received with smiles; and, by way of prolonging the conversation, they inquired whether she had seen or heard of any strange beast near her habitation. She replied, that, within the few last days, her father had told her that he had seen an animal that he had never seen before, and had bidden her be careful that she was not surprised, for that it was very ferocious, and had carried off the child of one of the inhabitants of the village of Grifhausen. She then invited them to alight, saying that, perhaps, her parent could tell them more concerning it.
“The young men were both so fascinated with this beauty, that they would willingly have spent some hours in gazing at and conversing with her; but, for some reason or other, they obstinately refused, although she pressed them to enter the cottage. After a little more conversation, she wished them good night; and though they both intended to see her again, neither of them mentioned a word of his intention, either to her or to his companion. Indeed, from that moment they became so desperately jealous of each other, (which was the reason why they would not stop that night, each looking upon the other as a rival,) that they scarcely spoke all the way back to Fiendenheim; and the next day,
