"And I," said Frantz, "would have thrust my bayonet through his body."
Kasper still stood at the threshold, hesitating. His fingers clutched the hilt of his hunting-knife, and his eyes were almost savage in their glare; but the old man seized him by the arm and dragged him away, saying:
"Away! We will meet the wretch again. To advise me to betray my country! Hullin said well when he told us to be on our guard."
They passed down the street gazing fiercely around.
At the end of the village, opposite the ancient cross, and near the church, they halted. Materne then, somewhat calmed, showed his sons the path which winds around Phrâmond, through the bushes, and said:
"You will take that foot-path. I will follow the road to Schirmeck, going slowly, so that you may get there as soon as I."
They separated, and the old hunter walked thoughtfully on, his head bowed, and his eyes fixed upon the ground, wondering all the while how he managed to restrain himself from breaking the inn-keeper's head. From time to time herds of cattle passed him, and flocks of sheep and goats, all on their way to the mountain. They came from Wisch, from Urmatt, and even from Mutzig, and the poor animals seemed scarcely able to move.
"Where are you going so fast?" cried the old hunter to the sad-looking herdsmen. "Have you not heard the proclamation of the Russians and Austrians?"
But they seemed in no humor for jesting, and replied: