the subjects would be the better off.'

'Ay,' said the young man Fritz, 'you are in the right of it there.

That was a true word spoken. And I see you are like me, a good

patriot and an enemy to princes.'

Otto was somewhat abashed at this deduction, and he made haste to

change his ground. 'But,' said he, 'you surprise me by what you say

of this Prince Otto. I have heard him, I must own, more favourably

painted. I was told he was, in his heart, a good fellow, and the

enemy of no one but himself.'

'And so he is, sir,' said the girl, 'a very handsome, pleasant

prince; and we know some who would shed their blood for him.'

'O! Kuno!' said Fritz. 'An ignoramus!'

'Ay, Kuno, to be sure,' quavered the old farmer. 'Well, since this

gentleman is a stranger to these parts, and curious about the

Prince, I do believe that story might divert him. This Kuno, you

must know, sir, is one of the hunt servants, and a most ignorant,

intemperate man: a right Grunewalder, as we say in Gerolstein. We

know him well, in this house; for he has come as far as here after

his stray dogs; and I make all welcome, sir, without account of

state or nation. And, indeed, between Gerolstein and Grunewald the

peace has held so long that the roads stand open like my door; and a

man will make no more of the frontier than the very birds

themselves.'

'Ay,' said Otto, 'it has been a long peace - a peace of centuries.'

'Centuries, as you say,' returned Killian; 'the more the pity that

it should not be for ever. Well, sir, this Kuno was one day in

fault, and Otto, who has a quick temper, up with his whip and

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