"We have found him," he joyfully exclaimed. "Come quickly!"
"Is he living?"
"Yes."
Accompanied by Ikwarte and Wolfgang, I went along. Oh! I cannot tell the horrors I then saw and heard.
"There, by the torch, there he is!"
My knees shook under me. Then a man came again towards us, and cried out, "Grandfather, come! There is yet time!"
It was my grandson, the vicar. We reached the place. There lay Martella on the ground bending over a figure. Rothfuss stood by her with the torch, and Martella cried, "Ernst, wake up! Your father is here!"
I kneeled down by him. I saw his face. His eyes were closed, but his breast rose and fell quickly.
"Ernst! my beloved child! my long-lost child! Ernst! your father calls you! Your mother calls you from eternity! Ernst, you shall live! you have repented; you have atoned! Ernst, Ernst! my son, my son!"
He opened his eyes and moved his hand towards me. I seized it; it was stiff.