During this discussion Schilder-David had remained perfectly silent: he was holding Joseph in his arms, passing his hand over his face and his limbs, as if to make sure that he really had him safe again. And now he slipped out at the door along with the boy: he could not exactly tell why: he wanted to be once more alone with Joseph at home; but when he got outside the house he, for the first time, perceived that his knees failed him--he was forced to sit down on the steps. Within the house he heard a commotion, a window was opened and a pungent smell of smoke was perceptible, for the lights on the Christmas tree were all blown out. So sat Schilder-David. Who comes this way? Who can it be? It is Haespele. He shouted with joy on seeing Joseph, who was, however, shivering so much that Schilder-David was quite uneasy about him. "Go back quickly into the wood and say that he is here, and prevent them all running about in search of him," said David, his teeth chattering. Haespele hurried away, shouting out the good news. "He is found! he is found!" cried he up the hill till he was hoarse. A female figure now came out to David and said-- "Give me the child." "No; I'll give him to no one here. What do you want with him?" "I wish to carry him to my room, and to put him to bed. Come with us." "Oh! you must be Tony, surely? Your mother was a good woman." "And I hope I am, too. Come, quick; make haste!" "I can't go up the steps; I find out now what I have gone through." "Come into the stable, then; for you will be warmer there, at all events." Tony took the old man straight into the stable, where she prepared a comfortable bed of dry hay, and laid the child on it, and covered him up warmly. Schilder-David placed his hand on the child's forehead, who soon fell sound asleep; and his grandfather watched by him, scarcely daring to breathe. Not till they were both quietly sleeping did Tony glide softly out of the stable. CHAPTER XVI. ASLEEP AND AWAKE AGAIN IN THE FOREST MILL. Haespele had been sent by the anxious parents to the eminence where they had observed a light, to see what was going on there. Martina would not believe what Adam said:--"Who knows but they may have found our Joseph in the mill?" and yet she wanted to go there instantly herself; but Adam persuaded her to wait, at all events till Haespele came back. At last he came; he ran as fast as he could to the spot where he had left them, but they were no longer there. "Is the whole world entirely bewitched this blessed night?" said Haespele. Adam and Martina however, at that moment, were engaged in laying hold of the three angels. Adam shouted to them in his powerful voice to stop, as they came near: the angels, however, seemed to feel such desperate alarm at any of the Roettmann family, that they fairly took to their heels. "You will see that our Joseph is gone with the Christmas singers," said Martina, in a hopeful tone.