VI
The enemy ceased firing, both within the chateau and without. Wonderingwhat their next move would be, Burton remained heedfully on guard, riflein hand. Pierre, overcome with grief at the collapse of his master, wasassisting the marquise to restore him and to bind up his wound.
Presently the German's voice came through the door.
"General du Breuil!"
"What do you want?" Burton called.
"You treacherous hound! I have nothing to say to you," cried theGerman, angrily. "I speak to the general."
"The general deputes me to answer for him. If you will not speak to me,you will go unanswered."
"Who are you?" the German asked with an oath.
"The general's deputy," replied Burton.
"That will not avail you," cried the officer, sneeringly. "I have sentto the village to fetch that rascally smith who assisted your imposture.When he has told me who you are, he shall be deaf and dumb for his lastminute in life."
Burton felt chill from top to toe. He had not thought of the peril inwhich his stratagem might involve the smith. The Germans were capableof any enormity. But he could do nothing--except gain time. Would theBritish advance guard arrive before all was lost?
"Well, if the general chooses to employ a cur as his deputy, so be it,"the German went on. "Like man, like master. Take this message to thegeneral: If he does not yield, I will fire the chateau."
"And if we surrender?" said Burton.
"We will deal with him as a soldier. He will be tried by court-martial."
"On what charge?"
"That, having been a soldier, with no excuse of ignorance of the laws ofwar, he, as a civilian, resists the military power."
"And if he is found guilty?"
"His fate will lie in the discretion of the court."
"And his old servant?"
The German, anxious to gain his ends without further fighting,hesitated, then replied, equivocally--
"The court will decide."
"And myself?"
"The court will decide," replied the officer, impatiently.
"Is that all?"
The German smote the door angrily.
"Your answer!" he cried.
"You will give us a few minutes for consultation?"
"Five minutes: no more."
Burton stood on his chair, holding his rifle.
"I heard it, monsieur," said the voice of the marquise in an undertonebehind him. "My poor husband is incapable of speech. We must leave allto you. But can we resist fire?"
"Madame, I seek to gain time. We can expect no mercy from the Germans.There is but one hope--that our army will arrive in time. If that hopefails----"
"Spare us fire, monsieur, I implore you. It is frightful."
She wrung her hands piteously.
"Trust me, madame; hope, and pray," said Burton.
When the five minutes were up, the German hailed him. "Youranswer--quickly."
"Monsieur le capitaine," said Burton, suavely, "we cannot surrender yet.We should like to kill a few more Germans."
The officer let out a vicious oath.
"Then roast!" he cried. "You and the rest."
"Including your worthy commandant, mon capitaine? Don't forget him."
"You have murdered him."
"That is the explanation of their reckless shooting," thought Burton.He replied: "Not at all. We are not Germans."
"You lie!" cried the captain, whose anger was rapidly getting the betterof him.
"Did I not remind you, monsieur, that we are not Germans?"
The officer was speechless with rage. Burton imagined his quandary. Itwould be awkward for him if he set fire to the chateau and burnt hissuperior. His next words showed his state of mind.
"You say Major Schwikkard is alive. Prove it."
"Nothing easier, mon capitaine," said Burton. "You must give me a fewminutes. He is a heavy man."
He saw that there was nothing to lose, possibly something to gain, byconvincing the German. Slipping down from his perch, he hurried toPierre, who was kneeling at his master's chair.
"Come with me," he said, and led him into the room where the major laygagged and bound. The bed was a light one. They carried it to thewindow, and tilted it on end. Leaving Pierre to maintain it in thatposition, Burton returned to the chair, and kept silence until thecaptain impatiently demanded his proofs.
"I must trouble you to descend and go to the rear of the wing,monsieur," said Burton. "It is dark: no doubt you have a flashlight?"
"We have; what then? Do not play with me."
"Far from it, monsieur. I am aware of the gravity of your position. Godown to the garden at the rear, and look up at the window that will thenface you. But do not flash your light up until I give the word."
The German snarled under his breath. Burton caught the sounds of awhispered consultation at the stair-head. A minute or two later theofficer called up from the garden. Burton withdrew the piled-upfurniture, opened the shutters, and helped Pierre to lift the bed,tilted as it was, to the window. The major's form, stretched upon it,somewhat resembled a mummy in a case.
"Now, monsieur!" Burton called.
The glaring light of an acetylene lamp was thrown up towards the window.It fell on the major's face, which, ghastly in itself, looked death-likein the glare.
"He is dead!" the captain shouted.
"Not at all--only afraid; he overheard your amiable intentions. We willdemonstrate." He turned to Pierre, saying: "Fetch some pepper."
"There is none upstairs, monsieur. I dare not go below."
"Some snuff?"
"Ah, oui! monsieur le marquis likes his pinch. A moment, monsieur."
He went into the bedroom, took a snuff-box from his master's pocket, andreturned. Burton opened the box, took a large pinch of snuff, and heldit to the major's nose. There was a slight but dramatic pause. All wassilent. Then the major's features became convulsed, and the silence wasrent by a resounding sneeze.
"Now, monsieur le capitaine," cried Burton, "could a dead German sneezelike that?"
There were snarls of rage from below, mingled, Burton thought, withsuppressed laughter from some of the troopers who had gathered in thebackground behind their officers.
"With your good pleasure we will resume our interesting conversationabove," said Burton.
With Pierre he lowered the bed and carried it back to its formerposition. Then he replaced the shutters.
"Another ten minutes gained," he thought.
The ten minutes were prolonged to fifteen. The captain was consultingwith his subordinates. Presently he called through the door--
"Are you there?"
"Always at your service, monsieur."
"Seeing that Major Schwikkard is apparently alive, we will permit you tosurrender on terms."
"What terms, monsieur?"
"You shall be allowed to pass through the German lines."
"I should like to consult the general, monsieur," said Burton, stilltalking to gain time.
"Five minutes."
"Let us say ten, monsieur," Burton pleaded. "It is, you will admit, aserious matter."
"Ten, then; not a minute more."
At the end of the ten minutes the captain called for an answer.
"The general wishes to know, monsieur, what guarantee he has forsafety."
"The word of a German officer," snarled the captain. "Be quick!"
Waiting a minute or so, Burton said--
"The general has a little difficulty in making up his mind--pardonableat his age. You give him another ten minutes, monsieur?"
"Three; not a second more," cried the German, completely hoodwinked byBurton's tone, and unaware of the vital consideration in Burton'smind--the return of Captain Rolfe to head-quarters.
"Very well, monsieur. I will bring the general's answer in threeminutes."
The marquise and Pierre were holding their breath. The
same thoughtpossessed them both; to what lengths would this audacious Englishman go?
The period elapsed; the captain called peremptorily for an answer.
"The general, monsieur, has considered your offer," said Burton, "and hefeels safer where he is."
At last the German's besotted intelligence was penetrated by thesuspicion that he had been played with. He poured out his venom in atorrent of virulent abuse, snatched at his revolver, and firedpoint-blank into the darkness. The bullet struck one of the legs ofBurton's chair, the chair broke under him, and he fell with a crash.The effect of the shot, heard but not seen by the Germans, was hailed bythem with a shout of triumph. But Burton crawled into the bedroom, withno worse injury than bruised elbows and shins.