mpany me; but my
journey will not be without danger, to which I will not expose you, and
your father's house will still be your fittest residence. To escape
the hated betrothal to-morrow, you must feign illness. Every thing may
be gained by time, in the unhappy period in which we live. If God
preserves my life, you shall soon hear good tidings of me; and if I
die, let the thought that I fell in his holy cause be your
consolation." Dissolved in tears, she clung to his neck, and thus they
quitted the mill, on the outside of which a powerful roan-colour horse
was pawing the ground. "Farewell, and pray for me," cried Axel, with a
trembling voice, and he cut off with his sword one of her golden locks
from her head as a remembrance, clasped her once more in his arms,
leaped on to his charger, and galloped out of the valley.

Tugendreich returned to the room in which Talander still sat dreaming,
his venerable wrinkled countenance being gloomily illumined by the
lights which burned low in their sockets. His sleep became more and
more troubled, his breathing heavy, and his half-open eyes stared as if
glancing into a gloomy futurity. He now commenced talking in his
dreams. "Courage, my countrymen," he muttered, "though the number of
the enemy threaten to crush you; you fight for God's word, and liberty
of conscience. Behold on your banners the white messenger of heaven,
spreading his shining wings; behold he hovers over your ranks; he
announces victory. Now the cannon is thundering. Ah! blood, much
blood! What! my Saxons, fleeing? Yet no, their whole force is still
standing firm, a proud bulwark, bidding defiance to the waving masses
of the enemy. Brave Swedes, fight fiercely, and the aged monster[4]
slowly yields, grinding his teeth. Heavily the arm of requital lies on
him; the bleeding infant menaces him from amid the ruins of Magdeburg.
He yields, he flies, the day is won--triumph, triumph, the good cause
prevails." At these words the dreamer started up from his slumber, and
recovered slowly, while the pale Fraeulein contemplated him, trembling.

"This was a heavy sleep, child," said he, as he fetched a deep breath.
"It is fortunate that I awoke; it was too much for this old body of
mine. I may say that I know much, but the dark realm of spirits makes
one pay dear for the knowledge acquired there."

"What have you learnt by this frightful dream," asked Tugendreich, with
anxious curiosity.

"Nothing of that