abaptists have become masters of the city this fearful night, and are
driving before them all who do not belong to their sect, sword in
hand.'

'God be praised!' cried Alf with wild enthusiasm, 'the true faith is
triumphant!'

The burgher cast upon the youngster an angry and scornful look. 'Folly
may be forgiven to rash, inexperienced and imprudent youth,' said he,
'yet you may nevertheless be compelled to answer to the Lord for this
horrible praise of his name.'

He then turned his back upon the youth and strode on after the
procession. Alf no longer felt the weight of his knapsack, but sprang
forward toward Munster with joyful leaps. He soon, however, encountered
a new mass of fugitives, among whom he could not easily penetrate--and
the dust raised by people, cattle, horses and carriages, becoming
insufferable, Alf retreated into a solitary inn by the way side, until
the tumult had passed away.

As he laid down his knapsack in the tap room and called for a cup of
wine, the door opened and in tottered a pale thin man in a long black
clerical robe. He was followed by a light dashing fellow with the
countenance of a satyr, who carried his bundle for him.

'I can go no further,' groaned the pale man, sinking down upon the
nearest seat.

'Now, doctor, you are for the present indeed in safety,' said his
attendant to him, depositing the bundle upon the stove-bench. 'Permit
me to take a refreshing draught, and then to bid you farewell.'

'Thou dost not wish, then, to go to the good Hessenland, my son?' asked
the doctor, sorrowfully.

'No,' answered the youth, 'but do not consider me unkind. I return to
Munster. New governors will require new clothes, because much of the
dignity of office consists in the dress. My needle will not be
permitted to remain idle there, and I shall make great profits.
Moreover the doctrine of liberty and equality was plain to me from the
beginning; and if the good people would not come so easily to blows,
nothing could be said against it.'

'I thought you held fast to the ancient faith,' said the doctor
complainingly, 'since you sustained me so truly.'

'No,' laughingly replied the hare-brained youth. 'I held to you while
you benefitted me; and on that account I could not reconcile it to
myself to desert you in your hour of need. Now you are in safety; and I
must return to the only place where fellows like myself are held in
some degree of estimation; in any other I might remain all my