"Tell her that we are very much obliged to her for her kindness to us," said Fritz, "and tell her our breakfast was first-class and we enjoyed it."
"And tell her," said Paul, "that she made our clothes dry and clean and it is not her fault that our hats could not be straightened to look like they did before it rained."
"Nor," added Franz, "was it her fault that they are stained by the color coming out of the bands and running into the straw. Please tell her we are obliged, just the same."
"I will tell her all," replied Hartman, making a laudable effort to keep from smiling, "and now good-bye, and a safe journey home."
The boys touched their hats, and turned their faces again toward the road, when Paul halted and looked back. "There now!" he said, "we forgot to thank the forest-keeper for his goodness to us, and we would have had to sleep in our wet clothes and had no good beds or breakfast, had it not been for him. Let us run back and thank him."
It seemed that Mr. Hartman had a presentiment that the triplets would have something more to say, for he had halted and was looking after them.
"We forgot to thank you for your goodness to us," they exclaimed when within speaking distance; "and we ran back to tell you."
"That is all right," he answered heartily. "We were glad to entertain you, and hope that you will come to see us again."
"Thank you; we will if we can," replied Paul, then all said good-bye, touched their hats and set out again for the road.
Presently Mr. Hartman saw their heads together in earnest conversation, and waited, believing that they had something more to say, and he was not mistaken, for they ran back, and Franz this time was spokesman.