wed the law to right them,"
observed the Knight.

"Let us pray for them that their hearts may be changed, and that they
may see their folly and wickedness," said Ava; and Beatrice repeated the
sentiment.

Just then three horsemen were seen approaching the Castle at full speed.
The Knight soon recognised his son and Albert von Otten; the other was
a stranger.

"Ah, they come to bring us the aid of their swords," exclaimed the
Knight. "Three gentlemen will be a host in themselves when opposed to
those unhappy serfs."

The drawbridge was lowered to admit them. Eric directed that it should
be left down, as they were going again to sally forth immediately. He
embraced his father and mother and sisters, and he might have said a few
words to Beatrice, as certainly Albert did to Ava, and Eric introduced
the stranger as Frederick Myconius, professor of divinity.

"Welcome, gentlemen; but I thought, I confess, that you were fighting
men come to aid in defence of the Castle. I was counting on your good
swords."

"Our good swords you shall have, father," answered Eric, taking off the
belt to which hung the scabbard of his weapon. "But we ourselves cannot
wield them. We go forth with other weapons than those of steel, and
trusting to other strength than an arm of flesh to quell these misguided
men. Dr Myconius will address them, as Dr Martin Luther has already
addressed thousands, and turned them aside from their purpose of
vengeance. We have, though, no time to lose."

"Go forth, my son--go forth, my friends; I feel sure that God, who sees
all our actions, will protect you with His Almighty arm in so noble and
pious an object," exclaimed the Knight, holding the sword which had been
given to him.

The three brave young men rode forth from the Castle unarmed, and
hastened towards the rebel host. They well knew the danger, humanly
speaking, to which they were exposing themselves, but not for a moment
did they hesitate doing what they knew to be right. They were soon face
to face with the insurgent band, led on by a man in a red cloak and hat
and white plume. They were a wild savage set of beings in appearance.
Many a bold man might have hesitated to encounter them. Those who now
advanced to meet them trusted not in their own strength to deliver them.
Dr Myconius rode first. As he drew close to the insurgents, he lifted
up his arm and said, "Bear with me, dear friends, while I address a few
words to you, and ask