"The forester is a fox," replied Karl; "no one will catch him; but as to the farmer and his young wife, Heaven have mercy on them!"
"Save our people!" cried a supplicating voice close to Fink. Lenore stood in the room, pale, with folded hands.
Anton hurried to the door through which she had silently entered. "The baroness!" cried he, anxiously.
"She has heard nothing as yet," hurriedly replied Lenore. "Send to the farm; help our people!"
Fink caught up his cap. "Bring out my horse," said he to Karl.
"You can't be spared now," said Anton, barring the way. "I will take your horse."
"I beg your pardon, Mr. Wohlfart," interpolated Karl; "if I may ride Herr von Fink's horse, I shall be quite able to make it out."
"So be it, then," decided Fink; "send hither the forester and any man you can beat up; the women, horses, and children you can dispatch to the forest. Let the farmer go with all his cattle into the thicket as far as he can, and keep a look-out on the castle from the old firs near the sand-pit. As for you, keep on my horse, which I shall, alas! have to make over to you for some days to come; ride off to Rosmin, and seek out the nearest detachment of our soldiers; tell them we implore them to come to our aid, and, if possible, to bring cavalry with them."
"Our red-caps are about three miles beyond Rosmin," said Karl, turning to go. "The Kunau smith called that out to me as I rode by."
"Bring any military you can. I'll write a line to the commanding officer while you are saddling the horse."