CHAPTER II.
THE MOO-CALF.
I dare say your highness, and gentlemen of the court, have heard agood many stories about the moo-calf? I shall abstain from expressingjust here an opinion of the mysterious creature as, by so doing, Ishould anticipate the denouement of one of my most remarkableadventures. I think almost every dweller in Coblentz has heard of themoo-calf's strange doings; for there are numerous records in thechronicles of the city, of its mysterious appearance and behavior.
The moo-calf ordinarily appears in those cities where the Jews havemultiplied excessively, and attained to power.
It is a well-known fact that a calf is the meekest, the most innocentof animals, that it has never been known to assault anyone, that itwould be the least likely of all the animal kingdom to wield aboundless tyranny over an entire community. Therefore, I do notbelieve _all_ the terrifying tales I have heard about the moo-calf. Doany of the gentlemen here believe them?
Several members of the court admitted that they believed the tales;some thought a portion might be true, others were non-committal. Somuch time was given to the discussion, that the chair was at lastobliged to interfere. He said to the prisoner--after rappingimpatiently for order:
"You are not here to ask questions, but to be questioned. Now let ushear what _you_ have to say about the moo-calf?"
Hugo bowed and resumed his confession:
When we arrived at Hamburg, Mynheer so managed matters, that it wasevening when he and I went ashore. With the bag of valuables on myback, I tramped after him to the suburb of St. Paul, to seek in thewinding, and zig-zag streets of the "Hamberger Berg," the house of thehonest Christian, who would relieve my back, and incidentally my mind,of the load of treasure.
We pushed our way with whole skins through a confusion of menageriebooths, puppet-shows, jugglery and rope-dancing exhibitions, whichtheir proprietors importuned us to patronize, avoided with somedifficulty the crowds of tipsy sailors, and at last arrived in frontof the house we were seeking.
The name of the owner was Meyer--a by no means rare cognomen inGermany!
He was a Lutheran, as eleven-twelfths of the residents of Hamburg are.They alone possess the rights of citizenship.
Mynheer Ruissen took Herr Meyer to one side, and communicated to himwhat business had brought me to Hamburg, whereupon Herr Meyer withoutfurther ceremony invited me to sup with him.
"I hope"--here impatiently interrupted the chair--"you don't intend towaste more of our time by an enumeration and description of thevarious dishes you partook of?"
"No, your honor, though it would not take long to tell what we had forsupper. Herr Meyer placed before me nothing but bread, cheese andwater. He could not say enough in praise of the bread and cheese, andhe boasted that the water, which he said was from the Elias fountain,possessed the most remarkable properties. While I ate, he examined inturn each of the vessels I had taken from the bag and placed on thetable, exclaiming over every piece, and making a peculiar noise withhis tongue against the inside of his upper teeth:
"A baptismal basin! Tse-tse-tse! How could you dare to take this? Acenser! tse-tse-tse! Young man, did it never occur to you that youwere defying Satan when you put this into your bag? A communion-cup!tse-tse-tse! I should think your soul would be oppressed with itsweight of sin! And--actually!--the Holy Virgin's diadem! Woe-woe-woe,to you, miserable sinner!" I could listen no longer to his lugubriouscomments:
"Oh, hush, Master Meyer," I interrupted, "what use to talk like that?You needn't think to frighten me with your lamentations. I am aLutheran like yourself--rather let us talk about the value of thesethings: What will you give for the whole lot? But, before we talkbusiness, bring me something more palatable to eat and drink. Yourbread and cheese and water are not to my taste."
"Very good, you shall have something else," with sudden alacrityresponded Master Meyer, whose opinion of me was evidently improving.He hurried to the kitchen, and soon returned with some salt fish, anda jug of good cider, which he placed before me.
Then he proceeded to appraise the church vessels, and the diadem,telling me the while that I ought to be thankful his dear old friendMynheer Ruissen had led me to him. How easily I might have fallen intothe hands of the papists, who would certainly have imprisoned me--andperhaps put me to death; or into those of the Jews, who had swarmedfrom Spain into Hamburg, and were ruining all honest tradesmen. Therascally Hebrews would offer only ridiculously low prices for articlesthey suspected had been acquired by means not altogether legitimate,and would give in payment for them counterfeit money. And, wasn't thecod-fish I was eating most appetizing?
After he had examined my treasures two or three times, he said hewould give me six hundred thalers for the lot--and that I might drinkall of the cider into the bargain.
"See here, Master Meyer," I replied, "your fish is so salty it makesone want to drink continually, and your cider is so sour, I wouldrather not eat your fish than to have to quench my thirst with thecider. And, moreover, I will take my treasures to the Jews' quarter,where I shall no doubt find some one who will give more than a paltrysix hundred thalers to a poor shipwrecked traveller for a lot ofarticles that are worth at least twenty times the sum you offer."
At these words my worthy host beat his hands together above his head,and exclaimed:
"My dear son! how will you find your way to the Jews' quarter at thislate hour? It would be very unwise--nay, dangerous, for you to attemptit. Don't you know that the moo-calf makes its appearance about thistime?"
I shrugged my shoulders to indicate that I was not afraid of amoo-calf.
"But, my dear son, you don't know what a terrible creature themoo-calf is. It has become even more terrible and ferocious since theJews have multiplied to such numbers in Hamburg. These Spanish Jewsunderstand all sorts of witch-craft. It was they who discovered thatif a young calf is fed on human blood instead of milk, it will becomesavage as a lion. This is the sort of moo-calf they have turned loosein the Hamberger Berg. It roams through the streets at night,terrifying to death every person it meets, and scatters the watchmenin all directions. It tears the bells from the house doors; it hasteeth so sharp that it can snap off the pole of a halberd as easily asif it were a pipe-stem; and its tongue is rough as a cloth-shearer'sbrush. It roars like a lion, bellows like a wild bull, snorts like awhole herd of wild horses; clatters through the streets like a luggagevan, clappers like a fulling-mill, and crows like a cock that ispossessed. It takes special delight in pursuing honest men and fathersof families, who suspect their wives and daughters of adventure, andif it chances to catch one of them, _he_ will not very soon forget themoo-calf--that is if he escapes with his head to remember it! Anotherfavorite trick with the calf is: to steal upon a pair of lovers, androar at them with such a terrible voice that they die of fright--"
"And what sort of looking beast is this moo-calf?" I interrupted.
"Why, no one can tell what it looks like, my son. Those who have beenunfortunate enough to encounter it on the street have had a stream offire blown into their eyes from the beast's nostrils, and they werenot able to see for weeks afterward. The man who is brave enough tothrust his head out the window when he hears the moo-calf bellow, willbe sure to regret his curiosity, for his head will swell to such asize that he will not be able for several days to get it back throughthe window. That is why no one is able to tell what the monster islike. I only know that it has the power to stretch its neck to such alength that it can look into the upper windows of a house. Oh, I canassure you, it is a most horrible creature!"
I had had ample time, while he was descanting on the moo-calf'sterrible doings, to replace my treasures in the bag.
"Then there really is such a monster?" I observed, shouldering myload.
He swore by all he held dear, that the moo-calf not only existed, butthat it roamed the streets of Hamburg almost every night.
"Have you any desire to make a bet with me?" I asked.
"A bet?--on what?"
"That I can
eat a whole calf at a sitting--especially when I have aravenous appetite as now. Fetch me your moo-calf and I'll devour him,hoofs, hide and tail!"
I dropped the bag from my shoulder to the table, drew forth the shortRoman sword, which was part of my lictor's costume, and sharpened iton the steel.
"Now, fetch on your moo-calf," I repeated, again shouldering the bagand making as if I were going to quit the house.
"And you really are not afraid of the moo-calf?" exclaimed MasterMeyer, placing himself in front of me, believing I intended to pursuemy way. "I see you are a headstrong lad, but, as I have taken a fancyto you, I don't want you to run any risks. Come, make up your mind tostop here until morning. We will agree on a price for your treasures;and then have supper together."
"No, thanks," I returned, my face still toward the street door. "Idon't want any more dried codfish. The season of fasting isover--besides, I am no priest, and if I were I shouldn't object towine."
"You shall have whatever you want, my son. Put down your bag, and makeyourself at home." And he hurried into the kitchen to give his orders.
After several minutes he returned, clad in an entire suit of newclothes; on his arm he carried another handsome suit, which he beggedme to accept as a present from him, adding that I would find in thepocket of the coat in a purse the sum he was willing to pay for mytreasures, and with which he knew I would be quite satisfied.
When I opened the purse I found in it fifty doubloons, and a slip ofpaper.
"What is this?" I inquired, holding the paper toward him.
"A promissory note for two-thousand thalers, payable in three months."
I knew very well that a note of hand was as good as money, and wasquite satisfied with the trade--only, the time of payment was too longdistant to suit me.
"It is a Hamburg custom, my son," replied Master Meyer when Imentioned my objections. "The money must have time to mature."
I was obliged to be satisfied, besides, fifty doubloons would be quiteenough to keep me in food and raiment for three months.
The supper Master Meyer now placed before me was of a sort I would nothave believed his larder capable of supplying--judging from the farehe had offered me first. There were pasties of all sorts, game,confections and a choice selection of wines. Of the last I tookspecial care not to imbibe too freely. Master Meyer's family joined usat the repast; there were three daughters, comely, and of marriageableage; and a son. The latter, I was informed, was a student at theuniversity. I thought him rather advanced in years for a student!
There was not the least resemblance between the three young women; noone would have taken them to be sisters. They were merry creatures,sang and played on the harp and the guitar.
One of them, a blonde, was very pretty. I noticed that she stolefrequent glances toward me, and when her eyes met mine she would blushand smile enchantingly.
I was still young, and not at all averse to a flirtation. Moreover, Iwas a widower. I had had enough experience with the fairer sex,however, to teach me that it would be well to be on my guard.
Master Meyer had introduced me to his family as "Junker Hermann." Theblonde daughter's name was Agnes. She was a sentimental and romanticmaid. I sat by her side at supper, and was so flustered by the glancesfrom her blue eyes, I could think of nothing more sensible to say toher than: "that when the dear Lord should bestow on me a family, Iwould have just such spoons as her father's"--with which we wereeating the chocolate cream--and that my own and my wife's crestsshould be engraved on the handles. This remark led me to observefurther that I thought the initial letters of Hermann and Agnes wouldform a pretty monogram. My fair neighbor could not see just how theletters might be arranged. I told her it was very simple: the A needonly be inserted between the two uprights of the H to make the unionperfect.
I wanted the Meyers to believe that I was a genuine cavalier, so Isaid to the father--after I had emptied my third glass of wine:
"That ring on your finger pleases me very much. I should like to buyit."
"Well, you see, Junker Hermann," he returned slowly, turning the ringon his finger, "this is a costly piece of jewelry. The carbuncle aloneis worth fifty thalers; besides, the ring is an heirloom. I wouldn'tsell it for seventy thalers."
"Would you sell it for eighty?"
"I wouldn't let anyone but you, Junker Hermann, have it at any price!As you seem to have taken such a fancy to it, then take it, in God'sname, for eighty thalers."
"All right," said I. "Just keep the eighty thalers out of thetwo-thousand you owe me."
At mention of the two-thousand thalers Agnes helped me to a seconddish of chocolate cream.
"I will draw up a note for the amount," said her father. "We are onlyhuman, and no one can tell what may happen to me."
"Write whatever you like and I'll scrawl my signature to it," Ireplied disdainfully.
When he had quitted the room, Agnes whispered to me:
"I am very sorry father sold his ring. It is a talisman in our family,and was given to my mother as a wedding-present."
"And suppose"--I whispered back to her--"my buying it does not take itout of the family?"
"I don't quite understand you," she replied, casting down her eyes,and blushing.
"I shall make my meaning clearer when I may speak to you alone."
"That can be arranged very easily, Junker Hermann; when the familyhave gone to their rooms for the night, we can meet in the bow-windowchamber--then you can tell me what you have to say."
The father now returned with the note to the dining-room. It was forone-hundred thalers, that being the sum--principal and interest--Ishould owe Master Meyer at the expiration of three months.
I did not think it worth while to waste words over the usuriousinterest charged; but signed my name with cavalier _sangfroid_, andthe ring was transferred from Master Meyer's hand to my own. As myhand was considerably larger than his, which was exceedingly thin andbony, I could only get the ring on the second joint of my littlefinger.
Just at that moment Rupert, the elderly student, must have made ateasing remark to his sister; for the three at once set upon him, andbegan to belabor him with their fists, and cry out that he should nothave any more wine that evening.
"Very well," he exclaimed, laughing, "then I'll go to the tavern andget some."
He invited me to accompany him; saying that we should find at thetavern some good company and bad wine. I excused myself on the pleathat I was very tired, and wanted to rest. He departed alone, and weheard him singing, and knocking against the doors with his stick, ashe staggered down the street.
Good-nights were now exchanged, and each one went to his or her room.I waited with considerable impatience until the house had becomequiet; then I stole on tip-toe to the bow-window chamber. Thisapartment is in the top story of the house, and projects several feetover the street. A bright moon illumined the cozy chamber, so that alamp was not necessary.
I had not long to wait; the soft rustle of feminine garments very soonannounced the coming of my charming Agnes.
I met her at the door, took her hand in mine, and drew her into thebow-window. She asked me without further ceremony, to explain how thering I had bought from her father could remain in their family nowthat I was the owner of it.
"Nothing easier in the world! my dear Agnes," I made answer. "I needonly to slip it on your finger as an engagement ring."
She understood my explanation, and allowed me to place on the thirdfinger of her left hand the ring for which I owed one-hundred thalers.After this ceremony I asked--as was natural--if I might seal thebargain with a kiss--
"Ha! I knew that was coming!" interrupted the chair; "we don't care tohear that sort of evidence."
"Why," pacifically interposed the prince, "Why, a kiss is nothing outof the way."
"_One_ kiss would not be; but it would not stop at one; a second and athird--and heaven only knows how many more would follow, and--
"Pray allow me to contradict your honor," respectfully interrup
ted theprisoner. "There was only one. I will admit that I was about to helpmyself to more, but I was hindered--"
"By the white dove on your shoulder, of course!" interrupted themayor's ironical tones.
"No, your honor, not the white dove. Just at the moment I was going totake the second kiss, there came from the street directly underneaththe bow-window, the most unearthly sounds--as if a herd of angryelephants were bellowing for their supper. I never heard so hideous anoise. It was a mixture of the squealing of a wild boar; the neighingof a horse; the blare of a trumpet, and the clattering of a heavywagon over cobbles."
"Jesu Maria! the moo-calf!" shrieked my terror-stricken betrothed,tearing herself from my arms. The next instant she had vanished, withmy hundred-thaler ring.
Furious with rage, and not a little fear, I sprang to the window,flung back the sash, and thrust out my head--never once thinking ofthe dire result which would follow such action: my head swollen to thesize of a barrel.
However, that did not happen to me; but enough pepper was blown intomy eyes to prevent me, most effectually, from seeing anything on theearth, or in the heaven! I howled with pain and rage--compared to thesounds which came from my throat, the moo-calf's bellowing was theweakly puling of an infant.
But, such was the fear of my host and his daughters, of the fiendishbrute, that not one of them ventured to come to my assistance. I wasobliged to grope my way unaided to my room, and to wash the pepperfrom my blinded eyes as best I could.
While I was thus engaged Rupert returned home, and joined his howls tomine; he said the moo-calf had attacked him, and almost done for him.His face and clothes were proof of a rough and tumble encounter withsomething: the former was scratched and bleeding, and his garmentslooked as though he had had a scuffle with an enraged eagle. His bedand mine were in the same room, and neither of us slept very much thatnight. The student was frightfully ill; he kept muttering constantlysomething about the moo-calf; while I sat by the basin until daylight,mopping my eyes with water.
The cursed moo-calf! Why didn't he bellow before I gave my costly ringinto Agnes' keeping? It was not at all likely that I should soon haveanother opportunity to be alone with her!
The next morning Master Meyer gave me to understand that the duties ofhospitality would not be extended beyond one day; and that I wouldbetter seek a lodging more suitable to the station of a young man ofquality. He would be glad to have me visit him frequently; and if Iwanted to be amused Rupert, who was perfectly familiar with all theways of the city, would be delighted to be my guide.
I did not see the lovely Agnes again alone; so I made up my mind towrite, and tell her how much I thought of her. I question now, whetherany of the numerous letters I sent her through Rupert, ever reachedher hands.
From that day, there was no end to amusements. Rupert was the very ladto make me acquainted in the shortest time with all the resorts ofentertainment, and many companions of questionable reputation. I wasintroduced to a Spanish hidalgo; a Scotch laird; a Brazilian planter;a Wallachian boyar--that their patents of nobility grew on the samegenealogical tree with my own I suspected from the very first. Theywere, individually and collectively, hearty drinkers, recklessgamblers, and fearless fighters. That the money they squandered withlavish hand was not obtained through honest means I was confident, andI was equally confident that the entire crew looked on me as their ownspecial prey.
But, I taught them a thing or two before very long!
At our drinking-bouts, I always left them under the table. While withthe Templars I learned a valuable secret: how to drink all the wineyou wanted without becoming intoxicated. I shall not reveal this mostvaluable secret here. I have an idea, that when the court sentencesme, I may win its clemency by revealing what I learned from the_dornenritter_--the secret which would be of incalculable value to allmankind--
"We shall see about it--if the time ever comes when sentence shall bepassed on you!" observed the chair.
To out-drink me, resumed the prisoner, after this digression, wasimpossible, though they tried their best to do so. Had they succeededin stupefying me with wine, I am quite certain they would have robbedme of the note for two-thousand thalers, which I always carried withme. I suspected that the series of drinking-bouts had been arranged toenable Rupert to steal the note; had he succeeded, Master Meyer wouldhave been relieved of paying what he owed me. But my secret enabled meto frustrate their plans.
Nor did they succeed in getting hold of any of my doubloons. The firsttime we engaged in a game of dice, I detected their scheme to cheatme; the dice were loaded. As I had played that sort of game before, Iastonished and discomfited my companions by the frequency with whichthe sixes always came on top when I threw. They, and not I, lostmoney. If they attempted to quarrel with me about my good fortune,they found that, skilled though they were in the pugilistic art, Icould take care of myself. I learned some wrestling tricks while I waswith the haidemaken, and they served me well in my bouts with thosenotorious fighting-cocks. I was not the one to get worsted. But, nomatter how angry I might be, I always took good care not to injure anyof them seriously; had I done so, they would very soon have had mebehind prison bars.
I was also extremely careful in my intercourse with the women I met.My white dove accompanied me wherever I went, but I never spoke of herto anyone. I would tell my companions, after they had dragged me fromone den to another without succeeding in attaching me to any of thealluring nymphs, that I had no eyes for any woman but my charmingbetrothed, to whom I had vowed eternal fidelity; and that I wasobliged to adhere all the more rigidly to my vow, because Rupert,being the brother of my sweetheart, might betray me to her were he tosee me paying attention to another girl.
Then the student would swear that a "whole ditch full of devils" mightfetch him (a favorite oath in Hamberger Berg polite society) if he somuch as mentioned my name to his sister. I might flirt with whomsoeverI chose, he would not betray me. But, I persisted in turning a deafear to the fascinating damsels I continued to meet night after nightin the various drinking shops we frequented. I knew very well that atidy wench would be more apt to get hold of my carefully guarded noteof hand than would any of my brawling comrades.
I wasn't going to let anyone steal it; I had decided that I would takethe money home to my poor old parents. The two-thousand thalers wouldmake of them real gentle folk; father could buy a little fruit farm;and a fur coat for himself; and the old mother might promenade tochurch in a silk mantle, bought with the money her son had given her--
"And which he obtained by selling stolen church property,"sarcastically interjected the chair.
"The end justified the means," quickly, but with due respect, retortedthe prisoner, whereupon the prince laughed heartily.
The mayor's face became crimson; he said in a tone of reprimand: "Thatphrase was not devised by the pious Jesuits to excuse the man whosteals church property, and sells it to obtain money for his family.The prisoner will continue his confession."
In this manner I passed three months. The day before the one on whichmy note fell due, I spent in my lodgings sleeping quietly. That nightI accompanied my friends, as usual, on a round of the differenttaverns we were wont to frequent. We scattered the night patrol;smeared the windows of several professors' houses with wagon grease;sang rollicking ditties in front of the houses in which we knew therewere pretty girls; belabored all the Jews we found abroad at thathour, and kept the entire "Berg" in a state of excitement, until longafter midnight. We marched arm in arm, forming a line across thestreet that reached from house to house, to the "Three Apples"--afamous tavern at that time--where, for a wager, we drank all theliquid medicines in the store of an itinerant quack doctor, who hadstopped there for the night.
It is just possible it was the medicaments that confused mybrain--though I am convinced they were perfectly innocent of anyintoxicants. Rupert became so helpless, he lay like a log on thetap-room floor; the innkeeper ordered the rest of us out of the house.
As it was too early
to go home, the Scotchman suggested that, asRupert was not with us, we should go around to Master Meyer's, wherehe and the rest would keep watch in the street, while I made a"window-call" on my betrothed.
"That's a bright idea of yours!" I exclaimed. "How am I to get up tomy pretty Agnes' window? Her room is in the top story, in the gable. Iam not a moo-calf that can stretch its neck to the luthern."
"Why are we your friends?" chivalrously demanded the Spanish hidalgo."Are not we here to help you? We will form a pyramid: three of us willsupport two others on their shoulders, and you will form the apex.You can then rap at your lady-love's window, and we will remainimmovable, while you exchange kisses with her."
The quack's medicaments had, as I said before, confused my brain; Iagreed to the silly plan suggested by the hidalgo, and we turned ourunsteady steps toward the Meyer residence.
When we arrived in front of the house, the first thing we did wasbreak the lantern which swung from a rope stretched across the street,in order that the darkness might screen us from the sight ofpassers-by.
The acrobatic feat of building a human pyramid was easilyaccomplished; and I was very soon standing on the shoulders of twocomrades whose feet in turn rested on the shoulders of the threeforming the base.
I had no difficulty in reaching to the sill of the bow-window; thatroom, I knew, opened into Agnes' sleeping-chamber. I had rapped onceon the glass--cautiously, for I did not want to rouse any one in thelower rooms; and was about to repeat the knock, when the fiendishbellowing I had heard once before made the blood run cold in my veins.
My comrades under me cried out in terror:
"The moo-calf is coming!"--and the next instant I was hanging by myfingers to the sill of the bow-window, with my legs wriggling likethose of a frog caught on a hook. I could hear my valiant comradesscampering for their lives down the street. I did not want to call forhelp; for, if old Meyer saw me dangling in front of his window, hewould believe me to be a burglar, and shoot me without ceremony. Icould not swing myself up to the window-sill, for the sash wasclosed; so, I hung there, and tried in vain to find a projection belowme, on which to rest my toes.
Meanwhile, the bellowing monster came nearer; I could already hear itsnorting under me. I hung motionless as an executed criminal on thegallows, hoping the calf might not notice me.
It was a vain hope! The brute came directly toward me, and when Ilooked down, I saw the hideous horned head stretch upward--nearer,nearer. I could feel the rough tongue lick the soles of my shoes--thenmy ankles. I drew up my knees, and lifted myself as high as I could;but the elastic neck stretched out longer--the horrible tongue lickedhigher. I felt as if my trousers were being brushed with a curry-comb,and I thought to myself every moment: "Now the devil will seize me!"
I wriggled and kicked in vain--nearer, and nearer, came the long hornswhich threatened to spit me on their sharp points. Fiendish laughterseemed to come from the red throat, as the tongue licked higher andhigher. It reached my thighs--then my waist, and before I could guesswhat might happen, the little bag hanging from my belt, in which Icarried the note for two-thousand thalers, was snapped from its chain,and disappeared down the brute's gullet.
My fear vanished with the note. Not even Satan himself should take itwithout a struggle!
Heedless of the moo-calf, as well as of the danger to my legs, I letgo my hold on the window-sill and dropped. Fortunately my mantlecarried me like a parachute through the air, so that I was not evenshaken by a too sudden contact with the pavement.
I now stood face to face with the dreaded moo-calf. It was not acreation of the imagination, but a veritable monster, and a mosthideous and frightful one too, at that! It had four huge legs and feetlike an elephant; a neck two fathoms long, at the end of it anenormous head with horns; the long red tongue hanging from the openjaws was covered with scales shaped like saw teeth.
"You may be the devil himself," I cried, drawing my sword, andstepping up to the monster, "but you must give me back my purse."
Quick as thought, the long neck was drawn in, and the head thrust atme with a force that sent me staggering backward several feet. Afaint-hearted man would most likely have taken to his heels, but I wastoo enraged at my loss to think of seeking safety in flight.
What! had I purloined the _dornenritter_ treasures for this?
_They_ were now in Master Meyer's possession, and the two-thousandthalers were in the stomach of this moo-calf! All this passed likelightning through my brain, as I picked myself up from the pavement,where the brute had flung me, and again approached him.
"Either you take me with you to hell," I exclaimed hoarsely, "or I'lltear my purse from your entrails!"
Again the monster drew in his neck, spread his legs apart as if tobrace himself, and gave utterance to another marrow-freezing roar. Iremembered the dose of pepper I had received from him, and held thecorner of my mantle in front of my face; this shielded me also fromthe sparks of fire he blew from his nostrils.
I was prepared for the second assault, and when the brute again shotout his head toward me, I dropped nimbly to the pavement, and the headswept over me into the empty air. Before it could be drawn back, I wason my feet, and buried my sword to the hilt in the creature's breast.
What was my surprise and horror to hear a despairing moan--not fromthe moo-calf's throat, from its belly--an unmistakably human voice.
"I am killed--murdered!" cried the voice, as the moo-calf fell in aheap to the pavement; and from the shapeless leather envelopestaggered a human form--my comrade, Rupert, the student.
The blood was spurting from a wound in his breast--my sword hadpierced clean through him!
"So, you are the moo-calf?" I exclaimed in amazement, surveying thewounded man leaning, gasping for breath, against the door of hisfather's house.
"The devil take you," he groaned. "Why didn't I kill you at once, whenyou were hanging from the window, instead of fooling with you? Now,the old man may play the moo-calf himself, and scare customers fromthe Jews' quarter! It's all up with me! Ho, Agnes! Mettze! Come quick!Summon the patrol! Sound an alarm!"
I saw a female form appear in the bow-window. It was Agnes. When sherecognized Rupert's voice, she began to shriek "Murder! murder!"
I turned to fly, but Rupert, who had sunk to the pavement, weak fromthe loss of blood, seized hold of my leg--even in death he thoughtonly of revenge! I jerked my leg from his grasp with such force, thathe fell backward, striking his head against the door-post.
He did not stir again.
I did not stop to search in the skin of the moo-calf for thepromissory note; I took only time enough to catch up a handful of mudfrom the street, and fling it into the face of the girl, who wasleaning from the window shrieking "Murder!" into the night.
It silenced her for a few moments, and I fled down the street withstrides that soon took me a considerable distance from the scene ofthe tragedy.
In my terror I imagined that a multitude was pursuing me, crying:"Catch him!" "Hold him!" "There goes the assassin!"
I fled through unfamiliar streets and by-ways, across bridges, to theoutskirts of the city. There I saw, in an underground den, lights andmoving forms; and heard dance-music and riotous shouting. I tore openthe entrance-door, dashed down the steps, and fell into the arms of anovergrown rascal, who was clad in the uniform of the Munster guards.The fellow locked his arms about me, and said laughingly:
"You are welcome, comrade! You have come to the proper refuge. Youmust have been close pressed, I declare! You are puffing like aporpoise! But, have no further fear--you are safe now. Come, sit andhave something to drink."
He pressed a goblet of wine into my hand, thrust his arm through mine,and drank _smollis_ with me, by exchanging his bear-skin hat for mycloth barret-cap.
"There, my son, now you are one of us. You have drank our wine, andare now under the command of our worthy captain."
I had stumbled upon a body of recruits for a partisan corps. Thecompany was made up of desperate characters, who
were glad enough ofthis chance to escape prison, or the gallows.
As for myself, I was forced to put a good face on a bad business! Onlytwelve hours before, I had been a distinguished cavalier, was calledJunker Hermann; and had a promissory note for two-thousand thalers inmy pocket. Now, I had neither station nor money, and as I had goodcause for not wanting to keep the name by which I was known inHamburg, I gave the recruiting sergeant my own true patronymic.
After I had been properly registered, I asked the sergeant:
"What is the name of our captain?"
"Meyer."
"There are a good many Meyers in the world. Is the captain related tothe Berg-Meyers?"
"You've guessed it the first time, my son! The captain's father livesin the Hamberger Berg, and is a well-known receiver of stolen goods.Rupert, the captain's brother, is a pander."
I dare say many a man in my place would have been frightened at thisdiscovery; but _I_ congratulated myself! If I were pursued--Iargued--the officers of justice would seek for me everywhere else butin the company commanded by the brother of the murdered man; and ifCaptain Meyer ever discovered that it was I who had relieved him ofthe brother with whom he would have been obliged to share hisinheritance, _he_ certainly would not reproach me for it!
This, honored and high-born gentlemen, added Hugo in conclusion, isthe true history of the homicide for which I am arraigned. I have notadded to, or taken from it; but have related the events exactly asthey occurred.
"_Qui bene distinguit, bene docet!_" observed the prince thoughtfully."We call it murder, when the person committing the deed strikes whathe knows to be a human being. But, if the man encounters a ferociousmonster that he believes to be a moo-calf, and kills it as such, andit turns out to be a human being, 'murder' is certainly not the termto apply to the deed. Moreover, the person who is so devoid of senseand dignity, as to conceal his human form in the hide of an irrationalbeast, is himself responsible for whatever may happen to him!Therefore, this indictment may also be stricken from the register."
"Perhaps, your highness," observed the chair with a covert sneer,"would like to suggest a reward for the prisoner, for delivering thecity of Hamburg from the terrorism of the moo-calf?"
The prince's reply made it obvious that he had not noticed the chair'ssarcasm:
"I-think-not," he returned slowly. "As the prisoner is likely to becondemned to death for one or more of the other crimes, it would beuseless to bestow on him a certainly deserved reward."
A further hearing was postponed until the next morning.
PART VI.