Hurry up, men!  Over there!  The shouting comes from the path!

ROBERT.

People are coming.  Come here, come here!  Help!

MOeLLER (as before).

That is Mr. Robert’s voice.

ROBERT.

If help is to be of any avail here, it must come quickly.

[Opens GODFREY’S coat and vest.]

MOeLLER.

To be sure, it is you, Mr. Stein.

[Enters with two workingmen.]

But—­

ROBERT.

Moeller, is that you?  Look here what has happened!—­Are you still alive,
Godfrey?

GODFREY.

Still—­but—­

MOeLLER (coming up).

Godfrey!  Merciful heavens!

ROBERT.

Shot from ambush.  The bullet entered at the back.

MOeLLER.

Godfrey, speak!  Who did it?

GODFREY.

He had—­the rifle—­with the yellow strap—­

ROBERT.

Andrew’s rifle?

GODFREY.

He—­threatened—­to shoot me—­

ROBERT.

It is not possible.

MOeLLER.

Was it Andrew, Godfrey?

GODFREY.

Andrew—­yes—­

MOeLLER.

He is dying.

[Pause.]

Take him up, men.  And you, Mr. Stein—­this here is a nest of murderers.  Come along.  There are others about here lying in ambush.  Just now we met Weiler with a gun—­that vicious fellow.  He was out spying, that’s clear.  It is a regular hunt.  Come along!  But, for heaven’s sake, why will you not—­

ROBERT.

Never mind!  Go ahead.

MOeLLER.

But what do you intend to do?  And your father—­if I leave you alone in danger—­if I do not bring you home with me!  How will he ever believe me, that I tried to persuade you?

ROBERT.

Why, you have witnesses here with you.  When I say a thing I mean it—­I am going to stay here.

[Walks up and down in agitation.]

MOeLLER.

Well, come along, men.  You have heard it.

[While going out.]

Good heavens!  How will it all end?

[The men have lifted up the corpse; exeunt with MOeLLER.]

SCENE VII

ROBERT, alone; then ANDREW; finally LINDENSCHMIED.

ROBERT.

Disgraceful!  Disgraceful!  Could it be possible that Andrew was capable of this kind of revenge?  And I must believe it—­I must!  The dying man said it; he had threatened him with it—­it was his gun—­and all this is real—­here the murdered man died—­here is—­with his blood he wrote it in the turf, so that I can have no doubt.  And such men stand between me and my happiness?  Take a firm stand, Robert; here everything is at stake.  You are dealing with men who are afraid of no crime.  Who comes there?  It is Andrew himself. [Shouting to ANDREW, who is not yet visible.] Come on!  If you are looking for me, murderer!  You shall not find me defenseless and unwary as Godfrey—­