CHAPTER XIV.—MUSIC AND THE MOB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2902, 27 October 1909, Page 69

CHAPTER XIV.— MUSIC AND THE MOB.

When Trafford reached the" Cathedral : square he found a vast number of people, ; a considerable amount of uoise. but no- , ' thing very stirring in the way of action. ' -, The military and the mob seemed to be ' watching one another in an equipoise of ■ < mutual distrust. The King's Dragoons, J j who had escorted Father Bernhardt to the ' . Strafeburg, were patrolling a space be- j fore the prison-house, while the portal j ' itself was held by a company of Guides • under Captain, Yon Hugehveiler. On one Mdc, indeed, a body of energetic firemen j ] were engaged in pumping exceedingly cold } i •\\dtei on to an ignited building, but ' ]

though the oTOwd jeered and shouted the brass helmets proceeded in "their diuty,"~ unheeding and unmolested. An air of palpable dejection seemed to oppress the throng, as though they had tried, conclusions with the military and come off secotJid best. The situation pleased Traflord not at all. His own enthusiasm was at- boiling point, and it fretted his high spirit to see a promising revolution fizzling out for want of leaders and. concerted action. He edged his way into the outskirts' of the crowd, in the dim hope ofmeeting some kindred spirit, perhaps* — even if fortune favoured him, of chancing across the Princess. ''Oh, for five minutes of Father Bern-h-irdt !" murmured a mild-looking individual in spectacles, broadcloth, and a high felt hat. Trafford "turned and regaixted the gentleman who had voiced that spirited aspiration in such, a tone of quiet pathos. He \cas a very large person, eminently respectable in appearance, ant he was seated on a wooden stall intended for the display of/ merchandise. "What would Fatih«r Bernhardt do?" asked- Trafford. "Do1 <:> echoed the other. "Why, he'd turn these dull logs of people into blazing firebrands in five minutes." The tone was one of regret and disappointment, sUg'htily bitter and distinctly^ ' reproachful. " Indeed !" saidl. Trafford, scenting & character, and 1 drawing him out.". s ■ "Yes," sadd the other in rising tomes, "with a few of hiis . red-hot . sentences, fresh from heaven or hell, or wherever it is he -draws has inspirations, he'd light a flame that would roast I^jxl- md all his pack of venial favourites and hungry; courtesans.'" Tyafford smiled appreciatively. There wene symptoms of a battle-l^g-ht in .those big, grey eyes ; a certain, Tide force and stubborn vigo"dr on those heavy, bovinu" features. "Path-ei Berr-iardit's "v the Strafeburg/* said the Englishman. "Alas! yes," admitted the stranger in a voice of infinite sadness. "He alone held the threads of revolution in his hands. He alone possessed the magic of command, the subtle influence thai turns canaille into heroes. Without him we are an armiy of cheep without a leader." "Why not attempt a suggested ' Tiafford. The otiber made a gesture of contempt. "Look at us," he said, with a wave of 'his hand. - "Do we look tih© sort of people to pull down six-foot walls in the face of rifle bullets.? We've been, peppered once to-night, and we dicta* like itThen the firemen turned their hoses on us, ohd the cold water was worse than the " hot fire.- Look at my Irak" Tsrafford regarded ihe^ high felt nead> covering, and could- not restrain a emdle. Its crown was Shiny and cockled, and its brim limp and dripping. "I'm wet through," -went on - the" stranger pathetically, "and I'm going home. I'm a, doctor, and if there's nob going to be a revolution, I'm not going to undermine my constitution watching these cowards do nothing." "Nonsense," said Trafford cheerily, "sometihinig must and will be done. I've com© all the way from England to see a revolution, and* I'm not going back; without seeing one." "You'd better make a speech," suggested the stranger sarcastically. "That's not a bad idea," sadd Trafford, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "but I think I've got a better one." The stranger turned hd« gjanoe on the Englishman, t spark of interest in bis gloomy eye. "I heard 1 a song the other night a' the Eden Theatre," went on Trafford. "I think it was called the ''Rotfciied.' Its effect on the audience was remarkable. Old men became boys, women went fighting mad, and. officers in uniforms swore death to all and sundry. If we could, get the 'Rothlied' going we'd have Father Bermha-rdt out of the Strafebuxg ; ji half an hour." * "Young man," said the stranger solemnly, " I'-nr not sure you're -not a g-enras." "Neither am I," said Trafiord modestly; "Can yon sing?" "I have a powerful baritone. And- you?" "Have the voice of a crow," said Trafford. "Also, I don't know the words, and I'm not very sure of the tune." The other repeated a. few lines in Trafford's ear and hummed: a few bars of the melody. "That** all right," said Trafford. "Now. then, as loud as you can. One-^* two — three: Tremble, tyrants, base and callous^ Tremble at the people's cry, See the flaming- star of freedon. Rise? blood-red in the sky." In a tuice the song -was taken up by those nearest the two agitators, and in an ; nfr'£<libly hort time the whole square was resounding with the swinging -chorus of the inflammatory melody. The thing succesded beyond) all expectation. A new, temper seemed to come over the entire throng. Wet clothes were forgotten iit an access of revolutionary ardour. Men--who had) seen red wounds and staring dea/th forgot the chill remembrance in the burnin-g music of the "Rothlied." Louder and louder it swelled, fiercer grew the gcsticnlauions* of the tferimcmiting mob. The whole -nass swayed! uid surged with the leaven of revived fanaticism. "We've got something to work on now,'^ said Traffordi gleefully. "Give me a pick-a-back, Herr Doctor, and I'll make a speech." The doctor benit his massive back, and Trafford climbed up on to. the broad shoulders. "Into the thick of them, good" doctor horse," he cried, and' the doctor struggled on manfully under his burden, albeit he lost his high felt hat in the press, and

the cold wind chilled the perspiration on his benevolent brow. And 'FrafforcN addressed the populace with fervid words and execrable grammar, and for some inexplicable reason his assurance and manifest energy -won him a ready hearing and savage applause. - " Form barricades !" he shouted at the conclusion of his wild address. "Why?" whisperedi the doctor. "There is%no such thing- as a revolution' "without barricades," replied' the Englishman ; "they are a necessary part of the game. Form barricades, my brothers I" lie repeated in, louder tones. "With -what?" demanded owe. "With snow, son of a crossing-sweeper," replied Trafford. "Work hard 1 , brother®, and form a rampart breast high, and hold it against all comers." The tome of command ' and his imposing position on the big doctor's shoulders ■worn tibeir way. The doctor, too, was ' recognised as prominent burgher of "advanced" tendencies, and the crowd set to work with the utmost energy and determination, "What on earth are you doing?" ask«df a soft voice by hi* side. _ Looking down he perceived the Princess Math j We. She. was evidently under the stress of great excitement ; ncr eyes were nnnaturallj bright, and her bosom was heaving tumtiJtuously under her" coat of sables. But when her eyes met Trafford's she laughed ; it would not have been^ the Princess Mathilde had she not done so. "What on earth are you doing on Doctor Matta's shoulders?" she repeated. "Telling the people to make snow-men for the dragoons to charge aigainst," he •replied. , ~ "But that •won't stop them,'- she objected. "Of course it won't," he agreed, "but it -keeps these fellows warm anfl busy. The essence of a revolution, is to keep things moving. Inaction is the foe to insurrec"tion." / "You talk lite a paid agitator," she ,- said. '"I £m. The •highest-paid agitator that ever was. Have you forgotten the agreed price?" 4< lt will never be earned," said the Princess in a low v.oioe. "Our plans are ruined. Father Berjihardt has been taken, and without him our organisation crumbles to pieces." "Nif dsespsranid'am Tenaro duce et auspice Tencrs," quoted Trafford softly. "Substitute Trafford for Tencro, and hope is -unvanquishied:." '"You are- going .to lead us?" asked the Princess, with' a note of expectant confidence that ministered! strangely to Trafford's pride. "Certainly," he replied', "but we want a little mare enthusiasm." "But the people are frantic/ objected the doctor. " I was referring to the soldiers," explained Trafford drilyt "They lack enthusiasm far the popular cause." " They are our enemies," said the. Princess bitterly. "They have r fired on us several times to-night." ' _" "They are Grimlanders/'^ retorted Trafford, "and they only want a slight excuse' to forget discipline and remember their national characteristics." " I think we shall do well to trust the gentleman on my shoulders," -said Doctor Matti. "It was he who set the 'Rothlied' going, and put fresh courage into the hearts of the people. I believe he possesses a most magnetic personality." "So do I," agreed the Princess heartily. "Ten minutes ago all was despondency and depression. From the time the prison doors were shut on Father Bernhavdt all energy and enthusiasm .seemed' to die. No one appealed to know me. 1 could not make myself heard. I was lost in a mob of nrj own. partisans. Now the whole throng is in motion. Pressure is put on the soldiers at every point. If this gentleman* were to lead a charge all might be won." Trafford laughed recklessly. The situation wa/3 mending with extraordinary rapidity. There was talk now of charges, instead of returning home, and' the touching confidence of the Princess- in his generalship put the coping stone on his exhilaration. "Will you do exactly what I teJl you?' he asked of the Princess. "Absolutely!" was the sweet reply. "If *he people lon't recognise you as 'tos Princess," he went on, "they must recognise you as the Schone Fraulein Schmitt, of the Eden Theatre. From my point of vantage on this good gentleman's shoulders I ccc a sleigh not far fiom us, ■with a couple of horses, blocked in the crowd. Let us annex it in the name of beautiful Miss Smith." At Trafford's command the doctor bore hun through the surging, singing press towards the sleigh, the Princess following closely in their wake. It was a public vehicle of the cab type, and the driver stood at the horse's head, wondering resignedly when it would be possible to get out of his present impasse. "Hi! coachman," began Trafford, "are you engaged?" "Engaged, excellency? I've been here threa hours in the midst of these excited gentlemen, and I daTen't move, for the temper of the people is none too pleasant to risk an accident." "That's ail right," said TraffowJ. 'I'll charter youtr cab for the evening. Here's a twenty-krone piece." So saying, Trafford leaped on the box seat and bade Doctor Matti and the Princess enter the vehicle. With a crack of the whip and a. cry of "Make way there for the beautiful Fraulein Schmitt! Way for the singer-of the 'Rotihlied' !" he forced a plow and dangerous progress through the do?epacked multitude. His objective was the neck of the Konigstaasse, and somehow he arrived there -without injuring life or limb. Between, the oordpa of infantry and the

r mob' was an open space, up and down ' whiA a number of officers walked' with drawn swords and a palpable air of nervousness. The crowd was still singing the incendiary song, and the Tank and file of the soldiers looked obviously bored, I with their duties, and longing to join, inthe chorus. Trafford drew up on. the verge of the open space. "Silence, my friends !■" he called' ou£ to the crowd, rising to his feet on the box. ' "Silence for the Schone Fraulein Schmitt, of the Eden Theatre." The Princess rose af his gesture of command. Her face was pale, and her twitching hands betokened intense nervousness, but there was a twinkle in her eye that showed that she added humour to the proverbial courage of her race. And I in the intense silence of appreciation her sweet young soprano rang out free and fresh into the cold night air. Confidence came to her with each additional line of the' song. The occasion, which had begun by almost overwhelming her, served but to stimulate her highest powers. She put fire into hex melody ; she added gestures appropriate and warlike; she bej came not merely a singer, but Bellona her1 self, young and beautiful and ardent. I "Hurrah for the beautiful Fraulein I Hurrah fox freedom !" shouted the crowd. j "The chorus, please !"' y»lled Trafford, with a special appeal to the soldiers ; and, 1 as he 'had anticipated, the chorus was ' sung, not by the mob alone, but by the i triple lane of infantry holding the neck Off the Konigstrasse. Harsh commands I were given by frantic officers, -but to no 1 avail. The music had got into Ihe men's blood, aj^d curses and entreaties, blows j even, failed 1 signally to check the tide of ! revolutionary song. j "W"ell «png^ brothers !" cried out Traffocd as the song died down. "Three cheers "for »tihe beautiful Praulein Schmitt !" Three cheers were given by all, and with especial heartiness 'by the soldiers. "Now, listen to what I'm going to say," went on 'Trafford in stentorian tones. "The lady who just sang that song isn't the beautiful Fraulein Schmitt, for there jis no such person. The beautiful Fraulein Schtmitt is the most noble and highborn Princess Mathilda "yon Schattenberg, ! whom you are going to set on the throneof Grimtland. Behold your Queen who is to be!" At these words' a mighty shout rent the air. No one seemed 1 to doubt the truith of the startling denouement ; the trowd was I dtrunk with its own sinsring, drunk with, the lost of anarchy, its' reasoning faculties . dulled in a wild' orgie of rebellion. The ' form and features of the Princess Mathilde were practically unknown in Weidsnibruck, but all the Griml-andier's innate love of | change had grouped itself beneath the aegis of her name. - For years she had: j been the official figurehead of the revolutionary party. Wild legends amd poetic ! fantasies had been woven round her littlej known existence. And now the present ' dramatic disclosure of her personality, identified as it Avas with that of the popuI lar Fraulein Schmitt, the singer ol the allpervading "Rofchlied," kindled an .enthusiasm no bonds could restrain. "Long live the noble and high-born j Princess !"' shouted Trafford 1 , but his voice was drowned in the wild confusion of cries that shook the air like thunder. The soldiers 'broke their ranks and mingled with the crowd ; several of the officers joined the swelling stream of insurrection ; | a few, neither wholly false nor wholly ' brave, slunk off down the Konigstrasse, "pursued by the jeers of their late subordinates. : Irafford, witb the instincts of a true j Tender, struck hard while the iron glowed. I "To the Strafeburg '." he cried.- ' "To the fti/rafeburg!"' .«houted a hun- ' dred responsive voices. Trafford cracked his whip, and set his horse in motion to- ! ward's the prison house. ' "To the Strafebtrg! Make way there! — way for the Queen,!"' he cried. And in a seething unison of struggling liaubs and i straining throat." the va*t crowd of men I and women, soldiers and civilians pressed irresistibly towards the doomed prison 1 house. (To be continued.)

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