CHAPTER IX.

WRONG SET RIGHT.

THE next morning, Hans started off early to make some purchases in the town, and find out if the old man who sold sausages had arrived on the previous day. He had been absent more than an hour when Franz Nieper reached the toll-keeper's house.

"Is Hans Richter at home?" he asked of Karl Schmidt, who was sitting in the parlour making up his books.

"No; he is gone over to the town. I expect him back every minute; in fact, I can't think why he is so long away. Do you want him?"

"I presume my business is with you as much as with him," answered Franz. "Did he tell you he bought sausages at Naumburg of an old man?"

"Yes, to be sure he did; and one of his errands this morning is to try and find him, for he expects he came to Kösen yesterday."

"I am that old man. I want to greet the lad once more; and I have something important to say to him, and to you too, for I suppose I'm speaking to the toll-master."

"Yes, I am Karl Schmidt, but I do not quite understand what you have of importance to say to me, seeing we are strangers to one another, and Hans only knows you because he bought your sausages and had a chat with you while he ate them."

"I wish to set wrong right, master," replied old Franz, emphatically. "The lad has been cruelly wronged."

"How?" asked Karl, feeling and looking sorely puzzled.

"It's a long story, master, and I am an old man. I can only tell it my own way. Will you listen to all I have to say?"

"Certainly I will. Sit down, my friend, for you look tired, and don't hurry yourself."

Old Franz took the chair that Karl offered him, and began his story by speaking first of his interview with Hans, and how much he liked the boy. Then he repeated the substance of the conversation which passed between Paul and Robert, and alluded to his own determination of trying to find Hans out in order to tell him to take care of himself; and how his customers came and prevented him from carrying out his intention. He further spoke of missing Hans among the twenty boys with scarlet caps on the previous day, and that he made inquiry of the miller's daughter, and learnt the sad truth.

"It needs no words of mine to tell you," he said, in conclusion, "how that lad met with his accident, and I really think the boy, or boys, who had to do with it ought to be punished, or some one else will be served in like manner."

Karl was extremely angry. "I thought Paul was a very bad fellow," he replied, "but scarcely so bad as this proves him to be. I wonder if Robert was persuaded to be a party to the cowardly action, or whether he maintained his refusal. At any rate, he knew when Hans was hurt that it was no accident, but foul play, and certainly he should have refused to accept the Burgomaster's prize; an honourable boy would have quietly withdrawn from the contest. I scarcely know how to move in this matter."

"Try and set the wrong right, master," reiterated old Franz. "The prize is given now, so I suppose it can't be taken away, but the miller's son has not won it fairly."

"No; for I am almost sure Hans would have come off conqueror had he been able to take his place. The grave question to be settled now is, how to prove that Paul deliberately thrust the squib into Richter's hand. But here comes Hans; he is the one who has the best right to decide what steps we should take. Let us consult with him."

"I'm so glad to see you once more!" exclaimed the boy, shaking old Franz warmly by the hand. "I've just come from the town, and I looked about for you everywhere. I was sorry to miss seeing you yesterday. I have had an accident, and that prevented me from shooting, but I'm getting better, and I hope very soon to be able to use my hand again and do all my work."

"Your old friend came to see me about your so-called accident," said Karl. "I think we have found out how it happened."

"Yes, young lad. I ought to have saved you from it, but my customers came so quickly I could not leave them to find you. I overheard the tailor's son propose to the miller's boy that you should have a fired squib pushed into your hand. I must give credit where credit is due, and say that the miller's boy was up in arms when his friend proposed this; but one or both of them did the deed, or your hand would not have been hurt."

"Paul fired the squib, and thrust it into my hand," answered Hans, quietly; "Robert had nothing to do with it."

"How do you know this?" asked Karl.

"Because I left Robert half-an-hour ago, and he gave me a full account of the whole thing."

"Robert told you all about it!" exclaimed Karl. "I wonder he was not too ashamed for that."

"It is because he is so repentant, master; and he has promised me to give up Paul's friendship and turn over a new leaf."

"He has promised that a hundred times before," said Karl.

"But I believe he is in earnest this time. I am sure if he will keep away from Paul's influence, he will be a better fellow."

"Still, I fear it is all talk with him; he is not to be trusted."

"Let us try him once more, master."

"But what did he say to you?"

"I should like to tell you, if you will agree not to let his confession go further until we have decided what it is best to do," said Hans, looking first at Karl Schmidt, and then at the old man.

"Certainly, I will keep my counsel," replied his master.

"And so will I; indeed, I only want to set wrong right, my boy. And if you, who are injured, are satisfied, I ought to be," remarked Franz.

"I crossed the river in your boat, master," said Hans, smiling at the old man, "and went directly to the mill to order the flour. As I came out, I met Robert, so I stopped and asked him how he enjoyed himself yesterday, and I congratulated him on winning the prize, adding, 'I was not miserable about it, for I lived down my first feelings of vexation; they were nearly gone when you came to see me the day after my accident, so I was able to be glad that the sun shone, and it was so still and bright.' To my astonishment, Robert burst out:

"'Oh, Hans, don't talk to me like that; I'm the most unhappy fellow living.'

"'What's the matter?' I asked. And seeing that he looked ready to cry, I said, 'Come along with me and have a talk.'

"So we walked by the side of the river until we found a nook where we could sit down and be quite out of the way of any one who chanced to pass by.

"'Now, tell me why you are unhappy,' I asked, 'for I must confess you look wretched and ill; let me be your friend.'

"When I said this, he gave a great sob, and then he began to laugh, and then he cried, and it was some time before I could get him to speak out. At last he told me what it was that weighed on his mind. He said that Paul Ebhardt had disliked me from the very first time he saw me, but since the day we had quarrelled by the river-side, he had hated me, and watched for an opportunity of paying me off. Then he spoke of the conversation that my old friend there overheard, and he assured me he had no idea Paul would carry out his cruel purpose.

"'I give you my word,' he continued, 'that, careless as I am, I should never have been such a dastard as to hurt you. I have been wretched ever since I heard that you were injured. I went home miserable after you had spoken to me about sticking to the Raft, and had read to me out of the Bible. The next morning I fell out with Paul about you, but we made it up again, and I tried to forget you, because I was afraid of him. But last night I could not sleep for thinking, so I made up my mind to tell you all about it, and I want you to show that you forgive me by taking the prize I won yesterday.'

"'I am glad you have told me this, but I don't want your prize,' I answered. 'You may be happy again, Robert, for I forgive you entirely, though I scarcely know what I have to forgive; and, now, will you do me a very great favour?'

"'What is it?' he asked 'I will do anything to prove to you that I would not have had you injured; and if only you would take my prize, I should think we were quits.'

"'I don't want to be quits with you in that manner,' I replied; 'we shall be quits, and true friends, if you will "stick to the Raft," for then you will learn to love good company, and work, and study. Oh, will you come to Jesus?'

"'I wish I could, if it would make me as happy as you are, Hans,' he answered; 'but I am bound to Paul, for I am afraid of him. I hardly dare think how angry he will be with me when he learns what I have done.'

"'Avoid him for the present, or at least until I have consulted my master,' I said. 'Will you begin a new life at once by asking your father to give you work at the mill, and will you pray to God, Robert, to help you?'

"'I never prayed in my life, Hans,' he replied.

"'Then begin at once, to-day,' I urged. 'There will be no real change in you unless you change towards God. He says to you, "My son, give Me thine heart." Oh! Do not withhold it from Him.'

"We parted then. Robert went to the mill, and I made my way to the village. And all the way, I've been thinking how it will be best to act; and really, master, if you do not object, I should like to go and see Paul and try and win him over."

"Well done, my boy!" exclaimed Franz Nieper. "That's the way to set wrong right; and depend upon it, you are showing the same mercy to Paul that God shows to us. You have hit the nail on the head. It's the Raft that has done this; it is your faith and trust in your Saviour, and clinging fast to His teaching, that enables you to love your enemy."

"Yes, Hans," remarked his master, "you have found the best way of taking your revenge on Paul. But whether he will receive your advances cordially and be sorry for what he has done, is more than I can tell. At any rate, I wish you God speed on your errand. Go to him at once, my boy—that is, if you are not too tired—for it is better for you to see him before he meets Robert. But remember, if you come back and tell me that Paul has refused to hear you, and added insult to injury, I must act for you."

"I'll accompany you as far as the village," said Franz Nieper, "for I ought not to lose a day's trade."

"You must have something to eat first, and then see my mother," exclaimed Schmidt, adding, "she will like to thank you for coming here when I tell her why you paid us a visit."

So Franz Nieper remained at the toll-house, and Hans Richter went alone to the master tailor's house in search of Paul.