ndeed, Erick, that cannot be helped. One has to obey before one
is confirmed. If you do not obey, then someone just puts you on his
shoulder and takes you to the auction room."

After Kaetheli had instructed Erick in what was coming to him, she bade
him good-night and went her way. Erick stayed on the same spot and did
not move. He had become deathly pale and his blue eyes flashed defiance
and indignation, which had never been seen in this sunny face. Thus
Erick stood on the same spot when Churi came by on his way home.

"Have they made you angry, velvet panty? I never have seen you so mad,"
he exclaimed and stopped near the hedge.

He received no answer.

"You join us in the fight and strike hard; that will relieve your
feelings."

Erick shook his head.

"Don't be such a sneak, and say something. The fellow who has made you
wrathful will no doubt be there, then you can get at him."

"It is no boy," grumbled Erick.

"So, who then, perhaps Kaetheli?"

"I will not go to be auctioned," Erick burst out and his anger flashed
as never before.

"Well, well, is that all. That is nothing," Churi thought. "You just
come with us and you will forget the auction on the spot. Or are you
afraid of the thrashing, you fine velvet pants? Do you know what? I
could tell you something that would suit you?"

Churi had caught an idea: he had heard something of some danger that was
lurking among the Mayor's grapes, and the others too knew something
about it; so he reckoned that none of the others would go first and he
himself would prefer to have some other fellow first find out whether a
trap was laid somewhere, in which the first one would fall, while the
rest would be warned. For this post of inspection Erick fitted
splendidly.

"Well, will you?" he urged the silent Erick.

But the latter shook his head negatively.

"And if I help you so that you need not be auctioned, will you then?"

"How can you do that?" Erick asked doubtingly.

"As soon as I want to," boasted Churi. "Don't you know that my father is
the sergeant here? He goes into every house along the whole mountain,
far beyond Lower Wood, and he knows all the people and can place you
where he likes. You only need to say what you want to do: take care of
the cows, deliver letters, push little children along in their
carriages--whatever you like best."

Erick had never heard lying, he did not know what it was. He believed
word for word what the swaggering Churi to