e tower, "Every thing now depends upon
you; as soon as you see the men who are pushing the wagon onward, fire!
wherever you can see a head, or even a leg, fire! Every one of them must
die!" The wagon came nearer. Fink raised his own rifle twice, took aim,
and twice laid it down. The wagon load was so high that it was
impossible to see those who propelled it. These were moments of painful
suspense on both sides; even the enemy's fire ceased; every eye was
fixed on the fearful vehicle which was to bring the bitter conflict to a
fatal close. At length the backs of the hindmost men at the pole came
into sight. Two flashes from Fink's rifle, two yells, the wagon stood
still; those who were pushing it crowded closer. Two dark bodies lay on
the ground. Fink loaded again, a wild smile playing round his lips. A
raging fire upon the tower was the answer given by the foe. One of the
men on the tower was shot in the breast; his gun fell down over the
wall; he sank at Fink's feet. Fink merely glanced at him, and rammed his
second bullet down. At that moment some figures rushed out of the
darkness to the wagon. A spirited shout was heard, and the machine was
once more set in motion. "Brave fellows!" muttered Fink; "they are
doomed to death." Other forms were now visible at the end of the pole.
Fink again took aim. Again a cry of anguish; but the wagon moved on. It
was not more than thirty yards from the door; the moment was indeed
critical. The shrill sound of the whistle was heard through the night;
from the windows of the upper story flew the fiery salvo, and from the
left side of the house rose a loud cry. The forester made a sally, a
crowd of dark figures rushed against the pent-house that stood nearest
to the corner of the castle; for a moment there was a scuffle, then some
shots fired, and the conquered foe fled from their shelter to the open
plain. For the third time the deadly double-barrel flashed from the
tower, and struck the pole of the wagon, and the men who were propelling
it, seized with a sudden panic, retreated from its cover into the
sheltering darkness. But this did not avail them. From the tower and the
windows of the upper story bullets pursued them, and more than one fell.
Behind them rose a cry of rage, and a dark line rapidly advanced to
receive the fugitives. A universal fire against the house began. Then
the enemy retreated rapidly as they had advanced, carrying the wounded
and the carts back with them. The fi