CHAPTER FIVE.
Meanwhile Karl had returned home with the donkeys. Poor Meta wasgreatly grieved and alarmed when she heard the sad news. "Those cruelmen will be killing dear grandfather, as they killed John Huss," shesaid, looking with tearful eyes at Karl. "We can pray for him, however,that is one comfort."
They did not fail to do as Meta said; not only night and morning, butseveral times during the day; before Karl set off on his expedition intothe forest to cut wood, and when he returned, or when he went into thetown to sell his fagots. "When grandfather told me to run away, heintended that I should work hard to support you, Meta, and so I will."
Meta was accustomed to be alone. She was a happy-hearted girl, and usedto sing and amuse herself very well, when she knew that her grandfatherand brother would soon return to her. The case was very different now.Her great comfort was reading the Bible. She had more time to do thatthan formerly. Without it she felt sure she would have broken downaltogether. Still, occasionally, she felt her spirits sink so low thatshe could not help wishing to accompany Karl into the forest. "I cantake the book and read to him when he stops to rest or to eat hisdinner; and I can talk to him and cheer him up, for he must feel quiteas sad as I do, I know."
Karl gladly agreed to her proposal, so the next day, shutting up thecottage, they set out together. The way was rough, but Meta was wellaccustomed to tread it, and without encountering any danger they reachedthe part of the forest in which Karl usually laboured. Meta carried outher plan just as she had proposed, and Karl, though he rested longerthan had been his wont, got through more work than usual. For severaldays she did the same, very much to her own and Karl's satisfaction. Onone occasion she was seated on a piece of timber, with her book on herknees, reading, while Karl sat on the ground at her feet, eating hisfrugal meal, but slowly though, for every now and then he looked up toask her the meaning of certain passages, or to make some remark.
They were thus employed, entirely absorbed in the subject. Some slightnoises reached their ears, but if their attention was drawn to them theythought they were caused by the asses which were browsing near brushingamong the bushes. Meta read on. At length she stopped, when, lookingup, she saw standing near her, and gazing with a look of astonishment, agentleman in a rich hunting suit, a short sword by his side, a horn hunground his neck, and a jewelled dagger in his belt. His white beard andmoustache, and his furrowed cheeks, showed that he was already advancedin life, though he looked active and strong. A pleasant smile passedover his countenance, as Meta, littering an exclamation of astonishment,gazed up at him. Karl started to his feet, and instinctively puthimself in an attitude of defence.
"Do not be alarmed, my young friends," said the gentleman. "I wish toserve you rather than to do you any harm. What is that book you arereading from, little maiden?"
"The Bible, sir, God's word," answered Meta, without hesitation.
"A very blessed book, and a very blessed message it contains," observedthe gentleman. "But how came you young foresters to possess it, and tolearn to read it?"
"I learned at Herr Gellet's school," answered Meta, "and a good man whocame by this way, sold us the book at a small price. It is worth tentimes the sum we gave, I am sure of that."
"And where do you live?" asked the gentleman.
Meta told him.
"And is your grandfather sick, that he is not with you?" he inquired.
"Alas! he has been cast into prison for listening to a preacher of God'sword," said Meta, "and we know not what they are going to do with him,whether they will burn him, as they have done others, or keep him shutup."
The nobleman, for such by his appearance they supposed him to be,continued looking with great interest at Meta, while she was speaking.Having made further inquiries about the old woodcutter, he joinedseveral of his companions who had been standing all the time at a littledistance, scarcely perceived till now by Meta and Karl. One of them hadbeen holding his horse, which he mounted, and rode away, conversing withhim through the forest.
Karl having made up his fagots, proceeded homewards, talking with Metaas they went, about the interview with the nobleman, and wondering whohe could be. "I wonder whether he is the Count Furstenburg, whosecastle is, I know, some short distance off, though I have never been upto it. I have several times seen the tops of the towers over the trees.Yet whenever I have heard his name mentioned he has been spoken of as afierce, cruel lord, tyrannical both to his dependants and even to thoseof his own family. I know I have heard of all sorts of bad things abouthim, but grandfather never likes to speak of him."
"Then I am sure that noble cannot be the Count Furstenburg," said Meta:"he spoke so gently and looked so kindly at us."
Scarcely had they entered their cottage than they heard horses' hoofsapproaching it. Karl ran out to see who it was, while Meta waspreparing the supper.
"Oh, Meta!" exclaimed Karl, running back, "it is that dreadful man,Johann Herder, our grandfather's great enemy! His coming bodes us nogood."
They consulted whether they should bolt the door, but Meta advised thatthey should show no alarm; and as Herder could easily break open thedoor, it would be useless to try and keep him out.
In another minute Herder entered the cottage. He cast a frowning glancearound him. "Where is your grandfather?" he asked.
"I am afraid, sir, he is in prison," answered Meta.
"Why is he there?" he asked again.
"Karl says, because he was listening to a preacher of the gospel,"answered Meta.
"He was assisting in creating a disturbance rather," observed Herder.
"I am sure grandfather is not the man to do that," exclaimed Karl. "Iwas with him, and he was as quiet as any man could be."
"Then you ought to have been taken prisoner too," exclaimed the farmer."I must see to that. And what book is that you have by your side,maiden?" he asked, glancing at Meta's Bible, which she was prepared toread.
"God's word, sir," said Meta, firmly. "We always read it before sittingdown to meals. It is by reading it that we learn of salvation. Thisbook says, `Faith cometh by hearing,' or reading God's word, and byfaith we are saved."
"Those are strange doctrines you are speaking," said the rough man, yetfeeling, perhaps, more than he was willing to acknowledge, the force ofher words, and greatly struck by her calmness and bravery.
"They cannot be new, sir," answered Meta, "for they were written by theapostles themselves, nor are they strange, for the same reason."
"I came not to discuss such matters," said Herder, turning away. "Myreason for coming here was to tell your grandfather that he must moveout of this cottage, as I have bought it. As he is not here, I give youthe notice, and let me tell you that the opinions you utter are verydangerous. They are not such as to please the priests or bishop; takecare, therefore, what you are about." Without further words, Herderturned round, unwilling it seemed to look any longer on the young girland her brother who had so boldly confronted him. Leaving the cottage,he mounted his horse and rode off.
The young people could not help being alarmed. It would be a sad thingto have to leave their old home, and for their grandfather, when he gotout of prison, to be obliged to seek for a new one. His other threatsalso boded them no good. They had, however, strength the rough man knewnothing of. As soon as they were again alone, they knelt down andprayed for protection, nor failed to obtain the comfort prayer willalways bring. They then returned to the table and partook of their yetuntasted supper. Before it was finished, a knock was heard at the door.
"Shall I open it?" asked Karl. "Perhaps it is Herr Herder come backagain."
"Oh, no!" said Meta, "he would not knock. We should not be afraid toopen the door."
Karl withdrew the bolt, and who should he see but the book-hawker,Gottlieb Spena! They recognised him at once. He entered, and salutingthem, kindly inquired for their grandfather. "I trust he has not beentaken from you," he said, with an expression of anxiety.
; "Indeed he has, sir," said Meta, "but not by death;" and in a few wordsshe explained what had happened.
"That is very sad, but God will protect you, my children," he observed,placing his pack, as he had before done, in a corner of the room. "Wemust try and obtain his liberation. The people of Germany will nolonger submit to persecution. However, I trust that, by some means,your grandfather's liberation may be obtained."
Meta and Karl warmly thanked their friend, and begged him to partake oftheir humble fare. This he did, seeing that there was abundance.Suddenly he exclaimed, "I have thought of a plan. I will endeavour togain admittance to your grandfather, and if so, I trust the means may begiven him to escape from the prison." As it was somewhat late, thebook-hawker gladly availed himself of the shelter of the hut for thenight, while he amply repaid his young hosts by reading and expoundingthe Scriptures to them, greatly to their satisfaction.