e.
'Hurrah! Now to give them something to help them on their way.' So
saying, he lighted one hand-grenade after another, and hurled them with
all his force through the loop-hole. 'Now, here with the double
arquebuses! Dippolt, have you loaded them all?' As he spoke, he
seized one of the pieces that stood in readiness, and fired it after
the flying Swedes.

The face was so blackened with gunpowder and smoke as to be almost
unrecognisable, but Schoenleben knew the voice at once for that of the
brave Commandant von Schweinitz, who thus both by word and action
encouraged his men to do their utmost against the enemy.

Hastily turning round, and catching sight as he did so of the
Burgomaster's face, the soldier frankly stepped up to the new-comer and
shook him kindly by the hand, saying in a hearty tone:

'So you are here, Burgomaster! There,' and he pushed the visitor
good-humouredly towards a loop-hole; 'have a look at the vagabonds
showing us their heels. They'll not carry more than a third of their
storming-ladders back with them. So, now you have come, you can help
us make merry, Schoenleben. I feel so pleased I scarcely know how to
contain myself.'

A great shout of joy rose from the ranks of the besieged at sight of
the flying Swedes.

'Right, my children!' cried their commander. 'Shout "Victory" to your
heart's content. Schoenleben, I am proud of commanding your
Freibergers. They have behaved like veteran and brave soldiers. I
must give the palm to your City Guard, who have held the most dangerous
post, the one at the breach by the Kreuz Gate, with such calm
determination that the Swedes never once set foot on the ramparts.
Victory, victory!' he shouted, as the jubilant cry rose again from the
ranks below.

Then Schoenleben spoke out honestly and heartily. 'Colonel von
Schweinitz,' he said, 'I trust you will pardon the speech I made to you
not long since; it might well annoy you. Henceforth I say with you,
"Welcome death rather than surrender to the Swedes!"'

'Why, what is all this about?' said Schweinitz heartily; 'I was every
bit as much to blame as you were. I'm a rough soldier that doesn't
stop to pick his words. You mustn't take too much notice of my
speaking out a bit hastily now and then.'

While the two worthy men were making up their quarrel, Schoenleben
noticed that the skirt of the other's coat was smeared with blood.

'You are wounded,' cried the Burgomaster in alarm.

'I ha