ar the villages of St. John and Pfullingen.
This was the usual and most convenient road for travellers on
horseback, in litters, or carriages; but at the time of our story, when
Albert and the fifer of Hardt had to cross the country, it was not
advisable to choose this route. The troops of the League already
occupied Blaubeuren, their advanced posts stretched as far as Urach,
and any one whom they found on the road, that did not belong to the
army, or acknowledge their party, were rudely handled and otherwise
ill-treated. Albert, therefore, had good reason to avoid this road; and
his companion was too mindful of his own safety to dissuade him from
it.

The other, a mere footpath, and known only to the inhabitants of the
country, passed through thick woods, and deep ravines, where but a few
single detached houses were to be met with, scattered over a distance
of twelve hours (stunden), or between thirty to forty miles. Here and
there the track made a circuit to avoid the high road, and for this
reason possessed the greater advantage of security. It was very
fatiguing, and, indeed, in many places scarcely passable for horses.

The fifer of Hardt chose this route, which his young master joyfully
acceded to, as being the least likely to fall in with the League's
troops. They set forward accordingly, the countryman walking on
Albert's side: in the difficult parts of the path, he carefully led the
horse by the bridle, and showed so much attention generally, for both
man and horse, that Albert by degrees began to lose sight of
Fronsberg's warning, and to look upon his companion as a trustworthy
servant.

They conversed upon different subjects, when the peasant reasoned and
argued in so clear-sighted a manner, upon many things which in general
do not come within the compass of a common countryman's mind, that his
master could not at times control an involuntary smile. He had stories
to relate of every tower and castle they saw in the distance, through
the break of the forest; and the clearness and liveliness with which he
described them, proved that he had been present as musician at many a
marriage feast and village dance; but as often as Albert endeavoured to
turn the conversation to the subject of his own life, and particularly
to that period when the fifer of Hardt played so prominent a part in
the insurrection of Poor Conrad, he either cut it short or turned it to
some other channel, with a facility which bespoke a man