"Herr Freiherr," said Moritz, presently, "have you breath to wind
your bugle to call the men back from the pursuit?"
Ebbo essayed, but was too faint, and Friedel, rousing himself from
the stupor, took the horn from him, and made the mountain echoes ring
again, but at the expense of a great effusion of blood.
By this time, however, Heinz was riding back, and a moment his
exultation changed to rage and despair, when he saw the condition of
his young lords. Master Schleiermacher proposed to lay them on some
of the planks prepared for the building, and carry them up the new
road.
"Methinks," said Friedel, "that I could ride if I were lifted on
horseback, and thus would our mother be less shocked."
"Well thought," said Ebbo. "Go on and cheer her. Show her thou
canst keep the saddle, however it may be with me," he added, with a
groan of anguish.
Friedel made the sign of the cross over him. "The holy cross keep us
and her, Ebbo," he said, as he bent to assist in laying his brother
on the boards, where a mantle had been spread; then kissed his brow,
saying, "We shall be together again soon.
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