“Wait till I come down, I'll slap your jaws,” cried the climber.
The spectators were watching him with interest. He was obliged to pause frequently to rest himself, which he did by winding his legs tightly round the pole. At last he reached the top. Extending his arm to take the pipe, it was too short. Climbing still higher, he stretched his body to its greatest length, lost his hold, and fell to the ground. The bystanders raised a great cry. The unfortunate youth's head had embedded itself in the earth, streams of blood gushed from his mouth and nostrils—he was lifeless.
“He's dead! It's all over with him,” was whispered around.
“Carry him off,” commanded Seicht, and then walked on.
One of the bystanders loosed the cross-piece of the mock crucifix; the corpse was then stretched across the two pieces of wood and carried off the scene. As the body was carried past, the noise and revelry everywhere ceased.
“Wasn't that the one who carried the cross?” was asked. “Is he dead? Did he fall from the pole? How terrible!”
Even the progressionist revellers were struck thoughtful, so deeply is the sense of religion rooted in the heart of man. Many a one among [pg 556] them, seeing the pale, rigid face of the dead man, understood his fate to be a solemn warning, and fled from the scene in terror.
The progressionist element of the town was much flattered by the presence at its orgies of the wealthiest property owner of the country.
The women had already made the discovery that the millionaire's only son, Mr. Seraphin Gerlach, was on the eve of marrying a member of the highly respectable house of Greifmann, bankers. But it occasioned them no small amount of surprise that the young gentleman was not in attendance on the beautiful lady at the celebration. Louise's radiant countenance gave no indication, however, that any untoward occurrence had caused the absence of her prospective husband. The wives and daughters of the chieftains were sitting under an awning sipping coffee and eating cake. When Louise approached leaning on her brother's arm, they welcomed her to a place in the circle of loveliness with many courtesies and marks of respect.
Mr. Conrad strolled about the place, studying the spirit which animated the gathering.