A message from the princess announced the unexpected return of the two

Americans. She said they were (to use Harry Anguish's own expression)

"beastly near starvation" and clamored for substantial breakfasts,

Beverly was urged to join them and to hear the latest news from the

frontier.

Lorry and Anguish were full of the excitement on which they had lived

for many hours. They had found evidence of raids by the Dawsbergen

scouts and had even caught sight of a small band of fleeing horsemen.

Lorry reluctantly admitted that Gabriel's army seemed loyal to him and

that there was small hope of a conflict being averted, as he had

Advertisement..

surmised, through the defection of the people. He was surprised but not

dismayed when Yetive told him certain portions of the story in regard to

Marlanx; and, by no means averse to seeing the old man relegated to the

background, heartily endorsed the step taken by his wife. He was fair

enough, however, to promise the general a chance to speak in his own

defense, if he so desired. He had this in view when he requested Marlanx

to come to the castle at eleven o'clock for consultation.

"Gabriel is devoting most of his energy now to hunting that poor Dantan

into his grave," said Anguish. "I believe he'd rather kill his

half-brother than conquer Graustark. Why, the inhuman monster has set

himself to the task of obliterating everything that reminds him of

Dantan. We learned from spies down there that he issued an order for the

death of Dantan's sister, a pretty young thing named Candace, because

he believed she was secretly aiding her fugitive brother. She escaped

from the palace in Serros a week ago, and no one knows what has become

of her. There's a report that she was actually killed, and that the

story of her flight is a mere blind on the part of Gabriel."

"He would do anything," cried Yetive." Poor child; they say she is like

her English mother and is charming."

"That would set Gabriel against her, I fancy," went on Anguish. "And, by

the way, Miss Calhoun, we heard something definite about your

friend, Prince Dantan. It is pretty well settled that he isn't Baldos of

the guard. Dantan was seen two days ago by Captain Dangloss's men. He

was in the Dawsbergen pass and they talked with him and his men. There

was no mistake this time. The poor, half-starved chap confessed to being

the prince and begged for food for himself and his followers," "I tried to find him, and, failing in that, left word in the pass that

if he would but cast his lot with us in this trouble we soon would

restore him to his throne," said Lorry. "He may accept and we shall have

him turning up here some day, hungry for revenge. And now, my dear

Beverly, how are you progressing with the excellent Baldos, of whom we

cannot make a prince, no matter how hard we try?"




Most Popular