Victor Victorious

by Cecil Starr Johns

  *CHAPTER X*

  It was indeed a busy time in Rudarlia. Ivan's death seemed to haveawakened her. From Melanov to Soctia, from Ruln to the farthest westernpoint of the kingdom, there was bustling activity. What had to be done,was done, and thoroughly. All classes seemed to vie with each other inthe efforts they made to bring order out of chaos. Everywhere could beseen the signs of reviving desire to live, and live well. No longerwere there dozens of farms unoccupied; instead, they rang with thesounds of work, the voices of children, of men and women, who withcheerful faces went about their daily toil, thankful that the burden hadbeen lifted from their lives.

  And in the towns it was the same story.

  Now, besides the gigantic tasks of granting a constitution andreorganising the army, the other public services had to be overhauled,especially the railways and roads. By the aid of money, much was doneto improve both, and also extend them. As if by magic, roads were madeconnecting village to village and village to town.

  The Minister of War had a word to say about the railways; and more thanone military council was called to decide upon the advisability oflaying this or that piece of line.

  The railways in Rudarlia were state owned. I am not altogether infavour of this, but in our case, I insisted upon all the employes beingmen who had served their country in a military capacity, and therailroads would thus be in the hands of men who were used to theoperations of military movements.

  Another reason I had for complying with state ownership was that, insuch a country as Rudarlia, depending as it did upon the agriculturists,to a very large extent, the rate for carrying freight would becontrolled by the state; for to my mind such rates should be kept low,and, if a loss is incurred by this, it is better for the state to bearthe burden than that the producers should be handicapped, as farmershave already, in most climates, to fight against nature.

  It was fortunate for me that I was possessed of a fine constitution, andwas physically strong, for the strain was great. I was working frommorning until late at night.

  My Ministers, older men than I by many years, frankly confessed thatthey could not keep pace with me. Personally, I fancy that I must havebeen a little mad, so eaten up was I with the desire to improveRudarlia, and then still improve. I gloried in the success which ourefforts met with.

  Mr. Neville, who had brought my mother back to Karena, warned me timeand again not to overdo it, but in spite of all his good advice Ipersisted, and luckily did not break down.

  My old tutor was of the greatest service to me. I had given him a suiteof rooms in the Palace, and he was ever near me when I wanted him, whichwas quite often, I am afraid.

  Carruthers had returned to England soon after my ascending the throne,but I had promised to send him word before hostilities broke out withBornia, so that he could get leave and join us. I knew that he wouldhave to dodge the authorities at home, somehow; but I gave him mypromise to cable the one word "Now" when I was certain that war wasinevitable.

  It was now nearly two years since I became King, and so far we hadmanaged to avoid any serious rupture with our neighbour; but that it wasnear, I was convinced. We had added continually to our stores of everykind. We had a large reserve of ammunition, small arms, and medicalstores, as well as a vast quantity of food in the fortified towns.

  I think it is permissible to say, with a good deal of pride, thatRudarlia was ready for whatever happened; that is, as far as a nationcan be prepared. It depends so much upon what is willed--destiny, orGod's will, if it suits you better. Perhaps the terms are synonymous;they were to me. But even if a nation is destined to be overthrown, andswept away, even if the national life must end, the individual elementremains, so that every man, be he king or peasant, must profit bystraining every particle of energy for his nation and, in so doing, thesacrifice he makes will strengthen himself.

  I had heard again from Prince Alexis, a threatening letter, full ofcunning malice and blackmail. I sent him a few thousands, for I was notquite ready to refuse him.

  It was after this that I took a holiday--one week. Perhaps it was notthe kind to appeal to every one, but to me it was a needful change fromthe routine of statecraft. I went walking with Mr. Neville. I shouldthink we averaged twenty miles a day.

  We walked among the peasants, the farmers, and the workers in the towns.Everywhere we found contentment, and sometimes I blushed to hear thepraises heaped upon my head. We were generally taken for a pair ofEnglishmen on tour. We talked with every one, as on our first visit toRudarlia. One day we visited Melanov, with two objects: to see Colonelvon Quarovitch, and hear news of Piotr. I knew that the former wouldknow me for his King, for he must have seen pictures of me, and heardenough to connect me as King with his visitor, whom he no doubt hadthought eccentric, to say the least of it.

  As I did not wish the soldiery to know of my arrival, I asked Mr.Neville to prepare him for my visit, so that I could see him alone. Igave him two or three minutes and then went in.

  The news of my arrival had evidently come as a great surprise, for hewas still seated staring at Mr. Neville when I entered. He sprang tohis feet in a second and saluted. I saw his grim old face twitching.

  "I have come again, Colonel, as I promised," I said, and held out myhand.

  His emotion was so great that for a moment or two I turned away; for thesight of a strong man trying to restrain his emotion is a terriblething.

  I do not think there was the proper ceremony between us; in fact, onsecond thoughts, I am sure there was not. We were far more like twofriends than King and subject. His delight over events was extreme; andwhen I told him, as a secret, of certain plans, certain fortifications,I really thought he was becoming crazy with joy. He swore like atrooper, then apologised with the grace of a courtier, and swore again.

  He laughed gleefully at thoughts of war--I believe fighting was likewine to him--and gave me minute accounts of his expenditure of the moneyI had left with him. They met the fate I had promised them.

  We stayed two hours with him. At the inn, we heard news of Piotr, fromthe oily host who had introduced him to our notice. It appeared that hewas back upon his farm, doing well. So there for the present we lefthim, undisturbed; but I retained the half of the broken coin which hehad given me, and did not forget his promises.

  I enjoyed the first six days of that holiday immensely; but, on theseventh, something happened, which I only enjoyed afterwards.

  From Melanov we had walked round to Ampletch, from where we intended toreturn to Karena. We did not enter the town, but put up for the nightin an inn upon the outskirts, a very respectable place, standing alittle off the main road.

  The landlord, who looked like a man who never moved from his own yard,showed us our rooms and the dining hall. We took a table standing byitself in one corner near a window.

  I did not observe the other diners; but recollected afterwards that oneof them left the room immediately we entered, and I observed that hisdinner was uneaten. I thought no more about him. He, however, hadremembered something I had almost forgotten.

  It was not long after that Mr. Neville and I sought our beds, for wewere both tired.

  * * * * *

  I must be forgiven if I cannot describe my awakening, but my mindrefuses to recall my thoughts. I know, however, that I realised that myhead ached consumedly, that I was in a different room from the one inwhich I had gone to sleep, and that my hands and feet were tied.

  There was light in the room, and after some little time I turned my headtowards it. A man was busy writing at a table. The light fell upon hisface, and I began to puzzle myself as to where I had seen it before.Was it in England? No, I could not place it there. InFrance?--Italy?--Russia? No. I pondered and worried, then like a flashit came to me: Baron von Goltz! My mind seemed to clear, I understoodthe unpleasantness of my position. I felt the rope cut into my arms asI tried to burst myself free. Some noise I made must
have roused theman's attention, for he raised his head and looked at me.

  "Ah! awake, I see."

  Then, as I made no answer, he carefully blotted the letter he hadwritten, and enclosing it in an envelope placed it in his pocket. Herose from his chair, shook himself, and walked over to the bed on whichI was lying. He was laughing to himself, as he stood looking down atme. I met his gaze steadily, until he turned away.

  "I trust your Majesty is comfortable," he said.

  "Quite, thank you; but it is a devilish bad bed." I would not let thefellow see that I was at all uneasy.

  "Good! Anyone can see that you are not of the same breed as Alexis."

  "Very distantly, I am glad to say; but you should not sneer at thePrince, even a dog should not snap at the hand that feeds him." I sawhim wince at this, so I continued, "I suppose this is the work of yourmaster, isn't it?"

  "No, it is entirely my own."

  "H'm! it is pretty low, even for you; but may I trouble you for somewater? I find my throat rather parched."

  "Gad! you are all right, even though you are an Englishman."

  He laughed again as he turned away and left the room.

  The moment the door was shut, I commenced to wriggle. I thought I feltsomething loosen; but I was once more rigid as he returned with thedesired drink.

  "No poison in it, is there?" I asked.

  He drank some of the water before putting it to my lips, then with hisarm round me he raised me enough to drink. He was quite tender, too, inhis movements; and I felt inclined to laugh--the situation had itshumours, in spite of its unpleasantness. I drank all the water therewas and felt better.

  "Well, what do you intend to do with me?"

  "Frankly, I don't know; it depends so much on how reasonable you are,and what the plans of Alexis are, and he is a bit uncertain."

  "Of course, you know that you will be traced?"

  "Not a chance of it, I assure you."

  "You will certainly be hanged, Baron Goltz, that is, unless you untie meand let me pass out."

  "It is extremely probable, no doubt, after the trouble I had in gettingyou here. You ought to be worth a great deal to me, for Alexis will notforget who gave him the throne."

  "No; I should be careful of knife-thrusts if I were you."

  "Your Sacred Majesty does not care for the Prince? Well, I don't blameyou, I don't think much of him myself."

  "Then why work for him?"

  "Who would you have me work for?"

  "For me."

  "No, thanks, my friend, you have had your pickings for eighteen monthsor more; now it is our turn."

  "You have tied me up rather too tightly for comfort; if you would loosenthe ropes a bit I should be obliged."

  "Could I lay hands on your Majesty? Oh no!"

  "Then go to the devil!" I said.

  "After your Majesty."

  He continued to look at me for some time, but neither of us spoke. Thenagain he left the room and again I had a good struggle with the ropesand felt them give a little more.

  When, after a few minutes, he returned, he found me in the same positionas when he had left me.

  "Your Majesty must forgive me, but I am compelled to leave you for alittle time; there is a certain letter to be posted which is toovaluable to be let out of my hands. My servant will attend you while Iam away; he is deaf and dumb, so I do not think you will seduce him,and--oh, by the by, you called me a dog just now, so I will tell yousomething to console you during my absence. I have discovered a newsource of income to be paid me by Bornia; I have found out that thereare minerals in this country of a very valuable nature, and those minesof yours-- Ah! that interests you, does it? Clever chap you are, Isuppose it was your idea. It's almost a pity to spoil the scheme,but----" He shrugged his shoulders and turned away. At the door hepaused. "I shall not be long gone, be good till I return."

  I heard the key turn in the lock. I was alone and made good use of mytime, which I knew would be short. I found a knot with my fingers,little by little I worked my elbows free and then my hands; I heaved agreat sigh of relief, but I was only just in time. I do not to this dayknow how I did it, but I could have shouted with joy when it was done.

  There were footsteps outside. I put my still bound feet upon the floorand sat up. Then I stood up, holding the ropes which had bound my armsas though they were still tied; my left hand, however, was loose andready behind my back.

  The door opened and a man came in, some one outside relocked the door,and I had a companion. He was a very perfect scoundrel by hisappearance. He possessed other deformities, besides being deaf and dumb,a cast in one eye, a vile mouth, and inflamed nose.

  We stared at each other for a moment, and then I looked at my feet withan appealing glance. He chuckled, and coming closer bent to see that myfeet were still secured.

  As he bent, my fist took him under the chin and he went down. Theimpetus of my blow took me forward and I landed somewhat heavily on topof him. Fearing that the fall would have been heard, I lay stilllistening; but no one came, so I pulled him towards me and secured theknife in his sash. With it, I cut the rope round my legs, and commencedrubbing them to restore the circulation. Then I searched the fellow andwas rewarded by finding a revolver fully loaded in his pocket. It wastransferred to mine.

  I did not know how long he would remain unconscious, so I bound andgagged him. Then I ran to the window and looked out.

  I was on the second floor of a two-storied house, the grey light of dawnjust enabling me to see the projecting roof over my head, and the pavedcourtyard beneath.

  I refused to think of Goltz's last remark. All I thought of was how toescape. I might be able to prevent the damage which he threatened then.I gently pulled the bed to the window, stripped off the sheets and torethem in two, lengthways, knotted them together, and I had a rope. Ithen dragged the still unconscious man to the bed and thrust him under;he was hidden by a blanket which I let hang over the side of the bed. Iwished them to suppose that he had aided me to escape. I placed a chairwith its back to the door tilted beneath the handle; and threw a hurriedglance round and over the desk. All the papers save one seemed oflittle importance, the exception was a list of our supposed mines, withcertain details of the artillery. I could have shouted with exultationas I placed it in my pocket. Then I fastened my improvised rope to thehead of the bed, throwing the other end out of the window, and was justabout to clamber over the window-sill--in fact, one leg was alreadyout--when I heard the sound of a horse galloping. I slipped back intothe room, and peeped from behind the curtain down into the yard beneath.

  The dawn was just breaking as Goltz rode in.

  I heard him speaking to some one, a loud laugh came up to me, then Iheard him say:

  "No, they don't know he is gone. Keep him walking up and down; I shallwant him again in twenty minutes or so."

  Now this remark upset all my plans, for it meant that my way of escapewas cut off: I could not hope to swing on that rope and get past anarmed man waiting below. So, instead, I crept under the bed, and laythere upon my back with every nerve on the strain, and with the revolverready for instant use.

  Waiting there was extremely trying; it was lucky that I did not have towait for long. I had do push my stunned companion further under, as hewas in the way; I hoped sincerely that he would not start groaning orstruggling, and so give me away.

  Some one turned the key in the lock, and tried the handle; then I hearda creaking noise, an oath, the sound of other voices and a crash--thedoor was open. I could imagine the look of blank astonishment on theirfaces when they saw the room apparently empty; and for a second therewas silence. Then Goltz gave hurried orders, they were to search theroads and neighbourhood, I could not be far distant. There was a clatterof feet descending the stairs. Had they all gone? I almost betrayedmyself: just as I was going to lift the blanket to peer out, some oneran to the window and evidently looked out.

  "Leave my horse, I will follow in a
minute or two."

  I saw two feet go past and heard Goltz speaking to himself:

  "Curse him, the cunning devil; but wait, my fine fellow, you can't havegone far. I wonder if he searched the drawer----"

  Cautiously I peeped out; his back was turned, so, carefully keeping himcovered with my revolver, I wriggled from beneath the bed, and stood up.I had not made enough noise to disturb him, and when I asked him quietlyto raise his hands above his head he spun round like a flash.

  "My God!" he cried.

  "No, only your King. Quick, up with them!"

  I have never seen a man more surprised; but he recovered very quicklyand held his hands up. In one of them was a package of papers. Hisface had gone white, and his eyes glistened.

  "Baron Goltz, you are a very dirty traitor, and as such I am going toshoot you. Have you anything to say?"

  I had made up my mind, as he raised his hands, that it was in theinterests of Rudarlia that he should die. The knowledge he had gainedwas of too great importance; and I alone could not hope to keep himprisoner.

  "It will be murder, and useless," he said.

  "Hardly, but I will risk it, you are too big a scoundrel to go free fromhere."

  "It will be useless," he repeated, "as I have sent to a friend theinformation you are afraid of my repeating."

  This staggered me, I confess, but I thought of the paper in my pocket.

  "What information?"

  "I sent a list of your mines and artillery, within the hour, to a man inBornia. I alone can stop them being sent to the King; you have theupper hand of me here, so I will bargain if you like."

  "There is and can be no question of bargaining with a traitor likeyourself; besides, you never sent the list."

  "I sent it when I left you here."

  "You sent no list, you forgot to enclose it, it is now in my pocket."

  "You lie!" he cried, but I saw an anxious look creep into his eyes.

  "I do not lie, look for yourself."

  I pulled the paper out and opened it with one hand, taking good care tokeep him covered.

  He snarled like a wild beast and flung himself upon me.

  I shot him through the brain, it was the only thing to be done.

  I often wonder whether I should have been able to shoot him, had he notattacked me.

  I took the package from his hands, slipped it into my pocket, and walkedout.

  I confess that I was trembling, for I had killed a man; and theexperience was not to my liking, although it was good work having killeda traitor.

  I crept cautiously down the stairs, the house seemed empty, but Goltz'shorse was tied to the door-knocker. He shied a little as I approachedto unfasten him, perhaps it was the blood upon my coat; and I rememberthat the knocker on the door sounded horrible, for as far as I knewthere was only the dead man and his stunned accomplice in the place.

  I mounted, and rode to the door of the courtyard: to right and left rana broad road. I did not know which way to turn, until I remembered thatGoltz had come from the right, so Ampletch must lie in that direction.Accordingly, I rode hard for some five minutes. Then a shout made melook round; two men were running towards me, they took me for Goltz,perhaps. I did not wait to undeceive them.

  A mile or so farther on I began to feel a little dizzy, and dismountedto get a drink of water from a brook that gurgled by the side of theroad. Near by the road curved, and as I knelt down a troop of horsemenswept round the corner. They were cavalry, and at their head rodeWoolgast.

  I burst into a fit of laughter, it must have been rather hysterical, andthe next moment his arms were round me and the taste of raw brandybetween my lips.

  The troops were thunder-struck at sight of me, and I saw some of themfeeling their swords, as though they hoped that they would soon becalled upon to use them. The brandy worked wonders, and I said toWoolgast:

  "General, there is a house a little way in that direction, with a lightin the second story. Search the house, you will find a man dead thereand one stunned beneath a bed; secure him and all papers to be foundthere. A few minutes ago, there were armed men searching for me,somewhere along the road; capture them, dead or alive."

  He gave the orders, and the troops trotted past with many an anxiousglance in my direction.

  Woolgast, with two troopers, remained behind. He looked at meinquiringly.

  "Your Majesty can ride?"

  "Of course; I am all right now, if you will give me my horse."

  The animal had strayed a little down the road. The trooper went to bringhim back, and it was at that moment that Woolgast noticed blood upon hisglove.

  "My God!"

  "It is not mine," I said, and he heaved a sigh of relief.

  "What were you doing along this road, General?"

  "It was reported that Goltz had been seen at Ampletch last evening--hehad been spying at Zarlon--I thought that I might obtain news of him."

  "Goltz is dead, I shot him half an hour ago."

  He gave a great cry of astonishment, and would have asked me when, how,and where, had not the etiquette of Court prevented him. So I told himas rapidly as possible what had occurred.

  His wrath was wonderful.

  "Now," I said when I had finished, "we will ride back, or rather youwill, for I wish you to take charge of the papers yourself; there may besome of importance, I do not know. I shall ride on to the _GoldenHorn_, and you can report there."

  "And these troopers, your Majesty will take them?"

  "No, I will ride alone, let them keep silent about this meeting."

  There were few people in the streets as I rode through them, and it waswith considerable difficulty that I procured an ostler to take my horseat the inn. He was too sleepy-headed to notice anything awry with me,and I made my way to Mr. Neville's room.

  He was evidently still asleep, for I had to knock three times before adrowsy voice asked what I wanted; but, as soon as he recognised myvoice, he was wide awake, and the door was opened in a twinkling.

  "What is it, Victor? My God, what has happened?"

  I pushed him into the room and closed the door. Then when he was in hisbed again, I sat on the foot of it, and related what had happened to mein those few hours, since we had said good night.

  I had barely finished, or rather Mr. Neville had not ceased his fire ofquestions, when Woolgast rode up to the inn with his escort.

  Even now, when I recall the host's face as he ushered the General in, Icannot help smiling. It was the picture of blank and despairingastonishment. The thought that he had had the King under his roof, andhad not paid him special attention, appalled him. He did not know thatafterwards, when I had time to think, I blessed his thick head; for hadhe kept watch and guard over me, as he would have done, had he known me,I had never been able to frustrate Goltz.

  Luck had been mine all through my life, and it had not deserted me whenI needed it. I was grateful.

  Woolgast's report was succinct: one man was alive, the other two hadshown fight. Enough said. The fellow under the bed was a prisoner. Allpapers were in his possession. The house was in charge of an officerand half a dozen men.

  "You have said nothing to the host, General?"

  "Nothing, your Majesty."

  "Good! Tell your men to say as little as possible; I do not wish it tobecome widely known, at any rate at present. You will breakfast withme, and we will ride to Karena afterwards, or, better still, return bytrain. Your prisoners must be taken to Karena. What officer is therebelow?"

  "Captain von Riech, your Majesty."

  "Tell him that I place the two in his charge, they are not to be allowedto speak or see anyone except the jailers. We will breakfast in my roomin three-quarters of an hour."