chamber, that Lenore, to avoid observation, sent
them away and put up with the exchange. Thus it came to pass that her
fair form rested on the jaguar-skins that Fink had shot in the far
forests of the West.

The next day the new undertaking began. The manager went with his
apparatus to the land in question, and the men had their work portioned
out to them. Karl hunted out day-laborers from the German and Polish
districts around, and even found a few in the village ready to help, so
that in a few days there were fifty hands employed. It must be owned
that things did not go on altogether undisturbed; the laborers came less
regularly than might have been wished, but still the work progressed,
for Fink as well as Karl well understood keeping men in order--the one
by his haughty energy, the other by the invariable good-humor with which
he praised or blamed. The forester came assiduously from his forest to
conduct the military exercises, the castle was nightly watched, and
patrols regularly sent to the villages around. A warlike spirit spread
from the castle over the whole district. A strong <i>esprit de corps</i> soon
sprang up among the broadbrims, which made discipline easy, and after a
few days Fink was besieged with petitioners for a like uniform, and a
gun, and the privilege of being taken into his service.

"The guard-room is ready," said Fink to Anton; "but you must have holes
for muskets cut in the shutters of the lower story windows." Thus the
troublous time was endured with fresh spirit. The stranger-guest gave a
new impulse to each individual life; the very farm-servants felt his
influence, and the forester was proud to do the honors of his wood to
such a gentleman. Fink was a good deal in the woods with Anton, who, as
well as Karl, soon fell into the habit of asking his advice. He bought
two strong cart-horses--for his own use, he said--but he cleverly
contrived that they should work on the baron's farm, and laughed at
Anton's scruples. The latter was happy to have his friend near him.
Somewhat of their former pleasant life had returned--of those evenings
when the two youths had chatted, as only youths can, sometimes in mere
childish folly, sometimes gravely on the highest subjects. Fink had
changed in many respects. He had become more quiet, or, as Anton
expressed it in counting-house phrase, more solid; but he was more
inclined than ever to make use of men for his own varying interests, and
to look down upon