CHAPTER XV.
MYSTERY OF THE FLOWER QUEEN.
Frank looked at Professor Scotch in amazement, for he had never knownthe little man to use such language or show such spirit in the face ofactual danger.
"I wonder if the professor has been drinking, and, if so, where he gothis drinks?" was the thought that flashed through Frank's mind.
"Mistah Raymon', sah, has no quarrel with you, sah," said the individualwith the bristling mustache. "If there is to be any further trouble,sah, I will attend to your case."
"You? Who are you?"
"I, sah, am Colonel La Salle Vallier, the ver' particular friend ofMistah Raymon'. If yo' say so, we will exchange cards, sah."
"Then we will exchange. Here is mine."
"And here, sah, is mine."
"This," said Colonel Vallier, "precludes yo' from interfering in thisothah affair, Professor Scotch."
"Hey? It does! How's that, I'd like to know?"
"I am at your service, professor," bowed the colonel. "You shall makesuch arrangements as yo' choose. Pistols or swords make no difference tome, for I am a dead shot and an expert swordsman. I trust yo' willexcuse us now, gentlemen. We will see yo' later. Good-day."
He locked arms with the young man, and they turned away, with a sweepingsalute. The throng parted, and they passed through.
Professor Scotch stood staring after them till Frank tapped him on theshoulder, saying:
"Come, professor, we may as well get out of this."
"Excuse-a me, senors," said a soft, musical voice, and a young man witha Spanish face and pink cheeks was bowing before them. "I t'ink youneed-a to be tole 'bout it."
"Told about what?" demanded Frank, who took an instant dislike to thissoftly smiling fellow with the womanish voice and gentle ways. "What doyou mean?"
"Excuse-a me," repeated the stranger, who was gaudily dressed in manycolors. "Yo' are strangar-a-rs from de Noath, an' yo' do not know-a demen what you have a de troub' wid. Excuse-a me; I am Manuel Mazaro, an'I know-a dem. De young man is son of de ver' reech Senor RoderickRaymon', dat everybody in New Orle'n know. He is ver' wile--ver'reckless. Ha! He love-a to fight, an' he has been in two duel, dough heis ver' young. But de odare, senors--de man wid de white mustache--ah!"
Manuel Mazaro threw up his hands with an expression that plainly saidwords failed him.
"Well, what of the other?" asked Frank, impatiently.
"Senors," purred Mazaro, "he is de wor-r-rst fightar ever leeve! Helike-a to fight fo' de sport of keelin'. Take-a my advice, senors, an'go 'way from New Orle'n'. Yo' make ver' gre't mistake to get in troub'wid dem."
"Thank you for your kind advice," said Frank, quietly. "I presume it iswell meant, but it is wasted. This is a free country, and a dozenfire-eaters like Colonel La Salle Vallier and Mr. Rolf Raymond cannotdrive us out of New Orleans till we are ready to go. Eh, professor?"
"Well, I guess not!" rumbled the little man, stiffening up and lookingas fierce as he could.
"Oh, ver' well, ver' well," said Mazaro, lifting his eyebrows, the ghostof a scornful smile on his face. "You know-a your own biz. Good-day,senors."
"Good-day, sir."
They passed through the crowd and sought their carriage, which waswaiting for them, although the driver had begun to think they haddeserted him.
The procession, which had been broken up by the stampeded steers, wasagain forming, making it evident that the pleasure-loving people weredetermined that the unfortunate occurrence should not ruin the day.
The Queen of Flowers and her subjects had vanished, and the flower bargewas a wreck, so a part of the programme could not be carried out.
The procession formed without the flower barge, and was soon on its wayonce more, the band playing its liveliest tune.
The way was lined with tens of thousands of spectators, while flagsfluttered from every building. All along the line the king was greetedwith cheers and bared heads. It was a most magnificent spectacle.
The carriage bearing Frank and the professor had found a place in theprocession through the skill of the driver, and the man and boy wereable to witness this triumphal entrance of King Rex to the CrescentCity.
At the City Hall, the Duke of Crescent City, who was the mayor, welcomedRex with great pomp and ceremony, presenting him the keys and thefreedom of the city.
Shortly afterward, the king mysteriously disappeared, and the processionbroke up and dispersed.
Frank and the professor returned to the St. Charles Hotel, both feelingdecidedly hungry.
Frank had little to say after they had satisfied their hunger and werein their suite of rooms. He had seemed to be thinking all the while, andthe professor again repeated a question that he had asked several times:
"What in the world makes you so glum, Frank? What are you thinkingabout?"
"The Queen of Flowers," was the reply.
"My boy," cried the professor, enthusiastically, "I am proud ofyou--yes, sir, proud! But, at one time, I thought you were done for.That steer was right upon you, and I could see no way for you to escapethe creature's horns. I held my breath, expecting to see you impaled.And then I saw you escape with no further injury than the slitting ofyour coat sleeve, but to this minute I can't say how you did it."
Frank scarcely seemed to hear the professor's words. He sat with hishand to his head, his eyes fixed on a pattern in the carpet.
"She knew my name," he muttered. "She spoke it distinctly. There can beno doubt about that."
Professor Scotch groaned dismally.
"There you go again!" he exclaimed. "Now, what are you mumbling about?"
"The Queen of Flowers."
"Confound the Queen of Flowers!" exploded Scotch. "You saved her lifeat the risk of your own, but you don't know her from Adam."
"She knows me."
"How is that?"
"She spoke my name."
"You must be mistaken."
"I am not."
Professor Scotch looked incredulous.
"Why, she was unconscious."
"She was when I saved her from the steer."
"And she recovered afterward?"
"Yes; just as Colonel Vallier was taking her to the carriage."
"And she spoke your name then?"
"Yes. First I saw her open her eyes, and I noticed that she was lookingstraight at me; then I heard her distinctly but faintly pronounce myname."
The professor still looked doubtful.
"You were excited, my boy, and you imagined it."
"No, professor, it was no case of imagination; I know she called meFrank Merriwell, but what puzzles me is the fact that this young cad,Raymond, was determined I should not speak with her, and she was carriedaway quickly. Why should they wish to keep us from having a few words ofconversation?"
"That is a question I cannot answer, Frank."
"There's a mystery here, professor--a mystery I mean to solve. I amgoing to find out who the Queen of Flowers really is."
"And get into more trouble, you hot-headed young rascal. I should thinkyou were in trouble enough already, with a possible duel impending."
A twinkle of mischief showed in Frank's eyes.
"How about yourself, professor?"
"Oh, the young scoundrel won't dare to meet me," blustered Scotch,throwing out his chest and strutting about the room.
"But he is not the one you will have to meet. You exchanged cards withColonel La Salle Vallier."
"As a mere matter of courtesy."
"That might go in the North, but you exchanged under peculiarcircumstances, and, taking everything into consideration, I have nodoubt but you will be waited on by a friend of Colonel Vallier. You willhave to meet him."
"Hey!" roared the professor, turning pale. "Is it possible that such aresult will come from a mere matter of politeness? Why, I'm no fighter,Frank--I'm no blood-and-thunder ruffian! I did not mean to hint that Iwished to meet the colonel on the field of honor."
"But you have, and you can't back out no
w. You heard what Manuel Mazarohad to say about him. He is a dead shot and a skilled swordsman. Oh,professor, my heart bleeds for you! But you shall have a great funeral,and I'll plant tiddly-wink posies all over your grave."
"Caesar's ghost!" groaned Scotch, collapsing on a chair, and looking veryill indeed. "This is a terrible scrape! I don't feel well. I fear I amgoing to be very ill."