Trojans stimulated him to his greatest effort, and he had almost reached
the top when his efforts ceased.

"He is only resting," cried Franz and Paul anxiously.

"No, his strength has given out and you will see him coming down in a
moment," said one of the Trojans.

Hearing this, Fritz made one last effort, and holding on to the pole
with one arm, he reached up for the helmet, but it was farther off than
he thought. His strength had given out, and he slid rapidly down and
dropped in a heap, pale and weak from over-exertion, and for a moment
unable to rise.

The shouts and laughter of the Trojans impelled the three to flee to the
schoolroom for refuge, but their arms were held by the enemy and they
were led to a linden tree in the school yard and bidden to look up.
There amid the branches lay the three lances and the bows and arrows.
The tumult of laughter and shouting was now beyond all bounds, and at
that moment the principal of the school made his appearance and was soon
in the midst of the wild, surging crowd.

"Who put that gilt paper cap on the point of the climbing pole?" he
asked.

No one answered and the Trojans looked at each other in dismay.

"Whose cap is it?" he asked.

"It is mine," replied Achilles-Franz, "and some of these boys got it