e don't want to touch the Captain!" cried a voice from the crowd.

Eric continued,--

"If there is one among you who can tell what you want, let him come
forward."

A man with blackened face, whom Eric did not recognize, stepped forth
and said,--

"Captain, it's me, the Screamer; let me speak. The new wine has got
into our folks' heads below there. I'm as sober as a cat," added he,
stammering.

"But what do they want?"

"They wish that Herr Sonnenkamp, or whatever his name is, should leave
our part of the country, and go where he belongs."

"Yes! Let him take himself off!"

"And give me back my meadow!"

"And me my vineyard!"

"And me my house!"

Such were the cries uttered by the mob.

Claus quickly joined Eric on the steps, and called to the rabble,--

"If you go on shouting out such crazy stuff, and speaking all together,
I'll be the first to choke any one who tries to get into the house."

"Let him be off!"

"Let him clear out!" "Hustle him out!" was the general cry.

Just as this was yelled forth, Sonnenkamp appeared on the steps. The
howling, shrieking, and kettle-banging began anew; stones crashed
through the great window-panes.

The Screamer, hastening up the steps, placed himself before Sonnenkamp,
saying.--

"Keep still: I'll protect you."

Then he shouted, yet more violently,--

"If you say one word more, and if every man doesn't hold his neighbor,
so that he can't move his arms, I'll be the first to shoot you down,
without caring whether I hit the innocent or the guilty."

"Men, what have I done to you?" cried Sonnenkamp.

"Cannibal!"

"Kidnapper!"

"Slave dealer!"

"And if I were," exclaimed Sonnenkamp, "what gives you the right to
judge me?"

"You must clear out of this!"

"Make yourself scarce!" was the cry from beneath.

"Herr Sonnenkamp, and you, Captain," said Claus, hastily addressing
them both, "I only joined this savage troop, because I saw it was no
use trying to hold them back, but I've caught them by the halter, and
if you'll just leave everything to me, we'll make a carnival-sport out
of the whole concern. You speak first, Captain, and I beg you to keep
still, Herr Sonnenkamp."

"My men," began Eric, "let the stones alone. Do you know the great
word,--'He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone!'
Has not every one of you done something that----"

"We've never sold men! Oh! the ogre!" they cried from below.

Eric could say no more. At