Adlerstein? The peak above the Braunwasser?
Some day shall ye show me this eyrie of yours, and we will see
whether we can amaze our cousins the eagles. We see you at our
father's court to-morrow?" he graciously added, and Ebbo gave a ready
bow of acquiescence.
"There," said the king, as after their dismissal he walked on with
Sir Kasimir, "never blame me for rashness and imprudence. Here has
this height of the steeple proved the height of policy. It has made
a loyal subject of a Mouser on the spot."
"Pray Heaven it may have won a heart, true though proud!" said
Wildschloss; "but mousing was cured before by the wise training of
the mother. Your highness will have taken out the sting of
submission, and you will scarce find more faithful subjects."
"How old are the Junkern?"
"Some sixteen years, your highness."
"That is what living among mountains does for a lad. Why could not
those thrice-accursed Flemish towns let me breed up my boy to be good
for something in the mountains, instead of getting duck-footed and
muddy-witted in the fens?"
In the meantime Ebbo and Friedel were returning home in that sort of
passion of enthusiasm that ingenuous boyhood feels when first brought
into contact with greatness or brilliant qualities.
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