mall
family under your powerful protection, help me to get proper
compensation for my house, and I shall be your grateful servant all the
days of my life.'

'My dear Juechziger,' interposed Schoenleben, 'be assured I will do all I
can. The times are so bad that the town will want all its strength,
and all its money, to defend itself against the Swedes, and we shall
have to leave our private interests in the background for a while; but
I will see that you suffer no actual want through this misfortune.'

Juechziger concealed the disappointment he felt on hearing these words,
thanked the Burgomaster for his kind intentions, and took his leave.

'Do not forget to send Badehorn here!' Schoenleben called after him as
he went out. In a comparatively short time he made his appearance
again.

'Captain Badehorn presents his respectful compliments to the Herr
Burgomaster, and begs to inform his worship that he cannot have the
honour of waiting on him at the time mentioned.' Here Juechziger
discreetly paused.

'And why not?' asked Schoenleben, starting up. 'Are the ties of
obedience that bind citizen to magistrate broken already?'

'He cannot come,' continued Juechziger, 'because the orders of
Commandant von Schweinitz forbid it. They are every instant expecting
an attack to be made by the Swedes, and the commandant has ordered
every man to remain at his post.'

'Ah, of course! That is quite a different thing,' said Schoenleben, as
his angry brow grew smooth again. 'Badehorn could not act otherwise,
and it becomes my duty to go and see him if I want my question
answered.'

When Burgomaster Schoenleben left his house somewhat later in the day,
the death-like stillness that reigned throughout the usually busy city
weighed on his spirit. Not a clock was striking, not a bell rang out
its joyful peal in welcome to the new year. Only at long intervals did
he see a human being pass along the street, and then it was in fear and
haste. On the other hand, as he went on his way, he saw at various
points large bodies of men standing silent in their ranks, waiting the
call of duty and the word of command. Here were the vigorous
journeymen of the different trades, and the stalwart country-people;
there the trusty miners, some with nondescript weapons, others armed
with pick-axes, mattocks, and long guns, or provided with ladders and
great buckets of water, in readiness for an alarm of fire. In the
streets adjoining the Erb