his master by a head and a half, and he was ever to be seen in a
hood, on which an owl's head with its beak and ears was set. Verily the
whole presence of the man minded me of that nightbird; and when I think
of his Master Seyfried, or Young Kubbeling, I often remember that he was
ever wont to wear three wild-cats' skins, which he laid on his breast and
on each leg, as a remedy against pains he had. And the falcon-seller, who
was thick-set and broad-shouldered, was in truth not unlike a wild-cat in
his unkempt shagginess, albeit free from all craft and guile. His whole
mien, in his yellow leather jerkin slashed with green, his high boots,
and ill-shaven face covered with short, grey bristles, was that of a
woodsman who has grown strange to man in the forest wilds; howbeit we
knew from many dealings that he was honest and pitiful, and would endure
hard things to be serviceable and faithful to those few whom he truly
loved.

All the creatures he brought with him were for sale; even the Iceland
ponies, which he but seldom led home again, by reason that they were in
great favor with the Junkers and damsels of high degree in the castles
where he found shelter; and my uncle believed that his profits and
savings must be no small matter.

Scarce had Kubbeling and his fellow entered the court-yard, when the
house wife appeared once more at my aunt's window, and bid him come up
forthwith to her mistress. But the Brunswicker only replied roughly and
shortly: "First those that need my help." And he spoke thus of a wounded
man, whom he had picked up, nigh unto death, by the road-side. While,
with Uhlwurm's help, he carefully lifted the youth from under the tilt,
my uncle, who had long been hoping for his advent, gave him a questioning
look. The other understood, and shook his head sadly to answer him No.
And then he busied himself with the stricken man, as he growled out to my
uncle: "I crossed the pond to Alexandria, but of your man--you know
who--not a claw nor a feather. As to the Schopper brothers on the other
hand. . . . But first let us try to get between this poor fellow and the
grave. Hold on, Uhlwurm!" And he was about to lift the sick man in doors.
Howbeit, I went up to the Brunswicker, who in his rough wise had ever
liked me well, and whereas meseemed he had seen my brothers, I besought
him right lovingly to give me tidings of them; but he only pointed to the
helpless man and said that such tidings as he had to give I sh