Sabine stepped toward him and seized hold of his hand.

"Wohlfart, protect my brother." Anton promised, with inexpressible readiness, to do so; felt for his loaded pistols, a present from Mr.Fink, and jumped into the railway carriage with the most blissful feelings a youthful hero could possibly have.

He was bent on adventure, proud of the confidence of his principal, and exalted to the utmost by the tender relation into which he had entered with the divinity of the firm.

He was indeed happy.
The engine puffed and snorted across the wide plain like a horse from Beelzebub's stables.

There were soldiers in all the carriages--bayonets and helmets shining every where; at all the stations, crowds of curious inquirers, hasty questions and answers, fearful rumors, and marvelous facts.