The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries - LightNovelsOnl.com
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ANDREW.
He was intoxicated--
WEILER (_half audibly_).
As usual--
[_When the forester casts a look at him, he pretends not to have said anything_.]
ANDREW.
And so were the woodcutters. He had them pa.s.s the bottle round. "Here we begin," he said. "Ulrich has made a fine mess of it," he said; "for that reason he is dismissed." When he had said that I stepped forward forward--
FORESTER.
You stepped forward?--
[_Rises_.]
ANDREW.
And said he was a miserable slanderer. And that, moreover, he had no business to give orders in the forest.
FORESTER (_straightens himself_).
In the forest.
ANDREW.
And that he should go where he belonged.
FORESTER (_emphatically_).
Where he belonged.
[_Sits down_.]
And he--
ANDREW.
Laughed.
FORESTER (_rises and sits down again; whistles, and drums on the table_).
Go on.
ANDREW.
And said: "What does that fellow want?"
FORESTER (_in a loud voice_).
Andrew!
ANDREW.
Father--
FORESTER.
And you? Go on, go on.
ANDREW.
"Hasn't he plants from my forest in his hand?" [_Lowering his voice._]
"Hold that thief who steals wood and plants."
FORESTER (_short pause_).
And they--
ANDREW.
Held me.
FORESTER.
And you--
ANDREW.
They were too many. My resistance was of no avail--
FORESTER (_acting as if he were present at the fight_).
Was of no avail. They were six against one.
ANDREW.
I was furious when I saw what he intended to do. They took off my clothes. I told him to shoot me, otherwise I would shoot him if he let me escape with my life. At that he laughed. They--had--to hold--me.
FORESTER (_jumps up_).
And he--
ANDREW (_reluctantly, imploring_).
