He turned his head away from the temptation of the bread and
fruit stalls, for in truth hunger gnawed him terribly, and
wandered a little to the left. From where he stood he could see
the long, beautiful street of Teresa, with its oriels and arches,
painted windows and gilded signs, and the steep, gray, dark
mountains closing it in at the distance; but the street
frightened him, it looked so grand, and he knew it would tempt
him; so he went where he saw the green tops of some high elms and
beeches. The trees, like the dogs, seemed like friends. It was
the human creatures that were cruel.
At that moment there came out of the barrack gates, with great
noise of trumpets and trampling of horses, a group of riders in
gorgeous uniforms, with sabres and chains glancing and plumes
tossing. It looked to Findelkind like a group of knights,--those
knights who had helped and defended his namesake with their steel
and their gold in the old days of the Arlberg quest. His heart
gave a great leap, and he jumped on the dust for joy, and he ran
forward and fell on his knees and waved his cap like a little mad
thing, and cried out
"Oh, dear knights! oh, great soldiers! help me! Fight for me,
for the love of the saints! I have come all the way from
Martinswand, and I am Findelkind, and I am trying to serve St.
Christopher like Findelkind of Arlberg."
But his little swaying body and pleading hands and shouting
voice and blowing curls frightened the horses; one of them
swerved and very nearly settled the woes of Findelkind for ever
and aye by a kick.
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