For days Franz was unconscious, but when he came to himself again Hans, with a smile, handed him a letter from his father.
"And we have money now," said the old man with a laugh, "and all the good food you'll be wanting."
He did not tell the Herr Lieutenant, however, that since they had found refuge with the peasant the French army had advanced and they were surrounded by the enemy. Instead, he announced that he had heard from the peasant that there was talk of peace.
Now, all might have gone well had Hans been content to be quiet. But he was a restless old fellow and he could not bear sitting still doing nothing.
"I will go out," he announced next day, "and discover the whereabouts of the enemy."
In an hour he returned his face full of excitement, his legs shaking.
"The soldiers saw me," he cried. "They are coming this way. Ach Himmel, if I had been quiet!"
Then he ran for the peasant and told him that they must hide the Herr Lieutenant.
The peasant, whose face grew dark with dread, nodded, shrugging his shoulders.
"There is a loft," he said, "but hurry."