and yourself, in addition to whatever you may receive from Herr Goebel.
The other you will hand to the custodian of Ehrenfels Castle, saying it
came from his friend Roland, and is recompense for the money he lent the
other day. That will be an effective letter of introduction to him. Say
that I ask him to send his son with you as guide through the forest to
Wiesbaden; and so good-night and good luck to you."
It was long after midnight when the guild came roystering up the bank of
the Rhine to the barge. The moon had risen, and gave them sufficient
light to steer a reasonably straight course without danger of falling
into the water. Ebearhard was with them, but Greusel walked rapidly
ahead, so that he might say a few words to his chief before the others
arrived.
"I succeeded in preventing their talking with any stranger, but they
have taken aboard enough wine to make them very difficult and rather
quarrelsome if thwarted. When I proposed that they should leave the
counting until to-morrow morning they first became suspicious, and then
resented the imputation that they were not in fit condition for such a
task. I recommend, therefore, that you allow them to divide the money
to-night. It will allay their fear that some trick is to be played upon
them, and if you hint at intoxication, they are likely to get out of
hand. As it does not matter when the money is distributed, I counsel you
to humor them to-night, and postpone reasoning until to-morrow."
"I'll think about it," said Roland.
"They have bought several casks of wine, and are taking turns in
carrying them. Will you allow this wine to come aboard, even if you
determine to throw it into the water to-morrow?"
"Oh, yes," said Roland, with a shrug of the shoulders. "Coax them into
the cabin as quietly as possible, and keep them there if you can, for
should they get on deck, we shall lose some of them in the river."
Greusel turned back to meet the bellowing mob, while Roland roused the
captain and his men.
"Get ready," he said to Blumenfels, "and the moment I raise my hand,
shove off. Make for this side of the larger island, and come to rest
there for the remainder of the night. Command your rowers to put their
whole force into the sweeps."
This was done accordingly, and well done, as was the captain's custom.
The late moon threw a ghostly light over the scene, and the barren
island proved deserted and forbidding, as the crew tied up the barge
alongside. Most of the lights in Lorch had gone out, and the town lay in
the silence of pallid moonbeams like a city of the dead. Roland stood on
deck with Greusel and Ebearhard by his side, the latter relating the
difficulties of the evening. There had been singing in the cabin during
the passage across, then came a lull in the roar from below, followed by
a shout that betokened danger. An instant later the crowd came boiling
up the short stair to the deck, Kurzbold in command, all swords drawn,
and glistening in the moonlight.
"You scoundrel!" he cried to Roland, "those lockers are full of empty
bags."
"I know that," replied Roland, quietly. "The money is in safe keeping,
and will be honestly divided at the conclusion of this expedition."
"You thief! You robber!" shouted Kurzbold, flourishing his weapon.
"Quite accurate," replied Roland, unperturbed. "I was once called a
Prince of Thieves when I did not deserve the title. Now I have earned
it."
"You have earned the penalty of thieving, and we propose to throw you
into the Rhine."
"Not, I trust, before you learn where the money is deposited."
Drunk as they were, this consideration staggered them, but Kurzbold was
mad with rage and wine.
"Come on, you poltroons!" he shouted. "There are only three of them."
"Draw your swords, gentlemen," whispered Roland, flashing his own blade
in the moonlight.
Greusel and Ebearhard obeyed his command.
XII
THE LAUGHING RED MARGRAVE OF FURSTENBERG
Ebearhard laughed, and took two steps forward. Whenever affairs became
serious, one could always depend on a laugh from Ebearhard.
"Excuse me, Commander," he said, "but you placed Greusel and me in
charge of this pious and sober party; therefore I, being the least of
your officers, must stand the first brunt of our failure to keep these
lambs peaceable for the night. Greusel, stand behind me, and in front of
the Commander. I, being reasonably sober, believe I can cut down six of
the innocents before they finish with me. You will attend to the next
six, leaving exactly half a dozen for Roland to eliminate in his own
fashion. Now, Herr Conrad Kurzbold, come on."
"We have no quarrel with you," said Kurzbold. "Stand aside."
"But I force a quarrel upon you, undisciplined pig. Defend yourself,
for, by the Three Kings, I am going to tap your walking wine-barrel!"
Kurzbold, however, retreating with more haste than caution, one or two
behind him were sent sprawling, and the half-dozen which were Roland's
portion tumbled over one another down the steep ladder into the cabin.
Ebearhard laughed again when the last man disappeared.
"I think," he said to Roland, "that you will meet no further trouble
from our friends. They evidently broke open the lockers, alarmed because
Greusel and I asked for a postponement of the counting, probably
intending to make the division without our assistance."
"Have you hidden the money?" asked Greusel.
"Not exactly," replied Roland; "but, in case anything should happen to
me, I will tell you what I have done with it."
When he finished his recital, he added:
"I will give each of you a letter to Herr Goebel, identifying you. He is
entitled to four thousand five hundred thalers of the money. The balance
you will divide among those of us who survive."
Roland slept on deck, wrapped in his cloak. His two lieutenants took
turn in keeping watch, but nothing except snores came up from the cabin.
The mutineers were not examples of early rising next morning. The sun
gave promise of another warm day, and Roland walked up and down the
deck, anxiety printed on his brow. He had made up his mind to knock at
the door of the Laughing Baron, a giant in stature, reported to be the
most ingenious, most cruel, and bravest of all the robber noblemen of
the Rhine, whose Castle was notoriously the hardest nut to crack along
the banks of that famous river. For several reasons it would not be wise
to linger much longer in the neighborhood of Lorch. The three castles
they had entered the day before were still visible on the western bank.
News of the raid would undoubtedly travel to Furstenberg, also within
sight down the river, and thus the hilarious Margrave would be put on
his guard, overjoyed at the opportunity of trapping the moral marauders.
Furstenberg was also a fief of Cologne, and any molestation of it would
involve the meddler, if identified, in complications with the Church and
the Archbishop.
It was necessary, therefore, to move with caution, and to retreat, if
possible, unobserved. These difficulties alone were enough to give pause
to the most intrepid, but Roland was further handicapped by his own
following. How could he hope to accomplish any subtle movement requiring
silence, prompt obedience, and great alertness, supported by men whose
brains were muddled with drink, and whose conduct was saturated with
conspiracy against him? They had wine enough on board to continue their
orgy, and he was quite unable to prevent their carouse. With a deep sigh
he realized that he would be compelled to forego Furstenberg, and thus
leave behind him a virgin citadel, which he knew was bad tactics from a
military point of view.
During his meditations his men were coming up from the fuming cabin into
the fresh air and the sunlight. They appeared by twos and threes,
yawning and rubbing their eyes, but no one ventured to interrupt the
leader as, with bent head, he paced back and forth on the deck. The men,
indeed, seemed exceedingly subdued. They passed with almost overdone
nonchalance from the boat to the island, and sauntered towards its lower
end, from which, in the clear morning air, the grim fortress of
Furstenberg could be plainly discerned diagonally across the river. It
was Ebearhard who broke in upon Roland's reverie.
"Our friends appear very quiet this morning, but I observe they have all
happened to coincide upon the northern part of the island as a
rendezvous for their before-breakfast walk. I surmise they are holding a
formal meeting of the guild, but neither Greusel nor I have been
invited, so I suppose that after last night's display we two are no
longer considered their brethren. This meekness on their part seems to
me more dangerous than last night's flurry. I think they will demand
from you a knowledge of what has been done with the gold. Have you
decided upon your answer?"
"Yes; it is their right to know, so I shall tell them the truth. By this
time Kruger is on his way somewhere between Ehrenfels and Wiesbaden. He
will reach Frankfort to-night, and cannot be overtaken."
"Is there not danger that they will desert in a body, return to
Frankfort, and demand from Herr Goebel their share of the spoil?"
"No matter for that," returned Roland. "Goebel will not part with a
florin except under security of such letters as I purpose giving you and
Greusel, and even then only when you have proven to him that I am dead."
"That is all very well," demurred Ebearhard, "but don't you see what a
dangerous power you put into the hands of the rebels? Goebel is merely a
merchant, and, though rich, politically powerless. He has already come
into conflict with the authorities, and spent a term in prison. Do not
forget that the Archbishops have refused to take action against these
robber Barons. Our men, if there happen to be one of brains among them,
can easily terrify Goebel into parting with the treasure by threatening
to confess their own and his complicity in the raids. Consider what an
excellent case they can put forward, stating quite truly that they
joined this expedition in ignorance of its purport, but on the very
first day, learning what was afoot, they deserted their criminal leader,
and are now endeavoring to make restitution. Goebel is helpless. If he
says that they first demanded the gold from him, they as strenuously
deny it, and their denial must be believed, because they come of their
own free-will to the authorities. The merchant, already tainted with
treason, having suffered imprisonment, and narrowly escaped hanging,
proves on investigation to be up to the neck in this affair. There is no
difficulty in learning that his barge went down the river, manned by a
crew of his own choosing. Of course, it need never come to this, because
Goebel, being a shrewd man, could at once see in what jeopardy he stood,
and convinced from the men's own story that they were part, at least, of
your contingent, would deliver up the treasure to them. Don't you see he
must do so to save his own neck?"
Roland pondered deeply on what had been said to him, but for the moment
made no reply. Greusel, who joined them during the conversation,
remaining silent until Ebearhard had finished, now spoke:
"I quite agree with all that has been said."
"What, then, would you advise me to do?" asked Roland.
"I have been talking with one or two of the men," said Greusel. "(They
won't speak to Ebearhard because he drew his sword on them.) I find they
believe you took advantage of their absence to bury the gold in what you
suppose to be a safe place. They are sure you are acquainted with no one
in Lorch to whom you could safely entrust it, and of course do not
suspect an emissary from Frankfort. I should advise you to say that
arrangements have been made for every man to get his share so long as
nothing untoward happens to you. This will preserve your life should
they go so far as to threaten it, and compel them to stay on with us.
After all, we are merely artisans, and not fighting men. I am convinced
that if ever we are really attacked, we shall make a very poor showing,
even though we carry swords. Remember how the men tumbled over one
another in their haste to get out of reach when Ebearhard flourished his
blade."
"I think Greusel's suggestion is an excellent one," put in Ebearhard.
"Very well," said Roland, "I shall adopt it, although I had made up my
mind fully to enlighten them."
"There is one more matter that I should like to speak to you about,"
continued Ebearhard. "Both at Assmannshausen, and at Lorch last night,
we heard a good deal anent Furstenberg. It is the most dangerous castle
on the Rhine to meddle with. The Laughing Baron, as they call him,
although he is a Margrave, is the only man who dared to stop a king on
his way down the Rhine, and hold him for ransom."
"Yes," said Roland; "Adolf of Nassau, on his way to be crowned at
Aix-la-Chapelle."
"Quite so. Well, this huge ruffian--I never can remember his name; can
you, Greusel?"
"No, it beats me."
"Margrave Hermann von Katznellenbogenstahleck," said Roland, so solemnly
that Ebearhard laughed and even Greusel smiled.
"That's the individual," agreed Ebearhard, "and you must admit the name
itself is a formidable thing to attack, even without the giant it
belongs to."
"Banish all apprehension," said Roland. "I have already decided to
remain here through the day, and drop quietly down the river to-night in
the darkness past Furstenberg."
"I think that is a wise decision," said Ebearhard.
"'Tis against all military rules," demurred Roland, "but nevertheless
with such an army as I lead it seems the only way. Do the men know that
Furstenberg is our point of greatest danger?"
"Yes; but they do not know so much as I. Last night I left them in
Greusel's charge, being alarmed about what I heard of Furstenberg, and
engaged a boatman to take me over there before the moon rose. I
discovered that the Laughing Baron has caused a chain to be buoyed up
just below the surface of the water, running diagonally up the river
more than half-way across it, so that any boat coming down is caught and
drawn into the landing, for the main flood of the Rhine, as you know,
runs to the westward of this island. The boatman who ferried me knew
about this chain, but thought it had been abandoned since traffic
stopped. He says it runs right up into the Castle, and the moment a
barge strikes against it, a big bell is automatically rung inside the
stronghold, causing the Baron to laugh so loudly that they sometimes
hear him over in Lorch."
"This is very interesting, Ebearhard, and an excellent feat of scouting
must be set down to your credit. Say nothing to the men, because,
although we give Furstenberg the go-by on this occasion, I shall pay my
respects to Herman von Katznellenbogenstahleck on my return, and the
knowledge you bring me will prove useful."
"Ha!" cried Greusel, "here are our infants returning, all in a body,
Kurzbold at their head as usual. I imagine this morning they are going
to depend on rhetoric, and allow their swords to remain in scabbard.
They have evidently come to some momentous decision."
The three retired to the prow of the boat as the guild clambored on at
the stern. The captain and two of his men had taken the skiff belonging
to the barge, and were absent at Lorch, purchasing provisions. Roland
stood at the prow of the barge, slightly in advance of his two
lieutenants, and awaited the approach of Kurzbold, with seventeen men
behind him.
"Commander," said the spokesman, with nothing of the late truculence in
his tone, "we have just held a meeting of the guild, and unanimously
agreed to ask you one question, and offer you one suggestion."
"I shall be pleased," replied Roland, "to answer the first if I think it
desirable, and take the second into consideration."
He inclined his head to the delegation, and received a low bow in
return. This was a most auspicious beginning, showing a certain
improvement of method on the part of the majority.
"The question is, Commander, what have you done with the gold we
captured yesterday?"
"A very proper inquiry," replied Roland, "that it gives me much pleasure
to answer. I have placed the money in a custody which I believe to be
absolute, arranging that if nothing happens to me, this money shall be
properly divided in my presence."
"Do you deny, sir, that the money belongs to us?"
"Part of it undoubtedly does, but I, as leader of the expedition, am
morally, if not legally, responsible to you all for its safe keeping.
Our barge has stopped three times so far, and Captain Blumenfels tells
me that he has had no real violence to complain of, but as we progress
farther down the river, we are bound to encounter some Baron who is not
so punctilious; for instance, the Margrave von Katznellenbogenstahleck,
whose stronghold you doubtless saw from the latest meeting-place of the
guild. Such a man as the Margrave is certain to do what you yourselves
did without hesitation last night, that is, break open the lockers, and
if gold were there you may depend it would not long remain in our
possession after the discovery."
"You miss, or rather, evade the point, Commander. Is the gold ours, or
is it yours?"
"I have admitted that part of it is yours."
"Then by what right do you assert the power to deal with it, lacking our
consent? If you will pardon me for saying so, you, the youngest of our
company, treat the rest of us as though we were children."
"If I possessed a child that acted at once so obstreperously and in so
cowardly a manner as you did last night, I should cut a stick from the
forest here, and thrash him with such severity that he would never
forget it. As I have not done this to you, I deny that I treat you like
children. The truth is that, although the youngest, I am your commander.
We are engaged in acts of war, therefore military law prevails, and not
the code of Justinian. It is my duty to protect your treasure and my
own, and ensure that each man shall receive his share. After the
division you may do what you please with the money, for you will then be
under the common law, and I should not presume even to advise concerning
its disposal."
"You refuse to tell us, then, what you have done with the gold?"
"I do. Now proceed with your suggestion."
"I fear I put the case too mildly when I called it a suggestion,
considering the unsatisfactory nature of your reply to my question,
therefore I withdraw the word 'suggestion,' and substitute the word
'command.'"
Kurzbold paused, to give his ultimatum the greater force. Behind him
rose a murmur of approval.
"Words do not matter in the least. I deal with deeds. Out, then, with
your command!" cried Roland, for the first time exhibiting impatience.
"The command unanimously adopted is this: the Castle of Furstenberg must
be left alone. We know more of that Castle than you do, especially about
its owner and his garrison. We have been gathering information as we
journeyed, and have not remained sulking in the barge."
"Well, that is encouraging news to hear," said Roland. "I thought you
were engaged in sampling wine."
"You hear the command. Will you obey?"
"I will not," said Roland decisively.
Ebearhard took a step forward to the side of his chief, and glanced at
him reproachfully. Greusel remained where he was, but neither man spoke.
"You intend to attack Furstenberg?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"This afternoon."
Kurzbold turned to his following:
"Brethren," he said, "you have heard this conversation, and it needs no
comment from me."
Apparently the discussion was to receive no comment from the others
either. They stood there glum and disconcerted, as if the trend of
affairs had taken an unexpected turn.
"I think," said one, "we had better retire and consult again."
This was unanimously agreed to, and once more they disembarked upon the
island, and moved forward to their Witenagemot. Still Greusel and
Ebearhard said nothing, but watched the men disappear through the trees.
Roland looked at one after another with a smile.
"I see," he said, "that you disapprove of my conduct."
Greusel remained silent, but Ebearhard laughed and spoke.
"You came deliberately to the conclusion that it was unwise to attack
Furstenberg. Now, because of Kurzbold's lack of courtesy, you deflect
from your own mature judgment, and hastily jump into a course opposite
to that which you marked out for yourself after sober, unbiased
thought."
"My dear Ebearhard, the duty of a commander is to give, and not to
receive, commands."
"Quite so. Command and suggestion are merely words, as you yourself
pointed out, saying that they did not matter."
"In that, Ebearhard, I was wrong. Words do matter, although Kurzbold
wasn't clever enough to correct me. For example, I hold no man in higher
esteem than yourself, yet you might use words that would cause me
instantly to draw my sword upon you, and fight until one or other of us
succumbed."
Ebearhard laughed.
"You put it very flatteringly, Roland. Truth is, you'd fight till I
succumbed, my swordsmanship being no match for yours. I shall say the
words, however, that will cause you to draw your sword, and they are:
Commander, I will stand by you whatever you do."
"And I," said Greusel curtly.
Roland shook hands in turn with the two men.
"Right," he cried. "If we are fated to go down, we will fall with
banners flying."
After a time the captain returned with his supplies, but still the
majority of the guild remained engaged in deliberation. Evidently
discussion was not proceeding with that unanimity which Kurzbold always
insisted was the case.
At noon Roland requested the captain to send some of his men with a meal
for those in prolonged session, and also to carry them a cask which had
been half-emptied either that morning or the night before.
"They will enjoy a picnic under the trees by the margin of the river,"
said Roland, as he and his two backers sat down in the empty cabin to
their own repast.
"Do you think they are purposely delaying, so that you cannot cross over
this afternoon?"
"'Tis very likely," said Roland. "I'll wait here until the sun sets, and
then when they realize that I am about to leave them on an uninhabited
island, without anything to eat, I think you will see them scramble
aboard."
"But suppose they don't," suggested Greusel. "There are at least three
of them able to swim across this narrow branch of the Rhine, and engage
a boatman to take them off, should their signaling be unobserved."
"Again no matter. My plan for the undoing of the castles does not depend
on force, but on craft. We three cannot carry away as much gold as can
twenty-one, but our shares will be the same, and then we are not likely
to find again so full a treasury as that at Rheinstein. My belief that
these chaps would fight was dispelled by their conduct last night. Think
of eighteen armed men flying before one sword!"
"Ah, you are scarce just in your estimate, Commander. They were under
the influence of wine."
"True; but a brave man will fight, drunk or sober."
Although the sun sank out of sight, the men did not return. There had
been more wine in the cask than Roland supposed, for the cheery songs of
the guild echoed through the sylvan solitude. Roland told the captain to
set his men at work and row round the top of the island into the main
stream of the Rhine. The revelers had evidently appointed watchmen, for
they speedily came running through the woods, and followed the movements
of the boat from the shore, keeping pace with it. When the craft reached
the opposite side of the island, the rowers drew in to the beach.
"Are you coming aboard?" asked Roland pleasantly.
"Will you agree to pass Furstenberg during the night?" demanded
Kurzbold.
"No."
"Do you expect to succeed, as you did with the other castles?"
"Certainly; otherwise I shouldn't make the attempt."
"I was wrong," said Kurzbold mildly, "in substituting the word 'command'
for 'suggestion,' which I first employed. There are many grave reasons
for deferring an attempt on Furstenberg. In the heat of argument these
reasons were not presented to you. Will you consent to listen to them if
we go on board?"
"Yes; if you, on your part, will unanimously promise to abide by my
decision."
"Do you think," said Kurzbold, "that your prejudice against me, which
perhaps you agree does exist--"
"It exists," confessed Roland.
"Very well. Will you allow that prejudice to prevent you from rendering
a decision in the men's favor?"