up to see how things were going on.

"There are eighteen of us," said the locksmith, "all safe men. The
people in the market-place are dispersing, and those in the wine-store
are not much stronger than before. Our captain is as brave as a lion. If
you will help him, he is prepared to try a bold stroke. We can get into
Loewenberg's house from behind. I made the lock on the back door myself.
If we manage cleverly, we can surprise the leaders of the insurrection,
and take them and their arms."

"We must attack them both in front and in the rear," replied Anton.
"Then we shall be sure of them."

"Yes," said the locksmith, a little crestfallen, "if you and your party
will attack them in front."

"We have no arms," cried Anton. "I will go with you, and so will the
forester and a few more, perhaps; but an unarmed band against scythes
and a dozen guns is out of the question."

"Look you, now," said the worthy locksmith; "it comes hard to us, too.
Those who have just left wives and children in their first alarm are not
much inclined to make targets of themselves. Our people are full of
good-will, but those men yonder are desperate, and therefore let us get
in quietly from behind. If we can surprise them, there will be the less
bloodshed, and that's the chief thing. I have got no arms, only a sword
for you."

The party accordingly set off in silence, the locksmith leading the way.
"Our men are assembled in the captain's house," said he; "we can enter
it through the garden without being seen."

At length, having got over hedges and ditches, they found themselves in
the court-yard of a dyer.

"Wait here," said the locksmith, with some disquietude. "The dyer is one
of us militiamen. His house door opens upon the back street, which takes
into Loewenberg's court-yard: I am going to the captain."

The party had only a few minutes to wait before they were joined by the
militia. The captain, a portly butcher, requested Anton to join forces
and walk by his side. They moved on to the back entrance of Loewenberg's
house, saw that the gate was neither locked nor guarded, and the court
empty. They halted for a moment, and the forester proposed his plan.

"We are more than are wanted in the house," said he. "Hard by there is a
broad cross-street leading to the market. Let me have the drummer, a few
of the militia, and half of the country people. We will run to the
market-place and invest the opening of the cross-street, shouting
lo