Berger started like one who is suddenly roused from a heavy dream. He looked around in confusion.
"What is it?" he asked, staring at Oldenburg.
"You are exhausted by excessive efforts, Berger. Lie down for an hour. I will have you called when you are needed."
"Exhausted?" said Berger, relapsing into his dreamy state. "Yes; exhausted unto death. But that is why an hour is not enough; when I go to sleep, it must be an eternal sleep."
At that moment Schmenckel stepped up, who had been on guard upon the barricade, and said,
"There is something very peculiar going on. I believe they are going to give us artillery now."
Berger started up.
"Did I not tell you?" he cried. "The decisive hour has come. Up! up! you brave men; all of you! One more merry dance with the weird fairies of life, and then to unbroken rest in the cool night of death. Up! up!"
At this call some of the men rose from their resting-places near the fire, seized their arms, and hastened with Berger to their posts. Others remained where they were and laughed at the false alarm. But they also were quickly enough upon their feet when an explosion came which shook the houses to their foundations, and grape and canister came rattling against the barricade and the faces of the houses.
"Now they are in earnest," said Oldenburg, turning to Oswald. But the place where Oswald had been standing was empty.