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Updated: June 6, 2025
A rope hung around his neck, the end of which was attached to the saddle-bow of an Uhlan. But what made Jack's heart fairly leap into his mouth was to see Siurd von Steyr suddenly wheel in his saddle and lash the woman across the face with his doubled bridle. She cringed and fell to her knees, screaming and seizing his stirrup. "Get out, damn you!" roared Von Steyr. "Here I'll settle this now.
The troopers, helpless, gnashing their teeth, shook their long lances towards the sky, where the moon was breaking from the banked clouds, and the looming balloon hung black above the forest, drifting slowly westward. And now Von Steyr had a weapon in his hands not a carbine, but a long chassepot-rifle, a relic of the despoiled franc-tireur, dangling from the oak-tree.
He was in their midst now, shouldered and shoved across the grass; their hot breath fell on his face, their hands crushed his arms, bent back his elbows, pushed him forward, faster, faster, towards the tree where that thing hung, turning slowly as a squid spins on a swivel. It was the grating of the rope on his throat that crushed the first cry out of him: "Von Steyr, shoot me!
"Your Lieutenant von Steyr is a dirty butcher," he said. "I hope you'll finish him when you find him." "He fired explosive bullets, which your franc-tireurs use on us," retorted Rickerl, growing red. "Oh," cried Jack in disgust, "the whole business makes me sick! Ricky, give me your hand there! Don't let this war end our friendship. Go to your Uhlans now. As for me, I must get back to Morteyn.
"This is not the place nor is this the time to judge your prisoners," said Rickerl, pushing his horse up to Von Steyr and scowling down into his face. "Who called this drum-head court? Is that your province? Oh, in my absence? Well, then, I am here! Do you see me?" The insult fell like the sting of a lash across Von Steyr's face.
There they were, a group of Uhlans standing near two men who stood facing each other, jackets off, shirts open to the throat. The two men were Rickerl and Von Steyr. Rickerl rolled up his white shirt-sleeve and tucked the cuff into the folds, his naked sabre under his arm. Von Steyr, in shirt, riding-breeches, and boots, stood with one leg crossed before the other, leaning on his bared sabre.
Rickerl burst out violently. "There can be no compromise no adjustment. Is it Lieutenant von Steyr who seeks it? Then I tell him he is a hangman and a coward! He hangs a franc-tireur who fires on us with explosive bullets, but he himself does not hesitate to disgrace his uniform and regiment by firing explosive bullets at an escaping wretch in a balloon!"
On one side were the fragments of a map in water-colour; on the other, written in German script, he read "Siurd von Steyr." "It's enough," said Jack; "what a plucky girl you are, anyway!" "I? You don't think so! do you?" "You are the bravest, sweetest " "Dear me! You must not say that! You are sadly uneducated, and I see I must take you under my control at once. Man is born to obey!
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