pproached the prettiest girl in the grounds, who happened
to be the magistrate's own daughter, and politely asked her to open the
dance with him.

Pretty Gertrude blushed, for she was fond of Andrea, but she was obliged
to refuse his request.

Andrea frowned, bowed and whispered words into her ear, which covered
her face with crimson.

"You shall be my wife," he said, "even if I have to wait ten years for
you. I have walked eight hours across the mountain to meet you; that is
why I am so late; next time I shall be in good time, even if I should
have to walk right through the mountain itself."

The festivities were over. All the riflemen were sitting in "The Golden
Horse," Andrea in the midst of them. Rudi, the son of the postmaster,
sat at the head of the table, because he was the prize-winner according
to the regulations, even if Andrea was the best shot in reality.

Rudi was in a teasing mood.

"Well, Andrea," he said, "we all know you for a mighty hunter; but, you
know, it's easier to shoot a chamois than to carry it home."

"If I shoot a chamois I carry it home," replied Andrea.

"Maybe you do! But everybody here has had a shot at Barbarossa's ring,
although nobody has won it yet!" answered Rudi.

"What is that about Barbarossa's ring?" asked a stranger who had never
been in Goeschenen.

"That's Barbarossa's ring, over there," said Rudi.

He pointed to the side of the mountain, where a large copper ring hung
on a hook, and went on:

"This is the road by which King Frederick Barbarossa used to travel to
Italy; he travelled over it six times, and was crowned both in Milan and
in Rome. And as this made him German-Roman emperor, he caused this
ring to be hung up on the mountain, in remembrance of his having wedded
Germany to Italy. And if this ring, so goes the saying, can be lifted
off its hook, then the marriage, which was not a happy one, will be
annulled."

"Then I will annul it," said Andrea. "I will break the bonds as my
fathers broke the bonds which bound my poor country to the tyrants of
Schwyz, Uri, and Unterwalden."

"Are you not a Swiss, yourself?" asked the magistrate severely.

"No, I am an Italian of the Swiss Confederation."

He slipped an iron bullet into his gun, took aim and shot.

The ring was lifted from below and jerked off the hook. Barbarossa's
ring lay at their feet.

"Long live Italy!" shouted Andrea. throwing his hat into the air.

Nobody said a word.

Andrea picked up