Only that afternoon had her godmother told Willy that he lived but for blood, and that Death followed every step of that white horse.
"It would be well for the world if God took him," she had added, and now this dreadful monster was pointing his whip at her, little Bettina Weyland, and asking the Postmaster who were these people in his path.
When he had an answer he motioned them to pass quickly. Then, dismounting, he and his generals proceeded up the hill of Jena.
As Hans and Bettina went on their way his voice followed after, and it was not pleasant things it said, for it stormed at Marshal Lannes because his artillery had stuck fast in a gorge. And then Hans heard something about the Prussians and good-morning.
As for Hans he was hot with fury.
"'Old wigs,'" he kept muttering, "'Old wigs,' indeed! Did you hear him, the villain, Bettina, call our generals 'old wigs'?"
But Bettina had herself, and not the generals of Prussia, to think of.
"Grandfather," she cried, "grandfather, will the Emperor get us?"
Her grandfather laughed almost merrily,
"Nein, nein, little one," he said. "In a day or two the soldiers of Frederick the Great will set that white horse scampering back to Paris. Nein, nein, my little Bettina, there is nothing to fear. But come, here is our path in the forest. We are safe now, and out of the puddles."