Beverly of Graustark

by George Barr McCutcheon

  CHAPTER VII

  SOME FACTS AND FANCIES

  There was a soft, warm, yellow glow to the world when Beverly Calhounnext looked upon it. The sun from his throne in the mountain tops wassmiling down upon the valley the night had ravaged while he was on theother side of the earth. The leaves of the trees were a softer green,the white of the rocks and the yellow of the road were of a gentlertint; the brown and green reeds were proudly erect once more.

  The stirring of the mountain men had awakened Aunt Fanny, and she inturn called her mistress from the surprisingly peaceful slumber intowhich perfect health had sent her not so many hours before. At theentrance to the improvised bedchamber stood buckets of water from thespring.

  "We have very thoughtful chambermaids," remarked Beverly while AuntFanny was putting her hair into presentable shape. "And an energeticcook," she added as the odor of broiled meat came to her nostrils.

  "Ah cain' see nothin' o' dat beastes, Miss Beverly--an'--Ah--Ah got mahsuspicions," said Aunt Fanny, with sepulchral despair in her voice.

  "They've thrown the awful thing into the river," concluded Beverly.

  "Dey's cookin' hit!" said Aunt Fanny solemnly.

  "Good heaven, no!" cried Beverly. "Go and see, this minute. I wouldn'teat that catlike thing for the whole world." Aunt Fanny came back a fewminutes later with the assurance that they were roasting goat meat. Theskin of the midnight visitor was stretched upon the ground not far away.

  "And how is he?" asked Beverly, jamming a hat pin through a helplessbunch of violets.

  "He's ve'y 'spectably skun, yo' highness."

  "I don't mean the animal, stupid."

  "Yo' mean 'at Misteh Goat man? He's settin' up an' chattin' as ifnothin' happened. He says to me 'at we staht on ouah way jes' as soon asyo' all eats yo' b'eakfus'. De bosses is hitched up an'--"

  "Has everybody else eaten? Am I the only one that hasn't?" criedBeverly.

  "'Ceptin' me, yo' highness. Ah'm as hungry as a poah man's dawg, an'--"

  "And he is being kept from the hospital because I am a lazy,good-for-nothing little--Come on, Aunt Fanny; we haven't a minute tospare. If he looks very ill, we do without breakfast."

  But Baldos was the most cheerful man in the party. He was sitting withhis back against a tree, his right arm in a sling of woven reeds, hisblack patch set upon the proper eye.

  "You will pardon me for not rising," he said cheerily, "but, yourhighness, I am much too awkward this morning to act as befitting acourtier in the presence of his sovereign. You have slept well?"

  "Too well, I fear. So well, in fact, that you have suffered forit. Can't we start at once?" She was debating within herself whether itwould be quite good form to shake hands with the reclining hero. In theglare of the broad daylight he and his followers looked more ragged andfamished than before, but they also appeared more picturesquelyromantic.

  "When you have eaten of our humble fare, your highness,--the last mealat the Hawk and Raven."

  "But I'm not a bit hungry."

  "It is very considerate of you, but equally unreasonable. You must eatbefore we start."

  "I can't bear the thought of your suffering when we should be hurryingto a hospital and competent surgeons." He laughed gaily. "Oh, youneedn't laugh. I know it hurts. You say we cannot reach Ganlook beforeto-morrow? Well, we can't stop here a minute longer than we--Oh, thankyou!" A ragged servitor had placed a rude bowl of meat and some fruitbefore her.

  "Sit down here, your highness, and prepare yourself for a long fast. Wemay go until nightfall without food. The game is scarce and we dare notventure far into the hills."

  Beverly sat at his feet and daintily began the operation of picking abone with her pretty fingers teeth. "I am sorry we have no knives andforks" he apologized.

  "I don't mind"' said she. "I wish you would remove that black patch."

  "Alas, I must resume the hated disguise. A chance enemy might recognizeme."

  "Your--your clothes have been mended," she remarked with a furtiveglance at his long legs. The trousers had been rudely sewed up and nobandages were visible. "Are you--your legs terribly hurt???"

  "They are badly scratched, but not seriously. The bandages are skilfullyplaced," he added, seeing her look of doubt. "Ravone is a genius."

  "Well, I'll hurry," she said, blushing deeply. Goat-hunter though he wasand she a princess, his eyes gleamed with the joy of her beauty and hisheart thumped with a most unruly admiration. "You were very, very bravelast night," she said at last--and her rescuer smiled contentedly.

  She was not long in finishing the rude but wholesome meal, and thenannounced her readiness to be on the way. With the authority of agenuine princess she commanded him to ride inside the coach, gaveincomprehensible directions to the driver and to the escort, and wouldlisten to none of his protestations. When the clumsy vehicle was againin the highway and bumping over the ridges of flint, the goat-hunter wasbeside his princess on the rear seat, his feet upon the oppositecushions near Aunt Fanny, a well-arranged bridge of boxes and bagsproviding support for his long legs.

  "We want to go to a hospital," Beverly had said to the driver, very muchas she might have spoken had she been in Washington. She was standingbravely beside the forewheel, her face flushed and eager. Baldos, fromhis serene position on the cushions, watched her with kindling eyes. Thegrizzled driver grinned and shook his head despairingly. "Oh, pshaw! Youdon't understand, do you? Hospital--h-o-s-p-i-t-a-l," she spelt it outfor him, and still he shook his head. Others in the motley retinue weresmiling broadly.

  "Speak to him in your own language, your highness, and he will be sureto understand," ventured the patient.

  "I am speaking in my--I mean, I prefer to speak in English. Please tellhim to go to a hospital," she said confusedly. Baldos gave a few jovialinstructions, and then the raggedest courtier of them all handed Beverlyinto the carriage with a grace that amazed her.

  "You are the most remarkable goat-hunters I have ever seen," sheremarked in sincere wonder.

  "And you speak the most perfect English I've ever heard," he replied.

  "Oh, do you really think so? Miss Grimes used to say I was hopeless. Youknow I had a--a tutor," she hastily explained. "Don't you think itstrange we've met no Axphain soldiers?" she went on, changing thesubject abruptly.

  "We are not yet out of the woods," he said.

  "That was a purely American aphorism," she cried, looking at himintently. "Where did you learn all your English?"

  "I had a tutor," he answered easily.

  "You are a very odd person," she sighed. "I don't believe that you are agoat-hunter at all."

  "If I were not a goat-hunter I should have starved long ago," hesaid. "Why do you doubt me?"

  "Simply because you treat me one moment as if I were a princess, and thenext as if I were a child. Humble goat-hunters do not forget theirstation in life."

  "I have much to learn of the deference due to queens," he said.

  "That's just like 'The Mikado' or 'Pinafore,'" she exclaimed. "I believeyou are a comic-opera brigand or a pirate chieftain, after all."

  "I am a lowly outcast," he smiled.

  "Well, I've decided to take you into Edelweiss and--"

  "Pardon me, your highness," he said firmly, "That cannot be. I shall notgo to Edelweiss."

  "But I command you--"

  "It's very kind of you, but I cannot enter a hospital--not even atGanlook. I may as well confess that I am a hunted man and that theinstructions are to take me dead or alive."

  "Impossible!" she gasped, involuntarily shrinking from him.

  "I have wronged no man, yet I am being hunted down as though I were abeast," he said, his face turning haggard for the moment. "The hills ofGraustark, the plateaus of Axphain and the valleys of Dawsbergen arealive with men who are bent on ending my unhappy but inconvenientexistence. It would be suicide for me to enter any one of your towns orcities. Even you could not protect me, I fear."

  "This sounds like a dream. Oh, dear me, you don't look
like a hardenedcriminal," she cried.

  "I am the humble leader of a faithful band who will die with me when thetime comes. We are not criminals, your highness. In return for whatservice I may have performed for you, I implore you to question me nofurther. Let me be your slave up to the walls of Ganlook, and then youmay forget Baldos, the goat-hunter."

  "I never can forget you," she cried, touching his injured armgently. "Will you forget the one who gave you this wound?"

  "It is a very gentle wound, and I love it so that I pray it may neverheal." She looked away suddenly.

  "Tell me one thing," she said, a mist coming over her eyes. "You saythey are hunting you to the death. Then--then your fault must be agrievous one. Have you--have you killed a man?" she added hastily. Hewas silent for a long time.

  "I fear I have killed more than one man," he said in low tones. Againshe shrank into the corner of the coach. "History says that your fatherwas a brave soldier and fought in many battles," he went on.

  "Yes," she said, thinking of Major George Calhoun.

  "He killed men then, perhaps, as I have killed them," he said.

  "Oh, my father never killed a man!" cried Beverly, in devout horror.

  "Yet Graustark reveres his mighty prowess on the field of battle," saidhe, half laconically.

  "Oh," she murmured, remembering that she was now the daughter ofYetive's father. "I see. You are not a--a--a mere murderer, then?"

  "No. I have been a soldier--that is all."

  "Thank heaven!" she murmured, and was no longer afraid ofhim. "Would--would a pardon be of any especial benefit to you?" sheasked, wondering how far her influence might go with the PrincessYetive.

  "It is beyond your power to help me," he said gravely. She was silent,but it was the silence of deep reflection. "Your highness left thecastle ten days ago," he said, dismissing himself as a subject forconversation. "Have you kept in close communication with Edelweissduring that time?"

  "I know nothing of what is going on there," she said, quitetruthfully. She only knew that she had sent a message to the PrincessYetive, apprising her of her arrival In St. Petersburg and of herintention to leave soon for the Graustark capital.

  "Then you do not know that Mr. Lorry is still on the Dawsbergen frontierin conference with representatives from Serros. He may not return for aweek, so Colonel Quinnox brings back word."

  "It's news to me," murmured Beverly.

  "You do not seem to be alarmed," he ventured. "Yet I fancy it is not adangerous mission, although Prince Gabriel is ready to battle at amoment's notice."

  "I have the utmost confidence in Mr. Lorry," said Beverly, with properpride.

  "Baron Dangloss, your minister of police, is in these mountains watchingthe operations of Axphain scouts and spies."

  "Is he? You are very well posted, it seems."

  "Moreover, the Axphainians are planning to attack Ganlook upon the firstsignal from their ruler. I do not wish to alarm your highness, but wemay as well expect trouble before we come to the Ganlook gates You areknown to be in the pass, and I am certain an effort will be made to takepossession of your person."

  "They wouldn't dare!" she exclaimed. "Uncle Sam would annihilate them Ina week."

  "Uncle Sam? Is he related to your Aunt Fanny? I'm afraid he could dobut little against Volga's fighting men," he said, with a smile.

  "They'd soon find out who Uncle Sam is if they touch me," she threatenedgrandly. He seemed puzzled, but was too polite to press her forexplanations. "But, he is a long way off and couldn't do much if we weresuddenly attacked from ambush, could he? What would they do to me if Iwere taken, as you suggest?" she was more concerned than she appeared tobe.

  "With you in their hands, Graustark would be utterly helpless. Volgacould demand anything she liked, and your ministry would be forced tosubmit."

  "I really think it would be a capital joke on the Princess Volga," musedBeverly reflectively. He did not know what she meant, but regarded hersoft smile as the clear title to the serenity of a princess.

  She sank back and gave herself over to the complications that werelikely to grow out of her involuntary deception. The one thing whichworried her more than all others was the fear that Yetive might not bein Edelweiss. According to all reports, she had lately been inSt. Petersburg and the mere fact that she was supposed to be travelingby coach was sufficient proof that she was not at her capital. Thenthere was, of course, the possibility of trouble on the road with theAxphain scouts, but Beverly enjoyed the optimism of youth andcivilization.

  Baldos, the goat-hunter, was dreamily thinking of the beautiful youngwoman at his side and of the queer freak Fortune had played in bringingthem together. As he studied her face he could not but lament thatmarriage, at least, established a barrier between her and the advanceshis bold heart might otherwise be willing to risk. His black hairstraggled down over his forehead and his dark eyes--the patch had beensurreptitiously lifted--were unusually pensive.

  "It is strange that you live in Graustark and have not seen itsprincess--before," she said, laying groundwork for enquiry concerningthe acts and whereabouts of the real princess.

  "May it please your highness, I have not lived long inGraustark. Besides, it is said that half the people of Ganlook havenever looked upon your face."

  "I'm not surprised at that. The proportion is much smaller than Iimagined. I have not visited Ganlook, strange as it may seem to you."

  "One of my company fell in with some of your guards from the Ganlookgarrison day before yesterday. He learned that you were to reach thatcity within forty-eight hours. A large detachment of men has been sentto meet you at Labbot."

  "Oh, indeed," said Beverly, very much interested.

  "They must have been misinformed as to your route--or else your Russianescort decided to take you through by the lower and more hazardous way.It was our luck that you came by the wrong road. Otherwise we should nothave met each other--and the lion," he said, smiling reflectively.

  "Where is Labbot?" asked she, intent upon the one subject uppermost inher mind.

  "In the mountains many leagues north of this pass. Had you taken thatroute instead of this, you would by this time have left Labbot for thetown of Erros, a half-day's journey from Ganlook. Instead of vagabonds,your escort would have been made up of loyal soldiers, well-fed,well-clad, and well satisfied with themselves, at least."

  "But no braver, no truer than my soldiers of fortune," she saidearnestly. "By the way, are you informed as to the state of affairs inDawsbergen?"

  "Scarcely as well as your highness must be," he replied.

  "The young prince--what's his name?" she paused, looking to him for thename.

  "Dantan?"

  "Yes, that's it. What has become of him? I am terribly interested inhim."

  "He is a fugitive, they say."

  "They haven't captured him, then? Good! I am so glad."

  Baldos exhibited little or no interest in the fresh topic.

  "It is strange you should have forgotten his name," he said wearily.

  "Oh, I do so many ridiculous things!" complained Beverly, rememberingwho she was supposed to be. "I have never seen him, you know," sheadded.

  "It is not strange, your highness. He was educated in England and hadseen but little of his own country when he was called to the throne twoyears ago. You remember, of course, that his mother was anEnglishwoman--Lady Ida Falconer."

  "I--I think I have heard some of his history--a very little, to besure," she explained lamely.

  "Prince Gabriel, his half brother, is the son of Prince Louis the Thirdby his first wife, who was a Polish countess. After her death, whenGabriel was two years old, the prince married Lady Ida. Dantan is theirson. He has a sister--Candace, who is but nineteen years of age."

  "I am ashamed to confess that you know so much more about my neighborsthan I," she said.

  "I lived in Dawsbergen for a little while, and was ever interested inthe doings of royalty. That is a poor man's privilege, you know."

&
nbsp; "Prince Gabriel must be a terrible man," cried Beverly, her heartswelling with tender thoughts of the exiled Dantan and his littlesister.

  "You have cause to know," said he shortly, and she was perplexed untilshe recalled the stories of Gabriel's misdemeanors at the court ofEdelweiss.

  "Is Prince Dantan as handsome as they say he is?" she asked.

  "It is entirely a matter of opinion," he replied. "I, for one, do notconsider him at all prepossessing."

  The day went on, fatiguing, distressing in its length and itshappenings. Progress was necessarily slow, the perils of the roadincreasing as the little cavalcade wound deeper and deeper into thewilderness. There were times when the coach fairly crawled along theedge of a precipice, a proceeding so hazardous that Beverly shuddered asif in a chill. Aunt Fanny slept serenely most of the time, and Baldostook to dreaming with his eyes wide open. Contrary to her expectations,the Axphainians did not appear, and if there were robbers in the hillsthey thought better than to attack the valorous-looking party. It dawnedupon her finally that the Axphainians were guarding the upper route andnot the one over which she was traveling. Yetive doubtless wasapproaching Ganlook over the northern pass, provided the enemy had notbeen encountered before Labbot was reached. Beverly soon found herselffearing for the safety of the princess, a fear which at last becamealmost unendurable.

  Near nightfall they came upon three Graustark shepherds and learned thatGanlook could not be reached before the next afternoon. The tired,hungry travelers spent the night in a snug little valley through which arivulet bounded onward to the river below. The supper was a scant one,the foragers having poor luck in the hunt for food. Daybreak saw them ontheir way once more. Hunger and dread had worn down Beverly's supply ofgood spirits; she was having difficulty in keeping the haggard,distressed look from her face. Her tender, hopeful eyes were not so boldor so merry as on the day before; cheerfulness cost her an effort, butshe managed to keep it fairly alive. Her escort, wretched andhalf-starved, never forgot the deference due to their charge, but strodesteadily on with the doggedness of martyrs. At times she was impelled todisclose her true identity, but discretion told her that deception washer best safeguard.

  Late in the afternoon of the second day the front axle of the coachsnapped in two, and a tedious delay of two hours ensued. Baldos wasstrangely silent and subdued. It was not until the misfortune came thatBeverly observed the flushed condition of his face. Involuntarily andwith the compassion of a true woman she touched his hand and brow. Theywere burning-hot. The wounded man was in a high fever. He laughed at herfears and scoffed at the prospect of blood-poisoning and the hundredother possibilities that suggested themselves to her anxious brain.

  "We are close to Ganlook," he said, with the setting of the sun. "Soonyou may be relieved of your tiresome, cheerless company, your highness."

  "You are going to a physician," she said, resolutely, alive and activeonce more, now that the worst part of the journey was coming to anend. "Tell that man to drive in a gallop all the rest of the way!"