The other men laughed.
"Well, it will do them no harm," said Witichis; "go now to your meal. To-morrow I will examine your work."
The men went.
"What is that about Calpurnius?" asked Witichis, pouring wine into his cup.
Rauthgundis blushed and hesitated.
"He has carried away the hay from the mountain meadow," she then replied, "which our men had mowed; and has put it into his barn by night, and will not return it."
"He will return it quickly enough, I think," said her husband quietly, as he took up his cup and drank.
"Yes," cried Athalwin eagerly, "I think so too! And if he will not, all the better for me! Then we will declare war, and I will go over with Wachis and all the great fellows, with weapons and pikes! He always looks at me so wickedly, the black spy!"
Rauthgundis told him to be silent, and sent him to bed.
"Very well, I will go," he said; "but, father, when thou comest again, thou wilt bring me a real weapon, instead of this stick, wilt thou not?" and he ran into the house.