of discernment.

In this way they proceeded on their journey, without stopping, except
to refresh man and beast. Hans was well acquainted with the places
where they would find accommodation. He was known everywhere, and
received in a friendly manner, though, as it appeared to Albert, his
appearance excited astonishment at times. He generally had a quarter of
an hour's whisper with the host, during the time that the bustling
hostess would wait on the young knight with bread, butter, and pure
home-made cider; whilst the little boys and girls were lost in
admiration at the tall figure of the guest, with his fine clothes, his
brilliant scarf, and the waving plumes of his cap. After the frugal
meal was finished, the whole family accompanied the travellers to the
door; but, strange to say, the young cavalier could never induce the
good people, upon any account, to accept a remuneration for their
hospitality. When he asked his conductor to solve this riddle, his
answer, "that when they visit Hardt, they always come to my house,"
appeared a mere parry to the question.

They passed the night in one of those solitary houses, where the
hostess, with equal readiness, prepared a bed for her distinguished
guest, and sacrificed, in honour of him, a couple of pigeons for his
supper, served up with a dish of oatmeal.

They pursued their journey the following day in the same manner,
excepting that it struck Albert, his leader appeared more cautious than
on the day before: for, when they came within five hundred paces of a
dwelling, he bid his master stop, whilst he approached it warily; and
not till after he was perfectly satisfied that all was right, did he
make him a sign to follow. In vain did Albert question him, whether the
road was now more dangerous, or whether the troops of the League were
in the neighbourhood? He could not elicit a direct answer.

Towards noon, as the country became more open, and the path descended
into the plain, their route consequently was attended with more danger.
The musician of Hardt, thinking it no longer prudent to approach any
habitation, had provided himself at the last place with a sack of
fodder for the horse, and a sufficient supply of provisions for his
master and himself; he sought the most unfrequented paths, and it
appeared to Albert that they did not follow the first direction, but
had turned sharp to the right.

They halted on the skirt of a shady beechwood, by the side of a clear
stre