Part 75 (1/2)

”Hercules, here!” some one called.

”Coming!” replied Mr. Schmenckel, and hurried to where he was wanted.

”Now we want the best!” murmured Oldenburg, looking at what had been done and casting an inquiring glance at the roofs of the houses on both sides of the barricade, where men were busy taking off the slates and tiles as he had directed. ”If Berger does not bring arms all our work is for nothing.”

Just then Berger came with five or six young men. Each of them had a rifle. Others were dragging along a large bag filled with ammunition.

Berger, who had antic.i.p.ated the revolution for several days and made his preparations in his mind, knew all the gunsmiths and shops where arms were kept in the whole neighborhood. He had taken possession of the nearest. A shout of joy arose when the little troop reached the barricade. Soon after an old fowling-piece and a rusty gun with an old-fas.h.i.+oned flint-lock were brought up, and last of all four pistols from the lodgings of a couple of officers which had been luckily discovered. The arms were at once distributed, and every man had his post a.s.signed him. Every armed man had another man by him to load. In the kitchen, in the bas.e.m.e.nt of an adjoining house, bullets were cast under the direction of an old one-eyed man who was an old soldier; and boys, merry storm-petrels of every barricade-fight, were appointed to carry the b.a.l.l.s to the defenders.

The quarter of an hour which Oldenburg had allowed as the longest time that could be given to the erection of the barricade was out, and the very next moment showed how accurately he had calculated. The rifles had but just been loaded and the men had taken their places when a battalion of infantry came marching up the street. A major rode at the head. He ordered ”Halt!” at some distance from the barricade, and rode up alone till within a few yards. He was an old, gray-haired soldier with a good-natured face, who evidently did not like the duty he had to fulfil. His voice sounded wavering, and trembled a little as he raised it as high as he could, and said,

”You, there! I must get through here with my men; and if you do not take that thing there out of my way willingly, I shall have to use force. I should be sorry, for your sake, to have to do so.”

Oldenburg appeared on the barricade.

”In the name of these men!” he said, raising his hat politely to the major, ”I declare that we are determined to stand by each other, and to hold this barricade as long as we can!”

Oldenburg's appearance and his words evidently made an impression on the old soldier.

”You are the leader of these men?”

”I have that honor.”

”You seem to be an intelligent man. Then you must see that that thing there is of no avail, and that your few charges cannot possibly do you any good. Pull that thing down; it is all right.”

”I am sorry I cannot comply with your request, and must adhere to my resolution.”

”Well, then,” said the major, more annoyed than angry, ”you will all go to the devil.”

With these words he turned his horse and galloped back to his men.

Oldenburg was glad when the conversation was at an end. His quick eye had showed him that the kindly words of the major had not failed to make an impression on the crowd, and that more than one looked undecided and doubtful. In a ma.s.s of people enthusiasm effervesces quickly. He turned round and said:

”If there is one among you who had rather live for country and liberty than die for them, he had better say so now. It is time yet!”

The men stood motionless and silent. Many a heart no doubt beat painfully, but every one felt that the die was cast, and that it would be disgraceful treason to turn back now.

The drums beat on the opposite side, and the terrible summons drove every hesitation out of their hearts.

Oldenburg cried, with a voice which drowned the rattling of the drums like loud trumpet-sound: ”Every man to his post! Not a shot before I give the sign! Not a stone must move!”

Oldenburg remained standing on the top of the barricade and saw the column approaching at quick-step; in the centre the drummers, and the major, who commanded with his sepulchral voice,

”Battalion! Halt! Aim! Fire!”

The flash came; the b.a.l.l.s hailed upon the barricade and the walls of the houses.

”Shoulder arms! March!”

”Hurrah!” cried the men, rus.h.i.+ng with charged bayonets upon the barricade.