the rest of the property." With this he mounted his horse,
fearing lest Schalk should arrive at Hirschberg before he did, and
perhaps take away some of the jewels of the deceased. But the twins met
at the fish-pond, and each blushed before the other, so apparent was
the desire of both to be the first-comer at Hirschberg. They said not a
word about Cuno, as they continued on their way together, but discussed
in a brotherly manner how things should be arranged in the future, and
to which of them Hirschberg should belong. But as they rode over the
draw-bridge into the court, they saw their brother, safe and sound,
looking out of the window; but anger and scorn flashed from his
features.

The brothers shrank back in terror, taking him at first to be a ghost,
and crossed themselves; but when they saw that he was still in flesh
and blood, Wolf exclaimed:

"Stupid stuff! I thought you were dead."

"Omittance is no quittance," said Schalk, darting up at his
half-brother a venomous look.

Cuno replied in a threatening voice: "From this hour, all bonds of
brotherhood between us are broken. I heard the salute you fired; but
know this, that I have five field-pieces here in the court that were
loaded to do you honor. Take care to keep out of the range of my
cannon, or you shall have a sample of our shooting at Hirschberg."

They did not wait to be spoken to a second time, for they saw that
their brother was fully in earnest; so they gave their horses the spurs
and raced down the mountain, while their brother sent a parting shot
after them, that whistled above their heads, so that they both made a
low and polite bow together; but he only wished to frighten and not to
wound them.

"Why did you fire off your gun?" asked Schalk of his brother Wolf, in
an ill-humored lone. "I only shot because I heard your gun, you fool!"

"On the contrary," replied Wolf. "I'll leave it to mother if you were
not the first to shoot; and you have brought this disgrace on us, you
little badger."

Schalk returned all his brother's epithets with interest; and when they
came to the pond, they hurled at one another some of the choicest
curses that the "Tempest of Zollern" had bequeathed them, and parted in
hate and anger.

Shortly after this occurrence, Cuno made his will, and Frau
Feldheimerin said to Father Joseph: "I would wager something that he
has not left much to the twins." But with all her curiosity, and much
as she urged her favorite, he