trouble Andernach guarded
Long years ago many cities had great stone walls around them.
The walls were built to keep out enemies, for in those old days cities
often went to war with one another.
The city of Andernach had around it one of these great walls.
There was only one gateway into the city, and this gateway was guarded
by strong iron doors.
Just behind the doors lived a gatekeeper, who did nothing but open and
shut the gates.
He watched them well.
No one could come in who was not friendly to the city.
The gates were not opened very often. Some days they were not opened at
all. So the gatekeeper had much spare time.
"I am very fond of honey," thought he. "I think I will buy a few hives
of bees. I can place the hives on the top of the wall. There nobody will
trouble them."
Soon there were rows of beehives on the top of the wall over the gate.
It happened that, not far away, there was another walled city, named
Lintz.
The people of Lintz were the enemies of the people of Andernach.
They were always watching each other, and fought when they could get a
chance.
Now the people of Lintz planned to attack and capture the city of
Andernach.
They called their wisest men together to see how the attack should be
made.
Many plans were talked over.
At length an old man said, "Men of Lintz, you know that the men of
Andernach are lazy. They like to lie late in their beds. If we attack
the city at sunrise, we shall capture it before they can get their eyes
open."
This plan seemed wise to the people of Lintz, and in army was soon ready
to march against the city of Andernach.
One dark night the army crept softly toward the walls of the sleeping
city.