The Mad King [96]
no harm to ex- amine its mate which resembled it in minutest detail.
Almost indifferently Barney turned his attention to the other panel. He ran his fingers over it, his eyes following them. What was that? A finger-print? Upon the left side half way up a tiny smudge was visible. Barney examined it more carefully. A round, white figure of the conventional design that was burned into the tile bore the telltale smudge.
Otherwise it differed apparently in no way from the numerous other round, white figures that were repeated many times in the scheme of decoration. Barney placed his thumb exactly over the mark that another thumb had left there and pushed. The figure sank into the panel beneath the pressure. Barney pushed harder, breathless with sus- pense. The panel swung in at his effort. The American could have whooped with delight.
A moment more and he stood upon the opposite side of the secret door in utter darkness, for he had quickly closed it after him. To strike a match was but the matter of a mo- ment. The wavering light revealed the top of the ladder that led downward and the foot of another leading aloft. He struck still more matches in search of the rope. It was not there, but his quest revealed the fact that the well at this point was much larger than he had imagined--it broadened into a small chamber.
The light of many matches finally led him to the discovery of a passageway directly behind the fireplace. It was nar- row, and after spanning the chimney descended by a few rough steps to a slightly lower level. It led toward the opposite end of the castle. Could it be possible that it con- nected directly with the apartments in the farther tower-- in the tower where the king was and the Princess Emma? Barney could scarce hope for any such good luck, but at least it was worth investigating--it must lead somewhere.
He followed it warily, feeling his way with hands and
feet and occasionally striking a match. It was evident that the corridor lay in the thick wall of the castle, midway be- tween the bottoms of the windows of the second floor and the tops of those upon the first--this would account for the slightly lower level of the passage from the floor of the second story.
Barney had traversed some distance in the darkness along the forgotten corridor when the sound of voices came to him from beyond the wall at his right. He stopped, motion- less, pressing his ear against the side wall. As he did so he became aware of the fact that at this point the wall was of wood--a large panel of hardwood. Now he could hear even the words of the speaker upon the opposite side.
"Fetch her here, captain, and I will talk with her alone." The voice was the king's. "And, captain, you might remove the guard from before the door temporarily. I shall not re- quire them, nor do I wish them to overhear my conversa- tion with the princess."
Barney could hear the officer acknowledge the commands of the king, and then he heard a door close. The man had gone to fetch the princess. The American struck a match and examined the panel before him. It reached to the top of the passageway and was some three feet in width.
At one side were three hinges, and at the other an ancient spring lock. For an instant Barney stood in indecision. What should he do? His entry into the apartments of the king would result in alarming the entire fortress. Were he sure the king was alone it might be accomplished. Should he enter now or wait until the Princess Emma had been brought to the king?
With the question came the answer--a bold and daring scheme. His fingers sought the lock. Very gently, he un- latched it and pushed outward upon the panel. Suddenly the great doorway gave beneath his touch. It opened a crack letting a flood of light into his dark cell that almost blinded him.
For a moment he could see nothing, and then out of the glaring blur grew the figure of a man sitting at a table-- with his back toward the panel.
It was the king, and he was alone. Noiselessly Barney Custer entered
Almost indifferently Barney turned his attention to the other panel. He ran his fingers over it, his eyes following them. What was that? A finger-print? Upon the left side half way up a tiny smudge was visible. Barney examined it more carefully. A round, white figure of the conventional design that was burned into the tile bore the telltale smudge.
Otherwise it differed apparently in no way from the numerous other round, white figures that were repeated many times in the scheme of decoration. Barney placed his thumb exactly over the mark that another thumb had left there and pushed. The figure sank into the panel beneath the pressure. Barney pushed harder, breathless with sus- pense. The panel swung in at his effort. The American could have whooped with delight.
A moment more and he stood upon the opposite side of the secret door in utter darkness, for he had quickly closed it after him. To strike a match was but the matter of a mo- ment. The wavering light revealed the top of the ladder that led downward and the foot of another leading aloft. He struck still more matches in search of the rope. It was not there, but his quest revealed the fact that the well at this point was much larger than he had imagined--it broadened into a small chamber.
The light of many matches finally led him to the discovery of a passageway directly behind the fireplace. It was nar- row, and after spanning the chimney descended by a few rough steps to a slightly lower level. It led toward the opposite end of the castle. Could it be possible that it con- nected directly with the apartments in the farther tower-- in the tower where the king was and the Princess Emma? Barney could scarce hope for any such good luck, but at least it was worth investigating--it must lead somewhere.
He followed it warily, feeling his way with hands and
feet and occasionally striking a match. It was evident that the corridor lay in the thick wall of the castle, midway be- tween the bottoms of the windows of the second floor and the tops of those upon the first--this would account for the slightly lower level of the passage from the floor of the second story.
Barney had traversed some distance in the darkness along the forgotten corridor when the sound of voices came to him from beyond the wall at his right. He stopped, motion- less, pressing his ear against the side wall. As he did so he became aware of the fact that at this point the wall was of wood--a large panel of hardwood. Now he could hear even the words of the speaker upon the opposite side.
"Fetch her here, captain, and I will talk with her alone." The voice was the king's. "And, captain, you might remove the guard from before the door temporarily. I shall not re- quire them, nor do I wish them to overhear my conversa- tion with the princess."
Barney could hear the officer acknowledge the commands of the king, and then he heard a door close. The man had gone to fetch the princess. The American struck a match and examined the panel before him. It reached to the top of the passageway and was some three feet in width.
At one side were three hinges, and at the other an ancient spring lock. For an instant Barney stood in indecision. What should he do? His entry into the apartments of the king would result in alarming the entire fortress. Were he sure the king was alone it might be accomplished. Should he enter now or wait until the Princess Emma had been brought to the king?
With the question came the answer--a bold and daring scheme. His fingers sought the lock. Very gently, he un- latched it and pushed outward upon the panel. Suddenly the great doorway gave beneath his touch. It opened a crack letting a flood of light into his dark cell that almost blinded him.
For a moment he could see nothing, and then out of the glaring blur grew the figure of a man sitting at a table-- with his back toward the panel.
It was the king, and he was alone. Noiselessly Barney Custer entered