Graustark

nderous gate, but aside from his footsteps no sound was distinguishable. A sense of oppression came over the two watchers as the minutes grew longer and more deathlike in their stillness. Each f

emed to them, had ever been so dark, so still. After the oppression came the strange feeling of dread, the result of an

tance and still avoid the danger of being lost or of running into trusty guards? The longer they lay there the more hazardous became the part they had so recklessly ventured to play. In the heart of each there surged a growing desire to abandon the plan, yet neither could bring himself to the point of proposing the retre

ose of this guard on the inside and lock the gat

while. He felt the chill of

ault and rescue her. In the darkness we can make them think there are a dozen rescuers," he whispered a

capture us. What then? We are strangers, and our story would not be believed.

ght now. I have thought of a thousand contingencies, and I realize how desperate the job i

hope for the best. If we see we are going to fail we can then call for the guards. The grounds are doubt

where they station the two Viennese we can figure about what direction we m

The stealthy rustle of moving bodies was heard, faint, but positive. It was a moment of suspense that would have strained the nerve o

e gate opened, a faint creaking attesting the fact, followed by the heavy breathing of men, the noi

oach that they were upon the figure of a man before they were aware of the fact. In the darkness the foremost American saw the outline of a human figure bending over a long object on the ground. He could smell chloroform strongly, and grasped t

eard his friend's figure suddenly shoot to an erect position. A whirring sound as of disturbed air and then

her. Hold it beneath his nose. I am going to pile the body of this guard crosswis

's time, and the two trackers

hree feet. With turbulent

red Lorry, "and trust to luck

party glide away in the darkness, and followed. The body of the guard was lying just outside the mouth of the arbor, and the odor of chloroform was almost overpowering. Once inside the long arbor, the Americans moved slowly and with

ness. Presently one of them returned, and all activity was at an end for the time being. How near it was to two o'clock the watchers

third. All was still again. The soft shuffle of a foot, the rustle of arbor vines, and the form of a man crawled u

raised his head and peered through, taking calculations while the light made it possible. He saw an open door on the opposite side of the low room, with steps beyond, leading upward. Between the window and the door there we

n out there. We may need them. Here is one

e floor below. His friend followed, and they paused to listen. Taking Anguish by the

ds. Keeping close to the wall their followers crept after them. Up another flight of steps they went, and then through a spacious hall. The Americans had no time and no desire to inspect their surroundings

ed into the hall and made for the staircase. The watchers could not but feel a thrill of admiration for these daring wretches. But n

be disposed of. He had blown out the light which he carried, and was now a very dim shadow. Lorr

d you die!"

t know their language, but he certainly understood its meaning. He trembled, and would have fallen t

hand. Anguish's twitching fingers succeeded those of his friend on the cook's thro

ave finished this fellow. Be careful, and

Now came the desperate, uncertain part of the transaction. Suppose he were to meet the two conspirators at the head of the stairs, or in the

ere was no sign of the two men, either to the right or to the left. His heart felt like lead! They evidently had entered the Princess's room! How was he to find that room? Slowly he wriggled across the broad, dark hall, st

olver was in his hand. Just as he was about to pull aside the curtain a man glided past, quickly followed by another. Providence had kept him from running squarely into them. They were going toward the left, and he realized that they were now approaching the Princess's room. How he came to be ahead of them he could

her window? Perhaps he was now in the room of the Countess Dagniar. Next door! Next door! Even now the daring Geddos and Ostrom were crawling towards the bed of the ruler of Graustark, not twenty feet away. His first impulse was to cross and open the door leading to the next room, surmising that it would be unlocked, bu

t like the report of a gun to him. A sudden rustle in the darkness of the room

is

grew stiff and immovable. Again the

t you,

e in front and to his right. He could not answer, cou

at the outer

rimand in the tones, still low. He almos