bring in further tidings. This stillness is unnatural:
not a creature to be seen in the fields, not one on the roads. It seems
odd to me, too, that for the last two hours no refugees should have
arrived from the forest; and, besides, the very smoke of Neudorf has
disappeared."

Anton silently turned away. "Go, my son," said Fink; "take one of the
most trustworthy of our men with you; look how things are going on in
our village, and beware of the pine wood. Stay a moment; I will take one
other look through the telescope." He looked long, examined each tree,
and at last laid down the glass. "There is nothing to be seen," said he,
thoughtfully. "If the gentry we are expecting carried any thing besides
scythes, we should be compelled to believe there is some witchcraft at
work. But now all is uncertainty. Beware of the woods."

Anton left the tower, called the superintendent and two servants, had
the baron's horse and two of the swiftest farm-horses got ready, and the
gate opened by the Kunau smith. All was silent and peaceful. The fowls
that Karl had bought a few weeks before were scratching away on the
dunghill; the pigeons were cooing on the thatch; a little dog, belonging
to the smith, had constituted himself the guardian of the forsaken
buildings, and barked suspiciously at the riding party.

They trotted away through the village, and stopped at the tavern. The
bar was empty. Anton called for the landlord. After a while the man came
to the door, looking pale and frightened, and clasped his hands when he
saw Anton. "Just God! Mr. Wohlfart, to think of your still being in the
country! I believed that you and the family had fled to Rosmin or to the
heart of our troops long ago. Heavens! this is a misfortune! Bratzy has
been here, and has been stirring up the people against the family in the
castle, and against the Germans every where; but he could not bring them
to attack the castle; so the greatest part of the villagers have gone
off to the Poles at Tarow. Those that have remained behind have
concealed themselves; and here I am, burying what I may want to carry
off in a hurry."

"Where are the enemy now?" inquired Anton.

"I do not know," cried the landlord; "but I know that they are a great
host, and that they have with them lancers in uniform."

"Do you know whether the wood is safe toward Neudorf?"

"How can it be safe? No one has come from Neudorf here for several
hours. If the way were open, half the village