Year: 1860

certain, il she admitted the assailant, and
her master too would be robbed. She had
no reason to suppose that her compliance
would save the life of the child. 1t was
risk against nothing, and she resolved to
hold out to the last, though the villain re-
newed his threats, saying if she did not
open the door to him, he would kill the
child, and then set ire TO the mill over her
head.


81 put my trust ia God" was still the
poor girls answer.


In the meanwhile the rufIian Sc. down the
child for moment to look for combustables
TO carry out his threat. In his search, he
dicovered mode of entering the mill un-
thought of by Hanchen. 1t was a large
aperture in the wall, communicating with
tie wheel and and other machinery OF the
mill, and il was point entirely unprotected,
for it had never been contemplated that any
one would seek to ent .r by so dangerous an
inlet. Triumphant at this discovery, he re-


returned to tie the hands and feet of the
poor child to prevent his escape, and then
stole back TO the aperture by which he in


tended to effect an enterance.


The position of the building prevented


Hanchen seeing anything of this; but a


thought struck her. 1t was Sunday, when


the mill was never at work. If, therefore,


the sails were set in motion, the whole


neighborhood would know that something


was the matter; and her master would es-
pecially hasten home TO know the meaning


of anything so strange. Being all her lite


accustomed to the machinery of the mill, it


was the work of a moment to set all in mo-


ton; brisk breeze which sprurg up at


once, set the sails flying. The arms of the


huge engine whirled around with fearful


rapidity, the great wheel slowly revolving


upon its axis; the smaller gear turnei, ana


creaked. and groaned according as the ma


chinery came into acIion, the mill was in


full motion.


1t was at that moment that the ruffian in


truder succeeded in squeezing himself


through the aperture in the wall and getting
himself safely lodged in the great drum
wheel. His dismay, however was indiscrib-
able, when he began to be whirled about


with its rotation, and found that all his ef-
, forts to put stop to the powerful machine
ry which SET in motion, or extricate himself
; form this perilous situation. we're frutless.
In his terror, he uttered shrieks and horri-
BILE imprecations. Astonished at the noise


Hanchen went to the spot, and saw him
: caught like rat in his own trap, from
i which it was no part Of her plan TO liberate
: him. She knew he would be more frigh
E tened than hurt, if he kept within his rota
q ry prison without any rash attempts at es
q cape, and that even if he became insensiblt
he could not fall out.


In the mean time the wheel went round
u and round with its steady and unceasin!
n motion, and round and round he went will
0 it, while sense remained, beseeching Han
i chen, with entreaties, promises, and wil'
y impatient threats, which were equally dis
e regarded, till by degrees feeling and pre-
ception failed him, and he heard and saw
l. no more. He fell senseless at the bottom
u of the engine, but even then his inanimat


body continued to be whirled round as be
u fore, for Hanchen did not dare to trust ap
d. pearances in such a william, and would no
p venture to suspend the working of the mil
IS or stop the mill gear and tackle from run
n ming at their fullest speed. At length sh


heard loud knocking at the door, and fey
II to open it. 1t was her master and his fam


Hy, dccobpAtieu py eoNCiu oi MS hSiSh
n bors, all in the utmost CONSERVATION an'
i wonder at seeing the mill sails at full swim
81 on Sunday, and still more so when the
e found the poor child lying bound on tn


grass, who however, was too terrifel (
'f give any account of what had happened.
Y Hanchen in few words told all an
then her spirit which had sustained he
u through such scenes of terror, gave wa,
n under the sense of safety and relief, an
e she fell fainting in their arms, and was wit
n much difficulty recovered. The machiner
e of the mill was at once stopped and the in
'r animate ruffian dragged from his dreadfr


prison. Heinrich, too, was brought fort
le from the miller's chamber, and both wer
'e in short time sent bound under stron


escort, to Bonn, where they soon met tn
n' reward of their crimes.


q: The history of this extraordinary act {
ID presence of mind concludes by telling u
'e that Hanchen thus efectually cured of he
'e penchdnt for her unworthy suitor, becam
n eventually the wife of the miller's elde'
SIS son. and thus lived all her life in the scene


of her great danger and happy deliveranc