said the Duke, thoughtfully, "I dare not presume, now that
I am an outcast, to think of a King springing from my race. Is it not
possible that Satan may tempt us with such dreams, for the purpose of
deceiving us afterwards more cruelly?"

"But why have doubts of futurity?" said Schweinsberg, smiling. "Could
any one of your noble ancestors have thought their family would have
become Dukes of the country, and their beautiful land have borne the
name of Wuertemberg? Let your dream console you, which has been given as
a hint of the destiny awaiting your family. Believe that your name is
destined to nourish in distant, very distant times, in the land of your
forefathers, and that in remote ages the Princes of Wuertemberg will
bear the features of your generation."

"Well, then, I will hope so," replied Ulerich von Wuertemberg; "I will
continue to hope, that the country will still hold to us, dark as our
present lot may appear. May our grand-children never experience such
hard times as we have, and may it ever be said they are--fearless."

"And faithful!" added the fifer of Hardt, with emphasis, as he rose
from his seat. "But it is high time, my Lord Duke, to set out. The dawn
of morn is not far distant; we must pass the Neckar at all hazards
before daylight."

They all rose, and buckled on their arms. The horses being brought
forward, they mounted, and the fifer of Hardt went on before to lead
the way out of the place of concealment. The escape of the Duke was
attended with considerable danger, for the enemy sought all possible
means to take him prisoner. To gain the road by which he might elude
the vigilance of his enemies, it was absolutely necessary to repass the
Neckar; and to accomplish this in safety was no easy matter. Heavy
rains had swollen the river to such a degree, that it appeared next to
impossible to pass it on horseback by swimming. The bridges, for the
most part, were occupied by the troops of the League. But Hans had
taken the precaution to ascertain by the aid of faithful friends, that
the bridge of Koengen was still open, having been given to understand
that the enemy had thought it needless to guard it, as, being so near
Esslingen and their own camp, they never dreamt the Duke would venture
to come that way. This path, therefore, Ulerich chose as the safest,
though it still appeared attended with great danger, and the party set
out towards the Neckar in deep silence, and with caution.

When they rea