“As to the money,” said the Baron, “we will make an exchange; you shall have my purse, which contains about ten florins, and I will take your little bag, just as it is, as a proof of Bavarian honesty and honor.  We shall see more of one another,” he added; “meantime, don’t forget that we must be off by four in the morning.  Good-night!”

The moon still shone when the travelers commenced their mountain journey.  Slowly they wound their way round the ever-ascending path.  About half-way up they came to a small rocky plain, where some young cattle were grazing.  Their alarmed wild movements proved how rarely human beings passed their high-walled prison.  From this point their climbing became a real labor, but before long they arrived at the summit, where, amidst much laughter and want of breath, they all threw themselves on the ground and gave vent to their satisfaction at being nearly 7,000 feet above the sea, and to their admiration of the glorious view.

But their stay on the summit was short, as they wished to make the descent of the mountain in one day.  They did not reach Partenkirchen till nearly midnight, nor Mittenwald till the following day, where, of course, their adventures were related, and Stephan’s story was soon the talk of the village.  He became a perfect hero for the time, and many a neighbor shook hands and hoped he would forgive the doubt cast upon his word, although years had since passed and the goat of contention had been gathered to its fathers.

Some time after, a letter came to the Post Inn for Stephan, causing much curiosity in the village, as it was the first he had ever received.  It came from the Baron, who offered him an excellent situation on his estate, under the forester, who, being childless and old, would not only instruct Stephan in his duties, but would soon leave the management in a great measure to him; moreover, he himself might hope to succeed as Forester, if he found the life suited to his taste.  A week was given him for consideration.  He did not at all like the idea of leaving his native place, to which he was attached with that intensity of feeling said to be peculiar to the mountaineers; but so good an offer was not to be refused, especially as Herr Dahn and Brand both approved of his going.  So the letter was written to tell the Baron he would come in a few weeks, as requested.  Meantime his old master gave him an order for a zither of the best quality, to be made of handsome wood, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and as the price was of no consequence, he was to make it quite a specimen instrument, to show how well he could work.  Stephan was very much pleased with the commission, and when, at the end of three weeks, it was finished, his delight was great when Herr Dahn pronounced it “One of the very best he had ever had in his warehouse, and quite fit for the king.”  The day came for Stephan’s departure, but it was not a sad one, as everything was arranged for him to return in three months to fetch Gretchen, his old master’s daughter, who had promised to marry him, and Stephan’s mother was to live with them.