A Silver Brand — page 253: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

* : A SILVER BRAND, | 245 dagger in hand, confronted the poor old man, shouting at the top of his voice: | “Lead the way! Open the door of the secret passage, or you have sealed those obstinate lips of yours forever.” _ Wirt Womberg met the fierce assault unflinchingly. ‘““Iean die, but I will not-break my oath, nor fail of my loyal duty to a Schwarzenberg,” he answered, proudly. “Curses upon you!” muttered the prince, glancing along the row of watchful, attentive, and startled faces, to read if he might venture upon the dastardly blow. His arm fell slowly, while an evil sneer curled his lips: ‘‘Qne can afford to wait,” he muttered: “a punishment ee 1s studied out carefully falls heavier than the stoutest ow. | “But it is only the curses of Heaven that true men need to fear,” retorted Wirt Womberg, fearlessly. At this moment Hernberg laid his hand on the shoulder of the prince, and the latter withdrew a few steps with him, while the man whispered: _ , “Tf your highness will try stratagem, and allow me to manage it, ten to one but we will find that secret passage inan hour. Leave the man alone here, and he will try to escape by it.” It was difficult for that fiery, undisciplined nature to forego his wrath evenin dissembling, but after an in- stant’s reflection he’answered : ‘Be it so. J leave you to manage it. But mind you I shall not tolerate-failure.” “Tf your highness will order a watch set so that there can be no possible egress from the building outside,” con- tinued Hernberg, in the same whispered tones. “Won Schubert, come hither,” commanded the prince, stalking away out of the gallery. And one by one the crowd of startled lookers-on fol- lowed suit, until old Wirt stood alone with his two captors. They remained beside him, casting expectant, uneasy glances toward the door, where presently Hernberg ap- peared, and spoke hastily : “Come on; leave him there, and one of you guard the door. I want the other. We are pretty sure we have found the clew below.” The men obeyed promptly. One came out, closing the door behind him, but taking care not to latch it. The other, in answer to Hernberg’s gesture, walked away down stairs, his steps echoing behind him noisily, ; Gcomicbooks:- cor