eeping watch. Tony quickly
poured him out a glass of hot wine. The betrothal wine had been tasted
by strange guests to-day.

All was again quiet in the mill. Joseph was asleep, and Adam and
Martina watching by his bedside; Schilder-David was asleep stretched on
the hay, and Tony seated near him; and in the room above the Forest
Miller was asleep. The Roettmaennin tried to wake him, for she wanted the
help of a man, but the Forest Miller made no sound, and the Roettmaennin
cursed the "flour sack" lying there motionless, while the whole house
was in an uproar. Just as the Roettmaennin returned into the room, she
cried out "What's the matter? is the world come to an end to day?" for
the hills echoed with the report of guns, and every valley and rock
resounded with joyful cries, so that little Joseph himself was awakened
by the noise, and starting up in bed, called out "Father!"

"I am here," answered Adam.

The shots were repeated, and now the whole party drew near, amid the
sound of horns, the ringing of bells, the cracking of whips, and the
barking of dogs.

"You called on the devil to come--do you hear? he is coming. Give your
consent, while it is yet time," said Speidel-Roettmann, in the hope of
softening his wife's heart.

"If the devil comes, I shall be very happy to see him; I should rather
like to have a talk with him," answered the Roettmaennin; "you are all
fools. If you choose to truckle to others, do so; but a woman of spirit
never gives in--nor will I--never--I would rather die!"

The hobgoblin troop came nearer and nearer, and at last drew up at the
mill. They did not come in, however, for in the stable was heard a
woman's cry for help, and the wild groans and lamentations of a man's
voice. Schilder-David had woke up, and could not find the child, and
now he was rummaging among the hay seeking for him, and loudly
lamenting; refusing to listen to Tony; indeed, threatening to strangle
her on the spot if she did not instantly restore the child.

Edward hurried into the stable, and Tony ran up to him, calling out
"Help, help!" Schilder-David looked somewhat formidable by the light of
the lantern, when he turned round, after plunging into the hay, which
had adhered in quantities to his hair, covering his face and clothes.

"David, 'he is all right and safe," said the young farmer Edward, in
his pleasing voice. Schilder-David sank back into the hay.

"Who is that stranger?" said Tony to Haespele.

"The