The Bailiff's Fritz just then came riding into the yard with the team, and came into the room.
"Good evening, father," said he; "I have got off from the French," and he shook hands with the Bailiff, and then went up to my father, whose back was turned to him, and gave him a stout cuff: "Good evening, Hans, can't you speak to your brother?"
My father started and turned round; Fritz stood fixed to the spot like Lot's wife.
"Lord save us!" cried the Bailiff. "He comes in here and goes and strikes the Stemhagen Burmeister under my own roof. And the rascal is to be a bailiff some day!"
"Never mind," said my father. "However, as a punishment he shall have no rest yet; he shall drive us over to Stemhagen this very night."
"Through the whole world, if you like, Herr Burmeister," said Fritz.
"But how is it you are so late home?" asked the Bailiff.
"Why, father, I thought it might be ugly if they were to catch me and so I led the horses into the Wood, and stood on the watch; and I meant to stay there till evening, but while I was waiting, Luth came along and told me the French had been gone a long time, and that the Burmeister had escaped from them and that he was looking for him.
"Where is Luth, now, then?" asked my father.
"He'll he here directly," said Fritz, "he only stopped to make inquiries at the schoolmaster's."