The Vagrant Duke Part 2

_Over the heads of those in the front ranks, Peter Nicholaevitch saw some men bringing from the forest the heavy trunk of a felled pine tree.

They meant to break down the gate. He knew that he had failed but still he stood upright facing them. Another shot, the bullet this time grazing his left arm. The sting of it angered him._

_"Cowards!" he yelled, shaking his fist at them. "Cowards!"_

_A volley followed but no other bullets struck him. Behind him in the Castle doorway he heard the voice of Boris Rylov, calling to him hoa.r.s.ely._

_"Come, Master. For the love of G.o.d! There is yet time."_

_There was a crash of the heavy timbers at the gate._

_"Come, Master----"_

_With a shrug Peter Nicholaevitch turned and walked across the terrace toward the Castle._ "Bolvany!" _he muttered. "I've finished with them."_

_Boris and Vasili stood just within the door, pleading with him to hurry, and together they made their way through the deserted kitchens and over past the vegetable gardens to the stables, where Leo Gars.h.i.+n awaited them, the saddles on several horses. Behind them they could now hear the triumphant cries as the courtyard gate crashed in._

_"Hurry, Master!" cried Gars.h.i.+n eagerly._

_"Where are the others?" asked the Grand Duke._

_"Gone, Highness. They have fled."_

_Boris Rylov was peering out past an iron door into the forest._

_"There is no one there?" asked Gars.h.i.+n._

_"Not yet. They have forgotten."_

_"Come then, Highness."_

_But the Grand Duke saw that the aged Vasili was mounted first and then they rode out of the iron gate into a path which led directly into the forest. It was not until they were well clear of the buildings that a shout at one side announced that their mode of escape had been discovered. Men came running, firing pistols as they ran. Boris Rylov, bringing up the rear, reined in his horse and turning emptied a revolver at the nearest of their pursuers. One man fell and the others halted._

_Until they found the other horses in the stables pursuit was fruitless._

_Peter Nicholaevitch rode at the head of the little cavalcade, down the familiar aisles of the forest, his head bowed, a deep frown on his brows. It was Vasili who first noticed the blood dripping from his finger ends._

_"Master," he gasped, "you are wounded."_

_"It is nothing," said the Grand Duke._

_But Vasili bound the arm up with a handkerchief while Leo Gars.h.i.+n and Boris Rylov watched the path down which they had come. They could hear the crackling of the flames at the Hunting Lodge to the southward and the cries of the mob at the Castle, but there was no sign of pursuit.

Perhaps they were satisfied to appease their madness with pillage and fire. Half an hour later Boris pointed backward. A new glow had risen, a redder, deeper glow._

_"The Castle, Master----" wailed Vasili._

_Peter Nicholaevitch drew rein at a cross-path, watched for a moment and then turned to his companions, for he had reached a decision._

_"My good friends," he said gently, "our ways part here."_

_"Master! Highness!"_

_But he was resolute._

_"I am going on alone. I will not involve you further in my misfortunes.

You can do nothing for me--nor I anything for you except this. Vasili knows. In the vault below the wine-cellar, hidden away, are some objects of value. They will not find them. When they go away you will return.

The visit will repay you. Divide what is there into equal parts--silver, plate and gold. As for me--forget me. Farewell!"_

_They saw that he meant what he said. He offered these few faithful servitors his hand and they kissed his fingers--a last act of fealty and devotion and in a moment they stood listening to the diminis.h.i.+ng hoof-beats of Vera as the young master went out of their lives._

_"May G.o.d preserve him," muttered Vasili._

_"Amen," said Boris Rylov and Leo Gars.h.i.+n._

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCING PETER NICHOLS

The British refugee s.h.i.+p _Phrygia_ was about to sail for Constantinople where her unfortunate pa.s.sengers were to be transferred to other vessels sailing for Liverpool and New York. After some difficulties the refugee made his way aboard her and announced his ident.i.ty to the captain. If he had expected to be received with the honor due to one of his rank and station he was quickly undeceived, for Captain Blashford, a man of rough manners, concealing a gentle heart, looked him over critically, examined his credentials (letters he had happened to have about him), and then smiled grimly.

"We've got room for one more--and that's about all."

"I have no money----" began the refugee.

"Oh, that's all right," shrugged the Captain, "you're not the only one.

We've a cargo of twenty princes, thirty-two princesses, eighteen generals and enough counts and countesses to set up a new nation somewhere. Your 'Ighness is the only Duke that has reached us up to the present speakin' and if there are any others, they'll 'ave to be brisk for we're sailin' in twenty minutes."

The matter-of-fact tones with which the unemotional Britisher made this announcement restored the lost sense of humor of the Russian refugee, and he broke into a grim laugh.

"An embarra.s.sment of riches," remarked the Grand Duke.

"Riches," grunted the Captain, "in a manner of speakin', yes. Money is not so plentiful. But jools! Good G.o.d! There must be half a ton of diamonds, rubies and emeralds aboard. All they're got left most of 'em, but complaints and narvousness. Give me a cargo of wheat and I'm your man," growled the Captain. "It stays put and doesn't complain," and then turning to Peter--"Ye're not expectin' any r'yal suite aboard the _Phrygia_, are ye?"

"No. A hammock for'rad will be good enough for me."

"That's the way I like to 'ear a man talk. Good G.o.d! As man to man, I arsk you,--with Counts throwin' cigarette b.u.t.ts around an' princesses cryin' all over my clean white decks an' all, what's a self-respectin'

skipper to do? But I 'ave my orders to fetch the odd lot to Constantinople an' fetch 'em I will. Oh! They're odd--all right. Go below, sir, an' 'ave a look at 'em."

But Peter Nicholaevitch shook his head. He had been doing a deal of quiet thinking in those starry nights upon the Dnieper, and he had worked out his problem alone.

"No, thanks," he said quietly, "if you don't mind, I think I'd rather preserve my incognito."

"Incognito, is it? Oh, very well, suit yourself. And what will I be callin' your Highness?"

"Peter Nichols," said the Grand Duke with a smile, "it's as good as any other."