The Sword Maker

ch to-day is all that survives of the Elector's palace at Hochst, on the river Main. He found Greus

days ago to appoint you my l

e, Roland, you will d

hy

oritism, and so promote jealously in

ou suggest fo

d Kurz

vided authority? I am determi

may thus direct his energy along the right path. From being a critic, he will become one of the criticised, giving him s

at it is the duty of a commander

rs of the guild can depose you whenever they like and elect a successor, or they may desert you in a body, and you ha

onstituted for suc

evening, and succeeded in influencing the others to do the same, yet there is no denying that you spoke to those men in a most overbearing manner. Why, you could not have been more downr

favor my

ng marauding adventure wrecked at the ver

he morning was inspiring,

rzbold were anyth

pon him. But the others, with the exception of Gensbein perhaps, are good, honest, sweet-tempered fellows, whom I did not wish to se

deal with insubordin

e remaining members of your company to

pose the

rugged his

accordingly, but if one of the guild is to be executed, he must be condemned by an overwhelming vote of his fellows, because even if a bare majority sentenced one belonging to the minority it would mean civil war among us. Suppose, for example, it was proposed to hang you, and eleven voted for the execution and nine against it. D

say all this las

. Had he remembered that, I could never have carried the vote of confidence. But you surely saw that the other men were most anxious to

sure this morning does much to null

all; I am merely endeavoring to place facts

believe that military operations can be successfully carried on by a little family party, the head of which must coddle the others in th

two leagues back to that city. Within half an hour at the farthest, every man of us will be assembled here.

oney we owe to Goebel, what hope is there that a single coin remains in their pock

and as merely a man-at-arms, as you called us last night, I shall be in a better posit

you counsel me to

d

who was nearly as m

ein, if you

st night, being part of the time o

last night, when you spoke of hanging, and e

ment that may obey or not, according to the whim of the moment; a cheering prospect, and one I had not anticipated. When I received

any one disobeys a command, then you can act as seems best to you, but I wish you

ands behind his back, and without further words paced up a

e after another various members of the company came upon the scene. To th

d, ceasing his perambulations. Greusel looked anxiously at him as he came forward to the group, b

l here?" a

, Eiselbert, Rasselstein, and

t he not only intended to go on, but had taken to heart the warning given him. Ebearhard and a comrade walked up the road rapidly toward Frankfort, hoping f

e four," he said. "Wha

nd s

enty who are divided in purpose. I propose, therefore, to go on, unless you c

ng to the rest, who had gathered themselves around their cap

ow the river road, Cap

agues, but after that we

ong the road, and our friends may overt

Roland. "Then

ng a wayside tavern, they were hailed by a loud shout from the drinkers in front of it.

glory," he shouted. "Where hav

Roland sternly, "was

Kurzbold. "I told you last night that when I arrived at Hochst I shou

h, "we can all see you have succee

st night, and the dust on the Frankfort road this morning. It takes a great deal of wine to overcome two thirsts. Come along, lads, and drink

r the trees that fronted the taver

Captain," cried Kurzbold.

rom a successful expe

k that your office places you so high above us t

attitude of their leader, hesitated to raise flagon to lip. The d

nder," he said aloud;

d I think y

taking the flagon from him. "And

hilarity. "Here's to the success of the expeditio

f Joseph Greusel, whom I have this morning appointed my lieutenant. If we all co

after all, Roland had resolved to return to Frankfort, money or no money. If he intended to proceed to the Rhine, then even worse might happen, for it was plain he was bent on rule or r

order. If we claim the power to elect our captain, by the cock-crowned Cross of the old bridge we have a right to

shouted Ebearhard sava

ade a better selection.

ted the question, and even Kurzb

lk. Here's to the health of the

l standing, with the exception of Kurzbo

s what I said. Greusel's good man, and now he's elected by the compa

upset it, and then roared loudly f

a long march ahead of us. Come, Greusel, we must lea

gling procession that

upon me this morning regarding the appointment of a lieutenant. The truth is I wished to teach you a lesson, and could not resist the tempt

ur brigade are sane and sober this morning. But wait until to-night, when the wine passe

won't pass r

you pre

ll see," said Rol

straight west. The left branch was infinitely the better thoroughfare, for the most part

ing along by the river

," replied Roland, with

grew hotter, the pace began to tell on him, and he accepted without protest the support of two comrades who had been drinking with him at Hochst. He retrograded into a condition of pessimistic dejection as the enthusiasm of the wine evaporated. A lit

and requested his lieutenant to inform the march

supporters dragged him on with difficulty past those houses which displayed a bush over the door. At the larger town of Hofheim, five leagues from Frankfort, the sam

an unexplored wilderness, whose forests were infested by roving brigands, where no man ventured except at the risk of an untimely grave. The medi?val townsman rarely trusted himself very far outside the city gates, and our enterprising marauders, whom to outward view seem

ward in front of the Weinstaube which had been selected for a feeding-place. Black bread and a coarse kind of country cheese were the only provisions obtainable, but of these eatables there was

mmand. Every ounce of fight, or even discussion, was gone from them. They cared not where they were, or what any one said to them. Their sole desire was to be let alone, and they took not the slightest interest even in the preparing of their frugal meal. A mug of wine served to e

pproached

when this meal has to be paid for. I find t

lied Roland. "I have settled the bill, and will see that th

all the money he possesses into a general fund to be dealt wit

that the proposal was not made unti

n, "myself, for instance, and they wish us to share as

don't agree with it. How m

actically intact, and Ebea

oes into the treasury of any committee the men may appoint.

issatisfaction at tha

orm them that you and Ebearhard and myself, that is, three of us, will contribute to the committee's funds

use there's not a single k

ghteen contributes one thaler, we three will contribute six thalers apiece. Ask them whether they do not thi

ss they lack, Comma

se of power they demand equality. How, then, can they, with any sense of fairness, prove

to the men, and either the commander's reasoning overcame all oppos

the wine had been paid for by the commander, so no one need worry on that account, but if any man wished more wine he must pay the shot himself. However, before the afternoon's march was begun flagons of wine would be served at the commander's expense. Th

hard, "what do you

s of the Rhine could see us, and knew that we intended to at

Barons, and laughed. He

nd talking of prospects, what's

d him not to appoint me lieutenant, but to choose Kurzbold or Gensbein from among the malcontents, fo

it seems to me," r

how he has made a buffer of me. He gives no commands to the men himself, but merely orders me to pass along the word for this or

that to be cowar

g I thought they would win in such a case, but, by the iron Cross, I am not so confident now. Remember how he sprung my appointment on the crowd, counting, I am sure, on your help. He said to me, when we were alone by the tower, that you were the most fair-minded man among the lot, and he evidently played on that, giving them not a moment to think, and you backed him up. He carried his point, and since then has not said a word to them, all orders go

nt! What can have been his up-bringing? He is obviously not of the merchant class, yet he persuades the chief of our merchants, and the most conservative, to engage in this wild goose chase, and actually venture money and goods in supporting him. This expedition

fencing-master,"

ing. Fencing-masters don't promote freebooting expeditions, and, besides, a fencing-master is always urbane and polite, cringing to every one. I have watched Roland closely at times, trying to study him, and in doing so have caught mom

if this excursion does not break up at the ou

sel cast a glance over his shoulder, and saw Rolan

than five leagues from Frankfort. Our foray must be a succes

w much their leader had overheard. He took his pla

and you take his. This, by the way, is an appointment, rather than an election. It is not to b

ommander," sa

ow much mon

ty th

ill you lend me th

nnsha

lled forth his wallet,

ook char

ard? How are you

twenty-fi

row from y

, y

ea of the men has merits of its own; therefore I have formed myself into a committee, appoi

r, so far as

s saying, Greusel, if anything happens to me, you carry on the enterprise along t

you before we arrive th

nothing to interrupt the march. Once at Assmannshausen, you two must keep a sharp lookout up the river. When you s

sumed, then Roland, throwing his cloak ove

ord to give each a flagon of wine. We take the road to Wiesbaden. I sh

g to his subordinates the ungracious task of setting tired men

erg. The straggling company made a halt for a short time, while provisions were purchased, every man carrying his own share, which was scantly sufficient for supper

and then, with his cloak loosely over his arm, struck out for the west, as if the declining sun were his goal. The rest followed him slowly, in deep depression of spirits. They were in a wild country, unknown to any of them. The hills had become higher and steeper, and there was not even a beaten path to follow; but Rol

selves in a wilderness through which ran a brawling stream. Roland announced to them that this would be their camping place for the night. At once there was

one it myself, and will repeat the experience to-night. If you are not yet tired enoug

f over their heads, such accommodation as their leader proposed they should endure seemed like being cast away on a desert island. The mystery of the forest affrighted them. For all they could tell the woods were full of wild animals, and they knew that somewhere near

rn to Sonnenberg," said t

and I have passed through it several times. By the way, Wiesbaden, which is mu

taken aback by Roland

eed, are in some doubt whether or no we can fin

pt it. Why not eat your supper, and dr

e as dark as Erebus," p

e, as I suggeste

ed to reach Sonnenbe

t me detain you. The gloom thicken

, but when we reach Sonne

you

ntend to

te r

you three thaler

nt the mone

, we

sorb all the f

. We mean

o take it from

es

se, perhaps it would be bett

hink

eighteen of you, all armed with swo

in the gathering chill of the evening, and untying from

ispose of it as I choose. I therefore give it to the brook,

late. The young man flung the bag into the torrent, where it disap

will be for the love of it, n

okesman, making no further show of aggression now t

re the better qualified to lead all such

down under the trees, ate thei

his two gloomy lieutenants, who stood silent at

d have dined with greater pleasure had yo

ly called me that this morning. Come, let us sit down farth

, Roland contin

be made upon us for money, therefore I borrowed all that you two possessed. Walking on ahead, I prepared for what I knew must come, filling the empty wallet with very small stones picked up along the road. That wallet

their fatigue, despite being out of doors. Next morning there was consternation in the camp, r