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a neat solitary room, which smelt pleasantly of apothecary's stuff. He found him indeed quite alone. But he seemed to have suffered some accident, his head was bound up in a bandage. Alas, he thought, even the most skilful doctor cannot insure himself against such accidents, so what can we poor ignorant layfolk do? All the same he was heartily welcomed and given a tasty glass of rosoli

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The conversation - eh, dear, he for his part cannot say how it happened so quickly to take a Lavaterian turn, upon matters which were far above his sphere, which the generous man at once condescendingly and gently explained to him, freeing him from some scruples as no theologian could have done. But such matters are not his business. When he is a little excited, then he is once again the complete soldier. He would prefer to discuss military exercises. He often becomes enthusiastic when he comes to prate of his campaign, in which he took part at the very beginning, for a few months only, and would rather have been a hundred miles away at the time. And now he would not for any money not have been there, and been through a battle and seen everything that went on. [...] He took his leave and said that in any disturbance of the health of himself and his family he would rely on him, next to God, with confidence. God grant, said the amiable humanitarian doctor, that we never have to converse upon that subject. [...]

The dear sun was gilding the pretty little isle of Ufenau. This awoke in him the wish [...]: If only this little island were freely and legally your own, you would think yourself luckier and live more happily and contentedly than emperors and kings. Then he began to represent to himself in his imagination how he would go about it, how he would build a little house there, [...], he pulled himself together, looked at the sun and would have been better pleased if he had advanced another two hours' journey further forward, instead of gaping at so many sights on the way. He saw that the sun was already low over the mountains of Schweiz, and he still had a long way before him. But the wretched little town of Rapperswil made him stop again and make commentaries on his old adventures. He considered whether he should cross the bridge at Rapperswil or go by the castle at Uznach. His feet counselled him not to lose any more time but take the shortest way. He went on to Altendorf, where some pilgrims were just going taking a boat to cross to Schmerikon. He decided to go with them, since they were going on to the forest of Hummelwald and so he would have company when night fell.

He had not eaten, it was already five o'clock, and in Altendorf there was nothing to be had but bread and cheese. So he took a glass of wine and a portion of cheese in an upper cellar, but was soon so besieged by beggar-boys that he had to share out the bread and cheese and order more. When the landlord drove them away they returned in droves like flies to a horse, and would soon have stolen the food from his plate, so that he would have had nothing to eat if he had not fled with it to an upper room.

Now an adventure befell him concerning his little dog, which will interest no-one but himself. The poor foolish little thing had hidden itself in the undercroft, when he fled up to the room with his plate and his glass, this vexed the beggar-boys and they revenged themselves on the innocent little animal, driving it out and pelting it with stones. When he went to go on board the boat, his dear travelling companion was not there. He whistled and called to the little poodle. One of the beggar-lads said: Him there, he threw stones at him and drove him away. The other said: Not I, him over there did it. And each one said: Not I, that other one. One said: They all threw stones. That made him see red. He began to lament: You cursed gallows-birds, you, he said, is that your thanks to me for giving you my bread and cheese, you rascals, you! Fetch my dog back here at once or I'll beat you all black and blue... and he raised his stick.

The boys scattered like hares but none looked for the little dog, they merely sniggered at him as they fled. Some, who seemed guiltless and had stayed where they were, said: We'll look for

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A kind of brandy. (Voellmy)

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