and esteem. He looked inquiringly at Hanslein, who returned a similar
glance, and both remained standing by their prisoner, as if by tacit
agreement.

'Shall we deliver this noble form to the terrible Johannes?' at last
asked Alf of his fellow soldier.

'It would certainly make me very unhappy to see this head fall under
the axe of the executioner,' murmured Hanslein.

'You think and feel as I do, brother,' cried Alf, joyfully. 'Therefore
pursue your way in peace, sir colonel, or whatever else you may chance
to be. We will have no part in the shedding of your blood!'

'Shall I have to thank anabaptists for my life and liberty?' asked the
knight, half indignant and half astonished.

'Accept it, however,' said Alf, 'and with it the proof that the people
of Munster are not all such monsters as you may have believed until
now. If this friendly service appears to you to be thankworthy, you can
repay it with like clemency when one of our brethren falls into your
hands.'

'That will I, comrade, by my word,' answered the knight, much affected.
'To prove that my feelings are equally good toward you, I invite you to
follow me into our camp. People of your stamp are not in their right
place in that den of wild beasts, who sooner or later must come to an
ignominious end.'

'Spare your words,' answered Alf. 'We hold fast to our faith.'

'And have divers cogent reasons besides,' said Hanslein, (grasping his
neck in a manner not to be misunderstood,) 'to decline the honor of
visiting the lord bishop.'

'Our men approach,' said Alf, looking toward the city. 'Depart, sir
knight, before it is too late.'

'God teach you the right path, poor erring wanderers,' said the knight,
compassionately, as he hastened away.

Scolding as he went, Alf approached his troops. 'Were you not ordered
to advance upon the first alarm?' growled he. 'Heard you not when I
gave the word for the onset? Had you been there, as it was your duty to
have been, we should have taken an episcopalian field officer. He has
escaped to his followers, and we must hasten back to the city, lest we
be finally cut off and taken prisoners.'

The honest Munsterers exculpated themselves in the best way they could,
entreating that their oversight might not be made known to the grim
prophet; and with drooping heads followed the two friends back into the
city.

CHAPTER X.

An alarm, as if the world were sinking, was now raised