Tekla. Barr Robert
there.
"It is Hilda," said Conrad, to the Emperor. "Why do you masquerade as the Countess, Hilda?"
"It was her ladyship's wish. You are to take me in the boat with you immediately. The Countess awaits us at the watersteps."
The trap-door was open, and the Emperor descended, saying, hastily, "Come, Conrad."
"He is no boatman," whispered Hilda, holding back in alarm. "Who is – "
"Hush!" breathed Conrad, "trust to me and come."
An instant later the boat was pushed out with its three passengers, moving swiftly and silently down the stream, propelled by the lusty but noiseless strokes of Conrad's paddle. As they approached the watersteps it seemed at first that no one was there, but as Conrad with outstretched arm placed hand on the stone stairway and brought the boat to a stand, the shadowy form of the Countess came away from the closed door and a whisper breathed the name of Hilda. Hilda responded reassuringly, and the Countess came down the steps, Rodolph standing and handing her into the boat with a deference that the lady was too much agitated to notice. Her small hand, lightly touching his as she stepped into the boat, sent a thrill through him such as he had never experienced before. The Countess sat down with her back toward him, facing Hilda and Conrad.
"Now, good rowers," she said, breathing quickly, "keep within the shadow of the bank until we are sure to have escaped espionage, then I shall have further instructions, and remember that if you work well and silently I shall reward you beyond your hopes."
"May that prove true in my case," said Rodolph to himself.
The huge Palace seemed to float to the west; the moon shone brightly, but there was shadow enough thrown by the low bank to conceal the voyagers not only from chance wayfarers, should there be any, which was unlikely, but also from each other. The summer night was warm, and not a breath of wind rippled the surface of the river. Now and then some waterfowl, disturbed by their approach, plashed two or three times, beating wing against water, until it rose with a cry and soared away into the night.
They had made down the river for nearly an hour when Conrad began murmuring to Hilda, who sat next him.
"The Countess does not know how swift this river is," he said. "We will not get back in a week if we go much further. If it had been up the stream time would matter little, but down – "
"What does he say?" asked the Countess.
"He fears we cannot return betimes if we go further. The current is fleet to row against."
"Conrad," said the Countess, bending towards him, "we go not back, but forward. Seek the speediest part of the river, and guide the boat into it. I am on my way to Castle Thuron near the Rhine."
Both Hilda and Conrad gave utterance to exclamations of astonishment and alarm.
"But the Archbishop?" cried Hilda.
"But my master!" groaned Conrad.
"The Archbishop will follow us in hot haste when he finds us gone, Hilda, which will be some time before noontide to-morrow, therefore must Conrad persuade the swift stream to aid his stout arms."
"The boat is not mine," said Conrad, "and I have left my master without his sanction."
"I will amply reward your master for the losing of his boat, and you for the guiding of it. Both you and your comrade will I take into my employ, and neither shall lose by the transfer."
"Will you stand for me against my master as you did before, my Lord," cried Conrad, in great alarm at the possible consequences of his desertion from a master who brooked no excuse.
"My Lord!" cried the Countess, half-rising and looking round for the first time at the second boatman, on whom the moonlight now fell, showing that he had removed his cap, and was bowing to her.
"I pray you, madame, do not stand, for this boat is but unsteady at best. I beg you not to be alarmed, for I shall be as faithful to your behests as Conrad here, and no man can give himself higher warrant."
"What lord are you, or are you one?"
"Conrad, in his excitement, gives me title to which I make no claim, exaggerating my importance because of some influence I have exerted on his behalf with his master."
"What is your name and quality, for I see you are no waterman?"
"I am sorely disappointed to hear you say so, madame, for I hoped to make good my reputation as waterman by my work to-night. My name is Rodolph, and none who know me will deny I am a gentleman."
"Are you German?"
"As German as the Emperor and a fellow-countryman of his."
"You are a Swiss adventurer, then?"
"All men have a touch of the adventurer about them: I not more than others, I hope."
"Why are you here disguised as a boatman?"
"I am not disguised, but in my ordinary dress – the costume in which I have appeared these few days past in Treves. The house by the river, of which Conrad is caretaker, belongs to my friend, who is Conrad's master. It happened that I was there when your tire-woman came in real disguise, and when I heard that you awaited the boat on the watersteps of the Palace I felt sure something more serious than an excursion by moonlight was intended, although Conrad suspected nothing. I came, therefore, thinking you might perhaps need the help of a good sword, and that sword I now lay at your feet."
"I need a swift paddle rather than the best of swords. My safety lies in flight, and not in fighting."
"My services as oarsman are also at your disposal, madame. I trust that in your presence there will be no need for swordsmanship; but should such necessity arise a stout blade is not to be despised."
The Countess mused for some moments in silence, evidently disquieted by the intrusion of a stranger, yet well aware that if he proved true and staunch his help might be invaluable. It was impossible for her to question Conrad about him in his presence, for she saw he was a gentleman, as he had asserted, but a fear arose that he might be some adherent of the Archbishop, intent on furthering his own interests by delivering her into the hands of his Lordship's minions. She knew that at various posts along the river, companies of the Archbishop's troops were stationed – at Bruttig, at Cochem, and elsewhere; he could, at the moment of passing any one of these places, give the alarm which would result in her immediate capture. He was armed and Conrad was not, therefore there might be some difficulty in disposing of him even if no help were at hand. Still anything was better than uncertainty, and she resolved to act at once. The river now ran between high hills, densely wooded from top to water's edge. If he could be put off it were better to disembark him in a wilderness like this, than at some settlement where he had opportunity of raising the hue and cry of pursuit. Yet she did not wish to leave him to starve or be torn in pieces by wild boars roaming an almost unlimited forest. The perplexing part of the problem lay in the fact that if he were a spy and a traitor he might refuse to land, while if he were a true man he would rid them of his company when he saw that it was not wanted.
The Countess leaned forward and spoke to Conrad.
"Do you know this river?"
"I know it as far as Cochem, my lady."
"Where are we now, think you?"
"We are some two leagues above the ancient Roman town of Boveris."
Turning to Rodolph, she said:
"Is the Archbishop your over-lord?"
"No, madame. I am a free man, owing allegiance to none."
"Not to the Emperor?"
"To the Emperor, of course, but to none other."
"Where did you come from, and how long have you been in Treves?"
"I came from Frankfort some three or four days since, and never saw Treves before."
"You came to seek service with the Archbishop perhaps?"
"No, madame. I am a student as well as soldier. I came merely to inform myself regarding the manners and customs of so celebrated and ancient a city as Treves."
"Know