an exact
report of the enemy given him by the Kunau smith and others. Meantime
Anton had rushed to the underground kitchen, where he gave the
provisions in charge of the superintendent, and caused wood and water to
be carried in by the baron's servants. A sack of potatoes and one of
meal were placed near the hearth, and the great caldron put on the fire.

As he went out, he confided to the cook that a cow had been taken into
the stable, that, at all events, the family might not be without milk at
this doleful time. Old Barbette wrung her hands in anguish. "Alas! Mr.
Wohlfart, what a frightful thing it is!" cried she; "the balls will be
flying about in my kitchen."

"Heaven forbid!" said Anton; "the window is much too deep for that. No
one can reach you; cook away in peace; the people are famished; I will
send two of the stranger women down to help you."

"Who could eat in such danger as this?" cried she.

"We will all eat," said Anton, comfortingly.

"Will you have soup or potato-broth?" inquired Barbette, feverishly
brandishing her spoon in her despair.

"Both, my good woman."

The cook held him back. "But, Mr. Wohlfart, there are no eggs for the
family; indeed, there is not an egg in the whole house. Mercy on us! to
think of this misfortune happening to-day, of all days. What will the
baron say when he has no fresh egg this evening?"

"The devil take the eggs!" cried Anton, impatiently; "we must not be so
particular to-day."

As he returned, Fink called to him, "All is ready; we may now quietly
await their arrival. I am going to the tower, and taking a few good
shots with me. If any thing happens, I am to be found there."

And again the hall was empty and the house quiet. The sentinels stood
silently watching the edge of the forest; the rest of the men sat
talking in a low voice in the guard-room; but the noise was unceasing in
the apartment where the children were, and a constant communication was
kept up between the kitchen and the occupied rooms in the lower story.
Anton walked to and fro in restless suspense from the house to the
court, and back again to his own room, where he tied the baron's papers
together; then through the passages and to the guard-room. In this way
one quarter of an hour after another passed, till at length Lenore came
from her mother's room crying, "This uncertainty is intolerable!"

"And we have no tidings from the farm either," replied Anton, anxiously;
"but the rain is over,