CHAPTER VII.

THE SECRET.

AFTER Paul had shaken off his companion, he accomplished, as we know, his cruel purpose, and according to appointment joined Robert after the fireworks were over. He was careful not to run across Hans, as he did not wish to tell his friend what he had done until the following morning; for Paul was sure that he was revenged on Hans when he heard the exclamation of intense pain which escaped him before he had time to glide away.

"Let me see you first thing to-morrow," said Paul, when he parted from Robert, just after they had passed the bridge. "I've some work to finish off, but shall be ready by ten o'clock; I want to tell you something."

"Tell me now."

"I'm afraid there are too many people about. It's a great secret. To-morrow is time enough. Good night."

Robert wondered for a few moments what secret Paul could have to tell him, but he forgot all about it when he reached home, for he had to give an account of his day spent at Naumburg to his mother and sisters, who had not ventured to the fête.

The next morning Robert was taking his coffee in the kitchen with the rest of the family, except his father, who came in before the meal was ended.

"I've been talking to Karl Schmidt," he said, "and didn't know it was so late. Did you hear of an accident which happened to young Hans last night?" he asked his son.

"No, father."

"He managed to get his left hand badly burnt by a squib; and what is very odd about the accident is that he felt the squib was pushed into his hand, and then it exploded."

Robert turned pale, and red. No one was observing him, for all eyes were fixed on the miller, so he had time to regain his self-possession; and right glad was he that a customer came to see his father on business, and he was able to make his escape.

Robert was not a bad boy at heart, nor would he ever have injured another in the cruel manner in which Paul had injured Hans. He was appalled at what he had heard, and all that was noble in his character rose up for the moment in judgment against Paul. He walked quickly away from the mill, and took the back road into the town, nor did he slacken his pace until he reached Herr Ebhardt's house. He found his friend stitching away diligently in a little parlour at the back of his father's shop.

"You're early, old fellow," said Paul, scarcely looking up from his work, "but I've nearly done, and then we'll go as far as the Hümmel-reich, for I've to take this coat home to a customer who lives on the way."

"All right; I'll wait outside until you're ready," replied Robert.

As he passed into the street again, he found himself face to face with Hans, who was going to the doctor. He looked pale and ill, very different to the bright lad of the previous day.

Robert could not help stopping him, and asking, in a concerned tone, "Is your hand very bad? I heard from my father that you met with an accident last night."

"It's very bad," answered Hans, "dreadfully burnt. Good-bye, I'm going to see the doctor."

Robert was thoroughly unhinged; though he was really innocent, he felt in some degree guilty, and he was glad when Paul joined him, for he was most anxious to hear his secret, and was sure that it had some connection with the accident that had befallen Hans.

"Now for your secret," he said to Paul.

"Wait a bit; let's get up the Hümmel-reich."

"It will take us a good half-hour to walk there, and I want to hear what you've got to say," urged Robert, impatiently.

"Gently, old fellow; we've plenty of time before us. It's a jolly morning for an outing. Let us get rid of the coat, and then we'll enjoy ourselves. You will be right glad to hear what I've got to tell you."

"I know what it is before you speak, and I call it a wicked shame of you to hurt a fellow as you've hurt Hans. I've a great mind to tell of you, that I have!" burst out Robert.

The boys were out of the village and walking through a field when he spoke thus angrily.

"What do you mean?" asked Paul, scowling at his companion.

"Why, I mean that I've a great mind to tell every one in Kösen that it was you who put the squib into the hand of poor Hans, and that you did it out of revenge."

There was something so resolute in Robert's face, and so different from the idle, careless expression it usually wore, that Paul felt a little afraid, for he was a coward at heart.

"Oh, Robert, how can you be so unkind! It was all for you I did it; and now you find fault with me." And his voice trembled as if he were about to cry.

"It wasn't all for me, and you know that, Paul; you hate Hans, and you made up your mind to pay him off after he tripped you up. But you've gone too far this time, and what's more, I think you've put me in such a corner that I can't shoot for the prize this year."

"Not shoot, Robert!" answered Paul, standing still in his astonishment. "You don't mean what you say. Why, I've made it an easy matter for you. Now, old fellow, shake hands, and tell me you're glad I got rid of your rival thus. He would certainly have come off conqueror, so you must thank me, for I'm a true friend to you. And, really, if I hadn't been so fond of you, I shouldn't have interfered, but suffered Hans to win."

"I'm not so sure he would have won; and I declare I'd rather he had beaten than see him look so ill."

"When did you see him?"

"A few minutes ago; he was on his way to the doctor's."

"Then he is really hurt?"

"How can you ask me that question? You know he is, Paul. It was nothing but revenge that made you push the squib into his hand; I see it in your face, you look so spiteful."

"What's come to you to-day, Robert? I tell you what it is, you may try me too far. You're my friend, and I'm your friend, but I can't stand being preached at. Now, let's forget this little difference; what is done can't be undone. And, remember, if I have acted unkindly to Hans, it was all for you, so don't blame me. I'll just run in, and leave this coat at yonder house, and then we'll go on to the Hümmel-reich, as we are so near, and be jolly for the rest of the way."

This pretty spot derives its name from the great beauty of its situation. It merely consists of a little hotel built on a flat hill-top, which commands the valley of the Saale at a point where the river makes a bend in the shape of a horse-shoe. On the opposite side are the ruins of two old castles, the Rudolsburg and the Saalech; while, as far as the eye can reach, little villages with their quaint old churches lie nestling among the trees of this highly-cultivated valley, and thus add to the picturesqueness of the scene.

Robert was not convinced, but he nevertheless accompanied Paul on to the Hümmel-reich, which was not thronged with visitors so early in the day. The friends spent a couple of hours pleasantly, for there was a target so that Robert was able to practise for the festival, and Paul stood by and praised him. They only left off in time to reach home by one o'clock, and, as Paul was going out with his father, they parted at Herr Ebhardt's door, and made no plans for the evening.

"Ain't we just as good friends as ever?" Paul asked Robert, as they entered the village.

"Oh yes," he replied.

But though Robert answered Paul in the affirmative, he was oppressed and out of spirit, and could not resist taking a stroll in the direction of the toll-house after dinner; he had no definite object in view beyond a sort of restless feeling to see Hans.

The latter was sitting outside the door with a book on his knee, looking very pale, and with his left arm in a sling. He was so absorbed in the contents of his volume that he started when Robert addressed him in these words: "I'm so sorry you're hurt. I am alone this afternoon, and thought I would come and see if I could do anything for you."

Hans was very much surprised, but Robert seemed so thoroughly in earnest that he answered: "Thank you; no one can help me bear the pain, but it is very kind of you to think of me. My master does not mind my being idle until I am better. It would be much worse if I were thrown out of my place."

"What are you reading out of? You seem to have got a queer old book there," asked Robert, by way of continuing the conversation.

"Queer outside, perhaps," replied Hans, "but the inside is all gold."

"Let me see it."

Hans opened his father's old Bible.

"Why, it's a Bible!" exclaimed Robert, in a tone of disappointment. "I thought it was something very particular."

"So it is," answered Hans; "if you will sit down, I will read you a few verses that are worth more than thousands of sovereigns."

At another time Robert would have laughed, and jeered, and perhaps run away, but he was softened towards Hans, and wanted to show him some attention, so he quietly sat down on the door-step by his side.

Hans felt sure his master would not be angry at his speaking to Robert when he told him that he had an opportunity of bidding him stick to the Raft; so he turned over the pages of his Bible to find a suitable passage to read, and in that moment he asked God to help him for Christ's sake to say something to Robert that would make him think.

"I declare it is difficult to settle what to read to you, there are so many beautiful things in this book; but, of course, you know your Bible?" said Hans.

"I can't say I'm much up to it," replied his companion.

"But you read it, or hear it read, every day, don't you?"

"No, I don't; please go on where you were reading when I came up."

"I had just got to these words: 'A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.' I will read the chapter through."

"You read splendidly," said Robert, at its conclusion. "Where did you learn?"

"In our village, and in the forest. My mother was a very good scholar, and I'm so fond of learning. My master gives me lessons every evening. Are not those grand words, 'A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another'? Oddly enough, you were in my thoughts when I first read them—I mean just before you spoke to me."

"I! How?"

"I will tell you. I have been practising hard at the target, and meant to try for the Burgomaster's prize, which you have won for the last two years. My master said that you had no rival to fear in Kösen, and that the Burgomaster wished to find another who would compete with you; for though many boys usually entered their names on the list, it was only for the pleasure of being mixed up with the fête, but with no chance of success. My master found I had a steady hand and a correct eye, so he lent me his bow and arrows, and I have been practising regularly with him every evening; and I think I had a fair chance of winning the prize. But this morning the doctor said that I should be unable to use my hand for at least three weeks, and, as you know, the Schutzen Fest comes off in eight days. I was very jealous of you this morning, and inclined to murmur and rebel because I could not use my hand. But, thank God, the feeling is passing away, for it came into my mind that if I were to encourage it, I should break Christ's new commandment, and shut out love, for love and jealousy cannot live together; and, Robert, I had rather stick to the Raft than win the prize."

Robert looked his astonishment, and Hans explained his meaning, and added: "Christ gave Himself for us—that was His love; and He asks us in return to give ourselves to Him. Will you give yourself to Him? I shall bear my pain and disappointment without murmuring if any words which I have read out of God's book make you think about Him, for I shall remember that you would not have spoken to me if you had not been sorry for my accident, and that it was because you knew I was in pain that you took the trouble to come here to see me."

Robert could scarcely bear these words, they made him inclined to tell Hans the whole truth, but the fear of Paul kept him silent, and right glad was he to see Karl Schmidt walking towards them.

"Your master is coming," he said; "I had better be off. I know he will not care to see me here, so good-bye. I dare say I shall come again soon to hear how you are getting on."

And Robert walked away in a more thoughtful mood than usual. There was something so manly and noble about Hans. He was so different to his chosen friend Paul. He felt a few pricks of conscience too when he recalled the words which Hans had spoken about the Burgomaster's prize.

"I wish Paul hadn't interfered," he muttered, "that I do, with all my heart. I would rather have been beaten fairly than win and carry about the secret knowledge that if it hadn't been for Ebhardt's cowardly behaviour to Hans, we should have tried our luck together. And to think of his saying that he didn't mind the pain if it made me stick to the Raft; that beat's all."

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