Part 45 (2/2)
Ellerey did not answer, but the question asked a
”Have they really gone?” he said, pointing to the plateau
The soldier shook his head doubtfully and then suddenly leant forward, his hand stretched out toward the pass before theer every ures in the valley could be seen distinctly There wasof a caroups, and there was no curling shted fires ”They are on the march, Captain: and--look, is not the lad in the ht not have served hiure, but thus directed he had no doubt it was the Princess in thethe pass for a little way and then turned aside and seemed to be sed up in the foot of the one of her own accord, Stefan They must have found means to capture her”
”Anton may have helped them, perhaps”
”No; he was faithful--my life on that Great heavens! She is in their power, in Vasilici's power, and we stand here doing nothing”
”She ly,” said Stefan, as Ellerey rushed toward the steps; ”besides, what can we do?”
”Come or stay as you will!” Ellerey shouted as he disappeared
”She illingly,” Stefanbehind for a moment to look at the rope ”At least, she climbed down to them, not they up to her I never trusted Anton If I hadn't taken a liking to Grigosie I shouldn't trust the Princess She's a woh only a fewdown the barricade at the door in the lower chamber of the tower Stefan first looked at his weapons and then went across to the corner which the Princess had occupied Ellerey did not notice him, and he rose from his knees there only as Ellerey had sufficiently thron the stones to draw back the bolt and open the door wide enough to get out
”One moment, Captain I am with you, but be prepared for attack”
Ellerey, sword in one hand, revolver in the other, rushed out on to the plateau, Stefan at his heels No shout rang out, nothe ruins to bar their way Even the valley was empty The last of the men who had encamped there had been sed up by the mountain opposite
”Captain, the token which the Princess said was hidden under the loose brick yonder is gone”
The shich Ellerey held ready to defend hinized that he had raised it against a woman Shame had sent the color to his cheeks then, and the color ca it there Had she deceived fros that were in hi them boldly and deliberately for her own end? These were the thoughts which ran swiftly through his er Then came the reaction, suddenly, swiftly No, she could not have deceived hi, so unforeseen had happened After all they had couilty of treachery
”You found nothing else?” he asked hoarsely
”Yes, this A piece of stone lay upon it to keep it in its place close to where she slept last night”
Ellerey seized the scrap of paper Stefan held out to hiht you to this,” he read, written faintly in pencil; ”I have thought of a plan to save you At dawn I shall have gone, but so will the brigands You will be free to go to Sturatzberg, if you will, or across the mountains northward to safety I wonder which way you will take? Mine is a desperate venture If I fail, think of me sometimes, for toin England--Maritza”
”Look, Captain!” Stefan cried
On the slope of the opposite hills, where the path rose over a spur, a party of the ht had come, and it touched the uish the sliure in theas the sunlight touched it For a ain, and, as Ellerey looked, a crowd of conflicting thoughts and emotions were in his brain This was not treachery, but sacrifice
”A waving handkerchief, Captain; a signal of farewell,” Stefan ruff voice
CHAPTER XXI
THE RESCUE