important was going on among the Grecian heroes.

In truth there was something very important, for they were arranging to
go upon their journey wearing their helmets with waving plumes, and with
their shields and spears, and Franz and Paul were to have weapons to
place with that of Fritz in the armory. But who can describe their
surprise and dismay when that evening they went to put the
hunting-knife in its proper place, they found the armory plundered, and
everything gone! The enemy had come in an unguarded moment and carried
everything away. But where? That was the question, for they had not the
least doubt as to who did it, for the tracks of boys' boots were in the
moist ground, and Fritz was quite sure that he knew whose they were,
whereupon Franz laughed, although as much grieved as were the others
over the loss of their belongings.

"Yes, laugh as much as you please!" cried Fritz excitedly, "but when Mr.
Colbert's house was robbed he tracked the thief by a piece of buttered
bread which he had dropped in his flight. A piece bitten out of it
showed that the thief had lost a front tooth, and he had the man whom he
suspected arrested. When he came to trial they made him bite into a
piece of buttered bread, and it was exactly like the piece that Mr.
Gilbert had found."

"Your story is very good, but what help will it be in this case?"
enquired the logical Franz. "Do you think the Trojans will be so
obliging as to walk here and put their feet in the tracks?"

"Then name a better way."

"I don't know any."