Chapter X
It was indeed a busy time in Rudarlia. Ivan’s death seemed to have awakened her. From Melanov to Soctia, from Ruln to the farthest western point of the kingdom, there was bustling activity. What had to be done, was done, and thoroughly. All classes seemed to vie with each other in the efforts they made to bring order out of chaos. Everywhere could be seen the signs of reviving desire to live, and live well. No longer were there dozens of farms unoccupied; instead, they rang with the sounds of work, the voices of children, of men and women, who with cheerful faces went about their daily toil, thankful that the burden had been lifted from their lives.
And in the towns it was the same story.
Now, besides the gigantic tasks of granting a constitution and reorganising the army, the other public services had to be overhauled, especially the railways and roads. By the aid of money, much was done to improve both, and also extend them. As if by magic, roads were made connecting village to village and village to town.
The Minister of War had a word to say about the railways; and more than one military council was called to decide upon the advisability of laying this or that piece of line.
The railways in Rudarlia were state owned. I am not altogether in favour of this, but in our case, I insisted upon all the employés being men who had served their country in a military capacity, and the railroads would thus be in the hands of men who were used to the operations of military movements.
Another reason I had for complying with state ownership was that, in such a country as Rudarlia, depending as it did upon the agriculturists, to a very large extent, the rate for carrying freight would be controlled 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 bear the burden than that the producers should be handicapped, as farmers have already, in most climates, to fight against nature.
It was fortunate for me that I was possessed of a fine constitution, and was physically strong, for the strain was great. I was working from morning until late at night.
My Ministers, older men than I by many years, frankly confessed that they could not keep pace with me. Personally, I fancy that I must have been a little mad, so eaten up was I with the desire to improve Rudarlia, and then still improve. I gloried in the success which our efforts met with.
Mr. Neville, who had brought my mother back to Karena, warned me time and again not to overdo it, but in spite of all his good advice I persisted, and luckily did not break down.
My old tutor was of the greatest service to me. I had given him a suite of rooms in the Palace, and he was ever near me when I wanted him, which was 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 with Bornia, so that he could get leave and join us. I knew that he would have to dodge the authorities at home, somehow; but I gave him my promise to cable the one word “Now” when I was certain that war was inevitable.
It was now nearly two years since I became King, and so far we had managed to avoid any serious rupture with our neighbour; but that it was near, I was convinced. We had added continually to our stores of every kind. We had a large reserve of ammunition, small arms, and medical stores, 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, that Rudarlia was ready for whatever happened; that is, as far as a nation can be prepared. It depends so much upon what is willed—destiny, or God’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, and swept away, even if the national life must end, the individual element remains, so that every man, be he king or peasant, must profit by straining every particle of energy for his nation and, in so doing, the sacrifice he makes will strengthen himself.
I had heard again from Prince Alexis, a threatening letter, full of cunning malice and blackmail. I sent him a few thousands, for I was not quite ready to refuse him.
It was after this that I took a holiday—one week. Perhaps it was not the kind to appeal to every one, but to me it was a needful change from the routine of statecraft. I went walking with Mr. Neville. I should think 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 the praises heaped upon my head. We were generally taken for a pair of Englishmen on tour. We talked with every one, as on our first visit to Rudarlia. One day we visited Melanov, with two objects: to see Colonel von Quarovitch, and hear news of Piotr. I knew that the former would know me for his King, for he must have seen pictures of me, and heard enough to connect me as King with his visitor, whom he no doubt had thought 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. I gave him two or three minutes and then went in.
The news of my arrival had evidently come as a great surprise, for he was still seated staring at Mr. Neville when I entered. He sprang to his 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 my hand.
His emotion was so great that for a moment or two I turned away; for the sight of a strong man trying to restrain his emotion is a terrible thing.
I do not think there was the proper ceremony between us; in fact, on second thoughts, I am sure there was not. We were far more like two friends than King and subject. His delight over events was extreme; and when I told him, as a secret, of certain plans, certain fortifications, I really thought he was becoming crazy with joy. He swore like a trooper, then apologised with the grace of a courtier, and swore again.
He laughed gleefully at thoughts of war—I believe fighting was like wine to him—and gave me minute accounts of his expenditure of the money I 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, from the oily host who had introduced him to our notice. It appeared that he was back upon his farm, doing well. So there for the present we left him, undisturbed; but I retained the half of the broken coin which he had given me, and did not forget his promises.
I enjoyed the first six days of that holiday immensely; but, on the seventh, something happened, which I only enjoyed afterwards.
From Melanov we had walked round to Ampletch, from where we intended to return to Karena. We did not enter the town, but put up for the night in an inn upon the outskirts, a very respectable place, standing a little 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 by itself in one corner near a window.
I did not observe the other diners; but recollected afterwards that one of them left the room immediately we entered, and I observed that his dinner was uneaten. I thought no more about him. He, however, had remembered something I had almost forgotten.
It was not long after that Mr. Neville and I sought our beds, for we were both tired.
I must be forgiven if I cannot describe my awakening, but my mind refuses to recall my thoughts. I know, however, that I realised that my head ached consumedly, that I was in a different room from the one in which 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 head towards it. A man was busy writing at a table. The light fell upon his face, 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. In France?—Italy?—Russia? No. I pondered and worried, then like a flash it came to me: Baron von Goltz! My mind seemed to clear, I understood the unpleasantness of my position. I felt the rope cut into my arms as I tried to burst myself free. Some noise I made must have roused the man’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 had written, and enclosing it in an envelope placed it in his pocket. He rose from his chair, shook himself, and walked over to the bed on which I was lying. He was laughing to himself, as he stood looking down at me. 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 the fellow 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 the Prince, even a dog should not snap at the hand that feeds him.” I saw him wince at this, so I continued, “I suppose this is the work of your master, isn’t it?”
“No, it is entirely my own.”
“H’m! it is pretty low, even for you; but may I trouble you for some water? 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 felt something loosen; but I was once more rigid as he returned with the desired drink.
“No poison in it, is there?” I asked.
He drank some of the water before putting it to my lips, then with his arm round me he raised me enough to drink. He was quite tender, too, in his movements; and I felt inclined to laugh—the situation had its humours, in spite of its unpleasantness. I drank all the water there was 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 me and let me pass out.”
“It is extremely probable, no doubt, after the trouble I had in getting you here. You ought to be worth a great deal to me, for Alexis will not forget 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 blame you, 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 months or more; now it is our turn.”
“You have tied me up rather too tightly for comfort; if you would loosen the 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. Then again he left the room and again I had a good struggle with the ropes and felt them give a little more.
When, after a few minutes, he returned, he found me in the same position as when he had left me.
“Your Majesty must forgive me, but I am compelled to leave you for a little time; there is a certain letter to be posted which is too valuable to be let out of my hands. My servant will attend you while I am 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 you something to console you during my absence. I have discovered a new source of income to be paid me by Bornia; I have found out that there are minerals in this country of a very valuable nature, and those mines of yours— Ah! that interests you, does it? Clever chap you are, I suppose it was your idea. It’s almost a pity to spoil the scheme, but——” He shrugged his shoulders and turned away. At the door he paused. “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 my time, 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 a great sigh of relief, but I was only just in time. I do not to this day know 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 floor and sat up. Then I stood up, holding the ropes which had bound my arms as though they were still tied; my left hand, however, was loose and ready 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 his appearance. 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 with an appealing glance. He chuckled, and coming closer bent to see that my feet were still secured.
As he bent, my fist took him under the chin and he went down. The impetus of my blow took me forward and I landed somewhat heavily on top of him. Fearing that the fall would have been heard, I lay still listening; but no one came, so I pulled him towards me and secured the knife in his sash. With it, I cut the rope round my legs, and commenced rubbing them to restore the circulation. Then I searched the fellow and was rewarded by finding a revolver fully loaded in his pocket. It was transferred to mine.
I did not know how long he would remain unconscious, so I bound and gagged 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 dawn just enabling me to see the projecting roof over my head, and the paved courtyard beneath.
I refused to think of Goltz’s last remark. All I thought of was how to escape. 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 tore them in two, lengthways, knotted them together, and I had a rope. I then 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. I wished them to suppose that he had aided me to escape. I placed a chair with its back to the door tilted beneath the handle; and threw a hurried glance round and over the desk. All the papers save one seemed of little importance, the exception was a list of our supposed mines, with certain details of the artillery. I could have shouted with exultation as I placed it in my pocket. Then I fastened my improvised rope to the head of the bed, throwing the other end out of the window, and was just about to clamber over the window-sill—in fact, one leg was already out—when I heard the sound of a horse galloping. I slipped back into the 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 I heard him say:
“No, they don’t know he is gone. Keep him walking up and down; I shall want him again in twenty minutes or so.”
Now this remark upset all my plans, for it meant that my way of escape was cut off: I could not hope to swing on that rope and get past an armed man waiting below. So, instead, I crept under the bed, and lay there upon my back with every nerve on the strain, and with the revolver ready for instant use.
Waiting there was extremely trying; it was lucky that I did not have to wait for long. I had do push my stunned companion further under, as he was in the way; I hoped sincerely that he would not start groaning or struggling, and so give me away.
Some one turned the key in the lock, and tried the handle; then I heard a creaking noise, an oath, the sound of other voices and a crash—the door was open. I could imagine the look of blank astonishment on their faces when they saw the room apparently empty; and for a second there was silence. Then Goltz gave hurried orders, they were to search the roads and neighbourhood, I could not be far distant. There was a clatter of feet descending the stairs. Had they all gone? I almost betrayed myself: just as I was going to lift the blanket to peer out, some one ran 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 have gone far. I wonder if he searched the drawer——”
Cautiously I peeped out; his back was turned, so, carefully keeping him covered 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 quietly to 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 quickly and held his hands up. In one of them was a package of papers. His face had gone white, and his eyes glistened.
“Baron Goltz, you are a very dirty traitor, and as such I am going to shoot you. Have you anything to say?”
I had made up my mind, as he raised his hands, that it was in the interests of Rudarlia that he should die. The knowledge he had gained was of too great importance; and I alone could not hope to keep him prisoner.
“It will be murder, and useless,” he said.
“Hardly, but I will risk it, you are too big a scoundrel to go free from here.”
“It will be useless,” he repeated, “as I have sent to a friend the information 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 in Bornia. I alone can stop them being sent to the King; you have the upper hand of me here, so I will bargain if you like.”
“There is and can be no question of bargaining with a traitor like yourself; 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 to keep 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 not attacked me.
I took the package from his hands, slipped it into my pocket, and walked out.
I confess that I was trembling, for I had killed a man; and the experience was not to my liking, although it was good work having killed a traitor.
I crept cautiously down the stairs, the house seemed empty, but Goltz’s horse was tied to the door-knocker. He shied a little as I approached to unfasten him, perhaps it was the blood upon my coat; and I remember that the knocker on the door sounded horrible, for as far as I knew there 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 ran a broad road. I did not know which way to turn, until I remembered that Goltz had come from the right, so Ampletch must lie in that direction. Accordingly, I rode hard for some five minutes. Then a shout made me look 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 dismounted to get a drink of water from a brook that gurgled by the side of the road. Near by the road curved, and as I knelt down a troop of horsemen swept round the corner. They were cavalry, and at their head rode Woolgast.
I burst into a fit of laughter, it must have been rather hysterical, and the next moment his arms were round me and the taste of raw brandy between my lips.
The troops were thunder-struck at sight of me, and I saw some of them feeling their swords, as though they hoped that they would soon be called upon to use them. The brandy worked wonders, and I said to Woolgast:
“General, there is a house a little way in that direction, with a light in the second story. Search the house, you will find a man dead there and one stunned beneath a bed; secure him and all papers to be found there. 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 anxious glance in my direction.
Woolgast, with two troopers, remained behind. He looked at me inquiringly.
“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 bring him back, and it was at that moment that Woolgast noticed blood upon his glove.
“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—he had 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 him as rapidly as possible what had occurred.
His wrath was wonderful.
“Now,” I said when I had finished, “we will ride back, or rather you will, for I wish you to take charge of the papers yourself; there may be some of importance, I do not know. I shall ride on to the Golden Horn, 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 was with considerable difficulty that I procured an ostler to take my horse at 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 a drowsy voice asked what I wanted; but, as soon as he recognised my voice, 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 his bed again, I sat on the foot of it, and related what had happened to me in those few hours, since we had said good night.
I had barely finished, or rather Mr. Neville had not ceased his fire of questions, 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, I cannot help smiling. It was the picture of blank and despairing astonishment. The thought that he had had the King under his roof, and had not paid him special attention, appalled him. He did not know that afterwards, when I had time to think, I blessed his thick head; for had he 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 when I needed it. I was grateful.
Woolgast’s report was succinct: one man was alive, the other two had shown fight. Enough said. The fellow under the bed was a prisoner. All papers were in his possession. The house was in charge of an officer and 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 to become widely known, at any rate at present. You will breakfast with me, and we will ride to Karena afterwards, or, better still, return by train. Your prisoners must be taken to Karena. What officer is there below?”
“Captain von Riech, your Majesty.”
“Tell him that I place the two in his charge, they are not to be allowed to speak or see anyone except the jailers. We will breakfast in my room in three-quarters of an hour.”