"Sit down again by me, uncle, and let us do some geography together!"
He spread on his knees the map of the frontier of Lower Alsace.
"I have made up my mind to go this way," he said. "There will be a few inquiries to be made."
Uncle Ulrich nodded his head in sign of approval, interested as if it were some plan for a hunt, or an approaching battle.
"Good place," he said, "Grande Fontaine, les Minières. It seems to me that that is the nearest frontier line to Strasburg. Who told you this?"
"François Ramspacher's second son."
"You can rely on it. You will take the train."
"Yes."
"Where to?"
"As far as Schirmeck, I think."