ce from the circle formed by
the others.

"Yes," said Greusel sullenly, "but I would have dined with greater
pleasure had you not proven the spokesman's words true."

"You mean about my being a fool? Oh, you yourself practically called me
that this morning. Come, let us sit down farther along the stream, where
they cannot overhear what we say."

This being done, Roland continued cheerfully:

"I may explain to you that a week ago I had only a wallet of my own, but
before leaving on this journey I called upon my mother, and she
presented me with another bag. I foresaw during _mittagessen_ that a
demand would be made upon us for money, therefore I borrowed all that
you two possessed. Walking on ahead, I prepared for what I knew must
come, filling the empty wallet with very small stones picked up along
the road. That wallet went into the stream. It is surprising how prone
human nature is to jump at conclusions. Why should any of you think that
I am simpleton enough to throw away good money? Dear, dear, what a world
this is, to be sure!"

Half an hour later all were lying down enveloped in their cloaks,
sleeping soundly because of their fatigue, despite being out of doors.
Next morning there was consternation in the camp, real or pretended.
Roland was nowhere to be found, nor did further search reveal his
whereabouts.

VIII

THE MISSING LEADER AND THE MISSING GOLD

Probably because of the new responsibility resting upon him, Joseph
Greusel was the first to awaken next morning. He let his long cloak fall
from his shoulders as he sat up, and gazed about him with astonishment.
It seemed as if some powerful wizard of the hills had spirited him away
during the night. He had gone to sleep in a place of terror. The thunder
rolled threateningly among the peaks of Taunus, and the reflection of
the lightning flash, almost incessant in its recurrence, had lit up the
grove with an unholy yellow glare. The never-ceasing roar of the foaming
torrent, which in the darkness gleamed with ghostly pallor, had somehow
got on his nerves. Under the momentary illumination of the lightning,
the waves appeared to leap up at him like a pack of hungry wolves,
flecked with froth, and the noise strove to emulate the distant thunder.
The grove itself was ominous in its gloom, and sinister shapes seemed to
be moving about among the trees.

How different was the aspect now! The sun was still beneath the eastern
horizon. The cloudless sky