The officers sitting on Barney alternately beat him
and questioned him, interspersing their interrogations
with lurid profanity.
“If you will get off of me,” at last shouted
the American, “I shall be glad to explain—and
apologize.”
They let him up, scowling ferociously. He had
promised to explain, but now that he was confronted
by the immediate necessity of an explanation that
would prove at all satisfactory as to how he happened
to be wandering around the rooftops of Burgova, he
discovered that his powers of invention were entirely
inadequate. The need for explaining, however,
was suddenly removed. A shadow fell upon them
from above, and as they glanced up Barney saw the
figure of an officer surrounded by several soldiers
looking down upon him.
“Ah, you have him!” cried the newcomer
in evident satisfaction. “It is well.
Hold him until we descend.”
A moment later he and his escort had dropped through
the broken skylight to the floor beside them.
“Who is the mad man?” cried the captain
who had broken Barney’s fall. “The
assassin! He tried to murder me.”
“I cannot doubt it,” replied the officer
who had just descended, “for the fellow is no
other than Stefan Drontoff, the famous Serbian spy!”
“Himmel!” ejaculated the officers in chorus.
“You have done a good days’ work, lieutenant.”
“The firing squad will do a better work in a
few minutes,” replied the lieutenant, with a
grim pointedness that took Barney’s breath away.
BEFORE THE FIRING SQUAD
They marched Barney before the staff where he urged
his American nationality, pointing to his credentials
and passes in support of his contention.
The general before whom he had been brought shrugged
his shoulders. “They are all Americans
as soon as they are caught,” he said; “but
why did you not claim to be Prince Peter of Blentz?
You have his passes as well. How can you expect
us to believe your story when you have in your possession
passes for different men?
“We have every respect for our friends the Americans.
I would even stretch a point rather than chance harming
an American; but you will admit that the evidence
is all against you. You were found in the very
building where Drontoff was known to stay while in
Burgova. The young woman whose mother keeps the
place directed our officer to your room, and you tried
to escape, which I do not think that an innocent American
would have done.
“However, as I have said, I will go to almost
any length rather than chance a mistake in the case
of one who from his appearance might pass more readily
for an American than a Serbian. I have sent for
Prince Peter of Blentz. If you can satisfactorily
explain to him how you chance to be in possession
of military passes bearing his name I shall be very
glad to give you the benefit of every other doubt.”
