The Necromancer (Kahlert)/Volume 1/Part 1
THE
NECROMANCER.
THE hurricane was howling, the hailstones beating against the windows, the hoarse croaking of the raven bidding adieu to autumn, and the weather-cock's dismal creaking joined with the mournful dirge of the solitary owl, when Herrman and Hellfried, who had been united by the strongest bonds of friendship from their youthful days, were seated by the chearing fire side, hailing the approach of winter. Thirty long years were elapsed since they had been separated by different employments; Herrman having been called, by the decrees of heaven, to distant countries, whilst Hellfried, leaving the University where their mutual friendship had began, hastened to his hoary parents, to ease the burthen of their old age, and to cheer the tempestuous evening of his dear progenitor's life.
On his journey towards his wished-for home, he rambled over some of the most charming parts of Germany; yet he was hunting in vain after pleasure, being separated from the dear companion of his juvenile days, and could no where trace the blissful abode of tranquillity and peace of mind. At length he found, in the circle of his family, what he had been seeking in vain abroad. The pleasure which his venerable parents felt, in beholding the offspring of their mutual love, soothed the inquietude of his mind; the joy sparkling in their eyes at the sight of the supporter of their declining years, tinged his cheeks with the rosy hue of contentment, and filled his soul with inward bliss. Ten years of congenial happiness were now sunk down into the endless gulph of time, when his aged father died, closing a well-spent life in his seventy-second year: The guardian angel of virtue carried his unspotted soul to the cheerful mansion of everlasting peace; the gentle simile of a good conscience sat still on his wan lips, when his sainted spirit arrived in heaven, hailed by millions of holy angels.
Hellfried now enjoyed twelve years longer the bliss of soothing the sorrows of his mother, and of supporting her under the heavy load of ever increasing infirmities, before she went over to the sacred abode of peace, to be re-united to the dear companion of all her earthly joys and cares. He dropped a tear of filial affection on her tomb, where he rested by her departed husband's side, and directed now all his care and tenderness towards the promoting of his only sister's happiness. The apprehension of drawing a blank in the great lottery of matrimony, strengthened by some terrifying examples within the circle of his friends, made him hesitate so long to choose a partner in his joys and cares, 'till he felt himself too infirm for the toils inflicted on the beasts of burthen, yoked to the cart of matrimony.—But he became, alas! too late, sensible of the bad consequences of his cowardice, when he began to want a tender nurse, a soother in his gloomy hours, and a sweet comforter amidst the self-created cares of hoary age. In order to disperse the clouds of gloomy dismal fancies, the usual companions of solitary bachelors, he took the resolution of undertaking a journey as far as the duty incumbent on his office would allow him, and left the care of his house to his maiden sister.
He was so fortunate as to meet, on his journey, with many friends of his earlier days, the companions in his former studies, and the partners of his academical life: At length he also traced out his dear Herrman, the most beloved among his youthful friends. Though Hellfried was, at first, angry with him, for having neglected writing to him in the course of so many years; for having omitted to ascertain him of his still being alive; and for his not having answered the letter he had wrote to him many years ago, in order to enquire after his health and happiness; yet he forgot at once all his anger, anticipating the pleasure of pressing him once more to his bosom, and got into his carriage with cheerfulness to hasten to his embraces. After a short and pleasant ride, he hung on Herrman's neck, a gentle tear of joy sparkled in his eye, as he pressed him tenderly to his bosom.
He found his worthy friend a favorite of fortune, blest in the lap of sweet contentment and unadulterated happiness.—A loving wife, who was a tender guardian of his tranquillity, and a careful mother to the pledges of their mutual love, was crowning the favors which fortune so abundantly had blessed him with: Kind Providence had surrounded him with an hopeful circle of promising children, two of whom had happily been married, and blessed him with two grand-daughters and three grandsons—Heaven's greatest blessings smiled upon him wherever he went, contentment and joy, sat upon his reverend brow, and peace of mind had taken her abode within his heart.
"Good God!" exclaimed he, as soon as he could find words to give vent to the rapture of his soul, "do I then behold, once more before I die, the dear companion of my youthful days? Heaven be praised for that unexpected happiness! Now all my wishes are fulfiled—Oh, Hellfried! Hellfried! The separation from thee, the apprehension of seeing thee no more, was the only bitterness mixed in the cup of bliss, which providence has kindly administered to thy friend. Thou art alive—thou art alive, now I have nothing else to wish, than that my end may be as happy as this hour of bliss."
Hellfried related now, after the first ecstacy of rapture was over, how anxiously he had ever been enquiring after his dear friend; told him how many letters he had written to get informed of his abode, and of his being well, and was going to chide his faithful Herrman for his negligence, when he fetched a letter from an old acquaintance of his, who had wrote to him, that
"Hellfried had left the service of the Muses, enlisted under the banners of Pallas during the war of seven years, and, very likely, had fallen a victim of his martial spirit."
"Thy turn of mind———" thus Herrman proceeded, after his friend had read that letter, "seemed always to make such a manner of life far more eligible to thee, than the peace and homely pleasure of a private life, how could I then doubt the authenticity of the intelligence given me by honest Erich? I have bemoaned thy untimely fate, what more could I have done?"
Hellfried was satisfied with what his friend said in his defence, and found now an additional reason of being pleased with his having seen him once more.
"Brother!" exclaimed he, "let us forget our age and let us live together, as long as I can remain with thee, as if the thirty years since we have seen each other never had existed, and be as merry as we have been in our youthful days."
Herrman's cheek glowed with pleasure, he squeezed his Hellfried's hand, and both of them were as happy as it is possible to be in this vain world.
Six days were now passed in mutual joy: Herrman resided at a country seat, situated on the banks of the Elbe, and enclosed with an antient forest, which made it the most pleasant abode to Kellfried, who was passionately fond of hunting. Every morning they were rambling through the woods, and the two robust aged friends pursued the fleet game with juvenile ardour, 'till the dinner bell summoned them to a substantial meal, and a bottle of old Rhenish wine; when the cloth was removed the goblet went cheerfully round, and the two happy friends were drinking and talking 'till night came on, and the chimney fire illuminated the dusky room; the pipes were filled with aromatic canaster, the chairs put nearer to the fire, blazing briskly aloft, and they began to relate the atchievements of their juvenile days, and whatever had happened during their separation. Thus the days rolled on like hours, and Hellfried did not yet think of parting.
The hurricane was howling (as I said before) and the hail stones beating against the windows in so uncivil a manner, that the two friends could not think of going a hunting, but stuck close to the social fire side, spending thus the day amid amusing conversations; their stock of entertaining narratives seemed to be inexhaustible.
The gloominess of the weather gave their conversation a serious turn: They began to discourse on the calamities of war, of the dangers they had formerly undergone, and of many distresses and sufferings they had experienced in the earlier part of their lives; as night advanced the tempest grew more furious, the flame in the chimney was wasted to and fro, and began to die away by degrees. Father Herrman fed it with dry wood, poked the cinders out, and it began again to blaze aloft.
"Brother," now said Hellfried, who, meanwhile had been filling his pipe, "brother, dost thou believe in apparitions? Dost thou believe in spirits?"
Herrman smiling shook his head.
"I also," thus Hellfried went on, "do not believe in apparitions; yet, when travelling through Germany, I have met with adventures which I still am unable to unriddle."
Herrman pricked up his ears, awaiting in dumb expectation the narrative of his friend's wondrous adventures: Hellfried kept him not long in suspence, and began as follows:
"The great fair was just beginning, when I arrived at F———, the bustle of the buyers and venders, the meeting with a number of dear friends, and the many different amusements, promised to afford me a great deal of pleasure, and I resolved to stay a few weeks at that town."
"The inn where I had taken lodgings was crowded with travellers; an aged hoary man amongst them was particularly noticed by every one, on account of his remarkable appearance: His looks were reverend, his dress, though very plain, was costly; he appeared to be a rich nobleman, and occupied the best apartments: A coach and six, with four servants richly dressed, carried him frequently out; he was seen at all the public places, was present at all amusements, yet, what raised my curiosity, he was constantly alone, and in profound meditation. I often remarked, that wherever he was, he did not take the least notice of what was doing around him, and, as if a prey to grief and inward sufferings, seemed to be insensible of all the objects that surrounded him. He was also continually alone when in his apartment, the door of which appeared to me to be always bolted: He rode out as soon as dinner was over, and commonly returned very late at night."
"I questioned the landlord about that strange man, but he shrugged up his shoulders and could tell me nothing. The waiters did the same."
"But," exclaimed I peevishly, "you certainly must know where he comes from, could not you ask his servants?"
"The servants," answered the waiter, "are as mute as their master. He is supposed to be an English Lord, that is all what I know."
"I was of the same opinion, when I first saw him; having met, on my travels, with many Englishmen, who had behaved in the same sullen and reserved manner. His melancholy mood I fancied to be the effect of the spleen, and did not trouble myself any more about him."
"I had not been above three days at F——— when I lost my purse: At first I fancied I had dropped it somewhere in a shop, or my pocket had been picked in the street, and determined to be more careful in future; but, in spite of all my precaution and carefulness, I suffered a second loss the next day, missing a diamond ring, with a miniature picture of my deceased mother: I was sure that I, the preceding night had pulled that ring from my finger, and put it on the table, when I went to bed; I questioned the waiters, but they appeared to be offended at my inquiries—in short, the ring was gone."
"A few days after I went to the play, I had a snuff box, of very little value, in the right pocket of my coat; a gentleman who was sitting by me, at the left, begged me to give him a pinch of snuff, but I could not find my box. That insignificant theft made me smile. I staid 'till the play was over with very little concern, and was glad that I had left my purse at home."
"The play was over, and a boy with a lighted torch went before me to an adjacent tavern, I wanted to see what hour it was, but my watch was also gone. "Cursed misfortune!" exclaimed I. The boy reminded me of his money, I gave it him, and entered the supper room. An acquaintance of mine took notice of the paleness of my countenance, inquiring whether I was ill, I denied it, and took my seat at the table: I hurried down my supper without noticing my neighbour, and was determined to depart the next morning, being persuaded that some cunning rogues had singled me out, to try their skill with me, at the expence of my property.—As I was pushing back my chair, somebody close by me, asked me what o'clock it was. I did not answer, because that question, by reminding me of my loss, had vexed me, and was going to leave the room."
"Sir, what o'clock is it?" exclaimed somebody once more, tapping me on the shoulder. "I do not know," replied I without looking back, and paid my bill. "Have you no watch with you?" exclaimed the same person again. Now I turned round in great vexation, and, guess my surprise, the troublesome inquirer was my neighbour at the inn, the very same gentleman who had excited so much my curiosity some days ago."
He stared me in the face, as if expecting an answer.
"Sir," said I now, "my watch —"
"Has been stolen," interrupted he quickly.
"I have catched the thief, there it is:" So saying, he put my watch into my hand. I was stunned with amazement, and could not help wishing to know the thief, that I might recover the other things I had lost, for I was sure that the same person who had robbed me of my watch, had also pilfered what I had lost before: But, ere I could signify my wish, the mysterious gentleman was vanished."
"I went home, struck with astonishment, but the stranger was not yet arrived. At length he came, as usual, at midnight; I rushed out of the door when I heard him coming up stairs, made a respectful bow, and begged him to give me leave to ask a question; but he passed me hastily, without taking notice of me, absorbed in melancholy thoughts, took the candle from the servant, and bolted his room.
All my attempts of speaking with him were fruitless, like the first. When at home, his door was bolted, in the hall he took no notice of me, and in public places he shunned me. Vexed by his rude behaviour, I would not make another attempt at getting acquainted with that queer fellow.
Meanwhile three days more were elapsed, and that strange accident had made me forget my departure; but now I renewed my resolution of setting off as soon as possible, and was determined to leave F— the next day, though no farther disagreeable accident had happened to me. I put every thing in order, had my trunks packed, and was obliged to find out a banker, who would take a Bill for Leipzig, which I had brought with me to F———"
"I found it very difficult to meet with one who would not take too great an advantage of my present inconvenience; towards evening I was so fortunate to find out a reasonable man; joyfully did I now put my hand into my pocket to take the pocket book out of it, but I could not find it. "For God's sake," exclaimed the merchant, when he saw me pale and trembling, "what is the matter with you?" "Nothing, nothing at all," stammered I, rushing out of the house.
A faint ray of hope was still glimmering within my soul; I fancied I had left all the remainder of my little fortune at the inn, though I was certain that I had taken the pocket book with me. I arrived, trembling, at my lodging, and was hardly able to unlock my door; I entered slowly, as if I wanted to avoid the terrible blow that threatened me: I searched the room with an anxious look, but, alas! all my little wealth. was gone!"
"I could not believe the reality of my misfortune: I emptied my trunk more than ten times, and more than an hundred times did I search every corner of the room, thinking it impossible that the bill and the pocket book should not be there, however I could find neither of them."
"It grew late, and I was still sitting on my trunk, half distracted, leaning on my trembling hand, at length I resolved to go next morning to some of my acquaintance, and endeavour to get some money advanced. That terrible evening was followed by a more terrible night; morning dawned and I still could not sleep—my pride revolted against the thought of borrowing money, but the idea of the unavoidable want staring me in the face, got the better of it, and I went. Every one whom I applied to was sorry for what had happened to me, railed against and cursed the villain who had robbed me, but nobody would lend me money—-scarcity of cash, the backwardness of the debtors; alas! these and a thousand other obstacles prevented my friends from assisting me. I went home in a gloomy melancholy mood, and did not know what to do. It struck one, the dinner was on table, but I could not eat. I was standing in my room with a downcast look, and musing on my distress, a son of misery and a slave of cruel necessity. I cannot tell how long I had been in that desponding situation, when a gentle knocking at my door roused me suddenly from my reverie: I exclaimed in an agony, come in! The door opened, and I was thunderstruck when I beheld the unknown gentleman before me. My soul was filled with rapture, I ran almost frantic with joy towards the stranger, clasped him in my arms, and exclaimed, "Have you, have you found it?"
"I have not!" answered he.
"Methinks I see him still standing before me, a tall lean figure, his face pale, his looks staring and serious: I trembled as he spoke."
"Not! not!" groaned I, "gracious heaven! how unhappy am I."
"Patience, young man," replied he, "although the thief may have made his escape, yet I am here."
I gazed at him with astonishment. He took his pocket book, opened it, and gave me two papers. "There, take it," said he, "it is as much as you may want at present, the mail will set off to-morrow for your native country, I wish you an happy journey."
Then he laid the papers on my table, and hastened out of the room: A strange sensation had fixed me to the floor, had fettered my tongue, and I neither could thank my benefactor, nor inquire how I was to repay him. I felt veneration for this singular man, admired his humanity, and yet I could not help feeling some inward sensations of horror; I was for a considerable time as motionless as a statue. Having recovered from my amazement, I went to the table, took up the papers, which he had left behind, and saw, with astonishment, that each of them was a draft for a hundred dollars payable at F———: It grieved me to be obliged to accept a present from a strange unknown man. But what could I do? How could I get access to him? Perhaps (thought I) he will send his direction, but I waited in vain for it. He got into his carriage and drove away.
I also left the house and returned late, the stranger was not yet come home: However, I was determined to await his return, and as soon as he should enter the house, to hasten to his apartment, and to insist upon his taking a bond for his money, and if he should happen to refuse it, to force him to take back his present. This resolution was good enough, however I could not execute it because he did not return.
Night being far advanced, I laid myself down upon a couch, and the harbinger of sleep suprised me; I began to doze. At once I heard a noise before my door, I got up, and all was hushed in silence. I fancied the noise I had heard had been the effects of those early dreams which sometimes amuse our fancy when sleep is coming on; but soon after I heard the same noise again. I got once more up from my couch, and all was silent again. Listening attentively, I heard the same noise repeated; it grew now louder and louder, and resembled the tapping of somebody who could not find the latch. I was going to open the door, but before I came into the middle of the room, saw it move on its hinges. I stopped, the door opened slowly, and now I could distinguish my visitor, It was a strange figure, tall and emaciated, clad in a white garment. As it entered the -room, it advanced towards me with slow and solemn steps; I staggered back, and a chilly terror trembled through my frame. The apparition moved towards the table in awful silence. It took up my watch, looked at it, gave a hollow groan, and then laid it down again. I was thunderstruck. The phantom now moved slowly back, and I looked at its face as it was passing the table where the candle stood—Merciful heaven! how was I chilled with horror, when I beheld the features of my deceased mother! My knees shook, a cold sweat bedewed my face, and my strength forsook me."
"Meanwhile the apparition was come to the door, without having turned its face; it opened the latch gently, and, when on the threshhold, turned round, staring me in the face, with a ghastly look, and lifting up its emaciated hand, threatning three times in a horrible manner, and disappeared."
"I fell senseless back upon my couch, and when I could recollect myself again, I fancied I had been haunted by a bad dream.—The clock struck one as I was going to look at my watch."
"Vexed that the stranger did not come home, I went to bed, and slept 'till it was broad day. When the waiter brought my breakfast, I asked whether my neighbour was come home. He denied it. Then I asked if he perhaps had left F———? The waiter answered, it may be, he always pays his bill after dinner, he carries no trunks with him, and none of his servants lodge in our house."
"I went with the waiter to the apartment which the stranger had occupied: The key was in the lock, we walked in, all was empty."
"I went back to my room, took up the drafts he had given me, and would have destroyed them, if I thus could have disencumbered myself of the obligation which I owed him. It suddenly came in my mind that they perhaps might be fictitious, or the name of the merchant who was to pay the money, not known. This thought afforded me pleasure, though I could expect nothing but misery if if it should prove true."
"I hastened to the host, shewing him my draughts, under the pretext as if I wanted to know the direction of a merchant. He described the house and the street where he lived. I was frightened and went that same morning to the merchant. He looked slightly at the paper, but very seriously at me, and his eyes seemed to denote astonishment and pity. I expected, joyfully, that the bills would be protested; however, I was mistaken. He opened, sighing, his drawers, and counted down two hundred dollars, still looking at me with astonishment. I put the money in my pocket, and, being convinced that he pitied me for being obliged to that stranger, I took the liberty of asking him, by whom he was to be repaid; upon which he appeared to be disconcerted, shrugged his shoulders, muttered some unintelligible words, and left me suddenly. I went away under the greatest apprehensions, and the weather being fine, was tempted to take a walk to a public garden."
"The beautiful morning had assembled there a great number of foreigners and of the inhabitants of F———, I went into a remote bower, and ordered some chocolate."
"Retired from the noisy bustle of company, I could now muse on the strange accidents which I had experienced during my short stay at F———: I also recollected my dream, and reflected on it more seriously than before. Though I was very much tempted to deem it something more than a delusion of fancy, yet I was still disinclined to ascribe that strange incident to a supernatural cause, being strongly prepossessed against the belief in apparitions, and found myself bewildered in a maze of irksome fancies. I struggled hard with my imagination, striving to forget what had made me so uneasy; however, all my struggles proved abortive; the dream, or rather the apparition, continued returning to my remembrance, in defiance of my reasoning, and the nocturnal horrid spectre hovered still before my eyes, haunting me with gloomy thoughts."
"Being tired and wearied by the uninterrupted struggle between reason and fancy, I endeavoured to ease my soul of her heavy load, by a loud exclamation, and, without recollecting where I was, I suddenly broke out in the words, "No, it was a deluding dream."
"It was no dream!" exclaimed a well known voice on a sudden.
"I cast down my eyes filled with shame and terror, imagine how I was surprised to behold the mysterious stranger standing before me."
"Young man," said he, without giving me time to utter a single word, "young man, do you with for an explanation of the apparition of last night?"
"I gazed at him in dumb silence."
"If you wish to have unfolded that incident," he resumed, after a short pause, "then await me this evening, by ten o'clock, at the town gate, next to the inn."
"The stranger pronounced these words with a friendly courteous mien, made me a bow, and left the bower, disappearing amid the crowd."
"The waiter brought the chocolate, but I could not swallow a single drop. In vain did I now roam all over the garden, in hopes of meeting the stranger; in vain ask all my acquaintances and the waiters, describing minutely the stranger to every one; nobody had seen him."
"I hastened home, awe and terror struck me as I entered my apartment; the door of my chamber seemed to be in constant motion, and the figure of my mother haunted me without intermission. I could not ged rid of the gloomy reflection on her threatning looks, and left the house. I now rambled about, in great uneasiness, the fore and afternoon, went from the coffee-house to the promenade, from thence to the museum, from the museum to the tavern, from the tavern to the exhibition of wild beasts, and at last to the playhouse, but I could no where find tranquillity and ease of mind."
"It was growing dark when I left the playhouse, my soul was disturbed by strange sensations, and I was consulting with myself whether I should go or not. Doubt and apprehension suspended my resolution for a considerable time, and overwhelmed me with pungent agony."
"Shall I go or not? Prudence asked, What hast thou to apprehend? I could give no answer, and fears and doubts still continued keeping up a most distressing conflict. Curiosity on a sudden raised her bewitching voice, driving away every doubt, and bidding defiance to the wise counsels of prudence. "Thy departure is fixed, to-morrow thou art going to leave this town," thus the charming seducer whispered in my ear, "and to-day thou canst get rid of every teazing doubt: Thou wilt repent it one time if thou refusest to go to-day. Take courage, man, take courage, don't be such a coward to fear an old man; and" thus my pride added, "thou canst inform thyself how to pay the notes."
At once I was determined to go. "I will repair to the place of rendezvous," said I, and was instantly disincumbered of a load of uneasiness, I returned to my apartment with composure, called for a light and began to write some letters. Having continued that occupation 'till eight o'clock, I went down stairs, to amuse myself a little, and spent two happy hours at the table d' hote. When supper was over the landlord desired to speak to me in private. As soon as we were retired to another room, he said, I bring you happy tidings. I listened attentively."
"You have lost several things during your residence in our town?"
"I have," replied I, with surprise.
"Your loss has given me great uneasiness, on account of the reputation of my house."
"Let us come to the point," exclaimed I with impatience.
"You have lost a purse, a snuff-box, a ring and a pocket book."
"You know exactly what I have lost," answered I, with amazement."
"You will find every article in your room."
I staggered back.
An unknown person brought all your things an hour ago."
"An unknown person? Was it perhaps that strange gentleman? But it cannot be him you know."
"Whom do you mean?"
"My neighbour."
"The landlord shook his head smiling, he was called away, and hastening to my room, I found every thing as the landlord had told me. The bill of exchange was in the pocket book, and I was lost in dumb amazement, not doubting that this had been a new trick of my unknown benefactor. "But why did he not wait 'till ten o'clock?" said I to myself, "Why not return my things on our appointed meeting? Should he have doubted my coming, or perhaps, have been obliged to depart suddenly?" The last was the most likely, but, at the same time, the most disagreeable to me, depriving me of the means of returning him his money, and paying my debt after I had recovered my property. But how could I be certain that he really was departed, since all his doings had been so strange and eccentric. How could a gentleman like him, a pattern of honesty, a friend to human nature, how could he be guilty of transgressing the first duty of an honest man? How could it be possible, that he should be able to break his word? He had appointed me to meet him at ten o'clock, and the landlord had not said any thing to the contrary."
"I went down to the supper room, requesting a few minutes hearing of the landlord, and asked him, if the unknown person who had brought my last property, had left no message for me."
"He denied it, adding, his own words were, "there are the things Mr. Hellfried has lost," and without giving me time to question him any farther, by whom he had been sent, he went away."
"Now I looked at my watch, it wanted fifteen minutes to ten, I fetched my hat and great coat, and walked slowly towards the town gate."
"The night was exceeding fine, the moon shone bright, and was surrounded with millions of sparkling stars. It struck ten when I was already standing on the appointed spot, I mistook every passenger for the stranger, ran towards several of them, and began to speak, but I was always disappointed. It was now forty-five minutes past ten, and I began to be tired, my apprehension that the stranger, had been obliged to depart suddenly appeared to prove true."
"I will wait 'till it strikes eleven!" said I to myself, and then I will return home, if he should not be here." The bell of the adjacent steeple tolled eleven and the stranger was not yet come."
"I will stay fifteen minutes longer, and then return to the inn."
"These fifteen minutes expired likewise, without his making his appearance: The stillness of midnight surrounded me, and nobody appeared; I went back."
"I was not gone ten steps when my dear stranger came walking towards me with hasty paces; nobody could be more rejoiced than I was, and forgetting entirely that I had waited so long, I ran towards him. He shook me heartily by the hand, and said, "I am sorry that I have kept you waiting so long."
"I would have waited with pleasure still longer," replied I, "without the least token of diffidence, if I had been sure of seeing you at last. I willingly would have undergone every difficulty in order to obey your commands, and to get rid of my doubts."
"That you shall," said he; "follow me."
"Now he began to walk so fast that I hardly could keep up with him; he uttered not a word; we arrived at the gate and it was opened at his command; our way led straight through the suburbs, at the bottom of which a solitary house was standing: My conductor knocked at the door; we were let in: The house appeared to be empty, and deserted, and we saw no living soul except an old decripid man, who had opened the door. The stranger ordered a light; a lamp was brought, and now he walked, without stopping, thro' a dark passage 'till we came to a door, leading into a garden, in the back of which was a small pleasure-house; my conductor opened the door, and we entered a small damp room."
"Now we are on the spot," said he, after having carefully secured the door, "now tell me, what you want to know."
"First of all, I wanted to give him a brief account of the recovery of my effects, and then to ask him, if he had been my benefactor. However, he prevented me from doing it, exclaiming, "I know it all, I beg you will concentre all you want to know into one question."
"I mused awhile, but I was not able to bring all my wishes to one point, and it is very likely that the presence of that strange extraordinary man, had greatly contributed to my perplexity. I found it impossible to make the question he had ordered me to do."
"Seeing my distress, he said, "Well, then, enquire after the name of the friend who has taken so much care of you."
"That was the very question which I was most eager to do; I had been inclined to propose it ere now, but I would not venture to do it for fear of offending the stranger; with great joy did I therefore reply, "Yes, that I will, that I wish to know."
"Well then," replied he, "you shall get personally acquainted with that friend of yours."
"Then I do not know him yet personally?" resumed I, "I thought it was you, Sir."
"The stranger shook his head."
"I am only his deputy," was his answer; "and," added he, after a short pause, "only through the third hand."
"I gazed at him with amazement, but he seemed to take no notice of it, and began to make preparations for introducing my friend in a most mysterious manner. He strewed sand on the floor, and drew two direct circles with an ebony wand, placing me in one and himself in the other."
"How will this end, said I to myself."
"The stranger was now standing opposite to me, in an awful and solemn posture: He folded his hand upon his breast, his looks being lifted up to heaven. Silent and motionless like a statue was he standing there. A chilly sensation of horror penetrated me, I did not dare to fetch breath."
"The stranger remained in that posture for a quarter of an hour, my fear was swallowed up in dumb amazement, and my heart began soon to fail me for fear, and for a looking after those things which were to come: At length my conductor broke his mysterious silence; I heard his voice, but I could not understand what he was uttering; the words he was pronouncing seemed to belong to a foreign language. The lamp afforded but a faint light, and I could not well distinguish the objects around me. All was silent as the grave. My conductor whispered only now and then some mysterious words, drawing figures in the sand with his ebony wand."
"Now I heard the clock strike twelve, with the last stroke the stranger began to turn himself round about, within the circle, with an astonishing velocity, pronouncing the christian and sur-name of my deceased mother. I staggered back thrilled with chilly horror. On a sudden I heard a noise under ground, like the distant rolling of thunder. The stranger pronounced the name of my mother a second time, with a more solemn and tremendous voice than at first. A flash of lightning hissed through the room, and the voice of thunder grew louder and louder beneath my feet. Now he pronounced the name of my mother a third time, still louder and more tremendous. At once the whole pleasure-house appeared to be surrounded with fire. The ground began to shake under me, and I sunk suddenly down. The ghost of my mother hovered before my eyes, with a grim ghastly look; a chilly sweat bedewed my face and my senses forsook me."
"A violent shaking roused me at length from my stupefaction."
"The shaking did not cease, and I felt as if I was tossed to and fro; at the same time I heard a terrible, creeking and whizzing not far off. As soon as I had recovered my recollection, I perceived that I was sitting in a coach, driving onward with an incredible velocity, and found myself closely confined. Something was snoring by my side, but I could not distinguish what it was, being surrounded with impenetrable darkness."
"You cannot imagine what I suffered in that terrible situation: I was seized with anxiety and apprehension, creating the most tormenting sensations, which cannot be described."
"The road my human or supernatural coachman had taken seemed to be very uneven, or, perhaps, he did not know the road, for I felt every moment the most violent jolts, which increased my anxiety still more, by the additional apprehension of being overturned. My bones, which already had been hurt very much by my falling down in the pleasure-house, seemed to be quite dislocated. I had been in that state of agony about half an hour, when a most violent jolt overturned the coach. A voice roared, "Jesu Maria!" Methought I felt the freezing hand of death upon my heart, and lost the power of recollection."
"At length I was roused from that state of insensibility, by the most excruciating pains. I opened my eyes; two men, each of them holding an horse by the bridle, were standing by me; a countryman, with a lanthorn, was in their company, and the broken coach was lying on the ground at a small distance. They wanted to raise me up, but being pierced by terrible pains, I entreated them, for God's sake, not to touch me. My leg was fractured in two places: The horsemen promised to ride to a neighbouring town for assistance, and disappeared; the countryman remained with me and endeavoured to comfort me."
"I waited half an hour and nobody appeared; the night was cold: I waited an hour and no assistance came: One fainting fit followed the other, at length I heard the rolling of a coach, the countryman went with his lanthorn into the middle of the road, and saw a coach and four; the honest man begged the driver to stop, and related my misfortune. An old reverend man got out of the vehicle, lifted me, with the assistance of the good peasant, into the coach, and ordered the coachman to drive slowly onward."
"With the dawn of morning we came to a village. My kind deliverer was the Lord of it. Having been carried to the castle, a surgeon was sent for, meanwhile the old nobleman endeavoured by his kind conversation, to make me forget part of my pains."
"The surgeon arrived a little while after, my wounds were dressed, and I was carried to bed. At first my deliverer would not leave me, and visited me afterwards three times a day. May heaven reward him for his generous and humane behaviour."
"As soon as I had related to him all that had happened to me, he sent some of his people to look after the coach; but it could be found no where."
"After nine weeks confinement I was recovered so far that I could return to F———, the benevolent nobleman accompanied me thither, and my landlord was rejoiced to see me. Inquiring after the mysterious stranger I was told, that he had been seen no more since I had left the inn. My deliverer staid three days with me, and then we parted in a most affectionate manner. The next day I sat out for my own country, where I happily arrived without any farther accident."
"Here Hellfried concluded his wonderful tale, which he, as he added, never had been able to unfold, though he had taken the greatest pains to come at the bottom of it. He looked at his friend, eager to hear what he would say to those extraordinary adventures; but Herrman was lost in profound meditation for many minutes, at length he began: "Brother, thy tale is very wonderful, so wonderful, that I should not have believed it, if I had not met, on my travels, with adventures, which seem to have some connexion with thine."
"Hellfried had apprehended that Herrman would laugh at his story, as many of his friends had done; he was therefore very much astonished at Herrman's words, and besought him to give a short account of the adventures he had hinted at. Herrman promised to give a full account of whatever had happened to him, partly by way of narration and partly in writing; however, he begged him to wait 'till to-morrow, that he might be able to arrange the necessary papers: Hellfried very readily consented to it."
"The next morning was uncommonly fine, yet Herrman's guest had no inclination for a hunting party; As soon as breakfast was over he reminded his friend of his promise, asking whether he had found the papers he had been mentioning. Herrman affirmed it, telling his friend at the same time, that he intended to relate only that part of those adventures in which he had been personally concerned, the remainder he would give him in writing, but not before his departure, lest ghosts and necromancers might deprive him of the pleasure of making his dear visitor as comfortable and happy as possible. Hellfried having consented to it, the two friends took their places by the fire-side lighted their pipes, and Herrman began as follows:
"Thou knowest, brother, that I, having finished my studies, was appointed governor to the young Baron de R———, to conduct him on his travels. On our return from Italy we took our way through Switzerland and Germany, and met, on this last tour, with the most remarkable adventure of our whole journey."
"Being arrived at the skirts of the Black Forest, our postillion missed his way, as it began to grow dark, and, at length, did not know what direction he should take. Our fright was not little, when he apprised us of his distress, being desirous to get out of that dreadful forest as soon as possible, on account of the many instances of robberies and murders committed within its precincts, which the postillion had enlarged upon on the road; we therefore exhorted the fellow to go on, whatever might be the consequence. He did so, and after half an hour we came to an open spot."
"Now we are safe!" exclaimed the postillion, joyfully, "and, if I am not mistaken, not far from a village."
"He was right——— We soon heard the welcome barking of dogs not far off, and a little while after we saw lights."
"We entered a large village, but the inn was very indifferent, and the landlord was amazed at the uncommon sight of gentlemen. His whole stock of eatables consisted in some smoaked puddings, and a coarse sort of bread; he told us that neither wine nor beer could be got within the distance of many leagues, and even our postillion could not drink his brandy. We asked him where the Lord of the village resided; he answered, that he never lived there, because the castle had not been habitable for many years. I enquired the reason of it."
"At present," replied the host, "I dare not give you an account of it, to-morrow you shall know every thing: But, very likely, this night will make you guess the reason."
"The Baron and I entreated him to satisfy our curiosity, but he shook his head and left the room."
"Pinched by hunger we took up with our scanty supper, and then asked the landlord to shew us to our beds, but, alas! there was not one bed unoccupied in the whole house, and we were obliged to rest our weary limbs upon a bed of clean straw in the middle of the room."
"The Baron soon began to snore, but I could not get a wink of sleep. Now the watchman announced the hour of midnight with a hoarse voice, and on a sudden I heard the trampling of horses and the sound of horns: The noise came nearer, and methought I heard a number of horsemen rushing by, and sounding their horns as if a large hunting party were passing through the village; the troop darted like lightning through the street close by the windows of the inn: the Baron started up, asking me with a fearful voice, "What is this?" "I don't know," replied I abruptly. I listened attentively, and the troop could not have been far from our inn, when, on a sudden, all was again as silent as the grave; the Baron began to snore as before, and I to muse on that strange incident."
"I could not think it possible that any body would go a hunting, in so large a company; at that unseasonable hour, and was much inclined to think all had been a deluding dream, when I suddenly recollected the mysterious words of our landlord, I cannot but confess that I was seized with horror. I was just falling asleep when the voice of the watchman, crying one o'clock, roused me from my slumber. No sooner had he finished his round than the former noise was heard again at a small distance. I started up and ran to the window, but before I could open it the whole troop was rushed by like a hurricane. A little while after all was silent again, yet I did in vain beseech the brown god of slumber to take me in his arms."
"The Baron had heard nothing the second time, snoring quietly by my side, whilst I was ardently wishing for the morning, in order to satisfy my curiosity. I was too impatient to await the landlord's account of the castle, and when the watchman was crying two o'clock I hastened to the window, and began to converse with him."
"Watchman," exclaimed I, "what did that noise at twelve and one o'clock mean?"
"Hum," replied he, "your honor is certainly a stranger, for there's not a child in our village that does not know what that noise means; it is sometimes heard every night for several weeks, afterwards every thing is quiet again for a considerable time."
"But," said I, "who is that person that goes a hunting at night?"
"That I can't tell you at present," answered the watchman, "ask your landlord, he will tell you all the particulars, I am here on my duty, and under the protection of providence, but I dare not speak of what I hear and see."
"With these words he went away:—I wrapped myself up in my cloak, and sitting down by the window on a chair, expected, with anxious impatience, the rising of the sun. At length the eastern sky began to be embroidered with purple streaks, the crowing of the cocks sounded through the village, and the watchman announced the approach of day: The Baron awoke."
"You are very early," said he, rubbing his eyes, "pray tell me, what noise was it I heard in the night?"
"I myself am impatient to know it," replied I, "I wish the landlord would rise and unfold that mystery; the troop has rushed by again at one o'clock with the same terrible noise."
"While I was talking thus, I heard the trampling of horses, and looking out of the window, saw an officer with a servant. They alighted at the inn, knocked at the door, and entered the room. The officer, a lively young man, wore a Danish uniform, and was on the recruiting business; he had missed his way like ourselves, and we soon got acquainted with him. When the Baron related the nightly adventure, the officer at first thought he was joking, but when I most seriously affirmed every circumstance, he shewed an ardent desire to get acquainted with those nocturnal sportsmen."
"That honor you can easily have," said the Baron, "if you will stay here the ensuing night, we will give you company."
"Bravo!" exclaimed the officer, "perhaps the gentlemen will be so polite to invite us to their sport, and then we may be so fortunate to get a good haunch of venison."
"Now the landlord entered the room, "Well," said he, bidding us a good morning, "have you heard any thing to night, gentlemen."
"More than I liked," answered I; "who are those sportsmen that go a hunting at midnight."
"Why," replied he, "we don't talk of it, I would not tell you any thing about it last night, for fear your curiosity might expose you to some misfortune; yet, having promised you yesterday, to tell you as much of it as I know, I will be as good as my word."
After having paused awhile, he began thus in a confidential tone, "Close by our village is a very large building, where formerly the Lord of this village used to reside. One of the former masters of the castle, was a very wicked and irreligious man, who found great delight in tormenting the poor peasants; every body trembled when he appeared: He trampled with his feet upon his own children, confined them in dark dungeons, where they were often kept, for many days, without a morsel of bread. He used to call his tenants dogs, and to treat them as such—in short, he was cruelty itself."
"Hunting was his only amusement, and he always kept a vast number of deer, which were the ruin of the peasants' little property, and reduced them to the utmost poverty; no one dared to drive them from his fields, and if he did, he was confined in a damp dungeon, under ground, for many weeks. When that wicked man wanted to hunt, then the whole village was called together, to serve him instead of dogs; if any one was not alert enough then he would hunt him, instead of the deer, 'till he fell down expiring under the lashes of his whip."
"One time after he had roved about from morning 'till night, he fell from his horse and broke his wicked neck: He was buried in his garden: But now he was terribly punished for his wickedness, having had no rest in his grave to the present day: At certain times of the year he is doomed to appear in the village, at twelve o'clock at night, and to make his entry into the castle with his infernal crew, but as soon as the clock strikes one, he is plunged back again into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. Nobody can inhabit the castle! Many who have been so fool-hardy to attempt it, have lost their lives; whoever ventures to look out of the window when the infernal hosts are passing by, gets a swollen face as a punishment for his curiosity: We are now used to that nocturnal sport, and do not care for those infernal spirits, but many strangers have fallen ill through fright."
"Here the landlord finished his tale, and seemed to be pleased with our astonishment; however his pleasure was soon damped when the Lieutenant broke out in a roaring laughter."
"Laugh as long as you please," said he, "stay here 'till night, if you have courage, and then we shall see if you will laugh."
"That I will," replied the officer, "I will not only stay in your house, but I will also spend the coming night at that dreadful castle: I dare say, gentlemen," added he, "you will keep me company."
"The Baron, being a man of honor, thought it a great disgrace to betray the least want of courage, in the presence of the soldier, he therefore promised to accompany him thither: I made several objections, representing to the officer the danger we would run, not knowing who those spirits might be; however, he silenced all my remonstrances:
"I am a soldier," said he, "and all ghosts and hobgoblins have ever been kept at a respectful distance by a martial dress."
"At length I was obliged to take a part in the expedition, if I would not desert the Baron. The landlord, who had all that time been staring at us in dumb amazement, lifted up his hands when I had consented to go to the castle, and entreated us, for God's sake, to desist from our undertaking: "If you go," added he, "then all of you will be dead before to-morrow morning: For heaven's sake, dear gentlemen, do not run into the very mouth of the devil thus wantonly!"
"However, the railery of the Lieutenant put him soon so much out of temper, that he left us in great wrath, swearing in the height of his anger, that the devil would make us smart for our fool-hardiness and unbelief."
"Gentlemen," began now the officer, "pray let us take a walk to that terrible place, where we are going to spend the night, and reconnoitre it before dinner."—Approving of that proposal, we went all three to that residence of terror"
"We approached and beheld the gothic remains of a half decayed castle, the gate was open and we entered the fabric. The arched walls, overgrown with moss and ivy, echoed to the sound of our footsteps; a long narrow passage led to a spacious court-yard, paved with stones; now we espied a spiral stair-case of stone, and ascended it in dumb silence. A second long and narrow passage, which received a faint glimmering of light through several small windows, strongly garded by iron bars, led us to a black door; the chilly damps of the long confined air rushed from the aperture when the Lieutenant had pushed it open; the apartment to which it led bore the gloomy appearance of a prison—the remains of half-decayed tapestry, covered with cobwebs, gave the room a dark dreary appearance; pieces of broken furniture were scattered about on the floor, a lamp hung in the middle on an iron chain fastened to the arched ceiling."
Just as we were going to leave this abode of gloominess and horror, I perceived a little door in the remotest corner of the room, it was likewise unbolted, and we entered a second room, which bore the same gloomy aspect with the former apartment, being covered with, half-rotten remains of broken furniture; another door led us at length into a spacious hall, where the cheering light of the day hailed us at last, many of the arched windows being either open or broken to pieces; the fresh air, the beautiful view meeting our eye from every side, chased at once from our countenance the solemn awe:"
"Here," exclaimed the Lieutenant, "here we will meet the airy Lords of this Manor: Let us try, gentlemen, whether we cannot fit a table and some seats, from the rotten relics of furniture."
"We succeeded in our attempt, dragged a round massy table in the middle of the hall, supported it by four worm-eaten poles, then we fetched some pieces of wood from the adjacent apartments, placing them upon large stones round the table, and thus secured a resting place for the night."
"Now we rambled through several apartments on the other side of the hall, and meeting with nothing worthy of our notice except the traces of desolation, we returned by the way we had entered that gloomy mansion."
"We descended into the court-yard and made there likewise our observations: Spurred on by curiosity, we entered, through a ruinous side building, a garden, which still bore some marks of former grandeur; statues of marble, half destroyed by the voracious tooth of time and the inclemency of the weather, were here and there lying on the ground. We cleared with our cutlasses a way, through brambles and nettles, to a grove of beech trees; it likewise was hardly penetrable."
"Having worked our way for more than half an hour, with much toil and difficulty through a thicket of thistles and brambles, we arrived at length wearied and fatigued at an open spot; in the middle of it we beheld a statue, bearing in one hand an urn of black marble—we approached by the help of our cutlasses, and read the following inscription on the pedestal.
HIC JACET,
GODOFREDUS HAUSSINGERUS,
PECCATOR.
(Here lieth Godfrey Haussinger the Sinner.)
"A little lower down we perceived a cross engraved in the stone, and under it,
A. D. 1603.
"We stared at each other in dumb amazement, and being already too much fatigued, we did not like to work our way farther into the garden and returned."
"Gentlemen," began the officer, as we were going back, "what do you think of the inscription on that tomb?"
"I think," replied I, "it strongly corroborates what the landlord has told us."
My companions smiled, and we came again into the court-yard, looking around we observed an arched opening in the wall opposite the stair-case; as we came nearer we saw a flight of steps leading to a cellar, which was shut up by a massy iron door, strongly secured by an enormous padlock."
"Having now examined every corner we returned to our inn."
"The landlord, who was ignorant of what we had been about, was struck with horror and amazement when we related where we had been, and did his utmost to persuade us to desist from our design; however, when he saw that he was spending his breath in vain, he kept his peace, and mentioned not a single word more about it during the whole day—we did the same—for the Lieutenant's conversation amused us so well, that evening stole upon us unawares."
"Our dinner had been better than our scanty supper on the preceding day, because the Lieutenant had brought with him an ample provision of ham and cold beef; some bottles of excellent wine which he had been provided with, raised our spirits, and increased his and the Baron's courage, in such a manner, that they expected the approach of night with the greatest impatience—they were constantly looking at their watches, and as soon as the clock had struck nine, thought it high time to go to the castle."
"We called the landlord to pay our bill, and the poor fellow tried once more to persuade us not to go to the castle; he entreated us not to expose our lives thus daringly to certain danger, and at last fell on his knees;—But when we left the room, without taking notice of his entreaties and ardent prayers, he lamented before hand our untimely death, gave us a lamp, and bolted the door, fetching a deep sigh."
"The Lieutenant's servant walked before us, carrying the lighted lamp in his hand, and a portmanteau stocked with provisions under his arm, and we kept close to his heels, armed with cutlasses and pistols."
"It was autumn, and of course very dark. We arrived at the castle; the faint glimmering of the lamp spread a kind of awful twilight around us as we were walking through the lofty arches of the vaulted passage leading to the court-yard. Having fired our pistols and loaded them again with bullets, we ascended the stair-case; the doors leading to the hall we left open, that we might have a view at the court-yard, and sat cheerfully down to supper; a bottle of wine we had taken with us to keep us alert, was handed round, however, we missed our aim, for every one of us began to grow drowsy soon after we had finished our meal—we rose and walked about in order to avoid falling asleep, but we were soon tired of it, the ground being so very uneven, and returned to our seats. I recollected now, very fortunately, that I had put the fables of Gellert in my pocket, I took the book out, and began to read to the company; then I gave it to the Baron, and he was relieved by the Lieutenant—thus we were enabled to resist, the powerful charms of sleep."
"Now it struck eleven. All around us. was buried in awful silence, which only now and then was interrupted by the creaking of our feeble chairs: The Lieutenant wound up his watch and put it before him on the table."
"One hour more," began now the officer, "and we shall be in the other world." Then he awoke his servant, who was fast asleep, and the Baron began again to read to us.—When the Lieutenant's turn came for the second time, he looked at his watch and exclaimed, "three quarters past eleven, we must be on our guard."
"He got up and went to the window, I followed him, impenetrable darkness surrounded us, no star could be seen: Awful silence was still swaying around, interrupted only by the snoring John, and the creaking of the wood; the pale light of our lamp produced an horrid glimmering in the spacious dreary hall; the Baron leaning his head upon his arm, struggled to forget every object around him, and the officer uttered not a single word."
"Now we heard a clock toll twelve at a great distance, and I walked softly back to my seat, the Lieutenant did the same, taking up one of his pistols, and rubbing the lock with his handkerchief. We looked at each other, and every one of us strove in vain to hide the horror he was struggling against.—The watchman cried the hour, the crowing of the cocks told us midnight was set in, and still all around us was as silent as the grave. The Baron laid the book upon the table, and the Lieutenant was going to raise a loud laughter, asking us where the spirits might be, when suddenly the trampling of horses and the sound of horns was heard—we all were fixed to our seats, staring at each other with a ghastly look; now the noise seemed to be under our window; the Lieutenant ran towards it, with a cocked pistol in his hand, but he was too late."
"All was quiet again, and an awful stillness swayed around the castle; however a few seconds after we heard suddenly a most tremenduous noise in the court-yard, which was soon followed by a terrible trampling and a gingling of spurs on the stair-case, as if a great number of people in boots was coming up. The noise came nearer and nearer, my feet began to fail, my teeth to chatter in my mouth, and my hair to rise like bristles, while every sense was lost in anxious bodings; at length the noise grew fainter and fainter, and soon we could hear it no more, and midnight stillness resumed her awful sway."
"A long pause of dumb astonishment ensued, 'till at last the Lieutenant, who had recovered his spirits first exclaimed, "Shall we go down." I shook my head without uttering a word, and the Baron was likewise silent. "Then I will go alone," said the Lieutenant, snatched up a brace of pistols, drew his hanger, and hurried down. He returned a few minutes after, exclaiming, "It is surprising I cannot see the least traces of either men or horses."
"Now he retook his seat, casting down his looks in a pensive manner—his servant was still snoring—the Baron began again to read, and I fell fast asleep. At once I was roused by the report of a pistol, I and honest John started up at the same moment, and we heard once more the trampling of horses and the sound of horns, but it soon died away at a distance, and the Lieutenant entered the hall with the Baron."
"They also had not been able to resist the leaden wand of sleep, but the same noise in the court-yard we had heard at twelve o'clock, had soon roused them from their slumber. "As soon as we heard the noise," said the Baron, "we hastened to the outer room, our pistols cocked, but before we could reach it the noise was under the window of the castle, the Lieutenant knocked through one of the windows in the room close to the hall, and sent a bullet after the troop, which was rushing by like an hurricane, however, he was prevented by the darkness of the night from distinguishing any thing except some white horses."
"The spirits are afraid of us," exclaimed the Lieutenant now, but come, let us return to our inn, we shall rest more comfortable on a bed of clean straw than on this damp ground." We all consented to it, and left the gloomy abode of those nocturnal sportsmen: We knocked a good while at the door of the inn before it was opened; at last the landlord appeared, stammering, lost in wonder, "God be praised that you are still alive, how did you escape?"
"The Lieutenant silenced him by some hasty lies, and promised to give him a full account of the whole adventure after he should have rested a little."
"Gentlemen," said he, as soon as he got up in the morning, "next night I will go once more to the haunted castle, and spend the night in the court-yard, will you keep me company."
"The Baron looked at me as if he wished not to accept the proposal: I did so. "We cannot," said I, "stay here a day longer, and such an undertaking would, besides, be too dangerous for only four people."
"O!" exclaimed the Lieutenant, "if that is all you have to say against it, then I will soon make you easy: We will take a dozen stout fellows from the village with us, they will not hesitate to accompany us if we give them a couple of dollars and a good dram; it will be devilish good fun, and to-morrow, with the first dawn of day, I will depart with you."
"The Baron consented to the proposal, and I myself did not dislike it; in short, we remained, and sent our postillion through the village to publish, "That all young fellows who would go with us to the castle next night, should have six-pence each, and as much brandy as they could drink."
"In less than half an hour the whole village was assembled round the door of the inn. We selected fifteen of the stoutest, ordered them to provide themselves with proper arms, and to appear by ten o'clock at night at the inn. Our landlord, who beheld these preparations in dumb amazement, believed firmly that we must be arch necromancers, and his fancy having been fired by the wonderful account of our nocturnal adventure, which the Lieutenant had given him, he was himself not unwilling to go with us to the castle, and to bid defiance to the infernal hosts: However, as soon as it grew dark, his courage died away, and he wished success to our undertaking, telling us, he could not leave his house."
"Our little army was assembled before ten o'clock, armed with scythes, poles, hay forks and flails. We ordered the landlord to give a dram to every one, took some tables, benches, lamps, and a small cask of brandy with us, and marched in triumph towards the Castle."
"We pitched our camp in the court-yard, not far from the entrance, the peasants placed themselves round the brandy cask, lighted their pipes, and expected with pleasure the appearance of the airy gentlemen."
"Another advantage we reaped from that honest company was, that we had no need to keep sleep at a distance by reading, for the merriment of our little army rose soon to the highest pitch, and these jovial fellows being heated by the contents of our little cask, challenged his satanic majesty and all his infernal hosts amid peals of roaring laughter."
"It was now past eleven o'clock, and the noise began to abate, some of our gentlemen were noding, and some snoring, we were therefore obliged to beg those who had not yet yielded to the powerful charms of sleep, to give us a song, which they instantly did in so vociferous a manner, that our hearing organs were most painfully affected—the sleepers started up when they heard that terrible noise, and joined the jovial songsters with all their might: Thus we chased away the sweet god of sleep, who seemed not in the least to relish the disharmonious notes of our jolly companions."
"Now the Lieutenant beckoned to the blithsome crew, and the clamorous noise was suddenly hushed in awful silence. It struck twelve o'clock, the sound of horns and the trampling of horses was heard at a distance. The peasants listened, their mouths wide open, and gazed at each other struck with chilly terror: No sound was heard, except the palpitating of their hearts, and here and there the chattering of teeth—all of them moved their lips as if praying ardently. The noise came nearer and nearer, and now it seemed to be in the castle. Again every thing was silent, but in an instant the former noise struck once more our listening ears, and the infernal hosts rushed by like lightning—the Lieutenant, the Baron and I darted through the passage leading to the gate, but the airy gentlemen were already out of sight, and we could see nothing, save a faint glimmering of some white horses: The mingled noise of their horns and of the trampling of their horses soon died away, the stillness of midnight swayed all around, and we returned to the court-yard."
"Our valiant crew was still fixed to the ground, seized with horror and astonishment: None of them were able to distinguish whether we were ghosts or their fellow adventurers; however, they recovered their spirits by degrees, and prepared to leave the residence of the infernal sportsmen."
"We left the castle, fully convinced that these nocturnal ramblers must be beings who were afraid of us, discharged our courageous troop, and went to rest."
"I awoke with the first ray of the morning sun, and roused the Baron and the Lieutenant; the latter seemed not to be inclined to fulfil his promise, being desirous to try his fortune once more, and to hide himself either in the court-yard, or before the gate: When he saw that we would not stay any longer, he postponed the execution of his design to a future time, and followed our example."
"We left our inn at six o'clock, the morning was gloomy and rainy, the wind swept furiously over the heath, and drove the black clouds still closer and closer together; after a few minutes we entered the Black Forrest.—Looking out of the coach, I saw the Lieutenant and his servant turn to the left, towards a brook, where we beheld an odd phænomenon.—A reverend old man was sitting there, and reading in a large book; bewildered in profound meditation, he seemed to take no notice of the howling storm, and not to be sensible of the rain rushing down in large drops upon his uncovered head, the tempest was sporting with his reverend grey locks, and the rain beating in his face, yet he did not stir—His long brown robe seemed to denote a traveller from the East—a long staff and a black wallet were lying by his side."
"I got out of the coach to view that strange being a little closer, and to speak to him, but before I could accost him, the Lieutenant exclaimed, "Greybeard, what art thou reading?"
"The old man appeared to take no notice of his question, and went on reading as if nobody had been there."
"What art thou reading?" exclaimed the Lieutenant once more, alighting and looking over his shoulder at the book."
"The old man answered not a word, but still continued to read. I also was now standing behind him, and looking at the book, its leaves were of yellow parchment, the characters large and of different colours."
"The Baron was close at my heels, and the Lieutenant being provoked by the old man's obstinate silence, shook him now violently by the shoulder, thundering in his ears, "Greybeard, what art thou reading?"
"Now the old man lifted his reverend head slowly up, stared at us with angry looks, and then said, with a solemn awful voice,
"Wisdom!"
"What language is it?"
Old man. (Reading again) "The language of Wisdom."
"What dost thou call Wisdom?"
Old man. "All what thou dost not comprehend."
Lieut. "If thou knowest what other people cannot comprehend, then I should like to ask thee a question."
Old man. (Staring again at him) "What question?"
Lieut. "There is a castle not far from the next village, where every night a numerous troop of spirits make their entry; I and these two gentlemen have watched there these two nights."
Old man. (Interrupting him, "And art not a bit wiser for't, for thou seemest not to be fit to converse with spirits."
Lieut. "But thou—?"
Old man. "I understand the language of Wisdom."
"The Lieutenant bit his lips, shaking his head with a contemptuous smile. Now the Baron accosted the old man, who again was immersed in profound meditation."
Baron. "Well then, if thy book contains such a treasure of wisdom, then tell us why that castle is haunted by spirits, and for what reason they go their nightly rounds?"
Old man. "That the spirits must tell thee themselves."
Baron. "What does then thy book contain?"
Old man. "The ways and means of forcing them to a confession."
Baron. "But why hast thou not forced them long ago to confess every thing?"
Old man. "Because I never cared for it."
Baron. (Laughing) "But if we should entreat thee to do it, and pull our purses, wouldst thou not do us that favor?"
Old man. (Frowning) "Vile mortal! can Wisdom be bought with gold and silver."
Baron. "How can one then purchase it?"
Old man. "With nothing—hast thou courage?"
Baron. "Else we would not have watched in the dreadful castle."
Old man. "Then spend another night in it, I will be there a quarter before twelve o'clock—now leave me."
"We gazed at each other with doubtful looks: The old man resumed his reading and seemed to take no farther notice of us who were still standing behind him lost in silent wonder. At length the Lieutenant mounted his horse, and we went back to our coach. "Well," said the officer, as we were getting in our carriage, "well, gentlemen, will you return with me?"
"In vain did I make objections, the expectation of the two hot-headed young men was strained too much; it was impossible to subdue the eager curiosity of the young Baron, and the presence of the Lieutenant made me apprehend that all reasoning would not only be spent in vain, but at the same time make me contemptible; I therefore was forced to go back with them, and to embark in an enterprize, which, being not only useless, but also very dangerous, would plunge me in great distress."
"Our host was highly rejoiced and struck with astonishment, when he saw us come back with the intention (as he believed) to engage once more with the nightly sportsmen: Our valiant companions of the preceding night, had given a wonderful account of our adventure, relating how horribly the ghosts had looked, how courageously they had encountered the infernal crew, and how the strange conjurors at last had banished the tremendous host from the castle for ever." "The whole village assembled, therefore, as soon as our return was known, gazing at us as supernatural beings, and consulting us about several matters. The Lieutenant had his fun with the simplicity of those honest people and the day was spent merrily."
"It was already dark, and the villagers had not yet left the inn, they unanimously intreated us to take them along with us to the castle. We were obliged to disavow our design, to feign sleepiness, and to order a bed of straw to be got ready."
"At ten o'clock we stole silently to the castle without a light, the Lieutenant's servant lighted our lamp in the court-yard, and we went to the hall, where we had spent the first night, waiting with impatience for the last quarter before midnight. The Lieutenant did not believe the old man would be as good as his word, I joyfully seconded his opinion, and would have been glad if we had not waited for him; but the Baron, who, from his juvenile days, had been fond of every thing bearing the aspect of mysteriousness, was quite charmed with the reverend appearance of the old man, and maintained, upon his honor, that he certainly would stick to his appointment."
"The Lieutenant began to discourse with the Baron on apparitions and necromancers, maintaining by experience and reasoning, that all was either deceit or the effects of a deluded fancy; yet the Baron would not relinquish his opinion, adding, that one ought not to speak lightly of those matters, and that the old man certainly would prove the truth of his assertion: We were still conjecturing who that strange wanderer might be, when we saw by our watches, that there were but sixteen minutes wanting to twelve; as soon as it was three quarters after eleven, we heard the sound of gentle steps in the passage."
"Our greybeard," said the Lieutenant, "is a man of honor," and took up the lamp to meet the old man.
"Now he entered the hall, his black wallet on his back, and beckoned in a solemn manner to follow him. We did so, and he led us through the apartments and the vaulted passage down stairs: We followed him thro' the court-yard to the iron gate of the cellar, without uttering a word; there he stopped, turning towards us, and eyeing us awhile, with a ghastly look; after an awful pause of expectation, he said with a low trembling voice, "Don't utter a word as you value your lives." Then he went down the two first steps, taking from his bosom an enormous key, which had been suspended round his neck by an iron chain, and opened, without the least difficulty, the monstrous padlock, the door flew open, and the old man took the lamp from the Lieutenant, leading us down a large staircase of stone; we descended into a spacious cellar, vaulted with hewn stone, and beheld all around large iron doors, secured by strong padlocks; our hoary leader went slowly towards an iron folding door, opposite to the staircase, and opened it likewise with his key; it flew suddenly open, and we beheld with horror a black vault, which received a faint light from a lamp suspended to the ceiling by an iron chain."
"The old man entered, uncovering his reverend head, and we did the same, standing by his side in trembling expectation, awed by the solemnity that reigned around us; a dreadful chillness seized us, we felt the grasp of the icy fangs of horror, being in a burying vault surrounded with rotten coffins: Skulls and mouldered bones rattled beneath our feet, the grisly phantom of death stared in our faces from every side, with a grim ghastly aspect. In the centre of the vault we beheld a black marble coffin, supported by a pedestal of stone, over it was suspended to the ceiling a lamp spreading a dismal dying glimmering around. The air was heavy and of a musty smell, we hardly could respire, the objects around seemed to be wrapped in a bluish mist. The hollow sound of our footsteps re-echoed through the dreary abode of horror as we walked nigher."
"The old man stopped at a small distance from the marble coffin, beckoning to us to come nigher; we moved slowly on, and he made a sign not to advance farther than he could reach with extended arms. The Lieutenant placed himself at his right, I took my station at his left, and the Baron opposite to him."
"Now he put the lamp on the ground before him, taking his book, an ebony wand, and a box of white plate, out of his wallet:—Out of the latter he strewed a reddish sand around him, drew a circle with his wand, and folded his hands across his breast, then he pronounced amid terrible convulsions, some mysterious words, opened the book and began to read, whilst his face was distorted in a grisly manner; his convulsions grew more horrible as he went on reading; all his limbs seemed to be contracted by a convulsive fit. His eyebrows shrunk up, his forehead was covered with wrinkles, and large drops of sweat were running down his cheeks—at once he threw down his book, gazing with a staring look, and his hands lifted up at the marble coffin."
"We soon perceived that midnight had set in; the trampling of horses and the sound of horns was heard; the Necromancer did not move a limb, still staring at the coffin with a haggard look. Now the noise was on the staircase of the cellar and still he was motionless, his eyes being immoveably directed towards the coffin: But now the noise was in the cellar; he brandished his wand, and all around was buried in awful silence. He pronounced again three times an unintelligible word with a horrible thundering voice. A flash of lightning hissed suddenly through the dreary vault, licking the damp walls, and a hollow clap of thunder roared through the subterraneous abode of chilly horror. The light in the lamp was now extinguished, silence and darkness swayed all around; soon after we heard a gentle rustling just before us, and a faint glimmering was spreading through the gloomy vault. It grew lighter and lighter, and we soon perceived rays of dazzling light shooting from the marble coffin, the lid of which began to rise higher and higher—at once the whole vault was illuminated, and a grisly human figure rose slow and awful from the coffin. The phantom, which was wrapped up in a shroud, bore a dying aspect, it trembled violently as it rose, and emitted an hollow groan, looking around with chilly horror. Now the spectre descended from the pedestal, and moved with trembling steps and haggard looks towards the circle where we were standing."
"Who dares," groaned it, in a faltering hollow accent, "who dares to disturb the rest of the dead."
"And who art thou?" replied our leader, with a threatening frowning aspect, "who art thou, that thou darest to disturb the stillness of this castle, and the nocturnal slumber of those that inhabit its environs?"
"The phantom shuddered back, groaning in a most lamentable accent, "Not I, not I, my cursed husband disturbs the peace around and mine."
Old man. "For what reason?"
Ghost. "I have been assassinated, and he who judges men has thrown my sins upon the murderer."
Old man. "I comprehend thee, unhappy spirit, betake thyself again to rest; by my power, which every spirit dreads, he shall disturb thee no more—be gone."
"The phantom bowed respectfully, staggered towards the pedestal, climbed up, got into the coffin, and disappeared; the lid sunk slowly down, and the light which had illuminated the dismal mansion of mortality died away by degrees. A flash of lightning hissed again through the vault, licking the damp walls; the hollow sound of thunder roared through the subterraneous abode of horror; the lamp began again to burn, and awful silence of the grave swayed all around."
"Now the old man took up his wallet, and his book, beckoning to us to follow him, We returned to the adjoining vault, through which we had entered that abode of awful dread; it was as lonesome as we had left it; our leader locked the ironfolding door care- fully, then he took out of his wallet a large piece of parchment, on which a number of strange characters were written, a piece of black sealing-wax, and a monstrous iron seal. Having made several crosses over those things with his ebony wand, he fixed the parchment above the lock, and sealed it hastily on the four corners."
"This done, he went into the middle of the cellar, assigning us our places; then he strewed sand on the ground, drew a circle with his wand, and began again to read in his book, amid horrible convulsions. Now he brandished his wand, pronouncing three times with a most tremendous voice, the same word he had made use of in the burying vault, A flash of lightning hissed through the cellar, à clap of thunder shook the subterraneous fabric, all the doors, save that which had been sealed up, were suddenly forced open, with a thundering noise, the lamp was extinguished, and a blue light reflected in a grisly manner, from the staircase against the damp wall; woful groans, lamentations, and the dismal clashing of chains, resounded through the spacious caverns. The noise seemed to come from the staircase, gentle steps were heard, a numerous troop seemed to be descending into the cellar; the lamentations and the woful groans advanced nearer, and louder resounded the clashing of chains:"
"Horrid to behold did now a second phantom appear before our gazing looks, staggering slowly towards us, and leaving a numerous retinue on the staircase; the garment of the spectre was stained with blood, the skull fractured, the eyes like two portentous comets!"
"Who art thou?" roared our leader, with a thundering voice, and the dreary cavern echoed to the sound.
"The phantom answered with a hollow dismal voice, "a damned soul!"
Old man. "What business hast thou in this castle?"
Ghost. "I want to be redeemed from hell."
Old man. "How canst thou be redeemed?"
Ghost. "By the forgiveness of my wife."
Old man. "How darest thou claim it, reprobate villain? Return to thy damned companions in hell. Respect this seal, respect these characters."
"Here the old man pointed at the door of the vault which had been sealed up: The phantom staggered towards it but suddenly shuddered back, and sunk groaning on the ground; a flash of lightning illuminated the cellar, and a tremendous peal of thunder resounded through the lofty vault; all the doors were shut again with a terrible noise, a frightful howling filled our ears, and horrid phantoms hovered before our eyes; flashes of lightning hissed through the vault, and roaring claps of thunder threatened to overturn the whole fabric."
"The lightning ceased by degrees, and the roaring of thunder died away, a blue flame was still glimmering on the staircase, but it soon died away, and we were surrounded with darkness; groans and dreadful lamentations resounded still through the winding caverns, but soon all around was hushed in profound silence. After a short pause of horrid stillness, the trampling of horses and the sound of horns was heard again; yet that noise died also away before we recovered our recollection."
"When our astonishment began to sub- side, we perceived that we were standing in a dark cellar, without knowing whether any one of us was missing. A disagreeable sul- phurous odour affected our smelling organs, and bereft us almost of the power of respi- ration; not a whisper interrupted the dead midnight silence which surrounded us. At length somebody took me by the hand, I shuddered back, my imagination being still the wrestling place of horrid wild phantoms, and my soul divining a thousand dreadful thoughts."
"It is I," said the Lieutenant, and I felt at once as if an heavy load had been taken from my breast. Now the Baron began also to speak, "Where are you?" whispered he, "Are you still alive?"
"We groped about in the dark, and at last found him leaning against the wall."
How shall we get out of this cursed residence of horror?" exclaimed the Lieutenant, "come, let us try whether we can find the staircase; it must be just opposite to us, if I am not mistaken." Then he began to walk on, and we groped after him, tumbling now and then over loose stones."
"I have found the staircase," cried our fellow adventurer, "at last, after a long fruitless search, I feel the first step."
"A ray of joy beamed through our hearts as we were climbing up, but, alas! it was soon most cruelly damped; the cellar door was locked up, and the blood congealed in our veins when the Lieutenant told it us. We exerted all our strength to force it open, but in vain, It was bolted on the out side. The Lieutenant called as loud as he could for his servant, whom he had left snoring in the hall; we joined our voices with his, calling with all our might, John! John!"
"The hollow echo repeated, in a tremendous awful accent, John! John! but no human footstep would gladden our desponding hearts. Frantic with black despair did we now begin to knock at the massy door 'till the blood was running down from our hands, and to cry, John, John, 'till our voices grew hoarse—the hollow echo still repeated in an awful tremendous accent our knocking and crying, but no human footstep was heard. "The fellow sleeps and cannot hear us," said the Lieutenant, at length with a faint voice, "Let us sit down and watch him when he shall come down."
"We did so, but I had no hope that the servant would come, yet I concealed my apprehension within my breast. The Lieutenant dissembled to be easy, and began to converse on what we had seen and heard; however his broken accent, the faltering of his speech, and his low voice, betrayed the anxiety of his mind. The Baron and I spoke little, and when we had been sitting about an hour not one uttered a word more; all was silent around us. Nothing interrupted the death-like stillness of the night, except the violent beating of our hearts."
"At length the Lieutenant asked, if we were asleep; however, the anxiety of our minds and the dreadful apprehensions which assailed us, drove far away even the idea of sleep. We sat some hours in that dreadful situation, and it was now about five o'clock in the morning, when the Lieutenant exclaimed, "I fear we wait in vain for my servant, he cannot sleep so fast that he should not hear us! But where can he be?" Then he began again to knock violently against the massy iron door, but all was in vain. No human footsteps was heard, we remained some hours on the staircase, but all our waiting and listening was fruitless, no cheering sound of human footsteps would gladden our desponding hearts."
"I will not torment you by vain apprehensions," began the Lieutenant, at length, "however we seem to be doomed to destruction, yet let us try if we cannot escape some way or other, come down with me into the cellar, there we will have a better chance to espy an outlet than here."
"We descended, with trembling knees, without saying a word, and groped along in the dark a good while, knocking our heads against the damp wall, and the iron doors: Alas! our search seemed to be in vain, and the grim spectre of a lingering death stared us grisly in the face, my feet could support me no longer, and I dropped down wearied with anxiety."
"Now I began to reproach myself for having plunged into the gulph of destruction not only myself, but also him who had been entrusted to my care. The apprehension of being famished in that infernal abode, thrilled my soul with horror, and black despair; at first I heard the Baron and the Lieutenant still groping about, neither of them uttered a word; the hollow sound of their footsteps re-echoed horribly through the vault—at length the sound of the Baron's footsteps died away at a distance, and only one of my companions in destruction remained with me."
"Where are you?" exclaimed the Lieutenant.
"Here I am," replied I, "but where is the Baron?"
"The Lieutenant called him, and I did the same, but we received no answer: At once a sudden hollow noise struck our ears, and at the same time a faint glimmering of light darted from a remote corner of our dungeon: I started up, half frantic with joy, and we pursued the gladdening ray of light; it seemed to come from an opening in the wall. No words can express the rapture we felt when we beheld one of the iron doors half open; we went through it with hasty steps and entered a long vaulted passage: A faint dawn of light hailed our joyful looks at a great distance, from below. We descended declivity, the farther we went the more the light increased, at length we reached the end of the avenue, and perceived some steps leading into a spacious apartment, at the entrance of which some boards on the floor had given way: We descended the steps, and, who can paint the horror which rushed upon us, when we beheld the Baron lying lifeless in the deep vault, upon some mouldering straw? I leaped down without a moment's hesitation, the Lieutenant did the same, and now we began to shake the Baron 'till we at length perceived signs of returning life. We continued our endeavours to recall his senses, he breathed, gave a hollow groan, and opened his eyes: His fainting fit had been the effect of sudden terror, and he had not received the least hurt."
"He now told us that he had met in the dark with a long narrow passage which he had pursued, in a kind of insensibility, 'till he had staggered down from an elevated spot, when the boards suddenly giving way, dragged him along into the deep vault."
"Looking around we perceived that we were in a spacious cavern, which appeared to have been formerly a kind of stable. High over our heads were two large round holes, grated with strong iron bars, through which the day light was admitted, and after a closer examination we espied a gloomy outlet in a remote corner, shut up by a wooden door, which we forced open without difficulty: We now ascended, through a dark passage, higher and higher, 'till we at length with rapture beheld an outlet which opened into the garden; we were obliged to cut our way with our hangers, through the underwood and the entangled weeds, and soon came to the court-yard: Tears of joy sparkled in our eyes, rays of unspeakable rapture beamed through our hearts, and we praised God for our unexpected deliverance from the grisly jaws of a lingering death."
"The dreary desolated court-yard appeared to us a paradise, the dazzling splendor of the bright morning sun, and the pure air which we now inhaled, filled our hearts with the strongest sensations of bliss. We congratulated each other on our resurrection from the dreary abode of mortality, where we were doomed to be entombed alive, and shook each other by the hand half frantic with joy.
"We went now to the hall in search of the Lieutenant's servant; the table and every thing was in the same condition we had left them, but John was not there. We went through the whole gloomy fabric shouting and hollowing, discharging our pistols, but no sound was heard except the hollow echo repeating our shouts and the reports of our pistols, in a dismal accent, all over the dreary building."
"Very likely he is returned to the inn," said the Lieutenant, "and we shall find him there."
"We left that dangerous abode of black horror, praising God again and again for our deliverance."
"As we entered the inn we beheld the landlord surrounded by a number of villagers, who were come to inquire whether we were returned from the castle. They were very much surprised when we entered the room, and, respectfully taking off their hats, told us, that the uproar at the village last night had been more tremendous than ever. Every one was impatient to know the particulars of our adventure, but the Lieutenant having then no inclination of amusing himself with their simplicity, gave them a short answer, and asked the landlord where his servant was."
"I have not seen him since yesterday," replied he.
"It is impossible," resumed the Lieutenant, "where are the horses?"
"They are in the stable," replied the landlord, "I have just been looking after them."
"The Lieutenant gave us an apprehensive look, and begged the gaping peasants to look after him, all over the village and the adjacent places; they all were very willing to do it, and left the inn."
"It was nine o'clock when we entered the inn, and it struck twelve when our honest villagers returned, with the disagreeable news that they could find poor John no where."
"The Lieutenant thought it not prudent to remain any longer at that fatal place; the Baron likewise wished to depart, and I too was impatient to be gone. As soon as we had finished our scanty dinner, we departed a second time; the tears started from our landlord's eyes, and from those of the good villagers, when we bade them farewell, after having made them a small present, and they saw us depart with regret."
"The Lieutenant knew the ways through the Black Forest pretty well, he rode by our chaise leading his servant's horse with one hand, and we reached without any farther accident the limits of that dreadful forest. We parted company at the close of the second day, bidding each other a tender adieu."
"I thank you, gentlemen," said the Lieutenant, as we were getting into our chaise at the door of the inn, "I thank you for your kind and faithful assistance in the most dreadful adventure of my life; if I should be so fortunate to get at the bottom of the mystery, which hangs over that castle, as I shall endeavour to do, I will take the first opportunity to apprise you of my success. Farewell, remember now and then the 20th of September, Anno 1750, and do not forget your humble friend."
"The postillion smacked his whip, and we went different roads. On the fifth day we arrived, without any further accident, at the castle of Baron R———, the father of my pupil."
"And here," added Herrman, "my narration is finished. A letter which the Baron wrote me, and a manuscript sent me by the Lieutenant, contains every thing that has happened afterwards. But these papers you shall not get before your departure."
"Though Hellfried's curiosity had been spurred very much, yet he could not but consent to his friend's proposal, and spent a fortnight more with him in uninterrupted pleasure.
The days rolled swiftly on, shortened by the conversation of his friend, by hunting and other diversions, and he at length was obliged to bid his host adieu. Herrman thanked him once more for his friendly visit, shook him by the hand, gave him a parting kiss, dropped a gentle tear, and then bade him farewell.
Before he parted with his Hellfried he gave him the above mentioned manuscript, assuring him that he would have given it him sooner, if he had been able to find it amongst a great many papers: He added, that he had searched for it in vain several days, and would have given him the continuation and conclusion of those mysterious adventures, by way of narration, if he could not have found the manuscript, but he had fortunately traced it out the day before his departure, amongst a number of old musty papers—Herrman cleaned it from the dust and gave it to his friend, saying to him,
"Take, brother, take here the continuation of my tale, and if thou thinkest the publication of it will amuse and benefit the world, thou art wellcome to publish it."
Then they parted, alas! for ever. Herrman's wish was accomplished; he had seen once more the faithful friend of his younger days, and soon after went over to that better world, where good men will meet again the friends of their bosom, never to part again. Hellfried too is awaiting the solemn morn of resurrection in his grave, and he, before he died, set down in writing, the foregoing narration:—Now let us see what the writings which his friend had given him contain.
END OF THE FIRST PART.