looked down on the singular groom
who instructed the armed band in the court-yard as if he had been used
to military duty all his life, assigned to every one his post in the
court-yard, ordered the placing of men, cattle, and property, and then
sallied forth with the mounted servants to reconnoitre the enemy. The
baron, in the meanwhile, buried with trembling hands a casket of jewels
in the cellar, while master Talander looked through his long telescope
at the stars which now began to appear, compared his observations with
the singular circles, lines, and signs upon a large table, and then
made his calculations until the drops of perspiration stood upon his
forehead, examining the results now with a joyful nod, and now with a
thoughtful shake of his white head. At midnight the reconnoitring corp
returned. The garrison was summoned with beating of drums, and Axel
addressed them as follows: "The Croats will presently enter the village
and will not spare any thing; the sky is already red with their
torches; they will burn here also, but we shall be secure behind these
walls while you show yourselves to be men. Bear in mind that you are
to fight for your good lord and his noble daughter, for the pure
doctrine of the gospel, for your venerable pastor, for the honour of
your wives, and for the lives of your children. Now long life to the
elector!"

"Long life to the elector!" shouted the band after him, joyfully; but
the "_Hoch_" stuck in many a throat, as at this moment the music of the
approaching Croats chimed in with their "_Vivat_" as a flourish.

"To your posts," cried Axel in a thundering voice, and then once more
looking to the draw bridge, he ordered the gates to be secured and
ascended the battlements of the _donjon_. A wild tumult was now heard
in the village. The Croats searched boisterously for the inhabitants
and provisions but in vain, and therefore avenged their disappointment
upon the doors and windows of the cottages. At length a troop with
torches galloped up to the castle, startled at the drawn bridge and
sounded the trumpet as a summons for admittance. The trumpet within
the castle was sounded in answer, and Axel asked in military form what
was their wish.

"Down with the bridge first," blustered an infuriated captain of the
Croats in broken German, "and then you will see what we want."

"Show us the orders of his Imperial Majesty and our Elector, that this
castle is to receive a garrison," r