Henker Rothhals and the rest of the troop looked, as they came trotting to the scene, with the coolness of umpires:  but they witnessed something other than what Schwartz Thier proposed.  This was the sight of a formidable staff, whirling an unfriendly halo over the head of the Thier, and descending on it with such honest intent to confound and overthrow him, that the Thier succumbed to its force without argument, and the square echoed blow and fall simultaneously.  At the same time the wielder of this sound piece of logic seized Margarita, and raised a shout in the square for all true men to stand by him in rescuing a maiden from the clutch of brigands and ravishers.  A crowd was collecting, but seemed to consider the circle now formed by the horsemen as in a manner charmed, for only one, a fair slender youth, came forward and ranged himself beside the stranger.

‘Take thou the maiden:  I’ll keep to the staff,’ said this latter, stumbling over his speech as if he was in a foreign land among old roots and wolfpits which had already shaken out a few of his teeth, and made him cautious about the remainder.

‘Can it be Margarita!’ exclaimed the youth, bending to her, and calling to her:  ‘Margarita!  Fraulein Groschen!’

She opened her eyes, shuddered, and said:  ‘I was not afraid!  Am I safe?’

‘Safe while I have life, and this good friend.’

‘Where is my father?’

‘I have not seen him.’

‘And you—­who are you?  Do I owe this to you?’

‘Oh! no! no!  Me you owe nothing.’

Margarita gazed hurriedly round, and at her feet there lay the Thier with his steel-cap shining in dints, and three rivulets of blood coursing down his mottled forehead.  She looked again at the youth, and a blush of recognition gave life to her cheeks.

’I did not know you.  Pardon me.  Farina! what thanks can reward such courage!  Tell me! shall we go?’

’The youth eyed her an instant, but recovering himself, took a rapid survey, and called to the stranger to follow and help give the young maiden safe conduct home.

’Just then Henker Rothhals bellowed, ‘Time’s up!’ He was answered by a chorus of agreement from the troop.  They had hitherto patiently acted their parts as spectators, immovable on their horses.  The assault on the Thier was all in the play, and a visible interference of fortune in favour of Henker Rothhals.  Now general commotion shuttled them, and the stranger’s keen hazel eyes read their intentions rightly when he lifted his redoubtable staff in preparation for another mighty swoop, this time defensive.  Rothhals, and half a dozen others, with a war-cry of curses, spurred their steeds at once to ride him down.  They had not reckoned the length and good-will of their antagonist’s weapon.  Scarce were they in motion, when round it whizzed, grazing the nostrils of their horses with a precision that argued practice in the feat, and unhorsing two, Rothhals among the number.  He dropped heavily on his head, and showed signs of being as incapable of combat as the Thier.  A cheer burst from the crowd, but fell short.