"You are a very brave young lady," he said earnestly. "If all the

mad king's subjects were as loyal as you, and as brave, he would not

have languished for ten years behind the walls of Blentz."

"I am a Von der Tann," she said proudly, as though that was

explanation sufficient to account for any bravery or loyalty.

"Even a Von der Tann might, without dishonor, hesitate to accompany

a mad man through the woods," he replied, "especially if she

happened to be a very--a very--" He halted, flushing.

"A very what, your majesty?" asked the girl.

"A very young woman," he ended lamely.

Emma von der Tann knew that he had not intended saying that at all.

Being a woman, she knew precisely what he had meant to say, and she

discovered that she would very much have liked to hear him say it.

"Suppose," said Barney, "that Peter's soldiers run across us--what

then?"

"They will take you back to Blentz, your majesty."

"And you?"

"I do not think that they will dare lay hands on me, though it is

possible that Peter might do so. He hates my father even more now

than he did when the old king lived."

"I wish," said Mr. Custer, "that I had gone down after my guns. Why

didn't you tell me, in the first place, that I was a king, and that

I might get you in trouble if you were found with me? Why, they may

even take me for an emperor or a mikado--who knows? And then look at

all the trouble we'd be in."

Which was Barney's way of humoring a maniac.

"And they might even shave off your beautiful beard."

Which was the girl's way.

"Do you think that you would like me better in the green wastebasket

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