smiled at each other, but the general answered him:
"you are quite in the wrong. We did, indeed, serve the League formerly,
but we are now free and our own masters, ready to assist any one who
wants us."

"This will be a good year for the Swiss, for it is said the Duke will
return to his country with their assistance," said the peasant.

"May the Swiss be hunted by wolves," said the general, "for having
treated him so ill! The good Duke set all his hopes upon them, and,
_diavolo maledetto_! did they not desert him in Blaubeuren?"

"Yes, it was too bad," said Captain Muckerle; "but when one looks at
the circumstance in its proper light, it served him half right, because
he should have known them better. May the devil take them all!"

"They were the Duke's last resource," replied the musician; "but if he
had trusted to such men as you, the League would still be at Ulm."

"You have spoken a true word there, my hearty friend!" said the
captain. "He ought to have preferred the lansquenets before those Swiss
dogs. And if he trusts to them now, I know what will happen. I say it
again: he should take lansquenets. Is it not so, Magdeburger?"

"That's my opinion also," said the Magdeburger: "no other than
lansquenets can seat the Duke upon his chair again. The Swiss only know
how to use their long halberds; that's all their art. But you ought to
see us load our guns, how we lay them in the fork, and fire them with a
match. No one can come near us in that man[oe]uvre. The Swiss take half
an hour to fire their guns, but we only half of a quarter."

"With all respect, gentlemen of this noble corps," said the peasant,
raising his cap respectfully, "the Duke should certainly have thrown
himself upon your bounty. But the League rewarded you too well for the
poor Duke to be able to crave your assistance."

"Rewarded, did you say?" cried the captain of the fifth company, and
laughed; "yes, those Swabian dogs would have melted gold out of lead if
they could! But I say they paid us ill, and if his grace the Duke will
take me, my services are at his command."

"You are right, Staberl," said the general, and stroked his beard.
"_Morbleu!_ the cat likes to have his back stroked:--if the Duke pays
well, the whole corps will join him."

"Well, you shall soon see that," said the peasant, with a cunning
smile; "have you had an answer to your message to the Duke?"

The general's whole countenance became as red as fire at this question.