wild enough, and know how to rap out an oath. So you are neither
tradesman nor steward?" said he, turning to Anton.

"Now do behave like a sensible man," said the farmer. "This gentleman
has been empowered to take possession of the estate, and to manage every
thing till the family come. You will get yourself into sad trouble with
your obstinate ways."

"Indeed!" said the forester. "Don't be anxious about me; I shall manage
well enough. So you are an agent, are you?" said he, turning to Anton.
"Of late years I have had enough of agents; and I'll tell you what," he
went on, coming a few steps nearer, "you'll find neither books nor
accounts with me. This is the state of things: For five years I, as the
forester in charge of this wood, have been quarreling with agents. Each
agent has put ever so much timber into his pocket, and at last the
villagers have come from all the country round and carried off whatever
they liked, and when I held my gun under their nose, they thrust a
rascally bit of paper under mine, in which, forsooth, they had got leave
from the agent. I had nothing more to say, and so I have just taken care
of myself. There is but little game, but what I have shot I have eaten,
and have sold the skins--for one must live. It's five years since I have
touched a farthing of salary--I have paid myself. Every year I have
taken fifteen of these trees. As far as to the clearing yonder, the wood
is ninety years old. I reckon that they will last me about three winters
longer. When the last is felled, I will shoot my dog, and choose out a
quiet spot in the forest for myself." He looked down darkly at his gun.
"I have lived here thirty years; I have buried my wife and my children
in the German church-yard, and I don't trouble myself about what is to
befall me now. So far as my dog's bark can be heard and my gun reach,
the wood is in order; the rest belonged to the agent. That is my
reckoning, and now you may do what you like with me;" and, much excited,
he stamped the butt-end of his gun on the ground.

"I shall reply to what I have just heard," said Anton, "in the house and
room which henceforth belongs to your master, the Baron Rothsattel." He
stepped up to the door and laid his hands on its wooden bolt. "I take
possession of this in the name of the new proprietor." Then opening it,
he beckoned to the forester: "Keep back your dogs, and lead us in as you
ought."

The old man made no opposition, but slowly preceded th