The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 372: what you’re looking at

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self, she drew it gently but firmly away; and, with a deep sob suffocating the endeavored to give utterance, she rush- ed from the turret-chamber. — ne CHAPTER XCI. THE CONTINUATION OF THE SIEGE OF ALTENDORF CASTLE. - - y 3 x ‘ : e ad _* ¥ > « : ‘ ° wes =e r= .- —>- —_———— ~ —— = a a. >| — nae — feces a = a Sas == J -— +> — oF 4 “ - - — - — SS Ee J ~=— "eae « - Yrs, Famine was indeed doing its dark and terrible work within the walls of the beleaguered fortalice. For five weeks had the siege now lasted; and during that interval not a grain of corn had been imported into the stronghold. But, on the other hand, we have seen that the provision-ware- houses were destroyed by a desperate achievement on the part of the Captain General of the Taborites. This was a fatal blow to the aristocratic army ; but the secret of the cruel result was kept as long as possible from the knowledge of the besiegers. The Baron of Altendorf, Father Cy- prian, Lord Rodolph, and the nobles who were acting in concert with them, justly imagined that no circumstances would induce the Taborites to raise the siege if they once learnt that famine must eventually compel a surrender ; whereas, if a belief could be induced to the effect that the destruction of the provision warehouses led to no manner of inconvenience, and that there were ample supplies of provender of all kinds still left within the walls,—if such an impression could be spread abroad, we say, the defenders of Altendorf felt as- sured that Zitzka would not waste too much of his valuable time in a fruitless slege. But the fatal secret could not long be kept. It oozed out through the medium of certain prisoners, taken in an on- slaught upon the walls; and though the Taborites were beaten back upon this as on the former occasions, yet did they retire in the present instance with the assurance that famine was really at work within the precincts of Altendorf Cas- tle. And heaven knows that such was in- deed the case! Rapidly from the fatal night when the corn magazine and the provision warehouses were destroyed, —rapidly, we say, did a more rigid economy become apparent in the distri- bution of the rations; then this economy a _ ES Oe . ? ~ ~ J -¥ += if » sa =." ; am 4 ~" > ¥, dl ‘ . ¢ * ¢ 7 +e ‘ e '? 4 -’ > £4 at : ‘ « ia, ‘ 4 - &, ’ ri" te » fh at ‘$4 4 te a bth arn’ t ts ; ! | ' ' ' } / ) ; | 370 THE BRONZE STATUE. ‘ merged into a sordid parsimony, until . the officers had been compelled to con- farewell word to which she once more| fess to their soldiers the deplorable state oftheir resources. At first thes» tidings were received with an apparently cheer- ful resignation and a courageous submis- sion to the force of circumstances and the chances of war: but then the intel- ligence had been communicated ata moment when the garrison was only experiencing the comparatively toler- able hardship of ‘short commons,’ and was not as yet practically acquainted with the pinching extreme of ‘no bread.’ Therefore, when this last sad phase of affairs presented itself to their view, —when they were informed that the granaries were empty, that the oxen and the sheep were all consumed, and that the store keeper’s situation had be- come a sinecure,—the soldiers threw sullen looks upon their officers, and-ex- changed sinister glances with each other. But as yet they spoke not out aloud, be- cause they remembered that the horses in the stables would furnish food for several days; and the animals were ac- cordingly slain to minister to the wants of the garrison. But when this resource was exhaust- ed—when even the very dogs within the precincts of the castle had been con- verted into human food—the soldiers: assembled and demanded an interview with the Baron of Altendorf. This was immediately granted, and they required that he should place himself at their head, and lead them to cut their way through the Taborite army. Vainly for some time did he remon- strate with them upon the desperate . nature of their project; vainly did he assure them that they wouid be immo- lated to a man by overpowering num- bers. Maddened by hunger, goaded al- <2 most to frenzy by the pinching poignan- 4 cy of famine, and reckless of all conse- quences, they persisted in their wild scheme. But at that moment Father Cyprian appeared before them; and, pretending to have just received a super- natural intimation to the effect that speedy succor might be expected, he succeeded in calming the perturbed and menacing mind of the garrison, On the following day the Taborites renewed their attack upon the castle ; the aristo- cratic soldiers fought desperately, and the besiegers were beaten back, leaving six or seven of their men in the hands of the garrison. From one of these captives Father comicbooks.com ee a