"How the men worked! They rowed as they had never rowed before.
"They passed one village after another. Still they moved onward without stopping, till they found themselves at the pier of Strasburg.
"The councillor jumped out of the boat, telling two of his men to follow with the great pot of oatmeal. He led the way to the council-house, where he burst in with his strange present.
"'I bring you a warm answer to your cold words,' he told the surprised councillors. He spoke truly, for the pot was still steaming. How amused they all were!
"'What a clever fellow he is,' they said among themselves. 'Surely we will agree to make the bond with Zurich, if it holds many men like him.'
"The bond was quickly signed and then, with laughter and good-will, the councillors gathered around the kettle with spoons and ate every bit of the oatmeal.
"'It is excellent,' they all cried. And indeed it was still hot enough to burn the mouths of those who were not careful."
"Good! Good!" cried the children, and they laughed heartily, even though it was a joke against their own people.
Their father and mother had also listened to the story and enjoyed it as much as the children.
"Another story, please, dear Uncle Fritz," they begged.