w himself on his horse. We crowded about
him, but no one was bold enough to touch his person, for we were
staggered by his commanding look. 'What is it you want, you scum of the
earth?' he cried, and giving his horse the spur, made him bound in the
air, by which three men were knocked down. This awakened our fury; the
people laid hold of the horse's reins, they thrusted at him with their
spears, and I so far forgot myself as to seize him by the mantle,
crying, 'Shoot the villain dead!'"

"Was that you, Hans?" cried Albert, and eyed him with a look of horror.

"That was I," he uttered slowly and in a subdued tone, evidently
suffering from the recollection of the deed. "But the Duke escaped from
us, and assembled a force which we were not able to contend with, and
we surrendered unconditionally. Twelve leaders of the insurrection were
conducted to Schorndorf, tried and condemned; I was one of them. When I
was in prison, with leisure to think of the wrong I had done, and
contemplate the approach of death, I shuddered at myself, and was
ashamed of being associated with such miserable fellows as the other
eleven were."

"But how were you saved?" asked Albert.

"In the way I have already related to you in Ulm; by a miracle. We
twelve were conducted to the market-place, for the purpose of being
beheaded. The Duke was seated in front of the town-hall, and ordered us
to be brought before him again. My eleven companions threw themselves
on their knees, causing the noise of their chains to resound through
the air, crying for mercy in pitiable tones. He fixed his eyes upon
them for some time, and then, observing that I alone remained silent,
said, 'Why do not you beg for pardon also?' 'My Lord,' I answered, 'I
know what I deserve: may God hare mercy on my soul!' Without saying a
word, he looked at us some time longer, and then made a sign to the
executioner. We were brought up to the scaffold according to our ages;
and I being the youngest, was the last. I remember little more of that
terrible moment; but I shall never forget the frightful sound of the
axe when it severed the heads from the bodies of the culprits."

"For God's sake, say no more on the subject!" Albert requested; "but
pass on to the rest of the story."

"Nine heads were stuck upon the points of spears, when the Duke cried,
'Ten shall bleed, but two shall be pardoned. Let dice be brought: he
who throws the lowest number in three throws, loses his head.' The
di