ne, and the barren
island proved deserted and forbidding, as the crew tied up the barge
alongside. Most of the lights in Lorch had gone out, and the town lay in
the silence of pallid moonbeams like a city of the dead. Roland stood on
deck with Greusel and Ebearhard by his side, the latter relating the
difficulties of the evening. There had been singing in the cabin during
the passage across, then came a lull in the roar from below, followed by
a shout that betokened danger. An instant later the crowd came boiling
up the short stair to the deck, Kurzbold in command, all swords drawn,
and glistening in the moonlight.

"You scoundrel!" he cried to Roland, "those lockers are full of empty
bags."

"I know that," replied Roland, quietly. "The money is in safe keeping,
and will be honestly divided at the conclusion of this expedition."

"You thief! You robber!" shouted Kurzbold, flourishing his weapon.

"Quite accurate," replied Roland, unperturbed. "I was once called a
Prince of Thieves when I did not deserve the title. Now I have earned
it."

"You have earned the penalty of thieving, and we propose to throw you
into the Rhine."

"Not, I trust, before you learn where the money is deposited."

Drunk as they were, this consideration staggered them, but Kurzbold was
mad with rage and wine.

"Come on, you poltroons!" he shouted. "There are only three of them."

"Draw your swords, gentlemen," whispered Roland, flashing his own blade
in the moonlight.

Greusel and Ebearhard obeyed his command.

XII

THE LAUGHING RED MARGRAVE OF FURSTENBERG

Ebearhard laughed, and took two steps forward. Whenever affairs became
serious, one could always depend on a laugh from Ebearhard.

"Excuse me, Commander," he said, "but you placed Greusel and me in
charge of this pious and sober party; therefore I, being the least of
your officers, must stand the first brunt of our failure to keep these
lambs peaceable for the night. Greusel, stand behind me, and in front of
the Commander. I, being reasonably sober, believe I can cut down six of
the innocents before they finish with me. You will attend to the next
six, leaving exactly half a dozen for Roland to eliminate in his own
fashion. Now, Herr Conrad Kurzbold, come on."

"We have no quarrel with you," said Kurzbold. "Stand aside."

"But I force a quarrel upon you, undisciplined pig. Defend yourself,
for, by the Three Kings, I am going to tap your walking wine-barrel!"

Kurzb