393
"Come, baron, we have now no time to lose."
"You are soon returned," said the baron.
"The consequence of a little disappointment, that’s all," sneered Count Durlack.
"I told you she had an indomitable spirit."
"It is now quenched, I should think," replied Durlack; "the fire of her resolution is, methinks, by now, extinct."
"What mean you, count?" whispered the baron.
"Your high-minded niece is in the moat."
"The moat?"
"Aye, the moat."
"Good Heavens!"
"Very probable; but yet she sleeps in the moat of Zindorf Castle, baron, and has broken one of your windows to get at it I assure you."
"More death—more death!" groaned the baron.
"And more to come," muttered the count.
"You—you did not kill her, count?" stammered the baron, laying his hand nervously upon Durlack’s arm.
"No!"
"You—you are sure?"
"Do you doubt my honour?" sneered Durlack.
"No—no. I—I—alas! alas!"
"Well, baron," said Durlack, "when you have finished your tender re-
394
grets and lamentations for your niece, perhaps you will tend to your personal safety."
"Safety?" said the baron.
"Aye, safety. We leave Zindorf to-night, or meet Sir Gaston de Beauvais in the morning."
"True, true," cried the baron, rising hastily.
"Hark!" cried Euphoric.
The castle clock struck twelve.
" ‘Tis time," cried Durlack.
"Summon Roland, Euphoric," said the baron; "I have already instructed him what to do."
Euphoric left the room.
"You look more troubled baron, than our circumstances require."
"I am troubled," said the baron.
"Some special pang of conscience? eh?" sneered Durlack.
"My—my uncle;" whispered the baron.
"Well."
"He—he—"
"Is dead long ago I suppose."
"No—he lives."
"Lives yet?"
"Yes—yes. I—I could not add his—his—"
"Murder," said the count.
"Well, his murder," continued the baron, "to my list of crimes; and he still lives in the dungeon to which he was first by me consigned."
"Impossible," said Durlack.
" ‘Tis true," groaned the baron; "through a trap door at roof of his dungeon, I have, once each week, dropped food enough to sustain existence."
"Unpardonable folly!" said the count.
"I hoped, day by day," continued the baron; "that his age—the dampness of his dungeon—confinement would have rid me of him by the hand of death. But no—no; as if to torment me he still lives."
"You must leave him now."
"I must! I must!" cried the baron; "I know not what power prevented me, but I could not take his life."
"You are too good," said Durlack; "your tender heart, baron, is really a misfortune to you."
Roland and Euphoric now appeared at the door of the apartment, the former carrying several pickaxes across his shoulder.
"It seems, baron," said Durlack; "that we must work our way like moles, out of Zindorf Castle, thanks to your provident care in blocking up the passage through the vaults."
"I had cause," said the baron.
"If you are coming," growled Roland, "why don’t you come at once; it is nearly half-past twelve, now."
395
"Amiable Roland," said the count, "we are coming."
"Escape is certain," said the baron, placing his cap upon his head; "farewell, Zindorf, forever."
"It wouldn’t be a bad thing, now that we are fairly going," said the count, "to set light to the old pile. You see, then, Sir Gaston de Beauvais, when he came in the morning would find a fire ready to cook his breakfast by."
"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Roland. "Capital! Ha! ha! ha!"
The burly ruffian was so much amused at the proposition, that he sat down unceremoniously in the baron’s chair to indulge his laughter.
"Come, come," cried the baron, "let us leave quietly. Come, Roland, come."
"You be d—d," said Roland; "ha! ha!"
The baron bit his lips, but the count looked on unmoved. Roland, at last condescended to rise and leave the room, and the baron leading the way, the party started on their expedition of flight from Zindorf Castle.
CHAPTER LVIII.
THEY had not proceeded far when Roland suddenly paused, and growled forth,—
"I have left my poniard on your table, baron."
"Then get it quickly," said the baron; "we will wait for you, but time presses."
The Count Durlack smiled, and Roland immediately returned to the apartment they had just left.
There was a wood fire mouldering upon the hearth, and without a moment’s hesitation he kicked several of the large smouldering logs into the middle of the apartment.
A suffocating smoke in a moment filled the room, and with a gratified chuckle he immediately left it, closing the door carefully after him.
"Ha! ha!" he cried, "when this door is opened again, there will be a cheering fire."
He then speedily overtook the count and the baron, and the party in advance to point out the way.
The baron paused before a door, which by its appearance, had evidently not been opened for a long time.
"This door," he said, "leads by a winding staircase, to a vaulted passage, from whence issue two circuitous routes to the cavern opening into the forest."
"Let us take the nearest," said the count.
"There is no choice as far as distance is concerned," answered the baron, "for they meet in one near the cavern."
"They are both bricked up, though," growled Roland.
"They are," said the baron, "but we are enough to remove any such obstacle quickly."
396
He took a key from his pocket as he spoke, and with some difficulty, turned it into the long disused and rusty lock of the door.
"We should have more light," said the count, looking down the black, narrow, dismal stair-case, which presented itself; "the lamp which Euphoric carries is insufficient."
"You have torches;" said the baron to Roland.
"I have," he answered, and immediately produced several flambeaus.
"Let us have light enough," cried Durlack, taking one, and igniting it at the lamp, which Euphoric carried.
"Now, then, follow me," said the baron.
It might be seen that the Baron Zindorf perceptibly trembled as he descended the stairs, but he felt that he could not avoid going first, although it was a sore trial to do so.
The Count Durlack followed next with the blazing torch in his hand; and, lastly, came Euphoric and Roland, the latter of whom kept up a low chuckling laugh at the success of his scheme for setting fire to the ancient Castle of Zindorf, which he imagined he was now about to leave for ever.
The flight of stairs was long, and the steps were so steep, that they had to descend with the greatest possible caution. At length, however, the baron paused.
"We are now," he said, "among the foundations of Zindorf Castle."
"The lights burn but dimly," said the count; "the air is damp and unwholesome here."
"Aye," remarked the baron, "but it will conduct us to freedom. I felt like a prisoner in Zindorf Castle. My heart feels lighter even now in this dreary place, because we are leaving it for ever."
"Lead on," cried Durlack.
The baron turned to the right hand, and led the way for a considerable distance, through a vaulted passage.
"Roland," he said, pausing; "the first opening should be here, should it not?"
"Hereabouts," growled Roland; "if you hold the light to the wall, you will soon see the new bricks that block it up."
The count advanced and held the torch, which he carried close to the wall, and after proceeding some paces, he suddenly stopped.
"Here must be the place," he said.
"An arched entrance it should be," said the baron.
"The same," replied the count; "it is entirely blocked up with new bricks."
"Yes," muttered Roland, "that’s it, sure enough; and now to work, I suppose."
He threw the pick-axes from his shoulder as he spoke, and they fell with a dull sound upon the damp earthen flooring of that unwholesome region.
Suddenly the baron laid his hand upon Count Durlack’s arm, and while
397
the heavy drops of perspiration—the perspiration of fear, stood upon his brow, he said in a low husky whisper, with quivering lips,—
"Hark! hark! Did you not hear?"
"Hear what?" said Durlack.
"A short distance from this spot," whispered the baron, "is—is—the trap-door—"
"I understand," said the count, "in the room of your uncle’s dungeon?"
"Yes," faltered the baron.
"Pshaw!" cried the count; "wherefore do you tremble thus?"
"Those groans! those groans!" said the baron, shuddering.
"Should have been stifled long ago," said the count; "one would think you kept the old man alive purposely to hear them. ‘Twas great folly, baron."
"There again; there again!" said the baron, "He—he has been without food—"
"How long?"
"Two days or more."
"Humph!" said the count; "that comes of your scrupulous and tender feelings, baron."
"How long are we to wait here?" said Roland.
"A very sensible question," remarked the count. "Comes baron, rouse yourself."
"Again! again!" cried the baron.
A hollow voice as if coming from the very bowels of the earth, now said:—
"How long, just Heaven? how long?"
"Is that your uncle’s voice ?" said Durlack.
"It is! it is!" gasped the baron.
The torch illuminated but a few yards around the spot where the party stood, and Euphoric took the opportunity while the count and the baron were engaged in earnest whispers to glide forward in the direction from whence the groans had proceeded.
He threw himself flat upon the damp earth, and feeling about carefully with his hands, he felt an iron slab, in which, by passing his hand over it, he found there were numerous small holes, through which came a current of air.
"This," he thought then, "is the dungeon in which is confined the true Baron Zindorf! Alas! old man, I cannot aid thee."’
It was there the voice was heard, and Euphoric was satisfied that the sound ascended through the holes in the iron plate, which, most probably, was the only mode of communication with the dungeon.
Upon the impulse of the moment he placed his lips to the iron plate, and said, in as audible a tone as he dared, with the dread of being overheard by the baron or the count,
"Hope! hope! Deliverance is near!"
398
Without waiting for a reply, he glided back and reached the spot on which the party was assembled, just as the count said, in a tone of surprise,—
"By Heavens, baron! I heard another voice."
"So did I," said Euphoric.
"We are all here," said Durlack.
The baron looked deadly pale.
"Well," said Count Durlack, "Zindorf Castle is certainly not a desirable abode, and the sooner we quit it the better. Come, Roland, let’s go to work."
Roland took up a pick-axe, and at once struck it deep into the brick-work.
"Hold the torch, Euphoric," said the count, "albeit, unused to such labour, I will strike a few blows to get clear of this infernal den of a castle."
Taking up another of the pick-axes which Roland had brought with him, the Count Durlack set himself vigorously to work, and by their united exertions, they soon made a considerable opening in the blocked up archway.
"I think that will do," said Durlack, pausing. "We need do no more work than sufficient."
"Aye, aye," cried Roland; "that’s enough."
Euphoric clasped his hands as he muttered to himself,
"Pray Heaven the pass to the forest is well guarded by Sir Gaston’s soldiers."
"A cold air comes from this opening," said Durlack; "come, baron, methinks I even now smell the cool air of the forest. Come, rouse yourself."
"Yes, Yes!" cried the baron, "Heaven knows with what joy I leave Zindorf Castle."
"What is the matter?" suddenly said Durlack.
"Heaven, I heard the footsteps," said the baron.
"Damnation!" cried Durlack.
"Hush, hush!" gasped the baron; "a few steps further, and we come to a turning which leads direct in a line to the cavern; if we advance—"
"By the fiend," said Durlack, "I hear, myself, the measured tread of some one."
"They are there; they are there," thought Euphoric.
"It’s a soldier on guard, I’ll swear," said Roland.
"Then Sir Gaston has found the cavern, and placed a guard there," cried Durlack, in a tone of bitter mortification.
"We are lost! lost!" groaned the baron.
They stood for a few moments gazing at each other in mute dismay and hesitation.
"It may be but a single sentinel," said Euphoric; "I will creep cautiously forward, and reconitre, if you please."
399
"Do so," said Durlack, "it is the best thing that can be done. Go, and be cautious, Euphoric."
"I will," said Euphoric, and he added to himself, "I will be most careful to alarm the guard."
The page crept forward on his hands and knees, till he came to the opening which the baron had mentioned, and then standing about midway between him and the mouth of the cavern, he saw a man at arms, leaning upon one of the heavy arquebuses in use at the period.
CHAPTER LIX.
FOR several moments Euphoric regarded the soldier in silence, for he hardly knew in what manner to give the necessary alarm, without compromising himself with the count and the baron.
The man remained for some moments motionless at his post, and then resumed his solitary march.
"If I could cause sufficient alarm to induce him to summon his comrades, it would be well," thought Euphoric. "But I must be wary."
After a few moments’ thought, the page whistled as loudly and shrilly as he could.
The sentinel immediately paused, and seemed to be trying to pierce the obscurity that reigned in the cavern by an ardent gaze in that direction.
"Enough," Euphoric heard him mutter.
In a moment he levelled his arquebuse and discharged in the direction of Euphoric, who, but for his crouching position, would, most probably, have been killed by the discharge.
"No doubt," thought Euphoric, as he glided back, "he has been ordered to fire upon the slightest alarm. All is well."
The tramp of many feet was immediately heard, and Euphoric crept cautiously back, satisfied that the projected escape of the baron and the count was completely frustrated.
It would appear that the alarm given by the sentinel had fully reached the ears of those who sought to leave Zindorf Castle, for the page did not encounter them until he had proceeded a considerable distance beyond the spot upon which he had left them.
"Stand!" cried the voice of the Count Durlack, as Euphoric approached them.
" ‘Tis I," cried Euphoric.
"Well, what have you discovered?"
"A strong armed force hold possession of the cavern’s mouth," responded the page.
"Confusion!" said the baron.
"Damnation!" muttered the count.
"I think," continued Euphoric, "that I must have been seen for some one blew a whistle."
"We heard the whistle," remarked Durlack.
400
"Then," continued Euphoric, "an arquebuse was discharged at me; but, owing to my crouching position, I was unharmed."
"We heard the shot," said the baron. "By Heavens, I know not what to do! Count, can you advise?"
"I advise ?" cried Durlack, bitterly. "It is for you, baron, I think, to find out some means of escaping from this cursed castle of yours."
"But how?" said the baron.
"Do you know of no other means than this subterranean passage affords for escape?"
"None—none!" groaned the baron.
"Then we are cooped up here, as in a trap, waiting the good pleasure of Sir Gaston de Beauvais to come and take us out. Eh, baron?"
The baron groaned.
"Pleasant, truly," said Durlack. "Think you, Euphoric, the force at the cavern’s mouth is a strong one?"
"I do," said the page. "By the tramp of feet that I heard, I could say there was a strong guard there."
"Humph!" muttered the count; "it would be madness to attempt a passage at the sword’s point."
"It would,"’ answered Euphoric.
"If I am to die in this cursed hole," cried Durlack, "it shall be hand to hand with Sir Gaston de Beauvais himself, and not by the hands of his rabble troopers."
"Die!" cried the baron.
"Aye," said Durlack, carelessly; "die!"
"No,—no, I—I—cannot—will not. What can be done?—Count,—Euphoric—Roland.—Speak, all of you,—what can we do for life!—life!—life!"
"Nothing," said Euphoric. "The doom will come."
"I will not be taken!" cried Durlack.
"Roland," said the baron, "you speak. What do you advise, Roland? Tell me."
"You be d—d," muttered Roland, as he precipitately rushed back along the winding passage towards the castle.
"Come, come," cried Durlack, dashing his sword into its scabbard with a loud clash, "we may as well be merry while we can. Sir Gaston will be here in the morning. Come, baron, let us return and take a cup or two of your choicest wine. Come, come."
" ‘Tis nearly morning now," said Euphoric. Even now I heard the Castle clock strike four."
"Ha!" cried Durlack; "say you so? We shall have sharp work. Men call me a villain. Be it so; they shall, at least, confess me a bold one."
The baron seemed completely paralyzed by the horrors of his situation, and was scarcely able to follow the Count Durlack, who now strode onwards towards the castle again.