aron, in a strangled voice, "my little child! my
little child!" And therewith he broke down, and his whole body shook
with fierce, dry sobs; for men in those days did not seek to hide their
grief as they do now, but were fierce and strong in the expression of
that as of all else.

"Never mind, dear father," whispered Otto; "it did not hurt me so very
much," and he pressed his lips against his father's cheek.

Little Otto had but one hand.

XII. A Ride For Life.

But not yet was Otto safe, and all danger past and gone by. Suddenly, as
they stood there, the harsh clangor of a bell broke the silence of
the starry night above their heads, and as they raised their faces and
looked up, they saw lights flashing from window to window. Presently
came the sound of a hoarse voice shouting something that, from the
distance, they could not understand.

One-eyed Hans smote his hand upon his thigh. Look said he, "here is
what comes of having a soft heart in one's bosom. I overcame and bound a
watchman up yonder, and forced him to tell me where our young Baron lay.
It was on my mind to run my knife into him after he had told me every
thing, but then, bethinking how the young Baron hated the thought of
bloodshed, I said to myself, 'No, Hans, I will spare the villain's
life.' See now what comes of being merciful; here, by hook or by crook,
the fellow has loosed himself from his bonds, and brings the whole
castle about our ears like a nest of wasps."

"We must fly," said the Baron; "for nothing else in the world is
left me, now that all have deserted me in this black time of trouble,
excepting these six faithful ones."

His voice was bitter, bitter, as he spoke; then stooping, he raised Otto
in his arms, and bearing him gently, began rapidly descending the rocky
slope to the level road that ran along the edge of the hill beneath.
Close behind him followed the rest; Hans still grimed with soot and in
his bare feet. A little distance from the road and under the shade of
the forest trees, seven horses stood waiting. The Baron mounted upon
his great black charger, seating little Otto upon the saddle in front of
him. "Forward!" he cried, and away they clattered and out upon the road.
Then--"To St. Michaelsburg," said Baron Conrad, in his deep voice, and
the horses' heads were turned to the westward, and away they galloped
through the black shadows of the forest, leaving Trutz-Drachen behind
them.

But still the sound of the ala