captain showed his
prisoner, who made no fruitless struggles to escape from his awkward
situation, "And now," went on the orator, "listen to my words: all the
windows of this house are invested; all the streets are invested; and as
soon as I lift my finger you'll all be shot down dead."

"Hurrah, captain!" cried a voice from a house in the middle of the
market-place, while the shopkeeper dwelling there projected his duck-gun
from one of the windows of the first floor, the apothecary and
post-master soon doing the same.

"Good-morning, gentlemen," cried the butcher, pleasantly, to these
unexpected recruits. "You see, good people, that your resistance is
vain, so throw away your scythes, or you are all dead men." A number of
scythes clattered on the pavement.

"And as for you, gentlemen," continued the captain, "you shall be
allowed to depart unmolested, if you give up your arms; but if any of
you make any resistance, this man's blood be upon your heads." So
saying, he caught hold of Tarowski by the head, and, holding it out of
the window, drew a great knife. Throwing down its sheath into the
street, he waved it so ferociously round the prisoner's head that the
worthy butcher seemed for the moment transformed into a very cannibal.

Then the forester cried, "Hurrah! we have them! March, my friends." The
drummer thundered away, and the Germans charged. The Poles fell into
disorder, some random shots were fired on both sides, then the rebels
took to flight, pursued by their enemies. Many sought refuge in the
houses, others ran out of the town; while, on the other hand, armed
citizens began to present themselves, and the dilatory members of the
militia corps now joined the rest. The captain made over his prisoner to
a few trusty men, and, waving off the congratulations that poured in
upon him, cried, "Duty before all. We have now to lock and invest the
gates. Where is the captain of our allies?"

Anton stepped forward. "Comrade," said the butcher, with a military
salute, "I propose that we muster our men and appoint the watches."

This was done, and those belonging to Rosmin were proud of their
numbers. The national arms, washed clean and decorated by many busy
feminine hands with the first flowers of the town gardens, were solemnly
raised to their former place, all the men marching by them and
presenting arms, while patriotic acclamations were raised by hundreds of
throats.

Anton stood on one side, and when he saw