will make straight for the Tann, so that there may be two hunting

together in a day or so, Coblich."

"I understand, your highness," replied the minister. "With your

permission, I shall go at once and dispatch troops to search the

forest for Leopold. Captain Maenck will command them."

"Good, Coblich! Maenck is a most intelligent and loyal officer. We

must reward him well. A baronetcy, at least, if he handles this

matter well," said Peter. "It might not be a bad plan to hint at as

much to him, Coblich."

And so it happened that shortly thereafter Captain Ernst Maenck, in

command of a troop of the Royal Horse Guards of Lutha, set out

toward the Old Forest, which lies beyond the mountains that are

visible upon the other side of the plain stretching out before

Lustadt. At the same time other troopers rode in many directions

along the highways and byways of Lutha, tacking placards upon trees

and fence posts and beside the doors of every little rural post

office.

The placard told of the escape of the mad king, offering a large

reward for his safe return to Blentz.

It was the last paragraph especially which caused a young man, the

following day in the little hamlet of Tafelberg, to whistle as he

carefully read it over.

"I am glad that I am not the mad king of Lutha," he said as he paid

the storekeeper for the gasoline he had just purchased and stepped

into the gray roadster for whose greedy maw it was destined.

"Why, mein Herr?" asked the man.

"This notice practically gives immunity to whoever shoots down the

king," replied the traveler. "Worse still, it gives such an account

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