"It would be strange, if a man could not have an arm missing."
"Strange indeed! Perhaps it is a pillar-saint."
"Give him a charge of powder, and we shall soon see."
At the rattle of arms which was now heard there, rose a howl so
terrible and multitudinous, that no one thought it came from the
pillar-saint. At the same time the apparent heap of stones moved
and became a living mass.
"They are wolves! Aim! Fire!"
A volley was fired, and the wolves fled. Konigsmarck rode through
the smoke, and now saw a one-armed Imperialist standing on the
chimney, which was all that was left of a burnt cottage. "Come down,
and let us look at you," he said.
The maimed man clambered down with his single arm, showing
incredible agility. "We ought to have him to scale the wall with a
storming-party," said the General to himself.
Then the examination commenced.
"Are you alone?"
"Alone _now_--thanks to your grace, for the wolves have been round
me for six hours."
"What is your name? Where do you come from? Whither do you wish to
go?"
"My name is Odowalsky; I come from Vienna; and I shall go to hell,
if I don't get help."
"Will you go with us?"
"Yes, as sure as I live! With anybody, if only I can live. I have
lost my arm; I was given a house; they burnt it, and threw me out on
the highway--with wife and child, of course!"
"Listen; do you know the way to Prague?"
"I can find the way to Prague, to the Hradschin and the Imperial
treasure-house, Wallenstein's palace, the royal castle,
Wallenstein's dancing-hall, and the Loretto Convent.
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