h their martial dignity.

On the bridge the captain said, "I wish you success, but unfortunately I
am unable to send any of my men to assist you."

"It is better as it is," answered the principal, bowing; "we will
proceed to recover our goods like peaceable people, and while we do not
fear those gentry yonder, we do not wish to provoke them. Be so good,
Mr. Wohlfart, as to leave your pistols behind you; we must show these
armed men that we have nothing to do with war and its apparatus."

Anton had replaced his pistols in his pocket, whence they peeped out
with an air of defiance, but now he gave them to a soldier called by
Lieutenant von Rothsattel. And so they crossed the bridge, at the end of
which the lieutenant reluctantly reined up his charger, muttering,
"These grocers march into the enemy's country before us;" while the
captain called out, "Should your persons be in danger, I shall not
consider it any departure from duty to send Lieutenant Rothsattel and a
few soldiers to your aid." The lieutenant rushed back and gave the word
of command to his troop, which was not far off, to sit still, and then
he dashed again to the end of the bridge, and watched with great
interest and warlike impatience the progress of the grocers, as he
called them. To his and his country's honor, be it here said, that they
all alike wished the poor civilians a warm reception, and some serious
inconvenience, that they might have a right to interfere, and cut and
hack a little on their behalf.

Meanwhile, the march of the merchants into the enemy's country had
nothing very imposing about it; lighting his cigar, and walking with a
brisk step, the principal went on, Anton close by his side, and behind
them three stout wagoners with the horses. When they had got within
about thirty yards of certain peasants in white smock frocks, these
brandished their weapons, and cried out to them in Polish to halt.

The principal, raising his voice, addressed them in their own tongue,
desiring that they would call their leader.

Accordingly, some of the savages began by wild gesticulations to
communicate with their companions at a distance, while others held
their weapons in readiness, and aimed, as Anton remarked without any
particular satisfaction, pretty exactly at him. Meanwhile the leader of
the band advanced with long strides. He wore a blue coat with colored
lace, a square red cap trimmed with gray fur, and he carried a wild-duck
gun in his hand