"Who can tell? Certainly they have not got back, for they must pass this way."
"On the heath, between your beechwoods and the Rossow pines, the way must be hard to find in this darkness."
"It is indeed," said Hans. "I once rode around there for two hours without getting out of one place, and the night was not as dark as this. To be sure, we had been drinking pretty freely at Fritz Zarrentin's. Hallo! what are you about?"
I was on the point of rushing out; and when Hans spoke I grasped at my head, which felt as if it would burst.
"They may be at that very place now," I muttered.
"Don't go without me!" cried Hans, as I set off on a run.
I stopped: he came behind me and patted me two or three times gently on the shoulder with his great broad hand, saying: "So then, so!" as if he were quieting an excited horse. I caught his hand and said, "come along, Hans."
"Of course," he said; "but we must have two or three fellows with lanterns, or we can do nothing."
"That will keep us too long!"
"Not five minutes."