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Without further incident he got back to the room upstairs. He told his companions about the big dog that guarded the stair-case, of the glimpse he had caught of the armed men, and of all the precautions that had been taken to prevent their escape; and concluded with a groan: “We shall not survive the night.”

“I don’t think that,” said the student. “I cannot believe that these people would be so foolish as to take the lives of four men for the sake of the few little things we have with us. But we had better not try to defend ourselves. For my part I shall lose the most; my horse is already in their hands, and it cost me fifty ducats only four weeks ago; my purse and my clothes I will give up willingly, for after all my life is dearer to me than all these.”

“You talk sensibly,” responded the wagoner. “Such things as you have can be easily replaced; but I am the messenger from Aschaffenburg, and have all kinds of goods in my wagon, and in the stable two fine horses, all I possess in the world.”

“I can hardly believe that they would harm you,” said the goldsmith; “the robbery of a messenger would cause an alarm to be given all through the country. But then I agree with what the young gentleman said: sooner would I give up every thing I possess, and bind myself with an oath never to speak of this matter and never to make complaint against them, than to attempt to defend my little property against people who have rifles and pistols.”

During these words, the wagoner had taken out his wax candles. He stuck them on the table and lighted them. “Here let us await, in the name of God, whatever may happen to us,” said he; “let us sit down together again, and banish sleep with stories.”

“We will do that,” answered the student; “and as the turn came to me down-stairs, I will now begin.” (see story 9)