neared the house. The fire of the
besiegers began once more, in order to impede the quenching of the
flames. Water was brought from the great butt in the yard, and poured on
the burning window-frames--a dangerous task enough; for the front of the
house was lighted up, and the ever-advancing skirmishers aimed at every
figure as it became visible. The besieged glanced anxiously at the
flames, and returned the fire of their opponents unsteadily. Even the
sentinels in the court looked more behind than before them. The
disorder became general. The moment of greatest danger had come. All
seemed lost.

Next a man called down from the tower, "They are bringing short ladders
from the village; we can see the axes in their hands."

"They will get over the palings, and break in the windows of the lower
story," cried the men to each other, in utmost alarm.

The forester rushed to the court. Fink carried off a few men with him to
the side of the house on which the men with ladders were advancing. All
were in confusion. Even Fink's threatening voice no longer took effect
upon them.

At that moment some men, with bars of iron in their hands, were seen
hurrying in from the court-yard to the hall door. "Make way!" cried a
stalwart figure; "this is blacksmith's work!" The man pushed back the
bolts of the door. The opening was filled by the burning wagon. Spite of
smoke and flames, the smith leaped upon its burning frame. "Help me, you
hares!" screamed he, in angry tones.

"He is right," cried Anton. "Onward, my men!"

Boards and poles were brought, and the men unweariedly pressed onward
through the smoke, and pushed and heaved away at the glowing mass. At
length the smith succeeded in throwing down some of the sheaves. One
could now get a glance of the dark sky, and the smoke was less stifling.

"Now we have it!" cried he, triumphantly; and bundle after bundle fell
to the ground, and burned harmlessly away. The wagon was more and more
quickly unloaded, blazing feather-beds and billets of wood falling with
other things.

Anton had the door half closed as the enemy's bullets passed through the
flames, and the men had to use their levers from the side. The
wagon-ladders fell down, burned to charcoal; and with a shout of
triumph, all the levers were applied at once, and the fragments of the
wagon pushed a few yards from the door, which was quickly locked again
from inside; while the men, black as imps, and with clothes burned,
loud