Free Sergeant Verity and the Blood Royal by Francis Selwyn Page B

bottom of the sloping cord, where he paused. There was a gasp from the crowd as Blondin's feet flew upward from the rope, and he turned a vigorous somersault, regaining his balance easily. In the stillness, Verity could hear the voice of the young Prince, tormented by the peril in which the man had put himself, whispering, 'No! No! For God's sake don't do it again!' But Blondin now turned sideways on the rope and began to cartwheel leisurely in a star-pattern of extended arms and legs. There was no sound of applause or appreciation from the crowd, only a deep and ghastly silence. Verity had no idea of how long the performance lasted, but at length Blondin moved forward, leaning towards the Canadian bank as he climbed the upward slope of the cord, just as he had held his body backward when descending the slope on the American side. In a moment more, he had set foot firmly on the Canadian cliff. There was an instant of indecision, followed by a patter of stunned applause. The royal party exhaled audible sighs of relief.
    Presently, Verity was aware that the acrobat was being brought on to the bridge to be introduced to the Prince. The young visitor had recovered from his nervousness, though perhaps his ready laughter was now a sign of the shock he had felt. Blondin, light-footed and deferential, approached and bowed deeply. The young Prince congratulated him and then, with a lightness which robbed his words of their effect, said, 'For God's sake, let that be the end of the performance.'
    Blondin spoke softly and rapidly. His words were inaudible to Verity but the effect on the Prince was unmistakable. His eyes brightened as though at a challenge. Blondin meanwhile began to make the motions of a man pushing something with his hands and gestured toward one end of the bridge, where a wooden wheelbarrow stood beside his few items of equipment. Then the young Prince laughed again.
    'Very well!' he said with amiable aggressiveness. 'If you're game, then so am I!' He took a step forward, as if to accompany the acrobat.
    Verity watched with growing unease. But already a glance had passed between the grave, bearded figure of Newcastle and Major-General Bruce with his fine white moustaches. They advanced on their young lord and spoke with quiet vigour. The Prince's amiability faded into sullen resignation. Blondin waved an arm as though inviting someone else of the party to be his passenger. The Prince's companions now looked stonily at the tightrope artist who had made so indecorous a proposal. Then one of the smartly uniformed staff officers turned suddenly and looked at Verity.
    'By Jove!' he said brightly. 'But ain't we got a man here for it? The hero who saved the Hero, eh? What ? The Alma and Inkerman, eh? Beat the Russians? Rescued pretty little chits from the Sepoy mutineers, what? Nothing to him to cross a rope in a barrow! Ha ?'
    Verity stood horrified at the proposal. Now they were all looking at him, the royal party in amusement, and Blondin with calm optimism. He thought of Bella and the children. It was mad, absurd. He could refuse to associate himself with such folly and no one in the world would blame him. But though they would never speak the thought, they would wonder if, after all, he had been afraid.
    'I ain't afraid to go, sir!' he said, his plump cheeks flushing and his legs trembling. The others continued to look with amusement but the young man, for whom he cared more than for all the rest of them, turned his eyes on Verity and spoke softly.
'Good for you!' he said admiringly. 'Good for you!'
    The acrobat laid a hand lightly on the shoulder of the plump sergeant and urged him gently towards the wooden barrow. It was just big enough for him to sit in with his knees hugged up to his chest and his feet inside. Blondin moved him easily and Verity was abruptly aware that the solidity beneath the wheel had gone. The entire barrow seemed to be swaying wildly and perilously. They were on the rope.
    He must not look down.