XIII
"A SENTENCE; COME, PREPARE!"
"Captain," said Roland quietly, "bring your crew ashore, and fling thesebales on board again as quickly as you can."
An instant later the sailors were at work, undoing their former efforts.
"In mercy's name, Roland," wailed one of the stricken, "get a sword andcut our bonds."
"All in good time," replied Roland. "The bales are more valuable to methan you are, and we have two barrels of gold at the foot of the cliffto bring in, if they haven't sunk in the Rhine. Greusel, do you andEbearhard take two of the crew, launch the small boat, and rescue thebarrels if you can find them."
"Mercy on us, Roland! Mercy!" moaned his former comrades.
"I have already wasted too much mercy upon you," he said. "If I rescueyou now, I shall be compelled to hang you in the morning as breakers oflaw, so I may as well leave you where you are, and allow the RedMargrave to save me the trouble. The loss of his castle will not makehim more compassionate, especially if he learns you were the cause ofit. You will then experience some refined tortures, I imagine; for, likemyself, he may think hanging too good for you. I should never have firedhis castle had it not been for your rebellion."
The men on the ground groaned but made no further appeal. Some of themwere far-seeing enough to realize that an important change had come overthe young man they thought so well known to them, who stood there withan air of indifference, throwing out a suggestion now and then for themore effective handling of the bales; suggestions carrying an impalpableforce of authority that caused them to be very promptly obeyed. They didnot know that this person whom they had regarded as one of themselves,the youngest at that, treating him accordingly, had but a day or twobefore received a tremendous assurance, which would have turned the headof almost any individual in the realm, old or young; the assurance thathe was to be supreme ruler over millions of creatures like themselves; aruler whose lightest word might carry their extinction with it.
Yet such is the strange littleness of human nature that, although thispotent knowledge had been gradually exercising its effect on Roland'scharacter, it was not the rebellion of the eighteen or their mutinouswords that now made him hard as granite towards them. It was the trivialfact that four of them had dared to manhandle him; had made a personalassault upon him; had pinioned his helpless arms, and flung his sword,that insignia of honor, to the feet of Kurzbold, leader of the revolt.
The Lord's Anointed, he was coming to consider himself, although not yethad the sacred ointment been placed upon his head. A temporal Emperorand a vice-regent of Heaven upon earth, his hand was destined to holdthe invisible hilt of the Almighty's sword of vengeance. The words "Iwill repay" were to reach their fulfillment through his action.Notwithstanding his youth, or perhaps because of it, he was animated bydeep religious feeling, and this, rather than ambition, explained thecelerity with which he agreed to the proposals of the Archbishops.
The personage the prisoners saw standing on the rock-ledge ofFurstenberg was vastly different from the young man who, a comrade ofcomrades, had departed from Frankfort in their company. They beheld himplainly enough, for there was now no need of torches along theforeshore; the night was crimson in its brilliancy, and down the hillcame a continuous roar, like that of the Rhine Fall seventy leaguesaway.
Into this red glare the small boat and its four occupants entered, andRoland saw with a smile that two well-filled casks formed its freight.The bales were now aboard the barge again, and the Commander ordered thecrew to help the quartette in the small boat with the lifting of theheavy barrels. Greusel and Ebearhard clambered over the side, and camethus to the ledge where Roland stood, as the crew rolled the barrelsdown into the cabin.
"Lieutenants," said the Commander, "select two stout battle-axes fromthat heap. Follow the chain up the hill until you reach that point whereit is attached to the thick rope. Cut the rope with your axes, and drawdown the chain with you, thus clearing a passage for the barge."
The two men chose battle-axes, then turned to their leader.
"Should we not get our men aboard," they said, "before the barge isfree?"
"These rebels are prisoners of the Red Margrave. They belong to him, andnot to me. Where they are, there they remain."
The lieutenants, with one impulse, advanced to their Commander, whofrowned as they did so. A cry of despair went up from the pinioned men,but Kurzbold shouted:
"Cut him down, Ebearhard, and then release us. In the name of the guildI call on you to act! He is unarmed; cut him down! 'Tis foul murder todesert us thus."
The cutting down could easily have been accomplished, for Roland stoodat their mercy, weaponless since the _emeute_ on the barge.Notwithstanding the seriousness of the occasion, the optimisticEbearhard laughed, although every one else was grave enough.
"Thank you, Kurzbold, for your suggestion. We have come forward, not touse force, but to try persuasion. Roland, you cannot desert to death themen whom you conducted out of Frankfort."
"Why can I not?"
"I should have said a moment ago that you will not, but now I say youcannot. Kurzbold has just shown what an irreclaimable beast he is, andon that account, because birth, or training, or something has made youone of different caliber, you cannot thus desert him to the reprisal ofthat red fiend up the hill."
"If I save him now, 'twill be but to hang him an hour later. I am nohangman, while the Margrave is. I prefer that he should attend to myexecutions."
Again Ebearhard laughed.
"'Tis no use, Roland, pretending abandonment, for you will not abandon.I thoroughly favor choking the life out of Kurzbold, and one or two ofthe others, and will myself volunteer for the office of headsman,carrying, as I do, the ax, but let everything be done decently and inorder, that a dignified execution may follow on a fair trial."
"Commander," shouted the captain from the deck of the barge, "makehaste, I beg of you. The rope connecting with the Castle has been burnt,and the chain is dragging free. The current is swift, and this bargeheavy. We shall be away within the minute."
"Get your crew ashore on the instant," cried Roland, "and fling me thesedespicable burdens aboard. A man at the head, another at the heels, andtoss each into the barge. Is there time, captain, to take this heap ofcutlery with us as trophies of the fray?"
"Yes," replied the captain, "if we are quick about it."
The howling human packages were hurled from ledge to barge; the strong,unerring sailors, accustomed to the task, heaved no man into the water.Others as speedily fell upon the heap of weapons, and threw them,clattering, on the deck. All then leaped aboard, and Roland, motioninghis lieutenants to precede him, was the last to climb over the prow.
The chain came down over the stones with a clattering run, and fell witha great splash into the river. The barge, now clear, swung with thecurrent stern foremost; the sailors got to their oars, and graduallydrew their craft away from the shore. A little farther from the landing,those on deck, looking upstream, enjoyed an uninterrupted view of themagnificent conflagration. The huge stone Castle seemed to glow whitehot. The roof had fallen in, and a seething furnace reddened themidnight sky. Like a flaming torch the great tower roared to theheavens. The whole hilltop resembled the crater of an active volcano.Timber floors and wooden partitions, long seasoned, proved excellentmaterial for the incendiaries, and even the stones were crumbling away,falling into the gulf of fire, sending up a dazzling eruption of sparks,as section after section tumbled into this earthly Hades.
The long barge floated placidly down a river resembling molten gold. Theboat was in disarray, covered with bales of cloth not yet lowered intothe hold, cluttered here and there with swords, battle-axes, and spears.In the various positions where they had been flung lay the helpless men,some on their faces, some on their backs. The deck was as light as ifthe red setting sun were casting his rays upon it. Roland seated himselfon a bale, and said to the captain:
"Turn all these men face upward," and the captain did so.
"Ebearhard, you said execution should take place after a fair trial.There is no necessity to call witnesses, or to go through any court oflaw formalities. You two are perfectly cognizant of everything that hastaken place, and no testimony will either strengthen or weaken thatknowledge. As a preliminary, take Kurzbold, the new president, andGensbein, his lieutenant, from among that group, and set them apart. Twomembers of the crew will carry out this order," which was carried outaccordingly.
Roland rose, walked along the prostrate row, and selected, apparently athaphazard, four others, then said to the members of his crew:
"Place these four men beside their leader. Left to myself," he continuedto his lieutenants, "I should hang the six. However, I shall take nohand in the matter. I appoint you, Joseph Greusel, and you, GottliebEbearhard, as judges, with power of life and death. If your verdict onany or all of the accused is death, I shall use neither the ax nor thecord, but propose flinging them into the river, and if God wills them toreach the shore alive, their binding will be no hindrance to escape."
Kurzbold and his lieutenant broke out into alternate curses and appeals,protesting that Greusel and Ebearhard had not been expelled from theguild, and calling upon them by their solemn oath of brotherhood torelease them now that they possessed the power. To these appeals thenewly-appointed judges made no reply, and for once Ebearhard did notlaugh.
The other four directed their supplications to Roland himself. They hadbeen misled, they cried, and deeply regretted it. Already they sufferedpunishment of a severity almost beyond power of human endurance, andthey feared their bones were broken with the cudgeling, since whichassault their bonds grievously tortured them. All swore amendment, andtheir grim commander still remaining silent, they asked him in whatrespect they were more guilty than the dozen others whom seemingly heintended to spare. At last Roland replied.
"You four," he said sternly, "dared to lay hands upon me, and for that Idemand from the judges a sentence of death."
Even his two lieutenants gazed at him in amazement, that he should makeso much of an action which they themselves had endured and nothing saidof it. Surely the laying-on of hands, even in rudeness, was not acapital crime, yet they saw to their astonishment that Roland was indeadly earnest.
The leader turned a calm face toward their scrutiny, but there was afrown upon his brow.
"Work while ye have the light," he said. "Judges, consider yourdecision, and deliver your verdict."
Greusel and Ebearhard turned their backs on every one, walked slowlyaft, and down into the cabin. Roland resumed his seat on the bale ofcloth, elbows on his knees, and face in his hands. All appeals hadceased, and deep silence reigned, every man aboard the boat in a stateof painful tension. The fire in the distant castle lowered and lowered,and darkness was returning to the deck of the barge. At last the judgesemerged from the cabin, and came slowly forward.
It was Greusel who spoke.
"We wish to know if only these six are on trial?"
"Only these six," replied Roland.
"Our verdict is death," said Greusel. "Kurzbold and Gensbein are to bethrown into the Rhine bound as they lie, but the other four receive onechance for life, in that the cords shall be cut, leaving their limbsfree."
This seeming mercy brought no consolation to the quartette, for eachplaintively proclaimed that he could not swim.
"I thank you for your judgment," said Roland, "which I am sure you musthave formed with great reluctance. Having proven yourself such excellentjudges, I doubt not you will now act with equal wisdom as advisers. Aphrase of yours, Ebearhard, persists in my mind, despite all efforts todislodge it. You uttered on the ledge of rock yonder something to theeffect that we left Frankfort as comrades together. That is very true,and unless you override my resolution, I have come to the conclusionthat if any of us are fated to die, the penalty shall be dealt by someother hand than mine. The twelve who lie here are scarcely less guiltythan the six now under sentence, and I propose, therefore, to put ashoreon the east bank Kurzbold and Gensbein, one a rogue, the other a fool.The sixteen who remain have so definitely proven themselves to besimpletons that I trust they will not resent my calling them such. Ifhowever, they abandon all claim to the comradeship that has been so muchprated about, swearing by the Three Kings of Cologne faithfully tofollow me, and obey my every word without cavil or argument, I willpardon them, but the first man who rebels will show that my clemency hasbeen misplaced, and I can assure them that it shall not be exercisedagain. Captain, your sailors are familiar with knotted ropes. Bid themrelease all these men except the six condemned."
The boatmen, with great celerity, freed the prostrate captives fromtheir bonds, but some of the mutineers had been so cruelly used in thecudgeling that it was necessary to assist them to their feet. The earlysummer daybreak was at hand, its approach heralded by the perceptiblediluting of the darkness that surrounded them, and a ghastly, pallidgrayness began to overspread the surface of the broad river. Down thestream to the west the towers of Bacharach could be faintlydistinguished, looking like a dream city, the lower gloom of which waspicked out here and there by points of light, each betokening an earlyriser.
It was a deeply dejected, silent group that stood in this weirdhalf-light, awaiting the development of Roland's mind regarding them;he, the youngest of their company, quiet, unemotional, whose dominion noone now thought of disputing.
"Captain," he continued, "steer for the eastern shore. I know thatBacharach is the greatest wine mart on the Rhine, and well sustains thereputation of the drunken god for whom it is named, but we willnevertheless avoid it. There is a long island opposite the town, but alittle farther down. I dare say you know it well. Place that islandbetween us and Bacharach, and tie up to the mainland, out of view fromthe stronghold of Bacchus. He is a misleading god, with whom we shallhold no further commerce.
"Now, Joseph Greusel, and Gottlieb Ebearhard, do you two administer theoath of the Three Kings to these twelve men; but before doing so, giveeach one his choice, permitting him to say whether he will followKurzbold on the land or obey me on the water."
Here Kurzbold broke out again in trembling anger:
"Your pretended fairness is a sham, and your bogus option a piece ofyour own sneaking dishonesty. What chance have we townsmen, put ashore,penniless, in an unknown wilderness, far from any human habitation,knowing nothing of the way back to Frankfort? Your fraudulent clemencyrescues us from drowning merely to doom us to starvation."
The daylight had so increased that all might see the gentle smile comingto Roland's lips, and the twinkle in his eye as he looked at thewrathful Kurzbold.
"A most intelligent leader of men are you, Herr Conrad. I suppose thisdozen will stampede to join your leadership. They must indeed be proudof you when they learn the truth. I shall present to each of you, out ofmy own store of gold that came from the castle you so bravely attackedlast night, one half the amount that is your due. This will be moremoney than any of you ever possessed before; each portion, indeed,excelling the total that you eighteen accumulated during your wholelives. I could easily bestow your share without perceptible diminutionof the fund we three, unaided, extracted from the coffers of the RedMargrave. The reason I do not pay in full is this. When you reachFrankfort, I must be assured that you will keep your foolish tonguessilent. If any man speaks of our labors, I shall hear of it on myreturn, and will fine that man his remaining half-share.
"It distresses me to expose your ignorance, Kurzbold, but I put youashore amply provided with money, barely two-thirds of a league fromLorch, where you spent so jovial an evening, and where a man with goldin his pouch need fear neither hunger nor thirst. Lorch may be attainedby a leisurely walker in less than half an hour; indeed, it is barelytwo leagues from this spot to Assmannshausen, and surely you know theroad from that storehouse of red wine to the capital city of Frankfort,having once traversed it. A child of six, Kurzbold, might be safely putashore where you shall set foot on land. Therefore, lieutenants, leteach man
know he will receive a bag of coin, and may land unmolested toaccompany the brave and intelligent Kurzbold."
As he finished this declamation, that caused even some of the beatenwarriors to laugh at their leader, the barge came gently alongside thestrand, well out of sight of Bacharach. Each of the dozen swore theterrible, unbreakable oath of the Three Kings to be an obedient henchmanto Roland.
"You may," said Roland, "depart to the cabin, where a flagon of winewill be served to every man, and also an early breakfast. After that youare permitted to lie down and relax your swollen limbs, meditating onthe extract from Holy Writ which relates the fate of the blind when ledby the blind."
When the dozen limped away, the chief turned to his prisoners.
"Against you four I bear resentment that I thought could not be appeasedexcept by your expulsion, but reflection shows me that you acted underinstruction from the foolish leader you selected, and therefore theprincipal, not the agent, is most to blame. I give you the same choice Ihave accorded to the rest. Unloose them, captain; and while this isbeing done, Greusel, get two empty bags from the locker, open one of thecasks, and place in each bag an amount which you estimate to be one halfthe share which is Kurzbold's due."
The four men standing up took the oath, and thanked Roland for hismercy, hurrying away at a sign from him to their bread and wine.
"Send hither," cried Roland after them, "two of the men who have alreadyrefreshed themselves, each with a loaf of bread and a full flagon ofwine. And now, captain, release Kurzbold and Gensbein."
When these two stood up and stretched themselves, the bearers of breadand wine presented them with this refreshment, and after they hadpartaken of it, Greusel gave them each a bag of gold, which they tied totheir belts without a word, while Greusel and Ebearhard waited to escortthem to land.
"We want our swords," said Kurzbold sullenly.
Ebearhard looked at his chief, but he shook his head.
"They have disgraced their swords," he said, "which now by right belongto the Margrave Hermann von Katznellenbogenstahleck. Put them ashore,lieutenant."
It was broad daylight, and the men had all come up from the cabin,standing in a silent group at the stern. Kurzbold, on the bank, foamingat the mouth with fury, shook his fist at them, roaring:
"Cowards! Pigs! Dolts! Asses! Poltroons!"
The men made no reply, but Ebearhard's hearty laugh rang through theforest.
"You have given us your titles, Kurzbold," he cried. "Send us youraddress whenever you get one!"
"Captain," said Roland, "cast off. Cross to this side of that island,and tie up there for the day. Set a man on watch, relieving the sentinelevery two hours. We have spent an exciting night, and will sleep tillevening."
"Your honor, may I first stow away these bales, and dispose of thebattle-axes, spears, and broadswords, so to clear the deck?"
"You may do that, captain, at sunset. As for the bales, they make a verycomfortable couch upon which I intend to rest."