“Tell me, Carl, what is your plan?” asked one of the revolutionists, pushing his way through the throng to the leader’s side. “You can’t depose a king with a few half-drunken men.”
Carl Eingen gazed searchingly at the pale, drawn face of the speaker.
“Have no fear, Conrad,” he said, convinced that he addressed a man not stirred by the fumes of wine. “The guards at the palace are on our side. From every part of the kingdom our friends are hurrying toward the castle. This is no midsummer night’s madness, Conrad. It is simply a very small part of a deep-laid scheme, conducted possibly from Berlin and approved by one who is greater than the king of Hesse-Heilfels. These men with us I shall use for a special purpose. The brunt of this business is borne by others, but to me has been entrusted the capture of Herr Bennett, the Yankee. I saw that I could carry my point with our friends here if I said the right word at the right time. Their enthusiasm, however, is spasmodic, and their lukewarmness, their dread of the awful punishment that might come to them, will return to them anon. But there is inspiration in sharp work. We must give them no time to think, Conrad! Just whisper to Heinrich that it is our purpose to capture the Yankee in his bed. It will revive their waning spirits and act like wine upon their blood.”
A hoarse murmur of approval again arose from the hurrying throng as they learned the special object of their expedition. Then in absolute silence they stole beneath the trees of the park toward the castle.
“There,” said Carl Eingen, taking Conrad by the arm and pointing to a balcony that jutted out from one of the corner towers of the castle, “there is where the Yankee sleeps.”
“I think I see some one moving up there,” whispered Conrad excitedly. On the instant the figure of the dwarf, an uncanny shape seemingly begotten of the madness of their rebellious dreams, appeared upon the stone coping of the balcony.
“It’s Cousin Fritz,” exclaimed Conrad hoarsely. “Is he in your secret? See how he waves his cap.”
“Back, men!” cried Carl excitedly. “Get into the shadow of the trees. No, Conrad, that madcap dwarf is loyal to Rudolph, but he knows our plans. In trying to win his support I fear we have allowed him to learn too much of our design. He may be crazy, but he’s very clever. Confound such blundering! We should have captured Cousin Fritz and locked him up to-day. He knows every nook and corner of the castle, and is an ally worth a thousand men with guns. But come, let us move! We’ll find friends and counsellors across the park. Silence, there! Forward, men, and make no noise—on the peril of your lives.”