TRUXTON KING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14210, 5 November 1909, Page 3

TRUXTON KING.

[PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.]

A STORY OF GRAUSTARK.

BY GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON, Author of '" Graustark." " The Alternative." " The Fliers." " Beverley of Graustark." "Jane Cable." "Tie Man from Brodney'B." Brewster's Millions." "The Husbands of Edith." The Daughter of Anderson Crow," etc

[COPYRIGHT.]

CHAPTER. XXl.—(Continued.) The army now grew with astonishing rapidity. The recruits were not fighting men in a military sense, but their hearts were true and they hungered for the chance to stamp out the evil that lay at their feat. By the close of the second day nearly three thousand men were encamped above the city. Late that night John Tullis rode into camp at the head of a great company from the Ganlook province. Ho hail retaken the town of Ganlook, seized the fortrees, and recruited the entire fighting strength of the neighbourhood. More than that, lie had unlimbered and conveyed to the provisional camp two of the big guns that stood above the gates at the fortress. There had been a dozen skirmishes between the regulars anT roving bands of desperadoes. A savage fight took place at Ganlook and another in the gap below the witch's hut. In both of these sanguinary affrays the Government forces had come off victorious, splendid omens that did not fail to put confidence into the hearts of the men. • Marlanx trained two of his big guns on the camp m t . he hills, " From Ah!' fortress Place o7 Tn y fut & fihells to ™ their f S s elt .l r - . The - V did »<> damage: nstead of de * th * hey brought only laugh: iiJh? it * cor , cam P- Under cover of night, the two Ganlook cannons wereplanteiteV -? 06111 ? 11 TO T mmandin the south-' ™ g at e-. It was the plan of the new besiegers to bombard this gate, tear- £&•* P l6Ces with 6hofc - When their lault ™!ST g fl enon§h offensively, an assault would be flung against this opening. JJrill and discipline were necessary, however before the attempt could be made, in the present chaotic, untrained condition nnll ? " « f 66 ', a , n assault would Prove not only ineffectual, but disastrous. Day after day the recruits were put through hard drill under the direction of the regular officers. Every day saw the forces increased. This made hard work for the dull-masters. The willingness of the recruits, however, lessened the task consider-

~ Ihe knowledge that Marians had no biff guns except three stationed in the fortress was most consoling to Tullis and his mends. He could not destroy the castle gates with shells, except by purest chance. He could drop shells into the castle, but to hit a gat© twenty feet wide Never ! Field ordnance was unknown, to this country of mountains. The Iron Count's inability to destrov the castle gates made it feasible for the men in the hills to devote considerable more time to drill and preparation than they might have sacrificed if the conditions were the reverse. They were confident that Quiimox could hold the castle for many days. With all this in his mind, Captain Haas and Prince Dantan beat down the objections of the impatient Americans; the work of preparation Against' ignominious failure went on as rapidly as possible. Haas would not attack until he was ready, or it became absolutely certain that the men at the castle were in dire need. "

Signalling between the castle and the hills had been going .on for days. The absence of the " wigwag" system made it impossible to convey intelligible^messages, Truxton King was growing * haggard from worry and loss of sleep; He.could not understand the abominable criminal procrastination. .He was of a race that did things with a dash and on the spur of the moment. His soul sickened day by day. John Tullis, equally Unhappy, but more philosophical, often found him seated upon a rock at the top of the ravine, an unlighted pipe in his fingers, his eye intent upon the hazy castle. " Cheer up, King. Our time will come," he was wont to say. ' " I've just got to do something, Tulli6. This standing around is killing me." Again he would respond " Don't forget that I love someone down there, old man. Maybe she's worrying about me, as well as about you." Once he gave poor Mr. Hobbs a frightful tongue-lashing and was afterwards most contrite and apologetic. Poor Hobbs had been guilty of asking if he had a headache.

Truxton was assigned to several scouting expeditions, simply to provide him with action and diverting excitement. One of these expeditions determined the impossibility of entering the city through the railroads yards because of the trestlework and the barricade of freight care at the gap in 'the wall. They had been in camp for a week. The strategists had practically decided that the assault could be made within a day or two. All was in readiness—or as near it as could be —and all was enthusiasm and excitement. " / -•'

" If Haas puts it off another day I'm going to start a round robin, whatever that' is," said Truxton. As he said it to a Dawsbergen officer who could not understand English, it is doubtful if that gentleman's polite nod of acquiescence meant unqualified approval of the project. At first they had built no fires at night. Now the force was so formidable that this precaution was unnecessary. The air was chill and there were tents for but a few of the troopers. The fires in the ravine always were surrounded by great circles of men, eagerly discussing the coming battle. At the upper end of the ravine were the tents of the officers, Prince Dantan and John Tullis. The latter shared his with King and Mr. Hobbs. Up here, the circle about tho kindlv pile of burning logs was small, select and less demonstrative. Here they smoked in silence most of the time, each man's thoughts delivered to himself. Above, on the jutting rock, sat the disconsolate, lovesick Truxton. It was the night before the proposed assault on the gates. The guns were in position and the cannonading was to begin at daybreak. Ho was full of the bitterness of doubt and misgiving. Was she in love with Vos Engo ? Was the Count's suit progressing favourably under the fire of the enemy? Was his undoubted bravery having its effect upon the wavering susceptibilities of the distressed Loraine? Here was he, Truxton King, idle and useless for more than a week, beyond range of the guns of the foe, while down there was Vos Engo in the thick of it, at the side of the girl he loved m those long hours of peril, able to comfort her, to cheer her, to fight for her. It was maddening. He was tick with uncertainty, consumed by jealousy. His pipe was not out now; he was smoking furiously. The sound of a voice in sharp command attracted his attention.. One of the sentries in the road below the elbow of the ridge had stopped someone who was approaching the camp. There was a bright moon, and Truxton could see other pickets hurrying to join the first. A few moments later the trespassers were escorted through the lines and taken directly to headquarters. A man and two women, King observed. Somewhat interested, he sauntered down from his lonely boulder and joined the group of officers. John Tullis was staring hard at the group approaching from the roadway. They were still outside the circle of light, but it was plain to all that the newcomers were peasants. The women wore the short red skirts and the pointed bonnets of the lower classes. ' Gaudy shawls covered their shoulders. One was tall and slender, with a bearing that was not peasant-like. It was she who held Tullis' intense, unbelieving gaze until they were well inside the .firelight. She walked ahead of her companions. Suddenly he sprang forward with a cry of amazement. It was the Countess Ingomede. Her arrival created a sensation. In a moment she was in the centre of an amazed'circle of men. Tullis, after his first low, eager greeting at the edge of the fire circle, drew her near to. the warmth-

giving flames. , Prince Dantan and Captain Haas threw rugs and blankets in a great heap for her to sit upon. Everyone was talking at once. The Countess was smiling through her tears. "Make room for my maid and her father. They are colder and more fatigued, than I," she said, lifting her tired, glorious eyes'to John Tullis, who stood beside her. "We have come from Balak. They suffered much that I might enjoy the slender comforts I was so ready to share with them." " Thank God, you are here," he said in low, intense tones. She could not mistake the fervour in his voice nor the glow in his eyes. Her wondrous, yellowish orbs looked steadily into his, and he was satisfied. They paid tribute to the emotion that moved him to the depths of his being. Love leaped up to him from those sweet, tired eyes; leaped with the unerring force of an electric current that finds its lodestone in spite of mortal will. " I knew you were here, John. lam not going back to Count Marlanx. It is ended." <

"I knew it would come, Ingomede. You will let me tell you how glad I am v some day ?" " Some day, when I am truly, wholly free from him, John. I know what you will say, and I think you know what I shall say in reply." Both understood and were exalted. No other word passed between them touching upon the thing that •was uppermost in their minds. Food- was provided for the wayfarers, and Tullis' tent was made ready for the Countess and her-maid.

" Truxton," said he, "we will have to find other quarters for the night. I've let my apartment—" " She's gloriously beautiful, John," was all that Truxton said, puffing' moodily at his pipe. He was thinking of one more beautiful, however. " I suppose you'd think it a favour if I'd pot Marlanx for you to-morrow." •

"It doesn't matter whether he's potted or not, my friend. She.will not go back to him. He will have to find another prisoner for his household."

Truxton's thoughts went with a shudder to tho underground room and tho fair prisoner who had shared it with him. The dread of what might have been the fate of Loraino Tullisor what might still be in store for —brought cold chills over him. He abruptly turned away and sat down at the outer edge of the group. . . The Countess' story was soon told.- Sitting before the great fire, surrounded by eager listeners, she related her experiences. Prince Dantan was her most attentive) listener.

She had been seized on the night of the ball as she started across her father's garden. Before sunrise she was well on her way to Balak, in charge of three of the Count's most faithful henchmen. As for tTie messages that were sent to Edelweiss, she knew nothing of them, except the last, which she had managed to get through with the assistance of Joeepha's father. She was kept a close prisoner in a house just outside of Balak, and came to learn all of the infamous projects of her husband. At the end of ten days her maid was sent to her from Edelweiss. She brought the news of the calamity that had befallen the city. It was then that she determined to break away from her captors and try to reach the Monastery of St. Valentine, where protection would be afforded her for the time being. After several days of ardent persuasion, she and Josepha prevailed upon the hitter's father to assist them in their flight. Not only was he persuaded, but in the end he journeyed with them through the wildest coun"try north of Ganlook. They i were four days in covering the distance, partly on j foot, partly by horse. Near the city they heard of the presence of troops ,near the monastery. Farmers' wives told them of I the newly-formed army and of its leaders. She determined to make her way to the camp of those who would destroy her hus"band, eager to give them any assistance that her own knowledge of Marianx's plans might provide. , {To be continued daily).