t he knew every
clod in it. In the adjoining patch he had reaped barley with Mary Ann
that very summer. Farther down, in the Hen's Scratch, was his
clover-piece, which he had sown and was now denied the pleasure of
watching while it grew. Thus he looked around him. As they passed the
stile he was mute. In crossing the bridge he looked down into the
stream: would he have dropped the marked creutzer into it now?

In the town the singing and shouting was resumed; but not till the
Bildechingen Hill was passed did Aloys breathe freely. His beloved
Nordstetten lay before him, apparently so near that his voice could
have been heard there. He saw the yellow house of George the
blacksmith, and knew that Mary Ann lived in the next house but one. He
swung his cap and began to sing again.

At Herrenberg George left the recruits to pursue their way on foot. At
parting he inquired of Aloys whether he had any message for Mary Ann.

Aloys reddened. George was the very last person he should have chosen
for a messenger; and yet a kind message would have escaped his lips if
he had not checked himself. Involuntarily he blurted out, "You needn't
talk to her at all: she can't bear the sight of you, anyhow."

George laughed and drove away.

An important adventure befell the recruits on the road. At the entrance
of the Boeblingen Forest, which is five miles long, they impressed a
wood-cutter with his team, and compelled him to carry them. Aloys was
the ringleader: he had heard George talk so much of soldiers' pranks
that he could not let an occasion slip of playing one. But when they
had passed through the wood he was also the first to open his leathern
pouch and reimburse the involuntary stage-proprietor.

At the Tuebingen gate of Stuttgart a corporal stood waiting to receive
them. Several soldiers from Nordstetten had come out to meet their
comrades; and Aloys clenched his teeth as every one of them greeted him
with, "Gawk, how are you?" There was an end of all shouting and singing
now: like dumb sheep the recruits were led into the barracks. Aloys
first expressed a wish to go into the cavalry, as he desired to emulate
George; but, on being told that in that case he would have to go home
again, as the cavalry-training would not begin till fall, he changed
his mind. "I won't go home again until I am a different sort of a
fellow," he said to himself; "and then, if any one undertakes to call
me gawk, I'll gawk him."

So he was enrolled