CHAPTER XXXVIII
THE BLACK RIDERS
The next day we jogged along, and many were our advices and admonitionsto the Prince to return. For we were now on the borders of his kingdom,and from indications which met us on the journeying we knew that theBlack Riders were abroad. For in one place we came to a burned cottageand the tracks of driven cattle; in another upon a dead forest guard,with his green coat all splashed in splotches of dark crimson, a sightwhich made the Prince clinch his hands and swear. And this also kept himpretty silent for the rest of the day.
It was about evening of this second day, and we had come to the top of alittle swell of hills, when suddenly beneath us we heard the crackling oftimbers and saw the pale, almost invisible flames beginning to devour athriving farm-house at our feet. There were swarms of men in dark armorabout it, running here and there, clapping straw and brushwood tohay-ricks and byre doors.
"The Black Riders of Duke Casimir," I cried; "down among the bushes andlet them not see us! We must go back. If they so much as suspected thePrince they would slay us every one."
But ere we had time to flee half a dozen of their scouts came near us,and, observing our horses and excellent accoutrement, they raised a cry.There was nothing for it but the spurs on the heels of our boots. Soacross the smooth, well-turfed country we had it, and in spite of ourbeasts' weariness we made good running. And while we fled I consideredhow best to serve the Prince.
"There is a monastery near by," said I, "and the head thereof is a goodfriend of ours. Let us, if possible, gain that shelter, and castourselves on the kindness of the good Abbot Tobias."
"Aye," said the Prince, urging his horse to speed, "but will we everget there?"
Then I called myself all the stupid-heads in the world, because I had notrefused to go a foot with the Prince on such a mad venture, and so putour future and that of the Princedom of Plassenburg in such peril.
But there at last were the gray walls and high towers of the Abbey ofWolgast. Our pursuers were not yet in sight, so we rode in at the gateand cast our bridles to a lay brother of the order, crying imperiouslyfor instant audience of the Abbot.
As soon as my friend Tobias saw us he threw up his hands in a rapture ofwelcome. But I soon had him advertised of our great danger. Whereupon hewent directly to the window of his chamber of reception and looked out onthe court-yard.
"Ring the abbey bell for full service," he commanded; "throw open theouter gates and great doors, and lead these horses to the secret cryptbeneath the mortuary chapel."
For the Abbot Tobias was a man of the readiest resource, and in othercircumstances would have made a good soldier.
He hurried us off to the robing-rooms, and made us put on monastic andpriestly garments over our several apparels. Never, Got wot, had Iexpected that I should be transformed into a rope-girt praying clerk. Butso it was. I was given a square black cap and a brown robe, and sent tojoin the lay brethren. For my hair grew thick as a mat on top and therewas no time to tonsure it.
Now, Dessauer being bald and quite practicable as to his topknot, theyendued him with the full dress of a monk. But at that time I saw not whatwas done with the Prince. For my conductor, a laughing, frolicsome lad,came for me and carried me off all in good faith, telling me the whilethat he hoped we should lodge together. There were, he whispered, certainvery fair and pleasant-spoken maids just over the wall, that which youcould climb easily enough by the branches of the pear-tree that grewcontiguous at the south corner.
As we hurried towards the chapel, the monks were streaming out oftheir cells in great consternation, grumbling like soldiers at anunexpected parade.
"What hath gotten into our old man?" said one. "Hath he overeaten atmid-day refection, and so is not able to sleep, that he cannot let honestmen enjoy greater peace than himself?"
"What folly!" cried another; "as if we had not prayers enough, withoutcheating the Almighty by knocking him up at uncanonical hours!"
"And the choir summoned, and full choral service, no less! Not even arespectable saint's day--no true churchman indeed, but some heretic ofa Greek fellow!" quoth a third.
Nevertheless, obediently enough they made their way as the bell clanged,and the throng filed into their places most reverently. It was a pleasantsight. I came into rank unobtrusively at the back, among the rustling andnudging lay brethren. In other circumstances it would have amused me tosee the grave faces they turned towards the altar, and to hear all thewhile the confused scuffling as they trod on each other's toes, tryingwhose skin was the tenderest or whose sandal soles were the thickest. Oneor two even tried conclusions with me, but once only. For the first whoadventured got a stamp from my riding-boot which caused him to squeal outlike a stuck pig, and but for the waking thunder of the organ might havegotten him a month's penance in addition. So after that my toes were leftseverely alone among the lay brethren.
Then came the high procession, at which the monks and all stood up. Infront there were the incense-bearers and acolytes, then officers whosenames, not being convent-bred nor yet greatly given to church-craft, Idid not know. Then after them came two men who walked together, at thesight of whom the' jaws of all the monks dropped, and they stood soinfinitely astonished that no power was left in them. For, instead ofone, two mitred abbots entered in full canonical attire--golden mitre andgreen, golden-headed staff, red embroidered robes lined with green. Thesetwo paced solemnly in abreast, and sat down upon twin thrones.
"The Abbot of St. Omer!" whispered one of the lay brothers, naming one ofthe most famous abbeys in Europe, and the word flew round like lightning.Whether he had been instructed or not what to say I do not know. But atall events I saw the tidings run round the circle of the choir, overleapthe boundary stall, and even reach the officiating priests, who inclinedan eager ear to catch it, and passed the word one to another in theintervals of the chanted sentences.
Then the news was drowned in the thunder of the anthem, and the organdominating all. Everything was strange to me, but most strange thepractice of the lay brothers, who chanted bravely indeed in tune, but who(for the words set in the chorals) substituted other sentiments of a kindnot usually found in service-books.
"He looks a stout and be-e-e-fy o-o-old fel-low, this A-a-a-bot of St.Omer, don't you think? Glory, glo-o-ry. Takes his meals well, likes hisqu-a-a-art of Rhenish or his Burgundy to swell his jolly paunch.A-a-a-men!"
Or, as it might be: "Are you coming--are you coming o-o-out to-night?There will be-ee, good compan-ee-ee. Dancing and deray--lots of prettygirls; no proud churls. Ten by the clock, when the doors all lock. As itwas in the beginning, is now, ever shall be, world without end,A-a-a-men!"
These were, of course, only the lay brothers, and I hope the friars werebetter behaved. I decided, however, that for the sake of my respect forreligion, I should ask Dessauer. Because I saw even the Abbot Tobias leansmilingly over to Abbot Prince Karl, and I marvelled what they spokeabout. Not that I had long to wonder, for through the open door of thechapel there streamed a dismal host of invaders from the Wolfmark--blackHussars of Death, in dark armor, with white skeletons painted over them,all charnel-house ribs and bones in hideous and ridiculous array--whichwas one of Duke Casimir's devices to frighten children, and no doubtthese scarecrows frightened many of these. Specially when these villanouscompanies were recruited from all the wild bandits of the Mark, and neverpunished for any atrocity, but, on the contrary, rather encouraged inevil-doing in order to spread the terror of their name.
Yet, when they came rushing in, even the cavaliers of death were dauntedby the sight which met them. And as the solemn service proceeded, amidthe thunder of the great organ pressing, throbbing against the roof andreverberating along the floor, hands stole to heads, helmets were lifted,and half-forgotten fear of Holy Church stirred in many a wicked andoutcast heart. Some of the foremost, with their blades half-drawn,appeared to waver whether or no they should even yet stay the servicewith the bloody sword.
But as the monks calmly chanted,
and the solemn responses were given, astillness stole over the vociferous babble within the great open doors.
Higher and higher the voices of the choir mounted, breaking a way toheaven. Awe sat on every fierce face, and when the Abbot Tobias arose topronounce the benediction, the other stood up beside him, and theHussars of Death knelt awe-stricken before the two mitred dignitaries ofthe Church.
Without a murmur they arose and slunk away without so much assearching the abbey, and so departed on their errands, leaving us safeand unharmed.
Then, when the three of us were again united in the private rooms of theAbbot Tobias, that hearty ecclesiastic shook us all by the hand and said,"Good friends, we are well out of that. Nay, no thanks! My monks are nota bit the worse of a little additional exercise to keep them humble andlean. Nor is God the less well pleased that we have sought him in time ofneed--as Prince and Abbot, as well as soldier and peasant, require."
These being the only words of genuine piety I had heard within the wallsof the monastery, I thought more of the Abbot Tobias from that momentthat he was not ashamed to speak them in the presence of Prince andCouncillor of State, as well as before a rough soldier like myself.
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