Produced by Lee Dawei, David Moynihan, Michelle Shephard, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team THE STRONG ARM By Robert Barr CONTENTS Chapter I. THE BEAUTIFUL JAILER OF GUDENFELS II. THE REVENGE OF THE OUTLAW III. A CITY OF FEAR IV. THE PERIL OF THE EMPEROR V. THE NEEDLE DAGGER VI. THE HOLY FEHM THE COUNT’S APOLOGY CONVERTED AN INVITATION THE ARCHBISHOP’S GIFT COUNT KONRAD’S COURTSHIP THE LONG LADDER “GENTLEMEN: THE KING!” THE HOUR-GLASS THE WARRIOR MAID OF SAN CARLOS THE AMBASSADOR’S PIGEONS CHAPTER I THE BEAUTIFUL JAILER OF GUDENFELS The aged Emir Soldan sat in his tent and smiled; the crafty Oriental smile of an experienced man, deeply grounded in the wisdom of this world. He knew that there was incipient rebellion in his camp; that the young commanders under him thought their leader was becoming too old for the fray; caution overmastering courage. Here were these dogs of unbelievers setting their unhallowed feet on the sacred soil of Syria, and the Emir, instead of dashing against them, counselled coolness and prudence. Therefore impatience disintegrated the camp and resentment threatened discipline. When at last the murmurs could be no longer ignored the Emir gathered his impetuous young men together in his tent, and thus addressed them. “It may well be that I am growing too old for the active field; it may be that, having met before this German boar who leads his herd of swine, I am fearful of risking my remnant of life against him, but I have ever been an indulgent general, and am now loath to let my inaction stand against your chance of distinction. Go you therefore forth against him, and the man who brings me this boar’s head shall not lack his reward.” The young men loudly cheered this decision and brandished their weapons aloft, while the old man smiled upon them and added: “When you are bringing confusion to the camp of the unbelievers, I shall remain in my tent and meditate on the sayings of the Prophet, praying him to keep you a good spear’s length from the German’s broad sword, which he is the habit of wielding with his two hands.”