"Great God!" gasped King. "It is frightful!"
"They began bombarding yesterday afternoon. We were asked to surrender at three o'clock. Our reply brought the shells, Mr. King. It was terrible."
"And the loss of life, Colonel?" demanded the other breathlessly.
"After the first two or three shells we found places of shelter for the Prince and his friends. They are in the stone tower beyond the Castle, overlooking what still remains of the ancient moat. Ah, there are no faltering hearts here, Mr. King. The most glorious courage instead. Count Vos Engo guards the Prince and the ladies of the household. Alas! it was hunger that we feared the most. To-day we should have resorted to horse's flesh. There was no other way. We knew that relief would come some day. John Tullis was there. We had faith in him and in you. And now it is to-day! This shall be our day, thank God! Nothing can stand before us!"
"Tullis is very anxious about his sister," ventured Truxton. Quinnox looked straight ahead, but smiled.
"She is the pluckiest of them all."
"Is she well?"
"Perhaps a trifle thin, sir, that is all. I dare say that is due to scarcity of nourishment, although the Prince and his closest associates were the last to feel deprivation."
"How does the Prince take all this, Colonel?"
"As any Prince of Graustark would, sir. There is no other way. It is in the blood."
"Poor little chap!"
"He will rejoice to know that you have found his lucky stone so effective. The Prince has never wavered in his loyalty to that pebble, sir."
Together they entered the Castle. Inside there were horrid signs of destruction, particularly off the balconies.
"No one occupies the upper part of the Castle now, sir."
Attendants sped to the tower, shouting the battle tidings. No compunction was felt in arousing the sleeping household. As a matter of fact, there was no protest from the eager ladies and gentlemen who hurried forth to hear the news.
The Prince came tumbling down the narrow iron stairs from his room above, shouting joyously to Truxton King. No man was ever so welcome. He was besieged with questions, handshakings and praises. Even the Duke of Perse, hobbling on crutches, had a kindly greeting for him. Tears streamed down the old man's cheeks when King told him of his daughter's safe arrival in the friendly camp.
Truxton picked the Prince up in his arms and held him close to his breast, patting his back all the while, his heart so full that he could not speak.
"I knowed you'd come back," Bobby kept crying in his ear. "Aunt Loraine said you wouldn't, but I said you would. I knowed it--I knowed it! And now you're going to be a baron, sure enough. Isn't he, Uncle Caspar?"