D HOW HE
PROSPERED THEREIN

The King of the Golden River had hardly made the extraordinary exit
related in the last chapter, before Hans and Schwartz came roaring into
the house very savagely drunk. The discovery of the total loss of
their last piece of plate had the effect of sobering them just enough
to enable them to stand over Gluck, beating him very steadily for a
quarter of an hour; at the expiration of which period they dropped into
a couple of chairs and requested to know what he had got to say for
himself. Gluck told them his story, of which, of course, they did not
believe a word. They beat him again, till their arms were tired, and
staggered to bed. In the morning, however, the steadiness with which
he adhered to his story obtained him some degree of credence; the
immediate consequence of which was that the two brothers, after
wrangling a long time on the knotty question, which of them should try
his fortune first, drew their swords and began fighting. The noise of
the fray alarmed the neighbors, who, finding they could not pacify the
combatants, sent for the constable.

Hans, on hearing this, contrived to escape, and hid himself; but
Schwartz was taken before the magistrate, fined for breaking the peace,
and, having drunk out his last penny the evening before, was thrown
into prison till he should pay.

When Hans heard this, he was much delighted, and determined to set out
immediately for the Golden River. How to get the holy water was the
question. He went to the priest, but the priest could not give any
holy water to so abandoned a character. So Hans went to vespers in the
evening for the first time in his life and, under pretense of crossing
himself, stole a cupful and returned home in triumph.

Next morning he got up before the sun rose, put the holy water into a
strong flask, and two bottles of wine and some meat in a basket, slung
them over his back, took his alpine staff in his hand, and set off for
the mountains.

On his way out of the town he had to pass the prison, and as he looked
in at the windows, whom should he see but Schwartz himself peeping out
of the bars and looking very disconsolate.

"Good morning, brother," said Hans; "have you any message for the King
of the Golden River?"

Schwartz gnashed his teeth with rage and shook the bars with all his
strength, but Hans only laughed at him and, advising him to make
himself comfortable till he came back again, shouldered his ba