登陆注册
5235800000069

第69章 VIII AN ADVENTUROUS DAY(1)

FOR AN INSTANT the two stood looking at one another. The girl's eyes were wide with incredulity, with hope, with fear.

She was the first to break the silence.

"Who are you?" she breathed in a half whisper.

"I don't wonder that you ask," returned the man. "I must look like a scarecrow. I'm Barney Custer. Don't you re-member me now? Who did you think I was?"

The girl took a step toward him. Her eyes lighted with relief.

"Captain Maenck told me that you were dead," she said, "that you had been shot as a spy in Austria, and then there is that uncanny resemblance to the king--since he has shaved his beard it is infinitely more remarkable. I thought you might be he. He has been at Blentz and I knew that it was quite possible that he had discovered treachery upon the part of Prince Peter. In which case he might have escaped in disguise. I really wasn't sure that you were not he until you spoke."Barney stooped and removed the bandoleer of cartridges from the fallen trooper, as well as his revolver and carbine.

Then he took the girl's hand and together they turned into the wood. Behind them came the sound of pursuit. They heard the loud words of Maenck as he ordered his three remaining men into the wood on foot. As he advanced, Barney looked to the magazine of his carbine and the cylin-der of his revolver.

"Why were they pursuing you?" he asked.

"They were taking me to Blentz to force me to wed Leopold," she replied. "They told me that my father's life depended upon my consenting; but I should not have done so. The honor of my house is more precious than the life of any of its members. I escaped them a few miles back, and they were following to overtake me."A noise behind them caused Barney to turn. One of the troopers had come into view. He carried his carbine in his hands and at sight of the man with the fugitive girl he raised it to his shoulder; but as the American turned toward him his eyes went wide and his jaw dropped.

Instantly Barney knew that the fellow had noted his re-semblance to the king. Barney's body was concealed from the view of the other by a bush which grew between them, so the man saw only the face of the American. The fellow turned and shouted to Maenck: "The king is with her.""Nonsense," came the reply from farther back in the wood.

"If there is a man with her and he will not surrender, shoot him." At the words Barney and the girl turned once more to their flight. From behind came the command to halt--"Halt! or I fire." Just ahead Barney saw the river.

They were sure to be taken there if he was unable to gain the time necessary to make good a crossing. Upon the op-posite side was a continuation of the wood. Behind them the leading trooper was crashing through the underbrush in renewed pursuit. He came in sight of them again, just as they reached the river bank. Once more his carbine was leveled. Barney pushed the girl to her knees behind a bush.

Then he wheeled and fired, so quickly that the man with the already leveled gun had no time to anticipate his act.

With a cry the fellow threw his hands above his head, staggered forward and plunged full length upon his face.

Barney gathered the princess in his arms and plunged into the shallow stream. The girl held his carbine as he stumbled over the rocky bottom. The water deepened rapidly--the opposite shore seemed a long way off and behind there were three more enemies in hot pursuit.

Under ordinary circumstances Barney could have found it in his heart to wish the little Luthanian river as broad as the Mississippi, for only under such circumstances as these could he ever hope to hold the Princess Emma in his arms. Two years before she had told him that she loved him; but at the same time she had given him to understand that their love was hopeless. She might refuse to wed the king; but that she should ever wed another while the king lived was impossible, unless Leopold saw fit to release her from her betrothal to him and sanction her marriage to another. That he ever would do this was to those who knew him not even remotely possible.

He loved Emma von der Tann and he hated Barney Custer--hated him with a jealous hatred that was almost fanatic in its intensity. And even that the Princess Emma von der Tann would wed him were she free to wed was a question that was not at all clear in the mind of Barney Custer. He knew something of the traditions of this noble family--of the pride of caste, of the fetish of blood that inexorably dictated the ordering of their lives.

The girl had just said that the honor of her house was more precious than the life of any of its members. How much more precious would it be to her than her own material happiness! Barney Custer sighed and struggled through the swirling waters that were now above his hips. If he pressed the lithe form closer to him than necessity demanded, who may blame him?

The girl, whose face was toward the bank they had just quitted, gave no evidence of displeasure if she noted the fierce pressure of his muscles. Her eyes were riveted upon the wood behind. Presently a man emerged. He called to them in a loud and threatening tone.

Barney redoubled his Herculean efforts to gain the oppo-site bank. He was in midstream now and the water had risen to his waist. The girl saw Maenck and the other trooper emerge from the underbrush beside the first. Maenck was crazed with anger. He shook his fist and screamed aloud his threatening commands to halt, and then, of a sudden, gave an order to one of the men at his side. Immediately the fellow raised his carbine and fired at the escaping couple.

The bullet struck the water behind them. At the sound of the report the girl raised the gun she held and leveled it at the group behind her. She pulled the trigger. There was a sharp report, and one of the troopers fell. Then she fired again, quickly, and again and again. She did not score an-other hit, but she had the satisfaction of seeing Maenck and the last of his troopers dodge back to the safety of protecting trees.

同类推荐
  • 佛说诸佛经

    佛说诸佛经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 江表志

    江表志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Drift from Two Shores

    Drift from Two Shores

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 嘉靖东南平倭通录

    嘉靖东南平倭通录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • My Memories of Eighty Years

    My Memories of Eighty Years

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 最强无敌剧毒系统

    最强无敌剧毒系统

    哈哈,你中了我的毒!本书讲的是小青年获得了有毒系统,然后在都市毒杀一片群众的事。扁鹊(善恶怪医)恶德医疗冷却值:0消耗:0被动:普通攻击和技能都会附带持续法术伤害的中毒效果,并叠加1层毒药印记,最高5层。啥?还有LOL中的老鼠、提莫、蛇女!还有DOTA中的毒龙、剧毒术士!有毒系统在手,美女金钱我全收!
  • 假面(下)

    假面(下)

    在段佑斯与优异成绩的保驾护航之下,雅子逐渐接近裙带关系复杂的学生会,但随着学生会核心成员接连“落马”,她的行为越来越超乎段佑斯的掌控。
  • 天才小王妃

    天才小王妃

    ☆☆本书2016年2月上市,出版名《风华圣手:盛世繁华不如你》,当当、淘宝、卓越及全国各大书店均有售。她八个月,他八岁,她颤颤悠悠的爬上矮凳,对着那个嘲笑她只是个会流口水傻瓜的男孩,抬手脆生生的甩了他一个耳光。☆☆她叫朱茵洛,神偷传人,立志盗尽天下宝,拥有超能力第六感,能“看”到别人短期的未来,却看不到自己的,只因违反天意救了一个该死的人,结果遭天遣,穿越到异世重生,让她吐血的是,她竟然穿越到一个只有八个月大的婴儿身上。她是将军府三小姐,一个小妾生的孩子,八个月被赐给他做皇子妃。十岁时,他十八岁,她智斗敌国使臣,为家族争光。他看中了她的姐姐,她一纸休书丢给他:“是我休了你。”十八岁时,她一舞惊艳天下……☆☆水晶新浪微博名:雪色水晶-HX,欢迎来互粉调戏……
  • 废妃翻天,与魔共武

    废妃翻天,与魔共武

    穿越成因爱而死的废物三小姐。不娶她?谁稀罕!那一指血书刺了那渣男未婚夫的眼,让他看清楚,是谁嫌弃谁,是谁在毁婚。前世的杀手,黑暗的女王,又岂会平凡一生?看她负手天下,笑看苍穹也罢。她是那七个同样被人遗弃的废物的光,带领他们,一步一步走向云峰,那最神秘的的罗刹七鬼摘掉面具,天下为之震撼!七个强者经她手调教而出,命运?她命由己不由天!她是被封印的容器,他说,“你是为我而降生!”“笑话!”她笑,却与他共武,问鼎苍穹,要颠覆了这片大陆,魔将再次降临天下!
  • 催眠术:一种奇妙的心理疗法(2版)

    催眠术:一种奇妙的心理疗法(2版)

    你想减肥吗?你想戒烟吗?你想缓解你的焦虑和抑郁吗?你想开发你的潜能吗?那么,试试催眠术吧。尽管催眠术备受争议,但大量的临床实践证明,催眠术在治疗身心疾病、开发个体潜能方面有着其他疗法难以比拟的神奇功效。本书介绍了16种简单实用的催眠方法,并针对现代社会的不同人群、不同需要,提出了科学的催眠治疗方案。
  • 健康就这么简单:现代人不生病的智慧

    健康就这么简单:现代人不生病的智慧

    本书主要从压力释放、疲劳缓解、心理调节、科学用脑、常见疾病防治、养生保健、运动休闲、名人谈养生与健康等方面讲述健康的智慧,教你做自己的医生,呵护健康。本书最大的特色在于实用性。从现代人的生活实际出发,语言精练,行文简洁,让你轻松阅读的同时,即可尝试。相信看重健康的你绝对不会错过与这样一本书的相遇。
  • 教你学自行车·摩托车(学生室内外运动学习手册)

    教你学自行车·摩托车(学生室内外运动学习手册)

    体育运动是以身体练习为基本手段,以增强人的体质,促进人的全面发展,丰富社会文化生活和促进精神文明为目的一种有意识、有组织的社会活动。室内外体育运动内容丰富,种类繁多,主要项目有田径、球类、游泳、武术、登山、滑冰、举重、摔跤、自行车、摩托车等数十个类别。
  • 哈佛最神奇的24堂成长课

    哈佛最神奇的24堂成长课

    照亮生命旅程的智慧心灯,描画美好明天的成长箴言。成长究竟是什么呢?有人说:成长就是走向成功。也有人说:成长就是珍惜生命中的每一天……哈佛像一位久经沧桑的老人,他用低沉的声音告诉我们:成长不是冷眼细数时间的流逝,生命唯有付出才有意义。与本书一起走近哈佛,共享成长。
  • 左手菜根谭,右手卡耐基

    左手菜根谭,右手卡耐基

    《菜根谭》侧重为人处世的谦虚、豁达、淡泊,卡耐基侧重为人处世的技巧。左手是讲求低调,达观精神的《菜根谭》,右手是积极进取,不断创新的卡耐基;左手一部做人善心的处世哲学,右手一部做事成事的心机妙典,让你轻松从容地应对人生。
  • 霸道狂少

    霸道狂少

    应届毕业生秦天成遭遇无良老板,不仅被恶意欠薪,还被老板的狗腿子殴打,不想却因此获得修真传承……灵丹妙药,太普通的别来找我。强化身躯,超人的身体素质相信能满足你的要求。金钱财富,靠,这些东西在我眼里都是浮云。在各领域各显神通,神不是万能的,而我无所不能!