They slung their knapsacks on, stepped through the open door of the little arbor where they had been sitting, on to the highroad, and gathered round the previous speaker.

He was a tall, good-looking young man, with fair hair, laughing blue eyes, and a budding mustache.
"Then you are determined, Eynhardt, that you won't go any further ?" asked he, with an accent which betrayed him as a Rhinelander.
"Yes, I am determined," Eynhardt answered.
"A groan for the worthless fellow; but more in sorrow than in anger," said the tall one to the others.

They groaned three times loudly, all together, while the Rhinelander gravely beat time.

An unpracticed ear would very likely have failed to note the shade of feeling implied in the noise; but he appeared satisfied.
"Well, just as you like.

No compulsion.