ated at the part they had that day played, but
no one attempted to disguise from himself that this was but a beginning
of evils. "What is to become of us in the country?" said the bailiff.
"The men in the town have their stout walls, and live close together;
but we are exposed to the revenge of every rascal; and if half a dozen
vagabonds with guns come into the village, it is all over with us."

"True," said Anton, "we can not guard ourselves against large troops,
and each individual must just take the chances of war; but large troops,
under regular command, are not what we have most to fear. The worst are
bands of rabble, who get together to burn and plunder, and henceforth we
must take measures to defend ourselves against these. Stay at home
to-morrow, bailiff, and you, smith of Kunau, and send for the other
Germans round, on whom we can depend. I will ride over to-morrow morning
early, and we will hold a consultation."

By this time they had reached the cross-way, and there the two divisions
parted, and hurried home in different directions.

Anton got into the carriage, and took the forester with him, to help
watch the castle through the night. In the middle of the wood they were
stopped by a loud cry of "Halt! who goes there?"

"Karl!" exclaimed Anton, joyfully.

"Hurrah! hurrah! he is alive," cried Karl, in ecstasy. "Are you unhurt
too?"

"That I am; what news from the castle?"

Now began a rapid interchange of question and answer. "To think that I
was not with you!" cried Karl, again and again.

Arrived at the castle, a bright form flew up to the carriage. "You,
lady!" cried Anton, springing out.

"Dear Wohlfart!" cried Lenore, seizing both his hands.

For a moment she hid her face on his shoulder, and her tears fell fast.
Anton grasped her hand firmly, while he said, "A fearful time is coming.
I have thought of you all day."

"Now that we have you again," said Lenore, "I can bear it all; but come
at once to my father; he is dying with impatience." She drew him up the
stairs.

The baron opened the door, and cried out, "What news do you bring?"

"News of war, baron," replied Anton, gravely; "the most hideous of all
wars--war between neighbor and neighbor. The country is in open revolt."

CHAPTER XXXIII.

The baron's estate lay in a corner of the Rosmin circle. Behind the
forest, to the north, was the German village of Neudorf, and farther
off, to the east, that of Kunau.

Both these spot