"Only," stammered out the farmer, "because the forester is a strange man. If the baron himself were to come, he would not surrender."
"Does he live in a fortress, then?" inquired Anton, laughing.
"He locks himself up," said the tenant, "and lets no one enter; he has a way of his own."
"He is a wild man of the woods," said the shepherd, shaking his head.
"The Poles say that he is a magician," continued the farmer.
"He can make himself invisible," cried the shepherd.
"Do you believe that?" asked Karl, much amazed.
"Not I, but there are plenty in the village who do."
"He is a good sort of man at the bottom, but he has his oddities," affirmed the farmer.
"I hope he will respect my position," rejoined Anton; "it will be worse for him if he does not."