le scene by suddenly flogging
the horses, and thus compelling the last recusants to jump aside as fast
as they could. The horses galloped off, loud interjections were heard in
the distance, and a few shots passed harmlessly over the heads of the
travelers, probably fired out of a general enthusiasm for fatherland
rather than with any definite purpose.

So the hours passed on. They not unfrequently met bands of armed
peasantry screaming and brandishing their cudgels, or else following,
with bent heads and hymn-singing, a priest who bore a church banner
displayed. The travelers were sometimes, indeed, stopped and threatened,
but at other times saluted with the utmost reverence, especially Anton,
who, sitting as he did behind, was taken for the most important
personage.

At length they approached a larger village, the bands grew closer, the
uproar greater, and here and there a uniform, a cockade, or a bayonet
appeared among the smock-frocks. Here, too, the driver began to show
symptoms of disquiet, and announced to the merchant that he could not
take them any farther, and that they must report themselves to the
leader in command. To this Mr. Schroeter made no objection, but paid the
driver and stopped the carriage.

A young man with a blue head-piece, and a red and white scarf about his
waist, stepped forward, obliged the travelers to dismount, and with a
great display of zeal led them to the chief. The merchant still held the
reins in his hand, and whispered to Anton that he was on no account to
lose sight of the carriage. Anton pretended the utmost unconcern, and
pressed a coin into the hand of the friendly krakuse, who had crept
behind the carriage, that he might go and get the horses a bundle of
hay.

The sentry was in a house whose thatched roof had been dignified by the
whitewashing of the walls. A few muskets and guns leaned up against it,
watched by a youthful volunteer in blue coat and red cap. Near at hand
sat the commanding officer, whose flat face was surmounted by an immense
white plume, and whose person was adorned by an enormous white scarf,
and a sword with elaborate hilt. This dignitary was considerably excited
when he beheld the strangers; he clapped his hat more firmly on his
head, stroked his unkempt beard, and began to give audience. After a few
preliminary remarks, the travelers told him that they had weighty
business to transact with the heads of the government. They refused,
however, to give an