at the head of the procession, had the wagons
driven to the front of the castle, arranged the men in two rows, and
made them present arms. Last of all came Fink galloping up.

"Welcome!" cried Anton to his friend.

"You are bringing an army and ammunition," laughed Lenore, greeting him.
"Do you always march with such heavy baggage?"

"I bring a corps that will henceforth be in your service," replied Fink,
jumping down. "They seem decent folk," said he, turning to Anton; "but I
had some trouble to collect them. Hands are scarce just now, and yet
nothing gets done. We have been drumming and bribing in your country
like recruiting sergeants. These fellows would hardly have been got here
merely to work; the gray jackets and the chasseurs' caps settled the
matter. Some of them have served already, and your hussar knows how to
keep them together as well as any born general."

The baron and his lady now entered the court. The laborers, at Karl's
bidding, raised a loud hurrah, and then strolled off to the side of the
castle and lay down in the sunshine.

"Here are your pioneers, my chief," said Fink to the baron; "since your
kindness allows me to be your inmate for some time to come, I have now a
right to do something toward the security of your castle. The condition
of this province is serious. Even in Rosmin they do not feel safe for a
single day; and your imbodying a militia has not escaped the enemy, and
called attention to your house."

"It is an honor to me," interposed the baron, "to be obnoxious to the
rebels."

"No doubt," politely chimed in Fink. "But this is only an additional
motive to your friends to watch over your and your family's personal
safety. As yet you are hardly strong enough to defend the castle from an
assault of the rascals immediately around. The dozen laborers that I
bring will form a guard for your house; they have arms, and partly know
how to use them. I have bound them to the performance of certain
military functions which will help to keep them in order. They can work
a few hours less daily, and exercise during the interval, patrol, and,
in so far as you, baron, may think it desirable, keep up a regular
correspondence with the neighboring districts. Of course their support
and payment is my affair, and I have accordingly provided for it. I wish
to run up a slight building for them on the land they are to cultivate,
but just now it will be well to keep them as near the castle as
possible,