set there.  Of course Erick would be caught and the others could be warned and pass by, without harm.  But imagine what the Mayor has just told father:  he has had something placed in the narrow pathway which leads through the grape vines which no one can see; but if anyone steps on it, it discharges a shot in the face and burns it so that no one could recognize him any more, for it would mar him so badly.  Just think, Erick’s curls will be burned off and his handsome face will be so marred that we shall not know him.”

Sally had become as white as snow from fright.  “Come quickly, Kaetheli,” she said urgently, “we will run after Erick and tell him everything, come!”

“It is much too late, why, what do you think,” Kaetheli said, “they started early this morning.  Erick is already burned.”

Now the pastor came out.  The mother turned and took Sally’s hand, who tried to stay behind.  Kaetheli went toward the church, and Sally knew that she too had to go in; but she could hardly walk from fear and anguish, and as she sat on her bench within, she saw and heard nothing of the whole organ festivities, for she only saw the disfigured Erick before her, how he was sitting in the vineyard and moaning, and her tears fell so plentifully that she could no longer look up.

Churi and his officers had assembled at the set time.  Erick also had kept his word and was there.  Although the companions had started early, they met single churchgoers on their way to Upper Wood, for these people wanted to look around on their way to church, to see how things were in the fields and gardens, and so they had set off in good time.

Now Churi had commanded his officers that they must each bring a basket, for there was no time to eat the grapes in the vineyard; they must cut them quickly and throw them into their baskets, then they would go into the woods, to a safe place, and eat them in peace.  But armed with baskets the officers appeared somewhat suspicious; Churi himself thought so and he now ordered, when they arrived at Upper Wood, that his officers should hide the baskets behind a barn, until all the church-goers had entered the church and the roads were safe.

Erick had already asked twice what the baskets were needed for on an inspection march, but he had received no answer.  As now the warriors sat hidden behind the heap of straw and had time for questions and answers, Erick asked again:  “What are you going to put in the baskets?”

“Grapes, if you insist on knowing!” Churi shouted at him, “and you too will find them good when you eat them.”

After the bells had stopped ringing and all was quiet round about, Churi commanded them to start.  “But you will be very quiet when you pass the church, do you hear?” he ordered; “for the doors are still open.”

Full, bright organ tones came through the opened doors toward the boys when they silently approached the church, and now, suddenly, the whole congregation joined with the tones of the organ and sang in loud, full chorus: