I wondered what Lebron 9 Shoes Sale the King of Ruritania was doing.

The Secret of a CellarWe were in the King's dressing-room--Fritz von Tarlenheim, Sapt,and I. I flung myself exhausted into an armchair. Sapt lit his pipe. Heuttered no congratulations on the marvellous success of our wild risk, buthis whole bearing was eloquent of satisfaction. The triumph, aided perhapsby good wine, had made a new man of Fritz.

　　"What a day for you to remember!" he cried. "Gad, I'd like to be Kingfor twelve hours myself! But, Rassendyll, you mustn't throw your hearttoo much into the part. I don't wonder Black Michael looked blacker thanever--you and the princess had so much to say to one another.""How beautiful she is!" I exclaimed.

　　"Never mind the woman," growled Sapt. "Are you ready to start?""Yes," said I, with a sigh.

　　It was five o'clock, and at twelve I should be no more than RudolfRassendyll. I remarked on it in a joking tone.

　　"You'll be lucky," observed Sapt grimly, "if you're not the late RudolfRassendyll. By Heaven! I feel my head wobbling on my shoulders everyminute you're in the city. Do you know, friend, that Michael has had newsfrom Zenda? He went into a room alone to read it--and he came outlooking like a man dazed.""I'm ready," said I, this news making me none the more eager to linger.

　　Sapt sat Lebron 10 Shoes Sale down.

　　"We must get a doctor.""There's none within ten miles, and a thousand doctors wouldn't takehim to Strelsau today. I know Kobe Shoes For Sale the look of it. He'll not move for six or sevenhours yet.""But the coronation!" I cried in horror.

　　Fritz shrugged his shoulders, as I began to see was his habit on mostoccasions.

　　"We must send word that he's ill," Kobe 8 Shoes Sale he said.

　　"I suppose so," said I.

　　Old Sapt, who seemed as fresh as a daisy, had lit his pipe and waspuffing hard at it.

　　"If he's not crowned today," said he, "I'll lay a crown he's nevercrowned.""But heavens, why?""The whole nation's there to meet him; half the army--ay, and BlackMichael at the head. Shall we send word that the King's drunk?""That he's ill," said I, in correction.

　　"Ill!" echoed Sapt, with a scornful laugh. "They know his illnesses toowell. He's been "ill" before!""Well, we must chance what they think," said Fritz helplessly. "I'llcarry the news and make the best of it."Sapt raised his hand.

　　"Tell me," said he. "Do you think the King was drugged?""I do," said I.

　　"And who drugged him?""That damned hound, Black Michael," said Fritz between his teeth.

　　"Ay," said Sapt, "that he might not come to be crowned. Rassendyllhere doesn't know our pretty Michael. What think you, Fritz, has Michaelno king ready? Has half Strelsau no other candidate? As God's alive, manthe throne's lost if the King show himself not in Strelsau today. I knowBlack Michael.""We could carry him there," said I.

　　"And a very pretty picture he makes," sneered Sapt.

　　"There's the King's signature," he said, "and here," he went on, afteranother search in his pocket, "is some tracing paper. If you can't manage a"Rudolf" in ten minutes, why--I can.""Your education has been more comprehensive than mine," said I.

　　"You write it."And a very tolerable forgery did this versatile hero produce.

　　"Now, Fritz," said he, "the King goes to bed. He is upset. No one is tosee him till nine o'clock tomorrow. You Kobe 7 Shoes Sale understand-- no one?""I understand," answered Fritz.

　　"Michael may come, and claim immediate audience. You'll answer thatonly princes of the blood are entitled to it.""That'll annoy Michael," laughed Fritz.

　　"You quite understand?" asked Sapt again. "If the door of this room isopened while we're away, you're not to be alive to tell us about it.""I need no schooling, colonel," said Fritz, a trifle haughtily.

　　"Here, wrap yourself in this big cloak," Sapt continued to me, "and puton this flat cap. My orderly rides with me to the hunting-lodge tonight.""There's an obstacle," I observed. "The horse doesn't live that cancarry me forty miles.""Oh, yes, he does--two of him: one here--one at the lodge. Now, areyou ready?""I'm ready," said I.

　　Fritz held out his hand.

　　"In case," said he; and we shook hands heartily. KD 4 Shoes Sale

　　"In the old King's time," said he, "I knew this way well."I followed him, and we walked, as I should estimate, near two hundredyards along a narrow passage. Then we came to a stout oak door. Saptunlocked it. Lebron 10.8 Sale We passed through, and found ourselves in a quiet street thatran along the back of the Palace gardens. A man was waiting for us withtwo horses. One was a magnificent bay, up to any weight; the other asturdy brown. Sapt signed to me to mount the bay. Without a word to theman, we mounted and rode away. The town was full of noise andmerriment, but we took secluded ways. My cloak was wrapped over halfmy face; the capacious flat cap hid every lock of my tell-tale hair. BySapt's directions, I crouched on my saddle, and rode with such a roundback as I hope never to exhibit on a horse again. Down a long narrow lanewe went, meeting some wanderers and some roisterers; and, as we rode, we heard the Cathedral bells still clanging out their welcome to the King.

　　It was half-past six, and still light. At last we came to the city wall and to agate.

　　"Have your weapon ready," whispered Sapt. "We must stop his mouth,if he talks."I put my hand on my revolver. Sapt hailed the doorkeeper. The starsfought for us! A little girl of fourteen tripped out.

　　"Please, sir, father's gone to see the King.""He'd better have stayed here," said Sapt to me, grinning.

　　"But he said I wasn't to open the gate, sir.""Did he, my dear?" said Sapt, dismounting. "Then give me the key."The key was in the child's hand. Sapt gave her a crown.

　　"Here's an order from the King. Show it to your father. Orderly, openthe gate!"I leapt down. Between us we rolled back the great gate, led our horsesout, and closed it again.

　　"I wonder what the duke's despatches told him," said I, once.

　　"Ay, I wonder!" responded Sapt.

　　We stopped for a draught of wine and to bait our horses, losing half anhour thus. I dared not go into the inn, and stayed with the horses in thestable. Then we went ahead again, and had covered some five-and-twentymiles, when Sapt abruptly stopped.

　　"Hark!" he cried.

　　I listened. Away, far behind us, in the still of the evening-- it was justhalf-past nine--we heard the beat of horses' hoofs. The wind blowingstrong behind us, carried the sound. I glanced at Sapt.

　　"Come on!" he cried, and spurred his horse into a gallop. When Lebron 10 Elite Sale wenext paused to listen, the hoof-beats were not audible, and we relaxed ourpace. Then we heard them again. Sapt jumped down and laid his ear to theground.

　　"There are two," he said. "They're only a mile behind. Thank God theroad curves in and out, and the wind's our way."We galloped on. We seemed to be holding our own. We had enteredthe outskirts of the forest of Zenda, and the trees, closing in behind us asthe track zigged and zagged, prevented us seeing our pursuers, and themfrom seeing us.

　　Another half-hour brought us to a divide of the road. Sapt drew rein.