"No," replied Fritz, with a thrill of alarm which almost deprived him of speech.
"Now keep your mouths shut," was the next whisper. "I hear something outside."
The boys obeyed, though they longed to cry out, "Come, whoever you are, and take us out of this miserable place."
There was one of the party who resolved not to obey the command, and that was Pixy. He, too, heard the noise outside, and sprang against the door, barking shrilly.
"I will kill that dog if he don't keep quiet," said the butcher-boy in an angry but subdued tone.
Fritz groped his way to his pet and put his hand over his mouth, but it was too late. The forest-keeper outside had heard the barking, and striking his musket upon the door, he asked, "Who's there?"
It was now no use to keep silent and Fritz took it upon himself to answer.
"Good friend, we are three boys on our holiday journey. We have been to
Frankfort, and are on our way home to Michelstadt."
"Who is in there with you?"
"Three working people who allowed us to take shelter here from the rain."