"Yes," answered Hesso; "twenty mules, and eight Milanese. One got away, and three were killed, so that four will escape punishment."
"Was there no escort?" inquired Erwin, as he rode by the headsman's side.
"No, not this time, although usually one comes out from Milan; but to-day it failed."
Thinking that the Unknown and his soldiers had probably been detailed for that duty, Erwin determined to question the prisoners, in the hope of discovering the name of his adversary.
"We must invent some other punishment," resumed Hesso. "They don't care for mutilation; one of them told me the other day, that Milan would give him a golden hand to replace the one that I had cut off. If the Emperor wants to starve them out, he will have to hang every one who tries to bring even a handful of peas into the town."
"Death is the punishment for a repetition of the offence, I believe?" asked the knight.
"Yes; but they are very careful not to be caught at that! They are so well paid for mutilation that they are not tempted to risk their lives. But they do not seem to care for their hands at all, and I am kept busy all day long in intercepting their convoys.--I suppose that, while I am stopping this one, another has got into the city."
By this time, they had reached the line of tents occupied by Hesso and his assistants--about thirty paces in front of the main camp. In the centre stood a gallows, and, near by, a heavy block stained with blood, to which the unfortunate prisoners were led.
"Do you mean to carry their sentence into effect at once?" asked Erwin.
"Certainly! These birds are a useless encumbrance in camp; as soon as they have left their hands with me, they can go where they please. Such is the law!" replied Hesso, who had taken off his doublet, and stood, with his shirt-sleeves rolled up to the elbows, before the fatal block.