the forester, consolingly.

A bright spring day now began; the sun rose cloudlessly behind the
farm-yard, and soon warmed the mist that hung around the walls; the
people sought out the sunny corner of the court; the men sat in little
groups with their wives and children, and all seemed in good heart.
Anton went in and out among them. "We must have patience till
noon--perhaps till the afternoon; then our troops will come."

"If those fellows yonder do no more than at present," replied the smith,
"we may be easy enough. They stand there like so many wooden posts."

"They lost their courage yesterday," said another, contemptuously.

"It was a mere straw-fire; the smith threw it down, and they have
nothing to follow it up with," cried a third.

The smith folded his arms and smiled proudly, his wife looking at him
with delight.

Next the upper story began to show symptoms of life. The baron rang and
demanded a report. Anton went up to give it him, then entered Fink's
room and woke his friend, who was still fast asleep.

"Good-morning, Tony," cried Fink, comfortably stretching himself. "I
shall be down in a moment. If you can send me a little water through
some of your connections, I shall be very grateful to you."

"I will get you a bottle of wine from the cellar," replied Anton; "you
must wash in wine to-day."

"Ha!" cried Fink, "is it come to that? At all events, it is not Port
wine, I hope."

"We have but a few bottles of either kind," continued Anton.

"You are a bird of ill omen," said Fink, looking for his boots. "You
have doubtless the more beer in your cellars."

"Just enough to give the garrison one draught. A small cask of brandy is
our chief treasure."

Fink whistled the Hessian march. "You will own, my son, that your
tenderness for the women and children was somewhat sentimental. I
already see you, in my mind's eye, with your shirt sleeves tucked up,
killing the lean cow, and, with your old conscientiousness,
administering mouthfuls to the famished household--you in the
middle--fifty gaping mouths around you. Be sure that you prepare a dozen
birch rods; in a few hours the screams of the hungry children will rise
to heaven, and, in spite of your philanthropy, you will be obliged to
scourge the whole troop of them. Otherwise, I think we managed pretty
well yesterday. I have had a famous sleep, and so things must take their
chance another day. Now let's go and have a look at the enemy."

The two fr