return of Paul. He began to question within himself whether he had done
a wise thing to bring Pixy. The first dogs they had met had fought him,
and it might be that he would get worsted in many a battle before he was
again safely at home.

At length Paul brought up the trousers, but to Fritz's dismay the patch
was of different color. His father being a cloth merchant, the cloth was
of good quality and Fritz had always been rather proud of it, but now to
have a dark blue patch on dark brown trousers was mortifying indeed. But
there was no help for it. The good woman had done the best she could,
and he must wear them until he reached Frankfort.

A happy thought came to Paul. "Wear your rain-coat," he said. "It is
long enough to hide the patch."

Franz, who had come up to learn the cause of delay, thought it an
excellent idea, so ran down and brought up the knapsack containing the
coat.

Fritz put it on, much relieved that the objectionable ornament was
hidden from public view, and the three went below to resume their
journey.

More than an hour had been lost by this mishap, and the landlord advised
that they take the train to Frankfort in continuance of their journey.

"But we set out to walk, and told everybody that we were going to walk,
and we _will_ walk," responded Fritz resolutely.

"That would be all right if you had started early enough. You might then