give a peculiar and almost an unearthly appearance to the cavalcade.

They passed in this manner the winding path which led from the castle of Arnheim to the adjacent village, which, as was the ancient feudal custom, lay so near the fortress, that its inhabitants, when summoned by their lord, could instantly repair for its defence. But it was at present occupied by very different inhabitants, the mutinous soldiers of the Rhingrave. When the party from Arnheim approached the entrance of the village, Schreckenwald made a signal to halt, which was instantly obeyed by his followers. He then rode forward in person to reconnoitre, accompanied by Arthur Philipson, both moving with the utmost steadiness and precaution. The deepest silence prevailed in the deserted streets. Here and there a soldier was seen, seemingly designed for a sentinel, but uniformly fast asleep.

6

The swinish mutineers!' said Schreckenwald; a fair night-watch they keep, and a beautiful morning's rouse would I treat them with were not the point to protect yonder peevish wench. Halt thou here, stranger, while I ride back and bring them on-there is no danger.'

Schreckenwald left Arthur as he spoke, who, alone in the street of a village filled with banditti, though they were lulled into temporary insensibility, had no

reason to

consider his case as very comfortable. The chorus of a wassail-song, which some reveller was trolling over in his sleep; or, in its turn, the growling of some village cur, seemed the signal for an hundred ruffians to start up around him. But in the space of two or three minutes, the noiseless cavalcade, headed by Ital Schreckenwald, again joined him, and followed their leader, observing the utmost precaution not to give an alarm. All went well till they reached the further end of the village, where, although the Baaren-hauter1 who kept guard was as drunk as his companions on duty, a large shaggy dog which lay beside him was more vigilant. As the little troop approached. the animal sent forth a ferocious yell, loud enough to have broken the rest of the Seven Sleepers, and which effectually 1 Baaren-hauter he of the Bear's hide a nickname for a German private soldier.

=

dispelled the slumbers of its master. The soldier snatched up his carabine and fired, he knew not well at what, or for what reason. The ball, however, struck Arthur's horse under him, and, as the animal fell, the sentinel rushed forward to kill or make prisoner the rider.

'Haste on, haste on, men of Arnheim! care for nothing but the young lady's safety,' exclaimed the leader of the band.

Stay, I command you ;-aid the stranger, on your lives! said Anne, in a voice which, usually gentle and meek, she now made heard by those around her, like the note of a silver clarion. 'I will not stir till he is rescued.'

Schreckenwald had already spurred his horse for flight; but perceiving Anne's reluctance to follow him, he dashed back, and seizing a horse, which, bridled and saddled, stood picketed near him, he threw the reins to Arthur Philipson; and pushing his own horse, at the same time, betwixt the Englishman and the soldier, he forced the latter to quit the hold he had on his person. In an instant Philipson was again mounted, when, seizing a battle-axe which hung at the saddle-bow of his new steed, he struck down the staggering sentinel, who was endeavouring again to seize upon him. The whole troop then rode off at a gallop, for the alarm began to grow general in the village; some soldiers were seen coming out of their quarters, and others were beginning to get upon horseback. Before Schreckenwald and his party had ridden a mile, they heard more than once the sound of bugles; and when they arrived upon the summit of an eminence commanding a view of the village, their leader, who during the retreat, had placed himself in the rear of his company, now halted to reconnoitre the enemy they had left behind them. There was bustle and confusion in the street, but there did not appear to be any pursuit; so that Schreckenwald followed his route down the river, with speed and activity indeed, but with so much steadiness at the same time, as not to distress the slowest horse of his party.

When they had ridden two hours or more, the confidence of their leader was so much augmented, that he ventured to command a halt at the edge of a pleasant grove which served to conceal their number, whilst both riders and

horses took some refreshment, for which purpose forage and provisions had been borne along with them. Ital Schreckenwald having held some communication with the baroness, continued to offer their travelling companion a sort of surly civility. He invited him to partake of his own mess, which was indeed little different from that which was served out to the other troopers, but was seasoned with a glass of wine from a more choice flask.

To your health, brother,' he said; if you tell this day's story truly, you will allow that I was a true comrade to you two hours since, in riding through the village of Arnheim.'

I will never deny it, fair sir,' said Philipson, and I return you thanks for your timely assistance; alike, whether it sprang from your mistress's order, or your own goodwill.'

Ho! ho! my friend,' said Schreckenwald, laughing. you are a philosopher, and can try conclusions while your horse lies rolling above you, and a Baaren-hauter aims his sword at your throat? Well, since your wit hath discovered so much, I care not if you know that I should not have had much scruple to sacrifice twenty such smoothfaced gentlemen as yourself, rather than the young Baroness of Arnheim had incurred the slightest danger.'

The propriety of the sentiment,' said Philipson, is so undoubtedly correct, that I subscribe to it, even thougł. it is something discourteously expressed towards myself."

In making this reply, the young man, provoked at the insolence of Schreckenwald's manner, raised his voice a little. The circumstance did not escape observation, for, on the instant, Annette Veilchen stood before them, with her mistress's commands on them both to speak in whispers. or rather to be altogether silent.

Say to your mistress that I am mute,' said Philipson.

Our mistress, the baroness, says,' continued Ânnette. with an emphasis on the title, to which she began to ascribe some talismanic influence- the baroness, I tell you, says. that silence much concerns our safety, for it were most hazardous to draw upon this little fugitive party the notice of any passengers who may pass along the road during the necessary halt; and so, sirs, it is the baroness's

request that you will continue the exercise of your teeth as fast as you can, and forbear that of your tongues till you are in a safer condition.'

6

My lady is wise,' answered Ital Schreckenwald, ‘and her maiden is witty. I drink, Mistress Annette, in a cup of Rudesheimer, to the continuance of her sagacity, and of your amiable liveliness of disposition. Will it please you, fair mistress, to pledge me in this generous liquor?

Out, thou German wine-flask! Out, thou eternal swill-flagon! Heard you ever of a modest maiden who drank wine before she had dined?'

'Remain without the generous inspiration then,' said the German, and nourish thy satirical vein on sour cider or acid whey.'

A short space having been allowed to refresh themselves, the little party again mounted their horses, and travelled with such speed, that long before noon they arrived at the strongly fortified town of Kehl, opposite to Strasburg, on the eastern bank of the Rhine.

It is for local antiquaries to discover, whether the travellers crossed from Kehl to Strasburg by the celebrated bridge of boats which at present maintains the communication across the river, or whether they were wafted over by some other mode of transportation. It is enough that they passed in safety, and had landed on the other side, where-whether she dreaded that he might forget the charge she had given him that here they were to separate, or whether she thought that something more might be said in the moment of parting-the young baroness, before remounting her horse, once more approached Arthur Philipson, who too truly guessed the tenor of what she had to say.

'Gentle stranger,' she said, 'I must now bid you farewell. But first let me ask if you know whereabouts you are to seek your father?

'In an inn called the Flying Stag,' said Arthur, dejectediy; ' but where that is situated in this large town, I know not.' 'Do you know the place, Ital Schreckenwald ? '

'I, young lady? Not I-I know nothing of Strasburg and its inns. I believe most of our party are as ignorant as I am.'

'You and they speak German, I suppose,' said the baroness, dryly, and can make inquiry more easily than

a foreigner? Go, sir, and forget not that humanity to the stranger is a religious duty.'

With that shrug of the shoulders which testifies a displeased messenger, Ital went to make some inquiry, and, in his absence, brief as it was, Anne took an opportunity