instead of you," said his brother-in-law. "Who is your
leader?"

"We have none; will you be so good as to be our conductor, Herr
brother-in-law?"

All laughed, for Haespele, not knowing the young farmer's name,
designated him simply as the Pastor's brother-in-law.

"My name is Brand," said Edward; "I know the path, for I was there
to-day."

"The Pastorin's brother is going with us," was soon whispered into the
street, and everyone was pleased. Haespele was right; with the exception
of the sick and decrepit, every man in the village was present--they
were all standing at the door with torches, iron spikes, ladders, axes,
and long ropes.

"Is there any one here who can make a signal?" asked Edward. The
stocking weaver drew his horn from under his cloak. The instrument did
not shine brighter in the torchlight than the face of the stocking
weaver, who had suddenly become so important a personage.

"Good! keep close to me. According to my ideas this is the best plan:
the bugler is to go with me to the Reitersberg, where we will light a
fire, and then let all disperse two and two; not one alone. Whoever
finds Joseph, must either bring him to us on the Reitersberg, or at
least any tidings of him. Three loud long blasts of the horn will be
heard at intervals, so long as Joseph is not found; but as soon as we
find him, three short notes will be sounded, and continued till we are
all reassembled. But what would be still better; I have my gun with me,
are there any others in the village?"

"Certainly there are."

"Then go and fetch several, and when Joseph is found, we will fire
three consecutive shots. If we were not to do that, very possibly some
of your good people might still be running about in the snow and cold,
long after Joseph was found."

"He is right--a capital notion! Just like the brother of our Frau
Pastorin."

The young farmer smiled, and continued: "One thing more: we have
coverlets and mattrasses with us. Is there any dog in the village that
knows Joseph?"

"They all know him, and love him. You know Joseph, don't you, Blitz?"
said Haespele to a large dog at his heels.

The huge yellow dog answered by a loud bark, and a wag of his tail.

"Very well," exclaimed Edward, "let loose the dogs then."

"And we will hang lanterns round their necks, and round our own the
bells of the cows, and those of our teams."

Every one had a fresh suggestion to make, so it was fortunate that the
various opinions