here
behind a pillar, could see eyes glowing with excitement, and a head bent
to observe the foe. True, none of the men there assembled were used to
this bloody work; they had been gathered from the plow, the workshop,
from every species of peaceful industry; and painful excitement,
feverish suspense, protracted during the whole day, was visible in the
aspect of the strongest among them.

Yet Anton remarked with a gloomy satisfaction how calm he himself was,
and how brave the men in general. They were busy, they were at work,
and, even in the midst of their deadly occupation, the strength and
energy were evident which all active labor gives to man. After the first
shots, those on the front side loaded as composedly as though they were
at their every-day toil. The face of the farm-servant hardly looked more
anxious than when he walked between his oxen in the field, and the
skillful tailor handled his gun with as much indifference as he would
his smoothing-iron. It was only the reserve guard who were restless; not
from fear, but from dissatisfaction with their own inactivity. At times
a bold fellow would steal into the house, behind Anton's back, in order
to have a chance of firing off his gun in front, and Anton was obliged
to place the superintendent at the court-door to prevent this courageous
way of desertion.

"Only once, Mr. Wohlfart; do let me have one shot at them!" urgently
pleaded a young fellow from Neudorf.

"Wait," replied Anton, loading; "your turn will come; in an hour you
will relieve the others here."

Meanwhile the stars rose higher, and the shots became fewer as both
parties grew weary.

"Our people are the strongest," said Anton to his friend; "the men in
the court are not to be kept back any longer."

"It is all little better than shooting in the dark," replied Fink;
"true, they make it matter of conscience to take good aim, but it is
generally a mere accident if their balls take effect. Nothing has
happened to our side but a few slight wounds, and I believe those
without have not suffered more."

The rolling of wheels was now heard. "Listen! they are drawing back
their war-chariots." The firing ceased, and the whole line disappeared
in the darkness. "Leave off," continued Fink; "and, Anton, if you have
any thing to drink, give it, for these have shown themselves brave men.
Then let us quietly await the renewal of the siege."

Anton accordingly had some refreshments distributed to the men, a