Part 36 (1/2)

”Thank G.o.d! You are safe!” Grasping her hand he led her out of the darkness into the moonlight.

Not a word was spoken as they ran swiftly on until they reached a little clump of trees, not far from one of the gates. Here Baldos gently released her hand. She was panting for breath; but he realized she must not be allowed to risk a moment's delay. She must pa.s.s the sentry at once.

”Have you the watchword?” he eagerly asked.

”Watchword?” she repeated feebly.

”Yes, the countersign for the night. It is Ganlook. Keep your face well covered with your hood. Advance boldly to the gates and give the word.

There will be no trouble. The guard is used to pleasure seekers returning at all hours of night.”

”Is he dead?” she asked timorously, returning to the scene of horror.

”Only wounded, I think, as are the other men, though they all deserve death.”

He went with her as close to the gate as he thought safe. Taking her hand he kissed it fervently. ”Good-bye! It won't be for long!” and disappeared.

She stood still and lifeless, staring after him, for ages, it seemed. He was gone. Gone forever, no doubt. Her eyes grew wilder and wilder with the pity of it all. Pride fled incontinently. She longed to call him back. Then it occurred to her that he was hurrying off to that other woman. No, he said he would return. She must be brave, true to herself, whatever happened. She marched boldly up to the gate, gave the countersign and pa.s.sed through, not heeding the curious glances cast upon her by the sentry; turned into the castle, up the grand staircase, and fled to the princess's bed-chamber.

Beverly, trembling and sobbing, threw herself in the arms of the princess. Incoherently, she related all that had happened, then swooned.

After she had been restored, the promise of Yetive to protect her, whatever happened, comforted her somewhat.

”It must have been Marlanx,” moaned Beverly.

”Who else could it have been?” replied the princess, who was visibly excited.

Summoning all her courage, she went on: ”First, we must find out if he is badly hurt. We'll trust to luck. Cheer up!” She touched a bell. There came a knock at the door. A guard was told to enter. ”Ellos,” she exclaimed, ”did you hear a shot fired a short time ago?”

”I thought I did, your highness, but was not sure.”

”Baldos, the guard, was escaping by the secret pa.s.sage,” continued the princess, a wonderful inspiration coming to her rescue. ”He pa.s.sed through the chapel. Miss Calhoun was there. Alone, and single-handed, she tried to prevent him. It was her duty. He refused to obey her command to stop and she followed him into the tunnel and fired at him. I'm afraid you are too late to capture him, but you may--, Oh, Beverly, how plucky you were to follow him! Go quickly, Ellos! Search the tunnel and report at once.” As the guard saluted, with wonder, admiration and unbelief, he saw the two conspirators locked in each other's arms.

Presently he returned and reported that the guards could find no trace of anyone in the tunnel, but that they found blood on the floor near the exit and that the door was wide open.

The two girls looked at each other in amazement. They were dumbfounded, but a great relief was glowing in their eyes.

”Ellos,” inquired the princess, considerably less agitated, ”does any one else know of this?”

”No, your highness, there was no one on guard but Max, Baldos, and myself,”

”Well, for the present, no one else must know of his flight. Do you understand? Not a word to any one. I, myself, will explain when the proper time comes. You and Max have been very careless, but I suppose you should not be punished. He has tricked us all. Send Max to me at once.”

”Yes, your highness,” said Ellos, and he went away with his head swimming. Max, the other guard, received like orders and then the two young women sank limply upon a divan.

”Oh, how clever you are, Yetive,” came from the American girl. ”But what next?”

”We may expect to hear something disagreeable from Count Marlanx, my dear,” murmured the perplexed, but confident princess, ”but I think we have the game in our own hands, as you would say in America.”

CHAPTER XXVI