"What is the matter?" said Waltenberg, going to meet him. "Has anything happened? Where is Herr Gronau?"
Sepp pointed in the direction of the Vulture Cliff: "Up there! We have had an accident. The gentle man slipped on the rocks, and his foot----"
"There are no bones broken?"
"No, 'tis not so bad as that, for we got down to even ground, but he could not go any farther. The gentleman is up there in the forest, and cannot move his foot, and I came to ask the Herr Doctor to look after him."
"Of course I must look after him," said Reinsfeld, instantly turning to go. "Where did you leave him? Far from here?"
"No; only a short quarter of a mile up."
"I will go with you," said Waltenberg, hastily. "I must see after Gronau. Pray stay here, Fräulein von Thurgau; you hear it is not far, and we shall return immediately."
"Would it not be better that we should all go up together?" asked Elmhorst. "My aid might be necessary."
"Oh, a sprained ankle, or even a broken limb, is not dangerous," said Benno. "We three can do all that is necessary, even although we should be obliged to carry Herr Gronau; and Fräulein von Thurgau cannot be left here alone."
"Certainly not; Herr Elmhorst must stay with her," Ernst said, decidedly. "We will be as quick as possible, rely upon it, Fräulein von Thurgau."