[Illustration:  Stephan shows the baron’s letter to Gretchen. [See page 775.]]

“Goats don’t often fall in that way,—­stones are much more likely to have caused the mischief,” said Bridgetta, with a meaning look at Stephan, which was, however, only noticed by his mother, who replied: 

“Well, Bridgetta, if you still think so badly of my boy, you can keep the money as a recompense for the damage done to your goat, though I am quite convinced he has had nothing to do with it Some day we shall hear the truth of the whole affair, and of that I make no doubt.”

“I don’t want your money,” said the old woman, testily, “and shall return it as soon as I have sold the other goat;”—­whereupon, she took the leading-string from the “sennerin” and hobbled off with her new-found property, apparently as little pleased as possible.

The next day, the five florins were sent back, and then Stephan told his mother, for the first time, how he had promised to return the money if he ever found the goat again.  This now seemed impossible, for he knew neither the name nor address of the gentleman.  The money was, therefore, put away safely, and the savings of a few months soon made up the original sum of six florins, but still nothing could be heard of the giver.

Time wore on, and the boy was rapidly becoming an expert workman.  He had regularly swept the warehouse for three years, then finding he could earn more by violin-making during the time so occupied, he resigned in favor of a boy as poor as he had been.  Brand had pronounced him quite worthy of regular work, having often tested his ability by leaving to him the most difficult parts of the instruments.  He had made himself a zither, and could play all those national airs so peculiarly the property of the mountaineers, and which are so suited to the plaintive sweetness of that instrument.

Before Stephan was eighteen, his fame as a zither-player had spread far and wide; no marriage, or festival of any kind, was complete without his well-looking, good-humored face.

One day, Stephan was putting away his tools when he was sent for by a nobleman, who had stopped overnight at the village, and he soon came back with the news the Baron Liszt had engaged him to act as guide to the Krotten Kopf mountain the next day, and Brand was also wanted to help to carry the wraps and needful provisions.

Early in the morning the party started.  The Baroness accompanied her husband, and there were one or two gentlemen with their wives.  Stephan and Brand, laden with shawls, umbrellas, and knapsacks, then led the way with the slow, steady pace always adopted by the mountaineers, who know that speed avails nothing when great heights have to be climbed, as it cannot possibly be kept up, and only exhausts the strength at the onset.  After climbing two hours, a turn in a very steep portion of the path brought them suddenly