battle, Kippenbrock!' said Eliza, pressing his
hand for the first time with the kindest affability,--whilst Clara
remained silently and sadly standing at a distance.

'And with a right good will, dear maiden,' answered Alf, tenderly, 'if
your kind wishes accompany the new warrior upon his first expedition.'

'You go to the field of battle for the Word!' exclaimed Eliza with
enthusiasm; 'the Holy Spirit is with you and you must conquer.'

'Be careful of your life!' whispered the timorous Clara, scarcely
audible, and Alf hastened forth with his companions.

The place of rendezvous, before St. Lambert's church, was already
crowded by the people of Munster, collected in compliance with various
commands from their prophets. Here, a great fire which was consuming
the doomed books of the city, blazed to the heavens,--there, stood two
of Munster's deacons for the reception of the jewels of the citizens;
two female diviners, well acquainted with the jewels of the city, had
the oversight of the business, and accused every one who endeavored to
keep back any thing. Many a pearl, from beauteous eyes, silently
bedewed the costly trinkets which were compulsorily brought as
offerings to the spirit.

Meantime the military power of the anabaptists had assembled at the
rendezvous, and now appeared Matthias in his dark hair-cloth robe. In
his hand he held the spear still clotted with the unhappy Trutlinger's
blood, and his mouth was foaming with rage.

At his nod the armed men closed in a circle around him.

'That true son of anti-christ,' roared he, 'that reprobate priest of
Baal, who once tyrannically ruled over the free burghers of this city,
the bishop, with his mercenary troops, comes against you. He has
already stretched his camp all about the city; and if we give him time
to perfect his entrenchments, the cowards, who dare not meet us man to
man, may conquer us at last through hunger. Wherefore thus speaks the
spirit: 'Arise, Matthias, gird on thy sword, take with thee five
hundred men from out the congregation, go forth and destroy the ungodly
whom I have this day given into thy hand.' Arise, then, my brethren!
Whoever is truly devoted to our holy cause, whoever is determined never
again to bend his neck under the iron yoke, which we have just thrown
off, let him step forth from the congregation; the Lord has chosen him
for his champion, and the host of the enemy shall be scattered before
his arm like chaff before the wind.