The Sword Maker by Robert Barr

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"Do you hear that, Joseph?" Hilda called up to the man leaning over the
balcony.

The deposed one made a grimace, but no reply.

"Set your guard, and come down, Greusel."

Presently Greusel appeared in the courtyard, followed by four men.

"I have left two on guard," he said.

"Right. What have you done with the servants?"

"Tied them up in a hard knot. I found a loft full of ropes."

"Right again. Take your four men, and stand guard at the door. Send
Ebearhard to me."

Before Ebearhard arrived, Roland turned to the girl.

"Retire to your room," he said, "and bid your women gather together
whatever you wish to carry with you."

"I'd rather stay where I am," protested Hilda, "being anxious to hear
what your plans are. I confess I don't know how you can emerge from this
Castle in safety."

"Fraeulein Hilda, the first duty of a chief lieutenant is obedience."

"Refusing that, what will you do?"

"I shall call two of my men, cause you to be transported to your room,
and order them to see that you do not leave it again."

"Remaining here when you have departed?"

"That, of course."

"You will take the gold, however."

"Certainly; the gold obeys me; doing what I ask of it."

For a few moments the girl stood there, gazing defiance at him, but
although a slight smile hovered about his lips, she realized in some
subtle way--woman's intuition, perhaps--that he meant what he said. Her
eyes lowered, and an expression of pique came into her pretty face; then
she breathed a long sigh.

"I shall go to my room," she said very quietly.

"I will call upon you the moment I have given some instructions to my
third lieutenant."

"You need not trouble," she replied haughtily, speaking, however, as
mildly as himself. "I remain a prisoner of the Pfalzgraf von Stahleck,
who, though a distinguished pillager like yourself, nevertheless
possesses some instincts of a gentleman."

With that, the young woman retired slowly up the stairway, and
disappeared, followed by her two servants.

"Ebearhard," said Roland, when that official appeared, "Greusel has
discovered a window to the north through which yourself and a number of
your men can get down to the rocks with the aid of a cord, and he tells
me there is a loft full of ropes. A flotilla of boats is tied up at the
lower end of the Castle. He has visited the treasury, and finds it well
supplied with bags of coin. I intend to effect a junction between those
bags and that flotilla. Our position here is quite untenable, for there
is probably some secret entrance to this Castle that we know nothing of.
There are also a number of women within whom we cannot coerce, and must
not starve. Truth to tell, I fear them more than I do the ruffians
outside. Have any of the men-at-arms discovered that we pulled up the
ladder and closed the door?"

"I think not, for in such case they would return from their pillages as
quickly as did the Red Margrave when he found his house was ablaze. My
opinion is that they are making a clean job of looting the barge."

"If that is so, our barrels of gold are gone, rendering it the more
necessary that we should carry away every kreuzer our friend Stahleck
possesses. Call, therefore, every man except one from the door. Greusel
has the keys, and will lead you to the treasury. Hoist the bags to the
north window. While your men are doing this, rive a stout rope so that
you may all speedily descend to the rocks, except as many as are
necessary to lower the bags. When this is accomplished, Greusel is to
report to me from the balcony, and then descend, taking with him the man
on guard at the door. Apportion men and bags in all the boats but one.
That one I shall take charge of. Put Greusel in command of the flotilla,
and tell him to convey his fleet as quietly as possible to the eastern
shore; then paddle up in slack water until he is, say, a third of a
league above Pfalz. There he must await my skiff. You will stand by that
skiff until I join you. I shall likely be accompanied by three women, so
retain the largest and most comfortable of the small boats."

Ebearhard raised his eyebrows at the mention of the women, but said
nothing.

Roland went in person to the room occupied by the young woman, and
knocked at her door, whereupon it was opened very promptly.

"Madam," he said, "there is opportunity for escape if you care to avail
yourself of it."

The girl had been seated when he entered, but now she rose, speaking in
a voice that was rather tremulous.

"Sir, I was wrong to disobey you when you had treated me so kindly. I
shall therefore punish myself by remaining where I am."

"In that case, Madam, you will punish me as well; and, indeed, I deserve
it, forgetting as I did for the moment that I addressed a lady. If you
will give me the pleasure of escorting you, I shall conduct you in
safety to whatever place of refuge you wish to reach."

"Sir, you are most courteous, but I fear my intended destination might
take you farther afield than would be convenient for you."

"My time is my own, and nothing could afford me greater gratification
than the assurance of your security. Tell me your destination."

"It is the Convent of Nonnenwerth, situated on an island larger than
this, near Rolandseck."

"I shall be happy to convoy you thither."

"Again I thank you. It is my desire to join the Sisterhood there."

"Not to become a nun?" cried Roland, an intonation of disappointment in
his voice.

"Yes; although to this determination my guardian is opposed."

"Alas," said Roland, with a sigh, "I confess myself in agreement with
him so far as your taking the veil is concerned. Still, imprisonment
seems an unduly harsh alternative."

The girl's seriousness fled, and she smiled at him.

"As you have had some experience of my obstinacy, and proposed an even
harsher remedy than that--"

"Ah, you forget," interrupted Roland, "that I apologized for my lack of
manners. I hope during our journey to Nonnenwerth I may earn complete
forgiveness."

"Oh, you are forgiven already, which is magnanimous of me, when you
recollect that the fault was wholly my own. I will join you in the
courtyard at once if I may."

"Very well. I shall be down there after I have given final instructions
to my men."

Roland arrived at the north window, and saw that the flotilla had
already departed. He could discern Ebearhard standing with his hand on
the prow of the remaining boat, so pulled up the rope, untied it from
the ring to which it was fastened, and threw it down to his lieutenant.

"A rope is always useful," he whispered, "and we will puzzle the good
Pfalzgraf regarding our exit."

In the courtyard he found the three women awaiting him. Quietly he drew
back the heavy bolts, and undid the stout chains. Holding the door
slightly ajar, he peered out at the scene on the landing, brightly
illuminated by numerous torches which the servants held aloft.

The men-at-arms were enjoying themselves hugely, and the great heap of
bales already on the rocks showed that they resolved not to leave even
one package on the barge. The fact that they stood in the light
prevented their seeing the exit of the quartette from the Castle, even
had any been on the outlook.

Roland swung the door wide, placed the ladder in exactly the same
position it had formerly occupied, assisted the three women to the
ground, and then led them round the western side of the Castle through
the darkness to Ebearhard and his skiff. Dipping their paddles with
great caution, they kept well out of the torchlight radius.

As they left the shadow of the Castle, and came within sight of the
party on the landing, they were somewhat startled by a lusty cheer.

"Ah," said Ebearhard, "they have discovered our barrels of gold."

"'Tis very likely," replied Roland.

"Still," added Ebearhard consolingly, "I think we have made a good
exchange. There appears to be more money in Stahleck's bags than in our
two barrels."

"By the Three Kings!" cried Roland, staring upstream, "the barge is
getting away. They have looted her completely, and are giving her a
parting salute. The robbers evidently bear no malice against our popular
captain. Hear them inviting him to call again!"

They listened to the rattle of the big chain. It was more amenable than
that at Furstenberg, confirming Roland in his belief that Stahleck was
the inventor of the device. They saw half a dozen men paying out a rope,
while the first section of the chain sank, leaving a passage-way for the
barge. Silhouetted against the torchlight, the boatmen were getting
ready with their sweeps, prepared to dip them into the water as soon as
the vessel got clear of the rocky island.

"We will paddle alongside before they begin to row," said Roland; and
Captain Blumenfels was gently hailed from the river, much to his
astonishment.

"Make for the eastern bank, captain," whispered Roland, "and keep a
lookout ahead for a number of small boats like this."

Presently, rowing up the river strenuously, close to the shore, the
barge came upon the flotilla. Here Roland bade Hilda remain where she
was, and leaving Ebearhard in charge of the skiff, he clambered up on
the barge, ordering Greusel to range his boats alongside and fling
aboard the treasure.

"Well, captain, did his Excellency of Pfalz leave you anything at all?"

"Not a rag," replied the captain. "The barge is empty as a drum."

"In that case there is nothing for it but a speedy return to Frankfort.
I do not regret the cloth, which has been paid for over and over again,
but I am mercenary enough to grudge Stahleck our two barrels of gold."

"Oh, as to the gold," replied the captain gravely, "I took the liberty
of reversing your plan at Lorch."

"What plan?"

"Your honor poured gold into wine barrels, but I poured the red wine of
Lorch into the gold barrels, and threw the empty cask overboard. Perhaps
you know that the Pfalzgraf grows excellent white wine round his Castle
of Stahleck, and despises the red wine of Lorch and Assmannshausen. He
tasted the wine, which had not been improved by being poured into the
dirty gold barrels, spat it out with an oath, and said we were welcome
to keep it. He has also promised to send me a cask of good white wine to
Frankfort."

"Captain, despite your quiet, unassuming manner, you are the most
ingenious of men."

"Indeed, I but copied your honor's ingenuity."

"However it happened, you saved the gold, and that action alone will
make a rich man of you, for you must accept my third share of the
money."

By this time the bags had been heaved aboard. Greusel followed them, and
stood ready to receive further orders.

"You will all make for Frankfort," said Roland, "keeping close as
possible to this side of the river. No man is to be allowed ashore until
you reach the capital. Captain, are there provisions enough aboard for
the voyage?"

"Yes, your honor."

"Very well. Put every available person at the oars, and get past
Furstenberg before daybreak. My men, who have not had an opportunity to
distinguish themselves as warriors, will take their turn at the sweeps.
You and Ebearhard," he continued, turning to Greusel, "will employ the
time in counting the money and making a fair division. With regard to
the two barrels, the captain will receive my third share, and also be
one of us in the apportionment of the gold we secured to-night. It was
through his thoughtfulness that the barrels were saved. Whatever portion
you find me entitled to, place in the keeping of the merchant, Herr
Goebel. And now I shall tie four bags to my belt for emergencies."

"Are you not coming with us, Roland?" asked Greusel anxiously.

"No. Urgent business requires my presence in the neighborhood of Bonn,
but I shall meet you in the Kaiser cellar before a month is out."

Saying this, he shook hands with the captain and Greusel, and descended
into the small boat, bidding farewell to Ebearhard.

"Urge them," were his last words, "to get well out of sight of Pfalz and
Furstenberg before the day breaks, and as for the small boats, turn them
loose; present them as a peace-offering to the Rhine."

In the darkness Prince Roland allowed his frail barque to float down the
stream, using his paddle merely to keep it toward the east, so to avoid
the chain. He found himself accompanied by a silent, spectral fleet; the
empty boats that his men had sent adrift. To all appearance the little
squadron lay motionless, while the dim Castle of Pfalz, with its score
of pointed turrets piercing a less dark sky, seemed like a great ship
moving slowly up the Rhine. When it had disappeared to the south, Roland
ventured to speak, in a low voice.

"Madam," he said, "tell your women so to arrange what extra apparel you
have brought to form a couch, where you may recline, and sleep for the
rest of the night."

"Captain Roland," she replied, her gentle little laugh floating with so
musical a cadence athwart the waters that he found himself regretting
such a sweet voice should be kept from the world by the unappreciative
walls of a convent,--"Captain Roland, I was never more awake than I am
at this moment. Life has somehow become unexpectedly interesting. I
experience the deliciously guilty feeling of belonging to a stealthy
society of banditti. Do not, I beg of you, deprive me of that pleasure
by asking me to sleep."

"In the morning, Madam, there will be little opportunity for rest. We
must put all the distance we can between ourselves and the Pfalzgraf
von Stahleck. I expect you to ride far and fast to-morrow."

"Do you intend, then, to abandon this boat?"

"I must, Madam. The river has been long so empty that this flotilla,
which I cannot shake off, being unaccustomed to oars or paddle, will
attract attention from both sides of the Rhine, and when the darkness
lifts we are almost certain to be stopped. The boats will be recognized
as belonging to the Pfalzgraf, and I wish to sever all connection
between this night's work and my own future."

"What, then, do you propose?"

"As soon as day breaks we will come to land, and allow our boat to float
away with the rest. Can you walk?"

"I love walking," cried the girl with enthusiasm. "I ask your pity for
myself, immured in that windowless dungeon, situated on a tiny point of
rock; I, who have roamed the hills and explored the valleys of my own
land on foot, breathing the air of freedom with delight. Let me,
therefore, I beg of you, remain awake that I may taste the pleasure of
anticipation in my thoughts; or is such a wish disobedience on the part
of your first lieutenant? I do not mean it so, and will quietly cry
myself to sleep if you insist."

"Indeed, Hilda," said Roland, laughing, and abandoning the more formal
title of "madam," "I am no such tyrant as you suppose. Besides, your
office of first lieutenant has lapsed, because our men have all gone
south, while we travel north."

"Then may I talk with you?"

"Nothing would please me better. I was thinking of your own welfare, and
not of my desire, when I counseled slumber."

"Oh, I assure you I slept very well during the first part of the night,
for, there being nothing else to do, I went to bed early, and was quite
unconscious until the dreadful ringing of that alarm bell, which set the
whole Castle astir."

"Why were you imprisoned?"

"Because--because," she replied haltingly, "I had chosen the religious
life, the which my guardian opposed. He appeared to think that some
experience of the rigors of the convent might make me less eager to
immure myself in a nunnery, which, like Pfalz Castle, is also on a
restricted island."

"Then his remedy has proved unavailing?"

"Quite. The Sisters will be very good to me, for I shall enrich their
convent with my wealth. 'Twill be vastly different from incarceration in
Pfalz."

"Hilda, I doubt that. Captivity is captivity, under whatever name you
term it. I cannot understand why one who spoke so enthusiastically just
now of hills and valleys and liberty should take the irrevocable step
which you propose; a step that will rob you forever of those joys."

The girl remained silent, and he went on, speaking earnestly:

"I think in one respect you are like myself. You love the murmur of the
trees, and the song of the running stream."

"I do, I do," she whispered, as if to herself.

"The air that blows around the mountain-top inspires you, and you cannot
view the hills on the horizon without wishing to explore them, and learn
what is on the other side."

There was light enough for him to see that the girl's head sank into her
open hand.

"You, I take it, have never been restricted by discipline."

Her head came up quickly.

"You think that because of what I said in the courtyard?"

"No; my mind was running towards the future rather than to the past. The
rigor of strict rules would prove as irksome to you as would a cage to a
free bird of the forest."

"I fear you are in the right," she said with a sigh; and then,
impatiently, "Oh, you do not understand the situation, and I cannot
explain! The convent is merely a retreat for me; the lesser of two evils
presented."

"You spoke of your land. Where is that land?"

"Do you know Schloss Sayn?" she asked.

"Sayn? Sayn?" he repeated. "Where have I heard that name before, and
recently too? I thought I knew every castle on the Rhine, but I do not
remember Sayn."

The girl laughed.

"You will find no fellow-craftsman there, Pirate Roland, if ever you
visit it. The Schloss is not on the Rhine, and, perhaps on that account,
rather than because of its owner's honesty, is free from the taint you
suggest. It stands high in the valley of the Saynbach, more than half a
league from this river."

"Ah, that accounts for my ignorance. I never saw Sayn Castle, although I
seem to have heard of it. Are you its owner?"

"Yes; I told you I was wealthy."

"Where is the Schloss situated?"

"Below Coblentz, on the eastern side of the river."

"Then why not let me take you there instead of to the convent?"

"Willingly, if you had brought your barge-load of armed men, but in Sayn
Castle I am helpless, commanding a peaceful retinue of servants who,
although devoted to me, are useless when it comes to defense."

"I cannot account for it," said Roland in meditative tone, "but the
thought of that convent becomes more and more distasteful. You will be
free of your guardian, no doubt, but you merely exchange one whom you
know for another whom you don't, and that other a member of your own
sex."

"Do you disparage my sex, then?"

"No; but I cannot imagine any man being discourteous to you. Surely
every gentleman with a sword by his side should spring at once to your
defense."

The girl laughed.

"Ah, Captain Roland, you are very young, and, I fear, inexperienced,
despite your filibustering. However, this lovely, still, summer night,
with its warm, velvety darkness, was made for pleasant thoughts. Enough
about myself. Let me hear something of you. Did you come up the river or
down, with your barge?"

"We came down."

"How long since you adopted a career of crime? You do not seem to be a
hardened villain."

"Believe me," protested Roland earnestly, "I am not, and I do not admit
that my career is one of crime."

"Indeed," said the girl, laughing again, "I am not so gullible as you
think. I could almost fancy that you were the incendiary of Furstenberg
Castle."

"What!" exclaimed Roland in consternation. "How came you to learn of its
destruction?"

"There!" cried the girl gleefully, "you have all but confessed. You are
as startled as if I had said: 'I arrest you in the name of the
Emperor!'"

"Who told you that Furstenberg Castle was burned?" demanded the young
man sternly.

"Yesterday morning there came swiftly down the river, with no less than
twelve oarsmen, a long, thin boat, traveling like the wind. It did not
pause at Pfalz, but the man standing in the stern hailed the Castle, and
shouted to the Pfalzgraf that Furstenberg had been burned by the outlaws
of the Hunsruck. He was on his way to Bonn to inform the Archbishop of
Cologne, and he carried also Imperial news for his Lordship: tidings
that the Emperor is dead."

"Dead!" breathed Roland in horror, scarcely above his breath. "The
Emperor dead! I wonder if that can be true."

"Little matter whether it is true or no," said the girl indifferently.
"He doubtless passed away in a drunken sleep, and I am told his drunken
son will be elected in his place."

"Madam!" said Roland harshly, awakened from his stupor by her words, "I
must inform your ignorance that the Emperor's son is not a drunkard,
and, indeed, scarcely touches wine at all, being a most strenuous
opposer to its misuse. How can one so fair, and, as I believed, so
honest, repeat such unfounded slander?"

"Are you a partisan of his?"

"I come from Frankfort; have seen the Prince, and know I speak the
truth."

"Ah, well," replied the girl lightly, "you and I will not quarrel over
his Highness. I accept your amendment, and will never more bear false
witness against him. After all, it makes slight difference one way or
the other. An Emperor goes, and an Emperor is elected in his place as
powerless as his predecessor. 'Tis the Archbishops who rule."

"You seem well versed in politics, Madam."

The girl leaned forward to him.

"Do not 'madam' me, I beg of you, Roland. I dare say rumor has
prejudiced me against the young man, but I have promised not to speak
slightingly of him again. I wish this veil of darkness was lifted, that
I might see your face, to note the effect of anger. Do you know, I am
disappointed in you, Roland? You spoke in such level tones in the
courtyard that I thought anger was foreign to your nature."

"I am not angry," said Roland gruffly, "but I detest malicious gossip."

"Oh, so do I, so do I! I spoke thoughtlessly. I will kneel to the new
Emperor and beg his pardon, if you insist."

Roland remained silent, and for a time they floated thus down the river,
she trailing her fingers in the water, which made a pleasant ripple
against them, looking up at him now and then. Perceptibly the darkness
was thinning. One seemed to smell morning in the air. A bird piped
dreamily in the forest at intervals, as if only half-awakened. The two
women reclining in the prow were sound asleep.

Roland picked up the paddle, and with a strong, sweeping stroke turned
the head of the boat towards the land. Now she could see his lowering
brow, and if the sight pleased her, 'twas not manifested in her next
remark.

She took her hand from the water, drew herself up proudly, and said:

"I shall not apologize to you again, and I hate your blameless Prince!"

"Madam, I ask for no apology, and whether you hate or like the Prince
matters nothing to me, or, I dare say, to him, either."

"Cannot you even allow a woman her privilege of the last word?" she
cried indignantly.

Roland's brow cleared, and a smile came to his lips, as he remained
silent, thus bestowing upon her the prerogative she seemed to crave.
Hilda lay back in the prow of the boat between her sleeping women, with
hands clasped behind her head, and her eyes closed. More and more the
light increased, and sturdily with his paddle Roland propelled the boat
towards the shore, bringing it alongside the low bank at last. He sprang
out on the turf, and with the paddle in one hand held the boat to land
with the other.

"We are now," he said, "a short distance above St. Goarhausen, where I
hope to purchase horses. Will you kindly disembark?"

The girl, without moving, or opening her eyes, said quietly:

"Please throw the paddle into the boat again. I shall make for
Nonnenwerth in this craft, which is more comfortable than a saddle."

The paddle came rattling down upon the bottom of the skiff. Roland
stooped, and before she knew what he was about, took Hilda in his arms,
lifted her ashore, and laid her carefully on the grass.

"Come," he cried to the newly-awakened serving-women, "tumble out of
that without further delay," and they obeyed him in haste.

He stepped into the skiff, flung their belongings on the sward, turned
the prow to the west, and, leaping ashore, bestowed a kick upon the boat
that impelled it like an arrow far out into the stream.

Hilda was standing on her feet now, speechless with indignation.

"Come along," urged Roland cheerfully, "breakfast awaits us when we earn
it;" but seeing that she made no move, the frown furrowed his brow
again.

"Madam," he said, "I tell you frankly that to be thwarted by petulance
annoys me. It happens that time is of the utmost importance until we are
much farther from Pfalz. If you think that the ownership of wealth and a
castle gives you the right to flout a plain, ordinary man, you take a
mistaken view of things. I care nothing for your castle, or for your
wealth. You may be a lady of title for aught I know, but even that does
not impress me. We must not stand here like two quarrelsome children. I
will conduct you to the Adler Inn at St. Goarhausen, where I know from
experience you will be taken care of. I shall then purchase four horses,
and return to the inn after you have breakfasted. Three of these horses
are at your disposal, also the fourth and myself, if you will condescend
to make use of us. If not, I shall ask you to accept what money you need
for your journey, so that you may travel north unmolested, while I take
my way in the other direction."

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