The Young Captives / A Narrative of the Shipwreck and Suffering of John and William Doyley

h which religion had but little to do. Grim cannon sometimes stood there, not to fire harmless salutes on days of public rejoicing, but more often to be loaded with dead

over all the surrounding landscape. The eyes of those present were intently gazing beyond the town, to where, on the hill above the Hospital Church, many cavalry soldiers could be seen moving about and beginning to take up their positions. There had been a good deal of doubt expressed in the

at all, but Imperialists who have reached us from Bohemia before the enemy had time to come up. I

no less than with his other hearers. Hillner alone said respectfully but firmly, 'Herr Burgomaster

o know that, young man?'

se I once served among the Sw

n astonishment; 'you a Swe

rvation to take up the hard life of a soldier just to get the means of keeping body and soul together. Others have been dragged by force into the Swedish ranks, as I was. I only served one year, the year in which General Bannier laid siege to Freiberg. I was wound

r na

rna. Might I entreat your worship'

ben rather shortly. 'You must make your applicatio

,' persisted Hillner, in a tone of entreaty. 'And when y

d Jüchziger to himself. 'And thank you, Master Shavi

orn, with the City Guard, garrisoned the Electoral Castle and the Kreuz Gate, together with the works and space that lay between. The remaining citizens were told off to defend the posterns and walls, in which task they were assisted by companies of country-people and journeymen of the various city guilds armed in all haste. Some of these auxiliaries also waited, drawn up in their ranks before the town hall, ready to march at a moment's notice to any specially threatened point. To the brave and faithful miners were assigne

guns of which were levelled at the St. Peter's Tower. Before commencing hostilities, however, the Swedish marshal sent a trumpeter to the town to inquire whether the commandant intended to defend the place, what was his name, and whether he knew him, To

h, the collar and edges of which were thickly laced with gold brocade wherever the broad sword-belt girt round his body permitted them to be seen. From left shoulder to right hip hung the bandolier or cartridge-belt, which was adorned with many golden tufts, and partly hid the lion of the Freiberg city arms embroidered on his breast. Tight breeches of green cloth reached to the ankl

recognised an old co

ldier, 'than in my blue apron and coloured jerkin,

ould be made a Defensioner! But are you a citizen, and do you know your drill? Th

daresay I shall get my certificate of citizenship. Your

s only a little one yet, but anybody can see that it is a beard. H

e interrupted Conrad with the abrupt q

he workshop. What wonders a uniform can work! Mistress Blüthgen coloured with pleasure when she saw her foreman in

o shave it all off and hide every scrap of the hair. Bah! I knew long enough ago that it was as red as the b

household, including the miller and his wife, with little Dollie

k as to the Swedes?

to ask our commandant a question

the questions

on the words, and the women and

ey were,' replied Hillner. 'That's Marshal Torste

rection whence the reports seemed to come, they saw a flash issue from t

estroyed the topmost parapet of the tower. The gun planted there was silenced, and had to be moved down to a lower chamber. By way of covering this move

e game has begun, and I must go and take my

household watched his retreating

e Swedes opened their entrenchments before the Peter Gate, and planted three mortars t

e new year was not destined to open u