Meanwhile Karl had returned home with the donkeys. Poor Meta was
greatly grieved and alarmed when she heard the sad news. "Those cruel
men will be killing dear grandfather, as they killed John Huss," she
said, 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, but
several times during the day; before Karl set off on his expedition into
the forest to cut wood, and when he returned, or when he went into the
town to sell his fagots. "When grandfather told me to run away, he
intended 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 used
to sing and amuse herself very well, when she knew that her grandfather
and 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 that
than formerly. Without it she felt sure she would have broken down
altogether. Still, occasionally, she felt her spirits sink so low that
she could not help wishing to accompany Karl into the forest. "I can
take the book and read to him when he stops to rest or to eat his
dinner; and I can talk to him and cheer him up, for he must feel quite
as sad as I do, I know."
Karl gladly agreed to her proposal, so the next day, shutting up the
cottage, they set out together. The way was rough, but Meta was well
accustomed to tread it, and without encountering any danger they reached
the part of the forest in which Karl usually laboured. Meta carried out
her plan just as she had proposed, and Karl, though he rested longer
than had been his wont, got through more work than usual. For several
days she did the same, very much to her own and Karl's satisfaction. On
one occasion she was seated on a piece of timber, with her book on her
knees, reading, while Karl sat on the ground at her feet, eating his
frugal meal, but slowly though, for every now and then he looked up to
ask her the meaning of certain passages, or to make some remark.
They were thus employed, entirely absorbed in the subject. Some slight
noises reached their ears, but if their attention was drawn to them they
thought they were caused by the asses which were browsing near brushing
among the bushes. Meta read on. At length she stopped, when, looking
up, she saw standing near her, and gazing with a look of astonishment, a
gentleman in a rich hunting suit, a short sword by his side, a horn hung
round his neck, and a jewelled dagger in his belt. His white beard and
moustache, and his furrowed cheeks, showed that he was already advanced
in life, though he looked active and strong. A pleasant smile passed
over his countenance, as Meta, littering an exclamation of astonishment,
gazed up at him. Karl started to his feet, and instinctively put
himself in an attitude of defence.
"Do not be alarmed, my young friends," said the gentleman. "I wish to
serve you rather than to do you any harm. What is that book you are
reading from, little maiden?"
"The Bible, sir, God's word," answered Meta, without hesitation.
"A very blessed book, and a very blessed message it contains," observed
the gentleman. "But how came you young foresters to possess it, and to
learn to read it?"
"I learned at Herr Gellet's school," answered Meta, "and a good man who
came by this way, sold us the book at a small price. It is worth ten
times 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's
word," 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 shut
up."
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 joined
several of his companions who had been standing all the time at a little
distance, scarcely perceived till now by Meta and Karl. One of them had
been holding his horse, which he mounted, and rode away, conversing with
him through the forest.
Karl having made up his fagots, proceeded homewards, talking with Meta
as they went, about the interview with the nobleman, and wondering who
he could be. "I wonder whether he is the Count Furstenburg, whose
castle is, I know, some short distance off, though I have never been up
to 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 a
fierce, cruel lord, tyrannical both to his dependants and even to those
of his own family. I know I have heard of all sorts of bad things about
him, 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' hoofs
approaching it. Karl ran out to see who it was, while Meta was
preparing the supper.
"Oh, Meta!" exclaimed Karl, running back, "it is that dreadful man,
Johann Herder, our grandfather's great enemy! His coming bodes us no
good."
They consulted whether they should bolt the door, but Meta advised that
they should show no alarm; and as Herder could easily break open the
door, it would be useless to try and keep him out.
In another minute Herder entered the cottage. He cast a frowning glance
around 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. "I
was 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 to
read.
"God's word, sir," said Meta, firmly. "We always read it before sitting
down to meals. It is by reading it that we learn of salvation. This
book says, `Faith cometh by hearing,' or reading God's word, and by
faith we are saved."
"Those are strange doctrines you are speaking," said the rough man, yet
feeling, perhaps, more than he was willing to acknowledge, the force of
her words, and greatly struck by her calmness and bravery.
"They cannot be new, sir," answered Meta, "for they were written by the
apostles themselves, nor are they strange, for the same reason."
"I came not to discuss such matters," said Herder, turning away. "My
reason for coming here was to tell your grandfather that he must move
out of this cottage, as I have bought it. As he is not here, I give you
the notice, and let me tell you that the opinions you utter are very
dangerous. They are not such as to please the priests or bishop; take
care, therefore, what you are about." Without further words, Herder
turned round, unwilling it seemed to look any longer on the young girl
and 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 thing
to have to leave their old home, and for their grandfather, when he got
out of prison, to be obliged to seek for a new one. His other threats
also boded them no good. They had, however, strength the rough man knew
nothing of. As soon as they were again alone, they knelt down and
prayed for protection, nor failed to obtain the comfort prayer will
always bring. They then returned to the table and partook of their yet
untasted supper. Before it was finished, a knock was heard at the door.
"Shall I open it?" asked Karl. "Perhaps it is Herr Herder come back
again."
"Oh, no!" said Meta, "he would not knock. We should not be afraid to
open 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 saluting
them, kindly inquired for their grandfather. "I trust he has not been
taken from you," he said, with an expression of anxiety.
"Indeed he has, sir," said Meta, "but not by death;" and in a few words
she 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. "We
must try and obtain his liberation. The people of Germany will no
longer 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 of
their humble fare. This he did, seeing that there was abundance.
Suddenly he exclaimed, "I have thought of a plan. I will endeavour to
gain admittance to your grandfather, and if so, I trust the means may be
given him to escape from the prison." As it was somewhat late, the
book-hawker gladly availed himself of the shelter of the hut for the
night, while he amply repaid his young hosts by reading and expounding
the Scriptures to them, greatly to their satisfaction.