"No, indeed; he doesn't need it, and I will take it off, and put it in my knapsack as soon as we are past the village. I only brought it to put on him when we are in the streets of Frankfort to keep him from getting frightened and running away."
The rope was taken off and put in the knapsack, and then Fritz made another proposition.
"Let us take off our shoes and stick our stockings in them, swing them from our knapsacks, and go barefoot."
"All right!" agreed the others, and soon they were rejoicing in the luxury of bare feet, but not long, for Paul struck his toe against a stone, then getting a briar in his foot, sank down upon a green bank and took it in his hand.
"I see the briar," exclaimed Fritz, "and can take it out."
"Oh, no, it will hurt," objected Paul, with tears in his eyes, but his tears changed to smiles when he saw the briar in the hand of Fritz.
This was a warning and they put on their stockings and shoes, and then concluded to eat some more breakfast.
"What have you to eat?" asked Fritz, as Franz took his package from his knapsack.
"I have brown bread; mother made it for me because I love it, and she put plenty of good sausage with it."
"Nothing better!" said Fritz, heartily. "What have you, Paul, for your second breakfast?"