now becoming greater at every instant, and it might have been
expected that the great mass of the spectators would leave their station; but
such was the intensity of the public interest that few quitted the walls except
for the purpose of reinforcing their ability to stay and watch the progress of
their friends. This could be done with even greater effect as the darkness
deepened, for every second horseman carried a torch; and, as much perhaps by way
of signal to their friends in Klosterheim, as for their own convenience,
prodigious flambeaux were borne aloft on halberds. These rose to a height which
surmounted all the lower bushes, and were visible in all parts of the woods, -
even the smaller lights, in the leafless state of the trees at this season of
the year, could be generally traced without difficulty, and, composing a
brilliant chain of glittering points, as it curved and humoured the road amongst
the labyrinths of the forest, would have produced a singularly striking effect
to eyes at leisure to enjoy it.
    In this way, for about three hours, the travellers continued to advance
unmolested, and to be traced by their friends in Klosterheim. It was now
considerably after seven o'clock, and perhaps an hour, or at most an hour and a
half, would bring them to the city gates. All hearts began to beat high with
expectation, and hopes were loudly and confidently expressed through every part
of the crowd that the danger might now be considered as past. Suddenly, as if
expressly to rebuke the too presumptuous confidence of those who were thus
thoughtlessly sanguine, the blare of a trumpet was heard from a different
quarter of the forest, and about two miles to the right of the city. Every eye
was fastened eagerly upon the spot from which the notes issued. Probably the
signal had proceeded from a small party in advance of a greater; for in the same
direction, but at a much greater distance, perhaps not less than three miles in
the rear of the trumpet, a very large body of horse was now descried coming on
at a great pace upon the line already indicated by the trumpet. The extent of
the column might be estimated by the long array of torches, which were carried
apparently by every fourth or fifth man; and that they were horsemen was
manifest from the very rapid pace at which they advanced.
    At this spectacle a cry of consternation ran along the whole walls of
Klosterheim. Here then at last were coming the spoilers and butchers of their
friends; for the road upon which they were advancing issued at right angles into
that upon which the travellers,