ft dancing, and distraught?

ALL
We could not. We were spell-bound. Nay, we could not.

JACOBUS
[sagely, after the others]
We could not.

BARBARA
So!--But there was one who could.
There was one man. And this is he.
[turning to Michael]
And I,
I am no more your Barbara,--I am his.
And I will go with him, over the world.
I come to say farewell.

JACOBUS
He hath bewitched her!

MICHAEL
Why did we ever come? Poor darling one,
Thy too-much duty hath us in a trap!

AXEL the Smith
No, no!--Fair play!

OTHERS
Don't let them go! We have them.

PETER the Cobbler
Hold what ye have. Be 't children, rats or mice!

[Hubbub without, and shouts. Some of the burghers hasten out after
this fresh excitement. JACOBUS is cowed. BARBARA and MICHAEL are
startled. The shouts turn savage. The uproar grows. Shouts of
'Ay, there be is! We have him! We have him! Help--help! Hold
fast! Ah! Piper! Piper! Piper!'

How now? What all!--

[The crowd parts to admit the PIPER, haled hither with shouts and
pelting, by MARTIN the Watch and other men, all breathless. His
eyes burn.

MICHAEL
[apart]
Save us!--They have him.

MARTIN
[gaspingly]
Help!
Mark ye--I caught him!--Help,--and hold him fast!

PIPER
I came here,--frog!

MARTIN
Ay, he were coming on;
And after him a squirrel, hopping close!

SECOND MAN
As no man ever saw a squirrel hop--
Near any man from Hamelin! And I looked--

MARTIN
And it was he; and all we rush upon him--
And take him!

PIPER
Loose thy claws, I tell thee I--

ALL
( 'Ware!
( Mercy!
( Let him go!

VOICE FROM CROWD
I have the squirrel!

PIPER
[savagely]
Let the squirrel go!
Or you shall rue it.--Loose him! He's not mine.

[He sees BARBARA and MICHAEL for the first time and recoils with
amazement. BARBARA steps towards him.

BARBARA
Oh, let him go,--let be. His heart is clear,
As water from the well!
[The PIPER gazes at her, open-mouthed.]

ALL
( She talks in her sleep!
( The maid's bewitched!
( Now, will ye hear?

AXEL'S WIFE
He piped and made thee dance!

PETER the Cobbler
'T was he bewitched us!

BARBARA
[serenely]
Whatever was,--it was for love of me.

PIPER
[thunderstruck]
So!

BARBARA
He piped;--and all ye danced and fled away!
He piped;--and brought me back my wandering wits,
And gave me safe unto my Love again,--
My Love I had forgotten. . . .

PIPER
So!

MICHAEL
[with conviction]
Truly