Part 61 (1/2)

In the midst of this the door was flung open, and ”His Majesty” burst into the room. His apparel was all disordered; his face and hands were blackened with powder and stained with blood. He appeared to have been in the thickest of the fight. He burst in, and instantly banging to the door, he fastened it on the inside.

”We're betrayed!” he cried. ”It's the inimy! We'll be captured! We'll be executed! All's lost!”

At this Mrs. Russell flung herself into the royal arms. ”His Majesty”

had by this time grown so accustomed to this that he accepted it with resignation as part of the misfortunes of the hour, and merely heaved a sigh.

But they were roused by thunderous blows upon the door. Ma.s.sive though that door was, it would soon be beaten in by such blows as those.

”We're lost!” cried ”His Majesty.” ”Is there any way out? Shure some av yez know,” he asked, eagerly. ”Ye know,” he said, earnestly, to Katie, ”the way--the way _he_ came--Rivers!”

”His Majesty's” position was desperate. At such an appeal Katie could not be unmoved.

”Save me! Show me the way,” repeated ”His Majesty.”

Katie said nothing. She hurried toward the fireplace. ”His Majesty”

followed. Mrs. Russell still clung to the royal person.

Katie pointed up the steps to the opening.

”Is it there?--begorra, mesilf never knowed it or suspected it.”

He seized a torch that lay in the fireplace, and sprang up into the opening. Then he lighted it.

”Aren't you going to take me, Your Sacred Majesty? Oh, leave me not!”

”Be jabers!” cried ”His Majesty,” ”I'll baffle thim yet: yis, ladies--I'll help yez--come along, thin.”

Mrs. Russell came first; Katie then followed. Katie's motive in following was nothing in particular, but several in general. In the first place, she was afraid of the fighting-men bursting into the room; in the second place, she naturally clung to the fortunes of her auntie; and, finally, she had a vague idea of meeting with Harry.

Thus the two ladies followed, while ”His Majesty” went ahead, carrying the torch.

At length he came to a place where the stone opened into the pa.s.sage-way. It had been left open by Ashby. This place seemed to ”His Majesty” to lead in a more favorable direction, and accordingly he turned in here. Then he descended the steps, and finally reached an opening. He stood here and listened. The room below seemed empty.

He descended, requesting the ladies to wait a few moments. On reaching the room, he perceived that it was closed. The door had not been opened.

Ashby was not there, of course, as ”His Majesty” knew; but ”His Majesty” was not a little surprised at seeing Dolores. There was no chance for her to hide, so she stood looking at him. But her face was pale, and sad, and frightened.

Before a word could be said, Mrs. Russell scrambled down, and came clinging to ”His Majesty.” Katie followed, and, in great amazement, saw Dolores. She at once ran up to her, put her arms around her, and kissed her.

”I might accuse this senorita of high-traison,” said ”His Majesty,”

”but what's the use?”

”Oh, sire, spare her!” said Mrs. Russell. ”Remember that mercy is majesty's darling attribute.”

”Bedad it is,” said ”His Majesty.” ”Who iver says it isn't? And you, senorita,” said ”His Majesty” to Dolores, in Spanish--”you seem to know the secret ways here.”

”Yes.”

”Why did you come here?”