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bottom of all this；〃 added the magistrate； in a very diplomatic tone。
〃All means are alike to those who wish to set Europe in flames。〃
〃I am only a poor devil； Mr。 Burgomaster； you； that have a good heart；
will show me some mercy。〃
〃What！ when you have pulled off my cap？〃
〃And you；〃 added the soldier； turning towards Morok； 〃you； that have been
the cause of all thishave same pity upon medo not bear malice！You；
a holy man； speak a word in my favor to Mr。 Burgomaster。〃
〃I have spoken to him what I was bound to speak；〃 answered the Prophet
ironically。
〃Oho！ you can look foolish enough now； you old vagabond！ Did you think
to impose on me with lamentations？〃 resumed the burgomaster； advancing
towards Dagobert。 〃Thanks be； I am no longer your dupe！You shall see
that we have good dungeons at Leipsic for French agitators and female
vagrants； for your damsels are no better than you are。 Come；〃 added he；
puffing out his cheeks with an important air； 〃go down before meand as
for you； Morok〃
The burgomaster was unable to finish。 For some minutes Dagobert had only
sought to gain time； and had cast many a side…glance at a half…open door
on the landing…place； just opposite to the chamber occupied by the
orphans： finding the moment favorable； he now rushed quick as lightning
on the burgomaster； seized him by the throat； and dashed him with such
violence against the door in question； that the magistrate； stupefied by
this sudden attack； and unable to speak a word or utter a cry； rolled
over to the further end of the room； which was completely dark。 Then；
turning towards Morok； who； with his arm encumbered by the sling； made a
rush for the staircase； the soldier caught him by his long； streaming
hair； pulled him back； clasped him with hands of iron； clapped his hand
over his mouth to stifle his outcries； and notwithstanding his desperate
resistance； dragged him into the chamber； on the floor of which the
burgomaster lay bruised and stunned。
Having double…locked the door； and put the key in his pocket； Dagobert
descended the stairs at two bounds； and found himself in a passage； that
opened on the court…yard。 The gate of the inn was shut； and there was no
possibility of escape on that side。 The rain fell in torrents。 He could
see through the window of a parlor； in which a fire was burning； the host
and his people waiting for the decision of the burgomaster。 To bolt the
door of the passage； and thus intercept all communication with the yard；
was for the soldier the affair of an instant； and he hastened upstairs
again to rejoin the orphans。
Morok； recovering from his surprise； was calling for help with all his
might； but； even if the distance had permitted him to be heard； the noise
of the wind and rain would have drowned his outcries。 Dagobert had about
an hour before him； for it would require some time to elapse before the
length of his interview with the magistrate would excite astonishment；
and； suspicion or fear once awakened； it would be necessary to break open
two doorsthat which separated the passage from the court…yard； and that
of the room in which the burgomaster and the Prophet were confined。
〃My children； it is now time to prove that you have a soldier's blood in
your veins；〃 said Dagobert； as he entered abruptly the chamber of the
young girls； who were terrified at the racket they had heard for some
minutes。
〃Good heaven； Dagobert！ what has happened？〃 cried Blanche。
〃What do you wish us to do？〃 added Rose。
Without answering； the soldier ran to the bed； tore off the sheets； tied
them strongly together； made a knot at one end； passed it over the top of
the left half of the casement； and so shut it in。 Thus made fast by the
size of the knot； which could not slip through； the sheets； floating on
the outside； touched the ground。 The second half of the window was left
open； to afford a passage to the fugitives。
The veteran next took his knapsack； the children's portmanteau； and the
reindeer pelisse； and threw them all out of the window； making a sign to
Spoil…sport to follow； to watch over them。 The dog did not hesitate； but
disappeared at a single bound。 Rose and Blanche looked at Dagobert in
amazement； without uttering a word。
〃Now； children；〃 said he to them； 〃the doors of the inn are shut； and it
is by this way；〃 pointing to the window； 〃that we must passif we would
not be arrested； put in prisonyou in one place； and I in the otherand
have our journey altogether knocked on the head。〃
〃Arrested！ put in prison！〃 cried Rose。
〃Separated from you！〃 exclaimed Blanche。
〃Yes； my poor children！They have killed Jovialwe must make our escape
on foot； and try to reach Leipsicwhen you are tired； I will carry you；
and； though I have to beg my way； we will go through with it。 But a
quarter of an hour later； and all will be lost。 Come； children； have
trust in meshow that the daughters of General Simon are no cowardsand
there is yet hope。〃
By a sympathetic movement； the sisters joined hands； as though they would
meet the danger united。 Their sweet faces； pale from the effect of so
many painful emotions； were now expressive of simple resolve； founded on
the blind faith they reposed in the devotion of the soldier。
〃Be satisfied； Dagobert！ we'll not be frightened；〃 said Rose； in a firm
voice。
〃We will do what must be done；〃 added Blanche； in a no less resolute
tone。
〃I was sure of it；〃 cried Dagobert； 〃good blood is ever thicker than
water。 Come！ you are light as feathers； the sheet is strong； it is
hardly eight feet to the ground； and the pup is waiting for you。〃
〃It is for me to go firstI am the eldest for to…day；〃 cried Rose； when
she had tenderly embraced Blanche； and she ran to the window； in order；
if there were any danger； to expose herself to it before her sister。
Dagobert easily guessed the cause of this eagerness。 〃Dear children！〃
said he； 〃I understand you。 But fear nothing for one anotherthere is
no danger。 I have myself fastened the sheet。 〃Quick； my little Rose！〃
As light as a bird； the young girl mounted the ledge of the window； and
assisted by Dagobert； took hold of the sheet； and slid gently down
according to the recommendation of the soldier； who； leaning out his
whole body； encouraged her with his voice。
〃Don't be afraid； sister！〃 said she； as soon as she touched the ground；
〃it is very easy to come down this way。 And Spoil…sport is here； licking
my hands。〃 Blanche did not long keep her waiting； as courageous as her
sister； she descended with the same success。
〃Dear little creatures！ what have they done to be so unfortunate？
Thousand thunders！ there must be a curse upon the family；〃 cried
Dagobert； as； with heavy heart； he saw the pale； sweet face of the young
girl disappear amid the gloom of the dark night； which violent squalls of
wind and torrents of rain rendered still more dismal。
〃Dagobert； we are waiting for you； come quickly！〃 said the orphans in a
low voice； from beneath the window。 Thanks to his tall stature； the
soldier rather leaped than glided to the ground。
Dagobert and the two young girls had not fled from the inn of the White
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