John
felt that his own quest was higher and better.
Toward noon he was in the middle of a valley down which a swift little
river flowed. Old men, women and children were at work in the fields
preparing for the new crop, and again John's frank eyes and hearty voice
won him a welcome. He was a man of Lorraine who had been on the far
western front and they welcomed Ulysses on his travels. They said that
he was going to Zillenstein at a fortunate time, as the prince had just
returned for a space and the great castle was full of people. When so
much of the youth of the land was gone away a handy man with horses
might obtain work there. The prince used automobiles chiefly, but many
horses were employed also.
Once John was compelled to show the German passport. It was of no use in
Austria, except as a proof of identity, and good faith, and as such it
served him well.
In the afternoon he began to ascend the slope that confined the southern
side of the valley, and toward night he drew near to Zillenstein. The
view of the castle here was less clear than from the other side of the
valley. Patches of pine on the slopes beneath hid many of the towers and
battlements, but he saw lights shining from lofty windows, and about the
castle were many small houses. He surmised that Zillenstein and its
surroundings had not changed much since the Middle Ages.
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