are of them the better for us, say I. We poor folk have a hard
enough life of it without thrusting our heads into the noose to
help them out of their troubles. What thinkest thou would happen
to us if Baron Henry should hear of our betraying his affairs to
the Red-beard?"

"Nay," said Katherine, "thou hast naught to do in the matter but
to tell the Red-beard in what part of the castle the little
Baron lies."

"And what good would that do?" said Fritz, the swineherd.

"I know not," said Katherine, "but I have promised the little
one that thou wouldst find the Baron Conrad and tell him that
much."

"Thou hast promised a mare's egg," said her husband, angrily.
"How shall I find the Baron Conrad to bear a message to him,
when our Baron has been looking for him in vain for two days
past?"

"Thou has found him once and thou mayst find him again," said
Katherine, "for it is not likely that he will keep far away from
here whilst his boy is in such sore need of help."

"I will have nothing to do with it!" said Fritz, and he got up
from the wooden block whereon he was sitting and stumped out of
the house. But, then, Katherine had heard him talk in that way
before, and knew, in spite of his saying "no," that, sooner or
later, he would do as she wished.