"'I was asleep on the bank and you woke me up, so I followed to
see what was going on,' said Peter.

"'I don't believe you. Some one sent you to spy upon us,' said
Jean de Matters, and he shook Peter. 'Who sent you?'

"'No one,' said Peter. 'I have told you the truth.'

"'You lie,' said his captor. "I give you just two minutes to tell
who sent you, and if you do not tell us then, you shall die!'

"Poor Peter thought of his home and his mother and father, and
there never was a more homesick boy in the world than he was at
that moment, but though he was terribly frightened, he did not
say a single word.

"'He shall die, then,' said Jean de Falters, when the two minutes
were up, and Peter had not spoken.

"One of the Austrians interfered. 'No,' he said. 'It would be bad
luck to begin the night's work by shedding the blood of a child.
Make him swear he will not tell what he has seen to any living
soul, and let him go.'

"In spite of Jean de Matters, who was bound that he should be
killed, that was what they did, and the moment he was free you
may be sure Peter ran like the wind for home.

"Now you see," said the old herdsman, and he shook his finger at