The Sword Maker

gazed about him with astonishment. It seemed as if some powerful wizard of the hills had spirited him away during the night. He had gone to sleep in a place of terror. The thunde

mentary illumination of the lightning, the waves appeared to leap up at him like a pack of hungry wolves, flecked with froth, and the noise s

was inspiring to breathe. To Greusel's mind, tinged with religious feeling, the situation in which he found himself seemed like a section of the Garden of Eden. The stream,

ansformation, until he remembered the distant thunderstorm of the night before among the eastern m

errors and the passions of darkness! It is as if God desired to give man repeated opportunities of reform,

ain, drew it round to the front of him, and unfastened it. Pouring out the gold, he found that the wallet contained a hundred and fifteen thalers, mostly in gold, with the addition of a few silver coins. At once it occurred to him that these were Roland'

d lay sound asleep near him. Farther away the eighteen remaining members of the company were huddled closely together, as if th

ly flung into it might be plainly visible. He determined to rouse his commander, and seek the bag for some distance downstream; for he knew that w

disquietude, for he supposed that the leader had risen still earlier than

waterway. Peering constantly into the limpid waters, he discovered no trace of what he sought. Down and down the valley, which was wooded

with here and there a house showing among the vines. At the foot of this hill ran a broad blue ribbon, which he knew to be the Rhine, although he had never seen it before. Over it floated a silvery gauze of rapidly disappearing mist. The western shore ap

world was so enchanting and so peaceful. It seemed impossible that men privileged to

this Diana's pool. It was a delicious experience, and he swam round and round the circular basin, clambered up on the gravel and allowed the stream to fall over his glistening shoulders, reveling in Nature's shower-bath. Satisfied at length, he indulged in another rainbow plunge, grasped the bag, and rose again to the surface. Coming ashore, he unloosened the s

branches of the trees above them, the eighteen prone men slept as if they were but seven. He sprang over the brook, touched t

Greusel," he said. "H

of a waterfall nearly a league from here," and with that h

not understand. He rose and sh

er struck terror into my heart only a few hours ago? I never slept out of doors before in all my life, and could not have imagin

n it occurred to me that when our friends saw the reduction of the rivulet, they

really full

, y

ruthful, but last night I thought he befooled us. I was certain it was the bag

e that? He showed us

I, being the doubting Thomas of the grou

s the bag we saw last night. I discover

believed him. He should have tied it to mine. W

ng of Roland this morning. I surmised that he had arisen before me, and

ou found the bag, he of course, missed

he hills beyond. I could trace the stream for a considerable distance, and wat

he has gone back to

loss what

k mutiny and threats of violence. By the iron Cross, Greusel, he has forsaken this misbegotten lot, and it serves them perfectly right, prating about comradeship

the money at the beginning, then these drunken swine spend it on wine, and prove so generous and brave that

leave the lot sleeping there, go to Wiesbaden for breakfast, and

tly; "I shall carry out

hadn't seen him

. You heard his ord

member. Wha

justified in deserting this menagerie, but, on the other hand, you and I have stood faithfully by him, and it doesn't seem t

of this must have suggested itself to him even that early in the day. He has divested himself of every particle of money in his possession,

be the obj

ng them to the Rhine. He will satisfy himself that your discipline is such as to improve their manner

I fail

l fancy, remember-I im

another company who w

till, I do not see why he should have l

less about this mob, but is giving you an opportunity, and then another chance. Why, his design is clear as that rivulet there, and as easily seen through. You will either bring those men across the hills, or you won't. If you and I are compelled to clamber over to Assmannshausen alone, Ro

y when certain to lose. You are a shr

n their prognostications regarding the fate of Roland, but this being history it may be stated that the young man had not th

reakfast? Has all the wine been drunk? I h

his comrades who lay nearest him. He was answered by groans and imprecations, as one b

n the river?"

a third. "It's only running water. Who drank

ear without searching my pouch has made no thef

overty. We're all in the same case. Curse that fool of a Rol

ost needed," exclaimed

hen looked down at the beaut

all that last night? Was there a

ol, on little more than a lite

all day. The liter and a half was a mere nightcap. If you are certain ther

ded for not springing on Roland before he succeeded i

l recover that bag yet, and then it's back to Sonnenberg for breakfast. Whoever finds it, finds it for the guild; a fair and equal division amo

hers, and the treasure

hed them disappear through

realize that at such a moment in the early morning the only subject worth consideration is breakfast. Being unsparing and prodigal last night, it would take a small miracle of

remark, but the advice commended

view of the Rhine. Indeed, it was plain that they considered themselves involved in a boundless wilderness, and were too perplexed to suggest a way out. After a storm of malediction over the brea

oland?" th

now," repl

ll you where

ht. Perhaps he fell into the stream. Perhaps, on the other hand, he has deliberately deserted us. He gave

bold. "It is the duty of a leade

he followi

least knowing where in Heaven's name we are. And now to be left like this, breakfastless, thirs

drawn; when you recollect that you expressed your determination to rob him, and when you call to mind that you brave eighteen threatened him with pe

b talker, but the question

d from the leadership. To my mind, he had no further obligations towards you, so, having roughly taken the power into your ow

kept yourself separate from us. Greusel has been appointed lieutenant by our unanimous vote, and if his chief prove

plied Greusel, "I must know whether or

t?" Several, speaking to

ur where I lead? I refuse to act as guide if I run the risk of fin

his impasse. You make entirely too much of last night's episode. None of us intended to hurt him, as you are ver

," said Greusel stubbornly, "and give me y

y he was, the others were rather subdued, and no voice

we can come to a decision," went on Kurzbo

d twenty-five. While you were all sleeping on the grass, af

ot such idiots as

we both considered it right

that he had determined to be that committee. He asked us if any of you had money, but I told him

ungry, and without a florin amongst us," wailed Kurzbold,

ny fault of Roland's, who gave in to your whims and childishness until you came to the point of murder and robbery. Therefore blame yourselves a

some distance into the grove, from whence echoes of an angry debate came to the two men who sat by t

mined to retur

y go

enough of the way to l

that point we can

be your guide, but unfortunately I am trave

e country ahead of us than we do. By going back we can get something to ea

nquired

ayment we will give the

rve with a swor

d drink with the landlord of the Rheingold until he becomes bankrupt? You must remember that it was Roland who liquidated our last debt there, without asking or rece

d, too late, that what Greusel said was strictly true. If Roland had put in an appearance then, he would have found a most docile co

with us?" pleaded the penite

though I know nothing of his intentions, I imagine he has gone to enlist a company of a score or thereabouts that will obey his commands. There is some hope by going forward to Assmannshausen; there is absolutely none in retreating to Frankfort. Then, as I said, Assmannshaus

are which way the cat jumped, had induced that unreasoning animal to leap as he liked. His air of supreme indifference aroused Ebea

otested Kurzbold. "None of us are acq

ng at the sun now and then, and cannot go astray, because we must come to the Rhine;

the Rhine!" was no

ust have your promise that you will obey me without question. I am not so patient a man as Roland,

growled Kurzbold, "when you

d you, I expect to

hrew away

saying a word, even to me. He is an ingenious man. Assmannshausen is familiar to him, a

impatient host, gathering up their cloaks, and tighten

el, springing across the little

well, Greusel," com

er, "for I have condemned myself to wear this heavy cloak, whic

ive," predicted his friend,

omewhere in the Rheingau, and that we mus

elf could not have managed these chaps so well, you flaunting hypocrite, the only

hanged th

ng some sort of path, which we must have trodd

he was going. He strode along ahead of us as if sure of his g

han a trail, which a sharp-eyed man might follow, and it led up-h

pen country, and saw the welcome vines growing. Climbing out of the valley, they observed to the right, near the t

not been for their own fatigue, and the steepne

e and above them. At once they obeyed the wor

and not by force. Therefore, while you wait on the hilltop, I shall go alone into the houses on the right, and see what can be done towards providing a meal for eighteen men. Ebearhard and I will fast until we reach Assma

and Ebearhard led the van while Greusel deflected up t

d been following would take him to Ehrenfels, and that he must adopt a re

no dearth of wine, although it proved a coarse drink that reflected little credit on the reputation of the Rheingau. He paid for this meal

ithout a word being said by any one. And now they took their way down the hill again, crossed the little Geisenheim stream, and up once more, traversing a high table-land g

eded in establishing a credit for them to the extent of one liter of wine each, with a substantial meal of meat, eggs, and what-not. Greusel and Ebearhard left them there in the height of great enjoyment, all the more delightful after the hunger and fatigue they had encountered, for the three a

enlivening traffic had departed. It was now evident to both that Roland had not entered Assmannshausen

d Ebearhard, "what d

is gone. It is absolutely certain that Roland is not

en without money; therefore why to Frankfort, even

estion that occurred to me, which was to take the men direct down the vall

k he went

you persuaded

what could be

ever has been. You yourself pointed that out when we were talking of him at Breckenheim. If you caught glances of contempt for us

vel with a man before you

ing R

that I nominated Kurzbold for our leader before Roland appeared on the scene, I am amazed at my lack of judgment of men. As for Roland himself, my opinion of him has fallen. Nothing could have p

ed, or more likely would proceed up along the margin of the river, and hail the boat when it came in sight. The captain would recognize him, and turn in, and we know the captain is under his command. At this moment they are doubtless poling slowly up the Rhine to the Main again, and will thus reach Frankfort. Herr Goebel has conf

oland will enlist

ss knows, there are enough unemployed men in Frankfort for

not in Assmannshausen, yet Greusel