leben and several others, among whom were
Hillner the journeyman, and the town servant Juechziger. Winter had
come in all its might, and the cold, particularly up here in the windy
tower, was very severe, while snow lay deep over all the surrounding
landscape. The eyes of those present were intently gazing beyond the
town, to where, on the hill above the Hospital Church, many cavalry
soldiers could be seen moving about and beginning to take up their
positions. There had been a good deal of doubt expressed in the town
as to whether the Swedish commander really meant to undertake a siege
up there among the mountains at such an inclement season, with snow
lying thickly on the frozen ground. The appearance of these horsemen
and their business-like movements seemed to set such doubts at rest
once for all.

'Respected Herr Burgomaster,' began Juechziger, 'in my humble opinion
those soldiers are not Swedes at all, but Imperialists who have reached
us from Bohemia before the enemy had time to come up. I should think
Marshal Piccolomini has sent them to frighten the Swedes into leaving
the city alone.'

'What we ardently wish we soon believe,' and Juechziger's speech found
favour with the Burgomaster no less than with his other hearers.
Hillner alone said respectfully but firmly, 'Herr Burgomaster, they are
Swedes beyond the possibility of doubt. I know them well; they are
Diedemann's dragoons.'

'And how may you happen to know that, young man?' asked Schoenleben
gloomily.

'Because--well, in fact, because I once served among the Swedes
myself,' replied Hillner.

'What!' cried Schoenleben in astonishment; 'you a Swede, and here in
Freiberg!'

'I crave your pardon, Herr Burgomaster,' returned Hillner. 'By this
time very few in the Swedish army are really Swedes at all; they are
men gathered in from all nations--not a few of them from Saxony itself.
Many a citizen and countryman too has been driven by starvation to take
up the hard life of a soldier just to get the means of keeping body and
soul together. Others have been dragged by force into the Swedish
ranks, as I was. I only served one year, the year in which General
Bannier laid siege to Freiberg. I was wounded in the course of that
siege, taken prisoner, and brought into the city, and being recognised
for a Saxon born and bred, I was allowed to return to my trade. I am
just about to become a master carpenter, and have already applied to be
enrolled among