laid his weary head upon the table and tried to sleep.
Just then the bolts were drawn and his door was softly opened. A
corporal of the Lichtensteins, with a dark lantern, and accompanied by
two soldiers, entered the prison. Releasing the prisoner from his
chains, he commanded him, 'follow me to the count!'

'Am I already sentenced?' asked Oswald, with bitterness. 'Am I to be
executed secretly, under the veil of night? It is a sad confession that
your deeds will not bear the light of day!'

'Silence!' said the corporal, motioning him to follow.

'God help me!' cried Oswald, throwing his mantle over his shoulders and
advancing.

The whole guard were snoring upon their benches, the officer was in his
well warmed little room slumbering amidst his wine flasks, and even the
sentinel without, leaned nodding upon his halberd. He was roused,
however, by the approaching foot-steps, and presenting his halberd to
the corporal he cried, 'who goes there?'

'A good friend!' boldly answered the corporal, whispering the
countersign. 'We are commanded to bring the prisoner to the general.'

'Pass!' said the sentinel, shouldering his arms.

CHAPTER XIV.

The four hastened forth together. A sharp wind whistled over the
market, while a raven, scared by the wanderers, arose with loud
croakings from its snowy bed and with its heavy flapping wings slowly
moved away. The shivering youth wrapped his mantle more closely about
him and followed the corporal without troubling himself respecting the
soldiers; these last soon fell into the rear, and, dexterously turning
into another street, disappeared.

'Here we are,' said the corporal, suddenly turning to Oswald. The
latter, startled from his death-dream, looked wildly about him. He was
standing among the graves in a parish churchyard.

'Is this indeed to be my last resting place?' he asked, throwing off
his mantle. 'Only direct me where to kneel, and be sure you take good
aim.'

'Kneel, indeed, you must, my worthy youngster,' cried the corporal,
with joyful emotion, and thank God for your rescue, as soon as you are
in safety; but with the death shot we have now nothing to do. You are
free.'

'Free!' cried Oswald, now for the first time missing the two soldiers.

'Have you really forgotten your old friend Florian?' asked the
corporal, throwing the light of the lantern upon his face, of which
Oswald soon recognized the well known lineaments.

'