came trooping along, decorated with garlands of wild flowers, preceded
by peasants in their gayest costumes, carrying blue and white flags. The
"sennerinnen" wore their brightest neckerchiefs and gowns, and seemed
quite rejoiced to be down among their friends again.

Stephan joined his mother in the crowd, and they were in the full
enjoyment of the scene when he suddenly exclaimed: "See, mother, there's
the lost goat!" and sure enough there it was, limping along by the side
of a "sennerin." One leg was evidently broken or severely injured, but
otherwise the little animal looked well and fat.

Old Bridgetta had likewise seen it, and the three hastened to question
the "sennerin," who seemed very glad to find the owner, and told them it
had been brought to the Alp by a peasant, who gave her a florin to take
care of it and bring it down to the village as soon as she could. He did
not tell her where he had found it, or indeed any particulars, so she
supposed the poor little thing had fallen over some precipice and broken
its leg, which was, however, nearly well.

[Illustration: STEPHAN SHOWS THE BARON'S LETTER TO GRETCHEN. [SEE PAGE
775.]]

"Goats don't often fall in that way,--stones are much more likely to
have caused the mischief," said Bridgetta, with a meaning look at
Stephan, which was, however, only noticed by his mother, who replied:

"Well, Bridgetta, if you still think so badly of my boy, you can keep
the money as a recompense for the damage done to your goat, though I am
quite convinced he has had nothing to do with it Some day we shall hear
the truth of the whole affair, and of that I make no doubt."