the
conclusion that the wagon had only two wheels, and was drawn by one
horse. He kept still, in order to determine this, and then he heard the
sound of several hoofs. He awaited the approach of the wagon, and saw
that there were two horses harnessed tandem to a wagon with only two
wheels. Roland went on one side, and waited for the wagon to go by; the
driver walked near it, whistling and cracking his whip. Roland walked
on, keeping at a little distance behind the wagon. A fearfulness had
taken possession of the youthful wanderer by night, and now he felt
himself near a human being who was awake; if any danger threatened he
could call upon him. "Yes," he said inwardly to himself, "this is how I
would call out,--

"'Help! help!'"

But no danger presented itself. And he said to his dog, as if in
derision,--

"Shame that nobody assails us, to give us both a chance to show how
courageous we are."

But he was terrified when all at once he heard nothing more of the
wagon; it had stopped at the toll-gate. When it again creaked he was in
good spirits once more. The wagon halted at the first house of the next
village. The hostler, who seemed to have been expecting the driver, was
not a little amazed to see, by the light of the lantern which he had
with him, a handsome boy with sparkling eyes. "Hi! who may this be?"
the servant cried, leaving his mouth wide open with astonishment and
terror, for the great dog sniffed about his legs, then placed himself
in front of the terrified fellow, showing all his teeth, and blinking
back to his master, as if waiting for the watchword, "Seize him!"

Roland ordered the dog to come away. There must have been something in
his voice that produced a feeling of respect in the driver and in the
servant.

They asked him whether he would not also take a drink. Roland said yes.
And he sat now at table, touching glasses with the teamster by the
light of a solitary oil lamp. The servant was inquisitive, and said
with a smirk, pointing to Roland's delicate hand,--

"That's a splendid finger-ring; how that stone does shine! That is
worth ever so much, isn't it? You! make me a present of that."

The landlord, in the sleeping-room adjoining, hearing this, came in,
ghostlike, in his shirt and drawers. Roland was now asked who he was,
whence he came, and where he was going. He gave an evasive answer.

The teamster left, and Roland, keeping by his side, listened to the
narration of his way of life.