Feklitus was the only one who kept his ground.

He knew who he was; Fortunatus, the only son of Mr.Bickel.No one would dare to meddle with him.

He knew, too, that he was by no means nimble, and the sudden appearance of the men in uniform had given him a strange feeling of heaviness in his legs.

He had no mind to stay alone, however, and so he seized the shoemaker's boy by the collar, and held him as in a vise.
One of the men now came up to them and said roughly,-- "Come along to the watch-house and explain what you have been about, and what it all means." The Uri boy hid himself as well as he could.

Feklitus, half-frightened, half-angry, answered,-- "We have done nothing.