An open carriage was standing a short distance from them and by it a rider. They thought it was the Count, but coming nearer they saw that it was a servant. The Count had vanished with a scornful laugh, after communicating the great discovery to the Baroness, and receiving only the answer, "I thank you, Count, for your escort thus far!" The two last words had been spoken with special emphasis and, lifting his hat again, he rode off at a gallop from the road over the hills. The Baroness left the carriage and came to meet the lovers. Else released Reinhold's arm and hastened to meet her aunt; she told all that was necessary by impulsively embracing her. As Reinhold came up the Baroness extended her hand to him and said in a voice full of emotion, "You bring me the dear child and--yourself! Then have double thanks!" Reinhold kissed the trembling hand.--"It is not a time for many words, Baroness," said he, "and what I feel your kind heart knows. God's blessing upon you!" "And upon thee, my Reinhold!" exclaimed Else, embracing him; "God's blessing! And joy and happiness!" He helped the ladies into the carriage; one clasp of her dear hand, and the company was off, the servant riding ahead. Notwithstanding the hilly ground, as the road was good and the ground firm, they could ride sufficiently fast even here upon the hill, and Reinhold had urged all possible haste. Only a few minutes had passed when the carriage had vanished from his sight behind the hills; when it reached the plain below, and became visible again, half an hour had elapsed. He had not time to wait for that; he must not lose a minute more. Down in Wissow the beacons were already lighted; at this moment the signal for a pilot blazed up from the sea. They would answer promptly--he knew they would; but a new situation might come any moment which would require his presence; and it would take him a quarter of an hour at a full run to get down there. He ran down the hill in long bounds, when a rider appeared right before him in a hollow of the ground, which extended to the right in a deep depression along the length of the promontory, and stood on the path. It happened so suddenly that Reinhold almost ran into the horse. "You seem to be in a very great hurry, now," said the Count. "I am in a great hurry," replied Reinhold, breathless from his rapid running--and was about to go past the head of the horse; but the Count pulled the horse around so that his head was toward Reinhold. "Make room!" exclaimed Reinhold. "I am on my own ground," replied the Count. "The road is free, and you are for freedom of all sorts." "Once more--Make room!" "If I wish to do so." Reinhold seized the bridle of the horse, which reared high from the sharp spurs in his flank; Reinhold reeled backward. The next moment he drew his long knife, which as a seaman he always carried with him. "I should be sorry for the horse," he exclaimed, "but if you will not have it otherwise----"