used the
plume to kiss the flagstones at his feet, and he bowed low to the brave
girl who had shown no fear of him.

XVI

MY LADY SCATTERS THE FREEBOOTERS AND CAPTURES THEIR CHIEF

Greusel appeared on one of the balconies, and called down to his leader.

"There are," he said, "a number of women in the western rooms of the
Castle. They have bolted their doors, but tell me that the rooms contain
the Pfalzgravine von Stahleck and other noble ladies, with their
tirewomen. What am I to do?"

"Place a guard in the corridor, Greusel, to make sure that these ladies
communicate with no one outside the fortress."

"I thought it well," explained Greusel, "not to break in the doors
without definite instructions from you to that effect."

"Quite right. Tell the ladies we will not molest them."

"You molested me!" cried the handsome girl in the courtyard, her dark
eyes flashing in the glow of the torches.

"This person," said the unemotional Greusel, betraying no eye for
beauty, "called us every uncomplimentary name she could think of. We
were the scum of the earth, according to her account."

The girl laughed scornfully.

"But I would not have dislodged her," continued Greusel, unperturbed,
"had she not said there was a window in her room, which is on the
eastern side of the Castle, overlooking the operations of the Pfalzgraf
on the barge, and she proclaimed her determination to warn Stahleck that
his Castle was filled with freebooters, as soon as she could make her
voice heard above the din at the landing. Therefore I broke in the door,
ordering her and the tirewomen to descend to the courtyard. On examining
her room I find there is no such window as she described, and she could
not communicate with the Count, so I advise that you send her back
again."

Once more the young lady laughed, and exclaimed:

"I could not break down the door for myself, so compelled you and your
clods to do it. I am immured here; a reluctant captive. You will not
have me sent back to my cell, I hope, Commander?"

"No; if you are really my fellow-prisoner, and not one of the enemy."

"She may be deluding you also," warned Greusel.

"I will take the risk of that," replied Roland, smiling at the girl, who
smiled back at him. She had a will of her own, but seemed sensitively
responsive to fair treatment.

"Are there any men-servants?" asked Roland.

"Only three, and they are tottering with age," replied Greusel, "more
frightened