh cardian what an imagination is yours i am sure his lordship of mayans will never forgive me his lordship of mayans my dear is in a dilemma from which no one except yourself can extricate him his own cleverness will extricate him perhaps still i'm not troubling about him my thoughts are much too selfish for that i wish you to lift me from my uncertainty you mean about prince roland i shall do whatever you ask of me i place no command but i proffer a suggestion it shall be a command nevertheless we have left your own prison far behind and are approaching that of prince roland to the door of that detaining castle i propose to lead you i am forbidden by my compact with the other electors to see prince roland or to hold any communication with him the custodian of the castle who knows me well will not refuse any request i make even if i ask to see the young man himself he will therefore not hesitate to admit you when i require him to do so to take away any taint of surreptitiousness about my action interfering as one might say with another man's house i shall this evening write to the archbishop of mayans tell him exactly what i have done and why do you intend then that i should see prince roland on talk with him yes what on earth can i say to him how am i to excuse my intrusion a prisoner i fancy does not resent intrusion especially if the intruder is the old man smiled as he looked at the girl whose blush grew deeper and deeper than seeing her confusion he added there are many things to say introduce yourself as the ward of his lordship of cologne reveal that your guardian has confided to you that prince roland is to be the future emperor ask for some assurance from him that the property descending to you from your ancestors shall not be molested or perhaps better still with the same introduction tell him this story of father ambrose add that this has disquieted you demand the truth harken to what the youth says for himself thank him on withdraw it needs no long conversation though i am prepared to hear that he wish to lengthen your stay i am certain that five minutes face to face with him will completely overturn all father ambrose has said to his disparagement and a few simple words from him will probably dispel their whole mystery if someone is personating him in frankfort it is more than likely he knows who it is they traveled a generous furlong together in silence the girls had bowed and her brow troubled at last as if with an effort she cleared doubt away and raised her head i will do it she said decisively the arch bishop heaved a deep sigh of relief he knew now he was out of the wood is this asman's house and we are coming to she asked as if to hint that this subject on which they had talked so earnestly was finally done with no this is lurch on that is the castle of knowledge standing above it i hope said the girl with a sigh of weariness that no english princess about to marry an emperor lodged there or no englishman who was to become an emperor the arch bishop interrupted the plane with a hearty laugh the first he had enjoyed for several days the english seam an interfering race she went on i wish they would attend to their own affairs knowledge is uncontaminated said the arch bishop though in olden days a reckless knight on horseback rode up to secure his lady love and i believe rode down again with her on this route is still called the devil's ladder did the marriage turn out so badly no i believe they lived happily ever after but the ascent was so cliff like that mountain sprites are supposed to have given their assistance how much farther is asman's housing less than two leagues we will stop there and refresh ourselves are you tired oh no not in the least i merely wish their ordeal was passed you are a brave girl held a gun i am anything but that guardian still do not fear i shall flinch after partaking of the midday meal at asman's housing the count is proposed that they should leave their horses in the stable and walk the short third of a leak to erin fells unto this her guardian agreed he found more difficulty with the custodian than had been expected the man objected trembling without a written order from his master he dare not allow anyone to visit the prisoner he would be delighted to oblige his lordship of cologne but he was merely a poor wretch who had no option in the matter very well said cologne i have just come from your master who is stopping with my brother trev at stozen fells if you persist i must then request lodgings from you until such time as a speedy messenger can bring your master hither this journey may cause him great inconvenience on should such be the case i fear you will fare ill with him that may be my lord but i must do my duty are you sure you have already done it on all occasions as the archbishop severely the man's face became ghastly in its pallor i don't know what you mean my lord then i will quickly tell you what i mean it is rumored that prince roland has been seen on the streets of frankfort how how could that be my lord that is exactly what i wish to know i believe the prince is not in your custody i assure you my lord said the now thoroughly frightened man that his highness is in his room very well then conduct this lady although she does not know the prince a relative of hers who does asserts that he met his highness in frankfort i said this was impossible if you had done that duty you prayed so much about the lady merely wishes to ask him for some explanation of this affair so make your choice shall she go up with you now or must i send for the other two archbishops there was but one comforting phrase in this remark namely that the lady did not know the prince still it was a dreadful risk yet the custodian hesitated no longer he took down a bunch of keys and asked the countess to follow him ascending the stair he unlocked the door and stood aside for the countess to pass through someone with wildly tousled hair sat sprawling in a chair arms on the table and heads sunk forward down upon them a full tankard of wine within his reach on the flag and had been over set sluicing the table with its contents which still fell drip drip drip to the floor the young man raised his head aroused by the harsh unlocking of the door and with the crash it made as his father flung it hard against this stone wall for the purpose of giving him warning but the youth was in no condition to profit by this thoughtfulness nor to understand the signals his father made from behind the frightened girl he clutched wildly at the overturned flagon on with an oath cried bring me more wine you old staggering to his feet he threw the flagon wide then slipped on the spilled wine on fell heavily to the floor roaring defiance at the world the panic-stricken girl shrank back crying to the jailer let me out close the door quickly and lock it an order obeyed with alacrity when hildegund emerged to the court her guardian asked no question the horror in her face told all i am sorry my lord said the cringing custodian but his highness is drunk does this does this happen often uh last yes my lord poor lad poor lad the sins of the father shall be visited on the children to the third on fourth generation hildegund forgive me let us away and forget it all the next morning the countess began her imprisonment in falls of chapter 14