Seite 275 von 626

Frederick of course made no objection to that plan, and they set

off into the wood to look for the thieves; but they could not

find them: and when it grew dark, they climbed up into a tree to

spend the night there. Scarcely were they up, than who should

come by but the very rogues they were looking for. They were in

truth great rascals, and belonged to that class of people who

find things before they are lost; they were tired; so they sat

down and made a fire under the very tree where Frederick and

Catherine were. Frederick slipped down on the other side, and

picked up some stones. Then he climbed up again, and tried to hit

the thieves on the head with them: but they only said, 'It must

be near morning, for the wind shakes the fir-apples down.'