The children determined to go, but little Hans said:
“I will not go unarmed!”
So Caspar mounted his horse-stick, put on his helmet, and buckled his saber to his side; Michael took his gun, Fritz the drum, and little Hans his lance.
“You must remain at home, little Bessy,” said Hans; “I won’t bear the blame if the monster hurts you.”
“But I want to go with you,” answered little Bessy, almost crying; “and, if you will not take me, I will tell my mother.”
“Let her go, then,” said Fritz; “but remember, Bessy, you must always keep ten yards behind.”
Thus, having armed themselves, they took courage, and Caspar thought: “Oh, if we could only catch the monster, dead or alive! Ah! here come Peter, and Frank, and George—they can also go with us, but they must take the great bean-pole out of the garden, that we may be able to attack the monster at a distance.”
Now the little army set itself in motion. Caspar on “Roho” (for so his horse was named) came first, as commander; then came Hans with the spear, Fritz with the drum, Michael with the gun, and lastly, Peter, Frank, and George, with the pole. Little Bessy came ten yards behind them. All were full of courage, and they sang:
The general on his horse comes first,
And next the spear and drum;