Gottlieb, you listen, to what father says to you.

[_Some one sings outside the window:_

Our little man does all that he can, Heigh-ho, heigh!

At home he cleans the pots an' the pan, Heigh-diddle-di-dum-di!

[_Pa.s.ses on._

GOTTLIEB

[_Jumps up, shakes his clenched fist at the window._] Beast! Don't drive me crazy!

[_A volley of musketry is heard._

MOTHER HILSE

[_Starts and trembles._] Good Lord! Is that thunder again?

OLD HILSE

[_Instinctively folding his hands._] Oh, our Father in heaven! defend the poor weavers, protect my poor brothers.

[_A short pause ensues._

OLD HILSE

[_To himself, painfully agitated._] There's blood flowin' now.

GOTTLIEB

[_Had started up and grasped the axe when the shooting was heard; deathly pale, almost beside himself with excitement._] An' am I to lie to heel like a dog still?

A GIRL

[_Calls from the entry-room._] Father Hilse, father Hilse! get away from the window. A bullet's just flown in at ours upstairs.

[_Disappears._

MIELCHEN

[_Puts her head in at the window, laughing._] Gran'father, gran'father, they've shot with their guns. Two or three's been knocked down, an' one of 'em's turnin' round and round like a top, an' one's twistin' hisself like a sparrow when its head's bein' pulled of. An' oh, if you saw all the blood that came pourin'--!

[_Disappears._

A WEAVER'S WIFE

Yes, there's two or three'll never get up again.

AN OLD WEAVER

[_In the entry-room._] Look out! They're goin' to make a rush on the soldiers.

A SECOND WEAVER

[_Wildly._] Look, look, look at the women! skirts up, an' spittin' in the soldiers' faces already!

A WEAVER'S WIFE

[_Calls in._] Gottlieb, look at your wife. She's more pluck in her than you. She's jumpin' about in front o' the bay'nets as if she was dancin'

to music.

[_Four men carry a wounded rioter through the entry-room. Silence, which is broken by some one saying in a distinct voice,_ "It's weaver Ulbrich." _Once more silence for a few seconds, when the same voice is heard again:_ "It's all over with him; he's got a bullet in his ear." _The men are heard climbing the wooden stair. Sudden shouting outside:_ "Hurrah, hurrah!"

VOICES IN THE ENTRY-ROOM

"Where did they get the stones from?"--"Yes, it's time you were off!"--"From the new road."--"Ta-ta, soldiers!"--"It's rainin'

paving-stones."

[_Shrieks of terror and loud roaring outside, taken up by those in the entry-room. There is a cry of fear, and the house door is shut with a bang._

VOICES IN THE ENTRY-ROOM

"They're loadin' again."--"They'll fire another volley this minute."--"Father Hilse, get away from that window."

GOTTLIEB

[_Clutches the axe._] What! is we mad dogs? Is we to eat powder an' shot now instead o' bread? [_Hesitating an instant to the old man._] Would you have me sit here an' see my wife shot? Never! [_As he rushes out._] Look out! I'm coming!

OLD HILSE

Gottlieb, Gottlieb!

MOTHER HILSE

Where's Gottlieb gone?

OLD HILSE

He's gone to the devil.

VOICES FROM THE ENTRY-ROOM

Go away from the window, father Hilse.

OLD HILSE

Not I! Not if you all goes crazy together! [_To MOTHER HILSE, with rapt excitement._] My heavenly Father has placed me here. Isn't that so, mother? Here we'll sit, an' do our bounden duty--ay, though the snow was to go on fire.