said, upon his way to the front, and
showed the letter to General Lechnitz. But he had never before been in
this part of the country and intended to see it, upon the way. It was an
interesting town, Bartfeld, a fine church too, St. Aegidius. Had his
host lived in Bartfeld a long time?

The man was a native, and very proud of his traditions, expanding
volubly in reply to Renwick's careless questions. His father and
grandfather had kept this very inn, and indeed for all he knew their
fathers' fathers. A quiet town, but interesting to those who were fond
of historical associations. Renwick listened patiently, slowly drawing
the man nearer to the subject that was uppermost in his mind. It was a
short distance to Dukla Pass, a very picturesque spot, he had been told,
one well worth a visit, was it not?

"Dukla Pass!" said the man. "A name well known in the annals of the
country in the days of John Sobieski, long before the railroad went
through beyond; a wonderful spot with cliffs and ravines. I have been
there often. In the season, before the war, one drove there--for the
view. Now alas! what with the Cossacks running over Galicia, the people
had more serious things to think about."

"It is easily reached?" asked Renwick.

"By the road beyond the town--a short cut--a climb over the mountains,
but not difficult at this time of the year."

"There is a village there?"

"A few farmhouses merely, in the valley along the streams. The glory of
the Dukla is its ruins."

"Ah, of course, there are feudal castles----"

"Javorina, Jaegerhorn, Szolnok----"

"Szolnok!" said Renwick with sudden interest. "I have heard that name
before----"

He paused in a puzzled way.

"It was the summer residence of Baron Neudeck----"

"Ah, then it is not a ruin?"

"Until three years ago he lived there--in the habitable part--when
something terrible happened. No one about here is sure--but the place
has an evil name."

"That is interesting. Why?"

"The facts have never been clearly explained. The story goes that Baron
Neudeck was in the midst of entertaining guests--a hunting party of
gentlemen; that there was a night of revelry and of drinking. One of the
servants, entering the dining-hall in the morning, found Baron Neudeck
lying dead upon the hearth with a bullet wound in his forehead. The
guests had disappeared--vanished as if the earth had swallowed them."

"And the police?"

"The police came and went. It was very strange. No