On close investigation, however, there appeared no signs of life. Made bold by hunger, he raised the latch; went in and found the hut empty--empty of inhabitants, that is, but not of stock; for it appeared to be a kind of little shop or store, containing medicines for man, horse, and cow; cheap crockery and cutlery; sieves, tubs, and pails; household and agricultural implements; and a few rolls of green cloth, canvas, and calico; such goods as the peasantry were likely to want during the long winter months, without finding it convenient to go to a town for them. Every article was ticketed with the price; there was a till for the money, and a book wherein to enter what had been purchased. These good, honest people could rely upon not being defrauded by one another! It struck the Bavarian; though not so much as it would strike us. He opened the till; there was a little heap of kreutzers in it,--and shut it up again. He looked into the ledger, and read such entries as these-- "Walter Landauer; a Dutch hoe (so many kreutzers). Adolf Winkel, three yds. green cloth. Madeline Weiss, 2 yds. scarlet ribbon. Ditto. 1 oz. coarse white thread. Ditto. 1 small hair sieve. Jerome Brinkel, a brush of hog's hair bristles." and so forth. The Bavarian began to look about for something to eat. He found unroasted coffee in the berry, tar, turpentine, oil, black and yellow paint, and cobbler's wax; none of which articles, separately or conjointly, promised a very desirable repast, even if there were a fire lighted by which to cook them. At length he came to a small canister of sugar-plums and poured its contents into his pocket, that his mouth might not be altogether unemployed, if he could find nothing better to fill it. Just then he heard a loud exclamation of surprise; and, with a guilty start, he turned about and met the great, round, wondering eyes of a stout, thickset girl, who looked as if she were not quite sure of his not being the hill-sprite. His start, and the uniform he wore, seemed to undeceive her; for she accosted him with an ejaculation tantamount to "Well, I'm sure!--" "Pretty maiden, does this shop belong to you?" said the Bavarian. "No more than it does to you!" said she, planting herself boldly in the door-way. "How durst you come here?" "I am a wounded man--don't you see?" (pointing to his bandage) "and a stranger. Women always have pity on the unfortunate." "How do I know you're unfortunate? You are a thief! you were eating Hans Steffan's sugar-plums!" "Because I was starving." "Were you?" relenting a little. "I can't think what I shall do." "What do you want to do?" "To get out of the Tyrol as quick as I can." "You may do that in a few hours, if you look sharp." "But I am wounded, and cannot walk fast." "Humph--poor fellow! And you are hungry?" "As a hunter."