"What are you doing here, children?" said Franz, roughly, but not unkindly. "It is time you were at home. These are not days when children should be out after dark. I cannot but think the wolves have come near the town again, for the dogs are half crazy. Look at old Leo, how he growls and bristles. One would think he smelt them at this moment. Gently, gently, old fellow! There are no wolves here." The dog struggled to free himself from his leash, and lifting up his head made the air resound with his yells. He was answered by the doleful braying of the other dogs in kennels at the lodge, and by the howls of all the less aristocratic dogs of the village. The face of the old man darkened. "The beasts must be at hand," said he, anxiously. "Trust old Leo never to give tongue on a false scent. There, again! Children, hasten home as fast as you can." "I believe the dog may be right, Uncle Franz," said Philip. "Gustaf saw something in the vault yonder which frightened him." "It had green glaring eyes and growled," said Gustaf. "I thought it was the wehr-wolf." "The dog was right," exclaimed the old man, exultingly. "Trust old Leo for telling the truth. Hasten home, Greta; and do you, Philip, run to the lodge and give the alarm. Tell Gaurenz—you will find him at the kennels—that the wolves are in the churchyard. I will keep watch here with the dog. A fine time, truly, when our very graves are not safe from them! Take my pistol from my belt and look at the priming, boy, before you go. They may take a fancy to bolt." "Do you think there can be more than one?" asked Philip as he carefully renewed the priming of the pistol and loosened his uncle's knife in the sheath, for both the huntsman's hands were fully occupied in restraining the now furious dog. "I can't say, my boy. For aught I know, the whole pack may have slipped down last night, after the moon set, and hidden themselves in these old holes, ready for an onslaught to-night. They are as wise and cunning as so many kobolds. Away with you now, and give the alarm as you go." Philip was the fastest runner in all Nonnenwald, and in a few minutes he was at the lodge telling his errand, not to the huntsman, but to the landgrave himself, who was down at the kennels looking at the dogs. In a few minutes the churchyard, late so quiet, was a scene of the wildest commotion.