The last word having been spoken cheerily, Speckbacher sped on his way, watched only for a minute by Maria, who felt a tear glistening in her eye and did not wish him to see it. So she re-entered the house. Meanwhile, the little boy ran after him. "Father! let me go too!" "You? you little rogue! No, no, not this time. You must stay at home and take care of your mother." "But she doesn't want taking care of, father!--Besides, there's Zoppel.--Do let me go!" "When you are a bigger boy, you shall, I promise you." "Perhaps there will be no fighting _then_." "All the better." "Please let me go, father!" "What good could a little chap like you do?" "Take care of you, father!" "Ha, ha! Capital! I hope to take care of myself, dear boy." "But, father, you want me to be brave, like you, when I come to be a man. How can I be, unless I look on, and see what brave men do?" Speckbacher felt his throat swell. He turned about, took the boy in his arms, lifted him up from the ground, and kissed him several times. "There," said he. "Go home now, like a good boy. Another time." There was a tear on the little boy's cheek as he stood watching the retreating figure--a tear that had not fallen from his own eyes. He brushed it off--looked at it--and then trotted away into the brushwood; from whence, as he kept running along, he could get glimpses of his father, himself unseen. Once he saw Speckbacher pause and look back; perhaps to see if his little boy had obeyed him and gone home. After that, he never looked back again; he pressed forward to the things that were before him. The young boy still went on; his short, quick steps keeping pretty well up with his father's strides. Children that walk much with their parents generally step out well. Now and then he had to force his way among the bushes, or go a little way round; for which he made up afterwards by running. He had no settled purpose, except just to keep his father a little longer in sight. At length he grew tired and thought he must give up. Just then a man joined Speckbacher and stopped him to speak to him, pointing towards Halle. Anderl sat down and had a long rest. When Speckbacher went on again, the little boy felt refreshed, and was able to follow him with ease. Presently some men came running down the hills by various paths, and joined Speckbacher. They all walked on very fast. Afterwards they reached a vast body of men, who shouted when they saw Speckbacher till the hills rang again. When he came up to them they had a long parley, frequently pointing towards Volders and Halle; and they finished by all walking off together in that direction, with Speckbacher at their head. The little boy now thought he could not turn back; it was too exciting to be resisted; and, as he had now had a second good rest, he trotted on again, keeping up with them as a little dog does with a spirited horse.