As
the armed troop, out-numbering the Adlersteiners by about a dozen,
and followed by a rabble with straw and pine brands, came forth on
the meadow, the count halted and appeared to be giving orders.
"The ruffian! He is calling them on! Now--" began Ebbo.
"Nay, there is no sign yet that he is not peacefully on his journey
to the camp," responded Moritz; and, chafing with impatient fury, the
knight waited while Schlangenwald rode towards the old channel of the
Braunwasser, and there, drawing his rein, and sitting like a statue
in his stirrups, he could hear him shout: "The lazy dogs are not
astir yet. We will give them a reveille. Forward with your brands!"
"Now!" and Ebbo's cream-coloured horse leapt forth, as the whole band
flashed into the sunshine from the greenwood covert.
"Who troubles the workmen on my land?" shouted Ebbo.
"Who you may be I care not," replied the count, "but when I find
strangers unlicensed on my lands, I burn down their huts. On,
fellows!"
"Back, fellows!" called Ebbo. "Whoso touches a stick on Adlerstein
ground shall suffer.
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