among the six men
who were to remain without, to prevent any of the inmates leaving
the chateau. With the rest, he made a sudden attack on the great
door of the house, and beat it down with a heavy sledge hammer.
Just as it gave way, some shots were fired from the inside, but
they rushed in, overpowered the servants, and were soon masters of
the place.

In half an hour they came out again, laden with booty. Each man
carried half a dozen bottles of choice wine, from the count's
cellar, slung at his belt. On their shoulders they carried bundles
containing silver cups and other valuables; while six of them had
bags of silver money, that had been extracted from the count by
threats of setting fire to the chateau, and burning him and his
family.

A halt was made two or three miles away, when the silver was
divided into shares as usual, the men being well satisfied when
they learned that Charlie and his companion claimed no part of it.
Some of the provisions they had also taken were eaten. Each man had
a flask of wine, with which the count's health was derisively
drunk.

"This has been a good night's work," the leader said, "and you have
each sixty rix dollars in your pockets, which is more than you have
had for months past. That will keep us in provisions and spirits
all through the winter; but mind, although we took it without much
trouble, we have not heard the last of the business. No doubt, by
this time, the count has sent off a messenger to the nearest town
where there are troops, and, for a day or two, we shall have to
march fast and far. It is one thing to plunder villages, and
another to meddle with a rich nobleman."

For the next forty-eight hours they marched by night instead of by
day, keeping always together, and prepared to resist an attack. One
morning they saw, from their hiding place among some high reeds
near the river, a body of about sixty horsemen ride past at a
distance. They were evidently searching for something, for parties
could be seen to break off several times, and to enter woods and
copses, the rest halting till they came out again.

As the band had with them enough food for another three days, they
remained for thirty-six hours in their hiding place, and then,
thinking the search would by that time be discontinued, went on
again. The next day they killed two or three goats from a herd, the
boy in charge of them making off with such speed that, though hotly
pursued and fired at several