III. Amy's Adventure

by Louisa May Alcott

　　The excitement and suspense of the major and Amy can be imagined whennews of the accident reached them. Their gratitude and relief wereintense when Helen appeared next morning, with the faithful Hoffmanstill at his post, though no longer able to disguise the fact that hewas suffering from his wound.When the story had been told, Karl was put under the surgeon's care,and all remained at Heidelberg for several days to rest and recover.On the afternoon of the last day the major and young ladies drove offto the castle for a farewell view. Helen began to sketch the greatstone lion's head above the grand terrace, the major smoked andchatted with a party of English artists whom he had met, and Amy,with a little lad for a guide, explored the old castle to her heart'scontent.The sun set, and twilight began to fall when Helen put up her pencils,and the major set off to find Amy, who had been appearing anddisappearing in every nook and cranny of the half-ruined castle.Nowhere could he find her, and no voice answered when he called. Theother visitors were gone, and the place seemed deserted, except bythemselves and the old man who showed the ruins.Becoming alarmed lest the girl had fallen somewhere, or lost her wayamong the vaults where the famous Tun lies, the major called out oldHans with his lantern, and searched high and low.Amy's hat, full of flowers and ferns, was found in the Lady's Walk, asthe little terrace is called, but no other trace appeared, and Helenhurried to and fro in great distress, fearing all manner of dangers.Meanwhile Amy, having explored every other part of the castle, went totake another look at the Tun, the dwarf, and the vaults.Now little Anderl, her guide, had a great fear of ghosts, and legionswere said to haunt the ruins after nightfall, so when Amy rambled ondeeper and deeper into the gloom the boy's courage ebbed away withevery step; yet he was ashamed to own his fear, seeing that she hadnone.Amy wanted to see a certain cell, where a nun was said to have pinedto death because she would not listen to the Margraf's love. Thelegend pleased the romantic girl, and forgetful of waning daylight,gathering damps, and Anderl's reluctant service, she ran on, up stepsand down, delighted with little arched doors, rusty chains on thewalls, glimpses of sky through shattered roofs, and all manner ofmysterious nooks and corners. Coming at last to a narrow cell, with astone table, and heavy bolts on the old door, she felt sure this waspoor Elfrida's prison, and called Anderl to come on with his candle,for the boy had lighted one, for his own comfort rather than hers. Hercall was unanswered, and glancing back, she saw the candle placed onthe ground, but no Anderl."Little coward, he has run away," she said, laughing; and havingsatisfied her curiosity, turned to retrace her steps,--no easy task toone ignorant of the way, for vault after vault opened on both sides,and no path was discernible. In vain she tried to recall somelandmark, the gloom had deepened and nothing was clear. On shehurried, but found no opening, and really frightened, stopped at last,calling the boy in a voice that woke a hundred echoes. But Anderl hadfled home, thinking the lady would find her way back, and preferringto lose his kreutzers to seeing a ghost.Poor Amy's bewilderment and alarm increased with every moment's delay,and hoping to come out somewhere, she ran on till a misstep jostledthe candle from her hand and extinguished it.Left in the dark, her courage deserted her, and she screameddesperately, like a lost child, and was fast getting into a state offrantic terror, when the sound of an approaching step reassured her.Holding her breath, she heard a quick tread drawing nearer, as ifguided by her cries, and, straining her eyes, she caught the outlineof a man's figure in the gloom.A sensation of intense joy rushed over her, and she was about tospring forward, when she remembered that as she could speak no Germanhow could she explain her plight to the stranger, if he understoodneither French nor English?Fear took possession of her at the thought of meeting some roughpeasant, or some rollicking student, to whom she could make nointelligible appeal or explanation.Crouching close against the wall, she stood mute till the figure wasvery near. She was in the shadow of an angle, and the man paused, asif looking for the person who called for help."Who is lost here?" said a clear voice, in German.Amy shrunk closer to the wall, fearing to speak, for the voice wasthat of a young man, and a low laugh followed the words, as if thespeaker found the situation amusing."Mortal, ghost or devil, I'll find it," exclaimed the voice, andstepping forward, a hand groped for and found her."Lottchen, is it thou? Little rogue, thou shalt pay dearly for leadingme such a chase."As he spoke he drew the girl toward him, but with a faint cry, a vaineffort to escape, Amy's terror reached its climax, and spent withfatigue and excitement, she lost consciousness."Who the deuce is it, then? Lottchen never faints on a frolic. Somepoor little girl lost in earnest. I must get her out of this gloomyplace at once, and find her party afterward."Lifting the slight figure in his arms, the young man hurried on, andsoon came out through a shattered gateway into the shrubbery whichsurrounds the base of the castle.Laying her on the grass, he gently chafed her hands, eying the pale,pretty face meantime with the utmost solicitude.At his first glimpse of it he had started, smiled and made a gestureof pleasure and surprise, then gave himself entirely to the task ofrecovering the poor girl whom he had frightened out of her senses.Very soon she looked up with dizzy eyes, and clasping her handsimploringly, cried, in English, like a bewildered child,--"I am lost! Oh, take me to my uncle.""I will, the moment you can walk. Upon my soul, I meant to help youwhen I followed; but as you did not answer, I fancied it was Lottchen,the keeper's little girl. Pardon the fright I've caused you, and letme take you to your friends."The true English accent of the words, and the hearty tone of sincerityin the apology, reassured Amy at once, and, rising, she said, with afaint smile and a petulant tone,--"I was very silly, but my guide ran away, my candle went out, I lostthe path, and can speak no German; so I was afraid to answer you atfirst; and then I lost my wits altogether, for it's rather startlingto be clutched in the dark, sir.""Indeed it is. I was very thoughtless, but now let me atone forit. Where is your uncle, Miss Erskine?" asked the stranger, withrespectful earnestness."You know my name?" cried Amy in her impulsive way."I have that happiness," was the answer, with a smile."But I don't know you, sir;" and she peered at him, trying to seehis face in the darkness, for the copse was thick, and twilight hadcome on rapidly."Not yet; I live in hope. Shall we go? Your uncle will be uneasy.""Where are we?" asked Amy, glad to move on, for the interview wasbecoming too personal even for her, and the stranger's mannerfluttered her, though she enjoyed the romance of the adventureimmensely."We are in the park which surrounds the castle. You were near theentrance to it from the vaults when you fainted.""I wish I had kept on a little longer, and not disgraced myself bysuch a panic.""Nay, that is a cruel wish, for then I should have lost the happinessof helping you."They had been walking side by side, but were forced to pause onreaching a broken flight of steps, for Amy could not see the waybefore her."Let me lead you; it is steep and dark, but better than going a longway round through the dew," he said, offering his hand."Must we return by these dreadful vaults?" faltered Amy, shrinkingback."It is the shortest and safest route, I assure you.""Are you sure you know the way?""Quite sure. I have lived here by the week together. Do you fear totrust me?""No; but it is so dark, and everything is so strange to me. Can we getdown safely? I see nothing but a black pit."And Amy still hesitated, with an odd mixture of fear and coquetry."I brought you up in safety; shall I take you down again?" asked thestranger, with a smile flickering over his face.Amy felt rather than saw it, and assuming an air of dignifieddispleasure, motioned him to proceed, which he did for three steps;then Amy slipped, and gladly caught at the arm extended to save her.Without a word he took her hand and led her back through the labyrinthshe had threaded in her bewilderment. A dim light filled the place,but with unerring steps her guide went on till they emerged into thecourtyard.Major Erskine's voice was audible, giving directions to the keeper,and Helen's figure visible as she groped among the shadows of theruined chapel for her cousin."There are my friends. Now I am safe. Come and let them thank you,"cried Amy, in her frank, childlike warmth of manner."I want no thanks--forgive me--adieu," and hastily kissing the littlehand that had lain so confidingly in his, the stranger was gone.Amy rushed at once to Helen, and when the lost lamb had been welcomed,chidden, and exulted over, they drove home, listening to the verybrief account which Amy gave of her adventure."Naughty little gad-about, how could you go and terrify me so,wandering in vaults with mysterious strangers, like the Countess ofRudolstadt. You are as wet and dirty as if you had been digging awell, yet you look as if you liked it," said Helen, as she led Amyinto their room at the hotel."I do," was the decided answer, as the girl pulled a handkerchief offher head, and began to examine the corners of it. Suddenly she uttereda cry and flew to the light, exclaiming,--"Nell, Nell, look here! The same letters, 'S.P.,' the same coat ofarms, the same perfume--it was the baron!""What? who? are you out of your mind?" said Helen, examining thelarge, fine cambric handkerchief, with its delicately stamped initialsunder the stag's head, and three stars on a heart-shaped shield."Where did you get it?" she added, as she inhaled the soft odor ofviolets shaken from its folds.Amy blushed and answered shyly, "I didn't tell you all that happenedbefore uncle, but now I will. My hat was left behind, and when Irecovered my wits after my fright, I found this tied over my head. Oh,Nell, it was very charming there in that romantic old park, and goingthrough the vaults with him, and having my hand kissed at parting. Noone ever did that before, and I like it."Amy glanced at her hand as she spoke, and stood staring as if struckdumb, for there on her forefinger shone a ring she had never seenbefore."Look! look! mine is gone, and this in its place! Oh, Nell, what shallI do?" she said, looking half frightened, half pleased.Helen examined the ring and shook her head, for it was far morevaluable than the little pearl one which it replaced. Two tinyhands of finest gold were linked together about a diamond of greatbrilliancy; and on the inside appeared again the initials, "S.P.""How did it happen?" she asked, rather sternly."Upon my word, I don't know, unless he put it on while I was stupidlyfainting. Rude man, to take advantage of me so. But, Nell, it issplendid, and what shall I do about it?""Tell uncle, find out the man and send back his things. It really isabsurd, the manner in which German boys behave;" and Helen frowned,though she was strongly tempted to laugh at the whole thing."He was neither a German nor a boy, but an English gentleman, I'msure," began Amy, rather offended."But 'S.P.' is a baron, you know, unless there are two Richmonds inthe field," broke in Helen."I forgot that; never mind, it deepens the mystery; and after thisperformance, I'm prepared for any enormity. It's my fate; I submit."said Amy, tragically, as she waved her hand to and fro, pleased withthe flash of the ring."Amy, I think on the whole I won't speak to uncle. He is quick to takeoffence, especially where we are concerned. He doesn't understandforeign ways, and may get into trouble. We will manage it quietlyourselves.""How, Nell?""Karl is discreet; we will merely say we found these things and wishto discover the owner. He may know this 'S.P.' and, having learned hisaddress, we can send them back. The man will understand; and as weleave to-morrow, we shall be out of the way before he can play any newprank.""Have in Karl at once, for if I wear this lovely thing long I shallnot be able to let it go at all. How dared the creature take such aliberty!" and Amy pulled off the ring with an expression of greatscorn."Come into the salon and see what Karl says to the matter. Let mespeak, or you will say too much. One must be prudent before--"She was going to say "servants," but checked herself, and substituted"strangers," remembering gratefully how much she owed this man.Hoffman came, looking pale, and with his hand in a sling, but was asgravely devoted as ever, and listened to Helen's brief story withserious attention."I will inquire, mademoiselle, and let you know at once. It is easy tofind persons if one has a clue. May I see the handkerchief?"Helen showed it. He glanced at the initials, and laid it down with aslight smile."The coat-of-arms is English, mademoiselle.""Are you sure?""Quite so; I understand heraldry.""But the initials stand for Sigismund Palsdorf, and we know he is aGerman baron," broke in Amy, forgetting prudence in eagerness."If mademoiselle knows the name and title of this gentleman it willnot be hard to find him.""We only fancy it is the same because of the initials. I dare say itis a mistake, and the man is English. Inquire quietly, Hoffman, ifyou please, as this ring is of value, and I wish to restore it to itsowner," said Helen, rather sharply."I shall do so, mademoiselle," and with his gentlemanly bow, thecourier left the room."Bless me, what's that?" cried Amy, a moment afterward, as a ringinglaugh echoed through the corridor,--a laugh so full of hearty andinfectious merriment that both girls smiled involuntarily, and Amypeeped out to see who the blithe personage might be.An old gentleman was entering his room near by, and Karl was justabout to descend the stairs. Both looked back at the girlish facepeeping at them, but both were quite grave, and the peal of laughterremained a mystery, like all the rest of it.Late in the evening Hoffman returned to report that a party of youngEnglishmen had visited the castle that afternoon, and had left bythe evening train. One of them had been named Samuel Peters, and he,doubtless, was the owner of the ring.A humorous expression lurked in the couriers eye as he made hisreport, and heard Amy exclaim, in a tone of disgust and comicaldespair,--"Samuel Peters! That spoils all the romance and dims the beauty of thediamond. To think that a Peters should be the hero to whom I owe mysafety, and a Samuel should leave me this token of regard!""Hush, Amy," whispered Helen. "Thanks, Hoffman; we must wait now forchance to help us."