TO THE RESCUE
But the late prisoner did not speak at once, though his captor stood back as though to permit him to explain himself. He was still bound and gagged. Discovering which, Max in a very philosophical and leisurely manner assisted him to relieve himself of a rolled kerchief which had been placed in his mouth.
Even then his throat refused its office till Werner von Orseln handed him a great cup of wine from which he drank deeply.
"Speak!" said Joan. "What disaster has brought you here? Is Kernsberg taken?"
"The Eagle's Nest is harried, my lady, but that is not what hath brought me hither!"
"Have they found out this my—prison? Are they coming to capture me?"
"Neither," returned Alt Pikker. "Maurice von Lynar is in the hands of his cruel enemies, and on the day after to-morrow, at sunrise, he is to be torn to pieces by wild horses."
"Why?" "Wherefore?" "In what place?" "Who would dare?" came from all about the table; but the mother of the young man sat silent as if she had not heard.
"To save Kernsberg from sack by the Muscovites, Maurice von Lynar went to Courtland in the guise of the Lady Joan. At the fords of the Alla we delivered him up!"
"You delivered him up?" cried Theresa suddenly. "Then you shall die! Max Ulrich, your knife!"