Flink looked at her as he rose, hesitated one moment, and then went off in a straight line at speed. He was observed, and her heart stood still as she heard the men firing at him out of mere wantonness, and a sharp yelp told that one shot at least had not missed. She could not see whether he had been killed; she had done all she could except to pray broken, incoherent prayers, and watch what happened next.

The word was given to march, and the banners went forward, followed by the officers, who alone seemed to have horses, the schoolmaster leading the way, with a couple of soldiers pressing him on, and jesting at his hobbling run. A rough and ready discipline was observed, but there was much difficulty in getting the waggons under way; the horses were tired, and the loads very heavy, and there was great quarrelling among the camp-followers, all of whom wanted to get on the waggons, and a storm of yells and curses arose around the last. Theresa could just perceive from her hiding-place that a tall, strapping woman was scrambling up, shouting that she had tramped all day, and would not walk another step. "Come down," she screamed, clutching at some one already seated; "do you think I shall trudge while a pale-faced jade like you rides ?" She was roughly pulled back by a soldier in the red uniform which made Theresa thrill with hatred. "Jade yourself!" he shouted above all the noise. "I'm not going to see my lawful wife walk to please a hussy like you!" Her furious cries, while she struggled and pulled

his hair, cheered on by the other women, brought another man running to the rescue. "Let Feuerlies alone!" he cried; "she is as good as your baggage any day!" and as the other turned fiercely on him he lunged suddenly at him with his long knife. There was a groan, a heavy fall, and a brief pause. Every one looked over the marsh, where the banner was moving on, followed by the officers. Quarrels involving the loss of a good soldier were severely punished, and no one wished the captain to see what had passed. The wounded man was hastily laid on the waggon, some women descending to make room, and the march proceeded. Theresa raised her head and saw the whole troop at last on the moor.

There was again a halt; the captain questioned Hansjacob afresh.

"See, sir," the man said, with much less fear, "now you must cross the moor to Alsdorf, and any one will tell you the way to Tannenhof. I am something lame; I should but hinder you. I pray you let me follow more slowly."

"Forward, men ! said the captain,

need for the rascal."

66 we have no more

"He may perchance give warning that we are in these parts, and bring Duke Ernst, curse him! upon us," said the lieutenant; and, cocking his pistol, he fired at the wretched man, bowing and smiling in full belief of safety to himself and vengeance on Dorner. He dropped dead without even a cry, and the regiment passed on, unmoved by such a trifling event as the death of one no longer useful, or possibly dangerous. Theresa heard the shot, without

knowing what it meant. Long she lay hidden, though so cramped that she could hardly endure it, and the sound of a song raised by the soldiers came back over the moor

"Oh, the bold Freelance has the earth for his bed,

For a pillow his cloak, and over his head

The bonnie blue sky as a tent outspread.
Hurrah for the brave Freelances !

And as long as he finds either booty or pay,

Or a village to burn, or a farm on his way . . .

The words became indistinct, though once more the chorus, raised by every voice, came ringing to her ear as the troop went over the nearest brow, "Hurrah for the brave Freelances ! "

CHAPTER X.

"The soldier fills his hand

With sword and fire, and ravages the land.
In crackling flames a thousand harvests burn,
A thousand villages to ashes turn.

To the thick woods the woolly flocks retreat,
And, mixed with bellowing herds, confusedly bleat;
Their trembling lords the common lot partake,
And cries of infants found in every brake."

-ADDISON.

HE sun was low, and its slanting rays were falling on the meadow where Dorner and his people had been working all day, and where the last haycock had just been piled. The shadows of the trees were lengthening, and the haymakers were preparing to troop gladly homeward shouldering their rakes and forks, when something white came skurrying over the closely shorn meadow and leaped up against Martin.

"Why, Flink!" he said in great surprise. "Flink! you here? Where is your young mistress?"

"The beast has been hurt; there is blood on him," said one of the men; and Martin looking closer at the

dog sitting panting and tired at his feet, saw that a shot had gone through one ear and grazed its side. Much startled, he stooped to examine more closely, while every one pressed round, and his hand came on the bit of linen hitherto hidden by the long thick hair. He loosed it, read the two words traced on it, and passed it silently to his uncle. "Landsknechts! fly!" Dorner read, and his sunbrowned face grew pale through all the tan; but he had long prepared for such news as this. "My men," he said, "there is danger at hand. Peace; we have time yet, but there is not a moment to lose. Joseph," turning to the eldest of the farm lads, "run to Alsdorf for your life, warn the villagers that landsknechts are on the way, but heed that they cut you not off. Look well ahead, and if you hear or see them, come back; you can do no more. Martin, go warn the grandmother, and bid her at once. seek the Versteck with the child. My lasses, fetch quickly whatever you can carry from the house, and follow your mistress. Gregor, drive the cattle out; if Whitestar go first, the rest will follow. Jacob, see to the horses. Klaus, lend a hand with the sheep; the children can drive the swine, but I fear we can only get them as far as, maybe, into the wood, and there leave them. Now, my men and maids, keep your wits about you; the dear Lord does not mean us to fall into the hand of the foeman, since He hath sent us warning. I would I knew where the poor maid was!" he muttered, as he strode towards the farm, followed by all the dismayed household, who however

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