"But how is this?" said the little captain, with a sharp look, "how did
this peasant get here without being announced by the piquet? He is a
spy, and deserves to be hung."

"Don't be astonished, Muckerle, he is no spy; come and sit down by me,
my friend, you are a musician, I see, by your instrument hanging over
your shoulder, like a Spaniard going to serenade his love."

"Yes, sir! I am a poor musician; your guard allowed me to pass when I
came through the wood. I saw you playing, and I ventured to look on."

The commanders of this free corps not being accustomed to hear
themselves addressed in such polite terms, took a liking to the
peasant, and invited him courteously to seat himself among them; for
they had learned in the military service of foreign countries that
kings and princes often went about in the guise of minstrels.

The general filled a cup of wine out of a pewter bottle, offered it to
the little captain, and said, with a good-natured smile, "Muckerle,
what I drink shall be my death, if I don't forget everything that has
passed between us! an end to strife and quarrel. We won't play any
more, gentlemen: I love a song and the sound of the guitar--what say
you to some music?"

The men agreed, and threw the cards aside. The peasant tuned his
instrument, and asked what he should sing.

"Give us a song upon card-playing!" cried one of the party.

The musician considered awhile, and sung the following upon the game of
lansquenet, which they had just been playing.

"Cinque, quatre, and ace
Bring many a man to disgrace;
Quatre, and cinque, and tre
Make many to cry well-a-day;
An ace, a seize, and a deuce
Make many an empty house;
A quatre, a trois, and cinque
Cause many pure water to drink;
A cinque, a trois, and quatre
Make parents' and children's eyes water;
From cinque, and quatre, and seize,
Miss Catherine and Miss Elize
Must long unmarried remain,
Unless from your play you refrain."

Long Peter and his associates praised his singing, and reached him the
flask with their thanks. "May God bless you!" said the singer, as he
returned the bottle; "I wish you luck in your campaign. If I don't
mistake, you are the commanders of the League, and are on your march to
the enemy. May I ask who you are going against?"

The men looked and