whom　you　swore　the　oath　of　allegiancean　oath　which　God　received；　and　which　no　man　can　annul。　Men　of　Brunen！　shall　we　stand　this　shame　that　our　sons　bring　upon　us？　Shall　the　world　point　their　fingers　at　us　and　say：　'These　are　the　fathers　of　soldiers　who　deserted　their　regiment；　and　were　false　to　their　king？'〃
  〃No！〃　cried　they　all；　as　with　one　voice〃no；　we　will　not　stand　thiswe　will　have　no　deserters　as　sons！〃
  The　old　man　bowed　his　head　in　silence；　then　turned　slowly　to　the　side　where　the　women　stood。
  〃Women　and　maidens　of　Brunen！　Will　you　allow　your　sons　and　brothers　who　are　covered　with　shame；　to　stay　amongst　you？　Will　you　receive　the　deserters　in　your　houses　and　at　your　tables？　Will　you　open　your　arms　to　them　and　call　them　sons　and　brothers？〃
  〃No；　no！〃　cried　the　women　and　maidens；　simultaneously；　〃we　will　not　receive　them　in　our　houses；　or　at　our　tables。　We　will　have　no　deserters　for　sons　or　brothers！〃
  The　old　man　stood　erect；　and；　as　if　inspired　with　a　mighty　enthusiasm；　raised　his　arm　toward　heaven；　and　his　countenance　beamed　with　holy　light。
  〃They　must　return　to　their　flag；〃　he　cried；　in　a　commanding　voice　〃With　your　blood　you　must　wash　the　shame　from　your　brows；　and　from　ours。　If　God　preserves　your　lives；　and　you　redeem　your　honor　as　brave　soldiers　of　the　King　of　Prussia；　then　and　then　only　we　will　receive　you　as　our　sons　and　welcome　you　to　our　arms。〃
  〃So　shall　it　be！〃　cried　the　men　and　the　women；　and　the　maidens　murmured　their　acquiescence。
  The　old　man　stepped　from　the　bench　and　walked　forward　slowly　to　the　other　side　of　the　square　where　the　twelve　young　men　were　standing　gazing　at　him　with　terrified　faces。
  〃Return！〃　cried　the　old　man；　stretching　his　arm　toward　them〃return　to　the　flag　of　your　king；　we　want　no　deserters　amongst　us；　away　with　you！〃
  〃Away　with　you！〃　cried　the　men〃away　from　our　village！〃
  The　children；　influenced　by　their　parents；　cried　out　with　shrill　voices：　〃Away　from　our　villageaway！〃
  The　youths　were　at　first　stunned；　and　gazed　with　staring　eyes　at　the　crowd　of　angry　faces　and　flashing　eyes　which　menaced　them；　then　seized　with　terror；　they　fled。
  〃Away　with　you！　away　with　the　deserters！〃　was　thundered　after　them。　〃Away　with　you！〃　cried　their　mothers；　fathers；　brothers；　sisters；　and　friends。
  This　fearful　cry　sounded　to　them　like　the　peal　of　the　last　judgment。　With　trembling　knees；　and　faces　pale　as　death；　they　rushed　down　the　principal　street　of　the　village。　The　crowd　started　after　them；　and　like　the　howling　of　a　storm；　shouted　behind　them：　〃Away　with　you！　away　with　the　deserters！〃
  On　they　ran；　as　if　pursued　by　furies；　farther；　farther　down　the　street；　but　the　villagers　still　chased　them。　Once　only　Charles　Henry　dared　to　look　around　at　the　pursuers。　It　was　a　fearful　sight。　At　the　head　of　the　rest　he　saw　his　old　father；　with　his　pale　face；　his　white　hair　flying　in　the　wind；　raising　his　arms　threateningly　toward　him；　he　cried　out　in　a　thundering　voice：　〃Away　with　you！away　with　the　deserters！〃
  Charles　Henry　rushed　onwarda　cry　of　terror　escaped　his　lips；　and　he　fled　like　a　madman。
  They　had　passed　the　borders　of　the　villageit　was　quiet　behind　themthey　dared　to　look　backthey　were　alone。　But　on　the　boundary…　line　the　villagers　stoodtheir　faces　turned　toward　the　fugitives　and　like　the　distant　croakings　of　a　raven　there　sounded　in　the　air：　〃Away　with　you！away　with　the　deserters！〃
  Breathless；　with　tottering　knees；　the　boys　sank　downwith　hollow　eyes；　speechless　with　terror；　sorrow；　and　humility；　they　gazed　at　each　other。
  They　did　not　dare　return　to　the　village。　Perhaps　to　appease　the　anger　of　their　relations；　perhaps　because　they　repented　of　their　cowardice；　they　returned　to　their　regiment；　acknowledged　their　crime；　and　prayed　for　forgiveness。
  Thus　the　brave　fathers　of　the　village　of　Brunen　punished　their　cowardly　sons；　and　drove　the　dishonored　and　faithless　boys　to　their　duty；　perhaps　to　their　death。　＇Footnote：　This　account　is　historical。＇
  CHAPTER　VI。
  THE　TRAITOR'S　BETRAYAL。
  Count　Ranuzi　was　alone　in　his　apartments。　He　sat　at　his　writing…　table　reading　over　the　two　letters　he　had　just　written；　a　triumphant　smile　was　upon　his　lip　as　he　finished。　〃It　will　succeed；〃　murmured　he；　softly；　〃we　will　take　Magdeburg　without　a　blow；　and　thus　deprive　the　King　of　Prussia　of　his　most　valuable　fortress。　The　plan　cannot　miscarry；　and　then　I　have　only　to　convince　the　empress　that　I　was　the　soul　of　this　undertakingthat　I　led　the　intrigue。　Ah；　I　shall　succeed　at　lastI　shall　occupy　a　position　worthy　of　meand　as　general　of　our　order　I　shall　rule　the　world。　I　shall　earn　this　title　at　Magdeburgthere　I　will　build　my　thronethere　I　will　reign！　But　I　must　consider　it　all　once　more；　to　see　if　no　error；　no　mistake；　has　escaped　me。　I　first　formed　a　connection　with　the　officer　Yon　Kimsky；　an　Austrian　prisoner；　because　through　him　I　could　make　connections　between　the　town　and　the　citadel。　Kimsky；　at　my　wish；　made　some　of　his　town　friends　acquainted　with　the　officers　of　the　citadel。　It　was　then　necessary　to　give　these　new　friends　some　clew；　some　aim　that　would　appear　innocent　to　them；　and　conceal　the　real　plan。　I　chose　Trenck　as　the　protecting　shield　for　my　undertaking。　To　inspire　him　with　confidence　in　my　agents；　I　obtained　a　sort　of　credential　letter　from　Princess　Amelia；　and　interested　her　in　my　cause。　She　provided　me　with　money；　and　gave　me；　besides　the　one　to　Trenck；　a　letter　of　recommendation　to　a　sure；　trustworthy　friend　in　Magdeburg。　I　was　now　much　nearer　my　design。　On　the　pretence　of　working　for　Trenck；　I　worked　for　myself；　for　my　position　of　general　of　the　Jesuits；　and　for　a　fortress　for　my　empress。　And　thus　far　all　my　plans　have　succeeded。　Trenck　has　formed　a　connection　with　three　Prussian　officers　of　the　citadel。　These；　touched　with　sympathy　for　his　pitiful　condition；　have　determined　to　do　all　in　their　power　to　release　him；　and　are；　therefore；　in　constant　companionship　with　those　whom　Trenck　calls　his　friends。　These；　in　the　mean　time；　are　my　agents　and　subordinates；　they　act　for　me　while　acting　for　Trenck；　the　Prussian　officers　do　not　anticipate　that；　in　helping　Trenck　to　his　freedom；　they　are　helping　the　Empress　of　Austria　to　a　new　fortress。　But　so　it　is。　There　is　no　error　in　my　plan；　it　will　succeed。　I　can　rely　on　Trenck；　he　is　a　subject　of　Maria　Theresa；　and　his　thirst　for　revenge　is　mighty。　He　will　gain　a　fortress　for　his　empress。　The　avenger；　through　whom　God　has　chosen　to　punish　this　arrogant；　heretical　king；　will　arise　from　the　depths　of　a　subterranean　prison。　All　that　is　now　left　to　be　done　is　to　acquaint　Vienna　with　the　information　of　this　undertaking；　so　that　we　may　be　assured　that　an　Austrian　regiment　will　be　in　the　vicinity　of　Magdeburg　at　the　proper　time；　and　storm　the　citadel　at　a　sign　from　us；　and　not　have　that；　which　we　had　taken　by　strategy；　torn　from　us　by　the　King　of　Prussia's　superior　force。　Now　is　a　favorable　time　for　this。　For　Frederick；　the　humiliated；　defeated　king；　is　many　miles　from　Magdeburg；　he　has　been　compelled　to　raise　the　siege　of　Dresden；　and　the　Austrian　troops　are　lying　there　like　the　Russians　at　Frankfort。　Nor　are　the　French　far　off。　All　these　armies　will　be　prepared　to　hasten　to　our　aid。　All　that　now　remains　to　be　done　is　to　get　this　news　safely　to　Vienna。　But　how　to　accomplish　this　is　a　hard　question。　It　were　well　could　I　go　myself。　But　I　am　a　prisoner　of　war；　and；　until　Magdeburg　is　in　our　power；　this　chain　will　clog　me。　Another　must　be　senta　messenger　full　of　courage；　determination；　and　hardihood。　I　have　said　this　in　my　letter　to　Captain　von　Kimsky；　he　must　seek　such　a　man　amongst　our　sworn　friends　of　the　citadel；　and　give　him　the　sheet　of　paper　I　send　in　my　letter。　How　harmless；　how　insignificant　this　sheet　of　paper　seems！　and　still；　were　it　to　fall　in　the　King　of　Prussia's　hands；　it　would　save　him　a　strong　fortress　and　several　millions　of　thalers；　for　all　the　money　of　the　Dresden　treasury　was　brought　to　Magdeburg　for　safe…keeping。　Ah！　ah！　how　much　would　Frederick　give　for　these　two　lines　of　writing；　and　how　richly　would　he　reward　him　who　gave　him　the　key　to　it！　I　will　send　the　key　by　a　different　messenger；　and　therefore　this　second　letter。　But　even　if　both　my　messengers　were　intercepted；　all　is　not　lost。　I　have　notified　Trenck　also　to　write　to　Vienna　for　money　and　help。　He　must　continue　to　be　the　shield　behind　which　we　intrench　ourselves。　Should　the　undertaking　miscarry；　we　will　lay　it　upon　Trenck；　should　it　succeed；　it　will　be　through　me；　and　I　will　not　be　tardy　in　claiming　my　reward。　The　general　of　our　order　is　old；　should　he；　however；　persist　in　living；　his　tenacious　nature　must〃　He　did　not　dare　to　finish　the　sentence；　but　a　wild；　demoniac　smile　supplied　the　words　his　lips　dared　not　utter。　He　arose　and　walked　several　times　up　and　down　his　chamber；　completely　lost　in　ambitious　dreams　of　the　future；　for　whose　realization；　as　a　true　Jesuit；　he　shunned　no　means；　mindful　of　the　motto　of　their　order：　〃The　end　sanctifies　the　means。〃
  He　saw　a　ring　upon　his　handthat　ring；　full　of　significance；　before　which　kings　had　often　bowed；　which　was　to　the　Jesuits　what　the　crown　is　to　the　kingthe　sacred　sign　of　power　and　glorythe　indisputable　sign　of　invisible　but　supreme　power。　He　saw　himself；　this　ring　upon　his　hand；　subjugating　nations；　rewa