returned by twos and threes. Apparently they had not wandered so far as
the waterfall, for no one said anything of the amazing view of the
Rhine. Indeed, it was plain that they considered themselves involved in
a boundless wilderness, and were too perplexed to suggest a way out.
After a storm of malediction over the breakfastless state of things, and
a good deal of quarreling among themselves anent who had been most
greedy the night before, they now turned their attention to the silent
men who were watching them.
"Where's Roland?" they demanded.
"I don't know," replied Greusel.
"Didn't he tell you where he was going?"
"We have not seen him this morning," explained Ebearhard gently. "He
seems to have disappeared in the night. Perhaps he fell into the stream.
Perhaps, on the other hand, he has deliberately deserted us. He gave us
no hint of his intentions last night, and we are as ignorant as
yourselves regarding his whereabouts."
"This is outrageous!" cried Kurzbold. "It is the duty of a leader to
provide for his following."
"Yes; if the following follows."
"We have followed," said Kurzbold indignantly, "and have been led into
this desert, not in the least knowing where in Heaven's name we are. And
now to be left like this, breakfastless, thirsty--" Here Kurzbold's
language failed him, and he drew the back of his hand across parched
lips.
"When you remember, gentlemen," continued Ebearhard, in accents of
honey, "that your last dealings with your leader took place with
eighteen swords drawn; when you recollect that you expressed your
determination to rob him, and when you call to mind that you brave
eighteen threatened him with personal violence if he resisted this
brigandage on your part, I cannot understand why you should be surprised
at his withdrawal from your fellowship."
"Oh, you always were a glib talker, but the question now is what are we
to do?"
"Yes, and that is a question for you to decide," said Ebearhard. "When
you mutinied last night, you practically deposed Roland from the
leadership. To my mind, he had no further obligations towards you, so,
having roughly taken the power into your own hands, it is for you to
deal with it as you think best. I should never so far forget myself as
to venture even a suggestion."
"As I hinted to you," said Kurzbold, "you are talking too much. You are
merely one of ourselves, although you have kept yourself separate from
us. Greusel has been appointed lieutenant by our unanimous vote, and if
his chief proves a poltroon, he is the man to act. Therefore, Joseph
Greusel, I ask on behalf of the company what you intend to do?"
"Before I can answer that question," replied Greusel, "I must know
whether or not you will act as you did yesterday?"
"What do you mean by that?" Several, speaking together, put the
question.
"I wish to know whether you will follow cheerfully and without demur
where I lead? I refuse to act as guide if I run the risk of finding
eighteen sword-points at my throat when I have done my best."
"Oh, you talk like a fool," commented Kurzbold. "We followed Roland
faithfully enough until he brought us into this impasse. You make
entirely too much of last night's episode. None of us intended to hurt
him, as you are very well aware, and besides, we don't want a leader who
is frightened, and runs away at the first sign of danger."
"Make up your minds what you propose to do," said Greusel stubbornly,
"and give me your decision; then you will receive mine."
Greusel saw that although Kurzbold talked like the bully he was, the
others were rather subdued, and no voice but his was raised in defense
of their previous conduct.
"There is one thing you must tell us before we can come to a decision,"
went on Kurzbold. "How much money have you and Ebearhard?"
"At midday yesterday I had thirty thalers, and Ebearhard had
twenty-five. While you were all sleeping on the grass, after our meal at
Breckenheim, Roland asked us for the money."
"You surely were not such idiots as to give it to him?"
"He was our commander, and we both considered it right to do what he
asked of us."
"He said," put in Ebearhard, "that your suggestion about a finance
committee was a good one, and that he had determined to be that
committee. He asked us if any of you had money, but I told him I thought
it was all spent, which probably accounts for his restricting the
application to us two."
"Then we are here in an unknown wilderness, twenty men, hungry, and
without a florin amongst us," wailed Kurzbold, and the comments of those
behind him were painful to hear.
"I am glad that at last you thoroughly appreciate our situation, and I
hope that in addition you realize it has been brought about not through
any fault of Roland's, who gave in to your whims and childishness until
you came to the point of murder and robbery. Therefore blame yourselves
and not him. You now know as much of our position as I do, so make up
your minds about the next step, and inform me what conclusion you come
to."
"You're a mighty courageous leader," cried Kurzbold scornfully, and with
this the hungry ones retired some distance into the grove, from whence
echoes of an angry debate came to the two men who sat by the margin of
the stream. After a time they strode forward again. Once more Kurzbold
was the spokesman.
"We have determined to return to Frankfort."
"Very good."
"I suppose you remember enough of the way to lead us at least as far as
Wiesbaden. Beyond that point we can look to ourselves."
"I should be delighted," said Greusel, "to be your guide, but
unfortunately I am traveling in the other direction with Ebearhard."
"Why, in the name of starvation?" roared Kurzbold. "You know no more of
the country ahead of us than we do. By going back we can get something
to eat, and a drink, at one of the farmhouses we passed this side of
Sonnenberg."
"How?" inquired Greusel.
"Why, if they ask for payment we will give them iron instead of silver.
No man need starve with a sword by his side."
"Granted that this is feasible, and that the farmers yield instead of
raising the country-side against you, when you reach Frankfort what are
you going to do? Eat and drink with the landlord of the Rheingold until
he becomes bankrupt? You must remember that it was Roland who liquidated
our last debt there, without asking or receiving a word of thanks, and
he did that not a moment too soon, for the landlord was at the end of
his resources and would have closed his tavern within another week."
Kurzbold stormed at this harping on the subject of Roland and his
generosity, but those with him were hungry, and they now remembered, too
late, that what Greusel said was strictly true. If Roland had put in an
appearance then, he would have found a most docile company to lead. They
were actually murmuring against Kurzbold, and blaming him and his clan
for the disaster that had overtaken them.
"Why will you not come back with us?" pleaded the penitents, with
surprising mildness.
"Because the future in Frankfort strikes me as hopeless. Not one amongst
us has the brains of Roland, whom we have thrown out. Besides, it is
nine and a half long leagues to Frankfort, and only three and a half
leagues to Assmannshausen. I expect to find Roland there, and although I
know nothing of his intentions, I imagine he has gone to enlist a
company of a score or thereabouts that will obey his commands. There is
some hope by going forward to Assmannshausen; there is absolutely none
in retreating to Frankfort. Then, as I said, Assmannshausen is little
more than three leagues away; a fact worth consideration by hungry men.
On the Rhine we are in the rich wine country, where there is plenty to
eat and drink, probably for the asking, whereas if we turn our faces
towards the east we are marching upon starvation."
The buzz of comment aroused by this speech proved to the two men that
Kurzbold stood once more alone. Greusel, without seeming to care which
way the cat jumped, had induced that unreasoning animal to leap as he
liked. His air of supreme indifference aroused Ebearhard's admiration,
especially when he remembered that under his cloak there rested a
hundred and fifteen thalers in gold and silver.
"But you know nothing of the way," protested Kurzbold. "None of us are
acquainted with the country to the west."
"We don't need to be acquainted with it," said Greusel. "We steer
westward by glancing at the sun now and then, and cannot go astray,
because we must come to the Rhine; then it's either up or down the
river, as the case may be, to reach Assmannshausen."
"To the Rhine! To the Rhine!" was now the universal cry.
"Before we begin our journey," said Greusel, as if he accepted the
leadership with reluctance, "I must have your promise that you will obey
me without question. I am not so patient a man as Roland, but on my part
I guarantee you an excellent meal and good wine as soon as we reach
Assmannshausen."
"How can you promise that," growled Kurzbold, "when you have given away
your money?"
"Because, as I told you, I expect to meet Roland there."
"But he threw away his bag."
"Yes; I told him it was a foolish thing to do, and perhaps that is why
he left without saying a word, even to me. He is an ingenious man.
Assmannshausen is familiar to him, and I dare say he would not have
discarded his money without knowing where to get more."
"To the Rhine! To the Rhine! To the Rhine!" cried the impatient host,
gathering up their cloaks, and tightening their belts, as the savage
does when he is hungry.
"To the Rhine, then," said Greusel, springing across the little stream
in company with Ebearhard.
"You did that very well, Greusel," complimented the latter.
"I would rather have gone alone with you," replied the new leader, "for
I have condemned myself to wear this heavy cloak, which is all very well
to sleep in, but burdensome under a hot sun."
"The sun won't be so oppressive," predicted his friend, "while we keep
to the forest."
"That is very true, but remember we are somewhere in the Rheingau, and
that we must come out into the vineyards by and by."
"Don't grumble, Greusel, but hold up your head as a great diplomatist.
Roland himself could not have managed these chaps so well, you flaunting
hypocrite, the only capitalist amongst us, yet talking as if you were a
monk sworn to eternal poverty."
Greusel changed the subject.
"Do you notice," he said, "that we are following some sort of path,
which we must have trodden last evening, without seeing it in the dusk."
"I imagine," said Ebearhard, "that Roland knew very well where he was
going. He strode along ahead of us as if sure of his ground. I don't
doubt but this will lead us to Assmannshausen."
Which, it may be remarked, it did not. The path was little more than a
trail, which a sharp-eyed man might follow, and it led up-hill and down
dale direct to the Archbishop's Castle of Ehrenfels.
The forest lasted for a distance that the men in front estimated to be
about two leagues, then they emerged into open country, and saw the
welcome vines growing. Climbing out of the valley, they observed to the
right, near the top of a hill, a small hamlet, which had the effect of
instantaneously raising the spirits of the woebegone company.
"Hooray for breakfast!" they shouted, and had it not been for their own
fatigue, and the steepness of the hill, they would have broken into a
run.
"Halt!" cried Greusel sternly, standing before and above them. At once
they obeyed the word of command, which caused Ebearhard to smile.
"You will climb to the top of this hill," said Greusel, "and there rest
under command of my lieutenant, Ebearhard. As we now emerge into
civilization, I warn you that if we are to obtain breakfast it must be
by persuasion, and not by force. Therefore, while you wait on the
hilltop, I shall go alone into the houses on the right, and see what can
be done towards providing a meal for eighteen men. Ebearhard and I will
fast until we reach Assmannshausen. On the other hand, you should be
prepared for disappointment; loaves of bread are not to be picked up on
the point of a sword. If I return and order you to march on unfed, you
must do so as cheerfully as you can."
This ultimatum called forth not a word of opposition, and Ebearhard led
the van while Greusel deflected up the hill to his right, the sooner to
reach the village.
He learned that the name of the place was Anton-Kap; that the route he
had been following would take him to Ehrenfels, and that he must adopt a
reasonably rough mountain-road to the right in order to reach
Assmannshausen.
By somewhat straining the resources of the place, which proved to
possess no inn, he collected bread enough for the eighteen, and there
was no dearth of wine, although it proved a coarse drink that reflected
little credit on the reputation of the Rheingau. He paid for this meal
in advance, saying that they were all in a hurry to reach
Assmannshausen, and wished to leave as soon as the frugal breakfast was
consumed.
Mounting a small elevation to the west of the village, he signaled to
the patient men to come on, which they lost no time in doing. The bread
was eaten and the wine drunk without a word being said by any one. And
now they took their way down the hill again, crossed the little
Geisenheim stream, and up once more, traversing a high table-land giving
them a view of the Rhine, finally descending through another valley,
which led them into Assmannshausen, celebrated for its red wine, a color
they had not yet met with.
Assmannshausen proved to be a city as compared with the hamlets they had
passed, yet was small enough to make a thorough search of the place a
matter that consumed neither much effort nor time. Greusel led his men
to a _Weinstaube_ a short distance out of the village, and, to their
delight, succeeded in establishing a credit for them to the extent of
one liter of wine each, with a substantial meal of meat, eggs, and
what-not. Greusel and Ebearhard left them there in the height of great
enjoyment, all the more delightful after the hunger and fatigue they had
encountered, for the three and a half leagues had proved almost without
a single stretch of level land. The two officers inquired for Roland,
without success, at the various houses of entertainment which
Assmannshausen boasted, then canvassed every home in the village, but no
one had seen anything of the man they described.
Coming out to the river front, deeply discouraged, the two gazed across
the empty water, from which all enlivening traffic had departed. It was
now evident to both that Roland had not entered Assmannshausen, for in
so small and gossipy a hamlet no stranger could even have passed through
without being observed.
"Well, Joseph," asked Ebearhard, "what do you intend to do?"
"There is nothing to do but to wait until our money is gone. It is
absolutely certain that Roland is not here. Can it be possible that
after all he returned?"
"How could he have done so? We know him to have been without money;
therefore why to Frankfort, even if such a trip were possible for a
penniless man?"
"I am sorry now," said Greusel despondently, "that I did not follow a
suggestion that occurred to me, which was to take the men direct down
the valley where we encamped, to the banks of the Rhine, and there make
inquiries."
"You think he went that way?"
"I did, until you persuaded me out of it."
"Again I ask what could be his object?"
"It seems to me that this mutiny made a greater impression on his mind
than I had supposed. After all, he is not one of us, and never has been.
You yourself pointed that out when we were talking of him at
Breckenheim. If you caught glances of contempt for us while we were all
one jolly family in the Kaiser cellar, what must be his loathing for the
guild after such a day as yesterday?"
"That's true. You must travel with a man before you learn his real
character."
"Meaning Roland?"
"Meaning this crew, guzzling up at the tavern. Meaning you, meaning me;
yes, and meaning Roland also. I never knew until yesterday and to-day
what a capable fellow you were, and when I remember that I nominated
Kurzbold for our leader before Roland appeared on the scene, I am amazed
at my lack of judgment of men. As for Roland himself, my opinion of him
has fallen. Nothing could have persuaded me that he would desert us all
without a word of explanation, no matter what happened. My predictions
regarding his conduct are evidently wrong. What do you think has
actually occurred?"
"It's my opinion that the more he thought over the mutiny, the angrier
he became; a cold, stubborn anger, not vocal at all, as Kurzbold's would
be. I think that after fastening the money to my belt he went down the
valley to the Rhine. He knows the country, you must remember. He would
then either wait there until the barge appeared, or more likely would
proceed up along the margin of the river, and hail the boat when it came
in sight. The captain would recognize him, and turn in, and we know the
captain is under his command. At this moment they are doubtless poling
slowly up the Rhine to the Main again, and will thus reach Frankfort.
Herr Goebel has confidence in Roland, otherwise he would never have
risked so much on his bare word. He will confess to his financier that
he has been mistaken in us, and doubtless tell him all that happened,
and the merchant will appreciate that, even though he has lost his five
hundred thalers, Roland would not permit him to lose his goods as well."
"Do you suppose Roland will enlist another company?"
"It is very likely, for Herr Goebel trusts him, and, goodness knows,
there are enough unemployed men in Frankfort for Roland to select a
better score than we have proved to be."
It was quite certain that Roland was not in Assmannshausen, yet Greusel
was a prophet as false as Ebearhard.
IX
A SOLEMN PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE
When Roland wrapped his cloak about him, and lay down on the sward at
some distance from the spot where his officers already slept, he found
that he could not follow their example. Although, he had remained
outwardly calm when the attack was made upon him, his mind was greatly
perturbed over the outlook. He reviewed his own conduct, wondering
whether it would be possible for him so to amend it that he could
acquire the respect and maintain the obedience of his men. If he could
not accomplish this, then was his plan foredoomed to failure. His
cogitations drove away sleep, and he called to mind the last occasion on
which he made this same spot his bedroom. Then he had slumbered
dreamlessly the night through. He was on the direct trail between
Ehrenfels Castle and the town of Wiesbaden, the route over which
supplies had been carried to the Castle time and again when the
periodical barges from Mayence failed to arrive. It had been pointed out
to him by the custodian of the Castle when the young man first became
irked by the confined limits of the Schloss, and frequently since that
time he had made his way through the forest to Wiesbaden and back.
Never before had he seen the little Walluf so boisterous, pretending
that it was important, and he quite rightly surmised that the cause was
a sudden downpour in the mountains farther east. The distant mutterings
of thunder having long since ceased, he recognized that the volume of
the stream was constantly lessening. As the brook gradually subsided to
its customary level, the forest became more and more silent. The greater
his endeavor to sleep, the less dormant Roland felt, and all his senses
seemed unduly quickened by this ineffectual beckoning to somnolence. He
judged by the position of the stars, as he lay on his back, that it was
past midnight, when suddenly he became aware of a noise to the west of
him, on the other side of the brook. Sitting up, and listening intently,
he suspected, from the rustle of the underbrush, that some one was
following the trail, and would presently come upon his sleeping men.
He rose stealthily, unsheathed his sword, leaped across the rivulet, and
proceeded with caution up the acclivity, keeping on the trail as best he
could in the darkness. He was determined to learn the business of the
wayfarer, without disturbing his men, so crept rapidly up the hill.
Presently he saw the glimmer of a light, and conjectured that some one
was coming impetuously down, guided by a lanthorn swinging in his hand.
Roland stood on guard with sword extended straight in front of him, and
the oncomer's breast was almost at the point of it when he hauled
himself up with a sudden cry of dismay, as the lanthorn revealed an
armed man holding the path.
"I have no money," were the first words of the stranger.
"Little matter for that," replied Roland. "'Tis information I wish, not
gear. Why are you speeding through the forest at night, for no sane man
traverses this path in the darkness?"
"I could not wait for daylight," said the stranger, breathing heavily.
"I carry a message of the greatest importance. Do not delay me, I beg of
you. I travel on affairs of State; Imperial matters, and it is necessary
I should reach Frankfort in time, or heads may fall."
"So serious as that?" asked Roland, lowering the point of his sword, for
he saw the messenger was unarmed. "Whom do you seek?"
"That I dare not tell you. The message concerns those of the highest,
and I am pledged to secrecy. Be assured, sir, that I speak the truth."
"Your voice sounds honest. Hold up the lanthorn at arm's length, that I
may learn if your face corresponds with it. Ha, that is most
satisfactory! And now, my hurrying youth, will you reveal your mission,
or shall I be compelled to run my sword through your body?"
"You would not learn it even then," gasped the young man, shrinking
still farther up the hill.
Roland laughed.
"That is true enough," he said, "therefore shall I not impale you, but
will instead relate to you the secret you carry. You are making not for
Frankfort--"
"I assure you, sir, by the sacred Word, that I am, and grieve my oath
does not allow me to do your bidding, even though you would kill me,
which is easily done, since I am unarmed."
"You pass through Frankfort, I doubt not, but your goal is a certain
small room in the neighboring suburb of Sachsenhausen, and he whom you
seek is a youth of about your own age, named Roland. You travel on the
behest of your father, who was much agonized in mind when you left him,
and he, I take it, is custodian of Ehrenfels Castle."
"In God's name!" cried the youth, aghast, "how did you guess all that?"
Again Roland laughed quietly.
"Why, Heinrich," he said, "your agitation causes you to forget old
friends. Hold up your lanthorn again, and learn whether or not you
recognize me, as I recognized you."
"Heaven be praised! Prince Roland!"
"Yes; your journey is at an end, my good Heinrich, thank the fortune
that kept me awake this night. Do you know why you are sent on this long
and breathless journey?"
"Yes, Highness. There has come to the Castle from the Archbishop of
Mayence a lengthy document for you to sign, and you are informed that
the day after to-morrow their Lordships of Mayence, Treves, and Cologne,
meet together at the Castle to hold some conversation with you."
"By my sword, then, Heinrich, had you found me in Sachsenhausen we had
never attained Ehrenfels in time."
"I think I could have accomplished it," replied the young man. "I should
have reached Wiesbaden before daybreak, and there bought the fastest
horse that could be found. My father told me to time myself, and if by
securing another horse at Frankfort for you I could not make the return
journey speedily enough, I was to engage a boat with twenty rowers, if
necessary, and convey you to Ehrenfels before the Archbishops arrived."
"Then, Heinrich, you must have deluded me when you said you had no
money."
"No, Highness, I have none, but I carry an order for plenty upon a
merchant in Wiesbaden, who would also supply me with a horse."
"Heinrich, there are many stars burning above us to-night, and I have
been watching them, but your star must be blazing the brightest of all.
Sit you down and rest until I return. Make no noise, for there are
twenty others asleep by the stream. My cloak is at the bottom of the
hill, and I must fetch it. I shall be with you shortly, so keep your
candle alight, that I may not miss you."