the forest of sword 22

the forest of sword 22

CHAPTER XIV

 

A PROMISE KEPT

 

 

The room in which John was confined contained only a bed, a chair and a

table. It was lighted by a single window, from which he could see

numerous soldiers below. He also heard the distant mutter of the cannon,

which seemed now to have become a part of nature. There were periods of

excitement or of mental detachment, when he did not notice it, but it

was always there. Now the soldiers in the grounds were moving but

little, and the air pulsed with the thud of the great guns.

 

He recalled again his promise, or rather threat, to Auersperg that he

would escape. Instinctively he went to the narrow but tall window and

glanced at the heavens. Then he knew that impulse had made him look for

Lannes and the _Arrow_, and he laughed at his own folly. Even if Lannes

knew where they were he could not slip prisoners out of a house,

surrounded by watchful German troops.

 

He heard the heavy key turning in the lock, and a silent soldier brought

him food, which he put upon the table. The man remained beside the door

until John had eaten his supper, when he took the dishes and withdrew.

He had not spoken a word while he was in the room, but as he was passing

out John said:

 

"Good-bye, Pickelbaube! Let's have no ill feeling between you and me."

 

The German--honest peasant that he was--grinned and nodded. He could not

understand the English words, but he gathered from John's tone that they

were friendly, and he responded at once. But when he closed the door

behind him John heard the heavy key turning in the lock again. He knew

there was little natural hostility between the people of different

nations. It was instilled into them from above.

 

Food brought back new strength and new courage. He took his place again

at the window which was narrow and high, cut through a deep wall. The

illusion of the Middle Ages, which Auersperg had created so completely,

returned. This was the dungeon in a castle and he was a prisoner doomed

to death by its lord. Some dismounted Uhlans who were walking across the

grounds with their long lances over their shoulders gave another touch

to this return of the past, as the first rays of the moonlight glittered

on helmet and lance-head.

 

He was not sleepy at all, and staying by the window he kept a strange

watch. He saw white flares appear often on a long line in the west. He

knew it was the flashing of the searchlights, and he surmised that what

he saw was meant for signals. The fighting would go on under steady

light continued long, and that it would continue admitted of no doubt.

He could hear the mutter of the guns, ceaseless like the flowing of a

river.

 

He saw the battery drive out of the grounds, then turn into the road

before the château and disappear. He concluded that the cannon were

needed at some weak point where the Franco-British army was pressing

hard.

 

Then a company of hussars came from the forest and rode quietly into the

grounds, where they dismounted. John saw that many, obviously the

wounded, were helped from their horses. In battle, he concluded, and not

so far off. Perhaps not more than two or three miles. Rifle-fire, with

the wind blowing the wrong way, would not be heard that distance.

 

The hussars, leading their horses, disappeared in a wood behind the

house, and they were followed presently by a long train of automobiles,

moving rather slowly. The moonlight was very bright now and John saw

that they were filled with wounded who stirred but little and who made

no outcry. The line of motors turned into the place and they too

disappeared behind the château, following the hussars.

 

Two aeroplanes alighted on the grass and their drivers entered the

house. Bearers of dispatches, John felt sure, and while he watched he

saw both return, spring into their machines and fly away. Their

departure caused him to search the heavens once more, and he knew that

he was looking for Lannes, who could not come.

 

Now von Arnheim passed down the graveled walk that led to the great

central gate, but, half way, turned from it and began to talk to some

sentinels who stood on the grass. He was certainly a fine fellow, tall,

well built, and yet free from the German stoutness of figure. He wore a

close uniform of blue-gray which fitted him admirably, and the moonlight

fell in a flood on his handsome, ruddy face.

 

"I hope you won't be killed," murmured John. "If there is any French

shell or shrapnel that is labeled specially for a prince and that must

have a prince, I pray it will take Auersperg in place of von Arnheim."

 

It was a serious prayer and he felt that it was without a trace of

wickedness or sacrilege. Evidently von Arnheim was giving orders of

importance, as two of the men, to whom he was talking, hurried to

horses, mounted and galloped down the road. Then the young prince walked

slowly back to the house and John could see that he was very thoughtful.

He passed his hand in a troubled way two or three times across his

forehead. Perhaps the medieval prince inside was putting upon the modern

prince outside labors that he was far from liking.

 

John's unformed plan of escape included Julie Lannes. He could not go

away without her. If he did he could never face Lannes again, and what

was more, he could never face himself. It was in reality this thought

that made his resolve to escape seem so difficult. It had been lurking

continuously in the back of his head. To go away without Julie was

impossible. Under ordinary circumstances her situation as a prisoner

would not be alarming. Germans regarded women with respect. They had

done so from the earliest times, as he had learned from the painful

study of Tacitus. Von Arnheim had received a deep impression from

Julie's beauty and grace. John could tell it by his looks, but those

looks were honest. They came from the eyes and heart of one who could do

no wrong. But the other! The man of the Middle Ages, the older prince.

He was different. War re-created ancient passions and gave to them

opportunities. No, he could not think of leaving without Julie!

 

He kept his place at the tall, narrow window, and the night was steadily

growing brighter. A full, silver moon was swinging high in the heavens.

The stars were out in myriads in that sky of dusky, infinite blue, and

danced regardless of the tiny planet, Earth, shaken by battle. From the

hills came the relentless groaning which he knew was the sound of the

guns, fighting one another under the searchlights.

 

Then he heard the clatter of hoofs, and another company of Uhlans rode

up to the château. Their leader dismounted and entered the great gate.

John recognized von Boehlen, who had taken off his helmet to let the

cool air blow upon his close-cropped head. He stood on the graveled walk

for a few minutes directly in a flood of silver rays, every feature

showing clearly. He had been arrogant and domineering, but John liked

him far better than Auersperg. His cruelty would be the cruelty of

battle, and there might be a streak of sentimentalism hidden under the

stiff and harsh German manner, like a vein of gold in rock. As von

Boehlen resumed his approach to the house he passed from John's range of

vision, and then the prisoner watched the horizon for anything that he

might see. Twice he beheld the far flare of searchlights, but nobody

else came to the château, and the night darkened somewhat. No rattle of

arms or stamp of hoofs came from the hussars in the grounds, and he

judged that all but the sentinels slept. Nor was there any sound of

movement in the house, and in the peaceful silence he at last began to

feel sleepy. The problems of his position were too great for him to

solve--at least for the present--and lying down on the cot he was fast

asleep before he knew it.

 

Youth does not always sleep soundly, and the tension of John's nerves

continued long after he lapsed into unconsciousness. That, perhaps, was

the reason why he awoke at once when the heavy key began to turn again

in the lock. He sat up on the cot--he had not undressed--and his hand

instinctively slipped to his belt, where there was no weapon.

 

The key was certainly turning in the lock, and then the door was

opening! A shadow appeared in the space between door and wall, and

John's first feeling was of apprehension. An atmosphere of suspicion had

been created about him and he considered his life in much more danger

there than it had been when he was first a prisoner.

 

The door closed again quickly and softly, but somebody was inside the

room, somebody who had a light, feline step, and John felt the prickling

of the hair at the back of his neck. He longed for a weapon, something

better than only his two hands, but he was reassured when the intruder,

speaking French, called in a whisper:

 

"Are you awake, Mr. Scott?"

 

It was surely not the voice and words of one who had come to do murder,

and John felt a thrill of recognition.

 

"Weber!" he exclaimed.

 

"Yes, it's Weber, Mr. Scott."

 

"How under the sun did you get here, Weber?"

 

"By pretending to be a German. I'm an Alsatian, you know, and it's not

difficult. I'm doing work for France. It's terribly dangerous. My life

is on the turn of a hair every moment, but I'm willing to take the risk.

I did not know you were here until late tonight, when I came to the

château to see if I could discover anything further about the numbers

and movements of the enemy. You must get away now. I think I can help

you to escape."

 

There was a tone in Weber's voice that aroused John's curiosity.

 

"It's good of you, Weber," he said, "to take such a risk for me, but why

is it so urgent that I escape tonight?"

 

"I've learned since I came to the château that the Prince of Auersperg

is much inflamed against you. Perhaps you spoke to him in a way that

gave offense to his dignity. Ah, sir, the members of these ancient royal

houses, those of the old type, consider themselves above and beyond the

other people of the earth. In Germany you cannot offend them without

risk, and it may be, too, that you stand in his way in regard to

something that he very much desires!"

 

Although Weber spoke in a whisper his voice was full of energy and

earnestness. His words sank with the weight of truth into John's heart.

 

"Can you really help me to escape?" he asked.