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"My castle, Anton," whispered Grigosie. "It was I who told them that it stood here." "They liked not your claiming it so." "They will forgive much to my youth, even if I am put to cooking and bedmaking to-night as punishment," laughed the boy. "You shall be snug, Anton, and know that the gods are with us."
"She went willingly," Stefan murmured, lingering behind 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 woman." Although only a few moments had elapsed, Ellerey was already throwing down the barricade at the door in the lower chamber of the tower.
Ellerey lay in a half-reclining position, his feet stretched toward the blaze; and at some little distance on the opposite side the men were sitting in a circle playing cards, Grigosie and Anton standing beside them, looking on. "There, boy, what did I tell you?" he heard Stefan say as he turned to Grigosie. "A woman again plays me false, and it's the queen of hearts, too." The boy laughed.
We must understand how our enemy is going to conduct this siege before we calculate our chances. What ammunition have we?" It was little enough that the four of them could display. If every cartridge accounted for a man, small damage would be done to their foes. "I flung a belt of cartridges in a corner of the tower before we left," said Grigosie. They all turned to look at him.
"Careful in front, lad," Stefan called out to Grigosie, who led the way. "Keep sharp eyes, the plateau may be occupied." The boy nodded, but he had been looking out keenly before the soldier's warning, leading his horse in such a manner as to cover himself as much as possible. The precaution proved unnecessary; the castle was empty. Stefan was right.
Several times this was repeated in different places in the darkness, the point of light gleaming for a moment only and then suddenly going out. "They have followed us, Captain, and by morning will have climbed high enough to command this position." "When did you first see the lights, Grigosie?" "Not ten minutes ago." "Get to the gate at the top of the zig-zag pass quickly! I will call the others."
The foremost of the troop reined in their horses sharply at the unexpected flight of the rocket, causing some confusion among those behind. Then came a quick command from an officer which was half lost in the great shout which rent the air on every side "For Grigosie! Grigosie!"
It's deep potations that give a man breadth sometimes, and his habit of growling strange oaths that gets him credit for valor." Grigosie plied him with questions, and heard many a strange tale of fighting in which Stefan had done marvellous things. "Is there no reward for bravery in Wallaria?" said Grigosie at last. "How is it that no great distinction has come to you?"
Grigosie lapsed into silence, and then after a while he said suddenly: "Some day I hope to be an honored soldier like you are, Captain." "Wish better things for yourself, Grigosie." "Are you not honored, then?" "Enough to be given a dangerous post." "And to receive good reward if you succeed.
The track lay between the lower hills and the main mountain range, and they had lost sight of the open country, which lay below them. It was late in the afternoon of the second day that they crossed a spur which jutted out toward the plain, and from its vantage ground Grigosie was the first to point out the head of the pass, a precipitous opening in the mountains to their left.
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