Sorlé hastened to serve up the remains of our breakfast, with a bottle of wine; and Baruch, while he was eating, told us that there was a panic in Alsace, that the Austrians had turned Basle, and were advancing by forced marches upon Schlestadt, Neuf Brisach, and Strasburg, after having surrounded Huninguen. "Everybody is escaping," said he. "They are fleeing to the mountain, taking their valuables on their carts, and driving their cattle into the woods. There is a rumor already that bands of Cossacks have been seen at Mutzig, but that is hardly possible, as the army of Marshal Victor is on the Upper Rhine, and dragoons are passing every day to join him. How could they pass his lines without giving battle?" We were listening very attentively to these things when the sergeant came in. He was just off duty, and stood outside of the door, looking at us with astonishment. I took Zeffen by the hand, and said: "Sergeant, this is my daughter, this is my son-in-law, and these are my grandchildren, about whom I have told you. They know you, for I have told them in my letters how much we think of you." The sergeant looked at Zeffen.--"Father Moses," said he, "you have a handsome daughter, and your son-in-law looks like a worthy man." Then he took little Esdras from Zeffen's arms, and lifted him up, and made a face at him, at which the child laughed, and everybody was pleased. The other little one opened his eyes wide and looked on. "My children have come to stay with me," I said to the sergeant; "you will excuse them if they make a little noise in the house?" "How! Father Moses," he exclaimed. "I will excuse everything! Do not be concerned; are we not old friends?" And at once, in spite of all we could say, he chose another room looking upon the court. "All the nestful ought to be together," said he. "I am the friend of the family, the old sergeant, who will not trouble anybody, provided they are willing to see him here." I was so much moved that I gave him both my hands. "It was a happy day when you entered my house," said I. "The Lord be thanked for it!" He laughed, and said: "Come now, Father Moses; come! Have I done anything more than was natural? Why do you wonder at it?" He went at once to get his things and carry them to his new room; and then went away, so as not to disturb us. How we are mistaken! This sergeant, whom Frichard had sent to plague us, at the end of a fortnight was one of our family; he consulted our comfort in everything--and, notwithstanding all the years that have passed since then, I cannot think of that good man without emotion. When we were alone, Baruch told us that he could not stay at Phalsburg; that he had come to bring his family, with everything that he could provide for them in the first hurried moments; but that, in the midst of such dangers, when the enemy could not long delay coming, his duty was to guard his house, and prevent, as much as possible, the pillage of his goods.