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■« 
 
 JONEL FORTÜNAT. 
 
 An admirable translation of the great German novelist's latest 
 masterpiece of fiction. 
 
 12mo, 407 Pages, Illustrated. Paper Cover. 
 
 THE hero of the story, Jonel Fortunat, is a grand ideal of noble and 
 exalted young manhood. 
 
 Surrounded by all the allurements of a world of wealth and pleasure, 
 with ample opportunities to enjoy the sensualities of life, he denies himself 
 their indulgence and remains true to himself and to principle. 
 
 His noble efforts in behalf of the oppressed people, even against his own 
 worldly interests and those of his rich relations, the manly way in which he 
 resists the wiles and temptations of beautiful but too passionate women and 
 remains true to his affection for the pure and true in womanhood, constitute 
 one of the grandest conceptions of character in all the range of fiction. 
 
 It is indeed a great novel, and is full of wholesome life lessons for men 
 and women. 
 
 For sale by all Booksellers and Newsdealers, or will be sent by the 
 Publishers on receipt of Price- 
 
 nONOHlUK, MENNKBERRY & CO.. l^iablishiers, 
 407 to 426 Dearborn Street, CHICA&O. 
 
 m- 
 
 ■^] 
 
THE GERMAI PIOIEEBS 
 
 A TALE OF THE MOHAWK 
 
 BY 
 
 FREDERICK SPIELHAGEN, 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY 
 
 The rev. LEVI STERNBERG, D. D. 
 
 CHICAGO: 
 
 DojjoHUE, Henneberry & Co. 
 
 I89I. 
 
Copyright, 1891.. 
 
 BY 
 DONOHUE, HENNEBERRY & CO. 
 
-j^c, 
 
 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 On a certain forenoon in the month of April, 1758, 
 there was unusual activity in the harbor of New 
 York. In spite of the disagreeable weather — which 
 had now already lasted two days, with dense fogs and 
 drizzling rain, and even then, from low, gray clouds, 
 was drenching the multitude — there stood upon the 
 quay dense groups of people looking at a large Dutch 
 three-master, which had already lain a couple of days 
 in the roadstead, and now was swinging at anchor in 
 the troubled water nearer shore. 
 
 **The gentlemen would have done better to have 
 remained at home," said a httle man, referring to two 
 broad-shouldered farmers, who stood near. "I will 
 eat my tailor's goose and not be called Samuel Squenz 
 if, out of the skin-covered skeletons which have thus 
 far passed here on their way to the state-house to 
 take the oath of allegiance to our king — whom may 
 God bless — they can select a single ordinary farm- 
 hand." 
 
 "Have you seen them.^" asked another, who had 
 
 just joined the group. 
 
 "Have I seen them!" replied Samuel Squenz. 
 
 5 
 
6 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 "We have all seen them. I tell you, neighbor, had 
 they come out of the grave after lying there four 
 months they could not have more bones and less flesh. 
 Surely four months in the grave and four months on 
 that Hollander amounts to about the same thing." 
 
 "The poor devils!" said the other. 
 
 "Ah, what poor devils?" called out a man, distin- 
 guished from those around him by his larger wig, 
 more careful dress, rotund body, red, flabby cheeks, 
 and German accent. "Poor devils! What brings 
 them here ? What are we to do with the starved rag- 
 amuffins, of whom one half could not pay full fare? 
 Now according to our wise laws a wage-sale must be 
 openly made, as was yesterday advertised both in the 
 'Gazette' and in the 'Journal.'" 
 
 "They bring us nothing into the country except the 
 dirty rags they have on and ship-fever, from which 
 may God protect us," called out Samuel Squenz. "I 
 kept nose and mouth shut as the vermin crept past 
 us." 
 
 "It is a sin," said neighbor Flint. 
 
 "It is a shame," snarled neighbor Bill. 
 
 "Therefore I have always said," continued the 
 man, with the red, hanging cheeks, "that we should 
 do as they do in Philadelphia, where for the last 
 thirty years they have levied a poll-tax of forty shil- 
 lings on every imported Dutchman, just as they do on 
 a nigger. But here a man may preach and preach, 
 but it is to deaf ears. I will not stay out in the rain 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 7 
 
 on account of these ragamuffins. Good day, gentle- 
 men." 
 
 The big man touched his three-cornered hat, but, 
 instead of leaving the place, went with heavy strides 
 to the edge of the quay and looked at the ship, which 
 had by this time raised its anchor and was being 
 slowly driven on by the tide. 
 
 "It is a sin," said neighbor Flint. 
 
 "It is a shame," snarled neighbor Bill. 
 
 "That is — for Mr. Pitcher to speak so," cried one 
 who now came up and had heard the last words of 
 him who was just leaving. . 
 
 "What do you mean by that, Mr. Brown.!*" asked 
 Samuel Squenz, respectfully lifting his cap. 
 
 "Isn't it a shame, now," said Mr. Brown, a small, 
 old, lean man, who spoke with much animation, and 
 while speaking gesticulated violently with his lean 
 little arms. "Isn't it a shame for one to speak so 
 contemptuously about his own countrymen.? Is not 
 this Mr. Pitcher just as good, or as bad as the poor 
 devils there on the ship? Did not his parents, in 
 1 710, while Robert Hunter was governor, come to 
 New York with the great immigration, from the Pal- 
 atinate ? They were good, respectable people, whom 
 I knew well, who had a hard time of it, and who 
 honestly and honorably worked up to their subse- 
 quent better condition. They do not deserve that 
 this, their son, whom I have seen running about the 
 streets barefoot, should so utterly forget them and 
 
8 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 slander their memory as to change his name from the 
 German, Krug, into the English, Pitcher. Pitcher 
 indeed! The old Krug was, I think, made out of. 
 better clay than this young English Pitcher, who re- 
 viles these immigrants and thereby creeps under the 
 same cover with the Dutch who sell people for a 
 term of years, and deal in human flesh as you do, 
 neighbor Flint, with beef, and you, neighbor Bill, 
 with cheese and butter." 
 
 The old man thrust his bamboo cane angrily into 
 the moist ground. 
 
 "It is a sin," said neighbor Flint. 
 
 "It is a shame," said neighbor Bill. 
 
 "With your permission, neighbors," said Samuel 
 Squenz, "I will not praise Mr. Pitcher, though he 
 gives me work. One must, however, honor his 
 father, though he was a miserable Dutchman. Nor 
 will I have anything to do with those who deal in 
 human flesh, or sell people for a term of years. May 
 the Lord forgive Mr. Pitcher if he meddles with such 
 a business. But I cannot blame those to whom this 
 immigration is an open grief, and who declare it to 
 be injurious to the commonwealth. These vagabonds 
 take the bread from our mouths, and stuff it into 
 their unwashed mouths, while they are too stupid 
 or too lazy to earn a shilling." 
 
 "Do you see that man near the edge of the quay 
 close to Mr. Pitcher.?" said Mr. Brown. 
 
 "The young farmer.?" 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 9 
 
 "The same. How do you like him ?" 
 
 "He is a noble looking fellow, though I cannot 
 approve of the cut of his coat." 
 
 "Now this young man is also German, called Lam- 
 bert Sternberg. He lives on Canada Creek, and I 
 have just, in my office, counted out one hundred 
 pounds into his hands, and have given him a com- 
 mission for another hundred pounds if he delivers to 
 my correspondents in Albany this fall by October, on 
 my account, the tar and rosin agreed upon." 
 
 "Is it possible," said Samuel Squenz. "Yes, yes, 
 there are exceptions." 
 
 "Not at all an exception," earnestly replied Mr. 
 Brown. "Lambert Sternberg's brother is a fur-hunt- 
 er and has, for six years, been in a mutually advan- 
 tageous partnership with my neighbor Squirrel. So 
 likewise there live on Canada Creek, on the Mohawk, 
 and on the Schoharie dozens, yes, hundreds of excel- 
 lent people, who have in their veins as pure German 
 blood as you and I have English blood. By diligent 
 labor they have placed themselves in comfortable cir- 
 cumstances; and it would have gone still better with 
 them had not the Government, instead of aiding and 
 protecting them, thrown obstacles in their way. This 
 time the young man was obliged to take his long jour- 
 ney to New York to maintain his and his neighbors' 
 rights to the pine trees growing on their own ground 
 — a right as clear as the sun — and yet, God only 
 knows what the issue would have been, had I not in- 
 
lO THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 tervened and showed the Governor that the purchaser 
 of land, first from the Indians, then from the govern- 
 ment, should not be forced to buy it again for the third 
 time from the first swindler who crowds himself in 
 and manages to get some show of title." 
 
 Mr. Brown spoke with great earnestness. Most of 
 his hearers, whose eyes wandered back and forth be- 
 tween the speaker and the farmer at the edge of the 
 quay, seemed to be convinced. However Samuel 
 Squenz would not keep quiet, but cried out with a 
 grieved voice: 
 
 "What do you thus show, Mr. Brown, except that 
 these scamps swallow up the land to which we, and 
 our children, and our children's children, are entitled .? 
 And one must not speak of injury done to the com- 
 monwealth! I would like to know what else it should 
 be called.?" 
 
 "A strengthening," cried Mr. Brown; "a strength- 
 ening and an establishing of the commonwealth. 
 That would be the right word. Is it not a blessing 
 for us all that outside, on the farthest border, these 
 poor Germans have settled, and, if God permit, will 
 settle still farther, and, by their position, are in con- 
 stant conflict with the French, and whom we have to 
 thank that you, and I, and all of us here in New 
 York, can peacefully prosecute our business. When 
 last fall Captain Belletre, with his French and Indi- 
 ans, fell upon the valley of the Mohawk, who hin- 
 dered that he did not reach Albany, and God knows 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS II 
 
 how much further? We did not, for two years ago 
 we allowed Fort Oswego to be taken; and General 
 Abercrombie, who commands at Albany, had done 
 nothing to protect the threatened points until Octo- 
 ber when Belletre came. I ask again, who hindered? 
 The Germans, who fought as well as they could un- 
 der the lead of their watchful captain, Nicolas Her- 
 kimer, though they lost forty killed and one hundred 
 and two prisoners, not to speak of the $50,000 damage 
 done by the thieving, burning murderers. That is an 
 injury to the commonwealth, Mr. Squenz, of which 
 you may take occasion to think, Mr. Squenz, and 
 therewith I commend you to God." 
 
 The choleric old gentleman had spoken in such a 
 passion that, in spite of the rain, he took off, not 
 only his hat, but also his wig, and was now wiping 
 his bald head with his handkerchief as he left the 
 group and shuffled over to the young countryman, 
 who still stood in the same place on the quay looking 
 at the ship. Now, however, as the old man patted 
 him on the shoulder, he turned about with the ap- 
 pearance of one who has just been awakened out of a 
 dream. It could not have been a pleasant dream. On 
 the fine, dark-complexioned face there was a trace of 
 deep grief, and the large, blue, kind, German eyes 
 looked very sad. 
 
 "Ah, Mr. Brown," said the young man, "I supposed 
 you had long since gone home." 
 
 "While I stood but ten steps behind you and spent 
 
12 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 my breath in defending you ! But so it is with you 
 Germans. To strike home when it comes to the 
 worst — that you can do; but to speak for yourselves 
 — to maintain your rights against the simpletons who 
 look at you over the shoulder and who shrug the 
 shoulder over you — that you leave for others." 
 
 "What has happened, Mr. Brown.?" said the young 
 man. 
 
 "What has happened! The old story. I have 
 again rushed into the fire for you sleepy fellows— I, 
 an old fool. Do you think — but for this morning 
 I have already vexed myself enough on your ac- 
 count, and I can surely reckon on having an attack of 
 the colic this evening. And this weather besides — 
 the devil take the weather, and the Germans too! 
 Come, Mr. Lambert, come." 
 
 The old man moved about uneasily. 
 
 "I would like to stay a little longer," said Lambert, 
 hanging back. 
 
 "You have no time to lose if you mean to go by the 
 Albany boat. It leaves at three o'clock, and you also 
 wanted to get your horse shod." 
 
 Lambert turned from the ship, which by this time 
 had come quite near, to his business friend, and from 
 him again to the ship. 
 
 "If you will permit me," said Lambert. 
 
 "Do as you please," cried the old man. "You may 
 look at your countrymen and spoil your appetite for 
 dinner. Or you may buy a young blockhead who will 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 13 
 
 eat the hair off your head, or a handsome maid who 
 would not behave at home, but is naturally good 
 enough for you — or perhaps rather two — that your 
 brother Conrad may also be provided for. Do as you 
 please, but let me go home. We eat at twelve, and 
 Mrs. Brown likes her guests to be punctual. Good 
 morning." 
 
 Mr. Brown held down his hat, which the wind 
 threatened to take off, with his bamboo cane, and 
 hurried away at the moment when a dull sound from 
 Broadway indicated that the immigrants were return- 
 ing. 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 There entered new life into the wet and surly groups 
 on the quay. Men stood on tiptoe and eagerly looked 
 in the direction of Broadway, where the wretched 
 crowd now appeared. Others pressed forward to the 
 point where the ship was to land. It was now so 
 near that they were already casting over the ropes. 
 Lambert, who still stood on the outer edge, saw him- 
 self surrounded by a dense mass, and thus kept in a 
 place he would now have gladly surrendered to any- 
 one whose eyes and heart could better endure the 
 sight of the utmost human wretchedness. 
 
 The scene of this misery was the deck of the ship 
 above and below, of which he now had an unob- 
 structed view. Already, from a distance, had the 
 confusion caused by the commingled piles of bales, 
 casks, trunks, and baskets, between which wives and 
 children were wandering about, filled him with sad 
 reflections. But his heart ceased to beat and his 
 chest to heave as, clearer and clearer, and now also 
 very near, the crying and scolding, weeping and la- 
 menting of the unfortunate people struck upon his ear. 
 As his glance wandered from one pitiable object to 
 another, he everywhere saw countenances deathly 
 
 pale and disfigured by hunger and sickness, out of 
 
 14 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 5 
 
 whose deep, sunken eyes dull despair and frenzied 
 anxiety fearfully glared. As they thus stood in mo- 
 tionless groups it seemed as if they had lost all power 
 and inclination to do anything for themselves. Their 
 heads were stretched forward like timid sheep which 
 the butcher's dog has driven to the door of the slaugh- 
 ter house. Thus they hastened and hurried and 
 crowded between the chests and casks, and greedily 
 gathered up their poor belongings. Elsewhere, in 
 confused quarreling and strife, they snatched bundles 
 from each other, and threatened each other with their 
 fists, until the supercargo intervened and with scold- 
 ing and pushing and striking, separated them. Lam- 
 bert could endure the horrible sight no longer, and 
 pressed back the crowd which now surrounded him 
 like a wall. As he involuntarily cast a last glance 
 over the deck it fell upon a form which he had not 
 before noticed, and at once he stopped as though 
 struck by lightning. 
 
 Directly before him there leaned against a great 
 pile of bales a young, tall, slender maiden. Her right 
 arm was thrust against the bales, the hand support- 
 ing her head. Her other arm hung at her side. Her 
 face, of which he had only a side view, was so thin 
 and pale that the long, dark eyelashes were brought 
 out with singular distinctness. The lustrous black 
 hair was wound around the head in comely braids, 
 and her dress, though poor and threadbare enough, 
 was more tasty than that of the other women, to 
 
l6 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 whom she was evidently greatly superior in refine- 
 ment. As though a powerful enchantment had seized 
 him, Lambert could not withdraw his gaze from this 
 face. He had never seen anything so beautiful. He 
 had not thought that anything so beautiful could be 
 found. Nearly breathless, without knowing what he 
 was doing — even forgetting where he was — he looked 
 at the stranger as though she were an apparition, 
 until, with sad shaking of the head, she let her sup- 
 porting arm fall and, passing around the pile of goods 
 against which she had leaned, she disappeared from 
 his sight. 
 
 At this moment, back on the Battery, there 
 sounded a great shouting and drumming and fifing. 
 The crowd pressed forward, and was again pushed 
 back. The police who accompanied the immigrants 
 had already had trouble with the mob all the way 
 through the city, and now, having to pass through 
 the compact mass on the quay to the gang-plank, 
 were obliged to use all their authority and to swing 
 their clubs indiscriminately. So it happened that 
 over the living wall before him Lambert saw now and 
 then a pale, grief-stricken countenance, as the poor 
 immigrants passed over the narrow gangway to the 
 deck of the ship. Here those who had just returned 
 on board immediately began to call for their wives 
 and children, some of whom, overcome by fatigue, 
 did not move, while others hastened to their husbands 
 as soon as possible. A dreadful confusion arose, 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 7 
 
 which was increased by the ship's crew rushing into 
 the crowd and making room by pushing and striking 
 indiscriminately. It had reached its highest point 
 when those on the quay, headed by the stout Mr. 
 Pitcher, in a close mass pushed on from behind and 
 blocked up the way to every one who, with his bun- 
 dles and packs, desired to leave the ship. The men 
 screamed, the women cried, the children whimpered, 
 the captain and sailors cursed and swore. The police 
 swung their clubs. It was a dreadful chaos, in which 
 Lambert's anxious glances were ever peering about for 
 the poor girl who was looking on the tumult which 
 was roaring around her, so lonely, so forsaken, so 
 still and patient. As he saw her form again emerge, 
 now on the forward part of the deck, he held back no 
 longer. Without further thought, with a mighty 
 spring from the edge of the quay, he swung himself 
 aboard of the ship and hastened to the point where 
 he had last seen her. He knew not why he did this. 
 He had no conception of what he should say to the 
 maiden when he should reach her. It seemed as 
 though he was drawn by unseen hands, which it was 
 impossible for him to resist, and to whose guidance 
 he willingly committed himself. 
 
 After he had approached her, lost sight of her, 
 feared at last that he should not again find her, he 
 suddenly came near her. She had kneeled on the 
 deck before a couple of children — a boy and a girl 
 from six to eight years old — whose threadbare gar- 
 
1 8 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 ments she was fixing, and was speaking to a woman 
 who stood near with quite a small child in her arms, 
 and who was constantly scolding, till the husband 
 came up and dragged the children away, scolding and 
 cursing. His wife followed him without a word or 
 look of thanks to her who was left behind. She 
 slowly arose and looked sadly at those who were leav- 
 ing. She followed them, tied a small piece of cloth 
 which she had worn, about the neck of the smallest 
 child, and then slowly returned to the place where the 
 family had left her. Her countenance was more sad 
 than before. Tears rolled over her pale cheeks. 
 
 "Can I be of any help to you, madam.!"' asked 
 Lambert. 
 
 The girl raised her dark eyelashes, and looked 
 searchingly with her large brown eyes at his kind, 
 honorable face. 
 
 "Nobody can help me," said she. 
 
 "Have you no parents, no relatives, no friends.^" 
 asked Lambert. 
 
 "I have nobody — nobody," replied the maiden, and 
 turned herself partly away that she might hide the 
 tears which now burst forth in streams from her eyes. 
 
 Lambert's eyes also became moist. The trouble 
 of the poor girl pressed heavily on his heart. 
 
 "Can you not leave the ship.!*" he further inquired. 
 
 The unhappy one, without answering, only wept 
 the more. 
 
 "Do not consider me too pressing, kiijd niaiden, 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 19 
 
 I have seen you standing so forsaken that my pity 
 has been awakened. And now you yourself say 
 that you are alone, that you have nobody to help 
 you, and that nobody can help you. Perhaps I can 
 do so if you will confide in me. I will surely do all 
 that is in my power." 
 
 While the young man thus spoke the girl wept 
 more and more gently. She now again turned her 
 pale face to him and said: 
 
 "I thank you, kind man. I thank you with my 
 whole heart, and may God bless you for the compas- 
 sion you have felt for a poor, helpless creature. But 
 help — that indeed you cannot. Who could help me ? 
 By whose help could I leave this ship.?" 
 
 Her countenance took on an unusual expression. 
 She looked, with staring eyes, over the bulwarks 
 into the water which rose and fell at the ship's bow. 
 "For me there is but one means of escape," she 
 murmured. 
 
 At this moment a man, cursing, pressed through the 
 crowd, which made room for him in all directions. He 
 was an under-sized, broad-shouldered fellow with a 
 red wig, a brutal countenance and a pair of green 
 eyes which glittered maliciously. 
 
 He put on quite an air, dressed in his ship uniform, 
 and drew after him a sturdy farmer, who seemed to 
 follow him reluctantly and who looked at the maiden 
 with dull, staring eyes, while he in the uniform ap- 
 proached, and with legs spread apart, called out in 
 poor German: 
 
20 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 "So, Miss Catherine Weise, I have soon picked up 
 a man. He is the richest farmer within ten miles, as 
 he says himself, and needs a capable maid-servant on 
 his farm. He has already bid forty on my bare rec- 
 ommendation. That indeed is scarcely the half, but 
 perhaps he will now give the whole amount, after he 
 has himself seen you, and has convinced himself that 
 I did not lie to him. What do you think, Mr. Triller.^ 
 Isn't she a stunner.-* Are you now willing to fork 
 over, ha.?" 
 
 He struck the farmer on the shoulder and broke out 
 in uproarious laughter. 
 
 "Let it be forty-five, captain," said the farmer, 
 "and I'll take her as she stands." 
 
 "Not a shilling under ninety," cried the captain, 
 "not a shilling, even if I should have to keep her my- 
 self. No, she would gladly stay with me. Isn't it 
 true, Miss Catherine.? She is a stunner." 
 
 "Don't touch her; if you don't want your skull 
 cracked!" cried Lambert. 
 
 The captain took a step back and stared at the 
 young farmer, whom he had not before noticed, and 
 who now stood before him with glowing eyes and 
 balled fists. 
 
 "Oho!" he exclaimed, "who are you.? Do you 
 know that I am Captain Van Broom .? Do you know 
 that I shall at once throw you into the water.? What 
 is your name.? What do you want.?" 
 
 He took a step back, having said the last words in 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 21 
 
 a far less confident tone. He did not think it pru- 
 dent to have anything further to do with a man of so 
 resolute an appearance and so evidently superior to 
 himself in bodily strength. 
 
 "My name is Lambert Sternberg, from Canada 
 Creek," said the young man. "There live in the 
 city of New York respectable citizens who know me 
 well; and what I want I will soon tell you, if you 
 will kindly step aside with me for a few moments." 
 
 "As you wish; as you wish," snarled the captain. 
 
 "In a moment," said Lambert. He approached 
 the maiden, who stood trembling violently, and said 
 to her in a low tone, "Catherine Weise, will you ac- 
 cept me as your protector, and permit me to do for 
 you what, under such circumstances, an honorable 
 man should do for a helpless maiden.?" 
 
 A deep blush spread over Catherine's face She 
 fixed her dark eyes upon her questioner with a pecul- 
 iar expression that made his inmost heart flutter. 
 She tried to answer, but there came no sound from 
 her trembling lips. 
 
 "Wait here for me," said the y©ung man. 
 
 He turned to the captain and went with him to a 
 retired part of the deck. The robust farmer had 
 turned aside and felt no further interest in the deal, 
 after he saw that another purchaser for the merchan- 
 dise was found, and which, all things considered, was 
 entirely too dear for him. 
 
 "Now, Mr. Broom," said Lambert, as he overtook 
 him, "I am at your service." 
 
22 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 "I'll be if I know what you want," said the 
 
 captain. 
 
 "Simply this: To take that girl there, whom you 
 call Catherine Weise, with me from the ship, and that 
 at once." 
 
 "Oho!" said the captain, "you are in a hurry. Has 
 she told you how much she owes us .?" 
 
 "No," said Lambert, "but I have already heard the 
 amount from you." 
 
 "Ninety pounds! sir, ninety pounds! That isn't a 
 small matter," cried the captain. 
 
 "I suppose you will be able to show that the maiden 
 owes you so much. You will then find me ready." 
 
 The captain cast a grim side-glance at the young 
 man like a hyena driven from his prey by a leopard. 
 He would have liked to have the beautiful booty for 
 himself, but was far too shrewd a business man not to 
 avail himself of such a chance. Besides, the Messrs. 
 Van Sluiten and Co., in Rotterdam, and Mr. Pitcher, 
 who was probably now in the ship's office engaged 
 with the book-keeper, had also a word to say. So 
 he spoke in what was for him an unusually courteous 
 tone, instead of the coarse one he had just used: 
 
 "If I can show it ? — yes, sir. For what do you take 
 Captain Van Broom ? With us about everything is 
 booked twice, sir, in farthings and .pence. Are you 
 surprised that the amount is so large ? I will make 
 it clear. The girl is the daughter of the Rev. Mr. 
 Weise, who died eight days ago, and was buried with 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 23 
 
 all honor at sea. He was a preacher in the region from 
 which most of my passengers come. On the way, I 
 must say it of him, he put himself to a good deal of 
 trouble for his filthy people and did for them more 
 than his strength would bear, while they in South- 
 ampton suffered with hunger and cold; and now on 
 the voyage provisions with us became somewhat 
 scarce, and the water — well, one has a heart in his 
 breast, and I yielded to the preacher when he came 
 to borrow for his people. So it has happened that 
 his account has run up a little higher than is usual. 
 At the best not much was to be got from the old 
 man, though there still remained the girl, for whom 
 doubtless a purchaser could be found. So I have 
 taken the risk, and have by degrees given them credit 
 for a hundred pounds." 
 
 "You before said ninety." 
 
 "A hundred pounds, by !" shrieked the captain. 
 
 "Come with me into the office. There I will show 
 ^you in black and white. You, there, supercargo, see 
 to it that the thieving vagabonds do not slip from 
 aboard. And you, Mr. Jones, do not leave the gang- 
 plank; and keep with you Jean and Jacob, and knock 
 any one down who tries to leave the ship without a 
 pass. Should any one ask for me, he must wait a 
 moment. I have to speak with this gentleman. Will 
 you follow me, Mr. Sternberg.?" 
 
 The captain opened the door of a low and spacious 
 cabin which was built on the deck. A dark-complex- 
 
24 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 ioned man, with immense brass rings in his ears, sat 
 at a table covered with thick books and papers, dili- 
 gently writing. Near him stood Mr. Pitcher, with 
 his red, bloated, flabby cheeks, and on his wig-cov- 
 ered head his three-cornered hat, looking over his 
 shoulder. 
 
 "Ah!" said the captain, "here you are, too, Mr. 
 Pitcher. That fits charmingly. Now we can make 
 the matter clear at once. This is Mr. Charles Pitcher, 
 our general agent for New York. This — " 
 
 "I think I already have the honor," said Mr. 
 Pitcher, lifting his hat. "Are not you Mr. Sternberg 
 from Canada Creek, whom I met two years ago in 
 Albany.!* Have you transacted your business with 
 Mr. Brown.!* I lately saw you with him on Broad- 
 way. Well, other people want to live too. Excuse 
 me, Mr. Sternberg; excuse me. Take a seat. What 
 brings you to us at this time, Mr. Sternberg .!"' 
 
 "It is on account of Catherine Weise," said the 
 captain, in whose eyes the simple countryman, with 
 whom the rich Mr. Pitcher desired to have dealings, 
 had assumed a quite different appearance. "I told 
 you about her yesterday, Mr. Pitcher." 
 
 Between Mr. Pitcher and the captain there now 
 took place a short but earnest conversation, of which 
 Lambert understood nothing, as it was carried on in 
 Dutch. They ought to have let the girl go free, but 
 the hateful man at the desk opened a large book and 
 said: "Catherine Weise, folio 470 to 475, beginning 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 2$ 
 
 September sixth of last year, in Rotterdam, brought 
 until to day, April fifteenth, 1758, port of New York, 
 amounting to ^^89, los. — " 
 
 "Ninety-nine pounds," corrected Captain Van 
 Broom. 
 
 "Ninety-nine pounds," repeated the man with the 
 ear-rings. "The gentleman will require a conveyance 
 from us to which the proper signatures are attached. 
 For this we charge one pound. Here is the form. 
 Please give me the specifications as I write." 
 
 The dark-complexioned man took a sheet of parch- 
 ment and read, in a leaden, business-like voice: 
 
 "/« nomine dei : Between Lambert Sternberg, of 
 Canada Creek, and Joanna Catherine Weise, of Zell- 
 erfeld, in the electorate of Hanover, aged twenty 
 years, single, the following service contract — shall we 
 say six years, Mr. Sternberg.? It is the usual period 
 — for six successive years from this date, under the 
 following conditions mutually agreed upon: 
 
 '''' Pro primo : Joanna Catherine Weise, born, etc.; 
 agrees of her own free will, and after due considera- 
 tion, to bind herself to Mr. Lambert Sternberg to go 
 with him, or under his direction, to West Canada 
 Creek, in the province of New York, and there, from 
 the day on which she shall have arrived in the before- 
 named district, for six successive years to give him true 
 and faithful required maid-service, under no pretense 
 to relax it, much less, without the consent of Lambert 
 Sternberg, to forsake his service. 
 
26 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 "To this, pro secundo, Lambert Sternberg prom- 
 ises — " 
 
 "It is enough," said Lambert. 
 
 "How?" said he with the ear-rings. 
 
 "It is enough," said Lambert. "I wish first to talk 
 over' the conditions with the maiden." 
 
 "My dear sir, consider the circumstances," called 
 out Mr. Pitcher, in a friendly, helpful tone. "When 
 a man pays £gg he can dictate the conditions." 
 
 "That may be," replied Lambert. "However, it is 
 my privilege to deal in my own way." 
 
 "As you wish — altogether as you wish," said Mr. 
 Pitcher. "We force nobody. You also wish — " 
 
 "Simply a receipt in full for Catherine Weise." 
 
 "As you please," said Mr. Pitcher. 
 
 While he with the ear-rings wrote out the receipt, 
 and Lambert counted out the money on the table — 
 it was the same that he had received an hour before 
 from Mr. Brown — Mr. Pitcher and the captain grim- 
 aced sneeringly behind the back of the simpleton who 
 was so easily limed, and never once looked at the 
 famous account he was satisfying. 
 
 "So," said Mr. Pitcher, "this is finished. Now we 
 will—" 
 
 "Drink to your happy journey," said the captain, 
 as he reached for a rum-flask which stood near on 
 the rack. 
 
 "And to the et cetera^ et cetera,^^ cried Mr. Pitcher. 
 
 "Good morning, Messrs.," said Lambert, gathering 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 2^ 
 
 up the receipt, the half-finished contract and Cathe- 
 rine's passage-ticket, and hurrying out of the cabin as 
 though the deck under him was afire. Brutal laugh 
 ter rung behind him. He stood still a moment. His 
 cheeks glowed. His heart beat furiously against his 
 ribs. Every convulsed fiber of his body urged him 
 to turn back and take vengeance on the mean scoun- 
 drels for their laughter. But he thought of the poor 
 girl — how much more she had endured, and that he 
 could do nothing better for her than to release her 
 from such a hell, as soon as possible. 
 
 The deck had now been somewhat cleared. The 
 more fortunate ones, who needed not to fear the book 
 in the hands of the man with the ear-rings, had 
 already left the ship. Those who were obliged to 
 stay sat and stood around in groups. Stupid indiffer- 
 ence or uncertainty characterized their wan appear- 
 ance. Curious gazers moved about among them^ 
 some of whom had come desirous of making contracts 
 similar to the one which lay crushed in Lambert's 
 coat-pocket. The heavy farmer, who had before 
 made a bid on Catherine, was now speaking with 
 another girl, who had adorned her rags with a couple 
 of red ties, and laughed heartily at the broken Ger- 
 man, and at the jokes of the man. They seemed to 
 be already agreed on a bargain. 
 
 Lambert hastened as fast as he could to the far- 
 ther part of the deck, where he had already seen 
 Catherine in the same place where he had left her. 
 
28 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 But as he came near her he stopped. It seemed to 
 him that nothing had yet been accomplished — that all 
 yet remained to be done. She now turned and saw 
 him. A melancholy smile spread over her counte- 
 nance. 
 
 "Is it not true.? Nobody can help me," said she. 
 
 "Here is your receipt and your ticket," said Lam- 
 bert. 
 
 His strong, brown hands shook as he gave her the 
 papers, and her thin white hands trembled as she 
 took them. A burning red spread over her coun 
 tenance. 
 
 "Have you done this for me?" said she. 
 
 Lambert did not reply, and was greatly agitated 
 as she immediately bowed down, caught his hands 
 and pressed them against her weeping face and lips. 
 
 "Kind maiden — kind maiden ! what are you doing.!*" 
 stammered Lambert. "Don't weep. I was glad to 
 do it. I am fortunate to have been able to render you 
 this service. Were it possible I would do the same 
 for all the other unfortunates here. But now let us 
 away. I have but a few hours left. I must begin 
 my homeward journey. I would be glad first to 
 know that you are in safety. Do you know anyone 
 in the city, or in its vicinity to whom I can take you .?" 
 
 Catherine shook her head. 
 
 "Have you no friends among the immigrants who 
 perhaps expect you to accompany them on their 
 farther journey.?" 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 2^ 
 
 "I have nobody — nobody !" said the girl. "You see 
 everyone thinks only of himself, and alas! every- 
 body has enough of his own to look after." 
 
 Lambert stood helpless. He thought for a mo- 
 ment about his old business friend, Mr. Brown. But, 
 alas! Mrs. Brown was not a kind woman. To her, 
 her husband's predilection for the Germans seemed 
 very ridiculous. It did not very well please her to 
 welcome strangers. He knew no other house in the 
 city, except the inn where he had left his horse, and 
 which in other respects was not desirable, especially 
 as to the company which gathered there. He looked 
 at Catherine as though advice must come from her, 
 but her eyes had an anxious and strained expression. 
 
 "Do you mean to give me over to other people.?" 
 said she. 
 
 "What do you mean.?" asked Lambert. 
 
 "Kind sir, you have already done so much for me, 
 and are reluctant now to tell me that you can do no 
 more for me. I will need a long, long time with my 
 service to pay the heavy debt. I know it well. But 
 I would cheerfully serve you and your parents as 
 long as I live, and even give my life for you. Now 
 you wish to take me to others. Speak freely. I will 
 gladly bind myself for as many years as they desire 
 and make good your recommendation." She smiled 
 sadly and picked up a small bundle that lay near her. 
 "I am ready," said she. 
 
 "Catherine!" said Lambert. 
 
30 , THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 She looked inquiringly at him. 
 
 "Catherine!" said he again. His chest heaved and 
 fell as though he was summoning up all his strength 
 to speak calmly. "I live far from here, full twenty 
 days' travel, on the utmost border, the farthest set- 
 tler, in an impoverished region, open to the inroad 
 of our enemies, and which last year suffered from 
 them a dreadful visitation. But if you will go with 
 me — " 
 
 A joyful perplexity showed itself in Catherine's wan 
 face. 
 
 "How can you ask.?" said she. 
 
 "Well may I ask," replied Lambert, "and well 
 must I ask. It remains with you. Your evidence of 
 indebtedness is in your own hands and I will never 
 again take it in mine. You are free to come and to 
 go. And so, Catherine Weise, I ask you once more, 
 will you as a free maiden go with me to my home, if 
 I promise you on the honor of a man that I will care 
 for you, help and protect you as a brother should his 
 sister.?" 
 
 "I will go with you, Lambert Sternberg," said 
 Catherine. 
 
 Breathing deeply, she laid her hand in his offered 
 right hand. 
 
 Then they hastened over the deck. Catherine 
 nodded tearfully to one and another. She could not 
 speak. Her heart was too full for speech. No one 
 returned her silent farewell, except with dumb and 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 3 1 
 
 hopeless looks which cut her to the heart. On the 
 long and terrible journey from her home until now, 
 accprding to her strength and beyond her strength, 
 she had tried to mitigate the boundless wretchedness 
 around her. She could do no more than leave the 
 hapless creatures to their fate. Alas! what a fate 
 awaited those who were here cast on a strange shore 
 like the scattered fragments of a wreck that has been 
 the dreadful sport of the waves. Tears of pity dim- 
 med her eyes. Her senses forsook her. When, 
 holding her bundle of clothing in her hand, she felt 
 her feet standing on solid ground, she knew not how 
 she had got off the ship. 
 
 Catherine said nothing, but in her inmost heart she 
 cried out again and again: "God be praised!" 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 The setting sun, which hung over the forest sea of 
 Canada Creek, poured its purple beams over the trav- 
 elers. They had just emerged from the woods 
 through which they had been going the whole day by 
 solitary, narrow Indian trails. At their feet lay the 
 valley, filled with roseate evening mist, following the 
 windings of the creek. 
 
 Lambert stopped the strong-limbed horse which he 
 was leading by the bridle as they were ascending the 
 valley, and said to his companion: 
 
 "This is Canada Creek, and that is our house." 
 
 "Where?" asked Catherine. 
 
 Leaning over the saddle and protecting her eyes 
 from the sun with her hand she eagerly looked in the 
 direction which the young man had indicated. 
 
 "There," said he, "toward the north, where the 
 creek appears. Do you see it.^" 
 
 "Now I do," said Catherine. 
 
 At this moment the horse, with expanded nostrils, 
 snorted, and suddenly leapt sideways. The unpre- 
 pared rider lost her balance and would have fallen off 
 had not her companion, by a quick spring, caught her 
 in his arms. 
 
 "It is nothing," said he, as she slid down to the 
 
 32 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 33 
 
 ground. "Old Hans acts as if he had never before 
 seen a snake. Are you not ashamed of yourself, old 
 fellow.^ So — keep quiet, so!" He patted the fright- 
 ened horse on his short, thick neck, stripped off the 
 bridle and tied him to a sapling. 
 
 "You must have been terribly frightened," said he. 
 His voice and hands shook while he buckled on the 
 pillion which had become displaced. 
 
 "Oh, no," said Catherine. 
 
 She had seated herself on the root of a tree, and 
 looked over the valley where now, over the luxuriant 
 meadow which followed the course of the stream, a 
 fog began to rise. Yonder the sun was just dipping 
 into the emerald, forest sea, and the golden flames 
 on the trunks, boughs and tops of the great trees 
 were gradually fading away. 
 
 From above, the cloudless, greenish -blue evening 
 sky looked down, while a flock of wild swans was 
 flying northward up the valley. From time to time 
 they uttered their peculiar, melancholy cry, melodi- 
 ously softened by the distance. A deep, quiet still- 
 ness brooded over the primitive forest. 
 
 The young man stood leaning against the shoulder 
 of the horse. There rested on his brown face a deep, 
 sad anxiety. Often a shadow of restlessness and fear 
 passed over it, widely differing from the usual expres- 
 sion of the smooth, manly features, and obscuring the 
 light that commonly danced in the large blue eyes. 
 He looked now at the swans, which shone as silver 
 
34 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 stars in the distant, rosy horizon — now at the maiden 
 who sat there, partly turned away from him. At 
 length, drawing a deep breath a couple of times, he 
 approached her. 
 
 "Catherine," said he. 
 
 She raised her handsome face. Her large brown 
 eyes were filled with tears. 
 
 "Are you sorry that you have come with me?" said 
 the young man. 
 
 Catherine shook her head. 
 
 "No," said she; "how unthankful I should then be." 
 
 "And yet, you are weeping." 
 
 "I am not weeping," said Catherine, as she drew 
 her hands across her eyes and tried to smile. "I was 
 just thinking how happy my father would have been, 
 had he, at the end of his wanderings, found this still 
 place. Ah! just so had he wished and dreamed. 
 Still it could not be so. How your parents will re- 
 joice to see you again." 
 
 She was about to rise. Lambert touched her 
 shoulder. 
 
 "Stay yet a moment, Catherine, I have — I must 
 ask you something." 
 
 The anxiety that had already before showed itself 
 in his face become still greater. His brows were 
 contracted. His eyes had a stern, severe look. 
 
 Catherine looked up at him with astonishment. 
 
 "Had my parents meanwhile died and you and I, 
 Catherine, must dwell alone in yonder house — " 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 35 
 
 "You must not speak so, Lambert Sternberg," said 
 Catherine. "It is our duty to trust the Lord. They 
 are doubtless alive and well — they and your brother. 
 Why do we lose time ? The evening is passing and 
 I am fully rested." 
 
 Lambert wished to make a reply, but the words 
 refused to pass his lips. He stared before him as if 
 in uncertainty, and at length turned to the horse, and 
 with a degree of violence thrust the bit between his 
 teeth. Then he threw the rifle, which stood leaning 
 against the trunk of a tree, on his shoulder and, lead- 
 ing his horse by the bridle, began to descend the 
 rocky declivity. Silently Catherine followed, care- 
 fully looking where she could with confidence set her 
 foot, casting many a glance at those going before. 
 The path was very steep and the horse often slid. 
 Lambert needed all his strength and carefulness, and 
 it was manifest that he did not once look back, nor 
 did he ask Catherine how she was getting along. 
 Meanwhile Catherine's heart palpitated. It seemed 
 as though the restlessness, the anxiety about his 
 home that spoke in Lambert's words and looks, had 
 also seized her. "Were they indeed dead — were they 
 all dead — and were we two, he and I, to dwell in 
 yonder house!" 
 
 They had reached the valley. Here, along the 
 creek, which flowed in many windings between the 
 meadow banks, there was an easier though narrower 
 path. The horse thrust forward his ears, neighed 
 
36 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 and stepped along quicker. Lambert had to hold him 
 by the bridle. Catherine walked a little to one side. 
 It did not tire the slim, vigorous girl to come along. 
 It was not the exertion that caused her to breathe 
 with difficulty. The silence which Lambert had not 
 broken for a long time pressed upon her more and 
 more. She was not accustomed to it. On the other 
 hand — this she now for the first time thought of — he 
 had toyed with her during the journey of weeks, he 
 had always talked with her in a way so kind and 
 good. Now, however, in view of his nearer responsi- 
 bilities he had become silent. He did not speak of 
 those belonging to him. Indeed she would not have 
 known that his parents were living had he not, when 
 she asked him whether he thought that his mother 
 would be satisfied with her, replied that she should 
 give herself no uneasiness on that account. Had he 
 not even now expressed a fear that he should not find 
 his parents alive ? 
 
 "The kind man," said she to herself, "did not wish 
 to make the heart of the poor orphan heavy by tell- 
 ing me about his parents, and now he cannot wait 
 for the time of meeting them." 
 
 "Catherine," said he at that moment. 
 
 "Lambert," replied she, coming to his side, glad 
 that he had at last broken silence. As he said no 
 more to her as she waited, she added, "You wished to 
 say something.''" 
 
 "We shall not live there alone," indicating the 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 37 
 
 block-house with his eyes, standing but a few steps 
 from them. 
 
 "No, surely not," she replied. 
 
 He gave her an unusual look. 
 
 "Do not be so anxious, kind Lambert, we are in 
 God's care." 
 
 "No, certainly not," replied he. 
 
 He had not observed what she had last said, and 
 only recalled her former words. But it affected her 
 painfully when, through misapprehension, she had 
 heard denied that which she believed, with all her 
 heart, as her old father had believed in all need and 
 trouble. "We are in God's care!" That was the 
 text of his last sermon which, already himself dying, 
 he had delivered between decks to his unhappy fel- 
 low sufferers. That was his last word as, a few hours 
 later, he breathed out, in their arms, his pure spirit. 
 Did not her pious childhood-faith approve itself to 
 her in a wonderful manner.^ When all human help 
 seemed impossible, did not a kind man, God-sent, 
 come, and with a strong hand lead her out of the 
 labyrinth, and carefully conduct her over hills and 
 mountains, creeks and rivers, through endless forests 
 and immeasurable prairies.^ Never, never, by the 
 side of the good and strong one, had there come to 
 her a feeling of anxiety or fear. Now, as she was 
 nearing the end of her pilgrimage, should doubt find 
 sly entrance.? "I will protect and help you as a 
 brother does bis sister !" Had he-promised too much ? 
 
38 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 Why did he walk so self-absorbed, so still and dumb 
 at her side, now that he was so near his own hearth 
 and that of his parents? Did he, perhaps, fear that 
 he would not be kindly received on account of the 
 stranger he was bringing home? Why was the house 
 there before them so still? No barking of dogs. No 
 sign of those who at the next moment might be ex- 
 pected to rush into the arms of the home-comer. 
 The solitary house on the little hillock, gently de- 
 scending from it on all sides, and standing near the 
 creek which, like a snake through the grass, was 
 quietly winding among the rushes, was perfectly 
 silent. Silent and still were the dark woods which 
 here and there overlooked the valley from the heights 
 along the shore. 
 
 As she now reached the house Catherine felt as 
 though her heart would leap forth as she observed 
 that the lower story, built of immense logs, had no 
 windows but narrow slits like the portholes in the 
 walls of a fortress, and that the upper story was sur- 
 rounded by a low, massive breastwork, and that the 
 shingle roof was quite high. Lambert tied the horse 
 to a heavy ring which was near the door, cast search- 
 ing glances about the house and surroundings, mur- 
 mured something that she did not understand, and 
 finally pushed slowly against the heavy door which 
 opened inward. 
 
 He disappeared in the house, came out after a few 
 moments and said: "There is nobody here. We are 
 entirely alone. Will you go with me?" 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 39 
 
 They were the very same words that he had ad- 
 dressed to her on the deck of the emigrant ship, and 
 she again answered him as then: 
 
 "I will go with you, Lambert Sternberg." 
 She grasped the hand which he had extended to 
 her and followed him into the forsaken house. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 While Lambert had been engaged within there 
 came through the door a bright hght, which Catherine 
 now saw was produced by a large pine fagot burning 
 in a corner of the room near a great stone-hearth. 
 The room was half kitchen and store-room, and half 
 living-room — such as the young woman had become 
 acquainted with in many a farm-house where she had 
 rested during her journey. It was fitted up with vari- 
 ous utensils hanging on the walls and ceiling, stand- 
 ing in corners and lying on the floor. Near the 
 hearth there were a couple of rough pine chairs, and, 
 against the wall, a large four-cornered table, serving 
 both for a dressing-table and for meals. ' There still 
 stood on it a couple of earthen dishes on which were 
 the remains of a meal to which a.bear's ham, which 
 had not again been hung upon its hook, contributed 
 the principal part. The entire arrangement was 
 planned on the basis of the simplest necessity. There 
 was no trace of an endeavor after grace and beauty, 
 or the merely agreeable. This observation, that the 
 young maiden made with her first glance about the 
 room, fell upon her heart even more heavily than the 
 empty house. The house would fill up when the 
 
 absent ones returned, but would she be happy in the 
 
 40 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 4I 
 
 company of those who lived here, who called it their 
 home ? 
 
 "I must look after my horse," said Lambert, "and 
 after the rest of the things. You may meanwhile pre - 
 pare the evening meal — you will probably find some- 
 thing. We will after that consider your sleeping 
 apartment. It looks very bad here, but Conrad 
 knows nothing about order. However, you can have 
 a chamber upstairs. I will sleep below. I shall not 
 go far, and will soon be back. Do not be afraid." 
 
 He said all this forcibly, in snatches, while prying 
 into the corners, so that she scarcely understood him. 
 Then he quickly left the house, and she heard him 
 outside untie the horse and go away with it. 
 
 "Do not be afraid! Should I be so it would not 
 be strange. How wonderful it all is! But he has 
 been so heavenly kind to me, a poor girl; and surely 
 his intentions are as honorable and true as ever. 
 Where can they be? They must certainly be at some 
 neighbor's." She had seen at a distance from the 
 creek a couple of roofs. "Does he still expect them 
 back.-* Now I will do what becomes a good maid who 
 expects her master. What shall I begin with.? Yes, 
 that is it. So, it will soon begin to look more cheer- 
 ful." 
 
 She turned to the hearth and in a few minutes had 
 made a bright fire with the dry, prepared pine wood 
 that lay near. Then she took from the hook the ket- 
 tle that hung by a chain against the wall and filled it 
 
42 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 half full of water, which she drew from a pump that 
 stood directly beside the hearth. She sought and 
 soon found whatever else was needed for the prepa- 
 ration of the evening meal. She was uncertain of the 
 number for whom she was to provide. She finally 
 concluded that six would be the correct number: 
 Lambert's parents, his brother Conrad, of whom he 
 had spoken a couple of times, Lambert himself, and 
 perhaps there might be another member of the fam- 
 ily, or they might bring a guest with them. When 
 she had finished this work she began to put the room 
 in order, but only what would come right with but 
 little labor. "For," said she, "I have no right to do 
 it, and they might be displeased with me." 
 
 She had thus quietly labored for a quarter of an 
 hour, and as there was for the moment nothing more 
 to do and the water in the kettle was boiling, she 
 went to the hearth and looked at the flaming fire, 
 thinking that it must at least be time for Lambert to 
 return. She heard a noise behind her. She turned 
 half around and was greatly frightened when she saw, 
 but a few steps from her, instead of Lambert, a 
 stranger staring at her without moving, with a look 
 of such wonder, as though he did not believe his own 
 eyes. The light of the pine sticks burning with a 
 bright flame fell full upon him. It was fortunate for 
 Catherine that, the same moment, she saw that the 
 giant-like man, clothed in a peculiar half-farmer, half- 
 Indian garb, was quite young, and that his sunburned 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 43 
 
 face was handsome, and that his great, wondering 
 eyes had a merry look. 
 
 And now the young giant leaned his rifle, which he 
 had allowed to slip to the üoor, against the table, 
 gave his strong hands a ringing slap, broke out in 
 very loud laughter, threw himself into a chair which 
 cracked in spite of its strong construction, sprang up 
 again and approached the maiden, who drew back 
 somewhat, again began to laugh, though not so loud, 
 then was silent, shook his short, brown locks and said: 
 
 "Lambert has done this well; but where is the 
 other one?" 
 
 Catherine did not answer. She did not know what 
 to think of the words of the young man though they 
 affected her disagreeably, and her heart began to 
 beat powerfully. 
 
 The young giant looked about the room as though 
 searching whether any one were hidden there. He 
 then again directed his glances toward Catherine, 
 but with a different expression in the large eyes which 
 now shone with a deeper light. He said through his 
 white teeth: 
 
 "You are handsome, girl. I have never before seen 
 anything so beautiful. What is your name.^" 
 
 "Catherine," said the young maiden, who felt that 
 she must say something. "Catherine Weise. You 
 are Conrad, Lambert's brother. I see it by the re- 
 semblance. Your brother Lambert has been very 
 kind to me— very kind. We have just arrived. He 
 
44 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 has gone to put the horse in the stable. I think he 
 will soon be here. You should have met him. Will 
 the others also come soon.?'^ 
 
 "Who should come.?" asked Conrad. 
 
 "Your parents," said Catherine. She said it very 
 faintly, fear, increasing every moment, almost stran- 
 gling her. 
 
 Conrad showed his white teeth. "Our parents!" 
 cried he, "our parents! They are long since dead. 
 You must be satisfied with us two." 
 
 "I will look for Lambert," said Catherine, and 
 tried to pass Conrad to the door. Conrad stepped in 
 her way. 
 
 "So," said he smiling provokingly, "then Lambert 
 has brought you along for himself, the cunning fellow 
 — and I must look further. Now, as for myself, I , 
 am the younger man and can wait a little; but one kiss, 
 beautiful sister-in-law, that you must give me — that 
 is the least." 
 
 He stretched out his powerful hands and with giant 
 strength insolently drew the resisting girl to him and 
 kissed her glowing cheeks. 
 
 At this moment the water, which for a long time 
 had simmered, noisily, sissing and whizzing, poured 
 over the edge of the kettle in a large swell into the 
 fire which it almost extinguished. A thick, gray 
 vapor, through which the light of the fire looked red, 
 rose and filled the room. Catherine tore herself loose, 
 or was torn loose, she could not tell which ; but there 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 45 
 
 were now two persons there struggling together, and 
 the other might well be Lambert. She also thought 
 she had heard Lambert call her name, and so again, 
 as outside the evening wind fanned her cheeks glow- 
 ing with anger and shame. 
 
 Within, the vapor had disappeared. Conrad, hav- 
 ing disengaged himself with a powerful effort from his 
 assailant, fell laughing on his neck. 
 
 "Lambert, dear, best Lambert!" 
 
 "Let me go!" said Lambert, freeing himself from 
 the embrace. "Let me go. Catherine!" 
 
 He looked with wandering, anxious eyes about the 
 poorly lighted room. 
 
 "She has gone out," said Conrad. "I will bring 
 her again for you." 
 
 "No, no, /will, I must," called Lambert, already at 
 the door. "At least take me along — I beg you, Con- 
 rad, let me. I will afterwards explain everything to 
 you. Catherine! For the mercy of God! She may 
 have fallen into the creek!" 
 
 "Stupid stuff!" said Conrad, who, less excited than 
 his brother, had cast his eyes, sharp as those of a 
 falcon, in every direction. "There she sits, there, 
 do you see.'*" 
 
 "I will go to her alone." 
 
 "You may, so far as I am concerned. And Lam- 
 bert, listen, have you not also brought me a wife .!*" 
 
 But Lambert was already hastening with beating 
 heart to the place where he saw Catherine sit, or lie. 
 
46 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 he could not tell which, on account of the distance 
 and the evening twilight which now prevailed. 
 
 Catherine had run straight forward from the hill on 
 which the house stood until she saw the creek at her 
 feet. She now ran along its edge, scarcely knowing 
 what she wished to do, or whither to go, driven by 
 the painful feeling that the man whom she had trusted 
 as she did her God, had deceived her. She could 
 not make it clear to herself. Everything had come so 
 quickly — had passed like a shadow in the smoke and 
 mist from the fire on the hearth. What she had con- 
 ceived to be a family, consisted of two brothers fight- 
 ing with each other — fighting on her account. And 
 this was the end of her long pilgrimage, which she 
 had begun in such a hopeful spirit — with a constantly 
 increasing confidence — yes, at last with wonderful 
 joyfulness. This the end! "O, my God, my God!" 
 groaned the young girl, stopping and looking anx- 
 iously into the wilderness which in fearful silence sur- 
 rounded her, the night with its gathering darkness 
 settling down upon her. "O, my God, my God!" 
 
 A bridge, consisting of an immense tree trunk, led 
 across the creek at the place where she now was. 
 She had already set one foot on the dangerous cross- 
 ing when it suddenly became dark before her eyes. 
 Involuntarily she turned and sank back on her knees, 
 laying her head against the trunk of the tree. Her 
 senses forsook her. 
 
 Then, as if from a great distance, she heard her 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 47 
 
 name called, "Catherine!" Again, but now quite 
 near, "Catherine!" She opened her eyes. Near her 
 in the grass kneeled Lambert. He had seized her 
 powerless hands. His long, smooth, brown hair flut- 
 tered confusedly in the evening wind about his pale, 
 anxious face. 
 
 "Catherine," he said again, "can you forgive me.?" 
 She looked at him. She wikhed to say: "Why 
 have you done this to me.?" But her heart was too 
 full. Two large tears rolled down her cheeks. Others 
 followed them unrestrained. She wished to withdraw 
 her hands from those of Lambert. He, however, in 
 his desperation, held her fast, and in a despairing 
 voice, cried: "For God's sake, Catherine, listen to 
 me. I meant it well. I wanted to tell you a hundred 
 times, but I could not. I thought you would not so 
 willingly go with me if you knew the actual state of 
 things. I endured a great fear, as you may have per- 
 ceived, when we passed through Albany and Sche- 
 nectady and the valley of the Mohawk, where they all 
 know me. I always went first into the houses to 
 beg the people not to speak to you of my situation. 
 To-day I left the road and came on through the 
 woods so that nobody here on the creek should meet 
 me. It was not right; it was very foolish; it was 
 bad in me that I did not requite your confidence with 
 confidence on my part; but I did not know how to 
 help myself. For God's sake, forgive me, Catherine. " 
 She had now withdrawn her hands and laid them 
 
48 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 across her breast. Lambert had risen. He brushed his 
 hair from his face. With all the thoughts that 
 crossed his brain, with all the feelings that filled his 
 breast, he knew not what more he should say — what 
 he had said. 
 
 "Catherine, believe me, oh, believe me! I had not 
 thought when I reached New York that I should not 
 return alone to my home. I will take you back again 
 — will take you where you will. My uncle Christian 
 Ditmar and his wife, my aunt, are old and childless 
 and will be glad to have you; and Conrad and I will 
 again live as we have hitherto. Conrad has ever 
 been to me a kind and faithful brother, and he now 
 feels very sorry that he has so offended you. We 
 will both watch over you — watch over you all — as we 
 always have here where we are the farthest settlers. 
 However, as you will, Catherine, as you will." 
 
 She had now raised herself up, and, as she stood 
 there in the light of the moon which had for some 
 time risen above the edge of the forest, Lambert 
 thought that the beloved maiden had never before 
 appeared so beautiful. 
 
 She had folded her hands, and, not looking at Lam- 
 bert, but upward, she said softly but firmly: "I will 
 go with you, Lambert Sternberg — come what will." 
 
 They walked back toward the house, side by side, 
 the moon shining in the deep blue sky with radiant 
 clearness. From time to time Lambert cast sly 
 glances at the beloved one. He bad yet so mucb to 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 49 
 
 tell her — so very much — but he would not speak since 
 she herself was silent, and he knew that she could 
 speak more beautifully than he had ever heard any 
 one speak before. It was also so well and he was so 
 thankful that at last the burden was lifted from his 
 soul, and that she had forgiven him and would en- 
 tirely forgive him when she learned how much he had 
 suffered. 
 
 This Catherine had already perceived in the painful 
 vehemence of a man otherwise so quiet and self-con- 
 tained. She had felt it in the storm that had swept 
 through her own soul. Now after the turmoil of the 
 storm she was at peace. What had happened ? Was 
 everything that she silently hoped, lived upon, cher- 
 ished, forever destroyed.^ Or, amid thunder-claps, did 
 a new world bloom far more beautiful than she had 
 ever dreamed.^ 
 
 Thus, lost in their own peculiar thoughts, they 
 again reached the house. 
 
 "Do you come at last.?" said Conrad. 
 
 He was standing in the door which he now opened 
 wide for the two. Then he gave his hand to Cath- 
 erine and his brother and greeted them for the first 
 time. "You before took me so by surprise," said he, 
 "that I did not know where my head stood. In what 
 a confusion everything about here lay! It had be- 
 come somewhat disordered during the two months 
 that you, Lambert, was away. You know I do not 
 well understand housekeeping. I came home a couple 
 
50 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 of hours ago, having been upon Black River for eight 
 days after beaver. However, instead of beaver I 
 found Onandagas, whose manner was far from friendly 
 — the cursed scoundrels. I went to Uncle Ditmar's 
 who had, meanwhile, kept our cows. Bless has 
 calved. Ditmar will keep the calf if you do not wish 
 to raise it. Take seats here. I have meanwhile re- 
 arranged the evening meal as well as I could after my 
 awkward interference. There is baked ham, your 
 favorite dish, Lambert." 
 
 Conrad was unusually busy while he thus spoke. 
 He set the chairs to the table, pulled them back, that 
 he might wipe them off with his brown hand, and 
 then set them up again. Again and again he put 
 wood on the fire, so that the fire crackled and the 
 flame went roaring up the chimney. For no definite 
 reason, except that it had to be so, he kicked his wolf- 
 hound, Pluto, while she, having just come in, kept 
 blinking at Catherine with her large yellow eyes. He 
 himself did not look at the strange girl, and when 
 his glance accidentally passed over her face he be- 
 came red and embarrassed, and speedily turned his 
 eyes away again. 
 
 In this way he acted during the whole meal. He 
 talked, stood up, sat down again, tried to put things 
 in order, but brought them into greater confusion, so 
 that Lambert became red in the face and thanked the 
 Lord when he saw Catherine smiling in a friendly 
 way. She thought she could interpret Conrad's con- 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 5 1 
 
 duct in his favor. It was apparent enough that it had 
 not made an unfavorable impression on the young 
 and beautiful girl. It cost her no trouble now and 
 again to return a friendly word to his talk. Lam- 
 bert was astonished, and it sounded strange to him as 
 she once laughed in the same cheerful, soft tone in 
 which she spoke. He had not heard her laugh once 
 during her whole journey. 
 
 So he sat there full of thankful joy that everything 
 had turned out so well after he had been very de- 
 spondent and was filled with secret unrest like one 
 who, having with difficulty escaped a great danger, 
 does not venture to yield to the feeling of security 
 and seems to feel the ground shaking under his feet. 
 
 But as the meal was now drawing to a close an- 
 other care began to press upon him with increasing 
 weight. During the journey, in the farm-houses 
 which they entered, which were often very small, it 
 had happened more than once that he had passed the 
 night in the same room with the family and his com- 
 panion. Two or three nights when they could reach 
 no human habitation they had taken their rest in the 
 forest, and he had seen the beloved maiden by the 
 light of the camp-fire sleeping peacefully, while he 
 looked up through the tops of the trees and thanked 
 God that he was permitted to watch over her slumber. 
 But this occurred on the journey — an unusual condi- 
 tion, which could not and should not last. There was 
 in the upper story a store-room partitioned off, in 
 
52 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 which one of the brothers used to sleep, while the 
 other had his simple couch in a small recess in the 
 lower room. The brothers had hit upon this arrange- 
 ment the preceding year, when the inroads of the 
 French necessitated redoubled watchfulness. After- 
 wards, though the danger was over, they had kept 
 up the custom until Lambert's departure. Lambert 
 had thought of each room for Catherine, but Conrad 
 had mentioned during the meal that, on his eight- 
 days' excursion, he had learned that the French were 
 stirring again. Consequently renewed watchfulness 
 was necessary, and that since Lambert must be very 
 tired from his journey, he would undertake the watch 
 for that night. 
 
 "Then we will in turn both watch above," said 
 Lambert after a pause. "Catherine will be satisfied 
 for the night here below. To-morrow we will make 
 a better arrangement for her. Is that satisfactory, 
 Catherine?" 
 
 '"Quite so," replied the young woman. "I saw in 
 the recess sweet-smellmg hay, and here is the beauti- 
 ful white bear-skin; do not trouble yourselves. I 
 shall get along all right. Good night." 
 
 She gave Lambert her hand and then Conrad, who 
 looked on with surprise. He wondered at his brother, 
 and followed him up the narrow stairway after they 
 had bolted and barricaded the door. 
 
 Catherine watched them as they ascended, drew a 
 deep breath, passed her hand over her forehead, and 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 53 
 
 began to clear away the supper table, and to wash up 
 and put away the dishes, that she might with better 
 courage carry forward the work of reducing things to 
 order which she had before timidly begun. This took 
 a long time. Often she stood benumbed in the midst 
 of her work with her hand pressed against her fore- 
 head. Her heart was so full she could have sat down 
 and shed a flood of tears. At the same time a firm, 
 unchecked serenity filled her soul, such as she had 
 experienced when quite a young thing playing at for- 
 feits when the band of children in their colored dresses 
 wildly pursued each other. 
 
 Then awakened out of such strange dreams, she 
 again quietly continued her work, and at last looked 
 about the room with a self-satisfied air, since it had 
 now assumed quite a different appearance. Having 
 carefully put out the fire on the hearth, she sought 
 her modest couch that she had prepared in the recess 
 on the farther side of the large room. 
 
 Through the narrow port-holes in the thick plank 
 wall there stole in streaks of the moon's rays, spread- 
 ing about her a faint twilight. It was easy to breathe 
 in the fresh forest exhalation which blew in at the 
 openings and played about her cheeks. The brook 
 purled uninterruptedly. From time to time there 
 was a rustle, first gentle, then swelling out, and then 
 again holding back like the tones of an organ. It 
 was the solemn music of the primitive forest. She 
 had already noticed this music on her journey when, 
 
54 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 sleeping under the trees on gathered moss, she, with 
 dream-veiled, half-open eyes, saw Lambert sitting at 
 the camp-fire. She could now also hear his step as 
 he made the round of the gallery above. Conrad's 
 tread would be heavier. Once he stopped directly 
 over her head. Was he looking in the distance for 
 the blood-thirsty enemies.'* or was he listening to the 
 mocking-bird's wonderful song which she had for 
 some time noticed coming from the forest in soft, 
 sobbing tones, as the nightingale had warbled, over 
 in her German home, in the linden tree at the gable 
 of the parsonage. Then again it shrieked like a vex- 
 atious parrot, or laughed like a magpie. This sounded 
 quite ludicrous. Then it was no more the mocking- 
 bird's twofold, demon-like singing, but two human 
 voices, and Lambert spoke in excited, suffering tones: 
 "Catherine, can you forgive me.'"' and Conrad 
 laughed, saying: "Catherine is not at all angry," and 
 she had to smile, and with a smile on her lips she fell 
 asleep. 
 
 Meanwhile, as Catherine had correctly supposed, 
 Lambert, walking slowly over the floor of the gallery, 
 kept watch, though Conrad, recurring to what he had 
 reported, assured him that, for the present, the dan- 
 ger of which he had before spoken did not exist, and 
 that he had only mentioned it that he might have 
 good grounds for leaving. He then became very an- 
 gry as Lambert replied, "I do not know what you 
 mean," threw himself on the bed in the watch-cham- 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 55 
 
 ber and declared that he was too tired to say another 
 word. 
 
 However he did not sleep, for as Lambert, after an 
 hour, softly walked past the open door of the watch- 
 chamber, he thought he heard his name spoken. He 
 stopped and looked in. 
 
 "Did you call me, Conrad.?" 
 
 "Yes," replied Conrad, who had raised himself on 
 his elbow, "I wished to ask you something." 
 
 "What.?" 
 
 "Are you then not married.?" 
 
 "No; why.?" 
 
 "Oh! I only asked; so good night." 
 
 "Conrad, dear Conrad, I wish with all my heart to 
 tell you everything." But Conrad had already sunk 
 back on the bear skin and had fallen asleep, or pre- 
 tended that he had. 
 
 Lambert went sadly out. "To-morrow," said he to 
 himself, "before we see Catherine, he shall know it, 
 and he will help me, and all will be well." 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 Lambert, having, in the early morning, lain down 
 by the side of Conrad, awoke late and found his 
 brother gone. He had left the block-house at sun- 
 rise. Catherine was up and occupied about the 
 hearth when Conrad lightly descended the stairs. He 
 was in a great hurry, and declined the morning soup 
 which she offered him. He would certainly be back 
 before night. Then he took his rifle, hung about him 
 his game bag, and, with Pluto at his heels, went up 
 the creek with long strides. 
 
 "The wild youth," said Lambert. 
 
 He was quite displeased with Conrad, but that he 
 had intentionally avoided him did not enter his mind. 
 Conrad had acted strangely enough last evening, 
 but then the older brother was accustomed to the un- 
 reliable, crisp and often silly humors of the younger 
 one. "Why should Conrad give up a hunt to-day 
 which perhaps he had prearranged with his compan- 
 ions.^ He will doubtless return by noon with a fat 
 deer and a woodman's appetite." 
 
 So said Lambert while, standing at the hearth, he 
 
 partook of his morning meal. However he did not 
 
 say that, on the whole, he was not so much put out 
 
 by his brother's absence — that he reluctantly gave 
 
 56 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 57 
 
 up the sweet habit of being alone with Catherine that 
 he might talk freely with her. 
 
 But this morning the pleasant conversation was 
 wanting. Catherine was still and, as Lambert now 
 saw, was pale, and her beaming, brown eyes were 
 veiled. Now that the end of her journey had been 
 reached she felt how great the strain had been; but 
 soon, smiling, accommodated herself to the situation. 
 
 "You need not feel concerned," said she. "In a 
 couple of days — perhaps hours — all will be regained. 
 I will not boast, but I have always been able to 
 accomplish what others could, and often a little more, 
 and, if you are not too strict a master, you shall be 
 satisfied with your maid-servant." 
 
 To Lambert it seemed as if the sun had suddenly 
 been overcast. With trembling hand he put down 
 the cup which he had not yet entirely emptied. 
 
 "You are not my maid-servant, Catherine," he 
 said gently. 
 
 "Yes I am, Lambert, yes I am, though you mag- 
 nanimously tore up the evidence of my indebtedness," 
 replied the young rnaiden. "I owe you none the less 
 on that account. The debt is now doubled. You 
 know it well and yet it is proper for me to say it. 
 I desired to be to you a good and faithful maid-serv- 
 ant — to you and yours. I supposed nothing else 
 but that your parents were still alive, and I heartily 
 rejoiced that I could serve them. You said nothing 
 about your parents, I think, because you did not wish 
 
58 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 to make me feel sad. Now your parents, like mine, 
 are dead, and you live here alone with your brother, 
 so I am' your maid-servant and your brother's." 
 
 Lambert made a motion as though he wished to 
 reply, but his half-raised arm fell powerless, and his 
 opened lips again closed. He had intended to say: 
 "I love you, Catherine. Do you not see it.^"' How 
 could he now say it.? 
 
 Catherine continued: 
 
 "I beg you, Lambert, with this understanding, to 
 talk with your brother, if you have not already done 
 so. You are the elder and know me better. He is 
 young and impetuous, as it seems, and now sees me 
 for the first time. And now, Lambert, you surely 
 have something better to do than to stand here and 
 talk with me. I have to clear away a little here yet, 
 and will follow you should you not go far, if you do 
 not object. I should like to see all, and know about 
 every part." 
 
 She turned to him and gave him her hand. "Does 
 that please you .?" she asked smiling. 
 
 "Entirely, entirely," replied Lambert. Tears 
 stood in his eyes, but the dear girl wanted it so, and 
 that was enough. 
 
 "I will first go to the barn-yard," said he, "and then 
 into the forest. This afternoon I intended to go to 
 Uncle Ditmar's. Perhaps you will accompany me." 
 
 He went out hastily. Catherine looked at him 
 with sad smiles. "You good, dear, best man," said 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 59 
 
 she, "it is not my fault that I distress you, but I 
 must think of us all. The madcap will probably now 
 be satisfied." 
 
 Catherine now felt herself somewhat relieved of 
 the weight that had lain on her heart since the pecul- 
 iar scene with Conrad in the morning. Involunta- 
 rily she constantly thought about how alarmed Con- 
 rad appeared when, as he came down the narrow, 
 steep stairs, he found her already on the hearth; how 
 he had then approached her and stared at her with 
 his large, glistening eyes, and had said: "Are you 
 man and wife, or are you not ? If you are, then it 
 will be best for me to send a bullet through my head; 
 but lie not — for God's sake, do not lie, otherwise I 
 will indeed shoot myself, but first surely both of you." 
 
 Then as Catherine drew back from the violence, he 
 began to laugh. "Now, one does not lightly shoot 
 such a brother dead, who is so good that he could not 
 be better, and a girl who is so handsome, so wonder- 
 fully beautiful. So far as I am concerned I need feel 
 no anxiety about being shot dead. This can happen 
 to me any day. Pluto, beast, are you again staring 
 at her.? Wait! I will teach you manners." With 
 this he hastened away. Outside Pluto howled griev- 
 ously, as though she would teach Catherine that her 
 master was not accustomed to indulge in vain threats. 
 
 "Now he will be satisfied," said Catherine, yet a 
 couple of times, while she cleared away the breakfast 
 and made some preparations for the simple dinner. 
 
60 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 To-day she did not, like yesterday, have to gather up 
 laboriously what she needed ; everything was at her 
 hand. Everything appeared as if familiar to her — as 
 though she had known it from youth up. She hum- 
 med her favorite song, "Were I a wild falcon I would 
 soar aloft," and then interrupted herself and said: 
 "It has been childish for me to be so fearful. He 
 loves him; that one sees clearly. He has called him 
 the best brother, and surely, at the bottom of his 
 heart, he is kind though his eyes have so wild a look. 
 Before glittering eyes which are so handsome one 
 needs not be afraid. But Lambert's eyes are still 
 handsomer." 
 
 Catherine stepped to the door. It was a most 
 beautiful spring morning. Small white clouds passed 
 quietly over the light blue sky. Golden stars danced 
 in the creek. Dew-drops sparkled in the luxuriant 
 grass of the meadow — here in emerald green, in blue 
 and purple shades there. The woods which encircled 
 the hill on which the house stood looked down quietly. 
 Over a rocky height that projected steep out of the 
 forest there hovered a great eagle with extended 
 wings sporting in the balmy air that was breathing 
 through the valley and whose every puff was charged 
 with balsamic aroma. 
 
 Catherine folded her hands and her eyes filled with 
 tears. It seemed to her as if she were again standing 
 in the small church of her home village, and that she 
 heard her father's mild voice pronounce the benedic- 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 6 1 
 
 tion over the congregation: "The Lord let the light 
 of His countenance fall upon you and give you peace." 
 
 The last remains of unrest had passed away from 
 her and, in her present mood, she went to seek Lam- 
 bert, whom she supposed to be at the buildings which, 
 as she passed around the block-house, she saw stand- 
 ing at some distance towards the forest. 
 
 She found him working at a hedge which inclosed 
 part of a field in which the lance-shaped, bright 
 leaves of the Indian-corn waved in the morning wind. 
 Young, red-blossomed apple trees, whose trunks had 
 been carefully wound with thorns, had been planted 
 around the fields. 
 
 "This the deer did last night," said Lambert, as he 
 approached a damaged place. "Here are the fresh 
 tracks. Conrad knows how to keep them respectful, 
 but during the eight days that he has been away they 
 have again become bold." 
 
 "I will help you," said Catherine, after she had 
 looked on for a few miuntes. 
 
 * This is no labor for you," said Lambert, looking 
 up. 
 
 "So, once for all, you must not speak," serenely 
 replied Catherine. "If you want a princess in your 
 house you must at once send me away again. I own 
 myself unfit for that." 
 
 Lambert smiled with pleasure when he saw how 
 skillfully she took hold of the matter, and how handy 
 she was. He now noticed for the first time that 
 
62 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 the roses had again blossomed on her cheeks; and as 
 she now, in helping him, bent over and back, the 
 agreeable play of the lines of her slender, girlish body 
 filled him with trembling delight. 
 
 "But you also should not be unemployed,'* said 
 Catherine. 
 
 The young man, blushing deeply, returned to his 
 work with redoubled zeal, so that it was soon com- 
 pleted. 
 
 "What comes next.!*" asked Catherine. 
 
 "I intended to go up into the woods to look after 
 my pine trees. There will be probably more to do 
 there than here, where my kind uncle has kept every 
 thing so well in order. But about woodcraft he un- 
 derstands little or nothing; and Conrad concerns 
 himself only with his hunting. It was fortunate that 
 I could do the chief labor before I left home in the 
 spring." 
 
 He hung the gun, which leaned against the hedge 
 near him, over his shoulder and looked at Catherine. 
 
 Lingering he said: "Will you go with me? It is 
 not far." 
 
 "That is truly fortunate," said Catherine. "You 
 know I am shy of long roads. Will you not rather 
 saddle Hans.?" 
 
 She called the horse, grazing in an enclosure near 
 by, in which there was also a small flock of black- 
 wooled sheep. He pricked up his ears, came slowly, 
 swinging his tail, and put his head over the bars. 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 63 
 
 "You good Hans," said Catherine, brushing the 
 thick forelock out of the eyes of the animal, "I gave 
 you a good deal of trouble on the long journey." 
 
 "The trouble was not so very great. Is it not so, 
 old Hans.^" said Lambert. 
 
 Hans seemed to think that to such an idle question 
 no answer was necessary and went on quietly chew- 
 ing his last mouthful of grass. The young people 
 stood and looked on and stroked the head and neck 
 of the animal, while in the branches of a blossom- 
 ing apple tree a robin-redbreast sang. Their hands 
 touched. Lambert's large eyes assumed a deter- 
 mined expression and then were raised with a cordial 
 look to the blushing face of the maiden. 
 
 "Now you must also show me the barn-yard," said 
 Catherine. 
 
 "Cheerfully," said Lambert. 
 
 They entered the barn-yard which like the house 
 was inclosed with a stone-wall of the height of a man, 
 and contained several low buildings formed of logs. 
 First the stable in which, in the winter and in bad 
 weather, Hans, the cows and the sheep stayed quietly 
 together. This was now empty with the exception 
 of a couple of half-grown pigs grunting within a par- 
 tition, and a large flock of hens and turkeys which 
 had been contentedly scratching in the straw, but 
 now, frightened at the unwelcome intrusion, cackling 
 and flying apart rushed out of the open door. Then 
 they entered the work-shop, in which Lambert 
 
64 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 worked during the winter, and where, besides excellent 
 timber and all kinds of tools, there were standing, 
 begun and finished, tubs which would have done credit 
 to a cooper. 
 
 "In the fall these are all filled with tar and rosin," 
 said Lambert, "and sent to Albany. It won't be 
 long before I must stick to this, and my Uncle Dit- 
 mar, of whom I learned coopering, will help me, I 
 suppose, and also Conrad, though he does not like 
 mechanical labor. Still he can do anything he pleases, 
 and does it better than one who devotes his life to it." 
 
 Catherine was pleased to hear that Lambert was so 
 proud of his younger brother, but did not speak of it. 
 It seemed to her as if a dark shadow had passed over 
 her heart, which had but now been as sunny as the 
 surrounding golden, spring landscape. 
 
 They left the barn-yard and, ascending by degrees, 
 soon reached the edge of the woods, which here ex- 
 tended back farther from the level ground, so that, as 
 they turned about, the valley lay like a great meadow 
 in the woods, in the midst of which was the block- 
 house on the hill. The creek was concealed by the 
 reeds which fringed its shore. Deep peace rested in 
 happy quietude on the earth in its morning freshness. 
 But up in the air there appeared an unusual spectacle. 
 The eagle which Catherine had before observed had 
 been joined by another. They sailed directly over 
 the house and wound their circles together swifter 
 and ever swifter until, with loud outcries, they rushed 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 65 
 
 against each other, striking with their mighty wings, 
 whirling round each other, clasping each other, and 
 falling like a stone. Then again they separated, 
 sailed aloft, again rushed together, until at length 
 one flew toward the woods followed by the other. 
 
 "A hateful sight," said Catherine. "The angry 
 beasts!" 
 
 "We are accustomed to that," said Lambert. 
 
 Catherine was greatly disturbed by this battle 
 scene. Involuntarily she had again to think of Con- 
 rad. 
 
 As they now turned into the woods she asked: 
 
 "Do you truly love your brother.?" 
 
 "And he me," said Lambert. 
 
 "He is yet so young," Catherine began again. 
 
 "Ten years younger than I. I am thirty-two. Our 
 mother died when he was born. Good Aunt Ditmar, 
 our sainted mother's sister, took him home since my 
 father and I, poor youngster, naturally did not know 
 how to help ourselves. When he was a couple of 
 years old he came again to us, though his aunt would 
 gladly have kept him. But father did not stand any 
 too well with uncle, and was jealous, fearing that his 
 child would become entirely estranged from him. So 
 I waited on and brought up the little orphaned rogue 
 as best I could, and, since he grew so, I thought that 
 any mother would be proud of the boy. Then, when 
 I could no longer carry him, I played with him, and 
 taught him the little I had learned, and so we have 
 
66 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 been together day and night, and an an^ry word has 
 never passed between us, though he was as wild and 
 intractable as a young bear. Father's position in 
 respect to him was very difficult, being himself a 
 determined man and quite passionate. Once, being 
 at variance, father raised his hand against the eleven- 
 year-old boy, who was as brave and proud as a man. 
 He ran away into the woods and did not return, so 
 that we thought that he had either committed suicide, 
 or had been torn in pieces by the bears. Meanwhile 
 my young gentleman stuck among the Indians at 
 Oneida Lake and did not let anything be seen or 
 heard of him for three years, until, a few days after 
 father's death, he suddenly entered the block-house 
 where I sat alone and sad. At first I did not know 
 him, for he had grown a couple of heads taller and 
 was dressed in Indian style. But he fell upon my 
 neck and wept bitterly, and said: 
 
 " 'I heard by chance that our father was lying on 
 his death-bed. I have been walking three days and 
 three nights to see him again. ' In the midst of his 
 weeping he threw back his head and, with sparkling 
 eyes, exclaimed: 'But do not think that I have for- 
 given him for striking me; but I am sorry that I ran 
 away. ' So he came again as he had gone, wild and 
 proud, and at the next moment soft and kind." 
 Lambert was silent. After a short pause he said: 
 "I wish I had told you all this before; you would 
 then not have been so frightened last evening." 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 6/ 
 
 "And this morning," said Catherine to herself. 
 
 Lambert continued: "They here call him the In- 
 dian, and the name fits him in more than one respect. 
 At least no Indian would undertake to compete with 
 him in those things in which they chiefly excel. In 
 all their arts Conrad beats them; and then he loves 
 the hunt, the forest and rambling ways just as the 
 red-skins do. But his heart is true as pure gold, and 
 in that he is not a red-skin, who are all as false as a 
 jack-o'-lantern in the swamp. For this reason we all 
 here on the Mohawk and on the Schoharie, old and 
 young, love him. Wherever there are German set- 
 tlers there he comes on his hunting expeditions, and 
 is everywhere welcome. The people sleep without 
 fear when he is there, for they know they are guarded 
 by the best rifle in the colony." 
 
 Lambert's eyes brightened as he spoke about his 
 brother. Suddenly his face became beclouded. 
 
 "Who knows," continued he, "how different it 
 mi^t have been last year had he been here with us.^ 
 But when Belletre broke loose with his devilish In- 
 dians and his French, who are much worse devils, we 
 were entirely unprepared. We would not believe 
 the Indian who brought us the news. Conrad would 
 have known what there was of it, and would soon 
 have brought it out. But he remained above be- 
 tween the lakes on a hunt; so we missed his arm and 
 rifle. Then took place the remarkable circumstance 
 that they did not come here to Canada Creek, and 
 
68 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 that our houses escaped their ravages. This after- 
 ward caused bad blood, and one could hear whisper- 
 ings about treachery, though, at the first alarm, we 
 all hurried forward and did our share. Conrad helped 
 us fight in his own way. He says nothing about it, 
 but I think that many an Indian, who in the morning 
 went hunting, was vainly waited for at his camp-fire 
 in the evening, and has not to this day returned to his 
 wigwam." 
 
 A shudder passed over Catherine. What had the 
 wild man said this morning.^* "As far as it concerns 
 me I need not trouble myself about being shot to 
 death." Dreadful! Had she not seen as she came 
 up the Mohawk valley where many houses had been 
 burned which had not been rebuilt, the entire families 
 having been killed by the merciless enemies.!* And 
 how many plain wooden crosses in green fields, along 
 the road, in the edge of the woods, where a peaceful 
 farmer, a helpless wife, a playful child, had been piti- 
 lessly killed. No, no! It was an honorable conflict 
 for house and home, for body and life — the same con- 
 flict through which her good father with his whole 
 congregation had been driven out of Germany. They 
 knew not how to resist their shameless and disorderly 
 oppressors except by flight over the sea into this wil- 
 derness at the furthest west. Whither shall they 
 yet fly, since the same enemy even here begrudges 
 them life and freedom? Here one cannot say: "Let 
 us forsake our houses and shake the dust from our 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 69 
 
 feet." Here the word is wait, fight, conquer, or die. 
 Not in empty threatening did the farmer a§ he went 
 to his peaceful labor carry his gun on his shoulder. 
 
 "I wish I too knew how to handle the rifle," said 
 Catherine. 
 
 "Like my Aunt Ursul," said Lambert laughing. 
 "She shoots as well as any one of us, Conrad naturally 
 being excepted. Nor does she leave her rifle at home. 
 Here we are, at the pinery." 
 
 They had reached a tall forest, such as Catherine 
 on her journey, had not hitherto seen. The power- 
 ful trunks shot up like the pillars of a dome and in- 
 tertwined their mighty tops in an arch through whose 
 dark vaults here and there red sun-rays flashed. The 
 morning wind soughed through the wide halls, having 
 now become stronger, and ascending, gently died 
 at the top like the murmur of the sea. 
 
 "This seems to have stood so since the first day of 
 creation," said Catherine. 
 
 "And yet its days are numbered," said Lambert. 
 "In a couple of years there will be little more to be 
 seen of it. I am sorry far the beautiful trees, and 
 now, since you so admire them, I am doubly sorry. 
 But there is no longer any remedy. See, here my 
 labor begins." 
 
 A slight depression, through which a brooklet 
 purled on its "way to the creek, separated this piece of 
 woods from another which had already been pre- 
 pared the second year for the manufacture of tar. 
 
70 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 Lambert explained to his companion that each of the 
 large trees was divided into four quarters. "In the 
 spring, as soon as the sap begins to rise, the north 
 quarter, where the sun has the least power, is peeled 
 off for two feet in order to draw off the turpentine. 
 In the fall, before the sap begins to slacken, the 
 southern quarter is treated in the same way. The 
 following spring the eastern side, and in the fall the 
 western side, is in like manner peeled. Then the up- 
 per part of the tree, filled with turpentine, is cut 
 down and split up and roasted in an oven so pre- 
 pared as to secure the tar. This I will show you 
 later. This indeed is not a pleasing sight," said Lam- 
 bert, "nor will I take you farther, where the poor 
 naked stumps stand and decay. It cannot well be 
 otherwise. One must live, and we here on Canada 
 Creek have nothing else, or scarcely anything else, 
 since our small cultivated acreage must be devoted to 
 our most urgent necessities. So must also our live 
 stock, though we have plenty of fertile plow-land and 
 rich meadow-land. But what can one do when he 
 is every instant in danger, and his crops are destroyed, 
 and his herds are driven off.'^ They must leave us 
 our pine trees, and our ovens can soon be rebuilt. 
 To replace the burnt casks and utensils we make new 
 ones. Hence it was for us a question of life or death 
 when, last winter, Mr. Albert Livingston wished to 
 confine us to the valley, and claimed the woods on 
 the hills for himself, notwithstanding that we had 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS J I 
 
 first bought both valley and forest from the Indians, 
 and again after that from the Government. But all 
 this I told you often enough on the journey, and you 
 have listened patiently, and rejoice that the business 
 has been arranged in our favor. God be praised — " 
 
 "And your faithful care," said Catherine. "You 
 had it hard enough on the long, tiresome journey, 
 from which you did not return unencumbered. After 
 you had been relieved of the old care you were laden 
 with a new one in me, a poor, helpless girl." 
 
 "Shall I deny it?" repHed Lambert. "Yes, Cath- 
 erine, with you there came a new care to me. You 
 know what I mean. I feared I had done wrong to 
 bring you here, where everybody's life is in daily, yes, 
 hourly danger. This indeed I did not conceal from 
 you, though I felt that you would not on this account 
 be frightened back. But — " 
 
 "Then don't distress yourself further about it," 
 said Catherine. "Or do you think you have been 
 deceived in me.?" 
 
 "No," answered Lambert. "But since we are 
 here, it has appeared to me as though I should have 
 set the matter forth more pressingly. So I also 
 blame myself that I let Conrad go away this morning 
 without first more fully ascertaining what he knows 
 about the enemy. He is too careless to take to heart 
 anything of that kind. I should use better judgment. " 
 
 "Better judgment, but not less courage," said 
 Catherine. "If I must believe that my coming has 
 
72 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 robbed you of your cool courage, how could I forgive 
 myself for having come here with you? No, Lam- 
 bert, you must not so wrong me. I will also learn 
 to use the rifle like Ursul. Why do you laugh?" 
 
 "I cannot think of you and the good old lady to- 
 gether without laughing," said Lambert. 
 
 "Perhaps I shall also live to be old, and, it is to be 
 hoped, good. I shall then take it amiss if mischiev- 
 ous young people laugh at me." 
 
 "You old!" said Lambert, shaking his head. "You 
 old ! This I can conceive as little as how this rivulet 
 must begin if it would flow up these rocks!" 
 
 They now went on between the tree-trunks down 
 to the creek, and were walking along the edge where, 
 in the mud of the shore, bison and deer had impressed 
 their deep trails. The stream did not run as smoothly 
 here as on the level ground. Its course was obstructed, 
 now by rocks covered with moss a hundred years 
 old, now by an immense tree-trunk which had fallen 
 diagonally across, and whose withered branches 
 stretched down into the brown water. A little fur- 
 ther up it had to make its way over rocks, over which 
 it leapt in indescribable, foam-covered cascades. 
 From where they both stood one could see a part of 
 the fall, like the fluttering ends of a white garment. 
 The roar was softened by the distance and accorded 
 remarkably well with the sound of the morning wind 
 in the majestic tree-tops. With this exception there 
 was an oppressive stillness in the primitive forest, 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 73 
 
 which the occasional flight of a flock of pigeons over- 
 head, the hammering of the woodpecker, the cawing 
 of crows, the chirping of a little bird high above in 
 the branches, and the piping of a little squirrel, 
 seemed to make only the stiller. Soft vaporous 
 shadows filled the woods. But in the clear space 
 above the creek there was spread a golden twilight 
 bewitchingly woven out of light and shadow. In this 
 enchanting light how bright the beloved one appeared 
 to her lover. He could not turn his eyes from her as 
 he now sat near her feet in the moss. Her rich, dark 
 hair which encircled her well-formed head like a 
 crown; the beautiful, slanting brows, the long, silky 
 eyelashes; the sweet face; the heavenly form — ah! 
 all this, on the long journey, had made a deep im- 
 pression; but now it seemed as if he had not known 
 it before — as though he now saw for the first time 
 that she was so beautiful, so wonderfully beautiful. 
 Also her dark eyelashes were raised, and her glance 
 wandered over the blue eyes which had never before 
 seemed so deep and bright, turned back timidly, then 
 looked again more keenly, and could no longer with- 
 draw themselves; then out of their blue depths there 
 came such wonderful flashes that her heart stood still, 
 and suddenly again she felt it bounding and beating 
 against the heart of the beloved man who held her 
 infolded in his arms. Then they released each other. 
 Each caught the other's hand. They sank again into 
 each other's arms, exchanged warm kisses and prom- 
 
74 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 ises, and laughed, and cried, and said they had loved 
 each other from the moment in which they first saw 
 each other, and would do so to the last. 
 
 Suddenly Catherine shrunk back. "Conrad!" she 
 cried. "O, my God! Lambert, what are we begin- 
 ning.?" 
 
 "What has happened, my darling.?" asked Lambert, 
 while he sought again to draw the beloved one to 
 him. 
 
 "No, no," said Catherine, "this must first be ar- 
 ranged. O, why did I not tell you ? But how could 
 I speak of it before ? Now indeed I must speak, even 
 though it be too late." 
 
 Without hesitating and in a becoming manner she 
 told Lambert what Conrad had said in the morning, 
 and how strange his conduct, and how threatening 
 his appearance had been. "I seem constantly to hear 
 his laugh," said she at last. "Great God, there he 
 is!" 
 
 She pointed with her trembling hand up the creek 
 to the place where, between the dark underwood, the 
 foam-streaks of the waterfall fluttered. 
 
 "Where.?" asked Lambert. 
 
 "Conrad! I thought I saw him slipping away be- 
 tween the trunks of the trees." 
 
 Lambert shook his head. 
 
 "Then he would be there yet," said he. "It must 
 have been a deer that wanted to go to the spring. 
 Surely you are causelessly frightened. I can well 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 75 
 
 believe that the youth finds my beautiful girl hand- 
 some, but love as I do, that he cannot. Hereafter 
 he will be4Lappy in seeing me happy." 
 
 "But nov^ I surely have heard a human voice," 
 cried Catherine. 
 
 "I, too, this time," said Lambert, "but it came from 
 up the creek. Hark!" 
 
 "He, holla, holla, he, ho!" it now sounded. 
 
 "That is Aunt Ursul," said Lambert. "How does 
 she come now to be here.-*" 
 
 A dark shadow passed over his face, which how- 
 ever at once disappeared as Catherine impressed a 
 hearty kiss on his lips, and said: "Quick, Lambert; 
 let us now go to meet your aunt. See that she ob- 
 serves nothing. Do you hear.?" 
 
 "There she is already," said Lambert, half vexed, 
 half laughing, as now a large person, whose clothes 
 were an unusual mixture of women's and men's cloth- 
 ing, and who, carrying a rifle on her shoulder, press- 
 ing through the bushes, soon reached the pair. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 "So!" said Aunt Ursul. "There yon are, sir!" 
 
 She remained standing, took her rifle from her 
 shoulder and looked with large, round eyes on those 
 who were approaching, like a beast of prey on a com- 
 ing victim. 
 
 "God bless you, aunt," said Lambert, extending 
 his hand to his old friend in salutation. "It is long 
 since we have seen each other." 
 
 "And it might have been longer had it depended on 
 you, sir," replied Aunt Ursul. "But one must first 
 visit his pinery. Relatives and friends come later. 
 It is fortunate that Aunt Ursul knows her people, 
 or she might have had to look long for you, sir." 
 
 She threw her gun with a powerful swing on her 
 shoulder, turned short on the heel of her man's boots, 
 and began to stride back over the road along the 
 creek by which she had come. She had returned 
 Lambert's salutation but slightly, and had not no- 
 ticed Catherine at all. 
 
 "How did you learn that I am back.^" asked Lam- 
 bert. 
 
 "Not from you, sir," repHed Aunt Ursul. 
 
 "How is uncle .!*" 
 
 "As usual." 
 
 76 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 77 
 
 "You have taken such good care of my things — " 
 ' "One must, when the men are wandering about the 
 country." 
 
 "You well know, aunt, that I did not remain so 
 long away for release from labor, nor entirely on my 
 own account. Nor was my journey useless. The 
 business that took me to New York is so arranged 
 that you and others will be satisfied." 
 
 "So!" said Ursul. 
 
 "And I have likewise brought with me for you a 
 young female friend, whom you will love as she de- 
 serves, and whom you will receive kindly as you do 
 all who need your help." 
 
 "So!" said Aunt Ursul. 
 
 The path was so narrow that two could not walk 
 abreast. Ursul did not turn about, but Lambert now 
 did so and observed that Catherine was quite pale, 
 and that tears stood in her eyes. The sight cut him 
 to the heart, as he had but a little before seen the 
 beautiful face radiant with happiness. "Have good 
 courage, my girl," said he softly. "She does not 
 mean unkindly." 
 
 Catherine tried to smile through her tears, and 
 bowed as if she would say: "Let it pass. Since you 
 love me I can bear anything." 
 
 "Lambert!" called Ursul, who was vigorously walk- 
 ing on, "come here!" 
 
 "Only go," stammered Catherine; "but, for God's 
 sake, tell her nothing. I could not endure it." 
 
78 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 The young man tore himself away with a powerful 
 effprt and followed Ursul Ditmar, whom he soon over- 
 took. 
 
 "Come to my side," said Aunt Ursul; "the path 
 is wide enough so you need no longer trot behind 
 me." 
 
 Lambert did as his aunt desired. Aunt Ursul could 
 not bear opposition, and Lambert had from his youth 
 honored her as a second mother. However he could 
 not refrain from saying with mild reproach, "You 
 are very rough wdth the poor girl, aunt." 
 
 "So!" said the dame. "Do you think so? It is 
 naturally very important for an old person like me to 
 know what such a look into the world means. No, 
 I may as well tell you what I think. You have done 
 a foolish thing, sir, do you hear — a besotted, foolish 
 thing in that at such a time you have burdened 
 yourself with a woman. If, instead, you had 
 brought half a dozen men, these we could indeed 
 have used to better advantage." 
 
 "But, Aunt Ursul, first hear me — " 
 
 "I will not listen! I know the whole story as 
 though I had been present from the beginning. Poor 
 famished creatures, who all looked as though they 
 had already for four weeks played the ghost. Surely ! 
 It is a sin and shame, and may the evil one pay 
 back the greedy sharpers and Hollanders, and pour 
 melted gold down their hungry throats ! But when 
 a gun is fired off it is well not to be in front of it. 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 79 
 
 Why did you stand near and gaze when you knew 
 that you had such a butter-heart in your breast? 
 Now you have the burden. What will be the result? 
 You will naturally marry the girl. And then? Then 
 there comes every year a crying brat until there are 
 four or five. At the fifth the poor creature dies and 
 Aunt Ursul can then take the young brood and raise 
 them. But I tell you, that won't do, by any means! 
 I would not undertake it should you offer me a ton 
 of gold for each child." 
 
 Aunt Ursul had spoken so excitedly and in so loud 
 a voice that Lambert was glad when, turning, he 
 saw Catherine following slowly at a great distance, 
 her head bowed down and she often plucking a wood- 
 flower. 
 
 "How can you talk in that way, aunt?" said Lam- 
 bert. 
 
 "To you it would indeed be pleasanter should I 
 utter what first comes into the mouth, and say yea, 
 and amen, to what you dumbheads have hatched out. 
 Furthermore, I have no sympathy for you, sir. You 
 have prepared your own soup. You must eat it your- 
 self. Poor girl ! Thrust out into the world naked 
 and bare, so to speak, and with such eyes — just like 
 your sainted mother's — by which all men were cap- 
 tivated. This is itself already a heaven-appearing 
 misfortune. I can sing a song about it. Why do 
 you laVigh, you green woodpecker? Do you think, 
 since now, in my fifty-seventh year, I am not as slim 
 
80 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 as an osier-switch and as smooth as an eel, I could 
 not turn the heads of the men at seventeen? You 
 are getting on beautifully. I tell you how foolish 
 they were, though it isn't worth while to say it, for 
 they are all so. But I had half a dozen on every 
 finger, and your girl has as yet but two." 
 
 "Surely I do not understand you, aunt," said Lam- 
 bert, whose anxiety kept increasing as long as she 
 kept talking in her peculiar way. 
 
 "Well, then, I will speak plainly," said Ursul, after 
 she had cast a rapid glance toward Catherine. "This 
 morning — I was just raking up my hay — your brother 
 came with such a leap over the gate that my first 
 impulse was to give him one over the head, and, dis- 
 tracted and wild, to my horror, began to speak so in- 
 coherently, that no one besides me, who know him 
 from childhood, could have gathered his meaning; 
 saying that he must shoot himself dead since you 
 could not both marry her, and other foolish talk, all 
 showing that he is madly and blindly in love with the 
 girl." 
 
 Lambert was frightened, as he now heard from the 
 mouth of Aunt Ursul what Catherine herself had told 
 him a few minutes before. So the bad temper had 
 not been blown away by the first morning wind that 
 fanned the cheeks of the hunter, as he had hoped it 
 would be. He had carried it at least as far as Aunt 
 Ursul's. 
 
 "Surely you have set his head right, aunt.?" said 
 Lambert. 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 8 1 
 
 "First set right the head of that pine," said Aunt 
 Ursul, pointing to an immense tree which had been 
 shattered by lightning so that its top now held by 
 the bark, hung to the trunk. "And then, sir, you did 
 not do right in not keeping your promise to bring the 
 young man a wife as you have done for yourself." 
 
 "I promised nothing of the kind," replied Lam- 
 bert earnestly. "It was impossible for me to believe 
 that Conrad was serious when he called after me, as 
 I was already trotting off down the valley: 'Bring 
 back with you a wife for each of us!' I never 
 thought of it again — especially not when heaven 
 threw in my way a poor orphan, and I offered her, 
 forsaken by the whole world, a refuge with me. You 
 see, aunt, that I am indeed blameless." 
 
 "Then give him the girl," said Ursul. 
 
 "Sooner my life," earnestly replied Lambert. 
 
 "I would like to know," said Ursul, "whether I can- 
 not justly say that beauty is a woman's misfortune, 
 and I suppose you will admit it. Nor is it less so for 
 the men who are bewitched by it. What do the poor 
 creatures gain by it ? Nothing more than the turtle- 
 doves which I found covered with blood near your 
 house. What do you gain by it.^ Just as much as 
 the two eagles who, on account of those doves, tore 
 the flesh from each other's bodies. Alas, poor wo- 
 men! unhappy women!" 
 
 "Conrad will listen to reason," said Lambert, with 
 trembling lips. 
 
82 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 "I do not know," replied Ursul, shaking her large 
 head. "It often happens that men-folks become rea- 
 sonable, but they ifsually wait until it is too late. So 
 I fear it will also be this time. Now he has gone 
 into the woods, and heaven knows how long he will 
 wander about there, and that at a time when we can- 
 not spare a single man — and him least of all." 
 
 "He won't fail us when we need him," said Lam- 
 bert. 
 
 "He failed us last year, and did we not need him 
 then.!* But so men are, and especially you young 
 men. You make a hunting match, or get up a race, 
 or, at a wedding, dance the soles off your feet, and 
 do everything as it pleases you, and the rest you let 
 go as it pleases God. We saw it last year. How I 
 talked, and preached, urging you to watchfulness, 
 after I saw that General Abercrombie in Albany did 
 not bestir himself, and naturally your hands were 
 lying in your laps. I preached to deaf ears. After- 
 ward when the abominable French broke in and 
 sunk, and burned, and murdered after their wicked 
 heart's desire — yes, now every one protected his 
 own head as best he could. But how many houses 
 might still stand, how many wives and children could 
 to-day yet look at the lovely sun and praise their 
 heavenly Father, if you from the first had stood to- 
 gether as it became intelligent men.!* And now, Lam- 
 bert, there stands my horse and I do not know what 
 more to say to you; so help yourself out of the mire 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS g3 
 
 and me on my horse; and, as to what concerns the 
 lady, I will come again to-morrow, or you can bring 
 her to me. I will not bite her. Have no care. To- 
 day I won't stay longer. God protect you, Lambert. 
 Give my compliments to the lady. What is her 
 name.'*" 
 
 "Catherine Weise," said Lambert. "She is an 
 orphan. Her father, who was a preacher, and, out 
 of love for his people, emigrated with them, she lost 
 eight days before the ship reached New York." 
 
 "Catherine," said Ursul. "Our dear Father in 
 heaven! So I always wanted to call my daughter, 
 should I have one. Both my sainted grandmothers 
 had that name. Nay, things happen alike. Com- 
 pliments to the girl, who seems to be a well-behaved 
 person, and God protect you, Lambert." 
 
 The Amazon arranged her clothes, which was some- 
 what difficult, as she sat like a man in the saddle, 
 chirruped to her horse, gave him a hard cut over the 
 neck, and trotted briskly away from the edge of the 
 woods where they had stood, down the hill, over the 
 meadow, until she reached the road which led from 
 the creek to the other farm-houses. 
 
 The young man looked at the retreating figure with 
 sad glances and a deep sigh. He heard behind him a 
 light step. He turned eagerly and opened his arms 
 to the beloved one. But Catherine shook her hand- 
 some head. Her large, inquiring dark eyes, in which 
 there were still some traces of tears, rested on his 
 face. 
 
84 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 "For God's sake!" exclaimed Lambert, "why do 
 you look in such a strange way, Catherine ? What 
 have we to do with others? I love you." 
 
 "And I you," said Catherine, "but it must happen." 
 
 "What must happen? Catherine, dear Catherine," 
 cried Lambert. 
 
 "Come," said the maiden, "let us sit down here 
 and talk with each other quietly, very quietly." 
 
 She sat down on the trunk of a half-buried pine 
 and looked thoughtfully before her, 
 
 Lambert seated himself at her side. He wished to 
 speak, but before he could find the right word, Cath- 
 erine raised her eyes and said: 
 
 "See, Lambert, how much you have kindly done 
 for me, a poor girl, and I could not do otherwise than 
 give you back the only thing I have — my all — and 
 love you with all the strength of my soul, with every 
 drop of blood in my heart. I could not do otherwise, 
 and it will be so as long as I live, and after this life 
 throughout eternity. But, Lambert, it was not right 
 for me that, in addition to the much and the beauti- 
 ful that you have given me, I should also take your 
 love. I felt this from the first day on,^ and I tried 
 to prevent your seeing my love, though I confess it 
 was a hard task." 
 
 Catherine's voice trembled, but she held back the 
 tears that were ready to break from her eyes, and 
 continued: 
 
 "I felt from the beginning — and I have said to my- 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 85 
 
 self, and promised thousands of times — that I would 
 be a maid-servant to you and your parents and rela- 
 tives, and, should you bring home a wife, I would also 
 serve her and her children, and so help, as much as 
 I could, to promote your happiness and that of all 
 related to you. When 1 yesterday learned that you 
 no longer have parents I fled. I wished to flee, 
 while a voice, which I only now rightly understand, 
 said that it would come about as it now has come, 
 and as it should not have come. I have not listened 
 to the voice of my conscience, and the punishment 
 follows at its heels. Your brother is angry at you on 
 my account. Your aunt has left you in anger on my 
 account. What a bad girl I must be, could I calmly 
 look on and see how unhappy I am making him for 
 whom I would give my blood, drop by drop. For 
 this reason it must take place. Yt>u have given me 
 permission to go where I will — and God will guide 
 my steps." 
 
 Having uttered these words she arose, pale, having 
 her hands folded under her bosom, and her tearless 
 eyes having a far-off look. 
 
 Immediately Lambert stood up before her, and her 
 eyes met his, which shone with a wonderfully clear 
 and steady light. "Catherine!" 
 
 More he did not say. But it was the right word 
 and the right tone — a cordial tone full of tender sug- 
 gestion, and yet so firm, so true, that it resounded 
 again in the heart of the maiden: "Catherine!" 
 
86 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 and filled her soul with sweet pleasure. What she 
 had just said, in the bitter feeling of her injured pride, 
 and in her painful conviction that she must subordi- 
 nate her own happiness and the happiness of him she 
 loved — it now seemed to her but idle breath, like the 
 wind sweeping above through the rustling tops of the 
 pines and below over the bending grass of the mead- 
 ow. The pines stood firm, the grass rose again, and 
 everything remained as it was before — yes, more beau- 
 tiful and delightful than before. What was now her 
 pride except a small additional offering that she 
 brought to her beloved who would not be happy with- 
 out her — who without her could not be happy.? This 
 Lambert said to her again and again ; and she said to 
 him that separation from her beloved and death would 
 be the same for her, and that she would never again 
 think of it, but that she could live for him and be 
 happy with him. 
 
 So they sat a long time at the edge of the primi- 
 tive forest in the shadow of the venerable trees — be- 
 fore them the sunlit prairie with its bending flowers 
 and grass, alone — speaking in whispers, as though 
 the mottled butterflies which were moving about the 
 flowers must not hear. And if a bird happened to fly 
 past uttering his warning cry, frightened, they crowded 
 close to each other and then laughed, happy that 
 they were alone and might sini^ into each other's 
 arms and say what they had already said a hundred 
 times, and yet did not get tired of saying and hearing 
 it. 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS Sy 
 
 Then they formed plans for the future — far-reach- 
 ing plans — that during the fall they would clear at 
 least yet five acres, and that they would in any case 
 keep the calf of which Aunt Ursul had the care, and 
 whether it would not be best to partition off a cham- 
 ber in the upper story of the house, leaving sufficient 
 space for the store-room ; and, as the stairway was 
 very narrow and steep, they would make a new one. 
 They must also not fail to have a suitable garden in 
 which to raise greens and gooseberries and currants; 
 and a honeysuckle-arbor, suph as Catherine had in 
 her father's garden, there surely must be, though 
 Lambert was not sure that he quite understood what 
 Catherine meant by a honeysuckle-arbor. 
 
 The ascending sun suggested their return home. 
 Lambert was disinclined to leave the woods in whose 
 shade the complete fullness of his happiness had been 
 revealed. But Catherine said: "No, you must not 
 on my account neglect a single duty that rests on you. 
 Otherwise your friends, who consider it a misfortune 
 that you have taken up a poor girl like me, will be 
 right. So you must yet to-day ride to your neighbors 
 with your compliments. They would take it amiss 
 should you not do it, and they would be right. It is 
 your duty to inform them about your journey, which 
 you undertook for their best interest as well as your 
 own. They will be pleased to see you again, and 
 that everything has turned out so well." 
 
 "And where shall I leave you, in the meantime?" 
 
88 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 asked Lambert, as they now walked slowly along the 
 creek toward the house. 
 
 "Where a woman should be — at home," said Cath- 
 erine. 
 
 "I unwillingly leave you there," said Lambert. "I 
 do not believe I could return before evening, however 
 I might hasten. It is six miles to Adam Bellinger's, 
 who lives near the mouth of the creek and who is the, 
 last of us six who prepared the petition to the gov- 
 ernor. On the way I must stop three times, or 
 rather four times, for I m.ust not ride past my old 
 Uncle Ditmar. It is impossible for me to leave you 
 so long alone, since the French are stirring again, and 
 I do not know how far they have come already." 
 
 "Here good advice is de4r," said Catherine laugh- 
 ing mischievously. "You can't take me along to-day. 
 after you yesterday went far out of your waj^ so that 
 your neighbors should not see what a wonderful rarity 
 you had brought with you on your return from your 
 journey." 
 
 "Nor shall it be different," said Lambert, but little 
 pained by the gentle raillery, accompanied as it was 
 with a kiss. "Though you do not go the whole dis- 
 tance, you can at least go as far as Ditmar's." 
 
 Catherine arched her eyebrows: "Are you quite 
 sure that I should be kindly received there. ^" she asked 
 gently. 
 
 "Quite sure," said Lambert, earnestly, "the more 
 so as my aunt was unfriendly to you before. As far 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 89 
 
 as I know her she has no stronger wish than to repair 
 the mischief. Believe me, Catherine, a better heart 
 than Aunt Ursul's cannot be found, though the severe 
 fate that has befallen her has made her peculiar and 
 unmannerly." 
 
 "Tell me about it," said Catherine. 
 
 "It is a dreadful history," said Lambert, "and I 
 would rather not rehearse it; but you will think other- 
 wise of my aunt when you meet her, and so let it be. 
 
 "It is now thirteen years — it was in 'forty-four and 
 I was nineteen — when war broke out between the 
 English and the French, which they call King George's 
 war. Neither the English nor the French could raise 
 many men, so they had to rely on the Indians, each 
 party trying by every means to win them to itself and 
 set them against the opposite party. Now, the En- 
 glish had a treaty of a long standing with the Six Na- 
 tions; but at this time they also began to waver and 
 to unite with the French, who knew better how to 
 flatter them. So many fell away, and entered into 
 secret or open partnership with our foes. The uncer- 
 tainty daily increased. Nobody had any assurance 
 of his life. The Germans here on the Mohawk, and 
 especially on the creek, had hitherto escaped; but 
 the danger came nearer and nearer to us, and then it 
 was that we went to our work with a rifle on the 
 shoulder, and when father, with the help of a couple 
 of blacks from Virginia — secured for the occasion — 
 strengthened the block-house as it is now. Before, 
 it was more open. 
 
90 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 "Nicolas Herkimer settled on the Mohawk, and 
 several others followed his example. Most of them, 
 however, took the matter more lightly, and said the 
 French or Indians should only come on; they would 
 soon show them the road, and send them home with 
 bloody heads. About this they debated with Uncle 
 Ditmar, and became angry at him since he was al- 
 ways full of courage and of bitter hatred of the French 
 whom he had already learned to know on the other 
 side, where they had burned his parents' house and 
 driven them from their home. He thought that 
 should we wait until the French came to us it would 
 be altogether too late. It was a shame that now 
 everybody should think only of himself. All should 
 assemble here, and on the Mohawk, and on the Scho- 
 harie; that no one should stay at home who could 
 fire off a rifle, and that some should go to meet the 
 French, and pay them back, in their own territory, 
 what before and since they have done to us. Per- 
 haps the old man was right, but nobody listened to 
 him. Then came the year 'forty-six, when the 
 French with their Indians swept through the valley of 
 the Mohawk as far as Schenectady and Albany, and 
 destroyed and robbed what they found, and killed and 
 scalped what came in their way, and committed every 
 conceivable horror. My uncle could stand it no 
 longer. He went out with his four sons — my cousins 
 — of whom the eldest was twenty-six and the young- 
 est nineteen. Aunt Ursul would not stay at home, 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 9 1 
 
 but went along, with her rifle on her shoulder, just 
 as you saw her awhile ago, and they carried on war 
 by themselves and killed many French and Indians, 
 until they were resting on a certain day among a 
 small clump of trees on the open prairie and, not no- 
 ticing, were overrun from all sides.- There my aunt 
 saw her sons fall, one after the other, while she was 
 loading the guns. At last old Ditmar was struck by 
 a stray bullet and sank at her feet apparently dead. 
 Aunt Ursul fired off the gun she had loaded once 
 more and laid a Frenchman low, seized it by the muz- 
 zle, and swinging the butt on high she rushed out and 
 struck about her so, that the Indians themselves, 
 at sight of such bravery, did not kill her, but over- 
 powered her, and tied her, and took her along as 
 prisoner. They likewise took uncle, who gave signs 
 of life, when an Indian had already torn his scalp half 
 off. Perhaps they intended to spare them for a later, 
 more painful death. But it did not go as far as that, 
 thank God! for the troop which was taking them 
 along was attacked by another tribe, which held with 
 the English, and they were killed to the last man. 
 So my aunt, after a couple of months, came again, 
 robbed of her stalwart sons, with her husband, whose 
 mind has never since been quite right, and who has 
 lived on for months and years without uttering a word, 
 though attending to his work like anyone else." 
 
 Lambert ceased speaking. Catherine took his 
 hand and, with gentle pressure, held it. 
 
92 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 So they went, hand in hand, along the creek. Here 
 and there a pair of summer-ducks came out of the 
 reeds and flew, swift as an arrow, toward the woods. 
 Fish sprang up in the crystal-clear water. The 
 rushes waved. The flowers and grass on the prairie 
 swayed in the tepid wind. The sun poured down its 
 golden rays. But it seemed to both as if there had 
 fallen a veil over the clear, spring morning. 
 
 "I wish I had not told you this — at least not to- 
 day," said Lambert. 
 
 "And I thank you that you did so," said Catherine. 
 "The happiness would be too great were our good 
 fortune without a shadow. Did you not find me help- 
 less, forsaken, poor as a beggar, pressed to the ground 
 by care and grief, and did you not, without a mo- 
 ment's hesitation, stretch out your hand to pick me 
 out of the dust.'* So I will hold it fast — your dear 
 hand — and help you carry the cares and burdens of 
 life, and with you go into the battle, if it must be, as 
 good Aunt Ditmar did, whom may God bless for her 
 bravery, and whose pardon I heartily beg for the in- 
 jury I did her in my feelings. Now I can see why 
 she who has suffered so dreadfully cannot, like other 
 good people, heartily rejoice over the good fortune 
 which comes to them before her eyes. Poor soul ! 
 She no longer beheves in good fortune." 
 
 "Perhaps it is also something else," said Lambert 
 thoughtfully, and after a short pause proceeded: 
 "See, Catherine, I love you so dearly, and have 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 93 
 
 kept still so long, that I would like to tell you about 
 everything that passes through my mind. So I will 
 also tell you this: I do not know, but I believe that 
 my aunt would be better pleased were Conrad in my 
 place. She has not forgotten that she carried the 
 youngster, when a small and helpless creature, in her 
 arms, and has always loved him as. though she were 
 his own mother. So Conrad has also hung to her; 
 and, on account of the Ditmars, the difficulty arose 
 between him and our father. Conrad wanted to go 
 and live at Ditmar's, and father forbid it to the eleven- 
 year-old youngster. The very Indian tribe to which 
 Conrad fled had rescued the Ditmars. I believe he 
 was himself present, though I do not know, since he 
 has never said a word about it; nor has aunt, to 
 whom he may have forbidden it. All this aunt has 
 never forgotten." 
 
 "And shall not forget it," observed Catherine with 
 animation. "See, Lambert, now that we have hon- 
 orably acknowledged that we love one another, I am 
 no longer so timid. We must now be equally honest 
 toward the others. Your aunt knows it,- you say, 
 and she will adapt herself to the actual state of 
 affairs. Conrad must also know it, and then he won't 
 be angry at you any longer. It perhaps sounds a lit- 
 tle bold, but if I am indeed pleasing to him, let me 
 manage it, Lambert. I will tame the young bear for 
 you." 
 
 Lambert shook his head, and had again to laugh as 
 
94 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 he now looked into the face of the beloved one, which 
 beamed with happiness as before. "Yes, yes, who 
 could withstand you? Who would not willingly do 
 what you wish?" 
 
 They had reached the block-house, and entered the 
 open door. Lambert looked about the room with as 
 much wonder as though he now saw it for the first 
 time. About the hearth, on the shelves, there hung 
 and stood kettles, pitchers and pots clean and bur- 
 nished. They had heretofore always been in confu- 
 sion. On the hearth itself the live coals glimmered 
 under the ashes, and only needed to be uncovered 
 and fanned again to start the fire. Near by lay the 
 fire-wood carefully piled up. The table was brightly 
 scoured. The chairs were set in order. The floor 
 was sprinkled with white sand. The hunting and fish- 
 ing apparatus neatly hung against the wall. The 
 small mirror which, dusty and dull, had hitherto 
 leaned in a dark corner, had found a suitable place be- 
 tween the silhouettes of his parents, while they were 
 encircled with simple garlands. 
 
 "You best one!" said Lambert, as with deep emo- 
 tion he locked the beloved one in his arms. "You 
 will prove the good angel of us all." 
 
 "To that may God help me!" ejaculated Cather- 
 ine. "And now, Lambert, we must think about the 
 obligations resting on us. While you go and feed 
 Hans, I will prepare our noonday meal. After din- 
 ner we will start, for I suppose you mean to take me 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 95 
 
 along. Now, no more talking; we have already 
 trifled away too much time." 
 
 She drove out the beloved one with kisses and 
 scolding, and then turned to her work, which she 
 pushed forward in a lively manner, though she often 
 pressed her hand on her heart, which it seemed would 
 burst with sheer happiness. Wherever she looked, 
 she, in imagination, saw the form of her beloved — the 
 true, good, thoughtful eyes; the face embrowned by 
 exposure, with its handsome, clear expression; the 
 powerful frame, which moved with such calm assur- 
 ance. In the crackling of the fire; in the measured 
 tick-tack of the old Swartzwald clock, she seemed 
 ever to hear his deep, friendly voice; and she mentally 
 recalled the words he had said to her, and trembled 
 with pleasure as she thought how her name rang out 
 from his lips: "Catherine!" So she had always 
 been called. Her father, friends, neighbors, all the 
 world had called her Catherine, and yet it seemed 
 as though to-day she had heard it for the first time. 
 
 Oh! everything had turned out so different and so 
 much better than she had dared to hope. How 
 doubtingly she had looked toward the land with fixed 
 eyes, which had already learned to weep on the tort- 
 ure-ship. What more could it bring her besides ter- 
 rible, inconceivable misery? How unhappy she had 
 yesterday felt on her arrival, and again this morning. 
 Could she then now be in reality happy, so very happy 
 that her dear, dead father, were he still living, could 
 
96 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 wish for her nothing better — nothing more desirable ? 
 
 Catherine bowed her head and folded her hands in 
 prayer, and then looked up with brightened glances. 
 
 "Yes,." said she softly, "he would have blessed our 
 engagement with his fatherly, priestly blessing. I 
 can call myself his before men, as I am before God 
 and in my own heart. And though I have no friend, 
 male or female, to rejoice with us and to wish us joy, 
 I am on that account none the less his and he mine. 
 But I will make friends of the whole world — the 
 strange old aunt and the wild Conrad. I am no 
 longer afraid of anybody — of anything." 
 
 So spoke Catherine to herself as she was setting 
 the table, and yet she was badly scared as, at that 
 moment, she heard the stamping of a horse before 
 the house, and a loud human voice calling: 
 
 "He, holla! Lambert Sternberg!" 
 
 Trembling, she laid down the plates and stepped 
 to the door to see the caller, who again and again 
 screamed: "Lambert Sternberg! He, holla, Lam- 
 bert Sternberg!" 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 Before the house, on a long-limbed, lean horse, 
 whose panting flanks and hanging head showed that 
 he had just completed a long and rapid trip, a young 
 man had stopped. On Catherine's appearance he 
 forgot to shut the large mouth which he had opened 
 in calling. His long, flaxen hair hung down in strands 
 from under his large, three-cornered hat upon his nar- 
 row shoulders. The sweat poured from his freckled, 
 saturated, long face, and his dull, water-blue eyes had 
 a frightened look as Catherine, aghast, called out: 
 
 "For God's sake, what has happened.?" 
 
 "Where is he.?" stammered he on the horse, and 
 turned his eyes in every direction. 
 
 "You are looking for Lambert Sternberg.?" asked 
 Catherine. 
 
 The rider bowed. 
 
 "I will call him. Dismount and rest yourself a 
 moment. I will soon be back," said Catherine. 
 
 The rider did as the young girl had told him, 
 
 climbed in a tired way out of the high saddle, and 
 
 tied his horse to the iron ring. As Catherine turned 
 
 to go, Lambert came around the house. He was 
 
 leading Hans by the halter, and called out: 
 
 97 
 
98 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 "God bless you, Adam Bellinger! What brings 
 you here?" 
 
 "The French are here!" replied Adam. 
 
 Lambert started, and looked quickly toward Cath- 
 erine, who on her part kept her large, questioning 
 eyes fixed on him. 
 
 "What does that mean.^" asked Lambert. "Where 
 are they? What do you know, Adam? By the i 
 thousand, man, speak!" 
 
 "I know nothing," said Adam. "My father sent 
 me." 
 
 "What for? What is to be done?" 
 
 "I was in the field." said Adam, "when my father 
 came running up, saying that I must unharness and 
 saddle the mare; that Herkimer had been there; that 
 the French were on the march; and that I should 
 report it everywhere, and that this afternoon all should 
 come to his house to consult as to what was to be 
 done." 
 
 "Then it cannot be so very bad," said Lambert, 
 breathing more freely. "Herkimer is a man of sense, 
 and would not ask us to come to his house if there 
 was very pressing danger to our own homes. But 
 how did you learn that I had returned?" 
 
 "I was at Aunt Ursul's, who sent me here to tell 
 you that she was going to the meeting, and that if 
 you should not wish to leave the young lady, who 
 may indeed be your bride, alone, you should take her 
 along and leave her at Eisenlord's on the way, or at 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 99 
 
 Voltz*, where the women intend to remain at home, 
 or at our house." 
 
 "It is well," said Lambert, as he took the hand of 
 Catherine, standing by him still and pale. "Now 
 come in, Adam Bellinger, and take a bite and a drink. 
 You appear to need it, and the poor beast too. We 
 will be ready in ten minutes." 
 
 Lambert shoved up the movable crib, while Cath- 
 erine went into the house and brought out a loaf of 
 bread which Adam cut in pieces for his horse. Then 
 they all went in and sat down to the hastily prepared 
 meal, to which Adam addressed himself so earnestly 
 that he had little time to answer Lambert's many 
 questions. 
 
 Catherine learned enough, as she silently listened, 
 to form a conception of the real situation. She had 
 often heard Lambert speak of Nicolas Herkimer, one 
 of the richest and noblest German settlers, who 
 owned a large farm and a castle -like house on the 
 Mohawk, at the mouth of Canada Creek. The year 
 before, during Belletre's raid, he had been of great 
 service to the settlements. The governor had given 
 him a captain's commission, and had intrusted him, 
 for the future, with the defense of the neighboring 
 German districts. 
 
 "He will already have formed his plans," said Lam- 
 bert. "We on the creek will doubtless have to look 
 out for ourselves, we are pushed ahead so far. 
 There shall be nothing lacking with us, though I did 
 
lOO THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 not expect to have the murdering incendiaries here 
 so soon again." 
 
 Out of Lambert's entire being spoke the settled 
 courage of a man who well knew the threatened dan- 
 ger, but was resolved to defy it, come what would. 
 His eyes sought Catherine's, who went quietly back 
 and forth serving the men, and whose large, glisten- 
 ing eyes said: "You see, beloved, I am, like you, 
 quiet and self-contained." 
 
 Adam seemed to have forgotten all his fear, while 
 engaged in eating and drinking. He looked up at 
 Catherine, when she filled his plate for the second 
 time, bowing with a friendly grin. At last he slowly 
 laid down his knife and fork and looked about him 
 contentedly, as though he would say: "One sits here 
 a good deal more comfortably than in the cursed high 
 saddle of the mare, who threw me at every step from 
 one side to the other." 
 
 "Are you ready, Adam.?" asked Lambert, who had 
 risen and had hung about him his rifle. 
 
 "Indeed," replied Adam, "but hardly the mare. 
 The poor beast is not accustomed to anything like 
 this." 
 
 "I will water her, and saddle Hans," said Lambert. 
 
 Catherine followed him to the- door. Lambert 
 caught her hand and said: "Catherine, I thank you, 
 I thank you with my whole heart. I now know that 
 I need cast no more reproaches on myself." 
 
 "You should not have cast any," said Catherine. 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS lOI 
 
 "Your affairs are mine. Your fate is mine. I live 
 and die with you." 
 
 "And so will I give every drop of my blood for you, " 
 said Lambert, "but I hope to God that there are yet 
 many good days appointed us. It cannot for the 
 present have much significance. Conrad, who was 
 up there for a week, and in the region from which 
 they must come, surely knows more about our ene- 
 mies than anyone else; and he told me that there is 
 at least no immediate danger." 
 
 "So I think, too," said Catherine, "and for that 
 reason I will ask a favor of you, Lambert. You have 
 on my account slightly neglected your duty. Had 
 you returned alone you would yesterday already have 
 seen and spoken with your friends, for you would have 
 taken the road through the valley instead of through 
 the woods. To-day it is fortunate that your friend 
 Adam has found us, for you might easily have failed 
 to be where you belong. This is not right, and lies 
 heavy on my mind. Now you have a long ride. I 
 know well that Hans can carry us both, but he will 
 go better if you alone ride him. And then what 
 would be the result should everyone, on such an occa- 
 sion, drag his wife with him.-* The others also stay 
 at home. You will leave me here, Lambert. Is it 
 not so.^" 
 
 "Now it is getting to be time," said x\dam Bellinger, 
 coming out of the door. 
 
 Lambert stood irresolute. He saw no danger in 
 
102 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 leaving Catherine alone, but it was very trying for 
 him to separate himself from her just at this time. 
 
 "Conrad may come back to his dinner and find the 
 house deserted. Surely it is better, Lambert, that I 
 stay here." 
 
 "Well, as you will," said Lambert. 
 
 He again unbuckled the pillion that he had put 
 upon Hans. 
 
 "Does not the maiden go along.?" asked Adam, 
 who was already mounted. 
 
 Lambert did not answer. 
 
 "Well then, good-bye, young lady; and best thanks. 
 Hot! Mare!" 
 
 He turned his horse, which left the crib unwillingly. 
 
 Catherine flew into Lambert's arms. 
 
 "Ma}^ you live happy, beloved. I hope you are not 
 displeased with me.?" 
 
 "With you.?" 
 
 His lips trembled. Silently he pressed Catherine 
 to his breast; then with a mighty effort he tore him- 
 self away, swung himself upon Hans, galloped after 
 his companion, who was trotting ahead on his long- 
 limbed horse, and at every step of the animal flew 
 up in the air, while his sharp elbows moved up and 
 down like wings. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 Lambert soon overtook the awkward rider. The 
 two young men trotted on for a time side by side with- 
 out speaking, until suddenly the mare, panting, stood 
 still. Adam, having thus been thrown upon the neck 
 of the beast, remarked that the mare was a very in- 
 telligent creature, and well knew that it was impos- 
 sible for her to keep going at such a gait; that in 
 such a case she always stopped to give the rider time 
 for reflection; and that he had always found that one 
 also finally reaches his destination by going on a 
 walk, and that far easier. 
 
 "But also so much later," said Lambert, impa- 
 tiently. "If you are absolutely unable to keep up 
 with me I must leave you and ride on ahead." 
 
 "For God's sake!" cried Adam, and thrust his heels 
 so forcibly into the sides of the mare that she sprang 
 forward, and again fell into a trot. "For God's sake! 
 that will soon fail." 
 
 "You are a coward," said Lambert, "in that you 
 are put to the blush by a girl." 
 
 He turned back in the saddle toward the block- 
 house before it should disappear from his sight behind 
 the forest-encompassed, rocky hill around which they 
 
 were winding. Catherine had not left her place in 
 
 103 
 
I04 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 front of the door. Though uncertain whether she 
 could see the salutation he waved his hand to her, 
 and then the rocks hid her from his sight. 
 
 An indescribable sadness fell upon Lambert and 
 it did not lack much but he would have turned Hans 
 about and gone back at full speed. But with a strong 
 determination he overcame his painful emotion. "I 
 am just as great a coward," said he to himself, "and 
 even a greater one, for I know better about what is 
 going on, and nothing that I do for her should be 
 burdensome to me." 
 
 "You may well talk," Adam broke in upon Lam- 
 bert's self-communings. 
 
 "Why.?" asked Lambert. 
 
 "Should they pull the scalp from over your ears 
 no rooster would crow after that ; but my mother 
 would weep her eyes out." 
 
 "Perhaps there may be somebody who would rather 
 see my scalp on my head than on an Indian's girdle." 
 
 "Do you mean the young lady.^^" asked Adam, 
 opening his mouth from ear to ear, and for a moment 
 letting go of the horn of the saddle, and pointing 
 back over his shoulder with his thumb. 
 
 "Perhaps," said Lambert. 
 
 "Don't trouble yourself about that," said Adam, 
 in a comforting tone. "Then I will marry her. It is 
 already a long time since mother wanted me to marry. 
 But you know I would not take just anybody. 
 The girl pleases me." 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS IO5 
 
 "So!" said Lambert. 
 
 "Yes," said Adam. "Barbara and Gussie and 
 Annie would doubtless at first cry a little, but that 
 would come right in time. I believe that Fritz and 
 August Volz are already engaged to Barbara and 
 Gussie, and we have always thought that you would 
 marry Annie." 
 
 "With or without a scalp?" asked Lambert. 
 
 Adam thought this such a capital joke that he stop- 
 ped the mare to press his fists into his sides and break 
 out in ringing laughter. A fish-hawk, which had 
 plunged into the creek among the reeds, flew away 
 frightened, while his warning voice rang out. 
 
 "My God!" said Adam, "I really thought it was 
 already one of the mean French, or red-skins." 
 
 "Have you during this time of terror heard of 
 them .?" asked Lambert as they were riding along. 
 
 "Once," said Adam, "about a month ago. Father 
 went to Schenectady with the wheat, and I was alone 
 in the field, when little Anton came running and cried 
 out: 'The Indians have swum across the creek and 
 are at our house. ' Fear so flew into my legs that I 
 did not know where my head stood, and I wanted to 
 go right home to help the women. But when I again 
 got my breath I was standing before Eisenlord's 
 door. The old man was at home, and at once sent 
 his youngest son to Peter Volz', whence soon there 
 came the old man himself and Fritz and August. 
 Then we went courageously forward, though the cry- 
 
I06 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 ing women did not want us to go. On the way Chris- 
 tian Eisenlord and young Peter Volz joined us, so 
 that we were six or seven, although apparently there 
 could not much reliance be placed on me, since I 
 almost cried my eyes out from pity and heartache 
 that I should now find our house burned down, and 
 my beautiful Bless and the four English hogs, that I 
 had just that morning bought of John Mertens, driven 
 away, and mother and Barbara and Gussie and Annie 
 scalped. But as we came out of the woods, through 
 which we had carefully skulked, there stood our house 
 undisturbed; and the women were standing before 
 the door scolding little Anton, who was crying bit- 
 terly." 
 
 "How about the Indians?" asked Lambert. 
 
 "You must not interrupt me, if I am to tell my 
 story in an orderly way," said Adam. "Where was 
 I.?" 
 
 "At Anton, who was crying bitterly." 
 
 "The poor boy!" said Adam. "I could not blame 
 him. He should have gone in and covered the In- 
 dian — who was about naked, so that the women were 
 ashamed." 
 
 "Then there really was one there.?" 
 
 "Yes, indeed; and he had swum through the creek, 
 and lay on the hearth as drunk as a red-skin can be, 
 and snored so that we could hear him outdoors. 
 Then the others had a good laugh at my expense, 
 and, since, they have constantly jeered me about the 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS IO7 
 
 drunken fellow, though one should not paint the devil 
 on the wall. I indeed could do nothing about it. 
 But little Anton should have been wiser. On ac- 
 count of what took place then, they would not believe 
 my message to-day; and had I not said and sworn 
 that Herkimer himself had told my father, they would 
 have remained at home, except Aunt Ursul, who im- 
 mediately saddled both her horses." 
 
 "So! Has uncle also gone along.?" asked Lam- 
 bert. 
 
 "We shall soon know," said Adam. "I will call." 
 They stopped before the Ditmar house. Adam rose 
 in his stirrups, put both hands to his mouth and 
 screamed so loud that the doves on the roof were 
 frightened, and Melac, the watch-dog, in the yard, 
 began to bark and howl fearfully. "He, holla! 
 Christian Ditmar! holla, he!" However the long 
 figure of old Ditmar did not appear at the upper-half 
 of the door, through which one could see the interior. 
 
 Lambert thought best to go right on and not call 
 at William Teichert's. His farm lay somewhat to 
 one side, at the edge of the woods which here bore 
 back from the creek in a great bend and came back 
 to it again near Peter Volz' yard. Here indeed they 
 had to stop, for mother Volz had seen the riders 
 from a distance, and stood before the door with a 
 pitcher of home-brewed beer in each hand, which 
 Peter, her youngest son, had just drawn fresh from 
 the barrel. Mother Volz was much excited, and 
 
I08 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 great tears rolled over her big cheeks as she handed 
 the pitchers to the riders, at the same time scold- 
 ing the French and her Peter, who would go to the 
 meeting and leave her — an old, helpless woman — 
 alone, the good-for-nothing! , 
 
 "If I am good for nothing," said Peter, "I cannot 
 help you, mother. But I must always stay at home 
 and play the baby; that is just as it is." 
 
 "Yes, that is the case," said Adam, smacking his 
 lips forcibly over his beer, "and the rest of us must 
 have a hard time of it." 
 
 "Then give me the mare and you stay here," said 
 the courageous Peter. 
 
 Adam was not disinclined to accept so agreeable 
 an offer, and began to climb out of the saddle when 
 the mare, perhaps misunderstanding the motion of 
 the rider, or because she perceived that she was near 
 her own stable, suddenly started on a trot, to Adam's 
 disappointment and Lambert's satisfaction, whose 
 impatience at the unnecessary loitering had become 
 very great. 
 
 Now, however, thanks to the mare's fixed purpose 
 to end her unusual labor for the day, without stop- 
 ping, she went on faster and faster — so that Adam 
 held convulsively to the horn of the saddle, while his 
 long, yellow hair flew about his ears — on along the 
 creek, past John Eisenlord's house, where the women 
 hastened to the door, and called, and wondering 
 looked after those who were rushing past. Thus 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS lOQ 
 
 they went faster and faster until the mare stopped in 
 BelHnger's yard with a jerk and threw her rider over 
 her head in the sand at the feet of his mother and 
 three sisters and younger brother. His mother called 
 out: 
 
 "Run, little Anton! and open the stable for the 
 mare, so that she does not crush her skull against 
 the door — the poor beast !" 
 
 No one felt concerned for Adam. In fact, this was 
 the usual way in which the mare, after such a trip, 
 returned her rider. He soon got up and rubbed his 
 long legs groaning, while the women surrounded 
 Lambert and inquired about his journey; when he 
 got back ; and why in the world he yesterday took the 
 rough road through the woods.? how his maid-servant 
 behaved.? and why he had brought one from a dis- 
 tance of fifty miles, when he could easily have found 
 one — and perhaps a better one — near by.? 
 
 Lambert briefly thanked them for their kind inqui- 
 ries, ascertained how long since the men had gone, 
 spurred his horse and, with a brief salutation, trotted 
 away, thus filling the beautiful blonde Annie with not 
 a little anxiety, and compelling her to listen to the 
 remarks of her sisters, Barbara and Gussie: 
 
 "Now one can clearly see, what we always thought, 
 that Lambert Sternberg did not take that long jour- 
 ney to New York on account of the pines." 
 
 Annie replied that she cared nothing for Lambert, 
 and that Fritz and August Volz had also not yet de- 
 
no THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 clared themselves. The mother took Annie's part, 
 and the dispute threatened to become serious, when 
 it happily occurred to them that they had not once 
 asked Adam what sort of a person the new girl was. 
 
 They now learned from the keen rider, who had 
 gone into the house and was rubbing his shins with 
 brandy, that, in no case was Lambert to have her, 
 but that he himself was to marry the girl as soon as 
 the Indians had taken Lambert's scalp, and that he 
 and Lambert had come to a complete agreement on 
 that matter. 
 
 While Catherine's fate was thus discussed in the 
 Bellinger family, Lambert pushed along on a fast trot 
 to regain lost time. He had gathered from the ques- 
 tions of the women, and still more from the tone in 
 which they were put, that the way in which he had 
 dealt was not thought favorably of. He was yester- 
 day persuaded of this, and to escape this neighbor- 
 hood interference he had taken the road through the 
 woods. He felt grieved and angry at his aunt, who 
 alone could have spread abroad the knowledge of his 
 return and his relation to Catherine. Still he said 
 to himself that, since all must shortly know it, it was 
 best they should know it as soon as possible. He 
 saw how difficult his position in the community would 
 be — as indeed it should be — so long as Catherine was 
 not his wife; possibly even after that; that, at all 
 events, it was his duty to make his relation to Cather- 
 ine clear to all eyes. He determined yet to-day, 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS III 
 
 should opportunity offer, to speak to the minister and 
 to seek the advice and help of that excellent man. 
 
 He had now come out of what was properly the 
 valley of the creek, near its mouth. Toward the 
 right of him lay the broad German Flats, in the fork 
 between the creek and the Mohawk. The land, long 
 rescued from the primitive forest, was rich, and there 
 were unbroken lines of successive settlements, with 
 a small church and a parsonage in the midst on a hill. 
 Before him, on the other side of the Mohawk, whose 
 clear waters glanced between its bushy shores, there 
 stood out also on a hill, what looked like a small for- 
 tification. This, the purposed end of his journey, 
 was Nicolas Herkimer's stately house. 
 
 He now discovered that, as he had feared, he 
 would not be the last one to arrive. In the even 
 reaches between corn-fields and bushes those coming 
 on foot or on horseback singly, or by twos, or threes, 
 from different directions, could be seen, all moving 
 toward one point. There was a house conveniently 
 situated on this side of the river, diagonally across 
 from Herkimer's farm, where Hans Haberkorn, the 
 ferryman, lived. 
 
 Here, a few minutes afterward, Lambert met the 
 men whom he had from a distance seen coming. By 
 them he was greeted very cordially, as though all had 
 heard of his journey to New York, but not of his re- 
 turn. They wanted to know how the matters had re- 
 sulted and especially what he had heard in the city 
 
112 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 about the war in Europe ; whether the French had 
 really, the year before at Roszbach, been so help- 
 lessly slaughtered, and whether the king ot Prussia 
 was this year going to take the field against his count- 
 less enemies. 
 
 Lambert told them what he knew, and on his part 
 sought information about things at home. Of the 
 five or six men who thus happened to meet, each gave 
 his impressions as best he could, from which it ap- 
 peared that there were nearly as many different opin- 
 ions as there were men, in the small gathering. Yes, 
 while they were eagerly attacking Hans Haberkorn's 
 rum, they became so warm that they seemed to have 
 forgotten why they were there, until Lambert's 
 urgency induced them to go on. 
 
 Hans Haberkorn thought there was no hurry and 
 that they could just as well consult here as at Herki- 
 mer's. The rest, however, would not stay behind. 
 They tied their horses in a row, under an open shed, 
 to the manger, and went upon the river; and on the 
 short passage across renewed their debate with m- 
 creased earnestness, so that it did not lack much of 
 going from words to blows on the small scow. 
 
 On this account it was fortunate that, as they landed 
 on the other side, others joined them, of whom some 
 had crossed before, while others, coming from the 
 other side, awaited the landing of the ferry-boat so 
 that they could go on together. Over the greeting 
 they for the moment forgot their contention, but they 
 
 I 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 113 
 
 had proceeded but a few steps before the war of 
 words began again as before, while those who came 
 up afterward mingled in the crowd and took part on 
 one or the other side. So, scolding and quarreling, 
 they reached the front yard of Herkimer's house. 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 There might have been a hundred who were here 
 assembled, all German settlers from the Mohawk, 
 from the creek, and some even from Schoharie, for 
 that far had the circumspect Herkimer sent his mes- 
 sage. In the tall, often giant-like men, who sat in 
 long rows on the benches under the projecting roof 
 of the house, in the shade, or moved about on the 
 open, sunny lawn, nobody would have recognized the 
 descendants of the pale and emaciated immigrants 
 who, in their time, landed in the harbor of New York 
 and of Philadelphia from pest-ships, in an inhospita- 
 ble country. So thought Lambert, as he cast his eye 
 over the assembly and looked at those nearer, whom 
 he knew and soon singled out. There was first the 
 distinguished form of Nicolas Herkimer himself, with 
 broad shoulders, on which the long, grayish hair fell, 
 and the clear, blue eyes, which to-day appeared 
 brighter and more thoughtful than usual as he spoke 
 with one and another, and then again looked at the po- 
 sition of the sun to see whether the hour appointed for 
 the meeting had come. There was the minister Ros- 
 enkrantz, with his kind, friendly face as storm-tried 
 and weather-browned as that of any of his people, 
 
 from whom he was distinguished only by his black 
 
 114 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS II5 
 
 clothes and his large snuff-box, which he was con- 
 stantly turning about in his fingers. There were his 
 neighbors, the Volzes, and the Eisenlords, father 
 and sons, and William Teichert, and old Adam Bell- 
 inger; and at last he also discovered, at the farthest 
 corner, his uncle, Christian Ditmar, still as ever and 
 brooding with his fur cap drawn far down over his 
 face. Lambert was trying to press through to the 
 old man, as Richard, Herkimer's youngest son, of 
 the same age as Conrad, and a dear friend of both 
 brothers, touched his shoulder. 
 
 "God bless you, Lambert ! You have come back at 
 the right time, I should say. Where is your brother.?" 
 
 Lambert informed him that this morning Conrad 
 went hunting, and had not yet returned when he him- 
 self left home. 
 
 "This will be very unpleasant news for father," said 
 Richard. "He has already asked a couple of times 
 for both of you. There he comes himself. I will 
 afterward talk with you, Lambert." 
 
 It was painful enough for Lambert that he was 
 obliged to give the same information to the honored 
 man who so heartily welcomed him. "I knew it al- 
 ready from your aunt," said Herkimer, "but I hoped 
 that he had meanwhile come. It is very unpleasant 
 that he fails us. I hear that he has been for eight 
 days at the lake, and surely knows more about the 
 movements of our enemies than any one of us. To 
 be sure I have on the whole been well informed, but 
 
Il6 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 it would be desirable to have some one on whom I 
 could call. What did he tell you ?" 
 
 "Only this," replied Lambert, and then told Her- 
 kimer the little he had learned from Conrad; that the 
 Onondaga Indians were assembled in large number, 
 and that it was Conrad's impression that it was not 
 for a good purpose. 
 
 "That agrees altogether with my other reports," 
 said Nicolas Herkimer, "These rascals have already 
 for a long time played false, and we shall doubtless 
 soon have them on our necks. Listen, Lambert; I 
 have thought of placing you in an important position, 
 and before we enter upon our consultation I wish to 
 come to an understanding with you. Mr. Rosen- 
 krantz, a moment." 
 
 The preacher drew near and heartily greeted Lam- 
 bert, and began at once to ask about his journey, but 
 Herkimer quickly interrupted the talkative minister. 
 
 "That will do as well later, dominie," said he, "we 
 have now something more important to think of. I 
 wish to explain our plan to Lambert, on whom we 
 can rely in any event. This, Lambert, is our plan: 
 After our losses of last year we are, in any case, too 
 weak for open warfare against an enemy far exceed- 
 ing us in number and able to choose his own time and 
 place for attack. The only thing left for us to do is, 
 by constant and regular scouting, as well as possible 
 to learn his movements, so that, before an actual at- 
 tack follows, we can retire to our fortified points. 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 11/ 
 
 One of these naturally is the fort, which is in a good, 
 defensible condition. The second is my house. For 
 this I stand, and this they did not even venture to at- 
 tack last year. About the third I will soon speak with 
 you. In addition to this, so that all may be informed 
 as soon as possible, we will establish signals up the 
 river and away from it. For this purpose we must 
 form small squads of troopers which can be rapidly 
 concentrated at threatened points and occupy the 
 enemy until wives and children have accomplished 
 their flight. Cattle, and what else can be concealed, 
 we must secure beforehand. Now, as to what con- 
 cerns you: It is most likely that this time they will 
 select the creek for attack. They passed by you last 
 year, hence they will hope to find the more with you. 
 And then they know — or believe — that here on the 
 Mohawk we are better prepared and more fully in- 
 formed than you. The last is probably the case. 
 You live so far off that you could not, upon being 
 pursued, have much prospect of reaching either here 
 or the fort ; and for the same reason, we could as lit- 
 tle help you. Your father, who was an intelligent 
 man, understood this well, and so strengthened your 
 house that it could for a short time be held by a few 
 well-protected men, furnished with ample provisions 
 and ammunition, against a large troop. On this I 
 have built my plan. You are a good rifleman, and 
 your brother Conrad is the best in the colony. You 
 are both courageous, resolute men, and you have got 
 
Il8 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 to carry your own hide to market, which speaks for 
 itself in such circumstances. I will give you two or 
 three men, whom you may yourself select, and it will 
 then be your business to protect yourselves and your 
 neighbors — such as the Ditmars, Teicherts and per- 
 haps also Volzes — who can reach you — Eisenlords 
 and Bellingers are nearer here — until we are in a con- 
 dition to bring help. I need not tell you, Lambert, 
 upon how responsible and dangerous a post I place 
 you. On your watchfulness hangs not only the life 
 of your neighbors, but perhaps also the fate of all of 
 us about here. On the other hand it may happen 
 that we, with the help of soldiers from Albany, can- 
 not ourselves resist the enemy, and so can either not 
 help you at all, or not at the right time. Will you, 
 Lambert Sternberg, undertake the charge.^" 
 
 "I will," said Lambert. 
 
 Nicolas Herkimer shook hands with him heartily, 
 and turned to other groups. The minister, who had 
 listened, eagerly twisting his small clothes, and often 
 bowing his head, now reached out his hand to Lam- 
 bert and said: 
 
 "You have not undertaken a small matter, dear 
 young man. May God help you!" 
 
 "Amen! honored sir," replied Lambert. "I need 
 your help perhaps more than you are aware of. I 
 came here to make to you a communication, if op- 
 portunity offered, highly important to myself, and to 
 ask your advice. Will you listen to me a few min- 
 utes.? I will try to be brief," 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS II9 
 
 "Speak," said the minister, "thpugh I think I al- 
 ready know what you wish to say." 
 
 Lambert looked inquiringly at the minister. 
 
 "My dear friend, your Aunt Ditmar has already 
 told me something which I have interpreted accord- 
 ing to the disposition of young people. But say on." 
 
 Lambert now told the worthy man the history of 
 his love for Catherine from the first moment when he 
 saw her on the deck of the ship to that hour, and at 
 last made known his earnest wish that he might, be- 
 fore all the world, call her his wife. 
 
 "I understand, I understand," said the minister, 
 who had been all ears; "yes, yes; for this you may 
 well wish, both on the girl's account and your own; 
 yes, also on account of Conrad, who otherwise might 
 deal some silly blows." 
 
 "And so," said Lambert, "as the danger is threat- 
 ening, I wish as soon as possible to be united to 
 Catherine forever." 
 
 "Forever!" said the minister earnestly. "This I 
 also fully understand. Also short and well, dear 
 young friend, I will gladly serve you, as it is my 
 office and my heartfelt wish. We cannot here always 
 observe the forms prescribed by the church, but God 
 sees the heart. So I think to-morrow, satisfied with 
 a single proclamation of the bans, we will attend to 
 the marriage immediately after public worship. Are 
 you satisfied with that.-^ Good; and then I must ask 
 you yet one thing, viz. : That you this evening take the 
 
I20 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 lady to whom you are engaged to your Aunt Ditmar,s 
 and leave her there until to-morrow, and from there 
 bring her to the wedding. I repeat, God looks at the 
 heart, but appearances sway our judgment, and so 
 for the people's sake I wish you would follow my ad- 
 vice." 
 
 "I will gladly do it, worthy sir," said Lambert. "I 
 will at once speak to my aunt about it." 
 
 "There she comes now," said the minister. 
 
 Aunt Ursul had been actively helping Herkimer's 
 women in the house, which the labor of entertaining 
 so many guests at once made necessary. She now 
 declared that, with her consent, not another pitcher 
 of beer or glass of rum should be furnished. "I know 
 my people, and if anything is to come out of the con- 
 sultation, you must begin now, for an hour hence you 
 might as well preach reason to horses. Say this to 
 Herkimer, dominie. I will look after my old man. 
 You are welcome to go with me, Lambert. He has 
 already asked about you — something that he doesn't 
 do every day. But the French you know bring him 
 into harness. He is to-day quite changed." 
 
 Lambert went to his uncle with his aunt, but could 
 not discover any change in him. The old man kept 
 sitting in the same corner on the bench, the fur cap 
 drawn far down on his forehead. His sunken head 
 was scarcely raised in returning Lambert's salutation 
 with a silent nod. However, the otherwise half- 
 closed eyes looked for a moment from under the 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 121 
 
 heavy eyebrows in a peculiar glance, but his thoughts 
 must have wandered far away. He appeared not to 
 hear what Lambert said to him. 
 
 "Only let him be," said Aunt Ursul; "he now has 
 other things in his head, and for us it is high time 
 that we at last come to the business. It will likely 
 go like a mixture of cabbage and turnips." 
 
 Aunt Ursul appeared to be right. The noise kept 
 increasing. They went around with pitchers and 
 flasks in their hands, and drank to one another, and 
 talked and screamed at each other, till suddenly first 
 one then another shouted: "Still!" "Quiet!" Now 
 the well-known form of the minister appeared, as 
 they crowded through one another. He had climbed 
 on a table and stood there. He had quit turning his 
 snuff-box about in his fingers and waited until they 
 should be ready to listen to him. "Still!" "Quiet!" 
 sounded forth more authoritatively than before. But 
 quiet was not forthcoming. In certain distant groups 
 the loud talking continued, and a coarse voice cried: 
 "What does the dominie want.?" 
 
 "What I want," called the minister, "I will soon 
 tell you. I beg you, back there, that you will at 
 length keep your mouths shut and bring your wisdom, 
 if you have any, to market at the right time and to 
 the right place." 
 
 The rough word awakened laughter everywhere, 
 but after the laughter it became still. 
 
 The minister slipped the snuff-box into his pocket, 
 
122 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 took off his large three-cornered hat, shoved back the 
 much-used, short wig and thus proceeded: 
 
 "I wish with you all to call upon the Lord, and 
 beseech Him that this time the cup, which we emptied 
 last year to the last bitter dregs, the taste of which 
 still lies on our tongues, may graciously pass from us; 
 and if in His incomprehensible wisdom he has decreed 
 that it shall not be so, and that He will again try our 
 hearts and reins, that then, in His grace. He will give 
 us strength to endure the severe trial like brave men 
 who know that the good God, in spite of all and 
 everything, does not forsake him who does not for- 
 sake himself, and helps him who helps himself. This, 
 dear friends and countrymen, is a word which has 
 been profitable in many ways and at many times, but 
 never and for no one more than for us at this time. 
 Who will deliver us out of our distress and danger 
 here, on the utmost border of the earth, occupied by 
 people of our race, where surrounding enemies lurk 
 and go about to destroy us, but God and ourselves? 
 And with God's help we will save ourselves — of this 
 I am fully convinced — if we keep His commandment 
 which reads: 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy- 
 self. ' Since if we, as it becomes neighbors, stand be- 
 side each other, shoulder to shoulder, with one mind 
 and one heart, and full of the same courage in danger, 
 distress and death, then and only then, dear friends, 
 shall we overcome the danger and deliver ourselves 
 from the distress, and die, should death meet us, as 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 23 
 
 brave men, discharging our highest duty as men and 
 Christians. And now, dear friends, after having said 
 what I, as a servant of the Word of God and a man 
 of peace, wished to say, from a full and loving heart, 
 I thank you that you have listened to me attentively. 
 Will you not with equal attention listen to the man 
 whom we all know and honor, an honest farmer like 
 yourselves, and in addition a brave soldier. May the 
 Lord bless him so that he may give you good advice; 
 and may the Lord bless you so that you may take 
 advice; and may He protect us all and let the light 
 of His countenance fall upon us and give us peace. 
 Amen." 
 
 The earnest words of the minister, who spoke — 
 especially toward the last — with a deeply moved 
 voice, did not entirely fail of their effect. An approv- 
 ing murmur ran here and there through the assembly. 
 But the voice of the speaker had scarcely ceased and 
 his form disappeared from the table when again, 
 though not as loud as before, some voices were raised 
 asking what was the object of the talk.^ whether they 
 had come here to hear a sermon ? 
 
 "Talking costs no money and the minister can talk 
 well. He was last year one of the first to run for the 
 fort, and left the rest to their fate, but truly it is well 
 not to be before a gun when it is fired off." 
 
 So here and there spake those who were dissat- 
 isfied. Others said they should be ashamed to say 
 such things about so excellent a man. Others called: 
 
124 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 "Quiet ! don't you see that Herkimer wants to speak?" 
 
 So at last Nicolas Herkimer, who had already stood 
 on tiae table a few minutes and let his keen, earnest 
 eyes pass over the assembly, raised his voice. He 
 spoke long and impressively. He unfolded in every 
 particular the plan which he had, in its chief parts, 
 before told Lambert. In it he had thought of every- 
 thing, remembered everything, and reduced to its 
 smallest compass the threatened danger that could be 
 avoided. 
 
 "That is what I have to say," he concluded. "Now 
 it is for you to test my proposals. We are free men, 
 and each one can in the end do what he pleases, and 
 carry his hide to market this way or that. But that 
 we are free does not forbid us to be united. On the 
 other hand, only by being united shall we preserve 
 and protect our freedom. United we cannot be and 
 become, if you talk and cry out among each other as 
 just now you did, again. Whoever knows anything 
 better than I, let him come here and speak. Let him 
 who does not, keep still and listen. And let us not 
 forget — what we tell our children — that he who will 
 not hear must feel. Who wishes to speak after me.?" 
 
 "I!" "I!" called out a couple of dozen voices. 
 
 "You cannot all speak at once," said Herkimer with 
 some bitterness; "so you come here, Hans Haberkorn. 
 You screamed the loudest." 
 
 Hans Haberkorn, the ferryman, appeared beside 
 Herkimer on the table. The small, undersized, bare- 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 12 5 
 
 foot fellow who had, behind the bar connected with 
 his ferry, so often spoken large words and scolded 
 his rich neighbor on the other side of the river, could 
 not let the opportunity pass to tell the last speaker the 
 truth — as he expressed it — before all the world. He 
 wanted to know whether it was honest and neighborly 
 in Nicolas Herkimer that he wanted three ferries at 
 the same time over the river within half a mile of 
 each other, after it had been promised him, Hans 
 Haberkorn, that he should be the only ferryman on 
 this ground ? That he on that account had settled on 
 a piece of land which consisted of moor and sand, 
 and on which he would long since have starved if he 
 had not also a beer saloon. Now the two ferries 
 should be used only in urgent cases, and then again 
 discontinued, or — what would follow — let the wolf 
 eat. It was absolutely certain that one ferry without 
 a beer saloon could not support itself. Both the 
 other ferries would want to set up beer saloons, and 
 then it would be to him, personally, the same whether 
 the French came to-day or to-morrow and killed him 
 with his wife and children. For his part he would 
 rather be put to death at once than starve to death 
 by degrees. 
 
 "Hans* Haberkorn is right!" called out half a dozen 
 voices. 
 
 "Shame on the good-for-nothing fellow who thinks 
 only about himself!" cried others, and pressed toward 
 th«? table from which Hans Haberkorn quickly jumped. 
 
126 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 The place he vacated was again occupied by big John 
 Mertens, who had a large farm on the moor between 
 the Mohawk and the creek, near the church, and by 
 some was considered to be better off than Herkimer 
 himself. In any case one could always be sure that 
 John Mertens would oppose anything that Herkimer 
 and the minister wanted, of whom he observed that 
 they always stuck under the same cover. With this 
 — his favorite expression — he began his discourse, 
 saying: That one might well know what to think of 
 a plan that had been formed without consulting him, 
 John Mertens, who also had a word to say, having 
 ten head of cattle in the pasture more than people 
 whom he would not name; nor would he speak of 
 the sheep and the English hogs which he had first 
 introduced; that every child knew that one could not 
 bring sheep out of a stable when the roof over their 
 heads was afire; nor could one drive fifty hogs away 
 so fast that a lame Indian could not overtake them, 
 not to speak of a dozen who could run. They might 
 think of John Mertens so or so, but he is an honest 
 fellow who does not hide his meaning behind a bush. 
 This was what he wanted to say — The discourse of 
 the big farmer was very confused, and was partly lost 
 in the fat of his double chin; but his adherents, of 
 whom the number was not small, showed their appro- 
 bation with screams and yells. The opposite party 
 did not fail to pay back such an answer as was due. 
 A dreadful tumult arose, which Nicolas Herkimer's 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 12/ 
 
 powerful voice could not overcome. It seemed as if 
 the consultation on whose issue the weal or woe of 
 hundreds hung, through the folly and conceit of a 
 couple of dozen would end in empty confusion and 
 disorder. 
 
 Suddenly there stood beside Nicolas Herkimer a 
 person, the mere sight of whom, as with a blow, 
 brought the boisterous assembly to order, as though a 
 dead man had become alive and wished to address 
 them. The giant-long, skeleton-lean form of Chris- 
 tian Ditmar, whose bony hands were stretched apart 
 as if in conjuration, while, from under the thick fur 
 cap the gray hair in disordered strands was whipped 
 by the wind about his ghost-like face, was awe-inspir- 
 ing. Then he raised his voice, which now shrieked 
 frantically, and then again rung out like thunder, and 
 thus spoke: 
 
 "So is being fulfilled the Word of God: 'The sins 
 of the fathers shall be visited upon the children to the 
 third and fourth generation. ' Yes, the sins of the 
 fathers. You have quarreled with each other and 
 raised your arms against each other while French 
 wolves are howling around the German flock, and 
 have worried and killed as their wicked hearts desired. 
 They murdered my parents and brothers and sisters. 
 I saw it with my own eyes. I saw too my parents' 
 house go up in flames, and our neighbors' houses 
 burning, and the city became a ruin and an ash-heap 
 — the beautiful proud city on the Neckar. Among 
 
128 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 the ruins wandered weeping wives looking among the 
 ashes for the bones of husbands and brothers, and 
 cried: 'Woe!' *Woe!' *A deadly curse on you 
 hangmen and murdering incendiaries!' 
 
 "I, a weak boy, cried along with them: 'Woe! 
 "Woe! A curse upon you, you hangmen, and murder- 
 ing incendiaries ! ' After many years I came here, and 
 again found them, the mean French wolves, howling 
 around the German flock; and I disputed with the 
 rest and separated from the others, and went out with 
 my wife and my sons to take vengeance on those who 
 had killed my parents and all my kindred. How did 
 the vengeance look when my four brave boys lay 
 dead at their father's feet, each with a bullet through 
 his breast?" 
 
 Christian Ditmar was silent a few moments. He 
 must suppress the sadness that rose in his heart at 
 these recollections. He then proceeded with increas- 
 ing emotion: 
 
 "And so you have suffered and bled, earlier and 
 later, under the greedy teeth. However I, who have 
 suffered more than you all, I tell you that I deserved 
 it since I blindly followed the voice of my heart cry- 
 ing for vengeance and did not hearken to the advice 
 of more prudent men; and so you have deservedly 
 suffered, and will suffer, since you also will not listen, 
 you fools and madmen, and propose to separate as 
 you came, the one this way, the other that, by which 
 the wolves will again have an easy play. But then 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 29 
 
 your own and your children's blood will rest on you 
 as my children's blood has come upon me. Here — !" 
 
 Christian Ditmar tore his fur cap from his head. 
 A broad, fearful scar ran like a stream of blood over 
 the high forehead from one temple to the other. 
 
 "Here!" he repeated, while with his forefinger he 
 pointed to the track of blood; "here! here!" He 
 raised both hands to his head, and with a dull cry that 
 rang dreadfully through the silent assembly, he fell 
 helpless. Nicolas Herkimer caught him in his arms; 
 but soon the old man gathered himself up and, with 
 Lambert's help, who quickly sprang to his aid, de- 
 scended from the table and walked slowly to the en- 
 trance into the door-yard, supported by the strong 
 arm of his wife and attended by Lambert. 
 
 "Have you now heard?" said Aunt Ursul to the 
 rest who crowded around, helpful and eager. "Have 
 you now heard, you straw-heads ? Why do you stand 
 about here and gape? I can take care of my old 
 man alone. Better go and do what he has told you. 
 You also stay here, Lambert, and when you pass our 
 house stop a moment. I wish to speak with you." 
 
 Lambert brought out the horses of his relatives 
 from the long row of those which were swinging their 
 tails under the shed, and bridled them. He now 
 helped into the saddle his uncle, who had fallen back 
 into his former stupidity, and after his great excite- 
 ment seemed to take no farther part in the matter. 
 Meanwhile Aunt Ursul had resolutely brought a stool 
 
130 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 and from it mounted her horse. Lambert looked at the 
 retreating figures until they reached the ferry, where 
 Hans Haberkorn's oldest boy, in the absence of his 
 father, attended to the service, and then returned to 
 the meeting, in which there now prevailed a very 
 different mood. 
 
 The appearance and words of Christian Ditmarhad 
 produced a powerful effect. Everybody knew the 
 witless Christian and his history, and that he had 
 been dumb since he had lost his sons, and his oldest 
 friends could no longer remember the sound of his 
 voice. And now the dumb had opened his mouth 
 and had spoken fearful words, which cut to the heart 
 those who listened in dumb wonderment. Yes, yes; 
 it was, if not a miracle, at least a sign — a gray sign 
 — well enough understood by the superstitious. 
 When men are silent stones will speak. They had 
 not been silent before — far otherwise — but they had 
 not listened; they would now listen; they wanted to 
 hear Herkimer explain his views once more. 
 
 Nicolas Herkimer did so, and with a result far dif- 
 ferent from the first. They now found that it must 
 be altogether so, and not otherwise — that better ad- 
 vice could not be given. Should the French this time 
 select Canada Creek as the first point of attack, as 
 to all appearance they would, it would be very bad 
 for Lambert Sternberg and the Ditmars and the Eisen- 
 lords and the rest. But it could not be helped. 
 When now Lambert appeared on the table and in a 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS I3I 
 
 few plain words said that he was proud to assume 
 the existing responsibility, and tha the would hold out 
 on his post to his last breath, and that he now de- 
 sired the young men who had a heart and a good rifle 
 for the undertaking, at once to go with him to-day; 
 then August and Fritz Volz and Christian Eisenlord, 
 and half a dozen others, cried out: "I!" "I!" with 
 one voice, and pressing up joined the fighting band. 
 
 The leaders of the three cavalry squads were now 
 selected. These were to help those on and away 
 from the Mohawk, and on the creek, as they were flee- 
 ing to the forts. So also right men were quickly ap- 
 pointed for the old ferry, and for the added new ones, 
 and for the other important posts which were yet to 
 be provided for. 
 
 The excellent spirit which had seized the assembly 
 made them unwilling to hear any more quarreling and 
 strife; and those who grumbled secretly, such as Hans 
 Haberkorn, John Hertens and others, thought it bet- 
 ter policy to lay aside their opposition for a more con- 
 venient time. 
 
 It was late in the afternoon when Nicolas Herkimer 
 declared the business finished, and asked the minis- 
 ter to close the meeting. The minister put up his 
 snuff-box, stepped on the table and spoke with a loud 
 voice which clearly indicated deep feeling, as follows: 
 
 "Dear neighbors and friends: I will not speak long, 
 for you are in a hurry to get home to your wives and 
 children. I will only ask you with me briefly to thank 
 
132 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 God that He has opened our hearts to the spirit of 
 brotherHness and love, and to beseech Him that He 
 will keep awake in us this spirit for the miserable 
 days with which we are now threatened. Then this 
 open heart and this wakeful spirit will make our hands 
 strong, and we shall live in a strong tower, which is 
 our God. And the prince.of this world, however ter- 
 rible he may be, will accomplish nothing against the 
 eternal God in heaven, who will not leave His brave 
 Germans. And now, dear neighbors and friends, go 
 home, and keep your eyes stiff and your powder dry. 
 To-morrow, as may happen, if you have more to do 
 and cannot come to church, no damage will be done. 
 God give us all a happy reunion. Amen." 
 
 "Amen!" Amen!" sounded forth everywhere in 
 the circle of men, among whom there were none who 
 had not found for the moment a deep and holy ear- 
 nestness. They had assembled in disputation and 
 quarreling. They separated in peace and harmony. 
 Most of them at their departure went to shake hands 
 with Nicolas Herkimer, and specially assured him 
 that he could in any case rely on them. The honor 
 of a pinch of snuff from the minister was sought by 
 so many that the noble man could at last, laughing, 
 only present the empty box. The young people who 
 desired to be placed on the most dangerous post, had 
 gathered about Lambert, and it required Herkimer's 
 authority to settle the choice. Lambert had declared 
 that he could not accept more than four, since he 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 33 
 
 himself and Conrad must also be added, making six 
 good rifles for the protection of the house. A larger 
 number would unnecessarily consume food and am- 
 munition in case they had to stand a siege. So then, 
 to grieve no one, the lot should determine, and it fell 
 on Fritz Volz, from the creek; Jacob Ehrlich and 
 Anthony Bierman, from the Mohawk; and on Rich- 
 ard Herkimer. Lambert was satisfied with the issue. 
 They were, on the whole, wide-awake young men — 
 at least Fritz Volz and Richard Herkimer, his special 
 friends. They agreed that the last two, who lived 
 near enough, should occupy the post yet this evening, 
 and that the two others should come early in the 
 morning. 
 
 Now at last, after about all who had been assem- 
 bled had gone, could Lambert leave Nicolas Herki- 
 mer, who said: "I will keep you no longer now. I 
 will ride over to-morrow, as there are yet many things 
 about which I want to talk to you." Lambert had 
 not improperly pressed to go. As he reached the 
 other side he found the Eisenlords, the Teicherts and 
 a dozen others who all, with a glass of Hans Haber- 
 korn's genuine, were discussing what they had heard 
 and decided upon. He shook hands with them and 
 hastened on, Fritz Volz calling after him that he 
 would see him in the evening. As now he gave loose 
 rein to his horse he cast an anxious, inquiring glance 
 at the sky, in which the sun had nearly run its course. 
 It was perhaps yet half an hour to its setting. On 
 
134 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 his left the level fields and marshes shimmered and 
 glimmered in red, blended lights, so that he could 
 hardly distinguish the shingled roofs of the houses; 
 and the forms of riders and footmen appeared now 
 and then as dark points in the sea of fire. To the 
 right, where the farther he went the nearer did the 
 hills and rocks press toward him, the mighty trunks 
 of the giant pines glowed in dark purple, and their 
 branching tops blazed in green-golden flames to the 
 cloudless sky. With every hoof-beat of the horse 
 the sun sunk deeper, and Lambert had just left Bel- 
 linger's farm behind when the sea of fire to the left 
 was extinguished by a blue fog; and toward evening 
 only the highest tops of the tallest trees reflected the 
 departing light of day. Night soon came on. As his 
 noble beast rapidly struck the grassy soil with strong 
 hoofs he saw that he could not reach home in less 
 than an hour. 
 
 A nameless discontent seized him. The longing 
 for the beloved one, which he had so nobly fought all 
 these hours, now asserted its rights, and so filled his 
 breast that he could hardly breathe. Minutes seemed 
 like hours. There was also another distressing feel- 
 ing — a feeling of fear for something he could not con- 
 ceive of, for which he had no name, and which may 
 on that account have been more terrible. In all his 
 life he had never before had such an experience. 
 Nearest to it were the frightful dreams that had ter- 
 rified him when a boy, from which he in vain sought 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 135 
 
 to wake. Lambert groaned aloud, and Hans groaned 
 under the pressure of the rider's legs. 
 
 So he rushed forward faster and faster, without 
 looking to the right or left, without stopping at Eisen- 
 lord's or at Volz', though everywhere from the doors 
 the women called to him: "Holla, Lambert, whither 
 in such haste .^" until at last Hans, angry at the con- 
 duct of his otherwise reasonable master, ran at full 
 speed. 
 
 Aunt Ursul had requested him to stop on his re- 
 turn, and he himself wished to speak with her about 
 what the minister had said. So he stopped his foam- 
 ing horse unwillingly when he came to the Ditmar 
 house. 
 
 "Is he near comfort.^" said Aunt Ursul who had 
 heard him coming and now stepped to the door. 
 "The poor beast is like a cat which has been lying 
 eight days in the water. How you look yourself: 
 Like the rider in the book of Revelation." 
 
 "I feel as though some misfortune had happened 
 there," stammered Lambert, pointing homeward. 
 
 "Papperlapap !" said Aunt Ursul. "What can have 
 happened.^ Conrad — yes, Lambert; I already see 
 that now I can't get a rational word out of you, so 
 in God's name, drive on. I have just put my old man 
 to bed and given him a cup of tea, so I am entirely 
 free and will come over in about an hour." 
 
 She gave Hans, who was already restlessly champ- 
 ing his bit, a blow on his wet neck. He sprang away 
 
136 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 with his rider. "Those whom we love are always 
 but half near comfort," said Aunt Ursul, looking after 
 him and shaking her head; "nevertheless — neverthe- 
 less — Conrad is a madcap, and acted this morning as 
 though he had lost his reason. I must see that all 
 things go right." 
 
 Aunt Ursul turned back into the house, took her 
 gun from the rack and, with long strides, followed 
 Lambert, who was already immersed in the evening 
 fog which rose from the creek in thick streaks. 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 When at noon to-day Lambert tore himself away 
 from Catherine, she stood still as though stunned. 
 The conviction that she ought to remain behind had 
 come to her on the instant; the determination to do 
 so had been uttered so soon; the carrying out of the 
 resolution too had followed so closely at its heels, that 
 now, as the forms of the riders disappeared behind a 
 turn of the road and she found herself really alone, 
 it appeared to her as though she were having a disa- 
 greeable, fearful dream out of which she must mo- 
 mentarily awake. She struck herself over her fore- 
 head and eyes, but all was real. There stood the 
 empty crib. There lay the pail which the mare had 
 pushed over. There was the pillion which at the last 
 moment Lambert had unbuckled from the saddle. 
 There were the short, trampled grass and the tracks 
 of the hoofs of the horses. There was the open door 
 in which she had just now seen Lambert! Catherine 
 took a few steps, as though she would follow the be- 
 loved one, and then stood still, pressing her hand on 
 her loud-beating heart. Deep sadness overwhelmed 
 her, but she vigorously fought down the feeling. "He 
 has so often called you a brave girl," said she to her- 
 self, "and will you weep and complain like a child 
 
 137 
 
138 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 which the mother has left alone for a few moments? 
 He will soon come back; surely he will soon come 
 back." 
 
 She entered the house to see what time it was. 
 The hand of the Swartzwald clock pointed to twelve. 
 The distance to Nicolas Herkimer's house was six 
 miles. If she counted going and returning it was 
 twelve, and on the calculation of the men themselves 
 would take them two hours, so that Lambert could 
 be back by six o'clock, or by seven at the latest. 
 That was indeed a long time, but there was yet much 
 to do, and perhaps also to-day Conrad would return 
 earlier from hunting. 
 
 "On Conrad's account I should remain here," said 
 Catherine to herself as she cleared away the dinner- 
 dishes. "He must learn to see in me his sister, and 
 he will, when we show our confidence in him and have 
 no secrets before him. Ah, could I only yesterday 
 have greeted him as a brother! However, that will 
 follow. It must follow yet to-day, when he returns. 
 Then we will live together in peace, and the wild 
 man will find that it is not a bad thing to have a fe- 
 male friend who takes care of him until he himself 
 loves a girl, and establishes a home and builds a 
 house for himself here near us, or at the edge of the 
 woods he so much loves. That will be a joyful, happy 
 life. We will be good neighbors. I shall love his 
 wife and she me." 
 
 Catherine had sat down on the hearth and, with 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 139 
 
 her head supported by her hand, looked before her 
 with half-closed eyes, thinking. The fire on the 
 hearth gently crackled; the wall-clock said "tick-tack." 
 In the meadow outside the birds sang. Through the 
 open door the sun shone clear into the cool, shaded 
 room; and in the bright sunbeams, which reached as 
 far as her knees, dust atoms danced, lighted up, and 
 twinkhng hke golden stars seemed to be waving and 
 playing and catching one another. Then they were 
 no longer golden stars, but children's laughing faces, 
 which emerged out of the partial darkness of the back- 
 ground, came up to her knees, and again disappeared 
 in the dark corners, and from them looked out with 
 bright, blue, happy eyes. Then the vision vanished. 
 The sun still shone into the silent room. The fire 
 crackled. The wall-clock said "tick-tack," and out 
 in the meadows sang the birds. 
 
 The young maiden arose and commenced her 
 labor anew, but there was a different expression in 
 her mild, innocent countenance; and other thoughts, 
 which came to her like a revelation, filled her soul. 
 The bridal feeling which now happified her, had 
 acquired another phase, for which she knew not how 
 to account. It was a deeper, more earnest feeling — 
 distinguished from the former like the light of noon 
 now lying on field and forest, from that of the morn- 
 ing. Those were the same bending grass-stems and 
 the same swaying tree-tops. It was the same clear 
 creek and they were the same waving rushes, and 
 
1 40 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 yet all was changed as by a gentle, mighty, magic 
 hand, and spoke another speech — moving and dis- 
 solving in mystery. Now she understood why the be- 
 loved man, who was truth and openness itself, so 
 anxiously concealed from her for weeks that she must 
 live alone with him in his house. "Alone! Would 
 it not have been the same had he told the truth? told 
 me that he loved me ? that he did not want me as a 
 maid-servant? Would it not have come out just the 
 same ? Did I not also love him from the first moment 
 on? and have I not followed him through peopled 
 cities, through the pathless wilderness, on a journey 
 of weeks, through rain and sunshine, day and night, 
 in unknown regions? What is so different now? Did 
 I not devote myself to him as we left the ship hand in 
 hand? 'You shall be my lord!' And is it not said 
 in the church when the minister lays the hands of 
 lovers together: *He shall be thy lord.' Yes, he 
 shall be my lord, now and always. He shall be my 
 lord." 
 
 So spoke Catherine to herself to banish the occa- 
 sional shudders that passed through her heart and 
 often took away her breath, while she completed the 
 arrangements in her room which had been tempora 
 rily made last evening, and put away her few belong- 
 ings in a closet that had been contrived in the thick 
 wall. Then, as there was nothing more to do here, 
 she for the first time ascended the stairs to the upper 
 story, and walked around the gallery which encircled 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 141 
 
 the house and projected beyond the lower story, and 
 was surrounded by well-joined planks and provided 
 with port-holes. With the exception of a place 
 poorly enough partitioned off in which the brothers 
 had slept the previous night, the room, used in winter 
 as a store-room, was empty, or served for the storage 
 of that for which there was no room below. Cather- 
 ine acquired a clearer notion of the plan, which she 
 and Lambert had formed in the morning, to prepare 
 a small, pleasant room for them both here where 
 everything was more airy and free. However, with- 
 out Lambert she did not succeed very well in plan- 
 ning. 
 
 So she again went downstairs, and to her surprise 
 saw by the clock that since Lambert had left but one 
 hour had elapsed. She took some work and seated 
 herself with it on a bench before the door in the shade 
 of the gallery.* 
 
 It was in the stillness of the day. There was so 
 little wind that the grass-stems in the meadow, and 
 the rushes at the edge of the creek, scarcely bent. 
 The butterflies passed from flower to flower on lan- 
 guid wing. The hum of the bees and the chirping of 
 the crickets had a sleepy sound. All around, every- 
 thing was still. However, out of the forest there 
 frequently came the hoarse cry of the tree-falcon, or 
 the call of a bird which Catherine did not recognize. 
 In the blue sky there hung single white clouds whose 
 shadows moved, slowly — very slowly — over the sunny 
 prairie. 
 
142 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 At first Catherine was pleased with this quietude, 
 which seemed an image of sabbath stillness, filling 
 her soul. But she had scarcely thus sat an hour be- 
 fore the monotony of the scene about her filled her 
 heart with a strange fear. How entirely different it 
 was this morning. Then heaven and earth and tree 
 and bush and every flower and every grass-stem 
 smiled and bowed their welcome to her. Every- 
 thing had spoken to her in persuasive language. Now 
 that the beloved one was at a distance everything 
 was dumb, except that heaven and earth and tree 
 and bush and every flower and every grass-stem 
 breathed out one word with ever-increasing sadness: 
 Alone! alone! 
 
 Catherine let her work sink into her lap. An 
 image, that had been for many years as if blotted 
 from her memory, suddenly came before her in pale 
 colors, but very distinct — the image of her dead 
 mother, who, adorned with flowers, lay in her coffin 
 — and she a little girl, ten years old, stood beside it; 
 and her father had come up and taken her hand and 
 said: "We two are now alone." 
 
 "Alone!" 
 
 Her heart was filled with increasing fear. Again 
 taking up her work she tried to sing a song that 
 always occurred to her when everything was so quiet: 
 "Were I a wild Falcon I would soar aloft." But she 
 commenced so gently that she did not complete the 
 first measure. Her voice sounded strange. She was 
 frightened at her own voice. 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 43 
 
 Perhaps, she thought, it would be better if she 
 went to the barn-yard where in the morning she had 
 passed such happy moments with Lambert. 
 
 She arose and hastily walked down the path, at 
 last running, and now with beating heart leaned 
 against the bars of the inclosure. The sheep which 
 stood near ran away frightened, and looked at her 
 from a distance with dull eyes. In the yard all was 
 still. The hens and turkeys had gone out into the 
 fields. As she again turned, from among the fruit 
 trees, in whose blossom-covered branches this morn- 
 ing a robin sang so sweetly, there broke out a brown 
 bird of prey and with broad, flapping wings hastened 
 toward the forest. On the ground among the grass 
 there lay several colored feathers. 
 
 More sad than when she went Catherine returned 
 to the house, and again sat down before the door, 
 with the full purpose now to wait quietly, and to 
 fight down her depression of spirits. 
 
 So she sat patiently long, endless hours. The light 
 in the green tops of the trees in yonder woods be- 
 came more golden. The shadows that lay along the 
 edge became deeper and broader — one after another 
 came out of the wilderness until at last they branched 
 out in troops. From time to time flocks of pigeons 
 flew like lightning over the prairie from one side of 
 the forest to the other. High above them, in the 
 bright sky, sailed more slowly chains of wild geese, 
 filling the air with their monotone cry. Then again 
 
144 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 everything was still, and Catherine could hear the 
 rushing of the blood in her temples. 
 
 She could endure it no longer. It occurred to her 
 that she had seen a couple of books in the house on 
 a shelf too high for her to reach. She went in, 
 pushed up the table, set a stool on it and got the 
 books. 
 
 There were two of them, bound in hog's leather, 
 very dusty and worm-eaten — a Bible and a history, 
 as it appeared. The writing on the fly-leaf was at first 
 in Latin, which the minister's daughter understood 
 well enough to deciper with a little pains. It stated 
 that this book belonged to Conrad Emanuel Stern- 
 berg, formerly a student of theology at Heidelberg, 
 who, in the year 1709, after his parents — well-to-do 
 vintners in the Palatinate— had lost everything in the 
 dreadful winter, when the wine in the casks and the 
 birds in the air froze, in company with the young 
 cooper, Christian Ditmar, from Heidelberg, had de- 
 termined upon the great undertaking of emigrating to 
 America, which he reached June 13th, 1710, more 
 dead than alive, after a long and tedious voyage 
 from the Rhine through Holland and by way of En- 
 gland. He settled on the Hudson with his friends and 
 fellow-sufferers, where he hoped to end his life in 
 quietness and peace. 
 
 This pious wish was not fulfilled. Further notices 
 followed this connected narrative, but written in the 
 German language, as though the writer had mean- 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS I45 
 
 while forgotten his Latin, saying that he had moved 
 with his faithful companion, Christian Ditmar, from 
 the Hudson to the Mohawk, thence to Schoharie and 
 finally to Canada Creek. Then there was the date 
 of his marriage with Elisabeth Christiane Frank, of 
 Schoharie, the younger sister of Ursula, his old friend's 
 and now brother-in-law's wife, the birthdays of his 
 sons, Lambert and Conrad, and the death of Chris- 
 tiane. With this sad event the record of the life of 
 the old Heidelberg student was closed. He had not 
 written a line more. 
 
 Catherine looked thoughtfully at the faded writing, 
 gently closed the lid and opened the second, smaller 
 book. It was entitled: "Description of the destruc- 
 tion of the city of Heidelberg on the 22nd and 23rd 
 of May, 1689." 
 
 She began to read mechanically until by degrees 
 she became conscious of what she was reading and 
 sprang up with a dull outcry: "Great God! what 
 have I read ^ Is it possible that human beings can so 
 rage against one another - that there are tyrants to 
 whom neither the silvered hair of the aged, nor the 
 modesty of the maiden, nor the innocent laughter of 
 children — to whom nothing is sacred.? 
 
 "Why not.? Did not the bands under Soubise 
 ravage through the cities and towns of Hanover.? And 
 did not their ruthless cruelty and base shamelessness 
 drive her old father and all her neighbors and friends 
 from their beloved homes across the sea ? Were they 
 
146 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 not the sons and grandsons of those robbers who, un- 
 der Melac and Borges, burnt the Palatinate and re- 
 duced Heidelberg to a dust heap ? 
 
 "And again, did they not, the year before, ravage 
 here just so, in connection with the Indians, their like- 
 minded confederates? Here, among these hills and 
 in these valleys and woods, the same French were 
 threatening again and their approach was already 
 proclaimed. Dreadful! dreadful!" 
 
 The poor girl, though so sore and sad at heart, had 
 up to this moment found no definite cause of fear. 
 Now fear overwhelmed her with sudden power. She 
 looked with fixed eyes toward the edge of the forest 
 as though at every moment the French and Indians 
 were about to break forth from its silent recesses. 
 She listened intently, until the blood seemed to boil 
 in her temples, and as though it would burst the 
 veins. Merciful God! What would become of her.^ 
 How could Lambert leave her in such a howling wil- 
 derness? — he who had so long been her guardian and 
 defense — he who had cherished her as the apple of 
 his eye. If only Conrad would come. It was about 
 the same time yesterday when he came — no, it was 
 later; the sun had already set, and now it was still 
 over the woods. But why should he to-day stay out 
 so long? And who, besides Lambert, could better pro- 
 tect her than Lambert's brother, the strong, alert man 
 who only needed to set his foot across the door-step 
 to make those dwelhng in the house feel secure? So 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 147 
 
 Lambert said only this morning. Why did he now 
 stay away when his presence was so much desired? 
 
 Catherine pressed her hands against her beating 
 temples. What should she do ? What could she do 
 but wait and try to hush a fear that surely was child- 
 ish. There near her lay the Bible. She had so often, 
 in sad hours, drawn from it rest and comfort. She 
 took it up and read where her eyes happened to fall: 
 
 "And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his 
 offering. But unto Cain and his offering he had not 
 respect. And Cain was very wroth and his counte- 
 nance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain: Why art 
 thou wroth .^ and why is thy countenance fallen.^ * 
 ^ ^ And Cain talked with his brother Abel, and it 
 came to pass when they were in the field, Cain rose 
 up against Abel his brother and slew him." 
 
 The printed page glimmered before her eyes. With 
 a dull cry the affrighted girl sprang up. "Cain killed 
 Abel! Cain killed Abel!" And she had wished that 
 he — the terrible one — were here — he who this morn- 
 ing had uttered such dreadful threatenings. No, no! 
 he must not come back; he must not find her alone. 
 He must not see her again. She must away to meet 
 Lambert. She must warn him — must tell him that 
 his brother would kill him on her account ; that he 
 must give her up, or with her go out into the wide 
 world. They must flee from the brother. He must 
 save her and himself from that dreaded brother. 
 
 As though the block-house was on fire Catherine 
 
148 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 hastened from the door, down the hill, to the creek, 
 along the creek, without looking around, without 
 observing that she had started in the opposite direc- 
 tion so that at every step she was farther away from 
 Lambert. When she reached the bridge where Lam- 
 bert had yesterday overtaken her she became aware 
 of her mistake. But she was like a wrecked vessel 
 driven shoreward by the waves and then again carried 
 out to sea. Destruction by him from whom she 
 would escape seemed unavoidable. No more capa- 
 ble of forming a further purpose, deprived of all 
 strength, she sunk together; and as though she must 
 here await the expected death-blow, she bowed her 
 head and covered her face with her hands. 
 
 "Catherine!" 
 
 Slowly she withdrew her hands from her deadly 
 pale face, and saw Conrad standing before her with 
 his rifle on his shoulder and his dog at his heels, look- 
 ing at her with vacant eyes, and appearing to have 
 just come out of the sedge along the shore. She had 
 anticipated his coming — knew that he would come. 
 She no longer felt that nameless dread. On the 
 other hand there instantly came over her a peculiar 
 restfulness, and in a quiet tone she said: "You 
 come late. I have been waiting for you." 
 
 "Indeed.?" said Conrad. 
 
 He was also very pale, and the expression of his 
 face was strangely changed. 
 
 Catherine observed it, but it could not change her 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 49 
 
 purpose to proceed, even should it cost her Hfe. She 
 arose from her rechning position, though not without 
 an effort — her limbs seemed as if dead — and, as she 
 began mechanically to return to the house, she said: 
 
 "I have been waiting for you, since I wish to say 
 something to you before I leave your house." 
 
 Conrad started. Catherine felt it, though she kept 
 her eyes directed to the ground. However, involun- 
 tarily walking faster, she proceeded: 
 
 "What I could not tell you this morning, for it has 
 taken place since, I will say now. I have become 
 engaged to your brother." 
 
 She expected that now an outbreak would follow, 
 but Conrad walked on silently at her side. 
 
 "I engaged myself to him," said Catherine — and 
 her voice became firmer while she spoke — **this morn- 
 ing after you were gone, and I hardly know how it 
 came about. I only know that Lambert has done 
 for me more than any other man, excepting my good 
 old father who is dead; that to him I owe my life, 
 which therefore belongs to him; that at any time he 
 might ask for it he might have it of me. He did not 
 ask it of me this morning, but I gave it to him freely 
 — my life and my love — for that is the same. And 
 now — " 
 
 "And now.?" asked Conrad. 
 
 "Now I must away, if you are not the kind brother 
 whom Lambert loves so much — if you are resolved to 
 turn the angry words you spoke this morning into fierce 
 
ISO THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 deeds. How could I remain here and see how I have 
 sown strife between brother and brother, especially at 
 this time, when you should stand shoulder to shoulder 
 against the treacherous enemy? Where I shall go 
 I do not know. I only know that I cannot stay, so 
 long as you are angry at your brother on my account. 
 But, Conrad, while I thus speak, it seems to me en- 
 tirely impossible that you can place yourself between 
 me and your brother." 
 
 "Why impossible.^" asked Conrad. 
 
 "Because you love your brother," replied Cather- 
 ine, gathering courage as she spoke. "You have 
 every reason to love him, though you do not love me 
 as Lambert loves me. Why should you.^ You do 
 not know me. You saw me yesterday for the first 
 time, and a few minutes this morning. Though I 
 may indeed have pleased you, yet, as you now hear 
 that my heart is already given to your brother, what 
 else, as an honorable man, can you do than to rejoice 
 at our happiness as we would rejoice in yours should 
 heaven provide you a similar happiness, which I 
 hope may soon happen.?" 
 
 They had reached the house. The dog, which 
 with long leaps had gone ahead, met them wagging 
 her tail and springing against her master Conrad 
 pushed the animal away, but not with his usual rough 
 force. His manner was more sad than angry and his 
 motio^ixs were like those of one who is very tired. He 
 sank down on the bench on which Catherine's work 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS I5I 
 
 and the books still lay, supported his elbow on his 
 knee and rested his head on his hand. 
 
 "You are hungry and thirsty from your long hunt," 
 said Catherine; "shall I prepare your evening meal?" 
 
 Conrad shook his head. All fear had vanished 
 from Catherine's soul. As she saw the wild, intract- 
 able man sitting there so still — so sunk within him- 
 self — there stirred in her heart stronger and stronger 
 another feeling. 
 
 "Conrad," said she softly. "Conrad," she re- 
 peated, laying her hand on his shoulder, "I will in- 
 deed also hold you very dear." 
 
 A dull cry, like that of an animal that has been 
 mortally wounded, broke from Conrad's broad chest. 
 He put both hands to his face and wept aloud like a 
 child, and the body of the giant-like man shook from 
 the pain stirring within him as might the small frame 
 of a child. 
 
 Catherine for a moment stood helpless and speech- 
 less. Then there also came from her eyes warm 
 tears, and with the tears she found words -mild, 
 kind words — of sympathy and comfort. She told 
 him again and again that she would love him as a sis- 
 ter should love a brother; that his young, sorrowful 
 heart would find peace; that he should see in her his 
 sister; and that he would find pure happiness in this 
 feeling until there blossomed out another happiness 
 in the love of a virtuous girl, in which no one would 
 more deeply share than she and Lambert. 
 
152 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 "Do not speak his name," said Conrad. 
 
 He had jumped up, all his limbs shaking with anger 
 and his eyes flashing. He convulsively grasped his 
 gun, which stood near, by the barrel. 
 
 "You think you are going to play me off with 
 words. For me smooth words; for him kisses! I 
 saw to-day in the woods, how handsomely you can 
 kiss." 
 
 He broke out in loud laughter. Catherine, fright- 
 ened, drew back. 
 
 "So!" said Conrad, "that is your true face. Do 
 you still love me as a sister her brother?" 
 
 "If you are so unbrotherly, no!" said Catherine. 
 "But you do not know what 3^ou are saying." 
 
 "Truly not," growled Conrad. 
 
 "And not what you are doing," said Catherine. 
 "You would otherwise be ashamed to torment a 
 poor, helpless girl." 
 
 She leaned against the door-post, pale and trem- 
 bling, her hands folded over her breast, her large eyes 
 fixed on the angry man, who tried in vain to meet her 
 gaze, and raved before her like a wild animal. 
 
 Then the dog dashed forward, and at the same 
 moment the dull hoof-beats of a horse in full run be- 
 came perceptible. Fear seized Catherine as to what 
 the issue would be should Lambert now return — and 
 it could be no other. 
 
 "Conrad!" she called; "Conrad, it is your brother." 
 
 Impelled by an overwhelming feeling she threw 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 53 
 
 herself before him and wound her arms about his 
 knees. 
 
 "Let me be!" cried Conrad. 
 
 "Not till you have sworn that you will not injure 
 him." 
 
 "Let me be!" cried Conrad again, and he violently 
 tore her loose. Catherine tottered forward, stumbled 
 and fell. Her head struck hard against the door-sill. 
 
 She came near fainting, but with a great effort 
 picked herself up again, as angry voices struck her 
 ear, and threw herself between the brothers. 
 
 "Lambert! Conrad! For God's sake, rather kill 
 me! Conrad, it is your brother. Lambert, he does 
 not know what he is doing!" 
 
 The brothers released each other, and panting, 
 looked at one another with flashing eyes. By the 
 sound Lambert's rifle had fallen to the ground. Con- 
 rad held his half-raised in his strong hands. 
 
 "Now," said Lambert; "why do you not shoot .!*" 
 
 "I do not want to kill you," said Conrad. "If I 
 wanted your life I could have taken it this morning." 
 
 "What. then do you want.''" 
 
 "Nothing from you. Why did you come just now.^ 
 You shall not see me again. Since we have hap- 
 pened again to meet, let me tell you that it must be 
 the last time. Go your own way and let me go mine." 
 
 With a powerful swing he threw his rifle on his 
 shoulder and turned away. 
 
 Lambert intercepted him. "You must not go. I 
 
154 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 will forget that you raised your hand against me. Do 
 you also forget that I raised mine against you. By 
 the memory of our father; by the memory of our 
 mother, I conjure you, do not leave your parents' 
 house." 
 
 "It is too small for us all," said Conrad, with bit- 
 ter scorn. 
 
 "Then we will leave it. I will gladly do it if you 
 will but stay." 
 
 "I need no house," said Conrad. 
 
 "The house, however, needs you, as you can help 
 defend it against our bitter enemies. Do you wish to 
 see it go up in flames.^ You know that the French 
 are coming — perhaps you know more about it than I 
 — than all of us; and we to-day greatly missed you. 
 Will you become a traitor to our common interests 
 — to your brother, your friends, to wives and chil- 
 dren.? Conrad, you must not go away!" 
 
 "If the enemy comes you will again creep away as 
 you did before," said Conrad. "I will not hide in 
 forts. I will fight openly. I will take the matter in 
 hand entirely alone, and you may here, in your holes, 
 go to destruction or not; it will not trouble me. My 
 blood be upon me if I again set either foot across this 
 door-sill!" 
 
 He pushed his fur cap down over his eyes, whistled 
 to his dog, and as he, making his rounds about the 
 house, did not come, he called out: 
 
 "So you, too, stay here. Curse on you all!" 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 155 
 
 That was the last word that Catherine heard. The 
 dreadful, soul-stirring excitement of these hours had 
 exhausted her strength, and her fall had broken her 
 down entirely. She felt a stinging pain in her tem- 
 ples. - There was a ringing in her ears. She saw 
 Lambert's form, as through a veil, bending over her; 
 and then it was not Lambert, but Aunt Ursul, and 
 then everything sunk away about her in deep night. 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 Aunt Ursul sat at Catherine's bed in the room 
 carefully noticing every motion of the young girl who 
 lay there, pale, with closed eyes, half asleep as it 
 appeared. She repeatedly felt her pulse, and re- 
 newed the cold cloths on her forehead. She then 
 again bent over her, listened to her quiet breathing, 
 then bowed satisfied and murmured: "There's noth- 
 ing more to be done here now. We will now look 
 after the young man." 
 
 She arose and retired, as quietly as her heavy 
 boots would permit, from the chamber, her face 
 expressing displeasure as the door creaked a little, 
 though she shut it very softly. Lambert, who had 
 been sitting at the hearth, raised his head and looked 
 at her who was entering with anxious eye. Aunt 
 Ursul sat down by his side, placed her feet firmly on 
 the hearth, and said, in a tone intended to be a 
 whisper, but on account of her deep, rough voice was 
 a dull growl: 
 
 "No, Lambert, on that side" — she at the same time 
 
 inclined her large head toward the chamber — "so far 
 
 it goes quite well. The girl is a brave child, and 
 
 will to-morrow again stand firm in her shoes. If we 
 
 156 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 57 
 
 women should at once discover your stupidities we 
 would have much to do." 
 
 Lambert seized the hand of the kind woman. Tears 
 stood in his eyes. Aunt Ursul did not know how it 
 happened, but her eyelashes also became moist. She 
 breathed deeply two or three times, and said: "You 
 ought to be ashamed, Lambert. You really have a 
 heart like a young chicken, and now it occurs to me 
 that I have eaten nothing the whole day. Give me a 
 piece of bread and some ham, or whatever you have, 
 and if there is yet a swallow of rum in the flask it 
 won't do any hurt — but add to it two-thirds water. 
 A well-behaved person will not otherwise drink the 
 fiery stuff. And now we will once have a little ra- 
 tional talk, Lambert. We need not be in a hurry. 
 The girl sleeps so soundly that she will not wake 
 under six hours." 
 
 Lambert had taken what was wanted out of the 
 cupboard. Aunt Ursul moved her chair to the table, 
 and while she was eating heartily, said: 
 
 "Do you know, Lambert, that the girl is a treasure .?" 
 
 Lambert bowed. 
 
 "And that neither you, nor Conrad, nor any man 
 in this earthly vale of tears, is good enough for the 
 maiden.?" 
 
 Lambert's eyes said: "Yes." 
 
 "I have now for the first time carefully looked at 
 her," said Aunt Ursul; "as she lay there, white and 
 bloody, like the doves this morning. There is not 
 
15B THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 one false or distorted line in her lovely face. Every- 
 thing is entire purity and innocence, as though the 
 Lord God had opened a window in heaven and sent 
 her forth upon the earth. And now to think that such 
 a lovely angel is destined to all the suffering and an- 
 guish which is our inheritance from our mother Eve 
 — Good God, it is dreadful ! Smce, rightly consid- 
 ered, Lambert, you cannot help it, as you did not 
 make the world, and are all in all a good man, Lam- 
 bert — yes, a right good man- what Aunt Ursul can 
 do to smooth the way to your happiness that she will 
 do with all her heart. Yes, surely, Lambert, that she 
 will." 
 
 "I thank you, aunt," replied Lambert. "I can 
 truly say that I have always been persuaded of your 
 good will, and have constantly reckoned on you, but 
 I am afraid that now nobody can any longer help us. 
 How shall I stand with her before God's altar when I 
 know that my brother begrudges me my happiness.^ 
 Even could I do so, Catherine could not bear the 
 thought that it is she on whose account Conrad is 
 irreconcilably angry. She knows how I have loved 
 the young man — how I still love him. I could shed 
 my blood for him, and how did he renounce us even 
 now — even now.?" 
 
 Lambert supported his forehead with his hand. 
 On Aunt Ursul' s rough face there also lay a deep, 
 helpless sadness. She wished to say something com- 
 forting to Lambert, but found nothing to say. Lam- 
 bert proceeded: 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 59 
 
 "I am not angry at him. How could I be? You 
 know, aunt, that we were long uncertain whether he 
 or I should go to New York, since he had less to keep 
 him, and we thought it would do him good to get out 
 among other people. Then he would have found 
 Catherine, and he would surely have dealt just as I 
 did ; and who knows how everything would then have 
 fitted itself in.?" 
 
 Aunt Ursul shook her large head. 
 
 "Do not sin against yourself, Lambert," said she. 
 "I have always found that, rightly weighed, every- 
 thing had to come out just as it did come out, and 
 with this we pause." 
 
 "I, also, cannot conceive how it could have been 
 different," replied Lambert. "As far as I can see, 
 my hand has been little in this, and yet I might even 
 surrender her could I thus bring Conrad back." 
 
 "And I my two hands and my head in addition," 
 said Aunt Ursul, "could I by that means bring it 
 about that my four boys might enter the door alive. 
 Lambert, Lambert! let me tell you, 'if and 'but' are 
 very fine things, but one must keep them away from 
 him or he will get crazy over them. I have had ex- 
 perience of it in myself and in my old man." 
 
 "But Conrad is not dead," said Lambert, "so all 
 hope cannot be lost. I had also lost my head. I 
 did not know what I said or did. He was without 
 this already unhappy enough. Alas, aunt, I am also 
 to blame. I would gladly tell him that. I would 
 
l60 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 like to talk right into his heart. He has hitherto 
 always been willing to listen to me. What do you 
 advise, aunt .'*" 
 
 "What should I advise.?" said Aunt Ursul fretfully. 
 "It is always the old story: First you set the world on 
 its head, and then you come running and cry: 
 'What do you advise, aunt.?' Am I God.? Many 
 times there seems to be need of it. No, Lambert, in 
 that you are indeed right. Conrad is not yet dead, 
 and so we need not throw away our guns into the 
 grain-field. But it will not do to pour out the child 
 with the water in which you have bathed it. To pour 
 oil into the fire increases the blaze. Should you now 
 go to Conrad it would not be well. You can't gather 
 ripe figs from a thorn-bush. In due time one can 
 pick roses, Lambert, in due time." 
 
 Aunt Ursul repeated her last words several times 
 as though she would thus help her inability to advise. 
 
 "But time is pressing," said Lambert. "Who 
 knows how soon we shall have the French here .? — 
 Perhaps to-morrow. My God! to-morrow should be 
 our wedding day." 
 
 He told his aunt what arrangement he had made 
 with the minister. 
 
 "Yes, yes; man proposes, but God disposes," said 
 Aunt Ursul. "We can now say nothing about to- 
 morrow. This thing will probably not get so far as 
 that by to-morrow. What concerns the other I will 
 make my care, Lambert. Whether the maiden comes 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS l6l 
 
 to me, or I to her, will be about the same in the min- 
 ister's eyes, to say nothing about God, who has some- 
 thing better to attend to than to trouble himself about 
 such hocus-pocus. I am here beforehand. I would 
 gladly have looked after my old man, who was to- 
 day quite desperate and heathenish, but if it must be 
 I too will stay. There must be some one to lead the 
 regiment when it comes. Still there, Pluto! What 
 does the beast mean.^ I believe the young men are 
 coming already. You look after them, Lambert. I 
 will meanwhile look after the girl; and Lambert, if 
 they are there, keep them before the house. The 
 night is warm and you can keep watch there. Who- 
 ever wishes to sleep can come in here and lie down 
 on the hearth, but I want him to be as still as a 
 mouse." 
 
 Aunt Ursul went into the room. Lambert stepped 
 to the front door and quieted the growling Pluto. He 
 listened, and now clearly heard the steps of his com- 
 rades. Soon their forms emerged out of the light fog 
 which had spread over the fields near the creek, 
 though the moon already stood at some height over 
 the woods. There were three of them. Lambert's 
 heart beat. He expected only Fritz Volz and Rich- 
 ard Herkimer. Was Conrad the third.? Surely, 
 surely it must be Conrad. 
 
 But out of Pluto's broad chest sounds like rolling 
 thunder now broke forth. Did not the intelligent 
 and faithful beast know her own master.? Lambert 
 
l62 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 with great eagerness went to meet those who were 
 coming. 
 
 "God bless you, Lambert," said Richard Herki- 
 mer. 
 
 "God bless you, Lambert," said Fritz Volz. 
 
 The third one had remained a few steps behind. 
 
 "Who is the other one?" asked Lambert with 
 trembling voice. 
 
 "Guess," said Richard laughing. 
 
 "The crazy fellow," said Fritz Volz. 
 
 "He would go with us, though Annie herself thought 
 that he would not fire away his powder for nothing," 
 said Richard. 
 
 "Is it Adam Bellinger.?" asked Lambert. 
 
 "Now come up, you hare's foot," said Fritz Volz. 
 
 "Are you holding the dog.?" asked Adam, with un- 
 certain voice. 
 
 Richard and Fritz laughed, but Lambert could not 
 join them, as he might have done at another time. 
 Adam instead of Conrad ! What could have moved 
 the silly fellow to such night-wandering except the 
 desire again to be near Catherine.? What would his 
 friends think of Catherine.? What would not the talk- 
 ative Adam have told them on the way. 
 
 "Come a little nearer," said Richard, having taken 
 Lambert's arm as they were walking toward the 
 house. "I want to say a few words to you. You must 
 not be angry, Lambert, that we brought Adam along. 
 He would not be set right. Heaven knows what has 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 63 
 
 come into his calf's head. We could have made 
 nothing out of his crazy talk, but the ladies lit the 
 candle so that it shone bright enough. That you — 
 Nay, Lambert, old boy, I wish you happiness with 
 all my heart. And I can also tell you that by this a 
 heavy stone is lifted from my heart. You know I 
 have always liked Annie, and she has not been un- 
 kind to me; but old Bellinger had got his head set 
 that you must become his third son-in-law — and no- 
 body else. Now if you marry the stranger girl it will 
 help us all. Therefore once more, happiness and 
 blessing, Lambert Sternberg, with my whole heart." 
 
 "That I also wish you," said Lambert. 
 
 "I know it," said Richard; '^but now we must also 
 say good evening to your girl, Lambert. If she is half 
 as handsome as Adam swears, she must be something 
 truly wonderful. Is she in the house.?" 
 
 They stood before the door. The two others were 
 still some distance behind. Lambert drew his young 
 friend beside him on the bench and briefly told him 
 everything which sooner or later he would have un- 
 folded more fully, but which now could no longer be 
 kept secret. 
 
 "This is my situation, Richard," concluded he. 
 "You can conceive how heavy my heart is." 
 
 "I can well conceive it," said Richard Herkimer, 
 heartily pressing Lambert's hand. "Dear friend, this 
 is an unhappy record. Conrad should be ashamed, 
 especially at this tin^e, to forsake you and leave th^ 
 
164 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 cart sticking in the mud, when even such fellows as 
 John Mertens and Hans Haberkorn are pulling with 
 us at the same rope." 
 
 "You see, Richard, it is that which grieves me most," 
 said Lambert. "You know how they talked about us 
 last year — that we held with the French; that Con- 
 rad spoke India'n better than German, and other scan- 
 dalous stuff. What will they now say when they 
 hear that, at the very moment when the danger breaks 
 in upon us, Conrad is not to be found among us?" 
 
 "Let them say what they will, "said Richard. "My 
 father, the minister, and all who are reasonably intel- 
 ligent, you have always had on your side; and they 
 will also this time know what to think. Perhaps 
 Conrad also will yet consider." 
 
 "God grant it!" said Lambert, with a deep sigh. 
 
 "Now," said Richard, rising, "I will give a wink to 
 Fritz Volz; and then you must tell us what we are to 
 do for the night." 
 
 Richard Herkimer went to the two others, who 
 had remained standing at some distance, engaged, as 
 it appeared, in a discussion. At the same moment 
 Aunt Ursul came out of the door. 
 
 "Is that you, Lambert?" 
 
 "Yes. aunt." 
 
 "Who are the others?" 
 
 Lambert named the friends. 
 
 "What, then, does Adam want?" said Aunt Ursul. 
 
 "The fellow has become quite foolish. Nay, Lam- 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 6$ 
 
 bert, that is your business; but to-morrow send off 
 the awkward fellow. We don't want useless eaters 
 here. This evening he may come in with the rest. 
 Catherine is up again. She says it is not a time now 
 to be sick. In that surely she is right. She is stand- 
 ing at the fire, boiling an evening soup for your peo- 
 ple, as though nothing had happened — the noble girl ! 
 I am now going home; and, Lambert, the minister 
 meant well in what he said to you, but under the cir- 
 cumstances it is senseless. You are an honorable 
 man, and the girl is not trifling, and God knows what 
 your duty is in the case." 
 
 Lambert went with Aunt Ursul into the house. 
 Catherine came to meet him, looking pale and having 
 a cloth wound about her head, but greeting him with 
 a friendly smile. "You must not scold me," she said. 
 "To please your aunt I acted as though I was asleep. 
 I have heard everything. I could not remain quietly 
 in bed while you have so many guests. I again feel 
 quite well." 
 
 She leaned her head against his breast and whis- 
 pered: "And you love me notwithstanding, Lam- 
 bert; not so.?" 
 
 Lambert held the dear girl fast in his arms as a 
 Iq^d ahem ! was heard, and Aunt Ursul entered the 
 door closely followed by the three young men. 
 
 "So, you young people," said Aunt Ursul, "come 
 in and eat your supper — that is, if it is ready; and 
 this is my Lambert's dear bride, and she is not stand- 
 
1 66 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 ing there like Lot's pillar of salt. Adam Bellinger, 
 you may as well shut your mouth. No roasted 
 pigeons will fly into it. There is for this evening a 
 soup, so that you must move your own hands to get 
 it conveniently out of the bowl. So, Richard Her- 
 kimer, that is right that you at once offer your hand 
 to the young lady. You are always polite, having 
 learned it from your father. And now I'll be off. 
 God protect you, Catherine, and you, Lambert, and 
 you all. I shall come again to-morrow and perhaps 
 with my old man. Now nobody needs to be farther 
 concerned about me. Do you hear.? Aunt Ursul 
 can find her home alone." 
 
 While she thus spoke she took her rifle, kissed 
 Catherine heartily, and shook hands with the young 
 men one after the other. Then she walked out of 
 the house into the windy night. 
 
 The three guests breathed more freely when austere 
 Aunt Ursul had turned her broad back, and her heavy 
 tread outside was heard. But it was some time be- 
 fore they began to look about them and to talk, 
 though Catherine kindly invited them to take seats, 
 and assured them that the soup would soon be ready. 
 
 Richard Herkimer said to Fritz Volz: "Better sit 
 down, Fritz," though he himself remained standing. 
 Fritz Volz pushed Adam Bellinger in the side and 
 asked him if he did not see that he was standing in 
 the way of the young lady. Then they rubbed their 
 hands as if they were entirely frozen, though, at least 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 6/ 
 
 on Adam's brow, clear sweat drops were impearled. 
 And when they spoke it was in whispers, as though 
 the steaming soup which Catherine now placed on the 
 table was to be their last meal. 
 
 Adam Bellinger was not quite sure whether this 
 would be the case with him. Fritz Volz had before 
 told him that the chief business would be diligently to 
 patrol against the enemy, and, since he had such a 
 burning desire to measure himself against the French, 
 he must make the beginning; that it was indeed no 
 fun to walk about the woods in the night when there 
 might be a Frenchman behind every tree; but that 
 doubtless Adam would teach the fellows manners. 
 Adam said that he had come to help defend the block- 
 house against a possible attack, but not to let himself 
 be shot by the French and scalped by the Indians in 
 the woods in the night and fog. The contention 
 about this, which had before been arrested, was now 
 again taken up by the teasing Fritz, though with a 
 little timidity. He wanted to know from Adam how 
 he could distinguish between a tree-trunk and an In- 
 dian, in the night. Richard asked him how he would 
 save himself if he were suddenly seized by his long, 
 yellow hair from behind and jerked to the ground. 
 By these and other similar questions of the two teas- 
 ers, Adam was thrown into great distress. They 
 laughed loud, while he came near crying, until Cath- 
 erine interposed, saying that a courageous man would 
 in danger hit upon the right thing, though he might 
 
1 68 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 not be able to tell beforehand what he would do. 
 
 "Yes, indeed," said Adam, "the young lady has 
 more sense in her little finger than you have in your 
 two heads. I shall doubtless know what I have to 
 do." 
 
 He accompanied these brave words with such a 
 thankful, tender look at Catherine, that both the 
 merry rogues broke out in loud laughter, and a glim- 
 mer of mirthfulness passed over Lambert's earnest 
 face. 
 
 "It is enough," said he. "Adam will do his duty 
 as well as the rest of us. It is time that we assign 
 the watch for the night; two for every two hours, and 
 Adam and I will make the beginning. Good night, 
 Catherine." 
 
 He gave his hand to Catherine. The others fol- 
 lowed his example. As Lambert was leaving the 
 house Fritz Volz and Richard Herkimer came out 
 too. 
 
 "We will also rather stay outdoors," said Richard. 
 "Fritz, as I know by experience, cannot do without 
 snoring and that might disturb Catherine, who surely 
 needs sleep." 
 
 Fritz Volz said he could do without snoring, but 
 Richard could not stop talking, and that it was on 
 the whole better that they should camp before the 
 door. 
 
 "You kind young men," said Lambert. 
 
 "Is that kind?" said Richard eagerly. "I would 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 69 
 
 stand all night on my head if I knew that Catherine 
 would sleep better on that account." 
 
 "And I would lie there in the creek up to my neck 
 in the water," said Fritz Volz. 
 
 Adam sighed, and looked at the moon which hung 
 clear and large over the forest. 
 
 "Come, Adam," said Lambert, "we will go upon 
 our round." 
 
 They set out, accompanied by Pluto. The others 
 stretched themselves^ out upon the dry sand before 
 the door, wrapped up in their blankets, their rifles 
 in their arms. Fritz Volz did not snore. Richard 
 Herkimer did not talk. Both looked up to the twin- 
 kling stars, lost in thoughts which happily remained 
 concealed from Gussie and Annie Bellinger. 
 
 Never before had Catherine been so carefully 
 guarded as during this night. 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 The following day was the Sabbath, though it 
 brought the Germans on the Mohawk and on the 
 creek no Sabbath rest; but only. labor, fatigue, alarm, 
 distraction. From early mofning it swarmed in all 
 the settlements as in a bee-hive. Wives prepared 
 and packed. Holes were dug in carefully selected 
 and well-concealed places, in which such valuable 
 things as could not well be taken along were hidden. 
 The men got their arms in readiness, or brought the 
 cattle from the pastures and from the woods and shut 
 them up in the yards so that they could at any mo- 
 ment drive them to the fort, or to Herkimer's house, 
 as orders had been given yesterday afternoon. Boats 
 went busily here and there. From time to time a 
 rider hastened to one of the rendezvous appointed for 
 the three flying corps. A feeling of security and pride 
 took possession of all when such a squadron, con- 
 sisting of twenty-four well mounted and armed young 
 men, under the lead of Charles Herkimer, Richard's 
 oldest brothef, trotted up the river toward Black 
 River to reconnoiter. By noon the two new ferries 
 were also ready. All felt assured of the usefulness 
 of these arrangements, now that it had come to the 
 
 point of actual flight, though yesterday they had met 
 
 170 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS I/I 
 
 with earnest opposition. However, more than one 
 could hardly believe in such a possibility, for the sun 
 in the blue sky shone down so golden, the birds sang 
 so blithely in the trees, and over the fields from the 
 little church on the hill came the clear sound of the 
 small bell. But, indeed, on the twelfth of Novem- 
 ber of the year before, the sun also rose clear, and 
 when it had gone down its last rays had fallen on the 
 ruins of more than one burned house, and more than 
 one was lying in the fields who would never again see 
 it rise. The remembrance of that dreadful day was 
 yet too fresh to allow the thoughtless to shut out the 
 seriousness of the situation; and the bitter thought 
 that they would have to answer for leaving house and 
 home unprotected from the ruthless enemy, reminded 
 them of Herkimer's words the day before, that every- 
 thing, except life itself, can again be arranged, and 
 can be more or less easily made to accommodate it- 
 self to the inevitable. 
 
 Also in the otherwise so quiet house on the creek 
 there was to-day a restless urgency. Jacob Ehrlich 
 and Anthony Bierman had come from the Mohawk, 
 accoutered with their rifles and a large sack of ammu- 
 nition, which Herkimer had given them, and which 
 the stout young men had carried by turns the whole 
 distance up the creek. Now the powder, to which 
 each added his own store, was equally divided, and 
 the caliber of the rifles was measured, whence it ap- 
 peared that two different sizes of bullets must be cast. 
 
172 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 With this Lambert intrusted Adam Bellinger, after, 
 under four eyes, not without a certain solemnity, he 
 had said that it was his earnest desire to stay and 
 take part in every danger with him and the rest. He 
 knew about the French, but would rather hear the 
 whistling of their bullets and the Indian's war-whoop 
 than the laughter of the women at home should he 
 now return without having accomplished anything. 
 Lambert pitied the poor fellow, and the more since 
 Catherine took kindly to her foolish admirer and 
 laughed in a friendly way at his peculiarities. 
 
 In the council of war held by the young men it was 
 decided that they must leave the door-yard, which 
 for good reasons had been made to extend a consid- 
 erable distance from the house, as it was, and that 
 their defense must be confined to the house itself. 
 The proposition of Richard to conduct the water of 
 the creek into the dry ditch which encircled the foot 
 of the hill outside of the stone inclosure was discarded 
 as evidently requiring too much time. Instead of 
 this it was decided to deepen the partly filled ditch as 
 much as they could, and in many places where the 
 wall was broken down to repair and raise it and en- 
 tirely to block up the passage-way through it opposite 
 the house-door with stones and plank, and meanwhile 
 use a bridge over the wall and dug-way that could be 
 easily removed. There was found little to do to the 
 house itself, though they looked carefully after the 
 strong shutters with which the port-holes of the 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 173 
 
 ground-floor, like those of a war-ship, could be closed 
 from within, and so also at those covering the round 
 holes in the gallery, through which they could fire at 
 an enemy from above, should he be able to reach the 
 house and come beneath the gallery. In the roof 
 were cut several trap-doors, so that here also those 
 approaching could be greeted with two very long- 
 range rifles. 
 
 While the men were thus engaged, Catherine and 
 Aunt Ursul, who had again come early in the morning, 
 did not remain unemployed. Fortunately water did 
 not first have to be brought. The spring carried into 
 the house by the intelligent and indescribable labor of 
 Lambert's father, furnished plentifully all that was 
 needed. But for the moment the supply of provis- 
 ions seemed to be inadequate. During Lambert's 
 absence Conrad had lived from hand to mouth, accord- 
 ing to his hunter's custom, and Catherine had mani- 
 festly had no time to supply what was lacking. So 
 Adam had repeatedly to go empty to the Ditmar 
 house, which happily was not far, and come back 
 loaded with loaves of bread, hams and other good 
 things — every time received with a loud hallo by his 
 merry companions — until Aunt Ursul declared that 
 there was enough to last eight days. For still better 
 provision a couple of wethers of Lambert's small 
 flock were driven into the inclosure where also Hans 
 was pastured on the short g^rass, and often shook his 
 thick head and looked at Lambert with his intelligent 
 
174 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 eyes, as though he wished to know what the unusual 
 rush to-day might mean, and whether he must walk 
 about saddled all day. But it might be that at any 
 moment a message had to be sent, and Hans had to 
 be ready. 
 
 So they labored busily in the work of fortifying, 
 and were toward noon engaged in erecting the fire- 
 signal, when a rider on a gray horse became visible, 
 as he was coming up the valley on a trot. 
 
 "Herkimer! Herkimer!" called out Fritz Volz, 
 who first saw him. 
 
 "Yes, it is father," said Richard in confirmation. 
 
 A few minutes later the distinguished man stopped 
 before the door, and was respectfully greeted by 
 Lambert and the other young men. 
 
 "I have no time to stop," said Herkimer, "and 
 only wanted to see how far you have got. Now this 
 looks well. Could you fill the ditch with water it 
 would indeed be better; but this would be a long and 
 wearisome labor, and you will have to dispense with 
 it. How are you off for ammunition.^ Do you think 
 you have enough, Lambert.-*" 
 
 Herkimer had now dismounted, and he asked Lam- 
 bert and Aunt Ursul, who had meanwhile come out of 
 the house, to give him detailed account of the con- 
 dition of things, by means of which he knew how to 
 bring it about that they should get some distance 
 from the others. 
 
 He then said, "I would like to speak to you alone. 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1/5 
 
 I feel sure of you, and of Richard, but I am not so 
 certain of the others, whom I do not know so well. 
 You will here, so far as one can now judge, have a 
 difficult position. I this morning received intelli- 
 gence that the French have at least three hundred 
 men, and that besides this the Onondagas and the 
 Oneidas will join them. The bargain is indeed not 
 yet concluded, but will doubtless be made if our last 
 means fail — I mean if Conrad is not in a position to 
 bring his old friends into a different state of mind. I 
 have from the governor the long-expected authority 
 to yield to them everything possible, and can intrust 
 Conrad with it. He or nobody is in a situation to 
 turn away from us this great misfortune. Where is 
 he.^ I have not yet seen him." 
 
 " Hurry over there, Lambert. Those sparrow-heads 
 will not finish without you," said Aunt Ursul. 
 
 The poor boy!" she proceeded, as Lambert went 
 away with red cheeks and a thankful look at Aunt 
 Ursul, "the poor, dear boy! his heart is being eaten 
 out; and that so that now the whole world must be- 
 come acquainted with his brother's shame, which is 
 really his own shame. Nay, you are indeed not spon- 
 sor for the whole world, Herkimer, but in this case 
 you must be satisfied with me." 
 
 She then briefly told Herkimer all that it was nec- 
 essary for him to know. 
 
 The excellent man listened with an earnest, 
 thoughtful mien, and there lay a deep pain in the 
 
176 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 tone of his voice as now, shaking his gray head, he 
 said: 
 
 "So we Germans will not unitedly resist our nat- 
 ural enemy. That Conrad should now fail us is a sad 
 misfortune. His quarrel with Lambert at this mo- 
 ment means, not one friend less, but several hundred 
 enemies more. Yes, why do I say hundred.? The 
 example of the Oneidas may become the measure of 
 all the nations along the lakes, and then our well-be- 
 ing — our peace — is past for a long time, perhaps for- 
 ever!" 
 
 Nicolas Herkimer sighed, and struck his forehead 
 with his hand. 
 
 "Now," said he, "what one cannot hinder one must 
 let happen, and, in any case, poor Catherine cannot 
 help it. Let us go in a few moments, aunt, I would 
 like to form the acquaintance of the maiden who so 
 turns the heads of our young men." 
 
 Catherine, who was busily engaged at the hearth in 
 her preparations for dinner, had paid no attention to 
 what was going on outside. She had just stepped to 
 the door to look for Aunt Ursul, and suddenly saw a 
 strange and very stately man opposite to her, in 
 whom she at once recognized Nicolas Herkimer. A 
 deep blush flew over her cheeks; then, however, she 
 approached without being confused, and put her hand 
 in Herkimer's offered right hand. 
 
 "Poor child!" said he, holding her thin fingers for 
 a moment, "the life that awaits you here is very 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 177 
 
 rough. May the strength you need not be wanting to 
 you." 
 
 "Ah, what, sponsor," said Aunt Ursul; "do not 
 make the maiden shy. You think because she has 
 hands hke a princess — but it depends not on the 
 hands, but on the heart, sponsor — and that I assure 
 you is in the right place. So much I can tell you." 
 
 "Should you not say it, those eyes would do so," 
 said Herkimer smihng — "at least to me, who am old 
 enough to look into them without being punished for 
 it. Now, my dear girl, you need not blush. You see 
 my hair is getting gray, so a joke may be allowed. 
 Live happy, Aunt Ursul. Live happy, kind maiden; 
 and may heaven grant that we may joyfully meet 
 again." 
 
 He said the last words also to the young men, who 
 had finished their work and had come up. Then he 
 pressed the hand of each one in turn, holding that of 
 his son Richard perhaps a moment longer, swung 
 himself on the gray, and rode off on a sharp trot with- 
 out looking back. 
 
 "That is an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no 
 guile," said Aunt Ursul. "And now, children, let us 
 go to the table. I have an appetite like a wild wolf." 
 
 Notwithstanding this information, at the dinner to 
 which they now sat down Aunt Ursul ate almost 
 nothing, and also, contrary to her custom, was very 
 still. Toward the last she took no part whatever in 
 the conversation, and first woke from her absent- 
 
178 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 mindedness when Anthony Bierman, who had the 
 watch, announced the minister. 
 
 "Who?" called Aunt Ursul, as she quickly rose 
 from her chair; "the minister? He comes at the right 
 time for me. God has sent him. Keep your seats; 
 do you hear?" 
 
 Aunt Ursul hastily left the house and went to meet 
 the minister, who, with rapid strides, was approach- 
 ing, having his hat, wig and snuff-box in one hand, 
 and in the other a colored pocket handkerchief with 
 which he was wiping his bald head. 
 
 "I know it already," he called out, as soon as he 
 caught sight of Aunt Ursul. "Herkimer, who met 
 me between your house and Volz', has told me 
 everything." 
 
 "So much the better," replied Aunt Ursul, "and 
 now, dominie, don't talk as loud as if you were stand- 
 ing in the pulpit. The young folks are within, and 
 must not hear what we are doing here. Come close." 
 
 She led the minister away from the house to the 
 wall of the door-yard, where nobody could hear ex- 
 cept Hans, who now raised his thick head and with a 
 bit of grass in his mouth observantly looked at the 
 two with his black eyes from under his bushy foretop. 
 
 "What business have you to listen? Go your 
 way," said Aunt Ursul to the horse. 
 
 "But, Aunt Ursul, what in all the world is it all 
 about ?" asked the minister. 
 
 "You shall soon hear," replied Aunt Ursul, whose 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1/9 
 
 glances wandered from the edge of the woods to the 
 sky, and from there again toward the woods, and at 
 last, with a peculiar expression of face, rested on the 
 minister. 
 
 "You are not married, dominie, and for what you 
 do, or leave undone, you are accountable to nobody." 
 
 "What do you mean by that.'^" asked the minister. 
 
 "My old man is seventy-one, and I do not believe 
 that he will last much longer," remarked Ursul 
 thoughtfully. 
 
 The minister held the pinch of snuff, that he had 
 meant to apply to his nose, between his fingers, and 
 looked attentively at Aunt Ursul. 
 
 "Should he live longer, he has had me thirty years; 
 and sometime everything must come to an end; so 
 we are very properly called and chosen thereto." 
 
 The minister dropped the pinch of snuff. "For 
 God's sake, Aunt Ursul, what are you driving at.?" 
 
 "I took you to be more courageous," said Aunt 
 Ursul. 
 
 "And I you to be more rational," said the minister. 
 
 "About such things one must ask his own heart," 
 said Aunt Ursul. 
 
 "And the heart is a timorous, perverse thing," re- 
 plied the minister. 
 
 "Yes, very timid," said Aunt Ursul, scornfully. 
 
 "Yes; truly perverse," said the minister guardedly. 
 
 "Now, without further parley, will you be my man, 
 or not .?" said Aunt Ursul who had lost patience. 
 
l8o THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 "God forbid!" said the minister, who could no 
 longer control his repugnance. 
 
 "Indeed, you look like a man," said Aunt Ursul 
 contemptuously, turning on her heel. 
 
 "Are you then entirely God-forsaken, unhappy 
 woman.''" said the minister, laying his fleshy hand on 
 Aunt Ursul' s shoulder. 
 
 "Not I, but you, hare-hearted man," said Aunt 
 Ursul, shaking off his hand and turning vigorously 
 away. "You who always preach about sacrifice and 
 love, and have neither the one nor the other; and 
 shear the cuckoo for the lost lamb, if you can only sit 
 quietly by your flesh-pots. Now f hen stay, in the 
 devil's name — God forgive me the sin — I shall be able 
 alone to find the road to my poor, misguided boy, 
 and God will give me the right words to touch his 
 heart." 
 
 Again Aunt Ursul turiied away. The minister 
 slapped his forehead, and with a few rapid steps over- 
 took her as she was hastening from him. 
 
 "Aunt Ursul!" * 
 
 "What do you want.?" 
 
 "Naturally I will go with you." 
 
 "For once." 
 
 "For once and every time. By the thousand, 
 woman ! why did you not tell me at once that it was 
 something about Conrad.?" 
 
 "About whom else should it be.?" 
 
 "About many things. Forget what I have said. 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS l8l 
 
 I give you my word as a man and as a servant of 
 God that it was a misunderstanding — of which I am 
 ashamed — and for which I ask your pardon. When 
 shall we start?" 
 
 Aunt Ursul shook her head. She could not con- 
 ceive what her old friend had before thought, but she 
 felt that he was now fully resolved, and minutes were 
 precious. 
 
 "At once naturally," she replied to his last ques- 
 tion. 
 
 "I am ready." 
 
 "So! Come in and say a friendly word to the girl, 
 and let nothing be noticed. Lambert must not know 
 what we have in hand. Nobody must know. If we 
 succeed in bringing him back it is well; if not, let his 
 shame be buried with us. In either case they must 
 not feel concerned about us. It is possible, dominie, 
 that we shall never return. You comprehend that 
 clearly .?" 
 
 "God's will be done," said the minister. 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 Two hours later, Aunt Ursul and the minister were 
 already deep in the forest, away from the creek, on 
 a narrow Indian path, which was as well the path of 
 the buffalo and the deer. But Pluto, going before 
 the wanderers, with her broad nose near the ground 
 and her long, restless tail wagging, did not follow the 
 tracks of buffalo or deer. More than once she turned 
 away from a fresh track into the woods, every time 
 soon to return into the path. 
 
 ''You see now, dominie, how well it is that I went 
 back to fetch the dog on an occasion like this," said 
 Aunt Ursul. "You were impatient at the losing of 
 time, but we are well paid for it." 
 
 "It was not on account of the delay," replied the 
 minister. "I was afraid that, in spite of our large 
 circuit, they would guess our purpose. Both Lambert 
 and Catherine looked at us with an expression which, 
 as I read it, meant: 'We know what you are up to!'" 
 
 "They know nothing," said Aunt Ursul. "Why 
 should I not call out the dog for my own and my old 
 man's greater security.?" 
 
 "Because nobody would really believe that you are 
 so disturbed by fear." 
 
 "Well," said Aunt Ursul, "let them think what 
 
 183 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 83 
 
 they please. Without the dog we should fail, and so 
 let us push on." 
 
 "I am not quite sure that we shall so reach our 
 end, Aunt UrsuL" 
 
 "Are you already tired?" 
 
 "I tire not so easily, in such an affair, you know. 
 But who can assure us that Conrad, in his anger and 
 despondency, has not walked as far as his feet would 
 carry him, which at last must be farther than we with 
 our best will can go. And there is another pbssibil- 
 ity, of which I think with trembling." 
 
 "That my young man has gone over to them?" 
 cried Aunt Ursul, turning so quickly that the minis- 
 ter, who was close behind, jumped back a step. "Do 
 you mean that?" 
 
 "God forbid!" replied the minister, displeased at 
 Aunt Ursul's question, and that by its earnestness his 
 opened snuff-box was almost knocked out of his hand. 
 "But he who lays his hand upon his brother, as Con- 
 rad has done, may also lay his hand upon himself. As 
 far as I know Conrad, the last will be at least as easy 
 as the first." 
 
 "You, however, do not know my young man," 
 said Aunt Ursul earnestly, and she went on in more 
 quiet tones: "See, dominie, I admit that the young 
 man, at this moment, does not value his life more 
 than a pine cone, but, notwithstanding, I would swear 
 that he will sell it dear. And who shall pay for it? 
 The French and their base Indians. That you may 
 
1 84 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 depend on. And see, dominie, that is also the rea- 
 son why I am thoroughly convinced that he has not 
 gone as far as his feet could carry him, but is some- 
 where here near by, and is keeping sharp watch over 
 the house in which his parents lived, whose door-sill 
 he will never again cross. He may keep his word, 
 but be assured, dominie, if the enemy get so far they 
 will have to come over his dead body." 
 
 Deeply moved. Aunt Ursul was silent. The minis- 
 ter, though not entirely convinced, thought it pru- 
 dent not to express his opinion. 
 
 So they went on for some time in silence. The 
 dog ran ahead, or. out to one or the other side of the 
 path, at one moment stopping and smelling up in the 
 air, then again eagerly following a track. Aunt 
 Ursul' s sharp, knowing eyes watched every move- 
 ment of the animal, and often she gently said: 
 "Search, Pluto! — that is right, Pluto," more to her- 
 self than to the dog, for she needed little encourage- 
 ment. The minister kept his eyes fixed on Aunt 
 Ursul' s broad back, and conversed with her when the 
 path did not require all his attention. 
 
 This indeed was often the case, and soon the path 
 became so difficult for their unaccustomed feet that 
 conversation stopped entirely. Ever rougher and 
 steeper became the ascent over the great roots of the 
 old forest pines. Ever more wildly roared the creek 
 among the sharp rocks, until at length in a deep cleft 
 under overhanging vines it entirely disappeared from 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 85 
 
 the wanderers. Following the dog, they now turned 
 off to the right into the woods, and, laboriously going 
 up a few hundred steps, reached the top of the pla- 
 teau. 
 
 Here the minister, whose strength was nearly ex- 
 hausted, would gladly have rested a few moments; 
 but Aunt Ursul, with an expressive look, pointed to 
 the dog, which with great jumps, as though full of 
 joy, ran about a pine which stretched up giant-like in 
 the midst of a little opening. 
 
 "There he lay," said Aunt Ursul, almost breath- 
 less from excitement and joy. "Here, in this spot, 
 he lay. Do you see, dominie, the impression in the 
 moss and the crushed bushes? There also is a torn 
 piece of paper. Here he put a new load in his rifle. 
 Further, dominie, further. I would swear that in 
 less than half an hour we will have himself. Further ! 
 Further!" 
 
 The energetic woman shoved her rifle, which had 
 slid off by her bending over, more securely on her 
 shoulder, and took several long steps, as the dog, 
 which for a moment had stood motionless with raised 
 head looking into the woods, suddenly, with a loud 
 bark and breaking through the bushes with great 
 leaps, disappeared in the forest. 
 
 "Now, God help us! what then has the beast.^" 
 said the minister, coming up panting. 
 
 "Her master," replied Aunt Ursul. "Still!" 
 
 Bending her body she stared with great round eyes 
 
186 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 at the thicket in which the dog had disappeared. 
 The minister's heart throbbed ready to burst. He 
 would gladly have taken a pinch of snuff, as he 
 usually did when peculiarly excited, but Aunt Ursul 
 had laid her hand on his arm, and her brown fingers 
 pressed harder and harder. 
 
 Still !" said she again, though the minister neither 
 spoke nor stirred. 'Don't you hear anything.?" 
 
 "No," said the minister. 
 
 "But I do." 
 
 A peculiar sound, half a call, half a sob, came from 
 her throat. She let go the arm of the minister and 
 hastened in the same direction the dog had taken. 
 But she had not yet reached the edge of the open- 
 ing, when the bushes separated and Conrad stepped 
 out, accompanied by Pluto, barking with joy and 
 jumping up against her master. Aunt Ursul could not 
 or would not check her walk. She threw herself for- 
 ward on Conrad's breast, who with strong arms em- 
 braced the good aunt, his second mother, bending his 
 face over her shoulder to conceal the tears streaming 
 from his eyes. 
 
 So the two stood, encircled in each other's arms, 
 and the light of the evening sun played so beautifully 
 about the handsome picture that the eyelashes of the 
 minister became moist. 
 
 He stepped up gently, and, laying one hand on 
 Conrad's shoulder and the other on that of his aunt, 
 said heartily: "Here my blessing is not needed, but 
 I must be permitted to rejoice with you." 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 8/ 
 
 "God bless you, dominie!" said Conrad, raising 
 himself up and reaching out his hand to the worthy 
 man. "This is handsom'? in you that you have accom- 
 panied aunt. I did not expect you, at least not both 
 of you." 
 
 "Yet, Conrad," said Aunt Ursul, interrupting him, 
 "why are you ashamed to tell the truth.? You did 
 expect me!" 
 
 "Well, yes," said Conrad. 
 
 "And I have brought him along," Aunt Ursul 
 added, "because you know him from childhood, that 
 he is a good and righteous man; and in such a case 
 a man can speak better to a man than a poor v/oman 
 like me, for the cuckoo knows how it looks in your 
 hard hearts." 
 
 Conrad's handsome countenance darkened while 
 his aunt spoke in this manner. His eyes looked angry 
 from under his sunken eyelashes. However, he forced 
 himself to speak with apparent calmness, saying: "I 
 thank you again; but, aunt, and you, dominie, I beg 
 you say nothing about him — you know whom I mean 
 — and also nothing about her. I can't hear it and I 
 won't hear it. It may be that I am wrong, but I 
 have taken my stand and will take the consequences." 
 
 "Now," said Aunt Ursul to the minister, "you must 
 open your mouth. For what else did I bring you 
 along?" 
 
 Aunt Ursul was quite angry. She felt a secret sym- 
 pathy with Conrad, and had at the same time an ob- 
 
1 88 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 scure feeling that, in his condition, she would think 
 and speak and act in the same manner. She could 
 say nothing more, in a case in which her heart sided 
 so painfully with the one who was in the wrong. 
 
 The minister, in his excitement, took one pinch of 
 snuff after the other. Then he sought unavailingly 
 for the few remaining particles, tlosed his box, put 
 it in his pocket, and said: "Conrad, listen quietly to 
 me a few minutes. I think I can tell you something 
 of which you have, perhaps, not so earnestly thought. 
 Whether you are wrong in regard to your brother and 
 the maiden — whom I to-day first learned to know, 
 and who appears to be a good, brave girl — or not, I 
 will not decide, nor will I examine into the matter. 
 I have never been married, nor, so far as I know, in 
 love, but once, and that so long ago that it may well 
 be that I do not understand such things. But, Con- 
 rad, there are brothers whom we cannot renounce. 
 There are father's houses which must be sacred to us 
 under all circumstances. In the one case we are of 
 the same lineage; in the other it is our home-land. 
 On this account, to us driven away and thrust out — 
 to us pressed down and shaken together by strangers 
 in a strange land — must those relatives who are still 
 left — must the country of our new home, be twice and 
 thrice holy. And there is nothing, Conrad, that can 
 release us from this duty; no strife with a brother, no 
 wish to have a wife, no rights as to mine and thine, 
 for here there is no mine and thine, but only our^ as 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 89 
 
 in the prayer we offer to God in whom we all believe. 
 I know well, Conrad, that this feeling of holy duty 
 has not died out of your heart; that, on the other hand, 
 you will in your own way satisfy it. But, Conrad, 
 your way is not a good one, even were you deter- 
 mined, as we all suppose, to sacrifice your life. I 
 tell you, Conrad, God will not accept the offering. 
 He will reject it, as he did Cain's sacrifice, and your 
 precious blood will run down into the sand useless 
 and unhonored." 
 
 The minister's deep voice had an unusually solemn 
 tone, in this forest stillness; and as he now, on ac- 
 count of his emotion, which beautifully illuminated 
 his plain face, was silent a few moments, it roared 
 through the branches of the giant pines as if God 
 himself and not a man had spoken. 
 
 So at least it seemed to good Aunt Ursul, and the 
 same feeling was able also to touch the wild and per- 
 verse heart of Conrad. His broad breast rose and fell 
 powerfully; his face had a peculiar, constrained ex- 
 pression ; his eyes were fixed on the ground, and his 
 strong hands, which grasped the barrel of his gun, 
 trembled. 
 
 The minister began anew: "Your precious blood 
 — I say, Conrad, precious, as all human blood is 
 precious, but doubly precious in the hour of danger, 
 thrice precious when it flows in the veins of a man to 
 whom the God of all has given the power to be the 
 protection and defense of those nearest to him. More- 
 
190 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 over, Conrad, to whom much is given, of him shall 
 much be required. The rest of us are only like 
 soldiers in rank and file, and we need not be ashamed 
 of it. But you are looked upon as holding a more 
 important position, and I need only to mention it so 
 that you may return to yourself. You will not shrink 
 from a task that you and you only of us all are fitted 
 for. Nicolas Herkimer has learned that negotiations 
 are taking place between our enemies and the Onei- 
 das; that they are only delaying their attack until a 
 treaty is concluded, in order that then they may fall 
 upon us with resistless power. You know that our 
 holding of the Oneidas will secure to us the other na- 
 tions on the lakes. You know that thus far they 
 have been a wall to us behind which we felt measura- 
 bly secure. You have lived for years with the Onei- 
 das. You speak their language ; you are highly re- 
 spected by them; you know the way to their hearts. 
 Now then, Conrad, it is the wish and will of Herki- 
 mer, our captain, that you go at once to them, and 
 in his name, and in that of the governor, assure them 
 of the yielding of all points lately in controversy be- 
 tween them and the government to their satisfaction, 
 and according to their own views, if they will abide by 
 the old protection and alliance which they entered 
 into with us — yes, if they only will not take part 
 against us in the present war. You notice and under- 
 stand the proposition, so that I, a man little accus- 
 tomed to such things, need not go into particulars. 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS I9I 
 
 I now ask you, Conrad Sternberg, will you, as is your 
 bounden duty, carry out the orders of our captain?" 
 
 "It is too late," said Conrad, with broken voice. 
 
 "Why too late?" 
 
 "What you fear has already taken place. The 
 Oneidas have joined the French and the Onondagas. 
 This morning — yes, an hour ago — I could yet have 
 gone to them unobserved to bring about what you 
 propose. Now it is impossible." 
 
 "How do you know it, Conrad.?" asked the minis- 
 ter and Aunt Ursul, as if out of the same mouth. 
 
 "Come," said Conrad. 
 
 He hung his rifle over his shoulder, and now walked 
 before them both diagonally through the forest, which 
 was constantly becoming lighter until the tall trees 
 stood singly among the low bushes. Here he moved 
 carefully in a bent posture and indicated to the two 
 by signs that they should follow his example. At last 
 he fell on his knees, bent a couple of bushes slowly 
 apart, and winked to the others to come up in the 
 same way. They did so, and looked through the 
 opening, as through a little window for observation in 
 a door, on an unusual spectacle. 
 
 Beneath them, at the foot of the steep mass of 
 rocks on the edge of which they were, there spread 
 out a broad, meadow-like valley, which on the oppo- 
 site side was encircled by precipitous, wood-covered 
 rocks, and through it in many windings a creek gently 
 ran. On the bank of the creek next to them there 
 
192 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 was a space covered with small, canvas-walled tents 
 and lodges, standing without order. Between the 
 tents and lodges there burned a couple of dozen fires 
 whose rising smoke, glowing in the evening sun, 
 spread out above in a dark cloud, through which the 
 scene below looked more phantasmal. There was a 
 mass of people in active movement — French, some 
 regulars and some volunteers, many without any dis- 
 tinctive mark — and, in greater number, Indians, whose 
 half-naked bodies, adorned with variously colored 
 war-paint, shone in the light of the sun. The groups 
 on the bank of the creek stood close together, and it 
 was not difficult to discover the reason. On the other 
 side, the band of Indians there gathered must have 
 arrived recently. Some were engaged in putting up 
 their wigwams, others were kindling fires. The most 
 of them, however, stood at the edge of the creek talk- 
 ing with those on the other side. The creek, of mod- 
 erate breadth, had washed out for itself a deep bed in 
 the meadow-land, with steep sides. They could not 
 well come together without bridges, and these were 
 hastily made for the occasion with tree-trunks, while 
 here and there the willful or eager swam across, or, 
 trying to jump across and in most cases falling short, 
 occasioned every time shouts of laughter among those 
 looking on. 
 
 With beating hearts Aunt Ursul and the minister in 
 succession observed the spectacle which had to them 
 such a terrible meaning. Then following Conrad's 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 193 
 
 whispered request, they withdrew as carefully as they 
 had crept up, back through the bushes into the 
 woods. 
 
 "How many are there?" asked Aunt Ursul. 
 
 "Four hundred besides the Oneidas," replied Con- 
 rad. "The Oneidas are quite as strong, if they allow 
 all their warriors to be called into the field. I have 
 just counted two hundred and fifty. Anyhow, the 
 others will follow, otherwise they would find no 
 preparations for the night." 
 
 "But will they go on at once.^^" asked Aunt Ursul. 
 
 "Certainly, for they know that the hours are pre- 
 cious. So you will doubtless by to-morrow noon have 
 them on your necks." 
 
 ^''YouV said the minister impressively. "You 
 should say 'We,^ Conrad." 
 
 Conrad did not answer, but went silently and with- 
 out turning into the border of the woods far enough 
 from the edge of the plateau to prevent their being 
 seen. After going about two hundred steps they 
 came to a place where there was a deep ravine, which 
 led from the heights above by a sort of natural rock- 
 stairs into the valley. Above, where the stairs opened 
 on the plateau, there was a narrow, deep-cut path 
 entirely blocked by a cunningly devised obstruction of 
 tree-trunks, stones and brush. Other stones, some 
 of them very large, were pushed so close to the sides 
 of the ditch that with a lever, or perhaps even with 
 the foot, they could be slid off on those coming up 
 
194 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 the path. It looked as if a dozen strong men must 
 have labored for days to perform such a work. Con- 
 rad's giant strength accomplished it in a few hours. 
 
 "Here," said he, turning to his companions with his 
 peculiar laugh, "here I intended to wait until the last 
 stone had been thrown off and my last cartridge had 
 been shot." 
 
 "And then.?" asked Aunt Ursul. 
 
 "Break in two my rifle on the head of the first one 
 that should come up into the narrow path." 
 
 "And now.?" asked the minister, seizing the hand 
 of the wild man; "and now, Conrad?" 
 
 "Now I will carry out the orders of Herkimer." 
 
 "For God's sake!" cried Aunt Ursul. "It would 
 clearly be your destruction; the Onondagas, your en- 
 emies, would pull you to pieces!" 
 
 "Hardly," replied Conrad. "The Oneidas would 
 not consent to it — at least without quarreling and 
 strife. By this means already much would be gained, 
 and thus I would keep them back longer than if I 
 opposed them here, where I would in a few hours be 
 killed. But I hope it will come out better. I would 
 already have gone over to the Oneidas this morning, 
 when they lay in the woods, but I had nothing to 
 offer them. Now this is different. Perhaps I may 
 be able to talk them over. At least I will try. Good- 
 bye, both of you." 
 
 He reached out his hands to them. Aunt Ursul 
 threw herself into his arms as though she would not 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 195 
 
 again let her beloved young man be separated from 
 her; but Conrad, with gentle force,, freed himself and 
 said: 
 
 "There is not a minute to be lost. I must make a 
 wide circuit in order to come from the other side into 
 the valley, and you have a long journey. The dog I 
 shall take along. She can be of no use to you on the 
 way home. Can you find the way without her, aunt.^ 
 Now then good-bye; good-bye all!" 
 
 "In the hope of again seeing you," said the minis- 
 ter. 
 
 Conrad's face was convulsed for a moment. "As 
 God will," he answered, in subdued tones. 
 
 The next minute they two were alone. For a mo- 
 ment they heard his retreating steps. Then all was 
 still. 
 
 "We shall not see him again," said Aunt Ursul. 
 
 "We shall se,e him again," said the minister, look- 
 ing at the purple clouds shining through the branches. 
 "God helps the courageous." 
 
 "Then he will help him," said Aunt Ursul. "A 
 more courageous heart than that of my young man 
 beats in no human breast. God be gracious to him !" 
 
 "Amen!" said the minister. 
 
 They turned back on their homeward journey, back 
 through the primitive forest, over which now the 
 evening shadows were fast gathering. 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 The minister had not deceived himself when, at 
 their departure from the block-house, he thought he 
 read in Lambert's and Catherine's manner that they 
 both perceived what he and Aunt Ursul contemplated, 
 in spite of all their precautions. Indeed, while Lambert 
 was guiding the labor of fortifying, and was himself 
 taking an active hand in the work, his mind was con- 
 stantly oppressed with heavy cares about Conrad. 
 His heart, full of love, and needing love, could not 
 bear the thought that his brother should be so un- 
 happy while he was so happy — that for the first time 
 he could not give the best part of the sunshine of life 
 to him for whom hitherto no sacrifice had been too 
 heavy. No, not him could he give — but he would 
 give — not for all the world — not for his soul's salva- 
 tion. Here there was no doubt — there could be no 
 doubt — for this would have been the basest treachery 
 toward himself, and toward the dear girl who had 
 trustfully given him her pure maiden heart. And yet 
 — and yet — 
 
 Catherine's heart was scarcely less sad. She held 
 Lambert so unspeakably dear, and her first experi- 
 ence must be that she was bringing to her beloved 
 
 great suffering as her first gift, She saw, indeed, no 
 
 196 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 197 
 
 mark of sorrow in the countenance of the precious 
 man. She had learned too well to read those smooth 
 and honorable lines. There was no dark cloud on 
 that open brow, no gloomy falling of those mild, blue 
 eyes, no sad contortion about the mouth, which oth- 
 erwise so readily and often opened in friendly smiles, 
 but which was now closed so fast. 
 
 Thus they, without needing to speak about winning 
 back Conrad, had thought and brooded; and when 
 Aunt Ursul, yesterday, brought in the minister, and 
 scarcely left the good man time to sit down and eat 
 his dinner, but soon drove him up again and with 
 him left the block-house, and a few minutes after re- 
 turned and called Pluto out, as though she no longer 
 placed any reliance on Melac, her watch-dog at home, 
 Lambert and Catherine gave each other an express- 
 ive look, and as soon as they were alone fell into 
 each other's arms and said: 
 
 "Perhaps, perhaps everything will come out right 
 yet." 
 
 However sad the minds of the lovers, they kept 
 their sadness to themselves; and the rest were little 
 inclined to trouble themselves about an anxiety which 
 was so carefully concealed from them; though Rich- 
 ard Herkinier, Lambert remembered, had said it was 
 a pity that Conrad should just at this time show his 
 folly. The others had spoken in a similar manner, 
 but with that on their part the matter was laid aside. 
 With or without Conrad, they were determined to 
 
198 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 do their duty ; and this certainty raised the spirits of 
 the brave young men to unwonted courage. One 
 added circumstance gave a peculiar impulse to this 
 courageous feeling and enabled them to look upon 
 the very important position in which they found 
 themselves in an entirely poetic light. The excellent 
 young men were all quite enchanted with Catherine's 
 beauty and loveliness, and gave to this enchantment 
 the most harmless and delightful expression. If Cath- 
 erine at the table said a friendly word, there shone 
 five pairs of white rows of teeth. If she expressed a 
 wish, or only indicated one with her eyes, ten hands 
 were stretched out — ten legs began to move. Wher- 
 ever she went or stood, she had two or three attent- 
 ive listeners at her side who watched with the great- 
 est eagerness and sought to anticipate her wishes. It 
 was a conviction firmly fixed in the mind of each 
 that for Catherine's sake they were willing not only 
 to be killed, but to die in the most barbaric manner 
 the cruel nature of the Indian had discovered. So, 
 on one occasion, when Lambert was not present, in 
 an overflow of heroism, on Richard Herkimer's special 
 suggestion, they all five had agreed and had shaken 
 hands on it and promised that, whichever of them 
 should outlive the rest, before he died himself he 
 would kill Catherine, so that she should not fall into 
 the enemy's hands. 
 
 This agreement of tragic sacrifice did not in any 
 way hinder the five heroes from trying their wit on 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 1 99 
 
 each other, and, together with their sympathy for 
 the beautiful maiden, to tease and joke each other in 
 every way. Poor Adam had to suffer the most from 
 this habit. They tried to convince the good young 
 man that Lambert had laid away a bullet which was 
 not intended for the French, and that they were not 
 surprised that Lambert should think no one danger- 
 ous to him besides Adam. Fritz Volz and Richard 
 Herkimer — that he well knew himself — had already 
 made their selection. Jacob Ehrlich and Anton Bier- 
 man were secretly weeping for their treasures that 
 they had left on the Mohawk. Adam had already for 
 years been gomg about like a roaring lion seeking 
 whom he might devour; that he was a wandering ter- 
 ror and a constant care for all bridegrooms and un- 
 married young men; that the others had been com- 
 manded to come, but that Adam came of his own ac- 
 cord; and that he should tell them to what end and 
 for what purpose, as he stood guard last evening, he 
 had sung so sweetly: "How beautiful shines on us 
 the morning star," that Catherine had cried and said: 
 "Now listen to Adam, who sings sweeter than a night- 
 ingale." 
 
 Adam did not fail to reply to his tormentors. They 
 should only concern themselves about their own 
 affairs; that he knew what he was about. Then 
 again, in a weeping tone, he would beg and beseech 
 the friends to tell him truly whether Lambert had in- 
 deed formed such a shameful purpose, and whether 
 
200 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 Catherine had really found and declared his singing 
 so fine, and that in this life she only wanted one thing 
 and that was a blonde lock from the head of the 
 singer to take with her into the grave. The friends 
 swore high and low that each of them had heard it 
 out of Catherine's own mouth, and that each of them 
 had promised to fulfill her special wish, and that 
 Adam should now freely give up his scalp-lock before 
 the Indians took it by force and the skin with it. 
 Adam resisted, and called for help until the surround- 
 ing space resounded with shouts and laughter. 
 
 It was in the afternoon when Lambert, driven 
 from the house by unrest, walked slowly along the 
 bank of the creek up toward the woods. He stopped 
 a moment and shook his head as the noise from the 
 house struck his ear, and then again went on. They 
 could joke and laugh, those good comrades, in this 
 hour of sorrow and need, which oppressed his soul 
 with leaden weight. And yet they well knew that 
 this hour might be their last. They also had parents 
 at home and sisters, and one and another had a girl 
 whom he loved, and the life of these people also hung 
 on the cast of a die. But then, they were all much 
 younger than he, and took life so much lighter — as 
 light as one must take it at last and be done with it 
 so as not to sink under the burden. Was he not 
 already too old to load more on himself — he, to whom 
 the old burden was already so heavy to carry.-* How 
 often had the rest jeered him on this account ; called 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 20I 
 
 him Hans the dreamer; using as a by-word when any- 
 thing more serious occurred: "For this let God and 
 Lambert Sternberg provide." Yes, indeed, he had 
 learned to know care early enough, when his mother 
 died leaving him alone with his peevish, passionate 
 father; and he had to play the mediator between him 
 and the wild Conrad, and their relatives and the rest. 
 And then, after his father's death, all the labor for 
 the common good fell upon him, if there was any 
 failure on the part of the neighbors. So he had al- 
 ways labored and cared, and had well understood this 
 spring that he must undertake the difficult and re- 
 sponsible mission to New York. He had undertaken 
 it, as he did everything which was too burdensome 
 for others, without thinking of pay, without expect- 
 ing the thanks of those who had given him their com- 
 mission Now heaven had so arranged that he should 
 find her from whom one look, one word was pay and 
 thanks for all that he had done — for all that he had 
 suffered. The pay was too great, the thanks were 
 too much. He had perceived this from the begin- 
 ning. Who could honorably begrudge him his unex- 
 pected happiness, obtained after fearful misgivings.? 
 Not the neighbors, who would hardly forgive him for 
 preferring a stranger to their daughters. Not Aunt 
 Ursul, who, though her honest and righteous dispo- 
 sition strove against it, yet would rather see Conrad 
 in his place. And Conrad himself — his only, his be- 
 loved brother — yes, that was the deepest grief; that 
 
202 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 was the drop bitter as gall, poured into the sweet 
 draught of love, and which he must always taste. It 
 ought not to be so. If this should not be so what 
 purpose, what meaning had the rest ? Why care for 
 a future that could no more bring him true joy? 
 Why cling to a life that had become so burdensome 
 to him? Why undertake the heavy conflict that was 
 imminent? Why hope to come out of this battle as 
 victor? There the grass was growing m his fields. 
 Must it be trampled? There his cattle were, wander- 
 ing in the wilderness. Must they fall as booty into the 
 hands of the enemy? There stood his barn. Must 
 it go up in flames? There was his strongly built 
 house. Must he and she be buried beneath its frag- 
 ments ? 
 
 Thus, in deep, oppressive anxiety, Lambert stood 
 at the edge of the forest, looking over the valley that 
 contained his home, glittering in the bright sunlight. 
 There was no noise in the wide circuit except the 
 buzz of insects over the soft bending grass and flow- 
 ers of the prairie, and an occasional bird-note from 
 the branches of the dark-green pines which, motion- 
 less, drank in the heat of the sun. Was then every- 
 thing which had passed through his brain a heavy, 
 fearful dream, out of which he could wake when he 
 pleased? Was the signal pile there, which with its 
 smoke and fire should warn the rest down the creek, 
 erected for a joke? Did Aunt Ursul, who, full of 
 care, had the evening before sent Fritz Volz at a late 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 203 
 
 hour to tell them that she had certain knowledge that 
 the enemy was quite near, and that they should keep 
 the sharpest watch — did Aunt Ursul only imagine that 
 it was so? 
 
 There ! What sound was that which that instant 
 struck his sharp ear out of the woods? There was a 
 cracking and crushing in the dry branches as when a 
 deer runs with full speed through the bushes. No, 
 it is not a deer. He now clearly heard another sound 
 which could only be produced by the foot of a man 
 running for his life. Nearer and nearer, down the 
 creek, down the steep, stony, bushy path, in mad 
 leaps, as when a stone is pushed down over a slope, 
 came the runner. 
 
 A sudden, joyful fear rushed through Lambert's 
 soul. In all the world but one foot could step like 
 that — his brother's foot. In breathless, intense emo- 
 tion he stands there, his wildly beating heart almost 
 leaping from his breast. He wishes to call, but the 
 sound sticks in his throat. He tries to run to meet 
 him, but his knees tremble under him. At the next 
 moment Conrad, breaking through the bushes, is at 
 his side, and his faithful dog with mighty leaps comes 
 with him. 
 
 "Conrad!" cried Lambert, "Conrad!" 
 
 He rushed to his brother and encircled him in his 
 arms. All that had just now troubled him so dread- 
 fully is forgotten. Now come what will, it is worth 
 while to live, and also, if it must be, to die. 
 
204 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 "Are they coming, Conrad ?" 
 "In one hour they will be here!" 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 The certainty that now the decisive moment had 
 come, and the joy that the same moment had brought 
 back his brother, again gave Lambert a touch of the 
 peculiarities on account of which young and old val- 
 ued and praised him — calmness, circumspection, con- 
 fidence. Without hesitating a moment as to what 
 was next to be done, and calling to his brother to 
 notify those in the house, he hastened across the 
 plank over the creek to the hill yonder, where the 
 signal pile had been erected, which from there could 
 be clearly seen from Ditmar's house away from the 
 creek. A minute later there rose from the lofty, in- 
 geniously constructed wood-pile a dark column of 
 smoke, pushing its way up like the stem of a mighty 
 palm, and spreading out above in the still air like an 
 immense crown. Then, a quarter of a mile down the 
 creek, there came up a dark cloud of smoke. Uncle 
 Ditmar has kept good watch. The signal has been 
 answered and carried farther. In a quarter of an 
 hour they will also know on the Mohawk, six miles 
 farther, that here on the creek the enemy has broken 
 in. Then back over the creek — a strong push — the 
 
 fastening is broken off. The plank floats away. 
 
 205 
 
206 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 "Are you here yet, Conrad? How the rest will re- 
 joice! Come!" 
 
 Lambert hastened ahead. Conrad followed with 
 slow, lingering steps. Was it fatigue after the dread- 
 ful running? Had the blood with which his leathern 
 jacket was dotted spurted from his veins? 
 
 So asked Lambert, but received no answer. And 
 now they had reached the temporary bridge, where 
 the friends who stood on the wall received them with 
 loud cheers. Lambert hastened up and shook the hand 
 of each brave youth with heartfelt joy. Conrad still 
 lingered at the foot of the bridge. His face was pale, 
 and as if emaciated with bodily pain, or an inward 
 conflict. He had sworn with a terrible oath that 
 he would not again cross the door-sill of his father's 
 house, or his blood should pay the forfeit. The 
 strong, wild heart shrunk together in his breast. His 
 blood — why should this trouble him? He had not 
 spared it. He had, a quarter of an hour ago in a bat- 
 tle which he alone could take up — which he alone 
 could bring to a happy issue — put it at hazard. But 
 his word! his word! that he had never yet broken — 
 which he now shall break — must break, as his clearer 
 soul tells him — as his noble heart bids him, in spite 
 of all. 
 
 As he still lingered, Catherine was suddenly stand- 
 ing among his cheering companions. On her account 
 had he renounced his father's house. As if blinded 
 by lightning he turned away his gaze. But she is 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 20/ 
 
 already at his side, has seized his hand with a soft 
 pressure that he cannot withstand, leads him with 
 gentle force, that he must follow, up the bridge, over 
 the wall, down into the inner yard, where his com- 
 rades, jubilant, press around him, and at the same 
 time, with a sudden impulse, seize him, raise him 
 up on high, and with jubilation and noise carry the 
 fugitive — the returned one — into the house, as though 
 they would with bantering cunning drive from their 
 prey the demons lurking about the door-sill. 
 
 So it also seemed to him. Conrad is back, the 
 best rifle in the colony. They had resolved without 
 Conrad to do their duty. But the quick looks, the 
 short words which they interchanged, the faces illu- 
 minated with joy, these said plainly, "It is far better 
 so." If only Aunt Ursul and Christian Ditmar were here 
 the dance might begin at once. "They could be 
 here already," thought Catherine. "Hurrah! there 
 they come!" cried Richard Herkimer, who had gone 
 up on the gallery to see better; "and there are three. 
 The third is the minister. Hurrah! and again, hur- 
 rah! and once more, hurrah P"^ 
 
 Who now has time or inclination to ask the breath- 
 less ones how the minister came to be here.'* Enough 
 that they are here at the right time, and that at last 
 the bridge can be thrown off and that the door can be 
 barricaded with the strong beams lying ready. There 
 they now are, locked in their wooden fortress in the 
 midst of the wilderness, miles away from friends, de- 
 
208 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 pending solely on themselves, on their firm courage, 
 on their strong arms, on their keen eyes — two wo- 
 men, nine men, nine rifles. Though the minister is 
 not to be counted, as he would not know how to use a 
 rifle even if he wished to fight, yet Aunt Ursul has a 
 rifle, and knows how to use it, and will fight; that can 
 be depended on. 
 
 Now the parts are assigned and everything and 
 every man is in place. In one division of the lower, 
 thoroughly protected room is Hans, whom Lambert 
 will not sacrifice. In another are the sheep, which 
 were taken in out of compassion, and now bleated 
 piteously in the darkness. On the gallery of the upper 
 story, behind the breastwork, lay Lambert, Richard, 
 Fritz Volz, Jacob Ehrlich and Anton Bierman, with the 
 barrels of their rifles in the port-holes. On the floor 
 above, at the trap-doors of the high, shingled roof, 
 stood Conrad, Aunt Ursul and Christian Ditmar, 
 whose far-carrying rifle was, in his time, the dread of 
 the enem3^ With them is the minister, who, 
 though he is not a good shot, well understands how 
 quickly and properly, to load a rifle. This service 
 Adam Bellinger performs for those on the gallery. 
 Catherine is to bring food and drink, when necessary, 
 to those who are to fight. Lambert and the rest 
 have adjured her not in any way to expose herself to 
 danger. She, however, secretly purposed, in case of 
 need, to take Adam's rifle, which now lay idle, and 
 follow Aunt Ursul' s example. 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 209 
 
 Silence reigned in the house. Whoever should see 
 it standing there, still, gloomy, locked, would sup- 
 pose it forsaken by its former occupants — a piece of 
 abandoned property in the all-embracing wilderness. 
 Silent in its entire circuit lay that wilderness under 
 the ban of the hot afternoon sun. Silent was the 
 g[reen prairie on which scarcely a single flower bent, 
 or grass-stem waved. Silent the woods whose tree- 
 tops reached up unmoved toward the blue sky, from 
 which several white clouds looked down motionless. 
 Deepest silence! Forest stillness! 
 
 There! — a loud, long drawn-out, many-voiced 
 whoop, whose dreadful echo is reflected back from 
 surrounding objects. From the forest break forth at 
 once fifty half-naked Indians in their colored war- 
 paint, swinging their rifles and tomahawks, and, leap- 
 ing forward with wild jumps, hastening over the prairie, 
 one part coming directly toward the block-house, 
 the other going around so as in a short time to rush 
 up from all sides. The house stood as silent as be- 
 fore. There was no reply to the demand which the 
 on-rushing enemy kept repeating with yells and cries 
 and whoops. The first are already within a hundred 
 paces — then comes the answer, a short, sharp sound 
 from four German rifles fired at the same moment, 
 so that but one report was heard. Four Indians fall 
 not to rise again. The others run on more rapidly, 
 and had already reached the surrounding wall, when 
 again is heard the crack of four rifles and again four 
 
210 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 Indians fall — one, having been shot through the heart, 
 leapt up high, like a deer. 
 
 This they had not expected. A third salvo might 
 follow the second, and there yet lay between them 
 and the house a ditch and wall. Who could tell 
 whether this third salvo might not be more dreadful 
 than the first two.^ No one wants it tried. In a mo- 
 ment all turn and run, in like haste, back to the 
 woods, which they had not reached until again four 
 shots are sent after them. Two more sink dead at 
 the feet of the French, who had kept concealed in 
 the woods, observing the bloody spectacle before 
 them, full of horror and compelled to confess that the 
 first attack, which they had cunningly left to their 
 Indian allies, had altogether failed. 
 
 Yes, the first attack had been repelled. Those in 
 the block-house shook hands with each other, and 
 then again grasped their freshly loaded guns. One 
 of the Indians raised up on his hands and knees, and 
 again fell back, and then again raised up. Richard 
 Herkimer said: "That is my man. The poor devil 
 shall not be in pain much longer." He raised his 
 rifle to his cheek, but Lambert laid his hand on his 
 shoulder saying: "We shall need every shot, Richard, 
 and he has enough." The Indian, in a death-cramp 
 grasped the grass, twitched a few times, and then lay 
 rigid like the rest of his comrades. 
 
 "What will happen now.? Will they seek us again 
 in the same way, or cbpose sonie other mode of at- 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 211 
 
 tack ? and what then ?" The young men debated the 
 matter, and Aunt Ursul, who had come down from 
 the upper floor, joined in the discussion. Their 
 views were divided. Lambert thought that they had 
 soon enough found out how strong the fastness was, 
 and how much they must sacrifice in this most dan- 
 gerous pitfall until the rest should actually reach the 
 house. It also appeared how large the number was, 
 since thus far it was clear that they had had to do 
 with only a part, and that their principal force was 
 still in the woods. 
 
 "Lambert is right," said Aunt Ursul. "They are 
 one hundred and fifty strong — fifty French and a 
 hundred Onondagas." 
 
 "Ninety-two," said Anton Bierman, "for eight lie 
 there." 
 
 Jacob Ehrlich usually laughed when Anton said 
 something witty. This time he did not laugh. He 
 was silently reckoning how many Indians, leaving out 
 the French, would fall to his share if there really 
 were so many. Jacob Ehrlich could not make out the 
 exact number, but he reached the result that under 
 all the circumstances it would be hard work. 
 
 The others looked inquiringly at Aunt Ursul. 
 That the report came from Conrad was certain, but 
 how had he learned the fact ? Aunt Ursul now re- 
 lated her yesterday's expedition with the minister. 
 But thus it could not be concealed that, without her 
 interference, Conrad would not now have been here. 
 
212 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 But about this she did not wish to speak, at least to- 
 day. She also said that Conrad had found and 
 watched the camp of our enemies; that he had 
 counted them head by head, and that they had di- 
 vided into two parts; that of these the larger, a hun- 
 dred French, as many Onandagas and at least two 
 hundred Oneidas, had started for the Mohawk, and 
 would doubtless already have arrived, but that the 
 Oneidas had no heart for the affair, and that it was at 
 least possible that at the decisive moment they would 
 fall away and go over to their old treaty friends. 
 
 '"If it is so, we can also reckon on help from my 
 father," said Richard Herkimer. 
 
 "We will reckon on nobody but ourselves," said 
 Lambert. 
 
 "What are the fellows up to now.?" said Anton 
 Bierman. 
 
 Out of the woods in which the enemy for the last 
 half-hour was entirely concealed there came three 
 men — one Frenchman and two Indians. They had 
 laid aside their arms. Instead of them they carried 
 long rods to the ends of which white cloths were tied. 
 They swung the rods back and forth and made the 
 cloths flutter. So they came up slowly as though 
 they were not quite sure, and wished to assure them- 
 selves whether those on the other side were disposed 
 to regard a flag of truce. Anton Bierman and Jacob 
 Ehrlich felt no inclination to do this. They thought 
 that the scoundrels, the year before, had never shown 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 21 3 
 
 mercy, and that for their part they would send them 
 to the devil with their white rags and, though there 
 were but three, they were worth three charges of 
 powder. Lambert had enough to do to hush the 
 excited men, and to make it clear to them that they, 
 as Germans, should not be the first to do that. 
 
 Meanwhile those who had come to ask a parley 
 had approached to within a short distance of the 
 house. Lambert appeared on the gallery, after he had 
 told the others not to let themselves be seen, and 
 called out: "Halt!" 
 
 The three stood still. 
 
 "What do you want.^" 
 
 "Is there one among you who speaks French .!*" 
 asked the Frenchman in German. 
 
 "We speak only German," answered Lambert. 
 "What do you want.^" 
 
 The Frenchman, a tall, dark-complexioned man, 
 placed himself in a quite theatrical posture while he 
 set his flag of truce on the ground with his left hand 
 and raised the right hand toward heaven, and called 
 out: 
 
 "I, Roger de St. Croix, Lieutenant in the service 
 of his most Christian Majesty, Louis XV., and com- 
 mander of his majesty's troops here present, and of 
 the allied Indians of the tribe of the Onondagas, 
 herewith bring to your knowledge and inform you 
 that, if you at once and on the spot lay down your 
 arms and give yourselves up to our mercy or severity, 
 
214 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 % 
 
 we will grant life to you, your wives and children, 
 nor will we injure you in your possessions, but will 
 leave everything — house, barn and cattle — unde- 
 stroyed. But should you be mad enough to make 
 further resistance against the formidable power of six 
 hundred well-armed and disciplined soldiers of his 
 majesty, and as many more brave and dreadful In- 
 dians, then I swear — I, Roger de St. Croix — that not 
 one of you shall get away with his life — neither you, 
 nor your wives, nor your children — and that we will 
 level with the dust your houses and barns, so that 
 nobody could again find the place where they stood." 
 
 The man, who spoke German glibly enough, though 
 with a French accent, had spoken louder and louder 
 until at last he shrieked. He now let his gesticulat- 
 ing right arm fall to his side and stood there in an 
 indifferent attitude, like a man conducting a spiritless 
 conversation which he can stop or continue just as 
 the other may prefer. 
 
 "Shall I answer for you.?" asked Anton as he struck 
 his rifle. 
 
 "Still!" said Lambert, and then raised his voice: 
 "Go back to your people and tell them that we here, 
 united German men, one as all and all as one, are 
 resolved to hold the house, come what will; and that 
 we are quite confident that we can hold it, even if 
 you were twelve hundred instead of one hundred and 
 fifty, counting in the ten already lying there." 
 
 The Frenchman made a quick motion of surprise, 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 21$ 
 
 and turned to his attendants who had been standing 
 there without altering their posture, or stirring. He 
 appeared to say something to them which arrested 
 their attention. Then he again took his former the- 
 atrical posture and called out: 
 
 "From what you last said, though it is false, I infer 
 that there is with you a certain Conrad Sternberg. I 
 promise you that not a hair shall be bent and a hun- 
 dred Louis d'or besides, if you will deliver to us this 
 Conrad Sternberg." 
 
 "The man of whom you speak," replied Lambert, 
 "is with us, and you have already twice heard the 
 crack of his rifle, and if you so please you can hear it 
 again." 
 
 "But this Conrad is a traitor, who has cheated us in 
 the most shameful manner," cried the Frenchman. 
 
 "I am no traitor," called Conrad, who now stood 
 beside his brother. "I told you I would escape as 
 soon as possible. Since you this time thought your 
 six could hold me you will the next time set a dozen 
 to guard me." 
 
 "The next time I will begin by having laid at my 
 feet, first your scalp and then your head," cried the 
 Frenchman in loudest tones. 
 
 "Enough!" called Lambert. "I give you ten min- 
 utes to get back into the woods. He of you who 
 then yet lets himself be seen outside does it at his 
 peril!" 
 
 The Frenchman doubled up his fist, and then be- 
 
2l6 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 thought himself as to what, under all circumstances, 
 a Frenchman owes himself against German block- 
 heads, and taking off his large, three-cornered hat, 
 made a low bow, turned on his heel, and walked at 
 first slowly, then faster and faster toward the woods, 
 until he fell into a regular trot, evidently to spare the 
 Germans the shame of shooting, after the ten minutes 
 had elapsed, at the messenger of his Most Christian 
 Majesty. 
 
 "Lord of my life!" cried Anton. "Now I first 
 know him. That is the same fellow, Jacob, who 
 three years ago came to us begging, and who after- 
 ward hung about the neighborhood half a year. He 
 called himself Mr. Emil, and said that he had shot a 
 comrade in a duel and had on that account to flee. 
 But others claimed that he was an escaped galley- 
 slave. Afterward he wanted to marry Sally, Joseph 
 Kleeman's black girl, but she said she was too good 
 for a fellow like that, and Hans Kessel, Sally's treas- 
 ure, once pounded him as limber as a rag, after 
 which he disappeared. Lord of my life ! He gives 
 himself out here as a lieutenant, and speaks of his 
 Most Christian Majesty, and is willing to leave us our 
 dear lives — the mean plate-licker, the gallows-bird!" 
 
 So honest Anton scolded and abused, and asserted 
 that if he did not get this Mr. Emil, or Saint Croix, 
 or whatever the fellow's name was, in front of his 
 rifle, to him the whole sport would be spoiled. 
 
 The rest would gladly have known what Conrad had 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 21/ 
 
 before had to do with the French, but their curiosity 
 remained unsatisfied, for Conrad had immediately 
 again gone up, and soon the attention of the besieged 
 was directed to another side. From the barn-yard 
 arose a column of smoke, which every moment be- 
 came thicker and blacker, until the flames burst 
 forth from the mass. The enemy had made his threat 
 true. It seemed to be a useless barbarity, for the 
 barn was too far from the block-house for the flames 
 to leap across, though the wind, which now began to 
 rise, was blowing toward the house, driving along 
 smoke and sparks. But this whole war was only a 
 continuous chain of such barbarities. This morning 
 Lambert had mentally seen what he now actually 
 saw. He had wrought all this with his own hands, 
 which now the more firmly grasped the barrel of his 
 gun. Then there cracked a shot above and another, 
 and Aunt Ursul called down the stairs: "Be watchful! 
 Eyes left! In the reeds!" 
 
 The meaning of these words and of the shots fired 
 from above soon became clear. The attention of the 
 besieged had not been uselessly directed to the land 
 side. In the thick sedge and reeds, of man's height, 
 with which the shores of the creek were overgrown, 
 one could come from the woods within a hundred 
 paces of the house. It was a difficult undertaking, 
 for the ground was a bottomless bog as far as the 
 reeds grew, and where they ended the creek was deep 
 and rapid. But they had ventured to do it, and it 
 
2l8 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 soon appeared with what result. From among the 
 reeds here and there shots were soon being fired with 
 increasing rapidity. There must indeed have been 
 a considerable number who had came by that danger- 
 ous way, and had concealed themselves along the 
 shore in spite of all that those in the house could do 
 to free themselves from neighbors so unwelcome and 
 dangerous. 
 
 Wherever an eagle-feathered head or a naked arm 
 showed itself, or the barrel of a gun glistened, yes, if 
 the sedge only moved, a bullet struck. But though 
 a few dead bodies floated down the creek, others lay 
 dead or wounded among the rushes and others still 
 had sunk in the morass, the remaining number was 
 so great and the daring enemy was so embittered by 
 his heavy losses, it seemed that the worst must and 
 would come. Besides, the evening wind kept increas- 
 ing, causing the tops of the rushes to wave hither and 
 thither, so that it was difficult and often impossible 
 to follow the movements of the unseen enemy, and 
 many a precious charge was wasted. This evidently 
 made the attacking party more bold. The fire-line 
 was constantly receding from the shore. The more 
 frequent bullets rained against the breastwork and 
 roof. It might be expected at any moment that a 
 rush would be made from the reeds and that, having 
 rapidly run across the short distance that still sepa- 
 rated them from the house, they would attempt to 
 storm it. 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 219 
 
 But it soon became manifest that on the opposite 
 side of the house they were by no means wiUing to set 
 the decision of the day on a single card. Suddenly, 
 at the edge of the woods, there began to be a stirring 
 and a moving as if the forest itself had become alive. 
 Broad shields of man's height cunningly contrived 
 out of pine branches were pushed out or carried, one 
 could not tell which, in a connected Hne over the 
 smooth level meadow toward the house. The prog- 
 ress was slow, but onward, until they had approached 
 within rifle shot, and then the marksmen behind the 
 shields opened a lively fire. The shields were indeed 
 no sure protection for the attacking party, but they 
 made the aim of the beleaguered more difficult, and 
 moreover compelled them to be more watchful, and 
 to direct their rifles toward two sides at once. 
 
 But the oncoming foe had not yet exhausted his 
 ingenuity. From the barn-yard, where everything 
 was entirely burned down, they at the same time 
 came rolling before them Lambert's large casks, and, 
 as soon as they were .near enough, they set them up 
 and so made a wall that could every moment be shoved 
 farther, and offered a much more sure protection than 
 the pine-branch shields. Anton Bierman had laughed 
 loudly when he saw the casks coming toward the house, 
 but after he had fired at them a few times, clearly 
 without effect, he laughed no more, but said softly to 
 his friend Jacob: "Things begin to look serious!" 
 
 It was indeed serious. So far no one had received 
 
220 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 apparent injury, except that one and another was 
 Jbadly cut by splinters torn from the breastwork by 
 bullets, and bled profusely. But the battle had now 
 lasted for three hours. It was a warm piece of 
 work, under the June sun, and the cheeks of the 
 fighters glowed, and the barrels of their guns were 
 hot. Furthermore, many an eye, when it could turn 
 away a moment from the unaccustomed bloody work 
 toward the sun, had observed with care how rapidly 
 it had been sinking during this hour which would not 
 end — how low it already stood. So long as its light 
 lasted a handful of men might keep up the doubtful 
 strife against a crafty, cunning enemy far outnumber- 
 ing them, and leave it undecided. But how soon the 
 sun would set, and when it did, and darkness came 
 on, it would cover the valley for hours with an im- 
 penetrable veil, since now the moon did not rise till 
 after midnight ; and under the protection of the night 
 and of the fog the enemy could slip up and storm the 
 place. True the beams of the lower story were thick 
 enough, and the only door was barred, but a dozen 
 axes could in a short time break in the door and, 
 however thick the beams, they could not withstand 
 fire. Then the beleaguered would have no choice 
 but to give their living bodies to the flames, or with 
 their arms in their hands try to open a way from the 
 closely surrounded, burning house. And even then 
 their destruction was sure. Whoever was not killed 
 at once would, on account of the number of the pur- 
 suers, be overtaken and brought down. 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 221 
 
 Such was the situation. It could not be doubtful 
 either to the besieged, or besiegers, who had long 
 been convinced that the house was defended by no 
 more than ten rifles. But however much this cer- 
 tainty may have raised their desire to fight and their 
 thirst for vengeance, the courage of those in the block- 
 house remained unbroken. Nobody thought of flight, 
 which was indeed impracticable; nor of surrender, 
 which equally meant a painful death. All were re- 
 solved to defend themselves to the last breath, and 
 sooner to kill themselves, or each other, than to fall 
 alive into the hands of the cruel enemy. 
 
 Lambert and Catherine had already before said 
 this to each other, and during the battle they had 
 more than once signaled the death covenant to each 
 other with silent, intelligent glances. But the cour- 
 ageous girl was — not only to her lover — like a banner 
 which waves before the bold soldier in battle and on 
 which his eyes rest with an enthusiasm that over- 
 comes death Whoever looked at the pale, still, de- 
 termined, restlessly helpful maiden, drank from a 
 spring of courage and strength, so that his fearful 
 heart beat higher and his tired limbs were again 
 strengthened. To the commands constantly repeated 
 from the first: "Stay away, Catherine! Don't stand 
 there, Catherine!" she paid no attention. Where 
 she knew she was needed, there she was; above with 
 the men under the hot roof; below with those on the 
 gallery, giving one a drink; taking a discharged rifle 
 
222 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 from the hands of another; giving to another a gun 
 that she herself had loaded. She had also learned 
 quickly, as she learned everything on seeing it, that 
 Adam Bellinger, though he reasonably exerted him- 
 self and the sweat ran in streams from his forehead, 
 was not equal to his task, and that the marksmen 
 often called in vain for their guns. 
 
 So she was again occupied in the inner room when 
 Aunt Ursul, Conrad, old Christian and the minister 
 came down from above, while also those in the gal- 
 lery stopped shootmg and it became still outside. 
 
 "What is going on?" asked Catherine. 
 
 "They are about to visit us with a second storm- 
 ing party," said Lambert, coming m from the gallery. 
 "It is well that you have come down. Every man of 
 us must now be on the gallery. We shall soon 
 enough have them under us." 
 
 Others also came in to hear what would happen. 
 They were assembled in full count. 
 
 "I think," said Lambert, "we had better not shoot 
 until they are on the wall, for now they will not turn 
 back again, and then we have eight of them sure. 
 Afterward five of us will give attention to the others, 
 while the rest put a stop to the work of the scoun- 
 drels below us. Are the rifles all loaded.?" 
 
 "Here!" and, "Here!" said Catherine and Adam, 
 handing out the last two rifles. 
 
 It so happened that the two were Lambert's and 
 Conrad's rifles. As they both at the same time came 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 223 
 
 up it was not by mere chance that both took their 
 guns with the left hand, for at the next moment their 
 right hands clasped, and thus they stood before Cath- 
 erine, who, blushing deeply, took a step back, fearing 
 that her nearness should anew break the bond of the 
 brothers. But the minister laid his hand on the 
 hands of the brothers as they held each other with a 
 firm grasp, and said: "As these two who had for a 
 moment lost each other, and in the hour of danger 
 have again found each other, to be and to remain, in 
 life and in death and in eternity united, so let us all, 
 dear brothers and sisters, thank and praise God that 
 we here stand together so united, and that, in this 
 solemn hour, which according to all human calcula- 
 tion is our last, we are fulfilling the chief command- 
 ment, and are loving one another. Since life can 
 offer us nothing greater than this, though we should 
 live a thousand years, let us without murmuring take 
 our departure from this dear life. We do not give it 
 up lightly. We have defended it as well as we could. 
 But we are only flesh and blood, and this our for- 
 tress is wood. God, however, who made us in his 
 own likeness and breathed his breath into us — God is 
 a spirit and a strong tower." 
 
 As the minister uttered the word, then, as though 
 the Spirit to whom they were praying had inspired it, 
 the sentiment it awakened passed through the little 
 assembly and Luther's battle-hymn sounded forth as 
 if from one mouth: 
 
224 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 A Strong tower is our God — 
 
 A good defense and armor; 
 
 He keeps us free in every need 
 
 Which us has yet befallen; 
 
 The old and angry fiend, 
 
 Earnestly he means, 
 
 Great might and much craft 
 
 His dreadful armor is. 
 
 On earth there's nothing like him. 
 
 With our own might nothing's done; 
 We surely are quite helpless; 
 There fights for us the very Man, 
 Whom God himself has chosen. 
 Ask you who is He? 
 He's called Jesus Christ, 
 The Lord Sabaoth, 
 There is no other »God; 
 The field he'll not surrender. 
 
 And were the world of devils full, 
 Would they us wholly swallow. 
 So fear we not so very much; 
 We yet shall surely prosper. 
 
 There they were, on every side, as though the 
 creek and the prairie and the woods had spit them 
 out at once. They came on in wild leaps, swinging 
 axes and guns and brush-bundles. French and In- 
 dians, hunters and dogs, rushed on to battle. In a 
 moment they flew across the narrow intervening 
 space, down into the ditch, up the wall, in frenzied 
 motion, digging with their nails, one on another's 
 shoulder, up, up. 
 
 Up but not over — at least not the first. 
 
 As soon as a head emerged from behind the wall, a 
 pair of elbows put firmly on it, a breast exposed, 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 22$ 
 
 came the deadly bullet, and the venturesome enemy 
 fell back into the ditch. This fate befalls the first, 
 the second, the third and the fourth. The fifth at 
 last succeeds and the sixth; and now half-a-dozen at 
 once, and at another point also a couple. These are 
 enough. The object is gained. Words of command 
 are called out. Those who are still on the other side 
 of the wall retire, forming about the house in a dou- 
 ble circle and continually firing. Again, and then for 
 the last time, to rush forward so soon as those who 
 had pressed to the house should have finished their 
 work. 
 
 It will to all appearance soon be finished. Sharp 
 axes cut down the door. The ax-swingers under- 
 stand their work. They have before opened breaches 
 in many a barricaded house. And those on the other 
 side, toward which the wind was blowing, understood 
 their business equally well. They have often before 
 placed a firebrand against a house they could not 
 otherwise take. Those above shot well through the 
 round holes in the bottom of the gallery, and one or 
 two of those below must pay for their bravery with 
 their lives. But the others are covered, and the rain 
 of bullets which pours upon the house divides the 
 force of the besieged who must turn to every side at 
 once. Yet a few strokes and the door lies in frag- 
 ments and out of the thick smoke which comes up 
 over there the flame will soon burst forth. 
 
 The beleaguered know it. An attempt to avert the 
 
226 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 threatened danger must be made. They must risk a 
 sally. Two of them must do it. Which two.? 
 
 "I!" called out the brave minister. "Why is it 
 not suitable for me .?" 
 
 I!" cried Conrad. "This is my business!" 
 Conrad's and mine," said Lambert with deter- 
 mined voice, "and no one else. Away, the rest of 
 you, to your posts. You, Richard and Fritz, guard the 
 door. Here are the two axes; and now, in God's 
 name — " 
 
 The beams which bar the door are taken away so 
 as to uncover a strong plank, fitting closely into the 
 opening and against which the blows from without 
 are directed, the door having been shattered. The 
 last beam is drawn away; the plank falls; the breach 
 desired by the besiegers is made, and out of the 
 breach rush Lambert and Conrad side by side, old 
 Christian Ditmar swinging aloft an ax with his nerv- 
 ous arm and crying: "Here! Germany forever!" 
 
 It is the first word that has to-day fallen from his 
 lips, and it is his last for to-day and forever. Pierced 
 at once with three bullets, cut and crushed by a dozen 
 knife cuts and ax-blows he falls, but his big-hearted 
 purpose is attained. He broke the first onset of the 
 attacking party. He made a way for the two young 
 men behind him. They rushed into this passage-way. 
 Nothing can withstand Conrad's giant strength. His 
 blows fall like hail. He rages among the crowd like 
 a jaguar among sheep. Yes, it is a jaguar that has 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 22/ 
 
 come among them — the great jaguar, as they call 
 him at the lake, who had already torn so many of the 
 tribe of Onondagas. They are willing to fight with 
 the devil himself, but cannot bear to look at the flam- 
 ing eyes of the great jaguar. They rush away toward 
 the wall, over the wall, into the ditch, followed by 
 Conrad. Lambert, who had already pulled apart the 
 burning pile of wood, called after him that he should 
 go no farther but come back, for the others, who had 
 seen the shameful flight of their comrades, now di- 
 rected their fire at the two. Bullet after bullet strikes 
 the wall near Lambert. It is a wonder that he is yet 
 uninjured; yes, that he is alive. But he does not 
 think of himself. He only thinks of his lion-hearted 
 brother. He rushes toward the raging one, who is 
 fighting near the wall with three Indians, the last 
 within the enclosure. They shall not get over it again. 
 He seizes one, whirls him on high and dashes him 
 against the wall where the unlucky fellow lies with a 
 broken neck. The two others improve the moment 
 and climb over the wall. One of them, before sliding 
 down into the ditch, discharges his gun. 
 
 "Come in, for God's sake, Conrad!" called Lam- 
 bert. He seizes Conrad by the hand and dragfs him 
 away. They had reached the door when Conrad 
 staggered like a drunken man. Lambert caught him 
 about the body. 
 
 "It is nothing, dear brother," said Conrad and 
 straightened himself up. But in the door he fell 
 
228 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 down. A stream of blood gushed from his mouth 
 and moistened the door-sill which he had sworn never 
 again to cross without the shedding of his blood. 
 
 The door is again barred more strongly than before. 
 
 The fire that Lambert had pulled apart wastes 
 away powerless at the base of the house. The house 
 is saved; but how long.^^ The little company that 
 guards it is poorer by two fighting men. The rest, 
 exhausted by their frightful labor, are more dead than 
 alive. The ammunition is used up to within a few 
 charges, and the sun pours its last red rays over the 
 lonely battle-field in the midst of the surrounding for- 
 est. * In a few minutes it will go down. Night — the 
 last night — will come on. 
 
 "Your brother is dead," said the minister to Lam- 
 bert. 
 
 "He has gone before us," said Lambert. "Stay 
 near me, Catherine." 
 
 The minister and Catherine had been occupied be- 
 low with Conrad. The minister was skilled in the 
 healing art, but here his skill could accomplish noth- 
 ing. Conrad had opened his beautiful blue eyes, with 
 a bewildered look, but once. They for a moment 
 became bright and clear, as he saw Catherine's face 
 through the mist of death. Then he lay still with 
 closed eyes. There was deep peace in the yet wild 
 and battle-angered face. He breathed but once 
 again. Then his head sunk to one side as if he were 
 now sleeping quietly. The sun sinks behind the 
 
I'HE GERMAN PIONEERS 229 
 
 forest, spreading its blood-red evening-light over 
 those on the gallery. 
 
 "On what do the fellows wait?" asked Jacob Ehr- 
 lich. 
 
 "Eternity will be long enough for you, fool," re- 
 plied Anton Bierman. 
 
 "If father means to send us succor he must be quick 
 about it," said Richard Herkimer, with a sad smile. 
 
 "Hurrah! hurrah! and again hurrah!" cried Adam 
 Bellinger, who now rushes down the stairway and 
 dances about like a crazy person, and then, crying 
 loudly, falls into the minister's arms. 
 
 "Poor boy! poor boy!" said the minister. 
 
 Lambert went round to the other side of the gal- 
 lery, from which one could look down the creek to 
 the edge of the woods where the road makes a turn 
 and then disappears to reappear for a short distance 
 a little further on. On this side and on that there 
 was nothing in the road. The slight hope which had 
 kindled in Lambert's breast was at once extinguished. 
 Sadly he shook his head. 
 
 And yet, what sound is that.^ Lambert clearly 
 hears a dull, strong sound, while, at the same mo- 
 ment, the noise of the enemy is stilled. The sounds 
 become heavier and stronger. Lambert's heart beats 
 as though it would split. 
 
 Suddenly there came around the corner of the 
 woods one, two, three riders in full run and a mo- 
 ment later a large company; twenty, thirty horses, 
 
230 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 under whose hoofs the ground trembles. The riders 
 swing their rifles and "Hurrah! hurrah!" sound forth 
 so that Lambert hears. 
 
 He hastens to his comrades. "Have you all loaded.^ 
 Then up and out ! Now it is our turn. Now we 
 will drive them!" 
 
 A sharp pursuit — a wild pursuit on the darkening 
 prairie after the French and Indians, who in frenzied 
 flight rush toward the woods while German rifles 
 crack after them. 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 It was during the fifth summer after these events 
 that the August sun, which rose above the woods in 
 beaming glory, brought the Germans on the creek, 
 on the Mohawk and on the Schoharie, a joyful day. 
 To-day bison and deer might go their way through 
 the primitive forest unmolested. The hunter drew 
 the charge out of his rifle and put into it a large load 
 of loose powder. To-day cattle and sheep were left 
 to themselves in the pasture-fields. The herdsman 
 had brushed his Sunday-coat clean, and had stuck a 
 large bunch of flowers in his hat. To-day there was 
 rest from pressing labor, in field and mart. The farm- 
 er, much as he had to do, the herder, the hunter, 
 and all the world, young and old, men, women and 
 children, were to keep a great holiday — a great, won- 
 drous, fine peace-festival. For there was again peace 
 on earth — which had drunk the blood of her children 
 in streams for seven long years. Peace over in the old 
 home; peace here in the new one. There the hero 
 of the century, old Fritz, the great Prussian king, 
 was done with his enemies, and had sheathed his 
 sword. So here too the battle-ax could be buried. 
 
 During the last years it had indeed become dull 
 
 enough. Since, in the spring of 'fifty-eight, the 
 
 231 
 
232 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 attack of the French and Indians had been so bravely 
 resisted by the Germans, they had made- no further 
 invasion across the border, protected as it was by 
 such a warlike race. As now Fort Frontenac had 
 fallen and Quebec was surrendered the following year. 
 England's great victory was won, and what yet fol- 
 lowed were only the flying sparks and the last flicker- 
 ing of a great conflagration. But for a German 
 shingle or straw roof sparks are also dangerous, and 
 the master of the house had yet constantly gone to 
 bed burdened with anxiety, and the next morning 
 went to his labor with his rifle on his shoulder Now 
 the last trace of uncertainty had disappeared, and the 
 bell in the little church sounded out "Peace, peace," 
 over sunny fields and still woods. 
 
 Out of the woods and over the fields they came in 
 festive groups, on foot, on horseback, young and old, 
 adorned with flowers, sending friendly greetings from 
 afar, heartily shaking each other's hands if they hap- 
 pened to meet at the crossroads; engaging in friendly 
 conversation as they went through the smiling valley 
 between the Mohawk and the creek toward the hill on 
 which the church stood, which to-day could not hold 
 all who came with pious thankfulness. 
 
 "But God does not dwell in temples made by hu- 
 man hands. He is clothed with light. Heaven is His 
 throne and the earth is His footstool." That is the 
 text of the sermon which the worthy minister, Rosen- 
 krantz, to-day delivers to his congregation, gathered 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 233 
 
 around him in a wide circle under the bright sky and 
 on the green earth. In words that fly on eagle's wings 
 over the assembly he praises the great, good God, on 
 whom they, in their need, had called, and who, out 
 in the wild woods and on the lonely prairie, had de- 
 livered them from danger. He calls to remembrance 
 those who had fallen during the war, and says that 
 not in vain did they shed their precious blood for 
 house and home in which man must live, that in the 
 circle of his own family, at his own hearth, he may 
 show the virtues of love, of helpfulness and patience, 
 and live according to the image of Him who made 
 him. He declares that those who survive are called 
 and chosen, after the fearful labor of the war, to the 
 valuable works of peace, and that all hatred and quar- 
 reling and envy and strife must henceforth be ban- 
 ished from the congregation, otherwise the dead would 
 rise and complain and ask: "Why did we die.?" 
 
 More than once the voice of the minister trembled 
 with deep feeling. He had gone through it all him- 
 self. Every word came from the bottom of his heart 
 and so it reached the heart. There was scarcely one 
 of the assembled hundreds whose eyes remained free 
 from tears; and when the benediction was pro- 
 nounced, that the Lord who had now so evidently 
 let the light of His countenance fall on them and had 
 given them peace, might also further bless and pre- 
 serve them and give them peace. Amen! the word 
 touched every heart, and hundreds of voices re- 
 
234 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 sponded: "Amen!" "Amen!" as the wind roars 
 through the tops of the trees of the forest. Then the 
 roaring grew louder and mightier, as it spread in 
 sacred accord over the sunny fields in the hymn. 
 
 "Now let us all thank God." 
 
 Then they retired stiller than they came. 
 
 But the festival of peace should also be one of joy, 
 and there were with the old far too many who were 
 young to keep in their joy very long. At first a few 
 lively words were jokingly interchanged. Then a 
 lusty fellow had a funny conceit which, in that beau- 
 tiful, bright sunshine, he could not possibly keep to 
 himself. The old smiled. The young men laughed. 
 The girls giggled. The laughter and the joyfulness 
 were so inspiring and communicative that the guns 
 went off as if of themselves, and an hour later one 
 who did not know better might have thought that 
 Herkimer's house, which the French had not ventured 
 to attack in the frightful years of '57 and '58, was 
 being stormed on the festival of peace by German 
 young men. 
 
 This indeed was unnecessary. Nicolas Herkimer's 
 large and hospitable house had to-day all its doors 
 opened wider than usual, for men and women — for 
 all who lived on the Mohawk, on the creek and on the 
 Schoharie — for all that were German, or that were 
 ready to rejoice with the Germans — all were invited, 
 and were welcome to drink of Nicolas Herkimer's 
 beer and eat of his roast, and, happy with the joyful, 
 
THE GERMAN MONEERS 235 
 
 help to celebrate the great festival. As all had been 
 invited so nobody stayed at home, unless it might be 
 a mother who could not leave her children alone, 
 or one to whom it was utterly impossible to come. 
 Big John Mertens had come, and, simpering, mingled 
 with the guests, his thumbs in the pockets of his long 
 vest, except when he drew somebody aside secretly to 
 ask him if it was not very nice in John Mertens that 
 he gave precedence to Nicolas Herkimer, and that he 
 did honor to his festival by his presence; that he 
 could just as well entertain such a multitude of guests 
 and perhaps a little better. Hans Haberkorn was 
 there, and acted very modestly and reminded one 
 and another that he had then already said that three 
 ferries across the river were not too many. Now 
 there were six ferrymen and all made a good living. 
 Some thought that Hans Haberkorn talked in that 
 way because he was oj^ving Nicolas Herkimer every 
 cent that the ferry and beer-house were worth, and a 
 couple of hundred dollars besides. But who had 
 time now to investigate such things? 
 
 Surely not the young men and maidens who, on 
 the level ground adjoining the house, beneath the 
 shadow of an immense basswood tree, were cease- 
 lessly swinging in the dance to the stirring music of a 
 violin, two fifes and a drum. Parents and old peo- 
 ple, who sat under the long, projecting roof where it 
 was cool, and thoughtfully emptied one pitcher after 
 another, had also something better for their enter- 
 
236 TH£ GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 tainment. They remembered, as to-day they well 
 might, what they themselves had suffered in the home 
 across the sea, or had, at least, been told by the 
 father, or the grandfather — how the bitter enemy, the 
 Frenchman, had scorched and burned, up and down 
 the beautiful green Rhine, and how their own lord 
 by his servants had seized what the French had left, 
 so that, in his grand castles, he with his courtiers 
 might gormandize and have brilliant feasts and great 
 hunts, while the poor farmers, oppressed by service 
 and burdens of every kind, were starving of sheer 
 hunger. And also the priesthood and the tithes and 
 other endless miseries of the holy Roman empire of 
 the German nation. Yes, yes, it had looked badly 
 over there, and though since the great king of Prussia, 
 old Fritz, had intervened and had followed bravely 
 on his crutch, it was a great deal better, yet one could 
 live here freer and better, if one considered it well, 
 being under no lord; and the minister, though all 
 were not like Rozenkrantz, would allow one to talk 
 with him and a man's life could be joyful, especially 
 now that the Frenchman has crept into his hole and 
 the war is at an end. 
 
 Then they talked about the war. That was an in- 
 exhaustible subject. In that everybody had taken 
 part — had himself fought and had his part to tell — 
 his altogether peculiar experiences, which, if to no 
 one else, at least to the narrator were of deep inter- 
 est. They recalled the chief events of the war, 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 237 
 
 wherein all agreed that the interest was supreme. 
 These were recounted a hundred times and were 
 gladly repeated once more, and which clothed them- 
 selves in a wonderful garb, though the eye-witnesses 
 were yet for the most part alive. 
 
 Of these peculiarly noteworthy events, none was 
 more remarkable than the battle at Sternberg's house 
 in the year '58. And when the deed had been told 
 that nine men had for six or seven hours resisted one 
 hundred and fifty well-armed enemies, incredible as 
 it was, there was that in the history which gave it for 
 the moment a romantic color, even in the eyes of the 
 indifferent. The quarrel of the brothers over the 
 beautiful maiden, who was now the handsomest wife 
 in the whole district; the reconciliation of the broth- 
 ers in the last hour, and the succeeding heroic deaths 
 of Christian Ditmar and of Conrad Sternberg — the 
 oldest and the youngest of the company — and both 
 dying so nobly that one could not do better than to 
 follow them, as Aunt Ursul said, when they were 
 both laid in the cool earth. Yes, she had soon 
 enough followed them — the wonderfully brave souls 
 — she who was so rough, while her heart was so soft 
 that she did not want to live longer, nor could she 
 without her husband, with whom she had spent forty 
 years in joy and sorrow — but mostly in sorrow — and 
 without her wild, strong and last, but perhaps most 
 dearly beloved son. Yes, yes, that he was, to Aunt 
 Ursul — the Indian, and, as they already before had 
 
238 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 called him and still called him at the lake, the great 
 jaguar — Conrad Sternberg, wild and strong. Were 
 he still living Cornelius Vrooman, from Schoharie, 
 would not have carried off the victory away from the 
 young men on the Mohawk. What Cornelius did 
 was indeed no small matter, to draw a sleigh by the 
 tongue, standing in the sand, loaded with twelve 
 heavy men, half a foot from its position. Conrad 
 would have drawn the sleigh five feet with Cornelius 
 on his shoulders. Yes, yes, Conrad Sternberg was 
 endowed with superhuman strength. Would he other- 
 wise have been able to overcome twenty-four Indians 
 who had already pressed forward to the house? And 
 was it not more than human courage for him, whom 
 every Onondaga had sworn to kill, notwithstanding 
 to go to their camp and set the Onondagas and Onei- 
 das against each other and both against the French 
 and then to deliver himself up to the Onondagas, as 
 they insisted on it that they might feel assured, and 
 to tell them that he would stay with them as long as 
 they could hold him; and the simpletons, who might 
 have known better, had thought that six men were 
 sufficient for this, and had placed the six, with Conrad 
 as guide, in the van. Yes, he had showed them the 
 way there whence none of them would return. So 
 had he protected the Sternberg house, and, if one 
 correctly considered it, all the houses on the creek 
 and the Mohawk, since the Oneidas went back, and 
 the French and Onondagas might be glad that they 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 239 
 
 had not in the evening been followed more sharply, 
 since half of the cavalry had been sent to relieve the 
 Sternberg house. Yes, that was a man, that Conrad, 
 the Hke of whom would probably never again appear 
 among them — a Samson among the Philistines, "who 
 slew them with the jaw-bone of an ass," as the min- 
 ister to-day said, in his sermon, though he did not 
 mention Conrad's name. The minister himself knew 
 how to tell about it, for he was there and could 
 say more if he would; but he said no more about it, 
 as soon as he came in his discourse to the chapter. 
 Now, perhaps a servant of peace should not be blamed 
 if he did not wish to remember that he had laid low 
 six Indians that day with his own hand. In their 
 gossiping exaggeration and envy they proceeded to 
 add that if Lambert Sternberg seldom speaks of his 
 brother he may possibly have his grounds, since many 
 suspect that Catherine loved Conrad better than him, 
 and that Lambert Sternberg, in spite of his comforta- 
 ble condition — since he is now also Aunt Ursul's heir 
 — and in spite of his handsome wife and beautiful 
 children, is the unhappiest man in the whole valley. 
 
 "Be still! There comes Lambert with Herkimer; 
 and what peculiar little fellow have they forked up.»*" 
 
 Nicolas Herkimer and Lambert Sternberg ap- 
 proached these confident dividers oi honors, whose 
 conversation had just taken so interesting a turn, and 
 introduced to them Mr. Brown, of New York, who 
 in Albany, where he had business, had heard of the 
 
240 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 peace-festival on the Mohawk, and as he was a friend 
 of the Germans, had at once decided to come up and 
 help them celebrate the day. 
 
 The honor-conveyers welcomed the stranger, and 
 said that it was a great honor which they knew how 
 to prize, and asked whether Mr. Brown and Lambert 
 — Herkimer had already gone away — would not sit 
 down at their table and empty a glass to the well-be- 
 ing of his majesty the king. Mr. Brown was ready 
 for this, and also drank to the welfare of the Ger- 
 mans, but then left, with the promise that later he 
 would come again with Lambert; that he wished first 
 to look about a little over the place where the festival 
 was being held. 
 
 Mr. Brown had not made the long journey from 
 New York to Albany and from Albany here merely on 
 his own business, nor out of pure sympathy with the 
 Germans. He came at the suggestion of the Govern- 
 ment, which had at last comprehended the value of 
 the German settlements on the Mohawk, and further 
 up toward the lake, and had formed the earnest pur- 
 pose to advance them as far as possible. Mr. Brown, 
 being peculiarly fitted to further this end on account 
 of his long business intercourse with the Germans, 
 was intrusted with this mission. 
 
 He was to communicate with the leading Germans, 
 such as Nicolas Herkimer and' Lambert Sternberg, 
 and take their proposals into consideration. To this 
 end he had held a long conference with Nicolas Her- 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 24 1 
 
 kimer, and now imparted his views to his younger 
 friend while walking with him about the place. Lam- 
 bert attentively listened in silence. It did not occur 
 to him that the Englishman had in reality the inter- 
 ests of his nation in his eye when he spoke of the ad- 
 vantages which should grow out of it all to the Ger- 
 mans. Nor did Mr. Brown deny it. 
 
 "We are a practical people, my dear young friend," 
 said he, "and do nothing for God's sake. Business 
 is business; but this is an honorable one — I mean 
 one by which both sides are the gainers. Naturally 
 you will at first serve as a dike and a protecting wall 
 against our enemies, the French. You will help ex- 
 tend and establish our control of the continent which 
 will yet come to us. But if you so pull the chestnuts 
 out of the fire for us will not the sweet fruits be just 
 as good for you ? When you strike for King George 
 do you not just as well fight for your own house and 
 home.-* What then, man.!* So long as one does not 
 stand firm in his own shoes one must lean against 
 others. See that you Germans reach a position so 
 that you can enter the market of the world, dealing 
 for your own advantage and in view of your own dan- 
 ger. You will have to be satisfied either to be taken 
 in tow by us, or, if you prefer, be road-makers and 
 pioneers for us." 
 
 The earnest man had, according to his custom, at 
 last spoken very loud, and with it gesticulated with 
 his little lean arms, and thrust his Spanish cane into 
 
242 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 the ground. Now he looked around frightened, 
 grasped Lambert under the arm, and, while he let 
 himself be led farther away, proceeded in a more 
 gentle manner and in lower tones: 
 
 "And now I will intrust you with something, my 
 young friend, which I would not for all the world 
 should come to Mrs. Brown's ears, and which also, 
 on your own account, you may keep to yourselves. 
 You remember, Lambert, how five years ago, you 
 were in New York, and we stood on the quay and saw 
 your country people leave the ship, poor simpletons! 
 It rained powerfully, and the dismal scene did not by 
 this means become brighter. Well, this morning, 
 while we were here wandering about, I have been 
 constantly forced to think and have said to myself: 
 What immeasurable life-vigor must stick in this race, 
 which needs but a single life-time to change from 
 half-starved, shy-looking, all-enduring slaves, into 
 lusty, broad-shouldered, independent freemen. How 
 immeasurably must such a race have suffered to sink 
 so deep! How high it must rise when these sufferings 
 are removed; when its good instincts are left to them- 
 selves; when fortune permits it freely to unfold its 
 great strength which slumbers hidden and is yet 
 scarcely waked up! How high it must ascend! How 
 wide it must spread! What is beyond its reach.^ Do 
 not laugh at me, my young friend. I tremble when 
 I think of it — when I think what a host like this, as 
 yet without leaders, only subject to the law of gravity, 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 243 
 
 can overcome — must overcome — when it has learned 
 to take care of itself; to lead and to march in rank 
 and file. However this may be, so much is already 
 clear to me; you who here stand on the borderare 
 evidently now our vanguard. You prepare your 
 countrymen a way. You are truly German pioneers. 
 But again, not a word of this when you this fall come 
 to New York. My neighbors already call me 'the 
 Dutchman' and Mrs. Brown will not again — Well, as 
 we are now speaking of the women, where, then, is 
 your wife, with whom you at that time so hastily 
 went away.^ I think I will to-morrow lay claim to 
 your guest-friendship for a day, and so would be gladly 
 introduced to my beautiful entertainer." 
 
 "My wife," said Lambert, "is not here. She — " 
 
 "I understand, I understand," interrupted the talk- 
 ative old man. "Little household events happen in 
 the best of families. I understand." 
 
 "Now," said Lambert, laughing, "our youngest is 
 already half-a-year old, and my wife was unwilling 
 longer to stay away from the children; and besides, 
 this joyous day is also one of sorrowful thoughts to 
 my family." 
 
 "I know, I know," said the old man. "Your 
 
 brother — we heard of it in New York. What do you 
 
 want, man.^ Your brave deed is in the mouth of the, 
 
 people. The ballad singers sing it on the streets:" 
 
 "A story, a story, 
 Unto you I will tell, 
 Concerning a brave hero — " 
 
244 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 "I should say, two brave heroes. But the people 
 like to keep to one. You must tell me all this cir- 
 cumstantially when I come to your house to-morrow." 
 
 "This I will cheerfully do," replied Lambert, "and 
 so I will to-day take my leave of you. The sun is 
 already low, and I would lil^e to be home in good 
 time." 
 
 Lambert took the old man to the giver of the feast, 
 who sent his hearty compliments to his wife, and 
 promised to come with the guest to-morrow, to have 
 farther consultation, and to visit his daughter-in-law 
 on the way, who had already fourteen days ago pre- 
 sented him with a grandson. Richard, after Aunt 
 Urusl's death, had bought the property from Lam- 
 bert, and was now his nearest neighbor. Richard 
 came up and proposed to accompany Lambert. 
 Fritz and August Volz would probably also have done 
 this, but their wives did not yet want to leave the 
 festival, which was now at its highest point. And 
 then the women had taken it into their heads that 
 this was the day on which their brother Adam must 
 lose his long-maintained freedom and lay it down at 
 the feet of Margaret Bierman, Anton Bierman's sis- 
 ter. Adam came up. His eyes were red. He no 
 longer stood quite firm on his long legs. He put his 
 arms around Lambert, and assured him with hot tears 
 that a man has but one heart to give once for all, but 
 that if it was necessary for Lambert's comfort — a 
 necessity that he fully understood — to follow Jacob 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 245 
 
 Ehrlich 's example, given a short time before, he would 
 marry a Bierman even if a man has but one heart, and 
 Margaret didn't sound half as nice as a certain othei: 
 name, that should not cross his lips, "for a man has 
 but one heart and his heart — " 
 
 Here came Anton Bierman and his brother-in-law 
 Jacob to fetch the faithless knight, and Anton, who 
 had overheard the last words, assured Lambert that 
 Adam was a perfect fool, though at bottom a good- 
 hearted and brave fellow, and that the old Bellingers 
 had left behind, besides the visible property, a nice 
 round sum, and that if his sister Gretchen was willing 
 he was satisfied. What did Lambert say to it? 
 
 Lambert said, that he had always given Adam that 
 advice and would also do it under present circum- 
 stances; and to the same effect he spoke to Richard 
 Herkimer as, two hours later, they two trotted up 
 the creek. 
 
 "Adam," said he, "is not so great a fool. The fel- 
 low has mother wit enough, and, if he can be easily 
 teased, so his antagonists for the most part do not 
 escape without some scratches. He is also brave, 
 when he must be. That he showed at that trying 
 time in the block-house. In wedlock one must be 
 brave. Therefore I always advise to found a new 
 home when it is suitable. And then, Richard, the 
 German only increases when he has his own hearth, 
 when he can care and work for house and home, for 
 wife and child. So I salute the smoke that rises from 
 
246 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 a new hearth like a banner about which will gather 
 a group of German pioneers, as Mr. Brown calls 
 them, who lead forward the host that shall come 
 after us." 
 
 Richard looked at his companion with some aston- 
 ishment. Lambert had always so few thoughts and 
 words. He would have liked to ask whether Lam- 
 bert expected to be one among the coming host, but 
 they had just reached his house, and Lambert bade 
 him give his compliments to Annie, pressed his hand 
 and trotted away. 
 
 Yes, Lambert always had but few thoughts for oth- 
 ers, but not for Catherine. He could tell her every- 
 thing that his warm heart suggested and about which 
 his ever active mind was busy. She, the handsome, 
 good, intelligent one understood it, felt as he did, and 
 often made things clear that he could not himself see 
 through. What would she say to the proposition 
 that Mr. Brown had made to him.^ "On, Hans, old 
 fellow, yet a little trot." 
 
 Hans was satisfied. The five years had not weak- 
 ened his strength. He could, if a long, sharp trot was 
 necessary, yet make a round of ten miles with any 
 horse. 
 
 But this time the well-known endurance of the. 
 active horse was not put to the test. He had scarcely 
 trotted two hundred yards and was beginning to enjoy 
 it, when his master, with a sudden jerk, held him up, 
 and at the next moment sprang out of the saddle. 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 247 
 
 "Catherine!" 
 
 "Lambert!" / 
 
 "How are the children?" 
 
 "All well. Conrad did not want to go to bed be- 
 fore he had seen you." 
 
 "And little Ursul?" 
 
 "To-day got her third tooth." 
 
 "And little Catherine.?" 
 
 "Sleeps wonderfully." 
 
 They walked on along the bank side by side, lead- 
 ing Hans by the bridle. 
 
 "Are you yet thinking about it.?" said Catherine. 
 
 Lambert did not need to ask about what he should 
 be thinking. One does not forget things like that. 
 It seemed as though it had occurred but yesterday. 
 
 And yet there had been great changes since that 
 evening. Where they then walked along the seldom- 
 trodden meadow-path they now went through waving 
 grain fields on a well-beaten road in which a deep, 
 firm wagon-track was cut. There were fields with 
 suitable buildings in all directions, as far as the edge 
 of the woods, which in many places had been cleared 
 far back. Where portions of the old wood pasture 
 showed themselves between the cultivated fields, 
 there large gates had been put, over which here and 
 there a colt or a heifer coming up looked with large, 
 languid eyes, while farther on in the pasture the rest 
 were feeding in the rank grass. On through mead- 
 ows and fields were seen the shingle roofs of large 
 
248 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 farmsteads, beside which the old barns which had 
 been burned down would have looked very mean. 
 On the place where the block-house was, there now 
 stood forth a stately stone-house in whose gable the 
 windows were glowing in the evening sun. 
 
 Yes, there have been great changes since that even- 
 ing which to Lambert seemed like yesterday, as 
 though he had never lived without his wife and chil- 
 dren. 
 
 They had put Conrad to bed, and Catherine with 
 her soft voice had sung the wild boy to sleep, while 
 the other two little ones, with their red cheeks, were 
 slumbering quietly in their beds. They sat before 
 the door in the honeysuckle-arbor, through which 
 the soft, summer evening wind was murmuring. 
 
 Lambert told his wife the events of the day, and 
 about Mr. Brown, and they discussed Mr. Brown's 
 plan of extending the German settlements farther up 
 the creek, over to the Black River — if possible to 
 Oneida Lake — and that Mr. Brown, Nicolas Herki- 
 mer and himself were to buy the land, and that he 
 was to be the leader arid patron of the new settlers. 
 He also told Catherine what the old man had said 
 about the future of the Germans in America, and how 
 the Englishman feared that this hardy, industrious 
 race would yet surpass the English and take from 
 them their dominion over the continent. 
 
 "Such language from the mouth of so intelligent a 
 man. might make us very proud," said Catherine. 
 
THE GERMAN PIONEERS 249 
 
 "So I thought too," said Lambert. "And yet, 
 when I reflect upon it more fully it makes me quite 
 sad." 
 
 "How do you mean, Lambert.^" 
 
 "I mean the industry, the pains, the labor, the 
 strength, the courage, the energy, we must use t,o 
 carry it so far here will be such that they might per- 
 haps better remain in the old home. As you have 
 painted your father to me, mild, generous, helpful, 
 learned; such as was my father, quick, decided, look- 
 ing far ahead; such as was Uncle Ditmar, unbend- 
 ing, stern and refractory; such as was our noble Con- 
 rad and Aunt Ursul. What precious blood this new 
 land has already drunk and in the future will drink ! 
 And does it produce the right fruit from the costly 
 seed ? I know not. Granted that we attain all which 
 our old friend promises us -though it sounds like a 
 fable — but granted that we reach it, and that we 
 should once have to divide the rich inheritance with 
 the English, should we remain Germans? I doubt 
 it, and you yourself, Catherine, have taught me to be 
 doubtful. What would I be without you.? And you had 
 to come to me from the old home — could come only 
 from the old home. In your soul there sounds a deeper, 
 purer tone, just as in the beautiful songs that you 
 brought over with you. Will a still deeper tone sound 
 in the souls of our children.? What will be their con- 
 dition should it die out.?" 
 
 Lambert was silent. Catherine leaned her head on 
 
250 THE GERMAN PIONEERS 
 
 his shoulder. She found no answer to a question 
 that had already filled her breast with sad anxiety. 
 
 "And so," Lambert continued, "my heart is divided 
 into. two parts. To-morrow, when the old friend 
 comes, I will go out with him into the woods and show 
 him the way by which those who are to come must 
 go, and point out the places where they must build 
 their huts. But' as for myself, I would rather tear 
 down the huts and take you and the children — how 
 goes the song, Catherine, with which you just now 
 sung our boy to sleep, the dear, old song, out of the 
 dear, old home — 
 
 ''Were I a wild falcon, 
 I would soar aloft." 
 
 And he pointed toward the east where, in the holy 
 mother-arms of the dark night, the glory of the com- 
 ing day was slumbering. 
 
 THE END 
 
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