A stupid-looking boy of thirteen or fourteen was quickly at his side.
"Help," he commanded, and the three bore Franz to a small peasant house behind the wood.
Hans promised to find money at once.
"You say we are near Tilsit?" he asked.
The peasant nodded.
"Can your boy carry a letter to Memel?"
The man hesitated.
"There are the French," he said, and went on to explain that if his boy were seen going into Memel houses he would perhaps be shot as a spy, their home burned, and then where were they?
"But at night," urged Hans, "let him lay a note on the window of the house I mean and they will put out money and provisions."
After much talk the old man agreed, and Hans, with great difficulty, for he had little education, wrote the letter that the Professor had found on his window.