foe; then all rushed into the guard-room and caught up
their arms. The lower story was doubly occupied. The forester hurried
off with a strong detachment to the court-yard, and clambered up the new
wall.

"The crisis approaches," whispered Fink to Anton; "in the course of the
last few hours strong parties have come into the village, and just now a
troop of horsemen has joined them. We shall not be able to hold out for
a second night. They will attack on both sides at once, and with the
help of short ladders they will soon make their way into the castle. And
that they know, for you may see that every band that leaves the village
is armed with axes and ladders. Let us meet our inevitable doom with
spirit; the praise is yours if we are beaten like men and not like
cowards. I have been with the baron; he and the ladies are prepared;
they will all remain together in his room. If you have a few words to
spare when one of the Messieurs of the party walks in over you, remind
him of the ladies. God willing, Anton, I'll take the court-yard
side--you the front."

"It seems to me impossible," cried Anton, "that we should be beaten. I
have never had so good a hope as in this very hour."

"Hope of relief!" said Fink, shrugging his shoulders, and pointing
through the window at the enemy. "If it comes in an hour's time it comes
too late. Since Rebecca's cannon exploded, we are in the hands of the
foe as soon as they choose to storm in earnest. And they will choose.
One must not indulge in illusions that glow no longer than a cigar. Give
me your hand, my dear fellow, and farewell."

He pressed Anton's hand, and a proud smile beamed again over his face.
So stood the friends, each looking affectionately at the face of the
other, uncertain whether he should ever behold it again. "Farewell!"
cried Fink, taking up his rifle as their hands parted; but all at once
he seemed rooted to the ground, and intently listened, for above the
drums of the foe and the tramp of their approach a clear sound rang
through the night air, a merry pealing <i>fanfare</i>, and in reply to it
there came from the village the regular beat of a drum of the line, then
a loud discharge of artillery, and a distant hurrah.

"They come!" was the cry on all sides; "our soldiers come!"

The forester rushed into the hall. "The red-caps!" he screamed out.
"They are riding up along the brook to the bridge, and the infantry are
storming the village from behind."

"Now o