Plenty of good cheer,
mother, to make a right merry watch."
"Take heed, Friedel mine; a merry watch is scarce a safe one."
"Even so, sweet motherling, and therefore must Ebbo and I share it.
You must mete out your liquor wisely, you see, enough for the credit
of Adlerstein, and enough to keep out the marsh fog, yet not enough
to make us snore too soundly. I am going to take my lute; it would
be using it ill not to let it enjoy such a chance as a midnight
watch."
So away went the light-hearted boy, and by and by Christina saw the
red watch-fire as she gazed from her turret window. She would have
been pleased to see how, marshalled by a merchant who had crossed the
desert from Egypt to Palestine, the waggons were ranged in a circle,
and the watches told off, while the food and drink were carefully
portioned out.
Freiherr Ebbo, on his own ground, as champion and host, was far more
at ease than in the city, and became very friendly with the merchants
and architect as they sat round the bright fire, conversing, or at
times challenging the mountain echoes by songs to the sound of
Friedel's lute.
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