ur side!" cried Fink; "prepare for a sally!"

The bolts were shot back; the whole garrison was out in a moment; and
Anton could hardly get the superintendent and a few of the servants to
return and take care of the house. The forester rapidly marshaled the
men into order while Fink looked at the position of the combatants. The
columns of infantry advanced through the village. The ceaseless
discharges showed how inveterate the fight was; but the soldiery slowly
approached, the enemy yielded, a few fugitives had already run out of
the farm-yard. Meanwhile a detachment of hussars crossed the brook
opposite the castle, driving small parties of the besiegers before them.
Fink led his men round the house, and stationed them at the corner that
lay nearest to the village. "Patience!" cried he; "and when I lead you
on, don't forget your password, or you will be ridden and trodden down
in the dark like the others."

It was with the greatest difficulty that the men were kept in rank, such
was their impatience.

A single horseman now came riding toward them. "Hurrah! Rothsattel!"
cried he, while still at a distance.

"Sturm!" called out a dozen voices; and Anton sprang forward to greet
his ally.

"We have them," said Karl. "They had occupied the Rosmin high road, but
I led our men by by-paths through the woods."

A dark mass was visible at the end of the village, with riders in
advance. The enemy halted and assembled in the farm-yard.

"Now for it!" cried Fink.

The garrison marched at a quick pace over the meadow, placed themselves
sideways near the first barn, and a salvo from five-and-twenty guns
burst upon the flank of the enemy, who fell into confusion and fled
across the plain. Again the trumpet sounded, behind them the hussars
came galloping up, and cut down those that still kept their ground. Karl
joined them, and vanished in the fray. The enemy were thus driven into
the fields.

The Polish cavalry now sprang forward from the village, at their head
the spokesman of the morning, who with loud shouts urged his men against
the hussars.

"Rothsattel!" cried a youthful voice close to Anton, and, heading a
detachment of hussars, a tall, slight officer rushed against the Poles.
Fink raised his rifle and aimed at the Polish colonel.

"Thanks!" cried he, reeling on his horse, firing his pistol with his
last breath at the breast of the hussar who was riding him down. The
hussar fell from his horse, and the Pole's charge