Truxton King: A Story of Graustark

by George Barr McCutcheon

  CHAPTER XVII.

  THE THROWING OF THE BOMB

  The scene that followed beggars all powers of description.

  A score of men and horses lay writhing in the street; others crept awayscreaming with pain; human flesh and that of animals lay in the path ofthe frenzied, panic-stricken holiday crowd; blood mingled with the softmud of Regengetz Circus, slimy, slippery, ugly!

  Rent bodies of men in once gaudy uniforms, now flattened and bruised inwarm, oozy death, were piled in a mass where but a moment before thewondering vanguard of troopers had clustered. For many rods in alldirections stunned creatures were struggling to their feet after thestupendous shock that had felled them. The clattering of frightenedhorses, the shouts and screams of men and women, the gruesome rush often thousand people in stampede--all in twenty seconds after the engineof death left the hand of Olga Platanova.

  Olga Platanova! There was nothing left of her! She had failed to do thedeed expected of her, but she would not hear the execrations of thosewho had depended upon her to kill the Prince. We draw a veil across thepicture of Olga Platanova after the bomb left her hand; no one may lookupon the quivering, shattered thing that once was a living, beautifulwoman. The glimpse she had of Truxton King's haggard face unnerved her.She faltered, her strength of will collapsed; she hurled the bomb in apanic of indecision. Massacre but not conquest!

  Down in an alley below the Tower, a trembling, worn team of oxen stoodfor a day and night, awaiting the return of a master who was never tocome back to them. God rest his simple soul!

  Truxton King picked himself up from the street, dazed, bewildered butunhurt. Everywhere about him mad people were rushing and screeching.Scarcely knowing what he did, he fled with the crowd. From behind himcame the banging of guns, followed by new shouts of terror. He knew whatit meant! The revolutionists had begun the assault on the paralysedminions of the government.

  Scores of Royal Guardsmen swept past him, rushing to the support of thecoach of gold. The sharp, shrill scream of a single name rose above thetumult. Some one had seen the Iron Count!

  "Marlanx!"

  He looked back toward the gory entrance to the Circus. There wasMarlanx, mounted and swinging a sabre on high. Ahead was the mass ofcarriages, filled with the white-faced, palsied prey from the Court ofGraustark. Somewhere in that huddled, glittering crowd were two beingshe willingly would give his own life to save.

  Foot soldiers, policemen and mounted guardsmen began firing into thecrowd at the square, without sense or discretion, falling back,nevertheless, before the well-timed, deliberate advance of themercenaries. From somewhere near the spot where Olga Platanova fell camea harsh, penetrating command:

  "Cut them off! Cut them off from the Castle!"

  It was his cue. He dashed into the street and ran toward the carriages,shouting with all his strength:

  "Turn back! It is Marlanx! To the Castle!"

  Then it was that he saw the Prince. The boy was standing on a seat onthe royal coach of state, holding out his eager little hands to someone in the thick of the crowd that surged about him. He was calling someone's name, but no one could have heard him.

  Truxton's straining eyes caught sight of the figure in grey thatstruggled forward in response to the cries and the extended hands. Hepushed his way savagely through the crowd; he came up with her as shereached the side of the coach, and with a shout of encouragement graspedher in his arms.

  "Aunt Loraine! Aunt Loraine!" He now heard the name the boy cried withall his little heart.

  Two officers struck at the uncouth, desperate American as he lifted thegirl from the ground and deliberately tossed her into the coach.

  "Turn back!" he shouted. A horseman rode him down. He looked up as theplunging animal's hoofs clattered about his head. Vos Engo, with drawnsword, was crowding up to the carriage door, shouting words of rejoicingat sight of the girl he loved.

  Somehow he managed to crawl from under the hoofs and wheels, not withoutthumps and bruises, and made his way to the sidewalk. The coach hadswung around and the horses were being lashed into a gallop for theCastle gates.

  He caught a glimpse of her, holding the Prince in her arms, her white,agonised face turned toward the mob. Distinctly he heard her cry:

  "Save him! Save Truxton King!"

  From the sidewalks swarmed well-armed hordes of desperadoes, firingwildly into the ranks of devoted guardsmen grouped in the avenue tocover the flight of their royal charge. Truxton fled from the dangerzone as fast as his legs would carry him. Bullets were striking allabout him. Later on he was to remember his swollen, bitterly painfulankle; but there was no thought of it now. He had played football withthis same ankle in worse condition than it was now--and he had playedfor the fun of it, too.

  He realised that his life was worth absolutely nothing if he fell intothe hands of the enemy. His only chance lay in falling in with somesane, loyal citizen who could be prevailed upon to hide him until theworst was over. There seemed no possibility of getting inside the Castlegrounds. He had done his duty and--he laughed bitterly as he thought ofit--he had been ridden down by the men he came to save.

  Some one was shouting his name behind in the scurrying crowd. He turnedfor a single glance backward. Little Mr. Hobbs, pale as a ghost, his capgone, his clothing torn, was panting at his elbow.

  "God save us!" gasped Hobbs. "Are you alive or am I seeing all thebloody ghosts in the world?"

  "I'm alive all right," cried King. "Where can we go? Be quick, Hobbs!Think! Don't sputter like that. I want to be personally conducted, anddamned quick at that."

  "Before God, sir, I 'aven't the idea where to go," groaned Hobbs. "It'sdreadful! Did you see what the woman did back there--"

  "Don't stop to tell me about it, Hobbs. Keep on running. Go ahead of me.I'm used to following the man from Cook's."

  "Right you are, sir. I say, by Jove, I'm glad to see you--I am. You cameright up out of the ground as if--"

  "Is there no way to get off this beastly avenue?" panted King. "They'reshooting back there like a pack of wild men. I hate to think of what'sgoing on."

  "Dangloss will 'ave them all in the jug inside of ten minutes, take myword--"

  "They'll have Dangloss hanging from a telephone; pole, Hobbs! Don'ttalk! Run!"

  Soldiers came riding up from behind, turning to fire from their saddlesinto the throng of cutthroats, led by the grim old man with the bloodysabre. In the centre of the troop there was a flying carriage. The Dukeof Perse was lying back in the seat, his face like that of a dead man.Far ahead rattled the royal coach and the wildly flying carriages ofstate.

  "The Prince is safe!" shouted King joyously. "They'll make it! ThankGod!"

  Colonel Quinnox turned in his saddle and searched out the owner of thatstirring voice.

  "Come!" he called, drawing rein as soon as he caught sight of him.

  Even as King rushed out into the roadway a horseman galloped up from thedirection of the Castle. He pulled his horse to his haunches almost ashe was riding over the dodging American.

  "Here!" shouted the newcomer, scowling down upon the young man. "Swingup here! Quick, you fool!"

  It was Vos Engo, his face black with fury. Quinnox had seized the handof Mr. Hobbs on seeing help for King and was pulling him up before him.There was nothing for Truxton to do but to accept the timely help of hisrival. An instant later he was up behind him and they were off after thelast of the dragoons.

  "If you don't mind, Count, I'll try my luck," grated the American.Holding on with one arm, he turned and fired repeatedly in the directionof the howling crowd of rascals.

  "Ride to the barracks gates, Vos Engo!" commanded Colonel Quinnox. "Beprepared to admit none but the Royal Reserves, who are under standingorders to report there in time of need."

  "God grant that they may be able to come," responded the Count. Over hisshoulder he hissed to his companion. "It was not idle heroics, myfriend, nor philanthropy on my part. I was commanded to come and fetchyou. She would never have spoken to me
again if I had refused."

  "She? Ah, yes; I see. Good! She did not forget me!" cried Truxton, hisheart bounding.

  "My own happiness depends on my luck in getting you to safety," raspedthe Count. "My life's happiness. Understand, damn you, it is not for youthat I risk my life."

  "I understand," murmured Truxton, a wry smile on his pale lips. "Youmean, she is going to pay you in some way for picking me up, eh? Well,I'll put an end to that. I'll drop off again. Then you can ride on andtell her--I wouldn't be a party to the game. Do you catch my meaning?"

  "You would, eh?" said the Count angrily. "I'd like to see you drop offwhile we're going at this--"

  "I've got my pistol in the middle of your back," grated Truxton. "Slowup a bit or I'll scatter your vertebrae all over your system. Pull up!"

  "As you like," cried Vos Engo. "I've done my part. Colonel Quinnox willbear witness." He began pulling his horse down. "Now, you are quite freeto drop off."

  Without a word the American swung his leg over and slid to the ground."Thanks for the lift you've given me," he called up to the astonishedofficer.

  "Don't thank me," sang out his would-be saviour as he put spur to hishorse.

  It is a lamentable thing to say, but Truxton King's extraordinarysacrifice was not altogether the outgrowth of heroism. We have not beencalled upon at any time to question his courage; we have, on the otherhand, seen times when he displayed the most arrant foolhardiness. I defyany one to prove, however, that he ever neglected an opportunity tobetter himself by strategy at the expense of fortitude. Therefore, it isnot surprising that even at such a time as this we may be called upon torecord an example of his spectacular cunning.

  Be sure of it, he did not decide to slide from Vos Engo's horse until hesaw a way clear to better his position, and at the same time to lessenthe glory of his unpleasant rescuer.

  Less than a hundred yards behind loped a riderless horse; the dragoonwho had sat the saddle was lying far back in the avenue, a bullet in hishead. Hobbling to the middle of the road, the American threw up hishands and shouted briskly to the bewildered animal. Throwing his earsforward in considerable doubt, the horse came to a standstill close athand. Five seconds later King was in the saddle and tearing along in thewake of the retreating guard, his hair blowing from his forehead, hisblood leaping with the joy of achievement.

  Mr. Hobbs afterward informed him that Count Vos Engo's oaths were worthgoing miles to avoid.

  "We need such men as King!" cried Colonel Quinnox as he waited insidethe gates for the wild rider. A moment later King dashed through and themassive bolts were shot.

  As he pulled up in front of the steward's lodge to await the orders ofthe Colonel, the exultant American completed the soliloquy that beganwith the mad impulse to ride into port under his own sails.

  "I'll have to tell her that he did a fine thing in coming back for me,much as he hated to do it. What's more, I shan't say a word about hisbeastly temper. We'll let it pass. He deserves a whole lot for the parthe played. I'll not forget it. Too bad he had to spoil it all by talkingas he did. But, hang me, if he shall exact anything from her because hedid a thing he didn't want to do. I took a darned sight bigger chancethan he did, after all. Good Lord, what a mess I would have been in ifthe nag hadn't stopped! Whew! Well, old boy, you did stop, God blessyou. Colonel," he spoke, as Quinnox came up, "do you think I can buythis horse? He's got more sense than I have."

  Small bodies of foot soldiers and policemen fighting valiantly againstgreat odds were admitted to the grounds during the next half hour.Scores had been killed by the fierce, irregular attack of therevolutionists; others had become separated from their comrades and wereeven now being hunted down and destroyed by the infuriated followers ofMarlanx. A hundred or more of the reserves reached the upper gatesbefore it occurred to the enemy to blockade the streets in thatneighbourhood. General Braze, with a few of his men, bloody andheartsick, was the last of the little army to reach safety in the Castlegrounds, coming up by way of the lower gates from the fortress, whichthey had tried to reach after the first outbreak, but had foundthemselves forestalled.

  The fortress, with all guns, stores and ammunition, was in the hands ofthe Iron Count and his cohorts.

  Baron Dangloss had been taken prisoner with a whole platoon of fightingconstables. This was the last appalling bit of news to reach thehorrified, disorganised forces in the Castle grounds.

  Citizens had fled to their homes, unmolested. The streets were empty,save for the armed minions of the Iron Count. They rushed hither andthither in violent detachments, seeking out the men in uniform, yellingand shooting like unmanageable savages.

  Before two o'clock the city itself was in the hands of the hated enemyof the Crown. He and his aliens, malefactors and all, were in completecontrol of the fortress, the gates and approaches, the Tower and thebloody streets. A thousand of them,--eager, yelling ruffians,--marchedto within firing distance of the Castle walls and held every approachagainst reinforcements. Except for the failure to destroy the Prince andhis counsellors, the daring, unspeakable plans of Count Marlanx had beenattended by the most horrifying results. He was master. There was noquestion as to that. The few hundred souls in the Castle grounds werelike rats in a trap.

  A wise as well as a cruel man was Marlanx. He lost no time in issuing amanifesto to the stunned, demoralised citizens of Edelweiss. Scores ofcriers went through the streets during the long, wretched afternoon,announcing to the populace that Count Marlanx had established himself asdictator and military governor of the principality--pending theabdication of the Prince and the beginning of a new and substantialregime. All citizens were commanded to recognise the authority of thedictator; none except those who disobeyed or resented this authoritywould be molested. Traffic would be resumed on the following Monday.Tradespeople and artisans were commanded to resume their occupationsunder penalty of extreme punishment in case of refusal. These and manyother edicts were issued from Marlanx's temporary headquarters in thePlaza--almost at the foot of the still veiled monument of the belovedPrincess Yetive.

  Toward evening, after many consultations and countless reports, Marlanxremoved his headquarters to the Tower. He had fondly hoped to be in theCastle long before this. His rage and disappointment over the stupidmiscarriage of plans left no room for conjecture as to the actual stateof his feelings. For hours he had raved like a madman. Every soldier whofell into his hands was shot down like a dog.

  The cells and dungeons in the great old tower were now occupied bybruised, defeated officers of the law. Baron Jasto Dangloss, crushed inspirit and broken of body, paced the blackest and narrowest cell of themall. The gall and wormwood that filled his soul was not to be measuredby words. He blamed himself for the catastrophe; it was he who hadpermitted this appalling thing to grow and burst with such sickeningresults. In his mind there was no doubt that Marlanx had completelyoverthrown the dynasty and was in full possession of the government. Hedid not know that the Prince and his court had succeeded in reaching theCastle, whose walls and gates were well-nigh impregnable to assault,even by a great army. If he had known this he might have rejoiced!

  Late in the evening he received a visit from Marlanx, the new master.

  The Iron Count, lighted by a ghostly lantern in the hands of a man who,ten hours before, had been a prisoner within these very walls, came upto the narrow grating that served as a door and gazed complacently uponthe once great minister of police.

  "Well," said Dangloss, his eyes snapping, "what is it, damn you?"

  Marlanx stroked his chin and smiled. "I believe this is my old confrere,Baron Dangloss," he remarked. "Dear me, I took you, sir, to be quiteimpeccable. Here you are, behind the bars. Will wonders never cease?"

  Dangloss merely glared at him.

  The Iron Count went on suavely: "You heard me, Baron. Still, I do notrequire an answer. How do you like your new quarters? It may please youto know that I am occupying your office, and also that noble suiteoverlooking the Plaza. I find myself most agreeabl
y situated. By theway, Baron, I seem to recall something to mind as I look at you. Youwere the kindly disposed gentleman who escorted me to the city gates afew years ago and there turned me over to a detachment of soldiers, who,in turn, conveyed me to the border. If I recall the occasion rightly,you virtually kicked me out of the city. Am I right?"

  "You are!" was all that the bitter Dangloss said, without taking hisfierce gaze from the sallow face beyond the bars.

  "I am happy to find that my memory is so good," said Marlanx.

  "I expect to be able to repeat the operation," said Dangloss.

  "How interesting! You forget that history never repeats itself."

  "See here, Marlanx, what is your game? Speak up; I'm not afraid of you.Do you intend to take me out and shoot me at sunrise?"

  "Oh, dear me, no! That would be a silly proceeding. You own vast estatesin Graustark, if I mistake not, just as I did eight or nine years ago.Well, I have come into my own again. The Crown relieved me of myestates, my citizenship, my honour. I have waited long to regain them.Understand me, Dangloss; I am in control now; my word is law. I do notintend to kill you. It is my intention to escort you to the border andkick you out of Graustark. See for yourself how it feels. Everything youpossess is to be taken away from you. You will be a wanderer on the faceof the earth--a pauper. All you have is here. Therein lies thedistinction: I had large possessions in other lands. I had friends and afollowing, as you see. You will have none of these, Baron."

  "A splendid triumph, you beast!"

  "Of course, you'd much prefer being shot."

  "Not at all. Banish me, if you please; strip me of all I possess. ButI'll come back another day, Count Marlanx."

  "Ah, yes; that reminds me. I had quite forgotten to say that the firstten years of your exile are to be spent in the dungeons at SchlossMarlanx. How careless of me to have neglected to state that in thebeginning. In ten years you will be seventy-five, Baron. An excellenttime of life for one to begin his wanderings over the world which willnot care to remember him."

  "Do you expect me to get down on my knees and plead for mercy, youscoundrel?"

  "I know you too well for that, my dear Baron."

  "Get out of my sight!"

  "Pray do not forget that I am governor of the Tower at present. I go andcome as I choose."

  "God will punish you for what you have done. There's solace in that."

  "As you like, Baron. If it makes it easier for you to feel that God willtake a hand in my humble affairs, all well and good. I grant you thatdelectable privilege."

  Baron Dangloss turned his back upon his smiling enemy, his bodyquivering with passion.

  "By the way, Baron, would you care to hear all the latest news from theseat of war? It may interest you to know that the Castle is besieged inmost proper fashion. No one--"

  "The Castle besieged? Then, by the Eternal, you did not take thePrince!"

  "Not at all! He is in the Castle for a few hours of imaginary safety.To-night my men will be admitted to the grounds by friends who haveserved two masters for a twelve-month or longer."

  "Traitors in the Castle?" cried Dangloss in horror. He was now facingthe Count.

  "Hardly that, my dear sir. Agents, I should call them. Isn't itsplendid?"

  "You are a--"

  "Don't say it, Baron. Save your breath. I know what you would call me,and can save you the trouble of shouting it, as you seem inclined todo."

  "Thank God, your assassins not only failed to dynamite the boy, but yourdogs failed to capture him. By heaven, God _is_ with Prince Robin, afterall!"

  "How exalted you seem, Baron! It is a treat to look at you. Oh, anotherthing: the Platanova girl was not _my_ assassin."

  "That's a lie!"

  "You shall not chide me in that fashion, Baron. You are very rude. No;the girl was operating for what I have since discovered to be theCommittee of Ten, leading the Party of Equals in Graustark. To-morrowmorning I shall have the Committee of Ten seized and shot in the publicsquare. We cannot harbour dynamiters and assassins of that type. Thereare two-score or more of anarchist sympathisers here. We will cheerfullyshoot all of them--an act that you should have performed many days ago,my astute friend. It might have saved trouble. They are a dangerouselement in any town. Those whom I do not kill I shall transport to theUnited States in exchange for the Americans who have managed to losethemselves over here. A fair exchange, you see. Moreover, I hear thatthe United States Government welcomes the Reds if they are white insteadof yellow. Clever, but involved, eh? Well, good night, Baron. Sleepwell. I expect to see you again after the rush of business attending theadjustment of my own particular affairs. In a day or two I shall moveinto the Castle. You may be relieved to know that I do not expect tofind the time to kick you out of Graustark under a week or ten days."

  "My men: what of them? The brave fellows who were taken with me? Youwill not deprive--"

  "In time they will be given the choice of serving me as policemen orserving the world as examples of folly. Rest easy concerning them. Ah,yes, again I have stupidly forgotten something. Your excellent friend,Tullis, will not re-enter Edelweiss alive. That is quite assured, sir.So you see, he will, after all, be better off than you. I don't blamehim for loving my wife. It was my desire to amicably trade my wife offto him for his charming sister, but the deal hangs fire. What a scowl! Idare say you contemplate saying something bitter, so I'll retire. Alittle later on I shall be chatting with the Prince at the Castle. I'llgive him your gentlest felicitations."

  But Marlanx was doomed to another disappointment before the night wasover. The Castle gates were not opened to his forces. Colonel Quinnoxapprehended the traitors in time to prevent the calamity. Ten hostlersin the Royal stables were taken redhanded in the attempt to overpowerthe small guard at the western gates. Their object was made plain by thesubsequent futile movement of a large force of men at that particularpoint.

  Prince Robin was safe for the night.