Reloading their pistols and carefully wiping their axes they went out by a door at the back of the house, for neither cared to re-enter the scene of the slaughter.  Before doing so, however, they took a long draught from the landlord’s beer barrel, to make up for the drink of which they had deprived themselves.  The storm had passed, and the stars were shining brightly.  They met nobody on their way until within two or three miles of Gunzenhausen; it was found that the haft of Paolo’s axe was deeply stained with blood; and he threw it away on issuing from the wood, as it did not accord well with his present attire, which was rather that of a discharged soldier or a worker in cities than of a countryman.  Soon after eight o’clock they approached the town.  They were now greatly fatigued, for they had done two long days’ marches without any sleep between them, and turning off from the road they made their way to a little clump of trees, and there threw themselves down in the shade and slept until late in the afternoon.

“I think that after our experience of last night, Paolo,” Hector said, as they walked towards the town, “we had better wait until we can join some party going to Hall before we leave this place.  From what I hear, the road is a great deal more infested with bands of lawless men than that along which we have come.”

“Then, master, I think we had certainly better wait, for I don’t want anything worse than we had yesterday.”

They went to a small inn, had supper, and then lay down on some straw in an outhouse and slept soundly until morning.  Then they breakfasted, and as there was no one else in the room Paolo was able to eat freely.  Presently the landlord came in, and Hector entered into conversation with him.

“We want to go on to Hall,” he said.  “We have friends there, and we are obliged to leave home because we should be taken for the army.”

“Well, I don’t think that you will find yourself better off at Hall than here.  They are catching up every ablebodied young fellow and putting him into the ranks, and as you both look strong and active, except for your comrade’s face, you are both likely to be seized as soon as you enter Hall, especially if you have no papers to show.”

“We are not thinking of entering Hall, landlord.  Our friends live a few miles away, and they will hide us till the army moves away from these parts.”

“That will be before long, thank the saints!  There is news that a great French army marched from Spires three days ago, and there is like to be a great fight before long; and if the French are beaten Merci will chase them back to the Rhine, recapture all the towns that they have taken, and perhaps enter Alsace.”

“Which way do they say that the French are marching?”