ntinued Fink,
"I pray you to think of your own safety."

"I am safest here," replied Lenore, firmly, letting her gun drop on the
flags. "You will not require me to hide my head in the sofa-cushions
when you are about to risk your life."

Fink looked with intense admiration at her beautiful face, and said, "I
have no objection to make. If you are resolved to take up your station
on this platform, you are as safe as any where in the castle."

"I will be cautious," replied Lenore, waving him off.

"And you, my boys," said Fink, "hide behind the walls; take care not to
let a shoulder or the top of your cap be seen, and do not fire before I
sound an alarm with this. You will hear it plainly up here." He took out
a broad whistle of foreign aspect. "Good-by till we meet again," said
he, looking at Lenore with a beaming glance.

"Till we meet again," answered Lenore, raising her arm and looking after
him till the door closed behind him.

Fink found the baron in the hall. The poor nobleman was reduced to a
most pitiable state of mind by the excitement of the day and the sense
of his own uselessness at a time when he felt action the rightful
privilege of his station. In his earlier years he had ever met personal
danger in the most intrepid manner. How much his strength was broken
now plainly appeared in his unsuccessful attempts to maintain his
self-control. His hands were restlessly outstretched as though seeking
some weapon, and painful groans forced themselves through his lips.

"My kind host and friend," said Fink, addressing him, "as your
indisposition makes it inconvenient to you to deal with these strangers,
I crave permission to do so in your stead."

"You have <i>carte blanche</i>, dear Fink," replied the baron, in a hoarse
voice; "in fact, the state of my eyes is not such as to allow me to hope
that I can be of any use. A miserable cripple!" cried he, and covered
his face with his hands.

Fink turned away with his usual shrug, opened a slide in the oaken door
which had been intended to lead to the unfinished terrace, and looked
out.

"Permit me," said Anton to the baron, "to lead you to a place where you
may not be unnecessarily exposed to the balls."

"Do not trouble yourself about me, young man," said the baron; "I am of
less consequence to-day than the poorest day-laborer who has taken up
arms for my sake."

"Have you any thing more to say to me?" asked Anton of Fink, as he took
up his gun.

"Nothing