THE "EAGLES"

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 191, 16 September 1909, Page 4

THE "EAGLES"

J,-. I i Ji'iAL ol.ul 'Jj I LOVE AiiD AD^EiiTuiic. iiy i" • r. ; :.-,' ■; \:;r. 4 ,

jwnr »,. Frederick wanf.it to rush the position, hrvak into the room, burst ofxrit the window and musket Ih hand charge th~ ambuscade. The strng;l* outside the door had fined hi* lighting Instincts, and t am bourrd to stay 1 Ml a good deal of sympathy with trim. The steady old Frit*. however, cotm-telbd prudence ond op p<*alitl to Flora, liter r-ady wit swivel the prol Irm. In one of I hi old room* wa» a huge mVtat Krv wrt'rn . Many hands rprirkly rolled this* to the spot and pushing it lielon* u* Frederick and I made our way into the n«m. lifting- it. shoving it. and wriggling it among the rubbish, we got w*ll np to th-* window. It almost covered th. whole of the lower window and ttehitvd it "We w*« to work at exlinguish- ; ing the flame*. The small hand hose smli-diird fh.hlaxt* that ens beginning to break out. but it did nol rover surtieirn: space to keep the smouldering lire . thoroughly under. The maids were s -nt out for 'Mills of water, while Frit* and I stood sentinel on either side of the wrrcvß in rase of misehiel frimi without. At urn- moment while ««.• were all busy watching thr slowly ileadening flames a rry from one o* the girls drew my at lent ion to th'.* window. A fierce lace was fo Ik* svrn just ar-nve the fire-srr.en. One o* the wretches was actually standing on the bark of another and •■wring in at the top. As our attention was called to him he jumped down bul not Iwfnre he had smashed ; th*> gtass and thrown another little ball of lighted wool tilled with gun- ! powder. Old Frit* pounced on this and made to throw it into the passage. It exploited in his hand and burned his Irony old fingers horriHy. Frederick could 'contain himself no longer. Rushing' round the ba>k of | the screen he kicked the window of .en with hi* heavy boot and svramfded ■, after the retreating figure. AgsUn he grappled one of them, and a* I t'ushrd our to his assistnnce I saw j I he glint of cold Sleel in the «Sim Morning lijrht. and Fret {.-rick l«*»s>*n- ; ed in* grip. Ills assailant broke i «way from hir.i and m» first business now was to «irng him l>«ck to a place of safety. Fortunately our a*sailan'* were too much o*-iup».-«f* in getting n«ay from this fierce young soldier to turn their rifles on us. We got to the house and Flora. ' with her own hands dressed the poor \ bid's wounds. The knife had gone j into his shoulder, but fortunately into the rt»-shy part. We linis|yi'd that fight, therefore. with two ol our party slightly woun»!ed and with the enemy praetirally uninjured. | It was. on the whole, the most •bsaptH.lnting Inillle I had ever tafsiti part In. but w» held th* fort. l>ayEight was breaking, and tin men would have to scatter lietore tlu» ; countryside was astir. "I think you may s»f,»ly let y«»nr , p.-ople lake th.'ir rest now." I snid to Flora. "Home of thftn had b■•t- | t.r r main n little longer on duty. ! nn»l possibly you ran semi for som • '. n«tsrstnnc.» now to kcn-p watch whil • th..<> also r.sf."* With n formal norl of I'rrtuli'ln Von t.rahaun put my ».«g----(ivfi.mi inti» eff.s-f. "And y..ti yourself. Flora."" I raid. irlcn ler a momi'at or two we vs-r--«!v>n ■. "jtiii must rest. I f -or (t«;- . 'fr»f - <*t th. l - night must hav* br-.-a a t Fi-i.r.N- strain r»n you."" "E n<.n«f see that my patients n't rigUt In'Eo.-e I ran len*.e ilvm *l~. I have or«|"r*il nn.'i°vr rtHtr.i to l*» set at your disposal : th.« on<» y on w.Te to have oTupfeil i J . I am Bi'rard. a titlb* up-*r>t. I \, "«» s«n» you BToin lat r. and we r r iri tVn discuss «>ther arrangements." S*he walked away and left mstanding in nbsobit.* nitia/--;.t.ii' This frigid |>«liten*'?s was a n v pjt|s*riencc. I neti-r ilrear.t Flora capable of It—towards me. CI IA IT KU VI. I dare not lie down, or I should wake up too stiff to move, anil Ih.-r was n go«nl deal of work to be done to-day. In 5 hi* lirst plnre I must go bar". to llrlin. The countess must rom* wirh m>*. and Flora—well. I'lorr | nugtit not to I** Ml alone in thi-DWI-of-lhe-way *pot even whi'ti thr re«f objects of the attack by th.* t>r pnru/alp<»n of Combat had Ml tin house. White I was thinking these i"»lng over, pacing np ami down the ro , where Flora bad sung her lit I It S.of.h l.nllnds to ur. in the eurt.t i'Ventng. the cn»wnlc>» cam- into thr room. "Ila%e they gone?*" she a*.k;>«l. i; j ■ lerritied whisper. I pointed quietly through I he win dow to the rising sun. ' N'aturw has come to o»«r or.;, Counlrwi. Their ileeda nrn evil. nr. th? I'ght of day is not *»•>» I to ( them."" "Hut they will rrtuTO." , " N'*> : they will not return. Tie* tvilt be hunted liku wild beasts a. | h.mhi »s the eountrysisfe {% pr».u*>-« I'h" people will be no less an.\iut.v , ttnvrv the p»»lice "*— 'The fHlllCe • ** " Yes : th*? police, of cu«ne, wiP | have to In* seal lor."* "Then will b« InrjulrK-n-."" j »*id the cnunt«>ss. *'t know I hi ( mrthod of the ft rman ofhViats. Tli.-y will take the natnv» of every one ol ( a». Wc shall haw lo give them ail , particulars and—wc must Iw away , hetnre liter come."* , "ImpomsiblP { *" , **l must If yoa arc not. I hav« I old yoa what my instructions are. . Dn no account tnust 1 reveal my , Idrattty. and a fictitious name will i not svrv* with the German police , Thr}- may wrn detain us all hen j pending inquiries*, and "" ( 1 had not Ihoagbt of that. It , would hardly salt my instruct lorn •ither to be kept here for two ot « three days t too moot get Lack tc i FVrlin without seeing the police. | N'oborly had sent for thein yet anr; there wo.s still tune for us to depart f bu' what should I say to Flora ' t

~- .'• !»■ •':. ' -J'...-' ■■■>!■■ ■ - • ■ !■! '([»'. ' l(. lit' ii-i.fv. (<■ i- •!l!i> ■ her n •, And £.. I» her n!!^S-' ! ('•'■•••■!•*■ f this time it was practically ■'.-v. iijrht. and a morning pi|n? nn«l a «nit m the open nir might shnrpyn i:i> wits. Those of the servants who had no! gone to tied wore busy nutting the house in order: Fiederiek was sleeping after a loss of Mood and w« at*ncss from his wound : old Fritz ita< rubbing his burned flesh with grease: and Flora was still busy superintending everything. Xobody saw roe stroll nIT from the house and without inquiring the way to anywhere t wandercil aimlessly into the forest. Thf twittering birds and the fresh morning air were a mental and physical lonic, and I stepped out briskly im'o «m« of the by-paths- that led through a mass of beautiful autumn foliagtv The more compllrateil tbinfr* became ns i tried to fathom n way out of the difficulty, the faster I walked. I must have covered several miles, for I had lieen walking almost a couple of hours before I l»£..n ti» think aln»ut finding my wny batk to the h«»use. When I cached a clearing in the wood with a cross-post pointing to various directions. 1 looked round a';otit me and saw I was on the bank of a delightful little stream that ended in a |HKit not far from the main path. Stepping off the road I wandered down the side of the bank to the brook, and going down on my hand* and knee*. Imthcd my face in the delightful refreshing water. A hug"' mo«*s-coveri'd rock by the Hide of th» stream presented so inviting n s.:it that for {he lirst time for Hoitv hours I allowed my aching lion.-s to rest. I had pushed a chunk of bread and cold meat in my fHit-ket lief«>re I came out. in case the mnrtting air should make me too hungry to wait for breakfast, and I leisurely ale this ns I watched the meandering stream ripple by. The bank took a liend just at the l»oint where I was sitting, and the r.nk was at such an angle that I roEMiuanded a view of the road running in one direction, but was absolutely out .of \iew nixself in the overhanging bii-hes. At any rate there was peace for a few minutes, and the fascination of quietude took such a hold nn tie* that I sat on after I hn.i lini h -I m> f«>«»d and had thrown the scraps to the grateful hir.-l-t on the opposite lank. At length I myself for a big effort to ri*e from my s at. The sound of n:>pr«i-i'-hing enrriag • wheels however caught ft. at tent ion at that moment, and not wishing to lie bothered with strangers I sat back to wait t>ll the early ris. r« had driven past. Instead of passing along the Watrn mad. »•««- iarri«ie> s ptill.d up at the open space, and a man in a heavy overcoat, wish a collar round his ear.*, stepfk'tl «»iiS. The carriage on and he pared up and down the clearing with u military .stride I had Mirely s*-vn In-fore, lie looked at his watch and ilten along the rood in the opposite direction from where.", in o minute or two I heard ■.•nrriaj.-" whirls approa. hing. From mi n-sling pln<> I could not see this irri%nl. but I imagined from what t icard that he also from his •nrrisipe and ordered it to withdraw +ome ili -tance off. "lb-fore your lime ns usual. I sei'," ••aid one of the men in French. "I «w always punecml." retorted I he other in a sharp, self-confident (one. "Shall we walk a little way into the wood ? It is not likely that any other Is-rsons will be about Ibis morning at this |hiiiil. but we will pet nil »h" high road within call of our |» ople."' The »wo m.-it w.i'k-.l nlong till lie-y were pructienll.v just over my "lead. I hnnily liked listening to their conversation, but ns ii did not v.titern iu">. nud in a'l probability 1 -dsoci.d f«.rget nil a!«»nt it as soon as I i-uM jn-t rsd.ol «h'HI and Is? off. it did f»;»s ni'ieh matter. "It is un.l -rstood." jni«l the man with the sl.aip v..i.e. "that this •eiivr-i-silroii is without ■••r.'jiidice. absolutely private, and so i'ur ns i-y.-ry other |n>r.*ou i.s con-.-.'i-nefl. hn't nol tii\r>?i place." "All tin's.' tiling* ore iinp*rn'ivi> >n my side nl any i;ile." retorted the other. "If my friereds knew. 4«d if >our fri-nds knew " "I»o nol trouble about my friends. I rn;i look after ih m in any rase. And while it is. perhaps, no pari of my duty in lecture you. I may rer.iark. that if you enr.-d more for .our duties an.l less for what your rries.tLs think of ywtir duties there .v.m1.l Ih- far less trouble in your fioiis< hold." "fireumstancs nr»- different." reI»li.t1 the oth.T s|waker in n sad. s«a* tone. "Our traditions are nol ihe same. You are a servant with [nil |H.wer, 1 pm a master with no piiir.r." 'Then why meet me at all ? Have mil the will to do as vou are ad-ds-.I ? " I "My object Is rather to know what ire our relative jmsitions. You *now the circumstances as well as I !«>. If one were free to act without nking into account the possibilities 1 if other people's anions it would be 1 •asier (o know what one should do." < Then- was a note of impatience in !h"» voire of the first arrival, and I .mid hear him tapping his l»oot vtith n short staff he carried. < "Act for yourself, and think af- I erwanls." he said. i "Thai is the way. I know : but 1 r«» an* of -different natures. You i ;rt on impulse and nev. r look barJc. < 1 torture myself with thought before [ act and when I have acted I am 1 taunted with doubt ns to whether I iave artcd right. " F.wn your ene- i nit's appear to forgive you when you i ire indiscreet. Kveit my friends i »nly watch their opportunity to n'.e advantage of my mistakes. iVliy was I not born to roam in these i toods a forester or a fanaer, or .ornelhing*of the kind? " | your ilestiny was for | tomething else. Hut t-ll roe what j ire you going to tlo t Will you piny he pari of a man of will, or will \ on vacillate and hesitate to the | iiirl and injury of yourself and ol ■veryl'ody else? On these mailers « re must all stand united." "Then you will not take advantngif any misfortune thnt may nris- ( hroUgh m»- seeming t<> co.irt iron>le '.""' | "The prii il.-e>-M ar.-l •'!-■ |- ':■■'■ , >f our rfii*. - .ir- ' •■-• ': ■ • a.; ■ : '.- lit S'ln-:;.!-:. i '■• :: : :. ■". ::: _ __ '_ _ _ " """"" ™"'" I :

-i\s.sions you :hink nis'. I am i lfrairl it is hnr<!!;. j.r.T't k.-i to c.sk iou In n<~" as vo'i 'hiiir. :■•:-■ Yo'i arc (on fond of taking lh-- ;i.h i' - '- of iHlvrs. Hut "M your nun r .-poniibility or on lhat of thos- vlwra toil may con>i.l r to I<• your best 'rit-mJ«, act fearlessly and jou ;thall 3© " "Supported ? " **Sup|K>rtc«l if. of cour.«w\ a strong word. It will bo no part of my duty to openly aid and abet you. but I ran promise you I here will be no interference to your detriment. Anything that may be said or done will »e in sympathy with yoti and not in sympathy with those with whom you ■nay come in conflict." '"And the islanders ? " "Their sympathy will Ik? Against i-ou. Of that you may be crtain. Hut. of course, you have no fear of active interference there." "So ; I suppose not. V.Jj.it it must l>e to live in such a place ! To tic at once a ruler and a friend. To walk into the o|H«n light of day amongst one's neighbours. To love, and l>e loved and to fear no man.'* "Yes. yes, exactly. Don't mors*' ire, my dear Nicholas. This is not the nge of morals ; it is an age of action. And now I am afraid we must not keep our hired lac!:eys waiting any longer for us or they will be chattering to each oilier. And it is not good to let common people talk too much to each ather. Good-bye. He strong, be firm and I will stand by you." The two men walked off to the .•ross-roads and beckoned to their .'nrriages. 1 had been listening to them with an intense interest I ;ould not conceal. An irresistible :lesire to t-lamlier up the bank and make sure of certain suspicions that were passing in my mind had r<>m< ;»ver me. and had they not walked away. I might have revealed my-.H in my eagerness. As it was thenwas no need for that. They stood in a direct line to where I was silting and turned together in my direction. I had seen them both aflen. I knew every line in each of .their faces. The* man who had come first, the man with the sharp voice and the smart military walk, was Wilhclm, German Emperor. His sad-voiced. Bailing companion was Nicholas, the Czar of All the Russias. CHAPTER VII. /low the two Emperors had managed to steal off incognito and meet here in this lonely forest for their quiet domestic chat was their business. The Kai.ser wandered where he listed at ad times, but the gloomy man from St. Petersburg must have I ravelled off at dead of night with the connivance of some one he could [ trust. That temporary disclosure of lm j identity to me was. of course, no j part of his programme. I wonder j what the poor man would have felt like had he known he had poured forth the sorrows of his soul within hearing of a man in the service of the British Foreign Office ? He pulled his heavy coat about him turned up his collar, and sinking hi.. head till the broad-brimmed hat he wore almost touched the cloth, stepped into the closed carriage which drove up. The other man alsc muffled himself up and stepped into his carriage. The two drove in opposite directions, the one possibly to go to the nearest station for Berlin, and take train as a German rount, the other doubtless to st<al back to some quiet inn, and, posing as a simple country gentleman, to

:rnbnrk in the darkness in a sleeping rar across the Continent to St. Petersburg. Their meeting bad considerably increased my reasons for desiring t<: get bark to Ik-rltn. and on to St. Petersburg. Something was al-oul to hap|H-n in Russia, and I must be there to see it. The informs: "o:: had not l»een intended for now that I possessed it, it was m> duty to use it for the Ix-nefit of my own country if any l>en: , fil was to be got out of it. Such is the fine distinction one is able to draw between public and private duty. Had it been somethir • to my own advantage it would have Iwvn unsportsmanlike to take advantage of an accidental chance of this kind.

The newly-developed situation had one good effect. It swamped the lesser trouble of racking nty brain for an excuse to Flora. I coul I now plead public duty with a doui.'y fortified conscience, and the need foi getting back to work was so urgent that I had no time or inclination to bother about social considerations.

I hat! carefully noted the landmark' In my windings through the for. si. and, doubling my energy I pushed back even quicker than I had come. The household had undergone a marvellous change. All the lumber in thr room where the fire broke out ha? been cleared, the place washed and scrubbed, every indication of the previous night's fracas swept away. "I am afraid I shall have to go away at once." I said, getting to the point immediately I met Flora, "it has become necessary, too. that the countess should go with me. The men who attacked us last night are, J think, persons who desire to" "SUjal my jewels," said the countess, breaking in upon us, and relieving my conscience again. She hac evidently made up her story, and m.\ better plan was to let her make the necessary explanations. Flora, however, did not press for explanai ions She accepted the suggestion with 0 polite alacrity that made me ill.

"J will order a carriage for yon nf soon as you desire it." she said simply. And with that she left us tr talk over our other plar-s. When she had gone I stood awkwardly before the countess for a few minutes. "I am a/raid our presence has not been an unmixed blessing to nny body." she saia, with a cynioa: •mile* I was too much worried to talk about the matter, and I allowed this little taunt to pass unnoticed. "I am sorry to hurry you." I sai-! "but it is imperative, as you ha" yourself said, that we start at once" "I am ready this instant," she exclaimed. "Then, while we are getting some food. I will ask them to send round th'" 1 carriage."To bo Continued.