er their breath, passed on word to the men. Roland
ran nimbly up the ladder. No guard was set where none had ever been
needed before. Greusel was the last to ascend, then the ladder was
pulled up, and the massive door swung shut, bolted and chained.

The invaders found torches stuck here and there along the wall, and the
picturesque courtyard, with its irregular balconies and stairways,
seemed, in the flickering light, more spacious than was actually the
case.

Although for the moment in safety, Roland experienced a sense of
imprisonment as he gazed round the narrow limits of this enclosure. He
had endeavored to count the number of men who followed the Pfalzgraf,
but their impetuosity in seeking the barge prevented an accurate
estimate, although he knew there were more than double the force that
obeyed him, and therefore it would be suicidal to lead his untrained
coterie against the seasoned warriors of Stahleck.

He ordered Greusel to take with him six men, and search the Castle,
bringing into the courtyard whomsoever they might find; also to discover
whether any window existed that looked out upon the eastern
landing-place. The remainder of his men he grouped at the door, under
command of Ebearhard.

"I fear, Ebearhard," he said, "that I boasted prematurely in thinking
good luck would attend me now that I lead what appears to be an obedient
following. Here we are in a trap, and unless we can escape through
rat-holes, I admit that I fail to see for the moment how we are to get
safely afloat again."

"We are in better fettle than the Pfalzgraf and his men outside,"
returned Ebearhard, "because this fortress is doubtless well supplied
with provisions, and is considered impregnable, while the Pfalzgraf's
impetuous chaps, who did not know enough to stay in comfortable quarters
when they had them, are without shelter and without food. You have
certainly done the best you could in the circumstances, and for those
circumstances you are free of blame, since, not being a wizard, you
could scarcely know of the chain."

"Indeed, Ebearhard, it is just in that respect I blame myself,
neglecting your own good example, who discovered the chain at
Furstenberg. This trap is a new invention, and, so far as I know, has
never before been attempted on the Rhine. I might have remembered that
Stahleck here is cousin to the Red Margrave, who likely has told him of
the device. Indeed, the chances are that Stahleck himself was the
contr