A KING

And His Campaigners

VON HEIDENSTAM

Duckworth's Greenback Library

LIBRARY

UMIVMMTVOP

CAUFOtNIA

A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

THE GREENBACK LIBRARY. Paper, is. 6d. net; Cloth, 2s. net.

1. TWENTY-SIX MEN AND A GIRL. By MAXIM GORKY.

2. EL OMBtr. By W. H. HUDSON.

3. A KING AND His CAMPAIGNERS. By VERNER VON

HEIDENSTAM.

Others in the Press.

VERNER VON HEIDENSTAM

A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

Rendered into English by AXEL TEGNIER

LONDON

DUCKWORTH & CO.,

3, HENRIETTA STREET, W.C.

MDCCCCII.

PRINTED BY R. FOLKARD AND SON,

1, DEVONSHIRE STREET, QUEEN SQUARE, BLOOMSBURY,

LONDON, W.C.

CONTENTS.

CHATTER. PACK.

I. — The Green Passage I

II. — The Conversion of the King .... 20

III.— After the Coronation 28

IV. — A Midsummer Venture 50

V. — Gunnel, Keeper of the Castle Stores 65

VI. — Maans the Frenchman 71

VII. — Queen of the Land-rakers - - - - - 93

VIII. — Mazeppa and His Emissary • - - - 113

IX. — Fifteen Years Later 124

X. — The Beleaguered House 147

XL— A Clean White Shroud 167

XIL— Poltawa ........ 173

XIII. — Behold, these are My Children .... 209

XIV.— In Council - 214

XV.— The Church Square 218

XVI.— The Captives 223

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE.

VERNER VON HEIDENSTAM, a great Little Master in latter-day Swedish literature, is in his narrative style inclined towards impressionism. The very simplicity of his style, its bald directness of effect, his suggestion of environment and character by means of scanty but illuminating detail, and the veiledness of his root in- tention, make the effort to render his writings into proper English invidious and hard to achieve with any just measure of success.

The stories in this volume, the first of the series entitled " Karolinerna " in the Swedish, deal with the condition of the country and the personality of Charles XII., that military genius of the early part of the eighteenth century. At the age of eighteen he smote Russia, Denmark, and Saxony with her Polish sovereign, who were conspiring to partition his kingdom ; and to him Marlborough could say, "I wish I could serve in some campaign under so great a general as your Majesty, that I might learn what I yet want to know."

Heidenstam's work, vivid and picturesque, is charged with a deep knowledge of the period treated. Local colour is dealt out with a sparing hand ; only here and there a patch of it lightens the monotone of

TRANSLATOR S NOTE Vlll.

his general scheme ; and superfluous detail is rigor- ously eschewed. His delineation of Charles, that ul- timate example of splendid but vacillating obstinacy, is impartial and unsympathetic, even to coldness. But whether or no it be correct, considered from the historical standpoint, it is aye set forth with distinc- tion and the sure touch of conviction.

Heidenstam is always the inspired craftsman in his work. Yet impressionism in any form of art tends to obscurity of outline and purport : and it is as much owing to this as to the intensity of vehement imagina- tion, conceiving mental visuality, and likewise obscur- ing it in part, that his narrative occasionally fails in clearness and cohesion. His defects are the defects of his method.

In these tales, the subject matter has been closely followed, not literatim nor with an eye to the nuances of style, but with as much attention to the truthful- ness of its presentment as to its right array in fitting English. I trust that language and form are such as the author himself would have used were he an Englishman.

A.

CHAPTER I. THE GREEN GALLERY.

IN the castle-quarter, where the firewarden sold brandy and beer, a tall narrow-shouldered customer had been cast out headlong upon the steps ; his pewter pot, thrown after him, rolled down before his feet. The worsted stockings of the man were dirty and darned. His neck-cloth was pulled up about his mouth and unshaven chaps. He kept his hands behind him, thrust into the back pocket of his coat.

"Throw out Ekerot. The idiot ! " cried the fire- warden, " He has blown tobacco into the beer, and struck Peter Malermeistar with a darning needle ; he's full of every kind of mischief and devilry ! Then close-to the table ; order has come to shut the gates. The King is dying."

Old Haakon, a lifelong retainer of Charles XL, was one of those present. He bore a friendly countenance, and in his tight-fitting livery walked so bowlegged, that he looked as if he had just got off horse-back. He lifted the pewter pot, and in an amicable fashion thrust it under Ekerot's arm.

B

2 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

" I will see the officer home," said he, " or the lieutenant, or whatever he calls himself ! "

" Lars Ekerot is Captain in the King's Navy ! " answered Ekerot, " and far travelled and cunning in tongues, too, is he ! But for all this, the folk here know not enough to make any allowance for him. I'll complain about them, I'll make a charge ; that I shall ! Have I not told you : Heaven will soon rain judgment on this place, and every rafter in it will be ablaze ? Corrupt councillors and unjust judges — false testimony and many miseries — these have be- come our daily bread. The Lord's Anger lies heavy on the Land."

" My good sir, lieutenant or captain, in all truth you need prophesy no worse misfortunes than those which God has already laid on us ! Fires are break- ing out everywhere in the outskirts of the town ; for ten autumns, now, we've had barren harvests and famines ; and this year a ton of rye already costs ten silver rix-dollars. The fodder, too, '11 soon be at an end in the Royal Stables ; and the grain ships lie out- side, fast in the ice ! "

Ekerot went with him along the staircase, and looking about. His beady, restless eyes did not notice anything. Now and then he stood still, cackling and talking in an undertone to himself.

Through the windows they saw the Burg beneath them, with the raised perron and its statues, and the sentinels tramping up and down the Trumpeters' Gallery. Behind its snowy towers and roofs small black groups of men were to be seen travelling on the

THE GREEN GALLERY 3

ice between Kungsholmlandet and Soder ; and the setting March sun, shining athwart the windows of a chamber in the left wing, made as it were the concen- trated lustre of the Crown glistening there.

" Yes ! " murmured Ekerot, " yes ! it must all, all, burn ! all that has been our shame and our greatness. Charles's Wain I have seen shine bright in the night sky, and when to-night I sit, pipe in hand, amid the tobacco smoke, I note wonderful stars foretelling that the old ordering of the world is out of place. In Hungary and Germany swarms of Arabian locusts have fallen. The fire-spouting mountains throw up burning stones. In February, two years gone, we had green grass finger high in Djurgaarden, and heard the birds of spring merrily singing : but we were using sledges again in May. Hoar frosts whitened the corn in August: yet in September I plucked strawberries on Essingen. In such times it is, that the Lord God opens the eyes of His own, so that they may perceive hidden things."

" God-a-mercy, say not so ! " stammered Haakon. " Does he give this sight, then, to folks asleep or waking ? "

" When one is between the two ! "

" Every word I promise to tell to the King, if you, lieutenant, would give me the full truth of what you have seen and know. Look there, at the two windows with their shutters drawn-to ; I was inside that room not more than two hours ago ! The King sits there, in a chair padded round with pillows and thick coverings : he is so shrivelled and little now, that

B— 2

4 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

his face is all nose and lips ; he cannot raise his head at all. Poor, wretched King! what agonies he must suffer, and he, too, only in his forties ! When he was wont to come limping through the chamber, I was glad if I could get away ; but, for all I'm one of the least of his servants, he would immediately take me around the neck, and, streaming with tears, affection- ately press me to him ; I do not believe he feels warmer towards his son or his wife ! When he does send for him, he is usually chary of speaking, and sits and looks at him. He only talks about the Country now, always about the Country. A week ago, I saw some documents of his concerning the tax on house- surveys and town-dues and like affairs ; and now he has written his last and secret advice for the son's use, and put the letter safe away into a locked iron box ; and as soon as anyone comes into the room his eyes seem to mean the very same as his words always do. ' Help me, help me, to keep the Country, to make my son worthy and wise. The Country ! The Country.' "

Haakon passed his hand over his forehead ; and they continued along the passage from window to window.

" In that room yonder, to the left behind us, her Majesty lives, the Queen- widow. For the last few days she has shut herself up, and not even Tessin, the Master Builder, will get in to her. No one knows how she busies herself ; but I am thinking she spends the time at cards ! There is a tinkling and clinking of trinkets against the card table, and a swishing and

THE GREEN GALLERY 5

rustling of lace and silks . . . and the Spanish cane with the gold knobs on it falls on the floor. . ."

"... And the lady in-waiting, beautiful Hed- wig Stenbock, does she not take a hand in it ? "

" She may well leave it alone, for she's been long married, and is old and wicked, and at home within four walls ! My good sir, you only live in that which was, and which ought to be ! "

" Possibly ! " and Ekerot gazed craftily and with insinuation at the new north wing, newly recon- structed by Tessin, the previous one having been razed to the ground. Some of the scaffolding yet stood there, the rough spruce twigs still on the ends of the topmost baulks.

" Well, who lives on the other side, now ? No one, not even the devil, eh ! and henceforth, too, none '11 live there, — I know as much ! Why could not every- thing remain as of old ? Understand, that according as every man has a soul, so in every old house there lodges some evil spirit or other, something of the Devil, that aye will break out and come to no good, when one begins to use mattock and trowel ! Do you bring to mind the Green Gallery that formerly ran down there, under the roof over the old Castle Church ? It was there my eyes were first opened ! Yes, yes, I'll tell you. I will tell you everything, ifyou'll come home with me, and later on keep your promise to recount every word to the King."

They had now passed out at the Castle gates, and were crossing the bridge above the burying ground. Just then a courier, with a leather satchel at his back,

6 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

was dismounting. Through the tramping of feet and words of command was to be heard his answer to the many questions : " Six mile round, north of Stockholm, only three men seen. . . . Sitting by the road- side, devouring a dead beast ... in Norrland a pound of meal mixed with crushed bark costs four silver rix thalers. The soldiers are starving ; the regiments are reduced to half-strength! "

Ekerot nodded in assent, as if he was long acquainted with the entire state of affairs. Then together with Haakon he held on again, the pewter pot under his arm, his hands in his back pocket.

As they were climbing the stairs to his chamber in Traangsund he threw a suspicious sidelong glance at Haakon, and on inserting the key closely examined whether or no the door had been opened in his absence. The room was spacious and empty. At the window stood a cage with a squirrel therein. On one of the walls a number of various coins were fastened in rows : bright thalers, and great and small copper coins, a five ducat piece, and also a couple of notes, worthless for thirty years past.

" The fool," said Ekerot, " hides his treasure so cunningly, that he cannot watch it ; but I will always keep mine before my eyes, so I can quickly tell it into a bag when the great fire comes! "

From a corner he drew forth five sulphur-tipped wooden matches, laid them on the hearth, and kindled them by means of flint and steel. Then he and Haakon ceased blowing up the fire ; and as no chairs were there, seated themselves on the floor in front of the blaze.

THE GREEN GALLERY 7

" And now let us hear the tale," said Haakon.

Said Ekerot, " Never have I seen anything so full of horror as that Green Gallery! It was the time when I was an officer in the Navy. Nowadays they throw into my pocket the paltry pension of two hundred and fifty thalers, and let me be: I can take it all ! They hunted me out of the Service for fear I had become the Admiral; and Hans Wachtmeister wished to become that ! c The fellow's mad,' he yelled on deck, when I asked him, most courteously, first to bow before ordering me into the rigging ; so then, all was ended as far as I was concerned. ' Mad Ekerot,' I was always called, wherever I went. Yes, it is ever the same in the world. A poor comrade carries a friend to the grave, then his master; and in the end, this and that one, for a bare doit ; he gets himself an oilskin cap and a long black cloak ; and when he is in a hurry his lists of dead slip out of his pocket ; and the children take to their heels, weeping and yelling, 1 The undertaker ! The undertaker ! ' But, though one can become such terrifying wraith, we are all kneaded out of the same common clay.

" And now this, that I will say, you must repeat word for word to the King himself.

" At the time which I talk about, I was sent into drawing and design. One day before that quarrel with Wachtmeister, I was ordered, according to gracious command, to take a second with me, named Nils, and instal myself in an empty lumber-room above the Papists' Church in the Castle tower, next the river. Here we were to draw from a defective

8 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

ship's lantern on Matar one desired by the queen- widow for her sloop.

" One day as we sat there, playing hazard, and arguing about the lantern, which was designed cursedly wrong, some fun came into my head. Cried I, ' Nils, have you ever seen a dog with five legs? ' When Nils but gave a shrug, I continued, ' I have, — in the Iron Mart; it went on four legs, and the fifth it had in its mouth,— but it was not its own!* Nils began to growl, so to tease him I cried still louder, ' Witty you are not ! Now we'd like to see very much if you're mettlesome? I wager this pot, full of the right good Spanish wine, and a ducat at the bottom of it all, that I will go all alone through the Green Gallery at curfew !

" He answered, ' I know, that when you take a brisk notion into your head, you're not to be put off it ; yet I would not have it laid to my avarice that I could not agree to the wager ; so, Ekerot, I take it up as you wish ! But I would like to justify myself ever so little to your old mother, if any harm come to you, so I'll go home now. In the day-time, this place is heartsome enough to look at, but at night-time it becomes lonely here; I'd rather sleep in the most wretched hole outside.'

" I called him a coward, and let him go. WThen by myself I noticed the darkening was already setting in ; and to harden myself I went quickly down the stairs to the Green Gallery, and peered through the key-hole. The green tint was painted on most of the place, so that the older and ruddier colour lightened

THE GREEN GALLERY ' $

underneath it. Along the walls stood all sorts of furniture out-of-date, and so stored here; I saw presses, and chairs, and paintings of dogs and horses, and farther on a bed with curtains drawn together. Along the sides were recesses and dark corners, where the rain dropped down from the leaking roof.

" It was about the time of Walpurgis, thus the night somewhat clear, and this gave me a certain feeling of security, so that I durst set myself down on the stairs to wait. I knew that strange creatures had their lurking places there, beneath the flooring of the Gallery. The servants called them Witches of the Night, because it needs always be pitch dark afore they heaved up the loose boards and showed their heads. They were no larger than thirteen-year-old children, and wholly brown and naked, and possessing the shape of woman. Often and often would they climb on the presses, and swing themselves round by means of their arms ; and anyone who had the mis- fortune to encounter one of them, most surely must die before the year ran out. Well, as soon as I hear the bells, I opened the door. I took one step ; but my fear was so big, that I stood still, with both hands on the door-posts, and staring into the deepening twilight. Through a hole in the boarded windows I could see out, as far as the Tower on Brunke- berg, and this so heartened me, that I straightway stepped into the Green Gallery, so that the ringing might not stop before I was come back. As long as the bells rang out, the creatures of darkness had no power.

ID" A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

" When I was halfway, maybe, I suddenly saw something dark glide in front of me, out from behind the bed-curtains, and slip down into an old elbow- chair, as if to hide itself or awaiting me : I felt as if my knees failed me, and I heard the echo of my scream shrilly repeat itself. Hear you now! From that very moment my eyes became opened, and since then men call me ' Idiot.1

" Against the light from the window I saw it was a man. He did not remain stiff-still like to myself. He instantly seized me by the arm, and hissed between his teeth ' Figlio di un cane ! Spy ? Servant of the Queen- Widow? '

" ' God be praised! ' I stammered, when I knew it was a man, and understood by his shaking, unapt, fumbling hold of me that he was as much affrighted. Likewise I perceived he went bare in his stocking- soles, and had thrust the shoes into the breast of his coat.

" I collected myself, and told him of my innocent notion. In the end he believed me.

" ' Such an accursed, rotten old hole,' growled the man, to conceal his perturbation. ' There is so much rain dripping down from the roof that my feet are wet. As I do live, a new house should be built here. . . . My good man, can you find the way? Then help me through this maze to the Ballet Hall. Who I am is a matter of indifference to you ! '

"'Certainly!' I replied. 'Although I do know Tessin the master-builder, and Chamberlain, perfectly well!1 '

THE GREEN GALLERY I I

" He bowed, and took me by the coat-tails, so then I turned myself and went before him; at bottom, I believe, each was equally glad to have met the other. When we had found the way down to the Hall, he ordered me to stay outside; but I heard the Witches jumping in the darkness behind us, and put my hand on the door-lock, so that I could open the door, and unperceived slip in behind him. Through the window one looked down on the river. Within the Hall a number of side-scenes were leant against the walls, painted finely with trim woods and white-walled temples.

" Tessin remained standing in the middle of the Hall, and softly clapped his hands.

11 A woman rose up from behind the staging, and opened a small dark lanthorn: she was Hedwig Stenbock, the Queen- Widow's great maid-of-honour. So now, you may understand how the foreign fop has climbed so high !

" Hedwig, my dearest on earth! ' said he. ' We're just searching for your room. No answer, ma chere ? '

41 Hedwig Stenbock was at that time nigh almost on five and thirty, and she approached him so stiff and full of ceremony, that I thought she had neither heart nor soul; but suddenly she changed; the red blood flushed her cheeks when he embraced her. Then I forgot myself and cried fairly loud. 4 Aha ! aha ! ' Tessin lurched about; but he was so drunk with desire, that he only drew together his eyebrows in rebuke.

12 A KING AND HtS CAMPAlGNEkS

"He explained my presence.

" ' We must have an accomplice at any rate ; and Ekerot can be as capable as anyone, at that ! If he understands to keep his mouth shut, he'll not go un- rewarded ! '

"Thereupon he bade me take the lanthorn and go through the empty council chambers — thanks for the honour; and again, by a way which he directed me, down to where the Court Ladies of the Queen-Widow lived. May you aye sleep in peace, my fair ones! And as soon as I had made sure that nothing was a- go there, I was to come back and advise them.

" But I had to tell something wholly different when I returned in safety. I had had to hear the Witches rioting behind the door of the cabinet ; and see them leap with small sparks of fire playing from their hands before the Chamber of Archives, where the State papers are kept in chests along the wainscotting. But at last I had found the night attendant of the Queen-Dowager. He was sitting in the corridor by his hand-lamp, and fast asleep, his shoulders against the wall.

" ' He has been sent for, after I left ! ' Said Hedvvig Stenbock, standing proud and stiff as ever. ' He has no idea, the bird has flown though. But, how now to get back ? '

" She thrust Tessin's arm away from her, and became very thoughtful.

" ' I have long feared this, and thought over it. Scandal will break out about us, to-night. Her Majesty herself is jealous! '

TPIE GREEN GALLERY 13

"Tessin clutched the air as if at seeming swords and daggers, and his eyes sparkled.

" ' Jealous ? About me ? She is forty years old, and grey-haired already ; her voice is as coarse as a man's ! Should I, then, always be hearing of this madness? Before whom should I have laid my works, from whom should I have sought protection, if not with Sweden's Hedwig Eleonora.' He bows. ' But fear not, my dearest, no shame shall cloud your name; to-night you accompany me; we can speedily get a sledge ; . . . and a little later. . . . Addio ! I have friends in Italy ! '

" ' God in Heaven is my witness,' she answered, ' that I am aye ready to follow you, wherever you go ; and from folk I ask nothing, but rather would be with you. Yet first must we take care and examine what is discreet, with a trusty friend and protector. I think on Erik Lindskiold, he sits and drinks with the King to-night. Ekerot can go down by the Burg court- yard to the little staircase leading from the King's Chambers, and wait there till Lindskiold appears. Then he will ask him, with many excuses, to come here at once ... to me.'

" Tessin motioned me away with his hand : I did not heed him, but found a delectable pleasure in obey- ing so noble a lady.

" The night was already far-spent when I came back with Lindskiold. He had questioned me closely about the whole affair. He shook his periwig ; cursed in a friendly fashion ; laughed loud, and behaved as if the whole castle belonged to him,

14 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

" When he was come into the Hall, he bent on one knee, and threw his hat into the air, and cried ! ' Dear folks, are you wholly decided then ? You would inflame love, then run away and laugh at them all that guard you ? Your passion begets suffering then, and no joys ? Pish! Pish! A master architect, an adventurer — not without censure either, of some recent nobility — hopes to win our beautiful Lady-in-waiting. All woes and sorrows began that morn when mother Eve stood in Paradise, nude, new-made, and beautiful, and Adam awoke, and full of hot admiration cried, Madam I congratulate you, for the birth- day ! '

" ' Damnation, he is almost tipsy ! ' muttered Tessin to her. ' C'est ce que Ton appelle 1'esprit sue'dois ! Lindskiold is drunk.'

" ' Only a very little ! He is in the right mood.'

" Lindskiold heard them not, but continued speak- ing ; his voice echoing through the great place. ' For a long time past I have had some suspicion about this ; and the noble descendant of the Stenbocks will take it in good part ! But to travel to Italy ? bah ! The country for the Chamberlain lies here : it needs his genius ! Look me in the face, sir, and tell me if you can run away from the drawings, spread out by you on my table, or if there's anything in the world so dear to you as your art ? '

" ' I am resolved to marry the Chamberlain, and there the matter is ! ' quoth Hedwig Stenbock.

" Lindskiold laid his hand above his heart.

" ' Certainement ! certainement ! ' cries the Dowa- ger ! 'I myself will make a wreath of blossom off my

THE GREEN GALLERY 1 5

own lime trees ! I have no forefathers buried in the vault beneath the church-vane : Schmied was my father's name, and what was he ? Plainly a burgo- master of Skenning ! Now if only it was the Cham- berlain who came out of Skenning, how would he have been forced to make shift to build ? A new castle for the King? — after the Skenning sort ! That town ? Puh, I had enough hatred for it ! However, because he is what he is, the Chamberlain is both supercilious and without any cunning ! '

" Lindskiold took Tessin by the arm, then he drew himself up, erect and haughty, with a bearing as if he had suddenly thrown aside a distasteful masquerading costume.

" ' His passion will cool down in a month or so ! Now, as a beginning, the Chamberlain kisses the hand of her he delighteth to honour, and goes back three steps, makes an obesiance, then follows me. Be calm ! my word goes far, you know, in the King's ear ! Then Ekerot returns to the attendant of the Queen-widow, blows out his lanthorn, gives him a right sound thumping on the ear, and throws his shoes behind him ; so then the man believes it is all owing to the witches, and our worthy lady can reach her room in tranquillity. However, it is further determined that in a short time she betake herself on a journey to Pomerania : the Chamberlain meets and marries her there, without any unnecessary stir. Her Majesty I'll take upon my own conscience — the accursed misfortune — I mean the Queen-widow, that cunning woman . . . aye, the devil himself qan-

1 6 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

not manage her. But I have heard how they laid the unjust hand on the unfriendly nobles at the recovery of the crown lands ; and know how much she gained from that ; and will put her in mind thereon. New times are coming, you may be certain! Ah, my dear children, my dear children, if you only knew how the heart grows big with anxiety when one is at the rudder of state, and steering towards far-off beacons, the very names of which one durst not even mention before the King. But believe my words, and do what I say. Here, then, where we now stand the Cham- berlain will some day establish his immortality ! '

" Tessin, all bewildered, took Lindskiold's hand and carried it to his lips. When I had done my errand on the attendant, he offered me, with a grimace, these two notes, there on the wall. « Now,' said he, ' he has the promised reward of his silence.'

" But after this adventure all my visions and my ill-luck began, and, whenever, being unwell, I had to stay at home, my vapours were the common talk of every quarter ; and I had gout, too, consumption, asthma, even St. Vitus's dance, and a buzzing in my head. Even at the time I took the notes I was aware they had been out of circulation many years ! And now give a strict account in the presence of His Majesty the King of all I have told you."

Ekerot wished to say more, but there came a sudden knocking on the door, and a messenger called Haakon to the King, whose condition had changed for the worst.

A little time after, it was the day following Easter,

THE GREEN GALLERY 17

the people were informed that the King was in the last extremity, but Ekerot only nodded in his accus- tomary fashion, as if it all were already known to him. A multitude of starving men and women, to whom work had been promised outside on the neigh- bouring land, stood in the snow on the streets, shelter- less and desperate. With his hands in the back pocket of his coat, Ekerot went from group to group, listening intently to their murmurs, and nodding and nodding again in corroboration. He wrote down predictions concerning the coming night, which he delivered to the Court Chaplain, Wallin, calamities he prophesied were wont to evince themselves during the hours of darkness, so that they might make plain to the envisioned Blessed that which is disguised and hidden by the light.

It was on a windy April day, shortly after he had shoved his last prediction under Wallin's outer door, that Ekerot seated himself at his window, and talked to his squirrel. Then he bit at a dry pear which he took out of a chest of drawers. Now, as he sat there, he heard, all of a sudden, alarms and clangings of bells, and when he stretched himself out of the window he saw the Castle roof enveloped in fiery smoke. He turned about and began to take his money off the wall, carefully he counted it into his pocket. He trembled, and his teeth chattered ; but with the squirrel under one arm, and the pewter pot below the other he stumbled down the stairs to the street. He got thrust against the walls of the houses by the crush of folk, and out of wind, so he stood still and stared up at the

c

1 8 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

Castle, where the licking flames were already beating among its brittle rafters. Soon the three great wings were blazing like enormous heaps of wood ; the thun- derous roaring of the flames overpowered the pealing of bells and the rolling of the drums.

«' Behold, behold," cried he, " the witches now must flee into the bright day. See how they fly in files along the ridges of the roof, with fire in their hands. They climb the roof of the Tower, and hop down on Tessin's new gable ; 'twas he disturbed their ease ! They will be consumed. This is but the beginning. All shall be burnt to the ground. All. All."

Soldiers and servants forced their way out over the Castle bridge, between casks of water and furniture and pictures. Under the two lions, upon which rested the Royal Escutcheon above the fold of the great door, appeared Hedwig Eleonora, the mother and grandmother of the two Karls. Two courtiers sup- ported her ; they almost had to carry her, for she sank down to the ground, and constantly desired to remain still and look back. The mantilla over her silver-grey hair was motioned by the wind, and the following instant it swathed her face like to a dark veil covering the weeping eyes, the proud aristocratic nose, and vividly rouged cheeks.

" The bier burns beneath the body of thy son," Ekerot cried, and stretched forth his hand, " and the Throne burns, upon which thy son's son is mounted, and before thou closeth thine eyes will the whole kingdom be buried below ashes. Thou needst re- member no more than this : but that he was born with

THE GREEN GALLERY 1 9

blood upon his hands." Then he violently forced his way through the press, alongside the walls of the houses, towards Traansund.

The sparks of the conflagation arose heavenward like stars. Behind the walls of the Church-court one saw the great Tower of the Castle, the Three Crowns rearing itself four stories higher than the highest roof, in each of its stories now carried by fire, dense smoke was puffing out through the empty window openings like to puffs of cannon smoke. There are the witches, thought he, making glad over the victory, while the Burg of the Vasa Kings is being consumed.

Again and again the smoke wrapped round the ancient emblems of the Kingdom ; again and again, up there in the dizzy height, those three Golden Crowns glimmered out like three storm-birds rocking themselves on the wing. The bellringers in the Church of St. Nicholas climbed up the stairs to save their great bell, but when they heard the roaring of the fires, as the floors and galleries gave way, and the great Tower with the Escutcheon broke into a down- fall of stones and mortar, they turned and escaped.

Seized with fright, women and children began to sob, and then to run. It was they who said that at Soderport they saw a man with a squirrel in his hand and a pewter pot under his arm, making stealthily into the farther country, and he was softly singing to himself an old penitential Psalm.

c — 2

CHAPTER II. THE CONVERSION OF THE KING.

IN the Great Church of Stockholm the audience had arisen in their pews, and were gazing towards its entrance. Before it Karl XII. of Sweden was alighting from the state carriage.

He was a handsome youth, something thin and undergrown. His plumed hat appeared comically small, its brim being up-turned ludicrously high over his large and disordered peruke. When he thrust it under his arm, his mien was nervous and constrained. He walked with a mincing step and knees bent some- what accordingto the prevailing mode. His eyes he kept groundwards. He was finely attired in a mourning suit, its facing of ermine, his gloves were tipped with the same, and on his high-heeled shoes of Cordova leather he wore buckles with rosettes.

Ill at ease by reason of the many inquisitive glances, he took his seat beneath the Golden Crown. He sat stiffly there, fronting the communion table, unable to fix his mind on the holy ceremony. When, at last, the Pastor mounted the pulpit, and with a stout blow on the reading desk, gave out a roll of murmured

THE CONVERSION OF THE KING 21

words, the King flushed deeply as if caught in the very act of remissness. Yet, soon his thoughts again escaped him, following their own trend ; and he began to pluck at the black tails of the ermine to gloss over his embarrassment.

" Look there ! " said a woman, sitting in a pew at the farther end of the Church. " He should have felt a little more of the fatherly rod, he should ! Perhaps, though, the devil has bitten his ringer ! "

"Hold your tongue, you jiber, he has smuggled himself into a better seat than you have come to ! " her neighbour replied, shoving her out head first into the passage.

At the door stood the Beadle with his staff; his duty was to go the round of the congregation and arouse any sleepers. As he now raised his hands in protection of himself, he let his staff fall to the floor ; the clatter echoed up the Church as far as the nobility. Some turned round to view the brawl. The Pastor hastened to deliver the following exordium :

" Peace, I say, the Christian peace, and whither does it tend, with its delectable, Heavenly manna ? Per- chance into the households of the folk. Thereupon it keeps firm and steadfast. And perchance it is found in God's own house, or with your Majesty, in your very person ! Whosoever find, feed ye well upon it. And thus, I say unto you, thou Prince of this earth : Strive ever towards peace and love. Encourage not unto discord that sword set into your hand by God Al- mighty for the protection of your subjects."

At this the King's face became blood red, and in

22 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

a confused manner he laughed outright. Hedwig Eleonora, the Queen Dowager, opposite him, herself nodded and cackled, but the young Princesses laughed most. Of course Ulrica Eleonora sat stiff as ever ; yet Hedwig Sophia stretched out her lanky neck, and held her prayer-book before her mouth, glad in the consciousness that now the keen-eyed dames were eyeing her fine gloves.

The King grew bolder by degrees, and looked around him. In what a strange temple of God he found himself ! The entire Church was stored with furnishings and works of art saved from the fire ; only the middle aisle was unencumbered. In the corner, facing the communion table, stood the paintings of the Last Judgment and the Crucifixion, the canvasses rolled up together, and there behind the sarcophagus he recognised the plumes and green tapestry hangings of that bed in which his father had breathed his last, propped up with pillows.

Yet this recollection did not touch the King. He had felt for his parent scarce any other feeling except that of fear. He had looked on him more as the representative established by God than as a dear and near kinsman. In his thoughts, likewise his speech, his fondest appellation of him was only " the old King."

Like two bees in quest, his eyes roamed over the numerous well-known objects, and in the end they rested a long while on the last pillar in the Church. There, buried some years ago under the flagstones, lay his tutor, Nordenhjelm, the good-hearted old Norco- pensis, on whom he had been wont to cling with

THE CONVERSION OF THE KING 23

childish affection. He recalled the early lessons in the wintry mornings, when he sat beside him cipher- ing the four rules, and occasionally snuffing the wicks, or when Nordenhjelm told him about the heroes of Greece and Rome.

Since the death of the Old King he had been going about like one in a dream. He knew it to be un- seemly of him to show any lightsomeness, and that he was to expect nothing but demonstrations of grief from others ; yet at the same time he was well aware that in secret folk considered the affair very collectedly indeed, and sought to win his favour while he was trying to amuse himself as quietly as possible, now through this, now through that. Even His Excel- lency, Piper himself, could suddenly dry his tears and implore him not wholly to renounce youthful recreations, but on the contrary to take part in a hawking party.

The stern, lugubrious countenances now on all sides so wrought on him, that tears came unwittingly into his eyes. Yet out of the hidden depths of the boy's soul mounted the dizzying, intoxicating incense of victory ; for these grim, stubborn old nobles, whom, formerly, he had feared and evaded, he had found unexpectedly submissive and obedient. Sometimes, as they sat at the board, their faces mournful as ever, he had thrown fruit pips at their lachrymose features, and observed how thereupon everyone did laugh, yet directly afterwards they would approach the Queen Dowager and surround her with their most sorrowful selves.

24 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

The fire, with its scenes and danger, had been to him of extreme interest and suspense. Yes, altogether that had been the most enjoyable day of his life hitherto ! The terrors of the others, the swooning of his grandmother, had only combined to make the rare spectacle more singular and unprecedented. Every- thing was ended now, so far as former times were concerned : the Old King was gone, the Burg a place of ashes ; it would be the new, it would be all that after which Sweden was hankering, which should now arise with him, even as a flame of fire. And so think- ing, he sat there solitary, and only fourteen years of age.

Now it seemed to him that Nordenhjelm was standing there, in the pulpit, behind the Pastor, prompting his discourse. The Pastor had shaken but for a little time the cap and bells, as it were, to place himself on a more intimate footing with his audience. Then he had addressed himself to his sovereign, and, before the great congregation, charged him with his high calling, most earnestly and strenu- ously. He adjured him in the name of God not to permit himself the toleration of parasites and flatterers lest self-love and arrogance become his portion, but willingly to devote his every action to the faithful people of Sweden, so that he too in later years could close his weary eyes in peace, and, attended by the benedictions of all, enter into the Eternal Glories of God.

The voice of truth rang clamant throughout the vaulted arches of the church; and the young King

THE CONVERSION OF THE KING 25

was moved almost to tears. Anew he engaged his thoughts on other and indifferent things; but each word of the Pastor smote his open, childish heart; and there he sat with bowed head.

It was a relief to him when he was again brought to Karlberg. There he shut himself into his chamber. Not even an imperative command from the Queen- Widow could induce him to appear.

In his anteroom lay the books used by him in hours of study, now become increasingly rare. Already he liked to philosophise over the problems of existence. Thirst for knowledge was overpowering him; yet likewise had he begun to contemn learning and lore of books, and to yearn after life itself, even like to the lusty and daring troubadour.

The topmost book treated of geography. He turned over its leaves here and there, and threw it aside. Then, irascible and at random, he took up the next volume. In the end it seized his attention.

This book was used, and tattered at its corners ; it contained only a few pages, wherein was that evening prayer which he had been taught to repeat as a child: some of the words and their meanings were wholly gone from his memory. But, when he now saw the well-known letters again, he only required to read them over three or four times to know them once more by heart.

That night he partook of one tassie of beer; and then the servants of the bedchamber began to undress him. He wanted so strongly to hide his agitation, that they imagined he was but very tired. After they

26 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

had removed the periwig off his short wavy hair, and he clad in his shirt stepped into the great bed, he looked just like a little girl.

His dog, Pompey, crouched down at his feet. At the end of the bed the servants placed a lit candle within a silver basin full of water ; for the King feared the dark. It was also their custom to leave the door of the outer chamber ajar, and that a page or play- mate spent the night there. This night Karl ordered in a firm voice that his door was to be shut, now and hereafter. When the servants heard this they began to wonder and be alarmed, noticing, too, that he was agitated.

" Ah, bah! " growled old Haakon, trusty servant of his father's time. He stubbornly continued to treat the King as a child. " What's that for? "

" It is as I have spoken," was answered in a decided tone. " And from to-morrow I will no longer need the night-light."

The servants bowed, and stepping backwards left the room. But when Haakon had shut the door, he set himself without, on the threshold. He heard the King tossing hither and thither on his bed. On moving himself up on his knees he saw obscurely through the door-lock, by the light of the candle, that his young Sovereign was now sitting up in bed.

The night wind swirled in gusty eddies along the terraces r.nd among the creaking linden trees ; but all was still and peaceful within the Castle. Then it was to the astounded Haakon that he heard a low murmuring voice. With difficulty he distinguished

THE CONVERSION OF THE KING 2 7

some of the words; he became attentive, and gave close ear. It was the King offering up that prayer of early childhood years.

" Teach me, O Lord, to rule myself, so that I become not corrupted by the tongue of flattery unto waywardness and pride of self, and thus fall short in that esteem which I am owing to Thou, O God, and to man."

Old Haakon bowed the knee and folded his hands in prayer. And in the silence of the sleeping Castle and through the low siftering of the wind came again the words of the King.

" Though I be a king's son and heir to a mighty kingdom, yet constantly will I keep in mind that these are but the signal favour and blessing of God, and for that reason must I apply myself towards wisdom and virtue, so that I may become worthy and fitted for so high a calling. Almighty God, Thou, Thou who puttest Kings of the earth upon their thrones and settest them down likewise, teach me always to walk in Thy commandments, lest I misuse that power bestowed on me, to my own destruction and the oppression of others. According to Thy Holy Name, O Lord. Amen."

CHAPTER III. AFTER THE CORONATION.

How weary it was. How tedious the days passed at the little palace. The black-clad Councillors yawned, lolling in their seats, and stared before them as if they were incessantly pondering how it came that they wore like shoes on both feet, and not a top-boot on one and a silken shoe on the other. They gaped, and without, in the passages, on the stairs, the servants gaped, too. And crowded into the great kitchen the cooks tasted the dishes with their fingers, and asked one another if the times were not sour enough to turn even the acrid faces of the Lords in authority.

Before the black state carriage, with its horses and their mourning plumes and rosettes, stood the King's grooms. In Graamunkholm Church, where the old King was buried, the black canopy and hangings were yet in place. The King's chimes echoed far over the land. When at last the coronation procession had wound through the snow-covered streets, every one was in mourning; only the young King wore his purple. And no sooner had the last boom of the guns reverberated over Tyskbagareberg, than the intolerable monotony instantly settled down. , . .

AFTER THE CORONATION 29

But one gray forenoon, the cook of the Queen Dowager began to caper about. In his hand he held a jar containing some cooked tomatoes. " Ah, good times, good times!" he exclaimed. "We will do something to-day. His Serene Highness, the Duke of Holstein, — it seems he is expected to arrive soon, — has sent a right good present of fruit. His Majesty and the Lady Greta Wrangel have already partaken of some. The Chamberlain, himself, is coming down into the kitchen to give us a hand. Stand ye gaping there, youngsters ! Quick. Get a cloth, and polish up that kettle there ! "

This little court, at the verge of civilised earth, had now obtained something whereon to sharpen its wits. At table, then, all conversation turned on the tomatoes ; every one had something to say concerning their smell and savour. Afterwards, every one drank heartily; and elderly Councillors forgot rank and distinction, and recounted droll amiabilities to each other.

When the repast was over, the King buttonholed Lars Wallenstedt, the Councillor. He drew him into a window corner, like to leading a panting, growling bear by its nose-ring.

"Tell me," said the King, earnestly, "in what manner should a King sacrifice himself for his people? I cannot forget the sermon, that day in spring! "

Wallenstedt was wont, in speaking, to blow out his lips as if he intended to say, " Puh ! puh ! "

Accustomed to the King's precocious questions, he answered :

" A Prince must renounce all trifling aims, unite

30 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

entire authority in himself, and become the sole token, insignia, the very will of his people. Certainly we did listen unto a very edifying sermon; but did not the Pastor likewise say that subjects should be as the very slaves of their ruler ? The Council and the nobles are now striving for the control, since the death of your Majesty's most blessed father. And Oxenstjerna, and Gallenstjerna, and . . . No! but one hears things ! And that is the reason why I have consistently sustained your Majesty's desire, even at your tender years, to take the sore burden of the Government off the shoulders of Her Majesty."

When Cronhjelm, now tutor to the King, standing in the recess of the window, heard the words about the sore burden of the Government, he wrote with his finger-tip on the moisture-laden pane: " The yoke of the old woman is like to the fontange, pleasant and light!"

" Yes, yes, my good Wallenstedt ! " the King replied, " in my own inmost thoughts I have always felt my will thrust me that way : it must be a man who sits on the throne. Yet, a strange tormenting thing is the will ! What is it ? To-day I may feel inclined to ride to Kungsor to hunt the bear; but, wherefore? As well could I purpose something clean contrary. Will is like a fixed, fastwelted ring round my heart ; out of it I cannot escape! It is master, I am slave."

The wax candles were lit when he entered his own chamber. Upon the table stood the locked casket of iron, into which the old King had confided his last and most fatherly advices. Some few days were yet

AFTER THE CORONATION 3!

to elapse before the old and resigning Councillors let the young King slip from their control. Hitherto he had not been able to constrain himself to open the casket. It is true that one night he had violently wrest away its seal, but incontinently had turned away. This evening he felt that his irrevocable decision was now arrived.

As he twisted the creaking key, his old panic of the dark seized him once more; before him, too, he saw, as it had been the metal coffin of his father ; and it was as if he were now standing eye-to-eye with the dead. Hurriedly he called Haakon in to him, and ordered him to attend to the fire.

Then he unlocked the box, raised the lid, and with a cold shudder smoothed the cramptly written paper. " Take the authority into your own hand," he read, " and safeguard yourself from the great nobles who surround you, and from those with wives out of France. These all making much ado most fervently seek but their own ends: the best of men oft-times wralk solitary in their own gardens." And the King, while reading this disquieting warning, did not observe Haakon leaving the room.

Now he was King in all Swedish lands. Arrogant lords had thronged at his doors to avouch his coming- of-age; they were without ken whether his words savoured of accustomary smoothness or whether spoken of direct and genuine purpose : they loved him, so they averred, dearer than sons and brothers. Yet he could never converse confidentially with these old nobles; they so carefully trimmed every word and

32 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

gesture, and laid them in the balance of suspicion. And if he might speak in full trust to his elders in knowledge and human nature, they were but a set of nervous, amiable, ancient puppets, ignorant of the main trend of the times. Lonely he was as never heretofore ; and, alone, would he sustain the sceptre of his father. In Sweden nought could be above him, and of all Swedish kings he would become the greatest. Had he not received a pledge from the hand of the Almighty, in that He had made him sovereign at so youthful an age, and had given him leave to expect so many years of life. The generation which had incurred His wrath was now passed; it sang in Heaven ; it made glad with trump and harp.

The King stood erect ; with his hand he dealt a light blow on the edge of the table. Piper was correct ; he had declared that Sweden was a big country, with a small ignoble Court, situated at the end of the earth. All was to be changed now ! Himself had placed the crown on his head, and so attired had ridden into the church. Did he not receive it from the Lord of Hosts at the very hour of birth, that fine June morning when the bright star, the Lion's Heart, had stood over against the eastern horizon ?

Only the hoofs of his horse had trampled holes in the carpets laid on the street, the nobles all had to go on foot ; the State Councillors themselves had borne his canopy, and like to the veriest menial served him at meat. Why should he dissimulate, why should he pay honour to them whom he honoured not, even in secret ? After all, had he to enlighten

AFTER THE CORONATION 33

them regarding the true tenor of a king's assurance, according to circumstances beyond his control had he taken his oath to the people of Sweden. His real oath as King, he had sworn before God, when standing in silence at the communion table. But, now, now was he ruler over the land of Sweden.

He stepped to the mirror, and in contentment examined the small-pox marks in his fair, girlish skin, and with the fingers squeezed wrinkles of fierceness on his forehead. Then thrusting an arm into the air he straddled himself over a chair, and began galloping round the room. . * " On, on, my men ! Forward for your King. . . Jump ! jump ! Splendid. Jump ! On, on. . ." He was picturing that he was riding over a battlefield towards the enemy, and that hun- dreds of bullets beat harmless on his breast, and flattening out fell down amid the green grass ; on the neighbouring heights stood spectators, and in the distance the King of France himself was coming on a white horse to greet him, waving his hat.

Beneath, in the salon, the powerful aristocrats of the Kingdom were gathered in earnest deliberation. On hearing the noise they held their peace for a moment, and listened. Cronhjelm, drawing with his finger-tip on the misty window pane, murmured almost loudly, "It is only His Majesty devoting himself to the cares of government. Maybe he is pondering over the gracious recompence he intends to give us for our acceptance of his accession !" Wallenstedt, puffing out his lips, shot a furious look at him.

When the King had ended his prancing, a thought

D

34 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

suddenly came into his head. He stepped to the door.

" Klinckovstrom ! " he cried. " Klinckovstrom, can you tell me why I have such a longing to ride to Kungsor to hunt the bear ? "

Klinckovstrom, a jolly page, with ruddy cheeks and a ready tongue, replied :

" On this account, sire, because it is rough weather, black as pitch without, and no bear has been driven in, and the hunt is not practicable ! Will I give order for horse and linkman ? "

" Have ye anything better to suggest ? "

" Many, maybe, better, but . . ."

" You are right ! To Kungsor we must ride, even now, seeing that the affair looks impracticable, and because we desire it ! "

An hour later, as the King was riding up Drott- ninggatan, he closely skirted a suburb stretching from the graveyard out as far as a yellow painted hostelry.

An old widow, Mother Malin, kept this house. It was surrounded by a wooden fence, upon which the journeymen from the Castle had drawn triumphal cars, and obelisks, and dancing Italians, while they emptied their beakers. In one corner of it stood a pleasure house, with fireplace and chimney : one of the windows of this little house looked towards Drott- ninggatan, the other into the garden, upon plum trees and flower beds. For some months past Mother Malin had daily carried out food to some habitant, there. But none, no! even of her old customers

AFTER THE CORONATION 35

knew anything about her guest. And at a public sale of the household gear of an impoverished, but noble, family she had purchased a spinet ; of an evening, now, one heard foreign melodies ring out in demure, faint tones from behind the closed shutters.

As now the link-bearers of the King rode nearer, Mother Malin stood at a crack in the paling and looked down the dark street.

" It is himself ! " she cried quickly to herself, and turned away to knock hastily on the door of the pleasure house. " The King is coming this way. Quick ! put out the light, and look out at the dormer window at him." The next moment the King pricked by in a wild ride.

Said she to herself, " How downy his cheeks are, the dear young King ! And how I hear he ought to live a clean and upright life ! But why would he do nothing but tempt providence by putting the crown on with his own hands ! That was why it was about to tumble off again, and the Oil fell on the Church floor." And she went back slowly to the inn.

That night passed on, and one month succeeded another : in the garden of the hostelry the chestnuts and plum trees behind the currant bushes began to burst into leaf, and the barberries to renew their green. The May-pole was set up again, and the Court went by to Karlberg.

Next to the King sat the Duke of Holstein, who was now here to marry the Princess Hedwig Sophia, sister of the King ; and bring the intolerable monotony to an end. As he passed the pleasure

D— 2

36 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

house it so came that he, by chance, looked through its wide open window.

The same evening a man with the collar of his cloak turned high for concealment, knocked lightly on the inn door. Mother Malin examined him closely, with some mistrust.

Said she, " He may go to the devil, with his high collar, he may ! "

The fellow laughed loud ; in broken Swedish he replied :

" I stay aboard a German ship down there, and wish only to drink a pot of beer in the garden here ! Quick ! " And with that slipping two pieces of money into her hand he shoved her aside.

She had almost given him a smack in the face, but on hastily counting the money changed her mind. The pot of ale she fetched, and placed it on a table in the garden, then, seating herself behind a half- shut window, maintained an inquisitive eye on her new customer, who sat and supped a little of the ale, traced on the ground with his heel, and looked about him.

After he had remained still some while, and, unob- served he thought, he arose and pulled down the collar of his roquelaure. A goodly young man he was, with a quick, merry face. Slowly he made his way to the pleasure house.

" The rascal," muttered Mother Malin, " I fairly believe he intends to knock."

The door remained barred. He went a few steps further, to the open side window. Here he stopped,

AFTER THE CORONATION 37

and bowed courteously to someone inside. Then he swung himself upon the window sill, and began to converse in low, eager undertones.

Mother Malin lost patience. She came out, cautiously crept along the gravelled walk, her head cocked in suspicion ; and raking up all the insolence she would outpour. Scarcely was she gone a few steps when the young man strode out upon her from behind a barberry bush.

Said he in furious anger, " Accursed old hag ! get gone. I am the Duke of Holstein. Not a word about it ! " And so taken aback was she, that she could answer nothing, but twirled herself round, and incessantly hit herself on the knee. Even when she returned to the inn she was still slapping at herself, scarce able to realise that so great and rare a business was being enacted under her humble roof.

After this it often occurred that, in the clear summer nights, when no winds rustled the cherry trees, the Duke came to the hostelry. The pleasure house door was never opened for all he tapped so coaxing ; he durst only set himself outside on the window ledge. Mother Malin now and then getting a white ducat slid into her palm, served him there with ale and wine, and once even with a raisin-and-fig cake, around which she had inscribed with white of egg : " Prince, in all the kingdoms, is not thy like."

One night the Duke remained longer than usual* and from out the pleasure house resounded the notes of the spinet.

When at last he rose to go, said he, " Power,

38 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

power ! Yes, they all cry out for that nowadays. Why should you alone keep silent ? Are you doing this because your father lost his last piece in play at the play. Adieu, adieu. If you aim in vain at the lion, promise me that afterwards you open the door to the wolf ! "

The Duke stood before the window. A deep still- ness held all around in the inn at the foot of the walk ; every one was abed.

" You do not answer," he continued ; " Maybe from coyness ! Give me a sign, a token then, in reply. A harmony on the spinet means ' Yes ' ; but if you play with the tips of the little finger it is c No,' irre- vocably, ' No.' "

Tardily he withdrew to the walk. The sky of night was clear ; the land lay without a shadow. He tarried beside a gooseberry bush, searching for unripe fruit, but found none. It was then rang out the soft har- monious chord. Instantly he drew his hat over his brows, pulled up the collar of his roquelaure, and with joyful footsteps hastened away. From this evening Mother Malin waited in vain for her ducal guest, and finally in her discontent began counting the ducats out of her pockets, and cursing herself for not having extracted more from him by means of some timely arrangement.

Now, one night, the widow of a barber was buried in the Klara churchyard, and after the last linkman was gone, two men remained behind to watch beside the grave.

" All of us must pay the fine ! And there the old body lies in her coffin, with her nightcap of cambric

AFTER THE CORONATION 39

and her long ribands, like a duchess, and fine breads and preserves and suchlike stand on the table for folks, but to us they have not sent as much as half a pot of small beer ! "

" I see a light. There. Over the wall, in Mother Malin's window ! Let us get over and knock ! "

They went out and across the street, and clappered on the door. Mother Malin half opened the dormer window.

" Right welcome lads, are ye ! " said she, after they had explained. " Nowadays a treat is not to be got all at once ! Yet ye can earn a bonny gold piece at this very minute if ye wish ? " She opened the window wider, and lowered her voice. " Here, each of ye — a whole carolus. Yes, yes ! only mind, you pair, ye both lend a hand to him that gives the coin. Inside here is a page of the royal household ; he'll soon come down to you. Now, at break of day, the roisterers up at the Castle usually ride this way. What should the two of ye do, then, but throw the young lord about, and pummel him well, and then take to your heels. That is all."

" Easily done, too ! " said the fellows. " The most ticklesome part will be not to lay on too hard, for fear we hurt him ! " Then, hearing Mother Malin and the page whispering overhead, they went back to the churchyard gate, and stood there awaiting.

Time passed slowly to them. A star twinkled through the summer night just above the deadhouse. The watchmen on Brunkeberg sounded their calls. At last day began to spring.

4O A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

A creaking and squeaking came from Malin's stair, and the page descended to them. He walked rather knock-kneed, and was restlessly fingering the clasps of his mantel. A hubbub and a trampling of horses rang out in the direction of Drottninggatan. In front of the cavalcade rode Kluckovstrom, so drunk that he had to hold on by means of his horse's mane. Behind him one distinguished the King and the Duke of Holstein, and, further behind, ten other horsemen. All had swords in their hands, and, save the King, wore only their shirts. Karl was wild with intoxication, smashed at windows with his blade, tore away sign- boards, and beat on the wooden doors. There were none in the world whom he had to obey ! He could now do what pleased him alone, and who durst say one word ? At the supper table he had knocked the dishes out of the page's hands, and pelted the others with cream tarts till their clothes looked thick with snow. The intolerable old times were gone. Let the aged lords gape and mutter as much as they liked behind their snuff boxes : they had no more to do now but to play the fool, for his kingdom of old bears he was only consecrating to the joys and freedom of youth. In time all Europe should stand agape, for now 'twas he that was King over the broad leagues of Sweden.

The unknown page, meanwhile, had laid himself on the ground at the door to the churchyard ; the loons were thwacking and smacking and thumping him to their hearts' content, and clutching him by the gullet.

" Who is there ? " cried the King, jumping down among them. The men immediately fled over the

AFTER THE CORONATION 41

graves and round the tombstones. But he was on them, and slashed at one so repeatedly, that the blood began to trickle down his arm. In the end they had to seize planks from the half-filled grave, and defend themselves as best they could ; thereupon the King turned away laughing, and ran back to the others.

The unknown was now standing.

" One of us?" queried the King, "why! are you so bedazed that you do not recollect the password of ours, ' Snuff on the periwigs ? ' Never mind. Sit up there beside our friend Klinckovstrom, and keep him safe on his Wallachian. Forward!'1 Then lustily singing and yelling, the shirt-tailed troop scurried on once more, up street and down hill, brandishing swords and making sport of the sleepy-headed cits appearing at their house doors.

When the panes at Marshall Stenbock's com- menced to jingle, the celebrated old man himself came in his nightshirt to the window ; and, though first bending low, straightened himself to complain that at this rate he would soon require to leave the country.

But the King snatched off his wig, and, throwing it into the air, cut it in two halves with his sword.

" That's life ! " the Duke cried. " Hats in the air. Ah, if now we only could get at the languishing beauties, there, moping in their beds ! Wigs in the air. Raise up in your stirrups, and let out, away, away over your horses' heads. Like this, you youngsters. The devil will look after you ! Vivat Carolus, Rex succorum et scandalorum."

Their shirt tails blew out in the wind. Hats, peri-

42 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

wigs, and gloves lay on the street. Their horses, striking sparks from the cobble, dashed forward as if through lightning sheen. When the mad riders reached the Castle they sprang out of their saddles, and let the horses run free. They smashed the hang- ing lights in the entrance passage, and fired their pistols at a marble Venus.

" Forward," shouted the King. With his following he stormed into the Chapel, where he wrote freely on the pews : "On Sundays the breeches of the folk here should be lined with splinters."

Then the Duke knocked on the floor, and asked for attention. Klinckovstrom, lying on the communion table, was playing dice ; he took hold of his mouth to keep it still.

" My dear hearers," began the Duke, " nothing would add more to the pleasure of this our solemn festival, than if our noble and much-loved cousin, at this morning hour, now give us a hint concerning the little affairs of his heart. But let us digress upon the ardent fair. Let us consider that fair damsel from Bavaria, who with her sweet mother journeyed hither, although after the burning of the Castle scarce a lodging was to be found. ' Huh-huh ! ' cries the owl. She is only older than your Majesty by some eight little summers. Or let us speak of the Princess of Wurtemberg, who already has shown her great love. Or consider the Princess of Mecklenburg-Grabow, who, it seems, at present is hastening here with her little mother. Or the Prussian Princess, older by only two tiny sweet-pea years. Or the Danish Princess,

AFTER THE CORONATION 43

the darling little gold-bird, older than yourself but five short, rosy years. All, one with another, have they hastened to the wooing, and that with all the blandishments and adornments of their countenances and persons ; for love torments them greatly ! "

The King grew angry.

" Have I not aye declared," he replied, " that no man need think of marrying till he is forty ! "

When the Duke noticed his confusion, he winked to the page from the inn, and again rapped on the floor with his sword.

" Good ! the King of Sweden will share his glory and the love of his people with none but the brave and joyous. Snuff on the periwigs ! Were I King, I would first terrorise all the parents, and then summon the fairest of their daughters to our carousals. The devil ! Wouldn't they sit on our saddles before us, eh, and take part in the fun, till the cock crowed thrice. God strike me dead on the spot ! — I can speak no more. Put your knees against the pews. Hack and smash away at them, lads, stamp them to the floor. Good God, bring water, the King is ill. Water or wine. Ay, wine ! wine ! "

The King was now pallid. He thrust his hands on his brows. It mattered not to him that the features of the others were inflamed, and themselves unsteady on their feet. In reality none were so dear to him that he should grieve. What could it have to do with him if they did drunkenly revile each other. No person durst insinuate that about him — him, God's own anointed !

44 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

" Now, that is enough, lads ! " he cried, attempting to sheath his sword.

He observed, however, that he had lost its scab- bard. Calmly he stuck the weapon through the stuff of his coat, and went with firm steps to the door.

The unknown page the Duke took by the arm, and, making some signs with his hands, whispered into his ear. The page hurried away behind the King, opened the door for him, and followed him down the stairs.

Thought the King, whether I drink wine again or no, I could not tolerate having it related that I had blabbered out words and hugged my pages ; and in such an affair why should any one think better of me than of the others ? And, after all, wine does not taste much better than small beer ; it is all a matter of custom. But, a brave warrior drinks water. So they passed on, through the corridors and down the staircases, to his sleeping chamber.

Here Wallenstedt, with two other important nobles, was already in waiting. Wallenstedt puffed out his lips, he began with :

" It is our wont, sire, to come here about six o'clock of a morning to submit details of government. . ."

" Yes ! if they are concerned with misdemeanour,", replied the King, " otherwise I desire no advices. From hence I will consider and determine matters as I think fit."

He was not fiery like his father. He demeaned himself with as assertive a sense of dignity as a well-

AFTER THE CORONATION 45

born dame on her seat of honour. Smiling and bowing about him, he so pressed back the lords that they had to leave the chamber.

" That is our reward for setting a child on the Throne ! " they murmured maliciously into Wallen- stedt's ear.

The page closed the doors behind them, with sub- missive yet disdainful smile. The King was pleased. He stood leaning against the tester-bed, next to the chest in which his father had kept jewels and such- like, and which had been brought up from the treasure-vault.

" What is your name ? " he asked the page. " Why do you not answer ? "

The page breathed quickly. In a confused manner he hid himself in his clothes.

" Answer me, boy. You surely know full well your own name ? You turn your shoulders so much to- ward me, that I cannot see your face ! "

Now did the page step into the middle of the room, snatch away the periwig, and toss it on the bedside table.

" I am called Rhoda . . . Rhoda d'Elleville."

Before him the King saw a young girl. Her brown eyebrows were sharply pencilled. Her yellow hair lay ruffled and in curls; about the sensitive mouth a little pucker cast its shadow.

She leapt to him, she threw her arms round his neck, and lightly kissed him on the left cheek.

For the first time in his life of seventeen years, self- possession deserted him. His eyes burned, his cheeks

46 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

became ashy-pale, his hands hung helpless, powerless. He only saw that the unbuttoned coat left her bosom open.

She held him in a fast embrace, and pressed a long kiss on his mouth. He did not return it ; he offered resistance. At first he raised his hands, then thrust her arms, like a ring, up over his head. Stammering and bowing, and with many compliments, he stepped aside. Stiffly he bowed, clacking his heels together every time, bowed and bowed again, always increas- ing the distance between them.

" Pardon. Pardon."

How often had she not rehearsed every word of her attack. Now she recollected nothing. She spoke wholly at random.

" Mercy, Sire, mercy. It is for God to punish such presumption as mine." She went on bended knee upon the carpet. " Sire, I have seen you on horse- back from my window. In my dreams you appeared to me long before I had travelled the long way hither. You, my King, my Alexander. . ."

But instantly he had sprung to her side, offered his arm, and, with a grave courtesy beyond his years, was leading her to a chair. " Not so ! Not so! I beg of you, seat yourself. Seat yourself."

For a little while she kept his hand in hers, wrinkled her forehead somewhat, and looked him searchingly and openly in the eyes. She gave a ringing, unbur- dened laugh.

" Well, you are at least a man, Sire. No trace of the preacher in you. You are the first Swede to

AFTER THE CORONATION 47

understand that virtue casts its eyes inward, and squints not wickedly at aught else. Your favourites drink and dice, and dally with the ladies of the chamber, unless you forbid them ; yet you yourself hardly pay any heed to it at all. Speak to us, Sire, about chastity."

The perfume of her, the odour from her hair, her body, made him so sick that he almost retched. Con- tact with her warm hands caused in him a sensation as repulsive as he were touching a rat or cadaver. He deemed himself insulted and lowered, as well the King elected by God, as the man himself, through a stranger touching his clothes, his counte- nance and hands. One, even a woman, had seized on him as booty, yea, even as a prisoner bound. Who- ever so touched him straightway became his foe ; one with whom he would fight, aye, cut down in the street for violation of his person.

" When I was still a child," she went on, " my con- fessor fell in love with me. He wrung his hands, wrestled with himself, and babbered prayers ; but I made him play the fool all the same ! Sire, you never strive with yourself, how different you are ! You are wholly callous, Sire, that is all. Chastity is so inborn with you, that " — she laughed slyly — " I do not even know if one can term it chastity ! "

Employing more strength, he sought to release his hand. How had they all been besieging his ear during the last few weeks — the Duke, the pages, even the servants — every one full of the delights of the beautiful and amorous ladies of the chamber. Was this, then,

48 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

some play behind his back ? Could they not leave him in peace.

" Pardon, Mademoiselle."

" I know, Sire, that you can sit for hours . turning over Tessin's engravings, and that in particular you pay attention to the pictures of dainty young women. Maybe it is all owing to that love of the beautiful which you have inherited from your great and worthy Aunt, but should it always be so ? I am no lifeless picture, Sire ! "

Whilst he still continued to bow, he suddenly wrenched himself away with such force, that he dragged her off the seat.

" No, you are a living page, indeed, Mademoiselle ! To the page I give order to go down into the Chapel, and send my companions to the east antechamber."

Immediately she recognised that her trick was lost beyond all hope. The little puckers about her mouth became graver and drooping.

" The page must obey ! " she replied.

The King grew calm when he was left to himself, only now and then sharp anger blazed across his face. This unexpected adventure had driven the fumes of drink from his brain ; and after all the experiences of the night he did not wish to get abed like a mere youngling.

He threw off his coat. In shirt sleeves and sword in hand he betook him to his boon companions.

The east room was blotched over all with dried blood ; its floor was splashed with the same ; lumps of hair and congealed gore adhered to the portraits

AFTER THE CORONATION 49

hanging upon the walls, their eyes pricked out. From the neighbouring apartment there was to be heard the lowing of a calf.

The animal was brought in, and set in the middle of the floor. The King bit his netherlip to whiteness, then with one whistling blow of his sword beheaded the calf. With blood on his fingers and under his nails he cast its head through the open window out upon the passers-by.

Without the door of the ante chamber, the Duke whispered feverishly to Rhoda d'Elliville.

" So it seems, then, that my good cousin will do nothing through obstinacy. Hjarne, a strange old man, here, talks about compounding a love potion for him ; but that will be no good ! Had he not inherited the coldness of his father he might become the arch Borgia of Sweden — he, with all his waywardness. If he cannot grow into a demi-god, he'll grow into a devil ! When such a bird on the wing finds no pleasure, it demolishes the walls of its very house. Hush, some one comes. Do not forget, now. To- night, at Mother Malin's. And have some raisins and figs at hand."

Behind them trusty Haakon was coming up the stairs, leading two she-goats. He stood still, and held up his hands. Full of fear he groaned.

" What have they done to him ? Never before have I seen such on-goings in the Swedish Household. Almighty God, be merciful, and send us a great mis- fortune ; Sweden can endure neither the present peace nor such a King ! "

CHAPTER IV. A MIDSUMMER VENTURE.

THE little maids were standing in the garden, holding a riddle. Near them, sitting on a mossy stone, was their brother Axel Friedrich, idle and almost asleep ; twenty years old he was to-day.

His betrothed, timorous little Ulrica, stood beside the juniper bushes, bending their branches down into the sieve. She was lopping off the twigs ; and the little maidens with outstretched hands helped to keep them together. The melting snow was dripping heavily from the birches and alders.

" See," cried Ulrica, " there is grandfather himself coming out, in this fine weather !" pointing over to the house.

The little girls began to sing and romp about, then, lifting up the riddle, they turned towards the house. Beating measure with the swinging sieve they trilled :

" And the birds of the Spring they sing so rarely, Come, ye goatherds, come, To-night it is, ye dance so merrily."

At the further end of the garden, where the pines begin to encroach, Elias the serf was fetching home the last load of wood from the forest ; the water

A MIDSUMMER VENTURE 5!

squelched over his wooden shoes. About the yokes of his red-coloured wain, Silfverhorn and Storbonda twigs were stuck plentifully in protection against the witches. He, too, was humming :

" And the birds sing so clear and joyous

1 Come, goats, come,' This night flowers bloom Among your clean fresh straw."

He stopped. Bending over the fence, said he to Axel Friedrich, " The powder smells bad now, when you fire a piece, and the soot in the chimneys is fall- ing down : the thaw will hold ! "

The roofing of the house-entry was of turf. In summer time a goat usually browsed thereon, among the house-leek and catch-fly, but at present the snow was still covering it. The old man was sitting be- neath its shelter ; clad he was in his grey cloth coat with brass buttons.

Ulrica brought the little maids forward to greet him. They were clad in homespun, dyed blue. When they made their curtesy, rings of violet shimmered out in the wet upon the steps.

The old man stroked Ulrica's cheek with the back of his hand. " You will soon grow up, little one, and be a helpmate to Axel Friedrich."

" Oh, if I was only sure of that, grandfather ! But here, there are so many things, and important things, too, that one must look after. I am not used to it at all ! "

" Yes, yes. Ah, I am very sorry for Axel Fried- rich : he lost his parents so soon. There are no kins-

s— a

52 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

folk of his alive, save his two aunts, and the old grandfather here. We looked after him to the best of our abilities : you will soon learn, little one, to take our place. The worst is, his broken health, the good lad ! Ah, dear child, praise God for this sweet spring day and the blessed years of peace." Then the old man handled the juniper twigs, and was glad to find them so damp ; they would take up much dust then.

The two aunts stood at the kitchen window, be- hind him. They were making ready a mess of beaver- stone oil and bay berry for a sick calf. Both were clothed simply in black, and had white, carefully- smoothed hair."

" Why is Axel Friedrich not with you ? " they asked Ulrica. " Remember, he is to get his favourite dish to-night, at supper — honey groats and syrup ; and afterwards there is to be bacon and onions.

"Yes, yes," cried the old man. "The folk, too, must have this night to themselves."

Ulrica started off to go to the servants' room, where they were cleaning tow. She was not gone many steps, when her timid face, yet small and undeveloped, took on an anxious air. She listened.

" But, Ulrica," the old man was calling, " I do not understand this. Ulrica ! Come here, Ulrica ! "

She again hung up the bunch of keys just taken down from the door-post, and went outside.

"Is that not a horseman, coming this way?" the old man asked. " I have not been worried with letters, these three months past, I am aye anxious

A MIDSUMMER VENTURE 53

when I get one! See. See! He fumbles about in his pocket."

Then the rider stopped for a second at the foot of the steps, handing him a document, much folded and sealed carefully.

The aunts placed themselves on each side of him in the elbow chairs. They gave him his spectacles ; but his hands trembled so much, that he could hardly manage to break the seal. Then all wished to read the letter at once. Ulrica came out of herself so much, that she leant over the old man's arm, and with her little finger pointing out the words, read them aloud.

Of a sudden, she beat her hands together, and stared straight before her, tears welling into her eyes.

" Axel Friedrich, Axel Friedrich," she cried, speed- ing across the court-yard into the garden. "Axel Friedrich ! For God's sake, Axel Friedrich ! "

"What do you want?" answered he, throwing aside the liquorice which he was chewing. A full, round face had Axel ; a delicate rosy skin, and voice kindly but unspirited.

She remained stock still at first, then seized his hand.

" Do you not know? The order is come that the regiment is to get itself in readiness and join the Colours ; for the invasion of the Danes in Holstein ! " And with her clinging to him, he came into the house.

" My dear child," faltered the old man. " Ah, that I must now have such a trial ! War is come at last."

54 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

Axel stood pondering for a few moments. At last he looked up. Said he, " I will not go! "

Restlessly his grandparent tramped up and down, and with him tripped his aunts.

" You are enrolled, my dear lad ! The one chance is, that we may be able to buy a substitute."

"That will be done, easily! " Axel replied, in an indifferent tone. And he stepped into the house. But Ulrica trailed herself upstairs, her apron at her eyes, and cast herself upon her bed.

When the honey groats were cooked, and all sat round the board, the old man, as was his wont, desired to weave a hundred meshes on the fish net. But now his hands shook overmuch.

" There must have been some evil ongoings, in Stockholm, there," said he; " the rumours soon spread about. Ballets, masquerades, and other buffonery seem to have been daily fare with our new King ; and when the money was at an end, he began giving away the Crown Jewels. Ay! Our indulgent sovereign must learn another lesson, now! "

Axel thrust away his plate. Lazily he rested his elbows on the table while his aunts and Ulrica cleared away the dishes. His grandfather nodded to himself, and coughed. He continued :

" All these years of peace have only begotten avarice and corruption in our Court ; certainly, they are the most cunning who have pressed nearest the throne ! These fatted oxen will fare rarely hard now, they will ! You should have seen the olden times — when I was young and called out to join the Colours ;

A MIDSUMMER VENTURE 55

when the Royal Standard, now in the Castle Armoury, was unfurled, and the King mounted his fine parade horse: it led the van, its long saddlecloth embroidered with crowns in the four corners : and then, in our fine galliard coats we formed up, while bugles began to call — calling and calling. . . ."

Again he took up the net and sought to weave, but soon threw it from him. He got upon his feet.

" Aye, Axel Friedrich, you should only have seen it all! Even in the moonlight, when we were drawn up in the snow, and began to sing psalms before the onset, I recognised the red and white of the Nerkingers, who looked liked striped tulips, and the yellow Kronobergar, and the lads in gray from Kalmar, and the merry Dai-regiment in blue, and the Westgothens, who wore yellow and black. It was a pleasure to look at them all ; and every one, too, as still as in the house of God. No, no! Nowadays, there's a different race of men altogether! Different uniforms, too !" And silence fell in the room.

Axel broke out with, " If my uniform and arms were in good order, perhaps, I would have some merry times . . . ? "

The old man shook his head.

" You are much too ailing ; and then, there will be the heavy long marches, through the whole country down to the sea; and then over into Den- mark."

" Yes, but I would not go in that fashion. Could I not take Elias and the long wagon with me? "

" Of course, we would allow you; but you have no

56 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

tent, with poles, and pegs, and rings, and things necessary."

" Elias could buy them for me, on the way down. The uniform, I can get together, I think."

" We will see. We will see just now! "

The old man grew eager. Hobbling over to the clothes press, he opened it.

" Ulrica, come here. Quick, Ulrica ! Read out the Order, lying on the table, there, just as it is written by His Majesty," and he bowed. " Here we have the cloak with the brass buttons, lined with plain Swedish woollen. It is right ; and the waistcoat, also. Read about the coat, now."

Ulrica snuffed the tallow candle. She seated herself beside the table. With her hands folded upon her brows she began to read aloud, slowly and monoto- nously.

"The coat, of blue unpressed cloth, the collar red with lining of madder-red woollen, twelve brass buttons down the front, four above and three under the flaps of the pockets, one button on the face of each pocket, and three small buttons on each arm.

" Eight . . . twelve . . . right. Now come the breeches.

" Breeches, of strong goat or deerskin, three buttons on the same, covered with chamois leather."

"These, here, are worn thin with riding; there will soon be holes in the seat of them. But Elias can try and get you a new pair, on the way. And now, the hat and gloves. Where are they? "

A MIDSUMMER VENTURE 57

"They are in the chest, above the store-room," Axel Friedrich answered.

Ulrica continued: " Gloves, with large gauntlets of yellow neats* skin, strong, thick, and chamois-dressed, the palms to be of good goats' leather. Boots, of sound Swedish waxed leather, with strap cut out of one entire piece : the sole, one binding sole, together with one middle sole. The buckles, of brass."

" The boots are here and in fair condition. You can get my spurs. Now, you should be a fine Swedish soldier, I tell you, my lad! "

" Neckcloth, of black Swedish wroollen crape, one quarter long and nine good inches broad, with a half yard of Parduan ribands, two white, at both ends."

" Elias must buy these for you in Orebo."

" Pistols, two pairs. Holster, of black leather, with flaps lined with napped woollen."

"You can have mine; and my broadsword is in right preservation, too, with its sheath of calf s skin and hilt of elk's. Thus should a Swedish warrior be fitted for the fight. But now we must be thinking about supplies for Elias, and getting ready the knap- sack and things appertaining."

Axel arose, and stretched himself. Said he, " It will be for the best if I get abed, so that I can rise betimes."

Throughout the whole house now began a bustle and running about; every one was busy. All day long there went on a rapping, and a hammering, and in the kitchen stewing and baking. At night candles were lit, and work was continued. The only

58 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

room in which reigned darkness was Axel Friedrich's. On the last evening of all no one went to bed save him.

When day dawned and lights were to be ex- tinguished, his aunts awoke him. They brought him, too, a warm drink and cordial drops, having heard him coughing much during the night.

When he came downstairs every one was already gathered ; the table was common to all. They eat in silence. When the meal was ended every one stood up : the Bible was put before his grandfather at the top of the board ; and Ulrica, in a choking voice, read aloud the Sacred Writ.

When she had finished, the old man folded his hands. With closed eyes, he prayed :

" Even as my fathers have done before me, so will I now in the hour of thy departure lay my hands on thee, on thee, my daughter's son, and bless thee ; for my years are many, and who knoweth when my time is at hand. To God the Almighty I pray, in the dust I pray, that He lead you to glory, and that the heavy trials awaiting us all may exalt our little people into one great and God-fearing."

At the table-edge Axel was standing, pressing his thumbs on a plate; noisily it tilted upward. From without there echoed in the loud rattling of the long wagon, as it drew up before the door.

All crowded outside. Snugly wrapped in his grand- father's wolfskin, for with the continued thaw wet was falling from roof and tree, Axel Friedrich seated him- self beside Elias.

A MIDSUMMER VENTURE 59

" Here is the butter tub," said his aunts, " and the breadsack. Elias, put them in. The great cheese is in the wagon-box, and the flask of cordial. Now, dear Axel Friedrich, when the fatigues and hazards get too great for you, never forget the road home is aye open! "

But the old man pressed forward between them, and thrust his hand into the wagon.

" Is that box well tied down, now? And let me see: here are the brushes, the towels and combs . . . and here we have the haversack and flask. Every- thing is as it should be — the casting mould, the shears, and the casting ladle are all in the chest, there. . . ."

Ulrica stood behind him, unnoticed by any. Softly she cried :

" Axel Friedrich, when summer comes in, I'll go out of a night and tie the Thread of Joy and the Thread of Sorrow on the rye ; and next morning will see which is waxed the greater. . . ."

" Everything is right, now ! " the old man in- terrupted with, not hearing her. " God be with you and Elias."

But, just in the very instant of departing, when Elias was raising his whip, Axel laid a hand on the reins.

" Maybe this journey will have a bad ending," said he.

" It would seem so in any case," answered Elias, " and the more if we unyoked now, and later on were to start again."

60 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

Akel Friedrich put his hand up the cuff of his furs again, and through the rows of mute women and bondmen and labourers the wagon rolled away. . .

The weeks passed, and trees began to burst into green. Weary was the journey in pursuit of the Nerikesen regiment through depopulated Sweden. Beside Elias, Axel sat, mostly sleeping ; his faculties all in a whirl. On his hands he was now wearing mittens of soft goats' hair. Then a good way out of Landskrona the wagon got among the baggage of the army : and the horse stood at ease in the sun and browsed along the ditch side. Master and man fell asleep, shoulder to shoulder.

The horse kicked out at the flies, and the water trickled along the ditch bottoms ; two vagrants abused the sleepers ; but still they remained in undisturbed and tranquil slumber. Then a rider came galloping furiously behind them. Plainly clad was he, and wore a great yellow periwig. When close upon the wagon he checked his chestnut.

Elias jogged Axel in the side, and pulled on his reins. The young master would not open his eyes.

" Yes, yes," he murmured, " drive on. I need all the rest against the coming fatigues."

Elias jogged him again. " Rouse up, rouse up," he whispered.

Then Axel unclosed a drowsy eye. The next mo- ment he had jumped up, his face flushing hotly, and saluted. It was the King, whom he had straightway recognised, from pictures of him. Yet he had imagined a person entirely different. Was this tall, self-conscious,

A MIDSUMMER VENTURE 6 1

somewhat stately looking young man he who only a few months previous had been beheading calves and goats, and breaking windows ? He was not over middle-height ; was small efface, but with brows high and noble ; and from his full, deep-blue eyes shot persuasive glances.

" Sir, you must take off these furs, so that I can inspect your uniform," said he in a measured voice. " Everything seems to go well." Axel groaned within himself, and stripped off the old man's wolfskin.

The King examined the coat and buttons, poked and fingered about them. He examined everything.

" Fair," cried he, in a voice weighted with pre- cocious gravity. " Ah, now we all should be wholly new men ! "

Axel stood still, heavy with sleep but erect. His eyes were fixed hard on the wagon wheel. The King slowly added :

" A few days hence, maybe, we have the fortune to face the enemy. I have been told that in a fight nothing afflicts one so sore as drouth. So, if ye should meet me in the brawl, come forward and pass me your flask." And putting spurs to his horse, he set off again.

Axel Friedrich sat down. He had not formed impressions either of affection or hatred, nor had he experienced fear or delight ; but the words of the King he kept turning over in his mind. And the fur- skin remained lying between him and Elias.

When the wagon rattled into Landskrona, tents were already pitched, Axel look about for the fine

62 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

arrays and carousings concerning which he had oft- times dreamed : he found only sad-visaged comrades, who but wrung his hand, and stood together in groups, staring over the Sound. There the waves surged wild beneath lowering heavens, and flags and pennants streamed multitudinous above the forests of masts.

Elias took the precaution of hiding the horse and wagon in a barn, for the Crown had pressed all con- veyances. Four and twenty hours after the fleet sailed, he was to follow in a fishing boat, and land in Zealand.

He was standing on the shore, at the edge of the water, when the quaint anchors dripping sludge were hove up with cables and windlasses acreaking. Swel- ling canvas crowded yard after yard ; and the sun- beams sparkled on the high lanterns and quarters of the ships ; and the swell in glittering sallies made the tall- sided vessels dance and cluster and gambol about, as, bedecked with laurel and tridents for the victory, they were wafted towards distant unacquainted lands, to- wards adventure and the deeds of heroes.

By now the massy vapour hung low down the horizon, the sky was clear, and the air azure as ever in a fairy tale. The King, who was standing in the stern of his ship, close by its lantern, clean forgot him- self ; the child in him conquered ; he clapped his hands for very joy. About him the grey-headed warriors of his father's time laughed and likewise began clapping. Even His Excellency Piper, the Count, leapt up the hatchway, nimble as a seaman.

A MIDSUMMER VENTURE 63

Here was no senility and sickliness, no self-seeking wranglers ; the host was the host of youth. Then, as at a signal all trumpets and bugles pealed, swords flew out of scabbards, and, the Admiral's order ringing wide, a psalm arose out of the nineteen ships of war and their smaller craft, from thousands of throats.

Elias discerned his young master again ; he was wedged among gabions, earthbags, and Spanish horse, and sitting on his grandfather's wolfskin. He also noted how tardy Axel arose and drew the sword like his fellows.

After he had watched the fleet slowly disappear, he went back to the barn. He passed his hand over his eyes, and shook his head. He muttered, " How will he manage to look after himself, in his ill-health, till I come up with him ? "

Some days after this Elias once more journeyed with his wagon through Smaaland. The peasant wives recalling him to be the man who had travelled by with the officer slumbering at his side, opened their door halfway, and asked him if it was true that the Swedes were landed in Zealand, and that the King, when on bended knee to thank God for the victory, had stammered in sad confusion. He only nodded in reply.

Day after day, step by step, he went up into the North. All the time he trudged, reins in hand, along- side the conveyance, over which a piece of canvas was spread. And at last he approached the garden beside the homestead.

64 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

Everyone knew by the noise that it was the wagon. All in consternation they ran to the windows; the grandfather, himself, came out upon the steps; Ulrica stood midway in the courtyard. But Elias never hurried.

At the steps the horse came to a stand of its own accord. Elias carefully drew aside the canvas. A long, narrow, rough-hewn coffin of deal lay there, a withered wreath of beechen leaves upon its lid.

" I brought him home," said Elias. " The bullet hit him in the breast as he was springing forward to the King, and passing him the flask."

CHAPTER V.

GUNNEL, THE KEEPER OF THE CASTLE STORES.

IN a dwelling within the fortress of Riga, Gunnel sat spinning. Eighty years old was she. Her long arms were sinewy, their veins outstanding ; thin and flat was her bosom, like to that of a man ; a few scanty locks of white hair hung loose over her eyes. She wore about her head a cloth resembling a round cap.

As her spinning wheel whirred, a young trumpeter lying on the stone flags before the fire spoke out.

" Grandmother," said he, " can ye not sing some- thing as ye spin ? Never yet have I heard aught from you but scolding and wrangling ! "

She turned her tired, crafty, lack-lustre eyes on him.

" Sing. Maybe of your mother ? they put her into a cart and sent her over to the Muscovites. Of your father, eh ? strung up in the chimney of the brew- house. I will curse the night I was born ; curse myself and every man I meet. Tell me of a single person who is not worse than he is said to be ! "

" Grandmother, sing a song ; ye would grow cheer- ful. Fain would I see ye cheerful this night."

F

66 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

" Aye, when one sees a person laughing and making sport, 'tis but because he knows how to cozen. It is all shame and starvation with us ; it is for our sins and debauchery the Saxons are lying before the town. Hear to the cannon ? how they crack and roar ! But why are ye not on the ramparts, doing duty with the rest, instead of sitting lazily in doors ? "

" Can ye not say one kind word to me, grandmother, afore I go out ? "

" I would thrash ye instead, but am too frail now ! Ay, so bowed down with years am I, that I can never again lift my eyes skyward. Will ye have the truth ? Do not folk call me the soothsayer ? What if I should say then, that the slanting line above your eyebrows tells of a sudden death. I read the ages to come, see into them for a time and a time ; yet with all my far vision I perceive nought only wickedness and base- ness. You are worse than I am ; I am worse than my mother was ; and all those born will become worse than those who die."

He arose, and put the fire-wood in order.

" I will tell, grandmother, why I am here to-night, and am asking for a kind word. The old Governor- General has given order this day, that on the night after this all our women, young and old, sick and strong, are to be thrust without the gates, so that there be bread for us men. How can ye endure tramping about in the winter cold through field and forest ? In the last ten years ye have been no further than across the courtyard to the store rooms ! "

She laughed. Faster and faster she whirled the

THE KEEPER OF THE CASTLE STORES 67

spinning wheel. " Ha ! ha ! I have expected it, for all I have so faithfully kept our great lord's store- rooms, and everything that was his. And you, Jan ? Ye are troubled, because there will be nobody now to make up the bed on the sleeping shelf, and cook and bake? Are there any thoughts but these in the minds of the young ? Yet, glory be to God, God, who in the end throws us all under the scourge of His Anger."

Jan folded his hands round his curly brown hair.

" Grandmother ! grandmother ! "

" Go, I say. Let me sit in peace and spin my flax till I open the door and creep out to that spot where I shall lose my earthly life."

He worked the distaff for a little, then of a sudden turned round and went out. She whirled and whirled the spinning wheel, till the fire was burnt out. . . In the morning, when Jan returned, the dwelling was empty.

The siege was now become fierce and lengthy.

Accordingly, after divine service, all the womenfolk were turned out into that snowy day of February, the weak and ailing being put on wagons, and barrows, and stretchers. Riga became a throng of men who had not bite nor sup to give the hordes of women begging piteously for meat, as they skulked at the base of the city walls ; there was scarce enough for the defenders themselves. In the stables hunger- maddened horses tore at each other, crunched their bits, or gnawed great holes in the sides of the stalls. Smoke hung thick over the fired suburbs. Often were

p_ 3

68 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

the garrison aroused by the alarm bells to out and draw the sword.

When the trumpeter returned that evening, he found his bread already made up, and a dish of mouldy victuals on a stool. He was ashamed to tell anyone about this ; he feared that his grandmother lay smothered deep in a snow wreath, and now was haunting his vicinity, in repentance of her hard- heartedness. After he had strengthened himself in prayer he grew calmer.

But as time passed he became more troubled and afraid. Occasionally he found the bed unmade, and no platter on the stool. So he must needs busy himself at the spinning wheel; and softly treading it, listened with growing reassurance to the well-known sound ; from his birth had he listened to it.

Now it came one morning that Eric Dahlberg, the Governor-General, of seventy-five years fame, heard a sudden outburst of musketry. In haste and irritation he got up from his plans and waxen model of the fortifications. . . As a recollection of the joyous incursions of his younger days into the realm of beauty, there hung on the walls of his room numerous magnificent engravings of the ruins of Rome. But now his features, formerly mild and beneficent, wore a cast of sombre, brooding thought ; a line of sternness curved about his small, well-nigh colourless lips, now close-knit.

He pulled his full-bottomed wig straight, stroked his thin moustache with a shaky finger, and stepped

THE KEEPER OF THE CASTLE STORES 69

out into the staircase. He struck his stick hard against a step.

"Ah, we Swedes," he muttered, " we kinsmen of the Vasa Kings, who can but curse and accuse in their old age, and in the end are afraid of themselves in the dark of their own chambers, black seed lies sown in our souls. With years, a vast outspreading tree will shoot up from it, full of the bitterest of gall- nuts."

As he descended, his mood became the harder and more acerb, until, when he stood upon the ramparts he would speak to no person.

A battalion had formed up, with colours flying and drums a-rub-dubbing. But the venture was over by now ; already loose bands of the tired and wounded were filing through the gateway. Rearmost, came a very meagre and exhausted ancient. A ruddy sabre cut gaped in his chest, yet with strenuous exertion he was trailing home a dead boy lying in his arms.

Eric Dahlberg shaded his eyes with his hands, to see the better. Was it not Jan, the trumpeter, the lad from the fort overhead ?

The exhausted soldier sank down on a low mullion in the vaulted archway. Here he remained, his wound guttering, the dead upon his knee. Troopers bent over him to examine his wound ; and the bloody shirt over his bosom was slit open.

"What!" cried they, starting back. "It is a woman ! "

In acute surprise they leant down, and scrutinised her face. Her head was now sunk against the wall ;

7O A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

the fur cap was fallen to one side ; locks of white hair were revealed.

"She is Gunnel, the Stewardess," they ejaculated. *

She breathed heavily. Her dimming eyes un- closed. She panted :

" I did not want to leave my bairn alone in this evil world ; but I put on a man's clothes ; and day and night have done my work with the others. I thought I had a right, then, to eat the soldiers' bread."

The officers and men look irresolutely at the Governor-General, whose decree she had broken. He was standing there, gloomy, sinister, reserved as ever.

The stick shook in his hand, and fell on the flag- ging. Slowly he turned round to the battalion. His lips moved apart.

11 Dip the colours," said he.

CHAPTER VI. MAANS THE FRENCHMAN.

A LEATHERN-COVERED army wagon was stuck fast in a Polish marsh; its horses were already being unyoked. On the wagon stood a young man, who a little while previous had joined the forces, in an endeavour to better himself. Maans the Frenchman, his comrades had nicknamed him, inasmuch as on his accompany- ing a distinguished young nobleman to Frankfort, as tutor, he had stuffed his baggage with all kinds of fine apparel. Near by, Olof Oxehufvud the Captain, and his officers and men, were tarrying for him. The snow was beating heavily against their faces.

Cried Oxehufvud, " The wagon and baggage must needs stay here."

Maans, opening his things, began to take out as much as he could carry.

"What a rare dressing-gown, with lace and.tassels ! " exclaimed the Captain and his officers. " What fine slippers ! "

" And note, too, the false calves for his legs ! "

" Aye, and the hats, there."

11 It is a cadeau of my mo "

" Away with it, into the snow ! "

" - — of my mother's."

72 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

"See, the little perukes, there, and the great full- bottom, too ! "

Oxehufvud could no longer contain himself. He laid hold of Maans.

" Into the snow, with one and all, I say!" ' Maans' jocund, somewhat delicate-looking face flamed red. He drew his sword. Cried he:

" Captain, so wor "

" So worthy a personage can easily retard our march, you mean ? "

" No ! So worthy and victorious an army, I thought to say, must not go clad of a night in dressing- gowns, old as the days of ' King Orres.' "

" Madman ! Petit-maitre ! Thickest of simple- tons!"

" You treat me as a mere slave, Captain ! I have had much experience, I tell you! Ay, through the whole of France I have travelled ; and even stood eye-to-eye with the famous Vauban."

" Indeed ! And what said Vauban ? "

11 What said he ? "

" Yes ! "

" ' Va t'en,1 quoth he, for it was in his own door- way, and I was standing in his way."

" Is that so ? Is that so ? But down from the wagon with you at once. Quick ! Once — twice — thrice. And two men of you, there, step forward to carry this little masterpiece in a gold chair."

Maans bundled up the slippers and perukes in the fine dressing-gown, threw the pack upon his back, and put his lorgnette to his eyes ; then he trudged forward.

MAANS THE FRENCHMAN 73

On arriving on sound ground Oxehufvud came close to him Long and lanky was the Captain, with ruddy cheeks and a small black moustache.

" Will monsieur listen. What does he think to do in particular in the field ? Aught at all ?

"Although, I am not noble born, I trow so," cried Maans. " Who knows ! Maybe, some day, I will have a patent of nobility in my pocket ! "

" You can go to hottest hell, so far as I am con- cerned, with your nobility ! " the Captain replied. " Nothing is asked about that in this army. Every one must serve as serve he can ! "

Oxehufvud, as superior officer, had now vented his irritation on Maans, and teased and tormented him in full. The spirit of camaraderie arose in him.

" If monsieur carries himself brave enough," he growled something more amicably, " he can begin with me to win his right to the authority of an officer ; already, we've given finishing touches to several Swedish coxcombs, of monsieur's kidney ; made them into men of stuff. Does monsieur see that white house behind the wood, there. At that spot he will take up his post, till I send further orders ; the rest of us station ourselves one-quarter mile further in the forest. We are but twenty-five all told, so I cannot give monsieur a single man. Now, keep alert and your eyes quick, for fear the enemy fall upon our rear."

Oxehufvud drew away with his little troop; and Maans turned to the dwelling, his bundle on his back. Not a person was to be seen. Irresolutely he took

74 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

shelter behind the wall of the house. Nigh frozen was he, wet to the skin, and yet what troubled him most was the dirt and soil bemiring his boots. Could he not keep a wary outlook from a window ? And he longed too for a sweet-smelling bed, with silken eider- down and snug foot-muff.

A shed slanted out from the side of the house, and thither he went, skirting the wall with great circum- spection. He wiped the moisture off his lorgnette, put it to his eyes, and, bending forward, peered into the darkness of the shed. Something began to rustle and stamp about. The next instant he saw two glowing eyes. With his heart clappering, he jumped back, and drew his sword. A black horse dashed out into the court-yard, and wildly careered hither and thither, scattering the snow with its hoofs.

I had better not seize that mad beast, thought Maans. When a trooper mounts a brute like that, its dead owner rises out of the marsh, and leaps on behind him, and tears him out of the saddle. Aye, one hears the tale every night round the camp fires !

Menacing" the horse with his sword, he stepped inside. The wings of the door in the opposite side he shoved apart; and his neighbourhood became much more distinct. It was observable, that the door of the house was built up. Snorting and trampling, the brute returned on him; but Maans jagged it with his blade, and drove it away. Then he went out and round to the front of the dwelling, and shouted valiantly.

MAANS THE FRENCHMAN 75

A gray-haired serving-maid put her head out at a window.

" Whoever lives here, is he for King Stanislaus, or the Saxon drunkards ? " cried he.

" An old solitary lives here, who is an enemy of no man ! and has no man as his enemy ! "

" Good ! Then he will not refuse shelter to a half- frozen Swedish soldier? " Maans, cried anxiously.

The woman disappeared. In some little time she came back with a ladder, up which he scrambled into the house. The room was spacious; and plain, but well-scrubbed chairs stood along the bare untapestried walls. When by chance his scabbard struck against one of the seats, the maid hastily pulled him in place again. Before him two girls came and went without speaking. Theirs were fair features and curling tresses. Whenever one of the twain lagged behind, she hurried again in all anxiety to her sister ; they kept close to each other; and, notwithstanding the daylight still held, bore two flaming lamps before them. When the serving-maid was finished brushing the dirt from his boots, and cleansing the floor of his dirty footprints, she opened the door of a neighbouring room, noiselessly and with caution. Said she, in a whisper, " Step in lightly."

Within stood a middle-aged man, wearing a dressing- gown. His was the sharpest and most impertinent nose ever imaginable. Never before had man worn such a finely curled and bepowdered wig. His fingers sparkled with rarely-jewelled rings.

Maans set his bundle down and eyed him through

76 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

his lorgnette. Much contented with his restored appearance, he gave a salutation with his arms, and bowed low.

" Sir, I am present on no rogue's errand," cried he. " In all humility do I ask the favour of knowing to what nobleman I have the happiness to address myself?" '

"Be seated, sir. I would you be seated! I am nothing more than an old and forgotten recluse. But you, sir, appear to be a man of quality ; thus will I explain to you what possibly seems so singular." With all necessary punctilios both seated themselves, their hands upon their knees.

" Once-a-day I was a gay man of the world," said the recluse, " and all Varszava talked about my clothes. But when my thirtieth birthday came round, and I sat making merry with my boon companions, I lifted up my goblet. Said I, as if fortuitously : 'My friends, with every year that passes, the eye grows harder and the heart chills. The one, here, is for King Stanislaus with the white cheeks, and the other, there, for King Augustus with his great paunch ; and accordingly both of you intrigue and strive for high places and emoluments; now, I do not intend to descend to the grave with the melancholy recollection that each of my friends became in the end a Cain. I treasure friendship much higher than personal regard, for it paramountly binds soul and soul. Thus it is, I take my last farewell of you all, while we are yet young. Never again will you hear anything concerning me; and as I appear to you now, so will you aye be present

MAANS THE FRENCHMAN 77

in my mind's eye ; and thus will accompany me when I am old and lonely; and when the serving-maid hears me talking to myself,' ' There,' she will say, ' he is speaking with the dear companions of his younger days ! ' '

" And then, after you had said farewell? "

" I came home, here, and bade them wall up the door; the servant folks can get in and out as best they can."

"Ah! Happy the guest of a host filled with such fine sentiments."

" Happy! you say. Both my twin daughters, who perambulate the house, as you see, with their lamps, are half-witted! their mother was an abducted nun! . . . And yet, I have but told the least. . . ."

"Perhaps, you mean that I disturb you?" Maans cried hastily.

"No! I will not say that, but. . . . Do you hear the ghost?" And the nostrils of the recluse expanded ; he stood rubbing his hands, in some hidden enjoyment. " I think it is my duty to tell you the truth! It is a dead lackey who haunts the house; Jonathan is his name. Wearing a brown livery with black braid on it, he lingers in the window-nooks and hides behind doors. The iron of servitude is yet so embedded in him, that when any guest appears and needs the slightest service, he comes from the dead, and must needs wait upon his desires. 'Tis lucky for me, I have few guests ! Tell me, are you a count? "

78 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

"I? No!"

" Are you a baron? "

" No! I am not yet a baron."

"You are not a plain nobleman, even?"

Maans reddened in confusion. Cried he, " Do you think to insult me? "

Yet he thought, certainly the title is my dearest dream, and God grant that soon I may have it. Then no one durst call me ' Petit-maitre.1 They will say, then, ' Oh, 'twas very plain, he would be made a noble some day.'

"Can such a simple question annoy you?" the solitary said, tickled with greater amusement than before.

" I am a noble, certainly! " replied Maans in haste. 11 My stock is ancient."

" Oh, all will be well, then," said the recluse. " Although Jonathan was given a Christian burial and all due ceremonies, yet he is not purged of earthly humours. He is such an inveterate attendant on right true aristocrats, that he is quite capable of all possible wickednesses when he realises he is attending a mere commoner or startling! "

Maans stroked his little moustache with his small finger-nail, and in uneasiness swung his lorgnette to and fro. At last, said he :

" My lord, are you a lover of Syracuse wine? "

"No!"

" I also prefer a tassie of Frontignac. My favourite dish is a ragout with mushrooms, yet I will not con- temn a. hash of mutton and thyme seasoning withal,

MAANS THE FRENCHMAN 79

In this world, much depends on the sauce, too ! I admit, when I am at home, I do not want sweets at all ; nor the dark of the night."

" The darkness ? You are thinking on the summer evenings ? "

" Ah, they are clear enough."

" And the winter nights are likewise clear, for then there is the snow. But, if you are "afraid of the dark, never travel further south than this ! In your country, you will have great artists and scholars ? "

" We neither have them, nor do we need them," Maans answered.

" You do not over-value your countrymen, then ? " ejaculated the solitary.

11 My lord," said Maans, " I have seen something of the world. For two whole months I have done nought but travel in France ; even seen Le Roi Soleil with these very eyes ! "

" You ? Have you seen Louis the Fourteenth? "

" That I have," Maans replied proudly. " In the theatre ... for all I had but the fewest inches of standing room in the pit, I saw him. Oh, since Augustus, never has such an august lived. Take at random just the method way with which he greets one."

" But the King of Sweden ? " the solitary cried ironically, " he is a man, also."

" He is," Maans asserted. " He has drawn all eyes abroad to look upon us. Yet, how poor he is ! "

" Poor, you mean ? But there, lately, in Vars- zava? — when Stanislaus entered the Church of

8o A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

the Coronation, his Queen bashful and trembling as usual, and with the sceptre, the apple, the sword, the ermine, the girdle, and the shoes of your King ; even the banner, and the hangings from the church walls, the table plate, and the Crown monies which soon got scattered abroad again ! And then the troops were on the watch, and fired salvoes . . . and in the end he thanked and kissed His Excellency Piper's hand. But, are you yourself poor ? "

" Poor ? I ! " And Maans recollected with misery his whole wealth, the two pieces of gold sewn into the hem of his coat. Yet he tapped carelessly on the table with his eyeglass.

" My means are quite unusual," he replied in some little hurry. " The play amuses me : seldom do I go out with less than ten louisd'ors in my purse."

" Will you lend me five ? " the solitary asked all in a rap.

Maans looked up at the ceiling.

" Truth to tell, unfortunately I left my purse in my great coat hanging up in the tent. But I will take it upon me to send you the trifle at the first chance. Yet you must not imagine that we embarrassed Swedes, my lord, are grand seigneurs ! And I ? — However high I rise, Maans will aye be peering between the seams of my clothes."

" Embarrassed," ejaculated the solitary. " It was but lately, that on our own battle-fields, here, Arvid Horn sat, notebook in hand, putting down all those opposing the Swedish authority ; and pur Province- Marshall, here, broke his baton in

MAANS THE FRENCHMAN 8 1

despair ! . . . Now, make yourself as easy in my house an it were your own. The tobacco pipe lies next to the smelling bottle, and the smelling bottle is on the powder box, and the powder box on the tobacco box, and the tobacco box lies on the night stool ; and it you had best seek speedily, for time goes quickly." So speaking, he took up a leathern-bound volume, and began to read.

" Thanks, thanks," Maans answered, looking some- thing askance at him with greatening mistrust. Yet he thought to himself : Wait, yet a little while, till I have my patent, then they will say, " That nobleman, there, is our new and gallant M. Magnus Gabriell."

Again the young women glided through the chamber, lightening the gloom with their lamps. Maans stood up, and bowed. When the recluse deep in reading, gave no attention to him, he picked up his bundle, and returned to the adjoining apartment.

" Time wears on, and it is getting dark," quoth he to the ancient serving woman. " I am too tired, to be company to him any longer ! "

" Your bed is ready ; to the left, here, in the great hall," she answered. " It is the only room heated against the night."

This apartment was lengthy, and painted white, with rows of inhospitable looking chairs arrayed along its wainscot, and containing two rough-made folding tables. Near the door stood a bed with curtains of hollands stuff.

The ancient lighted the four tapers in the candelabra, then left. Shivering somewhat, Maans looked about him. He laid his sword on the nearer table, and

G

8 2 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

began to unpack his bundle. Then three of the candles he blew out, and hung thereon his little, his larger, and his largest perukes ; but with the fourth light he looked under the bed and in the window corners,

" Impertinent buck ! " he muttered. " I had liefer I had stopped outside in the snow ; but seeing that I have got inside, I needs keep watch. I'll go often to the window, and spy about and listen."

The door he endeavoured to secure from the inside, but there was neither bolt nor lock. After he had laboured in vain to slip off his wet boots, the smell from which annoyed him, he attired himself in his fine dressing-gown and laid him down on the bed.

Now and again he heard the hollow-sounding snort- ing and tramping of the horse beneath him, but in time all was still. The one candle was giving out an obscure illumination; all nooks and corners lay in deep darkness. To sharpen his sight, Maans picked up his lorgnette, and turned his eyes into every niche and cranny of the chamber, yet lying motionless.

On a sudden he perceived, close to the doorway at the head of the bed, a tall, stiffish lackey : his coat was of black cloth, trimmed with brown braid. Erect and still stood he there. A spasm of fear contracted Maans' throat ; everything swam before his sight ; yet thought he within himself, the good God sends this visitation for that I dream of high honours and nobility.

Noiseless and imperceptible to the lackey, he gripped the side of the bed with both hands to over-

MAANS THE FRENCHMAN 83

master his shaking body. Then he thrust his right foot out between the hangings. Said he firmly :

" Jonathan, take off my boot."

The lackey grinned ; his mouth curved back to his ears ; but he did not move.

Maans' teeth started achittering ; yet he drew not back his limb.

"Jonathan! is that how ye serve a noble?" The ghost but grinned the more portentous, and gave a disdainful motion of the hand.

Maans the Frenchman knew then that the lackey apprehended his lies ; it was as a startling, and gross commoner he was treating him. His terror swelled so great, that he groaned aloud. Yet, despite all, he maintained the outstretched limb.

" Pull off my boot, Jonathan ! " His voice now was but a whisper.

The ghost made a despicable motion of his hips, and, grinning the more, remained stockstill. At the same moment the beast below neighed long and shrilly, and from out the distance other horses replied. Maans leapt from the bed.

" I forget my duty," cried he. "It is the enemy ! "

He dashed forward for his sword ; but with long steps the lackey came instantly beside him, and stared into his eyes : Maans' strength went from him ; he stood there like one charmed ; and the lackey was seizing the sword with one hand while with the other he reached up to the candelabra. Lifting down the largest peruke with two fingers, he extinguished the remaining light.

G — 2

84 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

" Lord God," stammered Maans. " 1 have gone but seldom into Thy house, and have sinned and done all sorts of wickedness; but Thou help me in this hour, that I do not neglect my duty, and get shame ; then afterwards punish me for all eternity."

The nickering of steeds grew louder and louder; and the horse below in the shed continued its fierce stamping and snorting. Maans clenched both hands over his head, and launched himself through the dark- ness upon the lackey.

" Thou spark of Beelzebub !" he shouted. He tore the sword away from him, and beat about with it on all sides; chairs fell hither and thither. Never he laid a hand on Jonathan. Then his fists knocked against the wall, and the door flew open. There appeared the twin sisters with their lamps ; with nothing on save their white linen shifts, being too ignorant to be ashamed ; and clinging close to each other. Wide-eyed they stared at the stranger, who had awakened them with his hurly-burly.

Maans gave himself no time for courteous airs. He threw up the window, and jumped to the ground. In dressing-gown, and sword in his fist he took to his heels. He heard a raucous voice behind him ; but knew not if it came from the solitary, or Jonathan, or both.

" I saw at once ye were a fool," it cried, "a pro- digious fool ; and wished to rid me of you ! The troops have cast their eye on you now ; you will be fighting hand-to-hand, in a little ; and my house, my

MAANS THE FRENCHMAN 85

house, my refuge from the world, will be a heap of ashes before cock-crow."

Maans never looked round, but ran on among the trees. His sole thought was: now is the promise of my becoming an officer. And then the patent. The patent !

The moonbeams pierced the thinning snow-storm ; he saw the Poles with their waving aigrettes hurriedly riding about on all sides ; one might have taken them for shadows of the night. When they came danger- ously near, he dived behind some coppice or tree trunk. At last he saw in the dimness a stockade. Covered with snow it was.

As he approached, a soldier, rising from behind its logs and tree-stems, challenged him.

" Who goes there ? " he asked in a whisper.

" God with us ! good comrades," Maans answered, and clambered into the little triangular breastwork.

" The enemy is at our heels."

" It is a fair time since I first heard the trampling of their horses," replied Oxehufvud in a low, cautious voice. " In the end, the best for us may be to get back and occupy that house."

" Captain, do not ask me to know the road ! I was received there as a guest, and thus am bounden to them. I would rather shoot myself! "

" And how were you treated? "

" As a very Excellency."

" Would you just . . . No, too late now ! Present, men, fire."

A swarm of Polish horse was galloping upon them,

86 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

The enemy thrust their lances over the breastwork, at the Swedes ; but the first discharge emptied their saddles.

" Oh-a-haa. Oh-a-haa." The call re-echoed in the forest. And shadowy dragoons and ranks of infantry surrounded them, far as the eye carried. The dim spectacle was like to nothing else than multitudinous dark bushes slowly motioned by the wind.

" I think this will be a good brush with the enemy! " said Oxehufvud. " We are five and twenty men, and they are almost three battalions."

" Now we are only four and twenty," replied Maans, snatching the piece from the dead man's hand.

" Now we are nineteen," cried Oxehufvud, after a little while. For bullets pouring in on them were slaying man for man.

On the foe falling back, the Swedes reserved fire ; but when, allured by the pretence of devastation and the stark silence within the stockade, the Poles hurled themselves forward, they were received with bullets and swords, and stones, and tree branches. Hour after hour the defence was continued.

Oxehufvud looked about. Half-aloud he counted. " Eight, nine, thirteen. . . Now we are thirteen. A bad number." He also had seized a musket, and was at present bending down for ammunition out of a dead man's cartouche.

" Comrade," said he, without rising ; and he plucked at Maans' dressing-gown. " I treated you badly to- day in the marsh,"

MAANS THE FRENCHMAN 87

Maans only said, " We are seven now ; " and re- loaded and fired. " We will have held out for some three hours."

" You are not the first to show that we Swedes are not always right in laughing at our young cox- combs. Mind you, sometimes it happens that what begins with a noble periwig ends with a noble deed ! "

"Now we are but two."

"Barely two, for I am already done," replied Oxe- hufvud, sinking back, " Not two."

Now among the dead Maans was standing alone. He tore the dressing-gown off his body, and wrapped a strip round his left arm, which was bleeding freely. Likewise his vest he threw away. The lorgnette he shoved into the leg of his boat. Then he lay down among the others, creeping as much as possible under the branches and trees of the breastwork. The Poles whirled down again ; but all was still silent. With a wild shout they crowded over ; and the plundering began ; but seeing Maans, half naked, motionless, and all bloody, they left him undisturbed. At the gray of the morning their forces withdrew.

Now, thought Maans, now I come into my authority ; the patent will follow later. And he crept out and away.

Near the house he found his perukes in the snow, for they had been thrown out after him.

"The wretch!" he muttered. "This is all the thanks for my having saved his nest for him."

All that day he held on through the forest, perukes

88 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

under his arm. It was late in the night when the outposts challenged him.

The tents and huts of the Swedes were standing in the open, unfortified. On the field wagons or before their huts, set apart in a section of their own, the women hushed their babes or conversed lightsome and merrily in undertones with their men. Round the camp fires the bowls of clay pipes glowed in scarred hands. There Braakenhjelm, cornet of horse, and the intrepid Lieutenant Pistol took account of their adven- tures. Lieutenant Orbom let them feel with their fingers the bullet of Klissov, still behind the left ear, having passed in under the left eye and through his Jiead. Per Adlerfelt, the dancing master, made moan that the enemy, aye, aimed so low, even as recently at Diina ; his shapely limbs were still suffering. Here, jested the audacious Dumky, who yet wore on his arm the garter stolen by him from a little Silesian duchess ; Svante Horn linked to his trusty Lidbom, was saying that he could never fight well until he felt a Cossack spear or sword flesh him ; and in front of him stood Field-surgeon Teuffenweiser, that courteous, whiteheaded old man, who was continually putting on and taking off his glasses. It was he who aye wanted a dram before he would attend wealthy patients.

All were talking about the chances in war ; how that some were allowed to grow expert in danger and old in honour, without being grazed even by a bullet, and others, in the spring of life, were cut.down at the very first shot of all. Not an echo of carousal was in

MAANS THE FRENCHMAN 89

the air ; but the King had ordered the drums and flutes to play merry-ways the whole night long. This was a camp wherein the subdued bustle sounded like the murmuring of a clear forest-stream under the leaves of June.

It had been against the King's desire that his Life Guards had thatched his tent with straw, and laid turf thereon, so that it resembled nothing so much as a pile of charcoal. It was not pitched in the centre but was the very last of the tents, and almost outside the firelight. They had put together a fireplace of stones beside the tent pole, and from time to time laid in it red-hot cannon-ball.

The King's laver was of pure silver. On the table there lay, next to " The Life of Alexander the Great," and the Bible garnished with covers of gold, a small silver cast of his dog Pompey, now dead. Already faded was the once bright blue silk of the seats and the bed wherein the dogs Turk and Snushane were lying ; the King himself was sleeping on pine boughs strewn on the ground.

By now even small beer was lacking in the com- missariat ; Huliman, his body servant, had been able to proffer nothing more than a tassie of snow-water and two hard biscuits. Then the King had spread his cloak around about him, and put on his night- cap. There, in the height of his triumph, slum- bered Sweden's King — his shapely head in the glare of the ruddy cannon-shot. Long past was the time since he had uttered in his privy chamber that prayer of childhood, while the night wind rustled

9O A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

the lime trees in Karlberg Park. Little by little his Deity had darkened into the God of wrath of the Old Testament ; then changed into the vengeful Lord of Hosts, whose commands he heard echoing in his soul without any hearkening on his part ; and now Thor and the Aesir Gods were storming upon his camp in the bellowing blasts of the night wind, greeting on trumps their youngest-born on earth.

The King's hounds began to growl. Max of Wur- temberg, the Little Prince, was approaching, all radiant and overjoyed. His voice rang like that of a child.

" Your Majesty ! Waken, Your Majesty ! Five and twenty Smaalanders have started and had sport with the enemy."

Maans stood behind him. Schmiedeberg, the mighty captain, supported him ; he himself was yet going on crutches, after his stout affray about the baggage; there, with twelve men, he had engaged three hundred Poles. Maans had never borne* his head prouder and more satisfied, although he was sinking with fatigue.

When he heard he was before the King's tent, he stopped in dismay, then stooped, and hurriedly washed the blood-stains from his hands. He threw off his hat, his large peruke, and the small one; and without recollecting the regulations, put on his great full-bottom. His toilette ended, with arms stiff by his sides he stepped into the tent. Through stuttering lips and with chittering teeth he gave his account to the King.

MAANS THE FRENCHMAN 9 1

Charles, sitting upon his bed of pine branches, re- peated every word of it to himself, slowly and with emphasis ; not to let slip the meanest detail. Ho rejoiced and made glad, like a child concerning a tale of wonder. At the end he gave his hand to Maans.

" Oxehufvud was right," said he, " our men have had a merry brush with the enemy ! Since the solitary asked in jest for five louisd'ors, I will pay out ten ; and you, my man, can go back and throw them through the window at him ! "

Maans stepped backward out of the tent ; and Schmiedeberg took him round the waist, and carried him into the midst of the officers awaiting him in curiosity. Cornets were there, and lieutenants, and captains : his equals in years, but already holding higher rank.

" Maans the Frenchman ! " they murmured. " None of us, now, durst laugh any more about your lorgnette and perukes ! But what of the rank of officer and the patent ? The patent ? "

" Hush," said Schmiedeberg. " Rewards are for the mean. It is His Majesty's will that no reward is given. The King would rather have one fight and fall for the glory, and the glory only." And none there ventured to gainsay him.

He let the new protege stand free, and hobbled on his crutches some feet nearer the fire. Said he softly :

" Saw ye not, saw ye not, how His Majesty himself gave him his hand, just as to an equal ! "

" I got my award, at that, for time and eternity," cried Maans the Frenchman,

92 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

Attired in his fine full-bottom and tattered clothes, he held himself prouder and more erect, his arms by his sides. His mouth was trembling with the cold.

" And thy letters patent ? " Schmiedeberg replied softly : " When ye fall in the fight."

CHAPTER VII. QUEEN OF THE LAND-RAKERS.

THE bells of Narva Church Tower stormed out no more. Among the stones from the gaping ramparts lay the hacked and rifled bodies of the heroic Swedish defenders. The Russians had carried the day.

Some Cossacks had sewed a live cat within the belly of an inn-keeper, and were standing around their victim, yelling with laughter. But the colossal Tzar, Peter Alexievitch, was crushing his way through the thick of the soldiery, felling his own people down in an endeavour to repress outrage. From his own feats in the fight the right sleeve of his coat was soppy with blood up to its shoulder.

In time, one troop after another, wearied with the slaughter, gathered in the market-place and the churchyard. On the pretext that the church was defiled by unbelievers buried therein, they began to violate and rifle the graves. They raised the tomb- stones in the church with crowbars, and opened the graves outside it with spades ; coffins were smashed in pieces, and thrown broadcast in confusion; the

94 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

pillagers cast lots for the silver handles and case- bands. All day long the coffins of metal and wood, rusty and decayed, lay strewn in the streets previously deluged with boiling pitch and burning wood, cast by desperate inhabitants on the first melees, but now with gutters running deep in gore ; and the hair of some of the dead was waxed so thick, that it had forced itself out between the chinks. A few of the corpses were embalmed, and thus well preserved, their flesh brown and withered; but for the most, yellowed and grinning skeletons lay amid their rotted and musty winding-sheets.

At the fall of the darkness, men slunk out and examined the name-plates, oft-times reading thereon the name of a near relation, or mother, or sister. They saw the body-riflers tear out foetid remains and fling them into the river ; but often, protected by the night, they succeeded in securing these last evidences of loved ones. Frequently during the darkness there was to be descried an old man or woman, with their children and servants, struggling laboriously and in timor to bear away some coffin.

A swarm of sacrilegious soldiers were bivouacked in a corner of the churchyard. What a pleasure it was to make a fire of bedsteads, mattresses, chairs, broken coffins, and everything that could be dragged together. High the sparks shot up, even to the eaves of the pastor's house. Some coffins stood piled up about the fire ; the bottom was fallen out of the topmost one ; and the deceased treasurer came to view, long and lanky, with a full-bottom still upon his head. He

QUEEN OF THE LAND-RAKERS 95

looked as if he was about to say, " Heavens ! into what sort of company have I descended? "

"Haha! little father," yelled the troopers at him, while spreading their apples and onions to roast. " You also want to have something in your throat, eh?"

The firelight illumed the living-room of the pastor,

and the sparks fell through its broken windows. In

the room was one table, much cracked, and one chair.

The pastor was seated thereon, his head in his hands.

His silvery hair fell on his shoulders, his snowy

beard swept his chest. As an army chaplain he had

experienced well-nigh most things in the heyday of

his youth ; and never had he refused a beaker of good

liquor ; yet, later in life, had served the Lord his God

in joy and well-doing. A widower, he was ; and 'twas

whispered that when a fair handmaid served in the

pastor's house, he was wont from the very outset not

to flee from temptation. His heart was as staunch

as his body, which, as becomes a man of war, was still

unbent by the stress of years ; he was bearing the

calamities with more courage and equanimity than

the others his fellows.

"Who knows ! Maybe I will succeed," he muttered, rising up as if he had found the key to some intricate puzzle.

He arose and went out into the passage. Carefully he pulled some four or five rusty nails out of the panelling, hiding a small narrow secret place under the stairway, and shoved it aside. " Come out, my child," he cried.

96 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

On no one obeying, his voice grew louder. " Come out, Lina ! The other maids were bound hand and foot and taken away ; I hid you just at the right time. But it will soon be four and twenty hours since ; and one cannot live without meat and drink ! "

When, despite him, he was not obeyed yet, he thrust his head back in affront. Said he, in a rough, commanding voice :

" Why do ye not obey ? " Think ye there is any food in the house ? there is not so much as a pinch of salt, now ! And do ye know, too, ye must be smuggled out of the town? If things go amiss, and a soldier seizes you, then, dear child, I give but this advice: put your arms round his neck, mount behind him, and ride off with him whithersoever he takes you. Ay, often in the broils of my younger days I have seen that done ; even I have thrown my roque« laure over the pastor's frock ; and had a hand in a like affair before the happy conclusion to it all. Are ye listening, my girl ? When that father of yours — drunkard he was, too, to tell the truth about him — who was my stable man, drew me out of the hole in the ice, I promised to care for his wife and child. And then, too, he was a Swede, like myself! Have I not aye been a fatherly master to you ? or what has your Grace to object to? Have you clean forgone your understanding, or what ? "

At last something began to stir in the pitch-dark- ness of the recess. An elbow was shoved against the wall ; and with much effort Lina Andersdotter came out in her white shift, with naked feet, her brown

QUEEN OF THE LAND-RAKERS 97

tresses streaming down her back, and wearing a torn red jacket, lacking sleeves, but with an unharmed body. The firelight poured through the window. Huddling herself together, she pulled her shift down between her knees. Yet her fresh, healthy face, with its broad, open features, was as cheerful as if she were arisen from sleep in the first grey light of a winter's morning.

The old man's blood yet ran hot in his veins ; but at this particular moment he was entirely the friend and father. Said he, stroking her naked shoulders in a kindly manner :

" I did not know that anyone in my simple house- hold had such over-weening modesty ! "

She looked up. " No ! " was her answer. " It is because I am so cold."

"Ay, that is believable," said he. "But I can- not give you any clothing. And every moment the house may take fire. Yet, I myself may be able to slip out unmolested, and have still a Riga rix-dollar in my pocket ; who asks questions about an old man. But it is quite different with you, Lina ! — I know well the wild business that would ensue ! I can think of only one device to get you away in safety ; yet durst not tell you, you are sure to become too much afraid ! "

"Afraid ? I am not ! " she replied. "What is to be done to me — will be done. And I am no better than any of the others. Oh, if I was not so fright- fully cold."

" Come, then, to the door; but do not take fright. See, there, outside in the doorway, the villains have

H

98 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

placed a smallish, wooden coffin. It cannot be too weighty for me to carry, and mayhap you will find room in it. An ye have enough courage to lay down in it, perhaps I can smuggle you out of the town."

" I have the courage now," cried she.

Her teeth were chittering with the cold, her whole body was atremble. But she straightened herself, letting the shift hang short, and stepped forth into the doorway.

The pastor raised the damp lid that hung loose, and found nothing more in the rifled coffin than shavings and a brown blanket.

" That is just what I need," stuttered Lina Anders- dotter, drawing it out.

Then she enveloped herself in it, and laid herself down, back on the shavings. The pastor bent over her. He put both hands on her shoulders, and peered into her frank eyes. She was between eighteen and nineteen years ; her glossy braids of hair were smoothed back from the temples. It came into his head that not always had he looked upon her with as pure and fatherly eyes as he ought to have done, and as he himself had pretended ; but now, he was doing it for a righteous end.

His long, white locks fell over his face, and down on her cheeks.

" May all go well with you, child," he cried earnestly. " I am old ; it matters but little whether my life is taken ! In my time, I had part in many rogues' ploys and have done many wicked deeds ; and towards the remission of my sins J would that I do some good act,"

QUEEN OF THE LAND-RAKERS 99

He nodded several times to her, then straightened himself. Without, the brawling was growing louder.

He put on the lid, and jammed down the long screw- nails as best he could. Thereupon he knelt down and passed a rope round the coffin ; with strong arms he lifted the heavy burden upon his shoulders, and with bowed back went staggering into the open.

" Look there," cried one of the band in the church- yard.

His nearest comrade silenced him. " Let the old dullard go on. It is a pauper's coffin ! "

The sweat trickled down the pastor's brows ; back and arms ached exceedingly ; but, step for step, he drew forward through the empty street. Now and again to get breath, he had to rest the coffin on the ground ; but even then he stood with one hand on its lid ; then in fear he again had to bestir himself and push on, or remain to get cut down by marauders. Frequently he had to avoid the great wagons laden with men and women who were to be carried hundreds of miles into Russia, to populate the steppes. The great Tzar was a sower, who measured not the crop he sowed.

When at last the old man neared the gates, and the guard stepped forward, he strained his last forces with the whole energy of deadly fear. While with one hand he kept the coffin on his back, he took out his rix-dollar with the other. He handed it to the soldier. The man nodded to him to pass without the gates. He tried to step forward, but could not, yet through the gateway plainly saw the free fields and shimmer- ing river, Of a sudden everything became dark to him.

H— 3

100 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

In his helplessness, yet ever careful of his burden, he let the coffin slip gently to the ground. Then falling forward on his face, he died.

Soldiers sprang hither. They began calling and complaining, for the coffin could not remain there, in the gateway. Their officers, who had been sitting at cards inside the gatehouse, also made their appear- ance. One of them, in shape small and thin and weakling, with spectacles square in shape, and resembling more a writer than a soldier, took a lant- horn, and coming forward raised the lid of the coffin just a little with his scabbard. The first time, he hastily drew back his head and almost dropped the light ; but he bent down again, directing the illumina- tion inside the coffin. He paused longer this occasion, and looked with more accurate attention. He began to stroke his face with his hand, as if to conceal some thought. Finally he took off his spectacles, and stood there, pondering. When he stooped the third time, he flashed the lanthorn full along the slight gap betwixt lid and shell ; there lay Lina Andersdotter, at peace, and blinking at him without knowing what had happened.

Quoth she, " I am hungry."

The officer put the light on the ground, and took a couple of steps up and down the gateway, his hands behind his back. Then a mischievous and brisk expression played on his stiff features.

All unnoticed by his comrades he took an apple from his pocket. Cautiously he slipped it into the coffin. Then cried he to his men ;

QUEEN OF THE LAND-RAKERS IOI

" Here, you lads. Eight of you to carry this coffin to General Ogilvy. Give him my humble greetings, and tell him that this is a meagre gift from his ser- vant Ivan Alexievitch. Other eight of you, the men, there, just returned from the fortifications, go behind, and blow the march of the regiment on the trumpets. A couple of men, also, are to go before, with lighted torches. Forward ! "

The soldiers looked in amazement at each other, but obeyed. Amid much laughter they raised their burden upon their muskets. Two long poles plaited around with straw were found in a corner of the gate- house, lit at the lanthorn, and the procession set out towards the camp that lay without, in the fields. Merrily the trumpeters blew their blasts.

When they reached the camp, the escort formed up, in the torchlight, around the coffin. General Ogilvy, who had been sitting at meat, came out of his tent.

" Little father," said the spokesman of the men, " Ivan Alexievitch, our lieutenant, sends this present to thee in all humility."

Ogilvy paled somewhat. He bit his lips under the bushy, grey moustache. His features wore a stern expression, though at bottom he was full of kindness and beneficence.

" Is he a fool ? " he thundered in feigned anger, for truth to tell he was now out of countenance like a startled schoolboy. " Put the coffin down, here, and break open its lid."

The men shoved their swords between the boards,

IO2 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

and the lid fell aside. Ogilvy gave one look, then burst into loud laughter. He laughed so much that he had to sit down ; the soldiers laughed too ; along the entire street of tents the merriment spread, till men stotted hither and thither, falling against and propping up one another, as if intoxicated. For in the coffin lay Lina, wide-eyed, and with the half-eaten apple in her hand. She was warm by now ; her cheeks glowed pink like a doll's.

" By the Saints ! " cried Ogilvy. " One sees no such wonder in the catacomb of St. Anthony himself. This is a kind of corpse which must be sent to the Tzar."

" By no means, your Excellency," said one of his officers. " Yesterday, I despatched two small, short- legged blondes to him ; but his desires are all for slim, brown-haired women."

" No, indeed, if that is so," Ogilvy replied. With a gesture he turned towards Narva. " Greet, then Ivan Alexievitch from me, and say to him that if the coffin be sent back, his promotion ought to lay inside it ! Hoho ! my little darling ! " And he chucked Lina Andersdotter under the chin.

Instantly she got up, seized him by the hair, and gave him a resounding box on the ear. She followed it up with another. But he did not evince the slightest embarrassment, and continued to laugh.

" I will have you, now," he cried, " I will ! I'll make you Queen of Land-Rakers, my chick ; and, as token, I give you this armlet with the turquoise clasp ; some of our cleverest knaves stole it just now out of Count Horn's coffin in Narva." And on his shaking the

QUEEN OF THE LAND-RAKERS IO3

bracelet off his wrist, Lina Andersdotter eagerly seized it.

A little time later that night she sat at table with General Ogilvy. Now was she dressed in a gown of figured stuff, made in the French mode, and wore a head-dress of fine lace. She had to eat her food with gloves on her hands, with their great, clumsy fingers ; and the red skin of her wrists showed out between the fastenings.

" Haha ! Haha ! " yelled the generals. " Her hands, there, make more merriment than tankardfuls of Hungary wine! Fasten her girdle for her; catches us under the arms. No one here can look at her without killing himself with laughter."

She pilfered as much of the sweets as she could, and thus through her audacity Ogilvy needs keep his sword on high to ward the dishes. This displeased her somewhat, and she made grimaces. In all truth her appetite was not small ; but on the contrary she would not drink ; she took but one sip of wine, then spewed it out on the generals. Their oaths and worst terms of speech she immediately attained. And there she sat, blooming and merry.

The generals were choking with laughter. Cried they :

" Blow out the lights, so that we cannot see her. Oh, save us all ! Oh ! We are suffocating. Made- moiselle, perhaps smoking a pipe of tobacco may be one of your little pleasing traits ? "

" Why the devil can you not leave me in peace!" replied she.

IO4 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

Ogilvy was adroit enough to hold aloof, so that none might be able to turn the laugh against him. None nudge him. None pluck at his coat-tails and say, "Ah, little father, now you have a douse of cold water over that bald head of yours. God bless you, little father, bless you aye, and your little disappointment too."

He always contrived to behave to her rather as the benevolent acquaintance than aught else. In public he never sat so close to her, but that his hound could lay between them. Nor did he take hold of her in public, if any one was nigh ; and, even in private, he did but very seldom ; for she was wont to smack his face. Oft-times so hard did she hit, that the glove split, and out came her robust hand in all its yokel ruddiness. Frequently she belaboured him with a good will, and jeered at none so much as him. But he just laughed like the others. And never aforetime had such rioting and brawling reigned in the camp.

Ogilvy often resolved to let her feel the weight of the knout, yet was he ashamed, for his officers would hear the affair through the thin covering of the tent. Then they would form some idea regarding his non- success with the virgin.

" Ay, only wait ! " he muttered between his teeth. 11 We will be alone some day, soon ; between four walls and behind lock and key ! Only wait, Made- moiselle ! "

One day the generals cried to her : " You trail your dress on the ground. We'll take hold of it for you ! Now! Bless me! Look there! Just look, but merely take one peep ! "

QUEEN OF THE LAND-RAKERS IO5

" Carry it, then," said she. " But do it fair and decently, and the better for you ! " Then the officers, thronging about her, bore her train for her, both on her going in to meat, and coming therefrom.

Now it came one night as they all sat drinking, Lina Andersdotter among them, that an adjutant entered, all perplexed and in irresolution. He stepped up to General Ogilvy.

" Dare I venture to speak plainly to you, your Excellency ? "

" Of course, my man," the general replied.

" And will you pardon me ? "

" On my word of honour. Only say what you desire."

" The Tzar is on his way to the camp ? "

" That is all right enough. He is my noble sovereign."

The adjutant nodded in the direction of Lina Andersdotter. Quoth Ogilvy : " Only the slender ones please the Tzar."

" Your Excellency. This last time, his taste is changed."

" Good ! " cried Ogilvy, jumping up. " Call the men to arms, then get me a three-horse conveyance."

The call was sounded. There was a soaring of bugles and a blaring of trumpets ; wagons rumbled about ; sharp orders and the trampling of the cavalry filled the ear of night. The carousal instantly came to an end.

Lina was placed in the wagon. A soldier sprang up, lanthorn in hand, and seated himself next to the

IC6 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

peasant driver. The wench heard the latter ask in a low voice for his directions. " To the Tzar," replied the taciturn man of war, pointing with his thumb over his shoulder at her.

The driver shuddered as if struck by a frosty blast. He whipped the fiercer at his small shaggy horses ; and, crying and beating at them, forced them into a speedier gallop.

The lanthorn gleam glinted among the trees, and over the burnt-down houses ; the wagon rattled and rumbled and creaked along the stony highway ; and Lina Andersdotter lay on her back, and looked up at the stars. Where were they taking her ? What fate awaited her ? She wondered and wondered on these thoughts. Round her wrist still hung the armlet, like to a talisman ; a pledge it was towards the ful- filment of the General's strange prophecy. Queen of Land-rakers. The term sounded so natural to her, for all she had arrived at its meaning with much difficulty.

For a while she fingered and tugged at the little silver ornament. Then she rose up a little, and, bending over, looked at the rough track in the lanthorn illumination. With caution she trailed herself more and more towards the end of the wagon, and, all unseen, climbed over the back board, and let herself slip feet first towards the ground. She wondered whether, at the furious rate they were travelling, she would break any of her limbs, and only remain laying on the road exposed to more danger. The next moment she lost her grip, and was being trailed along

QUEEN OF THE LAND-RAKERS 1 07

the ground, to stumble, and fall heavily on the hard road. The conveyance thundered on, and in a short time had disappeared into the distance, with its dancing light and galloping horses. Lina got upon her feet, dried the blood off her cheeks, and took her way into the trackless forest.

Here she fell in with some refugees, who taking pity on her comely face, plucked her roots and berries, and followed her. Soon she discovered a whole household of fugitives. She straightway showed the strong hand, so that they durst not even touch so much as her clothes ; yet, in truth, among themselves they were always quarrelling and striking each other. At last, one day, she took service with the wife of a seaman, who intended to set sail for Dantzic. But scarcely was the gloaming fallen, than the others also appeared and offered their hands. Then the seaman sat in the moonlight, on the top of his cabin, and blew his shawm for joy. So willing a crew he had never had, nor his wife so strong a servant.

Hardly were they on the sea, than Lina Andersdotter placed herself with folded arms beside the shipman, and her vagabonds laid down on their backs. Merrily they all sang to the music of the shawm.

Said Lina to the man's wife :

" Think ye, I will scour and scrub your tubs ? "

" Beat her ! Beat her ! " the woman cried. But her husband leant the closer to Lina Andersdotter, and continued playing.

Night and day the vessel floated onward, with flapping canvas. The seaman all the time blew on

I08 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

the shawm to please Lina. In the cabin below his wife sat and wept.

On arriving at Dantzic, the shipman put his shawm under his arm and slunk away, by night, with Lina Andersdotter and her companions. They understood by now that her end was to join the Swedish troops that were marching against the Poles.

When with her folk she came singing into the camp, and along to the section for the women, she found resentment and clamour active there. For twice four and twenty hours the camp followers had remained on their wagons, without food. The last provisions had been given up to the sutler, and were now divided among the soldiery.

Lina Andersdotter went up to the first corporal she saw. Putting her arms akimbo, she cried to him :

" Are ye not ashamed to let my women folk starve, when ye cannot do without them ? "

"Your women folk," quoth the corporal. "And who may you be ? "

She pointed to her armlet.

" I am Lina Andersdotter, Queen of the Land- rakers. Now take ye five men, and follow me."

The soldier looked at his captain, the foolhardy Jacob Elfsberg. Then he gazed first at Lina's pleasing face, and finally at his men, who already, musket in hand, stood round her. Her women folk had taken to themselves whips and cudgels. So when the flare of their fires flushed the night sky, the King, sharpened with curiosity, sprang into the saddle.

On the wild gang coming back with heavily laden

QUEEN OF THE LAND-RAKERS 109

wagons, with oxen and sheep, the troops were jubilant. Their shouts rang lusty and loud: "Long live King Charles ! Long live Queen Caroline ! "

The women thronged so close upon the King, that his lackeys had to fend them off. Lina Andersdotter stepped straight to him to receive the shake of his hand. But he had raised himself in his stirrups. Over the heads of the surging women he cried to the corporal and the five men ;

" Well done ! Rare good plunder ye've got, my men."

From this hour forth she would hear no more the King's name mentioned in her presence, but when she met a man, be he general or private, belaboured him to his face with the worst of words. When Bjorkmann, the young guardsman, already famous from his heroic feats, offered his hand to her, in irony she put her empty, tattered purse into his palm. But never was she more furious than when Mayerfelt, the major general, rode past her, whistling merrily as he cantered at the head of his dragoons, or when she recognised the yellow-brown cheeks and raven-black bobtail wig of Colonel Grothusen. Yet if a poor wounded lay on the road, she would give him the very last drop in her water bottle, and put him upon her wagon.

Frost and scars soon tanned her cheeks. She always sat on the top of her baggage wagon, and with her whip controlled all the odd after-guard ; the punks and wedded wives and thieving wretches that streamed from east and west in the wake of the

I 10 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

army. When the glare of fires illumed the heavens at night, the troops knew that Queen Caroline was out on her foray.

Now after days and years were gone by, and after the pleasant winter quarters in Saxony, the army of the Swedes advanced into the Ukraine. The King commanded that all their women be left behind.

" He does it all to suit himself ! " murmured Lina Andersdotter, but she kept quite calm.

No sooner was the army arrived at the Berezina than the camp women broke out into clamouring, and weeping and wailing. They gathered round Lina Andersdotter's wagon, some wringing their hands, others holding up their little children.

" What will you do now ? " was the intense cry. " The troops are over the water, already ; and break down all the bridges. They have left us to the Cossacks."

There she sat, her whip in her lap, and wearing topboots like a man. On her wrist still sparkled the armlet with the turquoise clasp. The lamentation and blubbering of the deserted women increased. Out of the close-wagons, like to huge boxes, crept powdered and painted wantons, some in satin gowns and having gold chains around their necks. They crowded about her ; on all sides she saw women, strangers to her, whom she had never set eyes on heretofore.

" Low drabs ! " she muttered. " I understand now what sort of smuggled goods the captains and lieuten- ants carried twith them. What do you here, among

QUEEN OF THE LAND-RAKERS I I I

my poor folks. Ah, the whole lot of us, now, know the worth of a man when his haversack is light of provisions.

Still they all kept thronging on her. They plucked at her garments, and besought her, as if she of her- self could avert approaching doom.

She cried : "Is there not one who knows that Psalm, ' What though I walk in Death's dark vale ? ' Sing it ! Sing it ! "

Some of them struck up the Psalm, in choking, whimpering voices. But others fled down to the river bank, and sought boats, and began to row across ; each that had a husband or lover hoping to be taken back and somehow concealed from autho- rity's eye. It was all the lowest of the women, those who never at any time belonged to one man, who were standing now clustered around Lina Andersdotter.

Among the bushes the Cossacks began to skulk towards them.

Then Lina felt her heart grow faint, and she got down from her seat.

" Poor, poor children," said she, stroking their tender cheeks. " I will not leave ye ; but now ye must, devil take me, pray God that he washes your blood-red sins white and clean. I can say no more to you than that ye shall shame men and die a proper death."

She opened the covering of her wagon, and searched among her spoils for some pikes and sabres. These she gave to the women, and herself seized an empty

112

musket ; powder and shot she had none. So there they stood in that ominous atmosphere, high upon the bank, with the ruddy sunlight streaming down.

When the other women saw from the water how the Cossacks rushed the baggage, and cut down their comrades, thinking they were men in disguise, they turned away the boats.

The Swedes sped from their ranks back to the river- side, and opened fire. They cried, a thousand throats as one : "

" Long live King Charles. Long live. . . No. 'Tis too late ! Look. Look! It is Queen Caroline, who, surrounded by harlots, is dying like a virgin, with the musket in her hand."

CHAPTER VIII. MAZEPPA AND HIS EMISSARY.

IN a bed-chamber, garnished with sumptuous furni- ture, stood a tester bed. Plumes waved upon its four posts. Behind its half-drawn curtains lay a man up- ward of sixty years of age ; the bed-covering he had drawn up under his beard, and his long white hair lay spread out. The entire forehead of him was hidden under a medicated plaster. 'Twas Mazeppa.

On the carpet by the bed two medicinal phials were strewn, and a few volumes of Latin and French poetry. At the door a small, meagre-bodied priest was holding a whispered conversation with two men in garbs of green ; messengers they were, from the Tzar.

" He scarce understands your words," whispered the priest, throwing a troubled and searching glance at the sick man. " For hours he reclines there, with- out speaking. Who could ever imagine that the lively old man would be struck down so suddenly ? "

" Ivan Stefanovitich," said one of the strangers in a loud voice, and nearing the bed, " our right noble Tzar, thy master, sends greeting. Bethink thyself! Three Cossacks of thine that fled to him and told of

114 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

thy plotting against his authority, he gave orders to be taken prisoners ; and has sent them back to thee in gift. Ivan Stefanovitich, he but relies upon thy fidelity."

Inert and dull the eyes of Mazeppa disclosed them- selves. His lips made motion. They but drove forth an incomprehensible murmur.

" We understand you," the Muscovites cried. " We understand you. You bless him, you thank him for his mercy ; and we are to inform him that eld has crushed your strength ; that every thought of yours is already turning on that which is not of this perishable earth."

" I fear," murmured the priest beside them, " that he is nearing the end."

The Tzar's messengers bowed their heads in sorrow, and retiring backwards went from the chamber.

Immediately they were without, the priest bolted the door.

" They are away," said he.

Instantly Mazeppa arose. He tore the plaster from his forehead, and threw it on the floor. His dark, wide-open eyes sparkled ; the colour came and went in his cheeks ; and under his fine curved nose his teeth showed themselves white and fresh like to those of a young man. He thrust the clothes aside, and sprang out of bed. From head to foot he was dressed, even to great coat and top-boots with spurs.

Gaily he poked the priest in the side.

" You little rogue of a priest ! Oh, ye vagabond ! In fair truth we've got ourselves out of the affair not

MAZEPPA AND HIS EMISSARY 115

badly, this time : in Moscow they will be believing, now, that old Mazeppa is lying on his back, all idle and out of mischief ! God be good to them, simple souls ! Ha, ha ! You little blackguard of a priest ! Oh, you hypocrite ! "

The priest laughed drily. He was a deposed Bishop out of Bulgaria. His round head, with its short nose and far-receding eyes, resembled a dead man's skull.

Mazeppa became exceeding merry. " Mazeppa dying ? Ask his little sweetheart. Just ask ! Ho, you great Tzar of mine in Moscow, now we work to live and get rid of ye."

" The Tzar mistrusts you, my lord. But he will disarm you through his very magnanimity. 'Tis a way of his ! "

" And, even so, he had overcome me if he had not dealt that blow on my ear the other night at table, when we were drunk. I hold my ear even as sacred as he does his ; and I never forgive an insult ; it rankles in my soul, and gnaws and gnaws at me. If I am no king by birth, I am of a kingly nature ! And what can he do against my fine Cossacks ? Eh ! To business now. Narrate your adventure, you rogue ! "

" My lord, clad as a beggar, I passed through the country to the Swedish Head-quarters : but on the way I fondled the change-house maids on my knee, and had my stoup of liquor by me at the table ; and if then I looked down and saw my toes peeping through the tattered leather, thought I about myself, Now, this is the Emissary of Mazeppa ! "

1—2

Il6 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

" Good — good ! How did you find, then, our buck ? "

" Buck ? "

"Of course! His Swedish Majesty! D'ye not think that he, beggarly appearance and all, must needs air himself even more than any perfumed Prince of France in silken stockings and all. And he has, too, that strange levity of the Northerner, who may knout one incessantly and shout : ' A mere trifle ! It's just nothing ! That won't hurt ye ! ' He has never been able to grieve over misfortune longer than the dark lasts ; that has been the secret of his strength. Alack for him and his fortune when once he lies, night after night, awake and brooding. I'm eager to see him. I long to meet him. But speak on."

" First, I found him in peruke and field dress on the aprons and kerchiefs of the tavern-girls ; then on the glasses out of which I drank ; on the sweet cakes I ate ; also on table-covers, box-lids, snuff-boxes ; and painted on the market stalls. Folk spoke of nothing save him ; and the children, placing themselves in line, played the game of God, his Swedish Servant. The people termed him the Protestant-Papist, Elect of God, reverently bowing thereat."

" Good ! But how did you find him, himself, on reaching head-quarters ? "

" I warn you ; I foretell nothing good. I saw the worse tokens. I found him boastful and arrogant, like to some great man when the whole world bows down before him. Marlborough, after his audience in Saxony, left the camp shrugging his shoulders ; and

MAZEPPA AND HIS EMISSARY 117

the sovereigns, too, began to laugh at him behind his back ; his own generals become tired of him."

" Then you mean that he is become the common folks' hero : even such a man I need, to gather the wild hordes around me. Unless you assure me you have seen him eat and drink I'll not believe he's a living man ! I would say, then, that the young Prince of Sweden fell in the broil at Narva ; but his wraith yet rides before the troops ; and the snow falls and falls, and the benumbed battalions know not whither he is leading them. When the foe recognise him in the cannon-smoke, all aghast they drop their muskets, and durst not shoot ; and he knows not that oft-times he cuts down men sinking on their knees in terror before him. Hired bravos throw away their weapons when his eye falls on them, and accuse themselves ; he lets them go unpunished. Speak not to him of kingdoms and dominions, and Settlements-in-Treaty. Gold ? Lands ? From Austria he demanded a chamberlain who had slandered him black as the very Devil ; and a swarm of Russian soldiers fled thither ; and liberty of conscience for the protestant folk. From Prussia he got imprisonment of a Colonel who had betrayed advices to the Tzar, and the banishment of a writer who had criticised his remissions to the bigots. From Saxony he demanded Patkull and all deserters, and liberty for the Sobieskies and Saxons gone over to Sweden. He compelled King Augustus to pack up in a velvet-lined box all the old Polish regalia, and restore them to Stanislaus. After he has deposed King Augustus in Poland, he will cast down

Il8 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

the Tzar or challenge him to single combat. But as for their crowns and sovereignties, he will never have them in a present ! Since the times of old no more strange individual has handled the sword or borne the sceptre."

Mazeppa, whilst speaking, had clung so vehemently to one of the bed-posts, that the plumes of the silken canopy nodded and nodded.

But the priest raised his third finger in the air.

«' I have warned you," he answered. " All that comes in touch with him is doomed to death or destruction. In all truth he is a patron saint of adventure. He has invested adventure with eminence and endured it with steadfastness. And you too, my lord, are an adventurer ! And myself am one of the most addicted. Therefore will I be submissive ! "

He let his hand fall, and came nearer Mazeppa, with less respect in his air of familiarity.

" Ivan Stefanovitich, have you never conjectured why I directed my steps straight to your gates ? "

" You got hunted off your Bishop's Stool through your unbeliefs and villainous pranks ! "

" In main it was on account of a little trifling piece of pilfering. There were a couple of pearls in the iconastare ? "

" Which ye, setting in their stead bits of glass, sold privily, to enable yourself to live somewhat easier and more worthy of a servant of the Church ! "

" Let us talk no more of that ! When I heard speak of Mazeppa, that famous page of Johannes Kasimir's Court, he that did pay homage to the seducing sex,

MAZEPPA AND HIS EMISSARY 1 19

till in the end an over-jealous spouse had him bound naked on the back of a horse and driven out into the wilderness ; and there he founded his realm of adven- ture. St. Andrew protect you, Mazeppa ! I needed a Little Master, one too much ashamed to cut off a good head, and who would suffer me to read in peace my Greek and Machiavelli ; one to whom I could say, ' Be it so, O master mine. All is but a phantasma. Even this, that you are the over-lord and I am the servant ! ' Therefore came I to you. But the blood of the adventurer cannot now endure the restraint ; and, of a truth, is got weary of thy watered wines, for, Mazeppa, ye are a great miser ! So, seeing that now you think to have a right affair with musket balls, I follow you. And since the Swedish King gives ear no longer to his generals, nor to the beseeching letters from his grandmother and his people, because that the most dangerous and impracticable way of all tends hither, he will accept your prayer to form an alliance. With you and your Cossacks he will go against the Tzar. Here are the papers."

The priest, throwing aside his cloak, stood in Cos- sack dress, with pistols in his belt. He withdrew one much-folded document from his breast. Mazeppa grew pale, and seized it, and held it long pressed against his mouth, whilst inclining his forehead and bowing himself as if before some invisible holy picture.

" The drums — the drums," he stammered in excite- ment. But when the priest was even at the door, he called him back. " No ! let the drums be beat at the

I2O A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

first of the morning." Then he stepped to a simple wooden table in the ante-chamber and seated himself at his accounts.

His stewards he called together, and cast the reckonings for, and bade them observe greater fru- gality. A raider, yet a wise and economical owner, he himself in the end overlooked the packing of his many coffers and chests, and occasionally also helped. The next morning he clad himself in an old, rich embroidered Cossack hablement. All in a flurry, he no sooner sat down than he sprang up again. He remained standing before the mirror for nigh an hour, and stroking now and then again his moustaches with his small, delicate white hands. As soon as the drums were rolled he sprang into the saddle, and in- cessantly kept his horse at the gallop.

One morning, some time after, he was riding in the King's retinue through the snowstorm. The priest urged his horse, as if by chance, alongside him. All around, the troops were marching, soiled with dirt, their weapons and cannon shielded against corrosion ; baggage wagons rattled onward, creaking under loads of commissariat, the sick, and covered coffins.

Drunk Zaparogs, prancing Cossacks, and vigo- rously trumpeting Poles rode about, clad in their green and red cloaks, and with tall, tinkling, brass helmets ; some flourished lances decked with tassels and tags, or long muskets inlaid with silver and ivory ; others, again, played strange and mournful tunes on wooden flutes. It was somewhat of a romantic march, through unbeaten and unknown

MAZEPPA AND HIS EMISSARY 121

forest tracts, across frozen swamps, and beneath snow- laden firs, into the enigmatical East.

" Mazeppa," began the priest in a low voice, " ye promised to join the Swedes with 30,000 Cossacks, but only 4000 followed thee ! '*

Mazeppa let his sorrel unchecked leap into a gallop, and nodded in silence. But the priest was grown tired of being fooled.

" The day before yesterday the half of your follow- ing took fright. Yesterday, yet more. Soon but 200 will remain, only the dwarfs that guard your coffers and two tons of ducats. Your fellow conspirators are seized ; your towns are burnt ; your few trusty ser- vants bound to planks and cast headlong into the river. Soon ye will be naught but a spruce cavalier in the following of the Swedish King ! " On Mazeppa saying naught, the priest continued ; " This day I also abandon ye : the Swedish small beer is too sour, to my taste ! and my toes gape over-much in my footgear. Thy Emissary, O Mazeppa, requires a richer master ! Farewell, Ivan Stefanovitich "

Mazeppa answered : " So long as I still have my head on my shoulders and retain my philosophy, I remain Mazeppa. Whilst my Cossacks turn and flee, I bid the staff and insignia of hetman be borne before me ; and ride on again to the King, as if the millions of Xerxes were behind me. And he, for all his im- poverished kingdom, his malcontent generals, and his waning fame, receives me like to the most felicitated of Princes. What matters it to him or myself how many ride behind us ? He has a sufficiency of kingly

122 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

honours : will be the most favoured of God. He looks on this venture as a love-sick swain on his beloved. Through his birthright he will not win favour, but from himself ! And should we two, he and I, be the last of living men, and hid in a burrow in the steppe, despite all will we maintain our diversion in philosophy, and mutually pay honour to each other an we were sitting before a Coronation Banquet."

" You speak of his setting sun. You have read the signs aright ! He cannot open his mouth without boasting like a very baggage knave."

" Easy it is for one to have modesty when others sing his praises ! " And with a proud gesture Mazeppa flung back his curled white locks, then galloped to the King, who saluted him, bending again and again in his saddle.

In their vicinity some of the generals busied them- selves in talking loud, so that the King could hear them.

Said Anders Lagerkrona : " When I get to Moscow, I'll patch the seat of my riding breeches with the Tzar's nightcap ! "

" Shame on you ! " rejoined Axel Sparre. " D'ye not know an old saying, that in time to come, a Sparre is to be Governor at the Kremlin ? "

" Hear ! " cried the ensigns. " Shoot him down, that durst hinder so great and illustrious a Prince from accomplishing his end ! "

The King laughed and hummed : " The Russian is to run ! The Russian is to run ! " But when the speakers were beyond his ear, their faces changed, and their demeanours became vehement and melancholic.

MAZEPPA AND HIS EMISSARY

" Your Majesty ! " cried Mazeppa, in sorry Latin, with gleaming eyes, " So far might your all-conquering arms be thrust forward now that of a fine morning we be scarce eight miles from Asia ! "

" On that must the learned dispute," answered the King, all amused, but seeking for the Latin words, and gazing on Mazeppa's white, comely hands. " If the boundary be not so far off, we must find it ; and thus be able to say that we, too, have been in Asia ! "

And in time their voices died away.

The priest reined in his horse.

" Asia ! " he murmured. " Asia lays not in the middle of Europe, my lords ! Ride on, ride on, my right venturesome masters. I have so often changed my garb and name, that none of your Swedes have made out to a certainty who I am. But do you forget not, it was the beggarly monk, that vagabond, Ma- zeppa's emissary, who, through cunning parleying, laid his finger, blue with frost, down on thy fate, and on that of thy Demi-God, when in the steppes he discovered to you the way. Thou art right, King Karolus ! And thou, also, Mazeppa ! All, all in the end, rests on one isolated individual."

It snowed and snowed ; but still he sat motionless on his thin nag while the battalions drew by, silent and long-suffering. The last of the soldiers, turning round, looked at the solitary horseman, unknown to them, and stared at his small, death-like features ; then, taken with sinister affright, hurried onward.

CHAPTER IX. FIFTEEN YEARS LATER.

WHEN the porridge was eaten, and the two tallow candles by the pewter dish were half burnt, seats were drawn in towards the fire. The residence was one of the smallest and poorest in the neighbourhood, but this night one marked a lack of nothing. On the floor the straw lay like a soft carpet ; fresh twigs of juniper were stuck sideways in the obscured, rain-bespattered window panes ; the radiance of the fire on the open hearth streamed yellow on the whitewashed wooden walls ; and over and above, a stoup of liquor had gone the round just a short time past. Everyone knew that now was come the hour of jollity. The two serving- maids, who had donned their best, worsted bodices, cleared the board as tardily as possible, and remained standing by the door, for Hook, the old Captain, the Karolinean, tobacco-box in hand, had taken the seat of honour before the fire. But first he made himself feel right comfortable, after he had drawn off his heavy boots, sewn with cobblers' thread, and set his feet in their thick white stockings, one upon the other at the edge of the hearth, to get them thoroughly warmed.

FIFTEEN YEARS LATER 125

In truth, that night he had already taken all the talk to himself, relating even about Ehrenkrona, who had received the Sword of Honour from Frederick, the Danish King, but had made no more over it other than taking it along with him in a box. This time, however, the Captain assumed an earnest and settled demeanour, and went on to a fresh tale. In the main it was considered that he lied most inveterate ; but none concerned themselves : all the importance was, that he told a good story.

He was an oldish man, with a snub nose bitten blue with frost ; his smooth hair and moustache, curled like to a youth's, had aye been so fair, that no one noticed if the years had whitened them here and there. Moreover, in his short, tight-buttoned tunic, he sat sturdy and straight as ever.

" Yes," he began, in his wonted method, " that autumn I lost myself in the forest, things went ill with me. I mean that time in Severia. Lewenhaupt had destroyed our baggage, and was taking us along the Soza river, to find a safe place for fording ; his purpose being, that later on we were to join the King on the other side. Now many of the foot stayed behind to plunder the baggage. I was an ensign at that time, and was sent back, with a few others, by General Mayor Stachelberg, to bring these men to reason ; but already the Muscovite was at them ; and I hardly yet know how in the darkness it came that I saved myself by swimming across the river.

" Dripping with water and mud, I happened on a dragoon at the far side. He was of my own regiment,

126 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

and we called him Long Jan, because he was one of the tallest and the thinnest that ever bore a Swedish weapon. His chest was spare, but his hands were large. His arms and legs seemed to have not a sinew in them ; and his lean and simple face, recognisable by any from its slanting mouth and thick nether-lip, was wholly bare — not a hair grew on it. God knows why he was ever taken along with us !

" At this time, however, I was as glad to see his meagre person as ever my sweetheart ; and as fast as our legs could take us we made off at random, to warm ourselves and dry our clothes ; then towards break of day we threw ourselves down and slept. For many days we held on in this fashion, through forests and marshes, and all the time our clothes were never right dry. Once we took them off, and hung them on a bough ; yet that helped but little in the damp autumn air ; and they were none the better ; only much colder when we put them on again with much trouble. And our boots ! It was just impossible to take them off. Betimes they got dried in the walking, but soon got as wet as ever in a morass ; and one burst of rain followed on another. I had a small piece of bacon and some black bread, which I shared with my taciturn and as it appeared submissive comrade in misfortune ; and after this was finished, we chewed leaves and bark and everything eatable we happed on. Our hunger did not cause such a death-like pain as did the constant fatigue. And by degrees all strength began to go, and our limbs became so stiff, that we could not rest without torture.

FIFTEEN YEARS LATER 127

" But one night we heard, of a sudden, the barking of a dog. For some minutes I felt as if I burned alive with joy, but immediately sense came back, and I thought on the danger. So I turned in the opposite direction, and Long Jan followed, silent as ever. When we had walked for some time, I noted that we only came nearer to the sound. I took the soldier by the arm, and set myself in another direction ; yet, as if forced by some hidden irresistible temptation, despite every effort, we came aye the nearer to the sound.

" When in the end I let go Jan's arm, he stepped out faster than afore.

" ' Halt ! ' I cried after him. For, though I was terribly suffering from fatigue, I had no wish to walk straight into an enemy's house, where in all proba- bility the very best axe was awaiting us.

" ' Halt, halt ! ' Jan repeated obediently, but for all that he ran on again.

" I rushed after him and brought him to a stand. So long as I had a grip, he kept steady and motionless. As soon as I let go, he began to run once more.

" ' Halt ! Stand still,' I thundered, all enraged as if under fire. I was fairly confounded at this sudden mutinous waywardness of a man trained in our iron dis- cipline. ' Will ye not obey your own ensign, fellow ? '

" ' Halt ! Stand still,' he repeated, but continued to gallop as before, just as if he was no more the master of his own feet.

" ' In Jesu's name, then,' cried I, ' things cannot be worse than they are ! But then, ye've now turned yourself into an ensign, for ye are of the ranks ; and

128 A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

me into the private ? Well and good then ! But forget it not ! '

44 Long Jan did not answer. Maybe he did not even hear me. So then I had to follow him.

"After some minutes we reached an open plain, with secluded houses and barns on it. Before us stood a great wooden building of several stories. The rain- drops on the moss, which made watertight the walls consisting of huge tree trunks, glistened in the rays of the drooping sun ; and the window panes gleamed as if lit with countless candles ; but the door was shut, and no smoke came out of the chimneys. The place was like to a stricken body, with closed mouth and lack- ing breath, but with eyes, that all sinister, were illumed with baneful light from without. Behind a haystack, slanting and tumbled down, cringed a dog tied to a stake. On seeing us it wagged its tail.

" Jan stepped straight up to the door, and knocked, but no one opened.

" Thereupon he drew his sword, and with the handle beat in the nearest window. Instantly we heard a frightened woman's voice crying ' Varvara ! ' many times.

" The shattered glass jingled to the floor. The lead casing of the window was all bent and broken. We heard hasty footsteps in the house. Almost that moment the door was opened by a slender and stately serving maid ; a broad plait of bright hair hanging down her back ; and on her little black cap, as on her tight-fitting red and green bodice, numberless silver coins were dangling. In her hand she held an unlit

FIFTEEN YEARS LATER I2Q

lanthorn, presumably picked up through force of habit in her terror.

" ' We will do no harm, 'said I, trying to speak cor- rectly in that difficult tongue. ' The Lord keep us from such horrors, Mademoiselle. . . . But we are starving, and before everything we must '

" ' Have dry clothing,' interrupted Long Jan, his teeth all chittering.

" It was the first time during our long wanderings that I had heard this strange fellow speak of his own free will. And now into the bargain he had the effrontery to take the words out of my very mouth !

" When the girl, turning round, left the door half- open, he stepped to the side, however, to give me place.

" Said I, to him in irritation, ' The Ensign must aye go first ! '

" ' God keep me from that ! ' he answered, his spurs clashing together in salute.

" But half glad at our peaceful reception, and yet half angry, I continued to say, with some sharpness in my tones, that he could not doubt my earnestness : 1 Or the Devil take the Ensign, then ! '

" At that he drew his long body through the half- open door.

" We found ourselves in a great hall, the house having no vestibule. In the middle of it the stove, built of many coloured Dutch tiles, rose like a tower. Along the walls, that were made of the rough-hewn tree trunks, thickly packed with moss, stood some black envarnished seats, and on a dresser glittered pewter utensils.

a K

I3O A KING AND HIS CAMPAIGNERS

" The serving maid ran hither and thither, crying on Varvara, who at last appeared, heavy with sleep and all in terror, in the furthest corner of the dark place. There the two of them stood trembling and whispering in alarm. After a little they grew calmer, and on my addressing them to their surprise as « Mademoiselles,' and acting as if I did not know them to be but poor bond maids, they could not but ex- change glances and appear more amiable. It was all like a drop of hot oil on the creaking wagon.

"They told us, now that their folk had gone away, some two weeks past, at the first whisper of the Swedish invasion. Moreover they assured us that nothing of any worth was left in the house, and that they would willingly do their best to be of avail to us.

" Varvara had beautiful teeth and black curly hair, but was too small, too thick. She likewise laughed in a loud and ringing manner, that affected me un- pleasantly. The golden-locked maid, called Katharina, I could well endure ; and could not but pinch her ear as she was carrying in the wood for the stove.

" Meantime, Jan, without more delay, had taken off his tattered blue tunic, and as he owned neither vest nor shirt, he soon stood naked to the skin, in all his pitiful thinness. So that no one there but himself could keep from merriment. Never at any time had I seen a flicker of amusement on his stiff coun- tenance.

"After each of us had got a sheep's skin, and satisfied pur hunger for the most, we laid ourselves on the

FIFTEEN YEARS LATER 131

stove, our swords between our knees. I also ventured to bid the ensign keep alternate watch with me, lest they assail us unawares. I also forbade the two women to leave the hall, and then, aloud in Swedish, I commended us to the protection of the Almighty. But oft-times He has it that we men occasion our own surprises !

" As no one spoke to me, I slept peaceful and long, till I became awakened by stinging heat ; I had better have said a torture. But at any rate it made me recollect that I was no more a wandering skeleton, but a living man. And now imagine my panic when I saw the suffocating place was dark and untenanted, but heard shrieks and cries from out the neighbouring room. Instantly I seized my sword, and leaping to the door,