United States or Fiji ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
To tell you the truth, I feel surprisingly fit. How's the prisoner?" "Only a flesh wound in the calf of his left leg, sire," replied Butzow. "I am glad," was Barney's only comment. He didn't want to be king of Lutha; but he had foreseen that with the death of the king his imposture might be forced upon him for life.
The interne had told them that when he had reached the scene of the conflict in company with the gardener he had found them and another lying upon the sward. Their companion, he said, was quite dead. "That must have been Stein," said Butzow. "And the others had escaped with the king!" "The king?" cried the interne. "Yes, the king, man Leopold of Lutha.
And such proved to be the case, for try as they would they found it impossible to reach Lustadt without detection by the brigands who patrolled every highway and byway from their rugged mountains to the capital of Lutha.
And so it happened that shortly thereafter Captain Ernst Maenck, in command of a troop of the Royal Horse Guards of Lutha, set out toward the Old Forest, which lies beyond the mountains that are visible upon the other side of the plain stretching out before Lustadt.
Yet how would they fight to which side would they cleave, were he to attempt to frustrate the design of the Regent to seize the throne of Lutha? Already Peter of Blentz had approached the bishop, who, eager to propitiate whoever seemed most likely to become king, gave the signal for the procession that was to mark the solemn bearing of the crown of Lutha up the aisle to the chancel.
Then his eyes sought the face of the king, searching for the signs of nervous terror that would make his conquest an easy one; but what he saw in the eyes that bored straight into his brought his own to the floor at the king's feet. What new force animated Leopold of Lutha? Those were not the eyes of a coward. No fear was reflected in their steely glitter.
"The days of treason are now past, prince," replied Butzow meaningly. "Here is not treason, but Leopold of Lutha come to claim his crown which he inherited from his father." "It is a plot," cried Peter, "to place an impostor upon the throne! This man is not the king." For a moment there was silence. The people had not taken sides as yet. They awaited a leader.
They brought you to my shop, which is the first on the road into town, and not guessing your true identity they took my word for it that you were an old acquaintance of mine and without more ado turned you over to my care." Barney scratched his head in puzzled bewilderment. He began to doubt if he were in truth himself, or, after all, Leopold of Lutha.
No man in Lutha believes that he would permit you to have any intercourse with Peter. I have brought from Blentz an invitation to your majesty to honor the Blentz prince with your presence as a guest for the ensuing week. Accept it, your majesty.
Once again Barney Custer, of Beatrice, rode into Lustadt as king of Lutha. The few people upon the streets turned to look at him as he passed, but there was little demonstration of love or enthusiasm. Leopold had awakened no emotions of this sort in the hearts of his subjects.
Word Of The Day