"Not for a stranger," said the Jew softening; only pay a debt which I owe thee for the life of Magdalene. But the time flieth, and the light of the dawn will soon come forth from the chambers of the east. Get thee gone, Christian; and if it shall so come to pass that thou canst not be ransomed but with life for life, think of her who hath lost a husband for thy sake." "Noble heart!" cried Carl, speaking involuntarily to himself; "and can this man be a robber and a Jew?"

"I am of the people," replied Ishmael, "among whom my mother brought me forth, and I follow the ancient faith of my fathers. My profession, of whatsoever nature it be, I owe also to circumstances beyond my controul. Were I even a robber, I am yet a man ; and, while plunged in what the laws of society denominate crime, I may yet possess all the purer and higher feelings of human nature. Which of the men of peace perform not actions every morning of their lives more heinous in the eyes of God than open robbery? Cannot a robber serve his friend? Cannot a robber give alms? Cannot a robber love? Ay, cannot a robber pray ? * If men were withheld from making their approaches to heaven by the consciousness of guilt, what a world would this be!

"But the time flieth: get thee gone, Christianand if ever it shall come to pass that thou becomest a robber, fling not away thy soul on the false idea that thou hast ceased to be a man!"

66

My decision is taken," said Carl; "no man shall perish for me. Away! I will not have your blood upon my head."

In some of the associations described in the note at the end of the volume, it was the uniform practice of the banditti to recite prayers over the bodies of those they murdered, before hiding them in the earth.

"What, will not one victim satisfy thee? It was thy desire to have been rescued by open force, where many would doubtless have perished, both of friends and foes. Thy refusal now to be saved proceedeth from no healthy determination, but from the sickly, savourless affectation which men call sentiment."

"You are wrong, Ishmael; my refusal proceeds from reflection, which you yourself have forced upon me. My former desire of life arose from mere selfishness and want of thought."

"It is a pity," exclaimed the Jew, crossing his hands upon his breast; "then Magdalene will have no friend on the earth!

"No friend! Fly, incomprehensible man! and, since you can pass the wicket, waste no more thought upon one who is already numbered with the dead."

"I have undertaken," said the Jew, speaking clearly and distinctly, "to deliver thee; I have wilfully put a stop to all other projects by which thy life might have been saved; and if I leave this house of bondage without being able to say unto the master whom I serve, Lo, it is done,' I shall surely die."

Carl Benzel, after a brief struggle, wrapped the cloak round him; and then, grasping the hand of Ishmael, said, in a voice of which he endeavoured in vain to conceal the tremor

"I go then, noble Ishmael! but, as the Lord lives, I will save you in turn, or perish. Till we meet again, think that Magdalene has a brother." He pressed convulsively the hand which trembled within his like a woman's; he retreated a step, then returned; then suddenly opened his arms, and the Jew and Christian, throwing themselves on one another's necks, in the language of scripture, "lifted up their voice and wept."

Carl having locked the door behind him, descended the stairs and gained the court.

"What, Ishmael!" cried a sentry, stepping up to him in alarm, "What means this? You must

"At last!" cried Magdalene shrilly, who had stood watching in concealment near the entrance; "do you think I will permit you to kill yourself with this over anxiety?" and she seized him by the cloak, and drew him away. "Nay, if you struggle," continued she, laughing, "I must use force; do, good soldier, assist me to get my husband to bed, for he has not slept one wink since these fatal keys came into his possession."

"It is not permitted," said the man gruffly, and following close at their heels," even for the gaoler to be in the court before sunrise without showing proper cause. You must wait in the guard-room till the commandant can be spoken with."

66

you are

"Go, you fool!” cried Magdalene, in a shrewish voice, as she thrust Carl away before her: always offending the best-natured people by your perversity, and obliging me to get you out of the scrape.

"Hush!" continued she, pinching the arm of the soldier," he is only a fool; and, between you and me, something still more disagreeable. You did not observe me looking at you while they were changing guard? Not a word now. After day-break he goes into the town on business, and I shall see him a little way past the wicket. If I find you standing at the corner when I return, how can I help it?"

"You are a divinity, by !" said the soldier; "and, for the matter of that, I thought you did look at me. But how is it possible for me at such a time to overlook”

"That will do-speak a little gruffer, or he will suspect. There, now all is arranged. You will not disappoint me?" and when the sentry attempted to speak again, she stopped his mouth with her lips, and turning round, flew after her husband.

She led him by the hand into a comfortable room which had belonged to the former gaoler, and bolted the door.

"This is as it should be," said she, as she sat down exhausted. "Ishmael has shown himself worthy of my love, which I feared he was not, and I am happy.” "Happy, Magdalene!"

66

Ay, happy. He will die an honourable death, and what more can his wife look for? But no more words. Rest-sleep if you can; for you have a long journey before you; and wrapping a shawl round her head, she leant back in the chair, and but for the trembling of her hands, and the convulsive heaving of her breast, might have seemed to be asleep.

When the day had broke, and the hour was announced by a musket-shot, she started upon her feet, hastily arranged her dress, and taking the arm of our adventurer, led him out to the wicket.

"Qui vive?" shouted a voice from the porter's lodge.

"France," whispered Magdalene.

"France!" replied Benzel.

66 What, Ishmael, and so early! Come in, and let us see your Israelitish face by the lamp."

"It is all right," said the soldier, who had for some time been lingering impatiently near the spot, with Magdalene's kiss burning on his lips.

he is on public business."

66

"Make haste,

Nay, if he is on business, then to be sure we must

make haste. Zounds, man! are you afraid of taking cold, that you wrap yourself up so carefully?" Carl began to speak, but interrupted himself with a fit of hoarse coughing.

"This comes of your rambles!" said Magdalene, laughing.

"Well, for certain," remarked the porter, as he turned the key slowly in the lock, " I thought he had a cold, his voice sounding, as it were, disguised. Good morning, master gaoler-substitute; be sure you bring us news of the commission. Good morning, madame.”

"Good morning both," said the soldier. "If madame only wishes," he added, "to convoy her husband a little way, I would advise her not to go far, as the comrades of Schinderhannes are, no doubt, prowling about the cage where their chief is shut up."

"Trust me!" replied she, "I only step out for a minute; I have not even locked the door of our room, and who knows whether somebody may not go in while I am absent ?" The door was opened and shut. The porter crept back into his lodge; the soldier stole, like a guilty spirit, to the apartment of his expected mistress; and Magdalene and Carl Benzel, forsaking the road when they had passed Birkenfeld, crossed the open country towards the east, and plunged into a forest which stretches away in the direction of Overstein.