et of
Protestant Germany in those days.

Thus he went on climbing up the steep side of the hill, out of which
dark rocks and tall trees protruded in great confusion. At last he got
into what looked like a path. "All right now," he said to himself;
"this must lead somewhere, and I have still an hour of daylight to find
my way out of the forest. When I get to the top of this hill I shall
probably be better able to judge what direction to take." He trudged on
as before, now and then stopping to take breath, and then once more
going on bravely. At length the sound of a woodman's axe caught his
ear.

"All right," said he. "I should not have allowed my heart to doubt
about the matter. The Good One who has protected me hitherto will still
continue to be my Guide and Friend."

He stopped to listen from which direction the sounds came. The loud
crash of a falling tree enabled him better to judge, and by the light of
the sinking sun, which found its way through the branches of the tall
trees, he made directly towards the spot. He soon caught sight of an
old man, stripped to his shirt and trousers, who with his gleaming axe
was hewing the branches of the tree he had just felled. Not far off
stood a young boy with a couple of donkeys, which he was beginning to
load with fagots, near a pile of which they stood.

"Friend woodman," said the traveller, as he got up to him, and the old
man stood for a moment leaning on his axe, with an inquiring glance in
his eye. "Friend woodman, I have lost my way; can you help me to find
it?"

"Not to-night, friend traveller," answered the woodman. "If I was to
attempt to put you on your way, you would lose it again in five minutes.
This is no easy country for a man ignorant of it to pass through
without a guide, and neither I nor little Karl there have time just now
to accompany you. But you look like an honest man, and if you will come
with me to my cottage, I will help you as far as I can to-morrow
morning."

"Thank you," said the traveller. "I accept your offer."

"Well then, I have just made my last stroke," said the old man, lifting
up his axe. "We will load our asses and be off. We have some way to
go, as I live farther up the valley of Gutech, and even I prefer
daylight to darkness for travelling these wild paths. If you had not
found me I cannot say when you would have got out of the forest."

Without further waste of words, the old man and young Karl set to work