good to us."

"Yes, I try to be good to everybody, especially to hard-working boys out
on their holiday, when I find that they are not common tramps who do not
wish to work."

He left the shed and the boys followed him to his dwelling, and to a
room adjoining the living-room.

"There are two straw-beds on this bedstead," he said. "One can be taken
off and put on the floor, and one of you can sleep upon it, while the
other two can have the one on the bedstead."

"I will take the one on the floor. Then Pixy can sleep with me," said
Fritz.

"Suit yourselves about that, only take off your wet clothes, shoes and
stockings, and my wife will put them about the kitchen fire, and they
will be dry by morning."

The boys hurriedly disrobed, and the forest-keeper bade them good-night,
and left the room.

Paul and Franz crept jubilantly under the coverings of the bed, and
Fritz was equally glad for the piece of carpet which the forest-keeper
had given him in lieu of a quilt, and with Pixy close to him, he was
happier than many a king.

"Oh, it was good luck for us that Mr. Hartman came and took us away from
that miserable place," exclaimed Paul the moment the door closed.

"I never was gladder in my life," affirmed Franz. "Now we feel safe, and
are dry and warm and in good beds where we can sleep well."

"And whom have we to thank for it but the young gentleman from
Odenwald--my Pixy," reminded Fritz. "If he had not barked, the
forest-keeper would not have known we were there. Oh, we are so
comfortable here, aren't we, Pixy? And we have you to thank for it."

Early the next morning the forester's wife went to the kitchen to make
the wood fire on the hearth brighter, that the boys' garments might be
thoroughly dry; for she had planned that they should sleep as long as
they wished, and she would give the three apprentices their breakfast
first that they might continue their journey. She made coffee and warm
bread, and was putting them upon the table when she saw them come up
from the brook, where they had washed hands and faces and combed their
hair. Refreshed by rest and sleep, they looked much better than when the
triplets first saw them.

The forest-keeper, who had risen early to attend to matters about the
place, came in just as they finished their breakfast.

"I hope you slept well and have enjoyed your coffee," he said kindly.

"We enjoyed both heartily, Forest-master, and thank you for your
goodness to us."