"Now," said the Sandwirth, "there will be plenty of different kinds of work to do this summer; so that all people's tastes may be suited. There will be plenty of fighting; those who are active and stirring, and fond of their country, will like that. There will be plenty of message-carrying from one post to another; this will be attended with occasional risk, and will require much activity and dexterity, and will be equally honourable and useful with the other. There will be plenty of hard labour, felling trees, rolling stones, making barricades, carrying ammunition up precipitous heights; this will be as useful as the others: plenty of night-watching; this will be fatiguing rather than dangerous, and as useful as the others. Then, while so many are away from their herds and their flocks, some will be absolutely needed to look after the stock; and these will be as useful as the others. Which of all these various posts will best suit your fancy?" "Well, that requires consideration," said Franz, pulling a wooden stool to the table, and sitting down opposite to Hofer. "Let me see. First, there's fighting. You know, Sandwirth, that I've dealt so long in foreign brandy, that I know a little what danger is--" "Of course; and therefore--" "And therefore, if I don't choose fighting, people can't say I'm afraid. Can they, now?" "Whether they can or no, is little to the purpose." "Just so. Well, then; as to the message-carrying; that, as you say, is useful, but dangerous; to which I may add vexatious." "I don't know why it need be." "Don't you? Why, I look upon it as one of the most plaguy, uninteresting, abasing employments a fellow can undertake; and without getting any credit by it." "Let it pass, then. There are plenty whom it will suit very well." "Oh yes! Well, then, let me see. What comes next? Oh, manual labour. Felling trees, and so forth. Do you know, Sandwirth, my mother asked me, last Christmas, to chop up a billet of wood for the fire, and I hit myself such a blow on the left hand with the axe,--here, just at the fleshy part of the thumb,--that I carry the mark of it, as you may see, to this day. And my mother said it _might_ have brought on lock-jaw!" "Did she, though?" "Death in three days," said Franz solemnly. "These handicraft jobs, you see, require practice. They amount almost to trades. Now, a trade requires an apprenticeship; and I've never had one to a woodcutter: so that, altogether, I might do myself more hurt than anybody else." "Many people do." "That's considered then. Well, what comes next? Night-watching. Oh, yes, I would not at all mind taking my turn at that, though I'm a dreadful one for falling asleep." "A sleepy sentinel would not be of much use." "No; only everybody must sleep sometimes; and they that work hardest sleep soundest." "Just so." "As for carrying provisions up the hills, little chaps like your Johann are equal to that, I think." "I should hope so."