and we are much obliged to you."

"Then perhaps you will sing some more of your sweet songs. Hear how the
larks and finches are singing their evening praises to God."

The boys were very willing. They sang several, their new friend joining
them, and had just finished his favorite when they reached the little
town of Umstadt, and halted in front of the one public house of which
the sign was a swan. The moment the carriage stopped Pixy sprang out and
waited with bright eyes and wagging tail for his master to descend.

The landlord met them at the open door, and greeted them as if old
acquaintances.

"Why, neighbor, you have brought me a fine flock of birds!" he said,
cordially.

"Yes, they are choice singing birds and will roost with you to-night and
to-morrow will fly away to Frankfort."

"All right, all right! We have a room that will suit them exactly."

"These boys spoke of being thirsty, neighbor. Will you have some fresh
water brought for them? I offered them something stronger in the shape
of a bottle of mineral water or sarsaparilla, but they prefer the
water."

The order was given, and a large stone pitcher and glasses soon
appeared. The moment Pixy saw it he sprang up, put his feet on the
pitcher and tried to lick the drops from it.

"Wait a bit, Pixy! I am so thirsty," exclaimed Fritz, and he drained the
glass of cold water without stopping.

"My boy," said Mr. Furman, "the true friend of our poor dependent dumb
creatures attends to their wants first; the really kind master will not
let them wait while he satisfies his own hunger and thirst."

Fritz was ashamed of his treatment of Pixy, and was glad to pour some of
the water into a basin which the innkeeper reached to him. He carried it
to the porch, where Pixy ran quickly and drank as if he was afraid the
basin would be taken away from him.

"Now, boys, I must go on home," said Mr. Furman as he shook hands with
them. "Good-bye! Remember me to your fathers, and take good care of
Pixy."

CHAPTER III

AT THE SWAN INN

The moment the carriage was out of sight the boys turned to their own
needs.

"I don't believe I was ever so hungry in my life," ejaculated Franz, and
the others agreed with him, and set about the best way to have their
hunger satisfied.

"Mr. Swan, what have you for supper?" asked Fritz.

The landlord laughed heartily at the name, but as the boy had given it
in all sincerity, thinking that, as it was the Swan Inn, i