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

rs, was carrying a great palisade past the spot where the children stood, 'ple

ild, your father is down in the moat with a lot of other men, bringing in wood that the enemy had piled up ready to burn us out. When

ad their Bibles. Wasn't that what Abimelech did when he

laughed Wahle, 'a woman dropped a stone on his head

soon overtake Torst

im in tight grips? why, he can't even stir out of his arm-chair. His people h

o such a rage at not taking the town, that the gout might ri

iously; 'we ought not to wish eve

all that surrounded the moat. Several balls whistled over the heads of the two chil

he time in a sheltered corner. The two children, more frightened at the sight of the man's fall than at their own danger, were quite at a loss which wa

d of supper,' he said, as he hastily gulped down the contents of the can. 'One hardly has time even to say, "Grant, O Lord, what I partake!" And yet I ought to be thankful, too, that I am here

utter will never be able to eat any more soup. He fell

ther, child, and my old friend? But,' he wen

ather, do not let the arch-enemy prevail against me, or what will become of my three boys, all of them stampers at the Prince's Shaft

dark lantern so that its light fell for

is a cold Swedish bullet rankling in my vitals. Promise me, old friend, that I shall have an honourable burial; not in this shabby miner

e me that I shall have

, "A good journey to

sponded Roller heartily, as Hofmann, putt

' over the dying man. The hollow roar of the Swedish siege-guns outside, and the constant dull thud of the cannon-balls striking the great ear

ere till things are quieter outside, for the stones and bullets strike just anybody at random, and make no d

us, dear father!' sobbed the child. 'Something might happen to you like what happened to poor Hofmann t

under the clear sky; but the great God, our heavenly Father, can take care of us wherever we are. Whether I am at work in the deep mine, or in front of the Swedish guns, or sitting quietly at home w

d soldiers make it? I am sure they would all rather sit by their stoves at h

I daresay they want to drive religion out of the world altogether, for I don't think anybody can ever expect to make people good by firing off cannons at them. Our schoolmaster says it's like cutting a man's head off to cure him of the toothache. But oh, Dollie, I sometimes feel so sad you can't think. You have a good father to love you and take care of y

nn is coming to life again down there i

ildren

He laid himself down and listened again, with his ear close to the ea

' said Dollie.

they get underneath the city wall, or else one of the gates. Then the Swedes put a great box full of gunpowder i

said Dollie in a fright, 'or

what your father tol

ut whatever shall we do? Oh, if

e gleam of a light or the flash of a weapon; at times some dark mass seemed to move before his eyes, or his ears were saluted by a mysterious sound, then all w

him for these reasons to report to me from time to time how things go at the Castle and the Kreuz Gate. But I thank you all the same for your information, though what the prisoners say, especia

y the Burgomaster, stepped to the loop-ho

. Ah! my friend, give me the devotion and bravery of the Freibergers before any number of bastions, if I am to hold the foe at bay. As things stand, our hopes of a speedy raising of the siege grow

n into the gallery c

what is it?' a

ith greater effect at the enemy's works before the Peter Gate, to open new loop-holes in the lower p

turning away from the messenger,

catching hold of the Defensioner's coat. 'The Swedes are digging another mine; just listen at them h

nd to listen, Roller entered with s

ieter now. And here are a few sticks I've brought in out of

tly the man I wanted. Come to me as soon as you

ed his little daughter out of the gallery to see her safely started on her

tened to his commanding officer. 'Your excellency!' he cried, 'down in that corner the Swedes

ions in the attempt to get the upper hand, and for very plain reasons the Freibergers did their utmost to steal a march on the enemy. Although the ground was frozen so hard that it had fir

hether he likes it or not. And besides, if the Swedes can give up their lives for mere money, cannot we do as much for fatherland, a

soon be all over with us.' And he picked and shovelled away with redoubled energy, les

ust be approaching the Swedish mine. Now then for water, and hot

ch rushed gurgling down at the lower end, for the purpose of drowning the Swedish mine. Among those busy bringing the water in firemen's bucke

. 'Our wives are brewing away yonder as though they had their coppers full of good wort instead of w

ered, then opened, and a red stream of fire gushed forth, accompanied by clouds of smoke and stones. The Swedes had observed the presence of an unusual number

for the imprisoned Freibergers to force a passage through the mass of débris that covered them; indeed,

h by a miracle. 'And my brave old comrade, the miller of Erbisdorf, gone at last. We two were carrying the very same

, 'help me on to my legs again, for mercy's sake. Here are clods, and stones, and bits of wood ja

besides killing three men and severely wounding five others, the exploded mine had cost the lives of two of his donkeys, he remarked: 'Ah, ha! Then they too have died for their fatherland, and will sleep in the temple of fame. I can tell you one thing, though; if the flour does choke us

fensive works before the bastion, had been set on fire. The rising flames cast a dreadful glare around, destroyed several of the works in question, and set fire to parts of the tower above the gate, which, falling into the covered ga

water supply, made war on us under the earth, tried to blow us up into the air, and now they turn against