st us," wailed Kurzbold, and the comments of those
behind him were painful to hear.

"I am glad that at last you thoroughly appreciate our situation, and I
hope that in addition you realize it has been brought about not through
any fault of Roland's, who gave in to your whims and childishness until
you came to the point of murder and robbery. Therefore blame yourselves
and not him. You now know as much of our position as I do, so make up
your minds about the next step, and inform me what conclusion you come
to."

"You're a mighty courageous leader," cried Kurzbold scornfully, and with
this the hungry ones retired some distance into the grove, from whence
echoes of an angry debate came to the two men who sat by the margin of
the stream. After a time they strode forward again. Once more Kurzbold
was the spokesman.

"We have determined to return to Frankfort."

"Very good."

"I suppose you remember enough of the way to lead us at least as far as
Wiesbaden. Beyond that point we can look to ourselves."

"I should be delighted," said Greusel, "to be your guide, but
unfortunately I am traveling in the other direction with Ebearhard."

"Why, in the name of starvation?" roared Kurzbold. "You know no more of
the country ahead of us than we do. By going back we can get something
to eat, and a drink, at one of the farmhouses we passed this side of
Sonnenberg."

"How?" inquired Greusel.

"Why, if they ask for payment we will give them iron instead of silver.
No man need starve with a sword by his side."

"Granted that this is feasible, and that the farmers yield instead of
raising the country-side against you, when you reach Frankfort what are
you going to do? Eat and drink with the landlord of the Rheingold until
he becomes bankrupt? You must remember that it was Roland who liquidated
our last debt there, without asking or receiving a word of thanks, and
he did that not a moment too soon, for the landlord was at the end of
his resources and would have closed his tavern within another week."

Kurzbold stormed at this harping on the subject of Roland and his
generosity, but those with him were hungry, and they now remembered, too
late, that what Greusel said was strictly true. If Roland had put in an
appearance then, he would have found a most docile company to lead. They
were actually murmuring against Kurzbold, and blaming him and his clan
for the disaster that had overtaken them.

"Why will you not come back with us