Up on deck again, Roland said to the captain:
"Let your rowers help the chain to bring the barge alongside, but when
the robbers appear, pretend to be getting away, although you must
instantly obey them when ordered to cease your efforts."
The prow of the boat ground against the solid rock, jammed in between
the stout chain and the low cliff. Roland was the first to spring
ashore, and the rest nimbly followed him. With every motion of the barge
the bell inside the Castle rang, and now they could hear the bestirring
of the garrison, and clashing of metal, although the single door of the
Pfalz had not yet been opened. This door stood six feet above the
plateau of rock, and could be entered or quitted only by means of a
ladder.
Roland led his men to a place of effective concealment along the western
wall of the Pfalz, only just in time, for as he peered round the corner,
his men standing back against the wall to the rear, he saw the flash of
torches from the now-open door, and the placing of a stout ladder at a
steep angle between the threshold and the floor of rock below. Most of
the garrison, however, did not wait for this convenience, but leaped
impetuously from doorway to rock. Others slid down the ladder, and all
rushed headlong towards the barge, which made its presence known by the
grinding of its side against the rock, and also by the despairing orders
of the captain, and the hurrying footsteps of his men on deck.
More leisurely down the ladder came two officers, followed by one whom
Roland recognized as lord of the Castle, Pfalzgraf Hermann von Stahleck,
a namesake and relative of the Laughing Baron of Furstenberg, and quite
as ruthless a robber as he.
"Cease your efforts at the prow," shouted the Pfalzgraf to the captain
when he had descended the ladder, "and concentrate your force at the
stern, swinging your boat round broadside on to the landing."
The captain obeyed, and presently the boat lay in such position as the
nobleman desired. Now there was a great commotion as, at a word from the
Pfalzgraf, the garrison fell on the barge, and began to wrench off the
hatches, a task which they well knew how to perform.
"Follow as quietly as possible," whispered Roland to the two lieutenants
behind him, who, under their breath, passed on word to the men. Roland
ran nimbly up the ladder. No guard was set where none had ever been
needed before. Greusel was the last to ascend, then the ladder was
pulled up, and the massive door swung shut, bolted and chained.
The invaders found torches stuck here and there along the wall, and the
picturesque courtyard, with its irregular balconies and stairways,
seemed, in the flickering light, more spacious than was actually the
case.
Although for the moment in safety, Roland experienced a sense of
imprisonment as he gazed round the narrow limits of this enclosure. He
had endeavored to count the number of men who followed the Pfalzgraf,
but their impetuosity in seeking the barge prevented an accurate
estimate, although he knew there were more than double the force that
obeyed him, and therefore it would be suicidal to lead his untrained
coterie against the seasoned warriors of Stahleck.
He ordered Greusel to take with him six men, and search the Castle,
bringing into the courtyard whomsoever they might find; also to discover
whether any window existed that looked out upon the eastern
landing-place. The remainder of his men he grouped at the door, under
command of Ebearhard.
"I fear, Ebearhard," he said, "that I boasted prematurely in thinking
good luck would attend me now that I lead what appears to be an obedient
following. Here we are in a trap, and unless we can escape through
rat-holes, I admit that I fail to see for the moment how we are to get
safely afloat again."
"We are in better fettle than the Pfalzgraf and his men outside,"
returned Ebearhard, "because this fortress is doubtless well supplied
with provisions, and is considered impregnable, while the Pfalzgraf's
impetuous chaps, who did not know enough to stay in comfortable quarters
when they had them, are without shelter and without food. You have
certainly done the best you could in the circumstances, and for those
circumstances you are free of blame, since, not being a wizard, you
could scarcely know of the chain."
"Indeed, Ebearhard, it is just in that respect I blame myself,
neglecting your own good example, who discovered the chain at
Furstenberg. This trap is a new invention, and, so far as I know, has
never before been attempted on the Rhine. I might have remembered that
Stahleck here is cousin to the Red Margrave, who likely has told him of
the device. Indeed, the chances are that Stahleck himself was the
contriver of the chain, for he seems a man of much more craft and
intelligence than that huge, laughing animal farther up the river. I
should have ordered the captain to tie up against the eastern bank, and
then sent some men in a small boat to learn if the way was clear. No,
Ebearhard, I blame myself for this muddle, and, through anxiety to pass
the Pfalz, I have landed myself and my men within its walls. I must pace
this courtyard for a time, and ponder what next to do. Go you,
Ebearhard, with the men to the door. Allow no talking or noise. Listen
intently, and report to me if you hear anything. You see, Ebearhard, the
devil of it is that Stahleck, like his cousin with Cologne, swears
allegiance to the Archbishop of Mayence, and here am I, after destroying
the fief of one Archbishop, securely snared in the fief of another. I
fear their Lordships' next meeting with me will not pass off so amicably
as did the last."
"_Next_ meeting?" cried Ebearhard in astonishment; "have you ever met
the Archbishops?"
Roland gasped, realizing that his absorption in one subject had nearly
caused him to betray his momentous secret.
"Ah, I remember," continued Ebearhard. "It was on account of the
Archbishop's presence in Bonn that you returned from that town when
first you journeyed up the Rhine."
"Yes," said Roland, with relief.
"It seems to me," went on Ebearhard consolingly, "that even if we may
not leave the Castle, at least the Pfalzgraf cannot penetrate into the
stronghold, therefore we are safe enough."
"Not so, Ebearhard," replied his chief. "The Pfalzgraf has the barge,
remember, and it can carry his whole force to Caub or elsewhere,
returning with ample provisions and siege instruments that will batter
in the door despite all we can do. Nevertheless, let us keep up our
hearts. Get you to the gate, Ebearhard. I must have time to think before
Greusel returns."
Alone, with bent head, he paced back and forwards across the courtyard
under the wavering light of the torches. Very speedily he concluded that
no plan could be formed until Greusel made his report regarding the
intricacies of the Castle.
"My luck is against me! My luck is against me!" he said aloud to
himself, as if the sound of his own voice might suggest some way out of
the difficulty.
"Luck always turns against a thief and a marauder," said a sweet and
clear voice behind him; "and how can it be otherwise, when the
gallows-tree stands at the end of his journey."
Roland stopped in his walk, and turned abruptly towards the sound. He
saw standing there, just descended from the stairway at her back, one
quite evidently a lady; not more than eighteen, perhaps, but
nevertheless with a flash of defiance in her somber eyes, which were
bent fearlessly upon him. The two tirewomen accompanying her shrank
timorously to the background, palpably panic-stricken, and ready to
faint with fright.
"Ah, Madam, how came you here?" cried Roland, ignoring her insulting
words, too much surprised by her beauty of face and form to think of
aught else.
"I came here, because your bully upstairs hammered at my door and bade
me open, which I would not do, defying him to break it down if he had
the power. It so happened that he possessed the power, and used it."
"I deeply regret that you should have been disturbed, Madam. My
lieutenant erred through over-zeal, and I ask your pardon for the
offense."
The girl laughed.
"Why, sir, you are the politest of pirates, but, indeed, your lieutenant
seems a harsh man. Without even removing his bonnet, he commanded me to
betake myself to the courtyard and report to his chief, which obediently
I have done."
"I did not guess that women inhabited this robber's nest. My lieutenant
is searching for men in hiding, so please accept my assurance that you
will suffer no further annoyance. You are surely not alone in this
house?"
"Oh no. Her ladyship the Pfalzgraf's wife, and her entourage, have
sought shelter in another part of the Castle, and presently they will
all troop down here, prisoners to your most ungallant subordinate; that
is, should their doors prove no stouter than mine, or if your furious
men have not dislocated their shoulders."
"How came you to be absent from her ladyship's party?"
"Because, urbane pirate captain, I am an unwilling prisoner in this
stronghold, being an obstreperous person, who refused to obey my
superiors; those set in authority over me. Consequently am I immured in
this dismal dungeon of the water-rats, and thus, youthful pirate, I
welcome even so red-handed an outlaw as yourself."
"Then are we in like case, my lady of midnight beauty, for I, too, am a
prisoner in Pfalzgrafenstein, and, when you came, was cogitating some
plan of escape. Therefore, rebellious maiden, the sword of this
red-handed freebooter is most completely at your service," and the
speaker once more doffed his bonnet with a gallant sweep that caused the
plume to kiss the flagstones at his feet, and he bowed low to the brave
girl who had shown no fear of him.
XVI
MY LADY SCATTERS THE FREEBOOTERS AND CAPTURES THEIR CHIEF
Greusel appeared on one of the balconies, and called down to his leader.
"There are," he said, "a number of women in the western rooms of the
Castle. They have bolted their doors, but tell me that the rooms contain
the Pfalzgravine von Stahleck and other noble ladies, with their
tirewomen. What am I to do?"
"Place a guard in the corridor, Greusel, to make sure that these ladies
communicate with no one outside the fortress."
"I thought it well," explained Greusel, "not to break in the doors
without definite instructions from you to that effect."
"Quite right. Tell the ladies we will not molest them."
"You molested me!" cried the handsome girl in the courtyard, her dark
eyes flashing in the glow of the torches.
"This person," said the unemotional Greusel, betraying no eye for
beauty, "called us every uncomplimentary name she could think of. We
were the scum of the earth, according to her account."
The girl laughed scornfully.
"But I would not have dislodged her," continued Greusel, unperturbed,
"had she not said there was a window in her room, which is on the
eastern side of the Castle, overlooking the operations of the Pfalzgraf
on the barge, and she proclaimed her determination to warn Stahleck that
his Castle was filled with freebooters, as soon as she could make her
voice heard above the din at the landing. Therefore I broke in the door,
ordering her and the tirewomen to descend to the courtyard. On examining
her room I find there is no such window as she described, and she could
not communicate with the Count, so I advise that you send her back
again."
Once more the young lady laughed, and exclaimed:
"I could not break down the door for myself, so compelled you and your
clods to do it. I am immured here; a reluctant captive. You will not
have me sent back to my cell, I hope, Commander?"
"No; if you are really my fellow-prisoner, and not one of the enemy."
"She may be deluding you also," warned Greusel.
"I will take the risk of that," replied Roland, smiling at the girl, who
smiled back at him. She had a will of her own, but seemed sensitively
responsive to fair treatment.
"Are there any men-servants?" asked Roland.
"Only three, and they are tottering with age," replied Greusel, "more
frightened than the women themselves. Nevertheless, one of the retainers
is important, being, as he told me, keeper of the treasure-house. I
relieved him of his keys, and find that the strong-room is well supplied
with bags of gold. 'Twill be the richest haul yet, excepting our two
barrels of coin from--"
"Hush, hush!" cried Roland. "Mention no names. Did you discover any
other exit excepting the door by which we entered?"
"No; but at the northern end there is a window through which a man of
ordinary size might pass. It is, however, high above the rocks, and I
discern floating in the tide a fleet of small boats."
"Ah," said Roland, "that is important."
"Taken in conjunction with the gold, most amiable robber," suggested the
girl.
"Taken in conjunction with the gold," repeated Roland, smiling again;
and adding, "Taken also in conjunction with a lady who, if I understand
her, wishes to escape from the Pfalz."
"You are right," agreed the young girl archly. "Do I receive a share of
the money?"
"Yes; if you join our band."
"Oh!" she cried, with a pout of feigned disappointment, "I thought you
had already accepted me as a member. And what am I to call my new
overlord, who acquires wealth so successfully that he does not wish the
amount mentioned, or the place from which it was taken specified?"
"My name is Roland. Will you consent to a fair exchange?"
"I am called Hilda by my friends."
"Then, Hilda," said the young man, looking at her with admiration, "I
welcome you as one of my lieutenants."
"One, indeed!" she exclaimed, with affected indignation. "I shall be
first lieutenant or nothing."
"Up to this moment Herr Joseph Greusel, who so unceremoniously made your
acquaintance, has been my chief lieutenant, but I willingly depose him,
and give you his place."
"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."
"Fräulein 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.