I am to hold the foe at bay. As things stand,
our hopes of a speedy raising of the siege grow side by side with the
progress of the Swedes. I would willingly have more certain news. I
say, Schoenleben, couldn't you find me some trustworthy messenger that I
could send to the imperial marshal?'

The entrance of a man into the gallery cut short the answer.

'Well, Hillner, what is it?' asked Schweinitz.

'Your excellency,' replied the Defensioner, saluting, 'it is thought
advisable, in order to strike with greater effect at the enemy's works
before the Peter Gate, to open new loop-holes in the lower part of the
Wetter Tower, those in the upper storey having been rendered useless by
the enemy's fire.'

'Good!' said Schweinitz; and then, turning away from the messenger, he
spoke aside with the Burgomaster.

Meantime Conrad sidled up to his former fellow-workman. 'Do stop with
us now you have come,' he said, catching hold of the Defensioner's
coat. 'The Swedes are digging another mine; just listen at them
hammering. I guess we and this old wooden box shall all go flying up
into the air together pretty soon.'

As Hillner laid his ear to the ground to listen, Roller entered with
several pieces of wood under his arm.

'Now you two can go,' he said to Dollie and Conrad; 'it's quieter now.
And here are a few sticks I've brought in out of the moat; take them
home; when I come I'll bring some more.'

'Roller,' called the Burgomaster, 'you are exactly the man I wanted.
Come to me as soon as you go off duty, we have something to say to you.'

'Very good, respected Herr Burgomaster,' replied Roller, and then
accompanied his little daughter out of the gallery to see her safely
started on her homeward way. 'Why, where is Conrad Schmidt loitering?'
he asked in surprise.

The boy was standing by his friend the Defensioner, who now sprang up
from the ground and hastened to his commanding officer. 'Your
excellency!' he cried, 'down in that corner the Swedes can be
distinctly heard tunnelling through the earth. They are almost under
the gallery now.'

'Quick, then, to countermine them!' said Schweinitz, and immediately
left the gallery to give the necessary orders. Then began a severe
subterranean battle. Both sides made desperate exertions in the
attempt to get the upper hand, and for very plain reasons the
Freibergers did their utmost to steal a march on the enemy. Although
the ground was frozen so hard that it had