The arrow whizzed from the bow, the rider bent sideways and caught it with a sure hand.
"Either you are a bad marksman, or you tried not to hit me!" he exclaimed.
Astounded and motionless, with his bow lowered, the boy gazed at him while he was approaching and dismounting, and then asked,—
"Can you be the hero Siegfried?"
"Ah! then you know about him," replied Eric, gaily. "No, my young friend." He offered his hand to Roland, who seized it.
"Hero Siegfried wore no uniform with a red collar. But now help me to dispose of my horse."
"It is like one of Count Wolfsgarten's horses."
"It is his."
"Ivan!" shouted the boy.
A groom appeared and led the horse to the stable. As Eric and Roland followed, they heard from behind a partition near by a whining, and a weak attempt at barking.