Chapter 101

_The same_: MÖLLER, _then_ BASTIAN.

MÖLLER (_comes in, beside himself_).

Horrible! Horrible!

STEIN.

But what is the matter?

MÖLLER.

A murder!--A dreadful murder!

STEIN.

But, man alive, speak--

MÖLLER.

Mr. Robert--

STEIN. My son!

[_Falls into a chair_.]

PASTOR.

Has Robert been murdered?

[_Goes anxiously up to_ STEIN.]

_Enter_ BASTIAN.

MÖLLER.

Not yet. Not yet, I hope. But--I am quite beside myself. Ulrich's Andrew has already shot and killed Godfrey. Those from the forester's house have instituted a regular hunt for their enemies. I had Godfrey carried home. He looks horrible. The bullet entered at the left side of the spine. He died in Mr. Robert's arms. I asked him: Was it Andrew, Godfrey? It was Andrew, he said--it was Andrew--and lay down a dead man. I implored Mr. Robert to come home for God's sake; he was quite beside himself, and would not come. And I had not gone two hundred steps with my men, when two more shots were fired behind us.

STEIN (_rises, beside himself_).

Mount your horse at once--ride till it drops dead--only be quick--get soldiers from the town--surround the whole forest--catch that murderer's band from the forester's house! You, Bastian, get quickly my Lüttich rifle, the one that's loaded--then call the workingmen--have them armed--to--where was it, Möller?

MÖLLER.

At the first bridge--in the Dell, scarcely ten minutes beyond the forester's house.

PASTOR.

God grant that the worst may still be prevented!

STEIN (_stamps his foot_).

Bastian! Bastian! Why are you still standing there! Make haste!

[_Exit_ MÖLLER.]

And I--while--Bastian!

[BASTIAN _brings the rifle_. STEIN _tears it from him_.]

I am coming! Robert, hold your own! I am coming!

[_Exeunt omnes_.]