more depressed. Fink looked with contemptuous smile at these symptoms of
a condition of which his elastic spirit and iron nerves had no
experience; but Anton, to whom all came with petitions and laments, felt
the whole distress of these hours. Something must be done to help
efficiently, or all was lost. Accordingly, he went into the court-yard,
determined to sacrifice the cow. He walked up to her, stroked her neck:
"Lizzie, my poor beast, you must go," said he. As he led her out, his
eye fell upon the empty water-butt, and a happy thought flashed across
him. The yard was only raised a few feet above the brook. The whole
district was full of springs; it was probable that, if dug for here,
water might be found, and it would be an easy thing for the garrison to
dig a well. If the earth excavated were pushed up against the palings,
their strength would be considerably increased, and, what was the chief
thing, the work would set all idle hands going, and might last for
hours, nay, days. He knew, indeed, from former attempts, that the water
immediately about the castle was muddy, and in ordinary times
undrinkable, but that did not signify to-day. Anton looked up at the
sun; there was not a minute to be lost. He called the superintendent
into the court, and the latter joyfully agreeing to the proposal--all
the unoccupied hands about the castle, and the women and children
too--the laborers' implements were produced, and in a few minutes ten
men with spades and rakes were occupied in digging a large hole in the
middle of the court, while the women and children heaped the thrown-up
earth against the palings. Some men, and such of the women as were to be
had, were summoned by Anton to the slaughter of the poor cow, who was
once more exhibited before she fell a victim to the exigencies of the
day. Soon all were in full employment. The well-mouth, which was far
wider than would have been required for an ordinary shaft, deepened
visibly, and a wall rose inside the palings, which seemed the work of
friendly underground gnomes. The people worked as they had never in
their life done before; the men's spades emulated each other; little
bare legs sprang actively over the ground; wooden shoes and slippers
left deep traces in the mound of earth. Each wanted to work; there were
more hands than space in which to move them. All sadness and anxiety
were over and gone. Jests were bandied about. Even Fink came to look on,
and said to Anton, "You ar