e establishment brought into the
court-yard. Next he dragged the host by the hair of his head to the
upper story, and then, by the help of some patriots with great cockades,
tied him to a bedpost, and gave him to understand that that was the
nearest approach to a night's rest which he had to expect. "In the event
of the freight being found entire, and safely removed from your
premises, you shall be forgiven," said the Pole; "in the opposite case,
I shall have you tried at once, and shot."

Meanwhile the uproar in the court was great indeed. Anton had the wagons
reloaded and the freight properly secured. Full of his work, he scarcely
looked around, and only realized at odd moments his singular
_entourage_, and the exciting nature of the scene. It was a large square
court, surrounded by low, ruinous wooden buildings, stables, and
coach-houses, and having two entrances, one through the inn itself, and
one through a gate opposite. It occupied a space of several acres, as is
often the case with these hostelries of eastern Europe, stationed on
great thoroughfares; and afforded, as do the caravanseries of Asia,
shelter for large transports of goods, as well as for multitudes of the
poor and needy. All sorts of wagons were now assembled in the square
court in question, and it was crowded besides with ladders, poles,
wheels, gigantic hampers, gray canvas coverings, bundles of hay and
straw, old tar-barrels, and portable racks. Besides the stable lanterns
and flaming pine torches, there was the red glare in the sky, and the
lurid clouds of smoke and sparks rolling still over the heads of the
travelers. This strange sort of twilight shone here at least upon a
peaceful task. The wagoners worked hard, shouting loudly the while; dark
forms now vanished in the shadow of the bales, now sprang on the top of
them, while their animated gesticulations made them look, in the red
light, like a crowd of savages holding some mysterious nocturnal orgies.

The merchant, meanwhile, walked up and down between the inn and the
scene of action. It was in vain that Anton implored him to rest for a
few hours. "This is no night for us to sleep in," said he, gloomily; and
Anton read in his dark glance the resolve of a man who is ready to stake
his all upon the accomplishment of his inflexible will.

It was nearly morning when the last giant bale was firmly secured with
ropes and chains on the wagon top. Anton, who had himself been lending a
hand, now s