The Keepers of the People

CHAPTER XIV

THE RUSSIAN REMNANT

1391Ruth and Althea had watched breathlessly the fight, Ruth trembling, Althea with little fierce laughs; they had heard and seen dimly the charge of the Varandal horse; they had seen more dimly the wedged crowd just before them; and after it had been swept out of sight round the spur, and Althea had heard Prince Ralph’s recalling horn, they came to the Golden Rooms waiting in an anxious suspense for news of him. When the silence was broken again by the crash of the guns shelling the gorge, Althea started up and began pacing the room, Ruth let herself fall at full length on the couch, and flung an arm over her twitching face. The guns were silent after a while, and they had not long hushed, when there came a cheering from the ramparts, and the rattle of hoofs in the courtyard.

1392“Prince Ralph himself!” cried Althea, and a great gasping sob broke from Ruth.

1393As they came down the staircase, he entered the hall, his mute servants dancing round him, for all the world like fawning dogs, in an extravagant joy. His head was bare; his helmet had been dashed from it; his torn cloak hung in ribands; he was powdered with dust, and splashed with blood from head to foot; his sword and sword-arm to the shoulder were scarlet, and the fire of the fight played about his lips, and danced in his eyes. He smiled to the joyful Althea; and his dancing eyes sought Ruth, who stood staring at him in an amazement at this outburst in him of fierce, splendid life; and as they flamed into her own they seemed to fire the very soul within her.

1394“I am famished!” he cried. “Famished! I have not eaten since breakfast; and I have been in a reek of blood which has whetted my hunger till it cuts me!”

1395They came with him into his room, and he sat down, all battle-stained and bloody as he was, to the supper that was ready for him. Althea and Ruth would let no one wait on him but themselves; and as he ate, he told them, in fierce, short bursts of words, of the fighting in the crowd. When he had made an end of eating, he went to his bath, and came back presently cool and serene. He stretched himself on a divan, and after a few puffs at a narghile, fell into a heavy sleep. The two of them raised him a little to slip cushions under him that he might lie easy, without awaking him.