e brought out of the cellar, cut the
last loaf and soaked it in the wine, giving a piece to each, assuring
them that it was the best remedy against thirst, and that if one held it
in the mouth, he would be quite unable to drink water, even if paid for
it. This expedient answered for a time, but terror found other avenues
by which to enter. Many began to consider whether they would have lost
any thing in giving up an old gun, and gaining thereby their liberty,
and the right to go where they would. This view of things was loudly
combated by the forester, who placed himself in the midst of the
guard-room, and resolutely replied: "I tell you, Gottlieb Fitzner, and
you, you stout Boekel, that the giving away our guns would be a mere
trifle to any of us; the only thing is, that any one of you to whom
this vile thought could occur would be a low, mean, cowardly scoundrel,
who would make me sick whenever I saw him." To which proposition Fitzner
and Boekel eagerly acceded, and Boekel declared that, for his part, he
could stand such a fellow just as little as the forester himself; so
that danger was averted. But the unemployed sentinels were engaged in
anxious conversation. The castle forces were contrasted with those of
the enemy, and finally the slight nature of the palings in the yard
became the leading object of a searching criticism. It was clear that
the next attack would be directed against them, and the most
stout-hearted admitted that they could offer little resistance. Even the
faithful smith shook them with his strong hand, and by no means admired
the manner in which they were nailed together.

In the middle of the day these attacks of timidity were not actually
dangerous, for the greatest portion of the men were waiting ready armed
for the enemy's approach. But as the sun began to decline without any
attack, and without the sentinels on the top of the tower announcing any
prospect of relief, inactivity and exhaustion combined to increase the
universal distress. Their dinner had been unsatisfying: potatoes burnt
to a cinder, and a little salt; no wonder that they should again begin
to be thirsty, and that the women should return and complain to Anton
that his expedient had only availed for a very short time. Among the
men, too, fear, hunger, and thirst spread fast from one story to
another. Anton had served out a double ration of brandy, but that did
not avail. Several of the men became, not rebellious, but weaker and