t off our water supply, made war on us under
the earth, tried to blow us up into the air, and now they turn against
us the might of fire. And side by side with these great powers of
nature stalks the pale phantom of death.'

CHAPTER IX.

DIVERSE HUMAN HEARTS.

'The miner Roller waits without, respected Herr Burgomaster!' announced
Juechziger, the town servant.

'Bid him come in,' said Schoenleben. 'Yes, colonel,' he continued,
turning to Schweinitz, who was with him; 'I assure you, if confidence
may be put in any human being, you may trust this man. He is brave,
faithful, and yet shrewd. He will come back as surely as a dove
returns to its young. You may send him without hesitation.'

'Would you like to earn three ducats, my good fellow?' Schweinitz asked
Roller as the latter entered the room.

'How, your excellency?' inquired the miner.

'You are to take despatches from us to Marshal Piccolomini in Bohemia,
lay our condition before him in full, and get him to hasten to our
assistance. The service is not without some danger, for you will have
to make your way twice through the enemy's lines, and die rather than
betray your secret.'

'So I should suppose,' replied Roller dryly.

'Well, what do you say? are you willing to do it, or not?' inquired
Schoenleben and Schweinitz together.

'This is no question of a reward,' said Roller. 'You command, and I
obey.'

'You are a fine fellow,' said Schoenleben heartily; 'and I will myself
give you a couple of ducats extra if you do your business
satisfactorily.'

'I crave your pardon, respected Herr Burgomaster!' replied Roller, 'I
do not sell my life for silver or gold, for if so I should take sides
with friend or foe, according to which would give me the highest pay.
But it seems to me that we all make up, as it were, one body in what we
have to do, to defend town, wife and child, from the enemy. Very well,
then; you are the head, and I am one of the least members, that has to
do just what the head bids it. That is what I believe, and I try to
fight bravely and do my duty because I believe it.'

Schweinitz shook the brave miner heartily by the hand, saying: 'With
men like you I can hold the mountain-city for a long time indeed, but
we must not neglect means that may help rid us of the enemy. Come with
me, my good fellow, while I make out your papers.'

The same day several children, with Roller's Dollie among them, were
crouching round the air-ho