Vögeli looked steadily at the Governor. He was inwardly raging and on the point of uttering a fatal threat, but controlled himself in time, and merely answered: “May you never repent this, my lord. I go as you command.”
The Governor hurled some furious oaths after him, then flung himself back in his chair and pondered afresh. “’Twere better, methinks, had I kept the fellow here. Who knows what mischief he may breed?” Sir Peter on this occasion seemed to have lacked his wonted decision, for he hesitated and delayed putting his scheme against the people into execution, until much precious time had been irrevocably lost.
After leaving the Governor, Vögeli repaired directly to the market place, where his followers were anxiously awaiting him. “Have you brought us our pay?” shouted one boisterous fellow, as soon as he caught sight of the Captain.
“Fine pay indeed,” was the reply. “Our noble lord told me to send you all to the Evil One.”
A storm of angry shouts arose. “Let us go and get it ourselves!” yelled one.
“He shall give us a ton of gold and his life to boot!” cried another.
“Peace!” commanded Vögeli. Silence ensued, when lo, a singular spectacle presented itself. At the beat of a drum throngs of armed citizens began to issue from all the houses; rapidly the number increased, being swelled by women and half-grown lads also, bearing any sort of implement that would serve as a weapon.
“To the Governor! To Hagenbach’s quarters!” was the general cry. “Long live the illustrious House of Austria!” and therewith the Hapsburg banner floated lightly in the breeze. Renewed shouts greeted the well-known emblem—“Long live our noble lord, Duke Sigismund! hurrah! hurrah!” On they moved toward their destination, when suddenly a troop of glittering horsemen blocked the way. They were nobles from the surrounding country on their way to complain to the Governor of injuries on the part of the Burgundian officers.
“Stay, in God’s name!” shouted the foremost of the riders. “What would you do?”
“Long live Austria! Long live Archduke Sigismund!” was the only response.