stein captive in the cobbler's work-place, and carried him to
Pillenreuth, whence he came to Nuremberg, and there to the gallows.

Starch had left a worthy man to fill his place; hardly had he departed
when old Uhlwurm pulled off the tailor's right shoe, and now it was made
plain wherefor Eppelein had so anxiously pointed to his feet; the letter
entrusted to him had indeed been hid in his boot. Under the lining
leather of the sole it lay, but only one from Akusch addressed to
me. Howbeit, when we had threatened the now barefoot knave with cruel
torture, he confessed that, having been an honest tailor till of late,
he had soft feet by reason that he had ever sat over his needle. And
when he pulled on the stolen shoes somewhat therein hard hurt his sole,
and when he made search under the leather, behold a large letter closely
folded and sealed. This had been the cause and reason of his being ill
at ease, and he had opened it, being of an enquiring mind, and, inasmuch
as he was a schoolmaster's son he could read with the best. Howbeit, at
that time the gang were about to light a fire to make their supper, and
whereas it would not burn by reason of the wet, they had taken the dry
paper and used it to make the feeble flame blaze up.

Thus there was nought more to be hoped for, save that the tailor might
by good hap remember certain parts of the letter; and in truth he was
able to tell us that it was written to a maid named Ann, and in it there
were such words of true love in great straits and bitter parting as
moved him to tears, by reason that he likewise had once had a true love.

While he spoke thus he perceived that Ann was the maiden to whom the
letter had been writ, and he forthwith poured forth a great flow of
fiery love-vows such as he may have learned from his Amadis, but never,
albeit he said it, from that letter.

One thing at least he could make known to us from Herdegen's letter;
and that was that the writer said much concerning slavery and a great
ransom, and likewise of a malignant woman who was his foe, and of her
husband, whose wiles could by no means be brought to nought unless
it were by cunning and prudent craft. This, indeed, he could repeat
well-nigh word for word, by reason that he had conceived the plan of
urging Eber to set forth for the land of Egypt with his robber-band, and
deliver that guiltless slave from the hands of the misbelieving heathen.
Albeit he had made himself a highway thief, it was