Page:Popular Tales of the Germans (Volume 2).djvu/187

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
NUMBER-NIP.
183

his haſte left his black gown behind him. With all his ſpeed, however, it ſeemed as if he never ſtirred from the ſpot; he had conſtantly the ſame landſcape in view, excepting that he had loſt ſight of the caſtle, where he had been confined. Weary with this continual running round the ſame circle, he ſtretched himſelf under the ſhadow of a tree to take a little repoſe, and wait for ſome traveller, who might ſhew him the way. Here he fell into a ſound ſleep: when he awaked thick darkneſs encompaſſed him on all ſides. He recollected perfectly well that he had gone to ſleep under an oak-tree, but he could hear no whiſpering of the wind among the leaves, nor could he perceive any ſtar twinkling through the boughs, nor the ſmalleſt glimmering of light. He ſtarted up in his firſt alarm, but an unknown power held him faſt, and the motion he made produced a noiſe like the rattling of chains: he now perceived that he was in irons, and imagined himſelf to be in

Number-