But Zarka would not listen.
“Take that sword and fight me, Lieutenant, or I swear I’ll run you through.”
“Have you not given proof enough of your cowardice?” returned Von Tressen, folding his arms.
Zarka sprang forward and slashed at him furiously with his sword. Von Tressen caught the blow on his arm, and tried to grapple with him, but Zarka was too alert, and stepping quickly back, kept him off at the sword’s point.
“Take your sword!” he cried, “or I’ll kill you!”
The situation was serious, for the man was mad with fury. Galabin reached for the sword and put it into Von Tressen’s hand—with the warning—“Take care of yourself!”
He had hardly caught hold of it when Zarka set upon him furiously. Von Tressen had no time to get on his guard or even to grasp the weapon properly, and in an instant a pass from Zarka had sent it from his hand. With a cry of triumphant execration Zarka went forward to lunge at him; Philippa and Galabin both by a common impulse rushed towards them, but at the same moment Prince Roel caught up a massive silver candlestick from a stand by the wall, and flung it with all his might at Zarka. It struck him full in the face, and hurled him senseless to the floor.
CHAPTER XXVIII
HOW PRINCE ROEL GOT FREE
Little doubt remaining in the minds of the three men as to the identity of the masked prisoner, it had been agreed that a determined attempt to release him should be made that night. Accordingly, in pursuance of a carefully devised plan, they set out together after dark, and making their way to Rozsnyo climbed the wall, and crawled along the roof until they reached the barred skylight. As they approached they saw that the light, without which their plan would have been frustrated, was there, and when they came to the grating and looked down, the figure of the masked man was sitting at the table reading. So absorbed did he seem in his book that for some time a tapping on the glass failed to rouse his attention. At length, however, he looked up with a start, listened eagerly, they could tell that, but whether in fear or joy the hideous mask effectually concealed. Without delay the three above began to unscrew the bolts of the bars with tools they had brought with them. This was effected without difficulty, and three of the bars displaced. The more serious obstacle now was the glass; the only way to remove this was by breaking it. This was a business which required great care, and took what, to their impatience, seemed a long time, but at length a large piece was broken out, leaving an aperture large enough for the passage of a man.
With the removal of the glass it was at last possible to hold communication with the prisoner.