"The ambuscade at the Cross of the Three Kings then still holds?" said the Bohemian.
"Mein Got, ay, – you will swear to bring them there; and when they are on their knees before the cross, and down from off their horses, which all men do, except such black heathens as thou, we will make in on them, and they are ours."
"Ay, but I promised this piece of necessary villainy only on one condition," said Hayraddin. – "I will not have a hair of the young man's head touched. If you swear this to me, by your Three dead Men of Cologne, I will swear to you, by the Seven Night Walkers, that I will serve you truly as to the rest. And if you break your oath, the Night Walkers shall wake you seven nights from your sleep, between night and morning, and, on the eighth, they shall strangle and devour you."
"But, donner and hagel, what need you be so curious about the life of this boy, who is neither your bloot nor kin?" said the German.
"No matter for that, honest Heinrick; some men have pleasure in cutting throats, some in keeping them whole – So swear to me, that you will spare him life and limb, or, by the bright star Aldeboran, this matter shall go no further – Swear, and by the Three Kings, as you call them, of Cologne – I know you care for no other oath."
"Du bist ein comische man," said the lanzknecht, "I swear" –
"Not yet," said the Bohemian – "Faces about, brave lanzknecht, and look to the east, else the Kings may not hear you."
The soldier took the oath in the manner prescribed, and then declared that he would be in readiness, observing the place was quite convenient, being scarce five miles from their present leaguer.
"But, were it not making sure work to have a fahnlein of riders on the other road, by the left side of the inn, which might trap them if they go that way?"
The Bohemian considered a moment, and then answered, "No – the appearance of their troops in that direction might alarm the garrison of Namur, and then they would have a doubtful fight, instead of assured success. Besides, they shall travel on the right bank of the Maes, for I can guide them which way I will; for, sharp as this same Scottish mountaineer is, he hath never asked any one's advice, save mine, upon the direction of their route. – Undoubtedly, I was assigned to him by an assured friend, whose word no man mistrusts till they come to know him a little."