.heinstein
 
 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN 
 
 OF CALIF. LIBRARY, LOS ANGELES
 
 KNIGHT CONRAD 
 
 OF RHEINSTEIN 
 
 A ROMANCE OF THE DAYS OF CHIVALRY 
 
 BY JULIUS LUDOVICI 
 
 CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN 
 
 ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR 
 
 CHICAGO AND NEW YORK: 
 RAND, McNALLY & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. 
 
 MDCCCXCIX.
 
 Copyright, 1899, by Rand, McNally & Co.
 
 DEDICATBD 
 
 TO MY ESTEEMED FRIEND, 
 COL. WM. M. PEGRAM, OF BALTIMORE, MD., 
 
 WITH HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FOR 
 HIS KINDLY ENCOURAGEMENT AND ASSISTANCE IN 
 THE WRITING OF THIS STORY. 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 2131137
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Falkenstein Castle Frontispiece 
 
 Conrad of Rheinstein, Title page 
 
 His armor and the polished cross on his breast 
 
 glistened in the rays of the setting sun, Facing page 10 
 
 With a vigorous plunge, he dragged his master 
 
 out of the stream " "22 
 
 " I have come to save thee, Sir Knight," said 
 
 she, " "28 
 
 They paused involuntarily, however, as the 
 
 witch , with flashing eyes, confronted them , " "44 
 
 But he heeded them not ; his eyes were only 
 
 for Rosalie, . " "54 
 
 " It was he, Sir Knight, who in sheer wanton- 
 ness destroyed yonder castle," .... " "60 
 
 "I swear," replied our hero, involuntarily, . " "72 
 Bending slightly forward in a listening attitude, " "78 
 
 Reining in his charger a few strides beyond, 
 
 he saw the Prince sway in his saddle, . . " "92 
 
 She withdrew it more quickly than she had 
 
 done at the tournament " " 108 
 
 Conrad looked into his companion's face, . . " " 128 
 
 But at the moment another sword parried the 
 
 blow, , . . . . i;>i. .. " " 148 
 
 He accompanied Rosalie and her monastic 
 
 cortege " "162
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Conrad and the Duke suddenly descried a 
 figure, flag in hand, on the slowly descend- 
 ing drawbridge Facing page 178 
 
 Taking it firmly between his teeth, he made 
 
 his laborious way out again, " " 188 
 
 The Prince's horse reared violently as a knife 
 
 thrust penetrated its vitals " " 194 
 
 The Duke, Volga, and Conrad bade him god- 
 speed, " " 220 
 
 On they sped once more at a terrific gait, . . " " 232 
 Ursula sank down at Conrad's feet " "252 
 
 The reaction being too great for Volga, she 
 
 burst into an uncontrollable flood of tears, " " 256 
 
 "Wilt thou take me to Falkenstein, Conrad, 
 
 and may I always remain near thee?" . . " " 276 
 
 As he wound around the proud castle of Falk- 
 enstein, " " 292 
 
 As it was now Volga's turn, she stepped back 
 
 some distance and sent off her missile, . " " 296
 
 KNIGHT CONRAD 
 
 OF RHEINSTEIN, 
 
 A Romance of the Days of Chivalry. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 CONRAD. 
 
 "A true knight; 
 
 Not yet mature yet matchless." 
 
 Shaks. Troilus and Cressida. 
 
 Before the walls of Jerusalem, a German warrior 
 of the Holy Cross lay in his tent, mortally wounded. 
 
 It was in the time of the third Crusade, near the 
 close of the twelfth century, and under the leadership 
 of the chivalrous Emperor Frederick I, surnamed Bar- 
 barossa, that the Teutonic Barons and nobles enlisted 
 for the first time, and with great enthusiasm, in the 
 sacred cause. 
 
 A sad disaster which befell them in crossing a small 
 river in Asia Minor, in which their brave leader lost his
 
 8 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 life, prevented all save a small remnant from reach- 
 ing the Holy Land. Among the devoted few, who ar- 
 rived in the most deplorable condition, carrying with 
 them their dead Emperor to be buried in Jerusalem, 
 was our wounded knight, the noble Baron von Rhein- 
 stein, with his two sons. They but slowly recovered 
 from their march. After many more vicissitudes they 
 fought under the King of France before St. Jean 
 d'Acre, and eventually joined their fortunes with 
 those of Richard I of England, then leading his brave 
 knights against Saladin, the great and hitherto vic- 
 torious Saracen chief. 
 
 After many alternate victories and defeats, Rich- 
 ard Coeur de Lion, on that very day, had given battle 
 to the Infidels, gained the great final victory of Jaffa, 
 retaken that fortress and reopened the road to Jerusa- 
 lem a victory dearly purchased, however, by the 
 sacrifice of many valiant knights and retainers. 
 
 The older of the dying warrior's sons had fallen that 
 day at his side. His fine young form lay stiff and 
 cold in a corner of the tent. The younger, though 
 equally brave, had escaped unhurt. He was kneeling 
 at the bedside of his father. Perfect quiet had suc- 
 ceeded the fearful din of battle, nothing was audi- 
 ble save the flappings of bats' wings against the tent, 
 or the distant cry of the vulture claiming its prey on 
 the field of carnage. "My boy," said the dying knight,
 
 His armor and the polished cross on his breast glistened in the rays of 
 the setting sun.
 
 CONRAD. 9 
 
 as he fixed his dim eyes on the handsome, stalwart 
 young soldier, "thou art the last of thy race. If peace 
 follow our dearly bought victory of today, return to 
 thy mother and take her my last farewell. If, how- 
 ever, war continue, enlist once more under our Holy 
 Banner to avenge the death of thy father and thy 
 brother. I leave to thee yonder trusty sword. With it 
 I have slain many an infidel dog. I know full well 
 thou wilt not disgrace it. Soon thou wilt be lord of my 
 castle and thy mother's sole defender. My Arabian 
 steed Saladin, captured from our foe, that has carried 
 me through many a bloody conflict take care of him 
 also. Be brave and steadfast. Relieve the distressed 
 and comfort thy mother." 
 
 While uttering these words he had raised himself 
 with much difficulty upon his couch ; but now he sank 
 back exhausted. After a considerable pause he re- 
 sumed in a voice whose faintness betokened his fail- 
 ing strength : "Open wide the tent, Conrad ; I would 
 fain look once more upon the stars so full of mystery. 
 Look what do they tell thee? Yonder, far beyond, 
 we shall meet again." 
 
 His voice ceased ; his eyes remained fixed upon the 
 stars ; his lips quivered ; his trembling hands became 
 stiff and cold ; and the lion heart of the hero ceased to 
 beat.
 
 10 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 After pressing his lips upon his father's brow, Con- 
 rad arose. 
 
 With sudden impulse he seized the huge sword just 
 bequeathed to him. Holding it on high he repeated 
 the solemn oath, taken when knighted three years be- 
 fore, to wield it ever in the cause of the Christian re- 
 ligion, and in defense of honor and virtue. 
 
 On the following day, before the blood-red sun had 
 hidden itself behind the walls of Jerusalem, Conrad 
 stood by the grave while the earth was thrown over 
 the remains of his father and brother. He then turned 
 away with a heavy heart. 
 
 A month of inaction ensued. ' When it ended, King 
 Richard was enabled to obtain from Saladin a truce of 
 three years and eight months, with an assurance to pil- 
 grims of free access to the Holy Sepulcher. Hard 
 bought privileges, indeed, to gain which many a noble 
 knight and brave soldier had left home and kindred 
 in distant lands, never to return ; their corpses lay 
 buried before the walls of the Holy City, side by side 
 with those of the unbelieving enemy. 
 
 Adding his father's and his brother's possessions 
 to his own, Conrad started, with a goodly number of 
 well-equipped retainers, on his homeward journey. 
 At this time the Crusaders were held in high honor 
 in every court and hamlet in Europe ; so Conrad was
 
 CONRAD. 11 
 
 feasted, and treated with marked distinction through- 
 out his entire journey by sea and land. 
 
 At the end of two months he found himself within 
 a day's ride of his ancestral castle on the Rhine. As 
 the country around began to look familiar his spirits 
 rose, and he urged his horse forward; but his heart 
 sank when he thought of the sad tidings he had to 
 bring to his mother, now so near. Slackening the 
 pace of his beautiful black Arab barb, the young Cru- 
 sader presented a striking picture. A pensive look 
 sat on his handsome countenance ; his graceful figure 
 was the ideal of physical perfection ; his fair locks 
 shimmered in the light as they were stirred by the 
 evening breeze; his armor and the polished cross on 
 his breast glistened in the rays of the setting sun. 
 
 It was quite dark when the weary traveler reached 
 a well-remembered inn. It being too late to cross the 
 river that night, he decided to seek food and rest un- 
 der its hospitable roof, and to proceed on his journey 
 early next morning. 
 
 The inn-keeper, not recognizing Conrad, who 
 had greatly changed during his long absence and 
 hard service, felt completely overpowered by the ar- 
 rival of an unknown Knight of the Holy Cross and 
 his retainers. All that the well-filled larder contained 
 scarcely sufficed to satisfy the hungry guests. In 
 fact, three young pigs, the entire stock of the pen,
 
 12 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 were roasted whole before their appetites were ap- 
 peased. After enjoying for some time the embarrass- 
 ment of the worthy landlord, Conrad determined to 
 make himself known. When "mine host" heard the 
 young Crusader's name he seemed both surprised and 
 distressed ; and at Conrad's anxious inquiries concern- 
 ing his mother the good man raised his hands, turned 
 his eyes upward and assayed in vain to make reply. 
 Conrad, much alarmed, urged him to explain. Little 
 by little, and with much hesitation on the part of the 
 host, the astounded listener was told of the sacking 
 and burning of the castle of Rheinstein by robber 
 knights during his absence, and of the death of the 
 Baroness, she having been found in her chamber, 
 which had escaped the flames. The manner of her 
 death no one knew. Her remains had been consigned 
 to earth in the little churchyard near the village. Con- 
 rad sat speechless and motionless for some moments. 
 Suddenly, in an agony of grief, he sprang to his feet, 
 and lifting his right hand to heaven, vowed to avenge 
 his mother's death, and to punish the robbers who 
 had destroyed his ancestral castle. 
 
 "Who," asked he, "dared to commit this dastardly 
 outrage ?" 
 
 "Hans von Waldhorst, your father's old foe," was 
 the reply. " Tis said that he has become subject of
 
 CONRAt). 13 
 
 late to uncontrollable fits of savage temper. It was 
 during one of these that he did this last damnable 
 deed." 
 
 Conrad paced the room for a while in great agita- 
 tion, then threw himself into a chair in order to col- 
 lect his thoughts. Without means to rebuild his castle, 
 he must needs be a homeless wanderer. He deter- 
 mined, at last, to dismiss his retainers and set out alone 
 to retrieve his fortunes. Still brooding over the sad 
 story which he had just heard, he retired to his room 
 and threw himself upon the couch. As sleep gradually 
 overcame him, he dreamed that he saw his mother alive 
 welcoming him back to his home. Alas! that it 
 should have been a dream ! 
 
 On the following morning he crossed the Rhine 
 by means of one of those old-fashioned ferries, which 
 are in use to this day in some parts of Europe, a boat 
 tied to an anchor and moved hither and thither by the 
 current. He first visited the grave of his mother, then 
 spent several hours of sad interest on the spot where 
 once had towered the castle of his ancestors. In a 
 desperate mood he guided his horse among the crum- 
 bling ruins. Saladin seemed to hang his head in sym- 
 pathy, while his young master inwardly renewed his 
 vows of vengeance against Hans von Waldhorst. On 
 his return to the inn, he dismissed his servants and
 
 i4 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEltf. 
 
 followers, distributing among them most of the tro* 
 phies he had brought from the Holy Land. 
 
 His evening meal being finished, the landlord made 
 bold to question him concerning his intentions. Con- 
 rad answered that he was now only a poor Knight 
 Errant, with a single aim that of punishing the mur- 
 derer of his mother. 
 
 The landlord thereupon informed the young lord 
 that a grand tournament was to be held within a week's 
 time, in celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the 
 birth of the Princess Ursula, only daughter of the 
 Duke of Falkenstein. "The castle and the principal- 
 ity of Falkenstein," said he, "are already full of visit- 
 ors. The Princess, whom I believe your worship's 
 brother knew in her childhood, has grown up exceed- 
 ingly beautiful. Many a knight has fought in her 
 honor, hoping to win her favor, but as yet she has re- 
 fused to bestow her hand on any." Conrad had been 
 brought up at his father's side, and knighted by his 
 ill-fated Emperor on the way to the Holy Land; but 
 he remembered well having heard his brother, edu- 
 cated and knighted at Falkenstein, speak of this high- 
 born and spirited girl. 
 
 As he again heard of her now renowned beauty, he 
 decided to take part in the tournament in her honor, 
 without giving more than a passing thought to the
 
 CONRAD. ii 
 
 possibility of finding favor in her eyes, being, then, 
 only determined to make use of every opportunity to 
 gain fame and fortune. Despite his sorrowful mood 
 he determined to start on his journey the following 
 morning. 
 
 "The sooner I mend my fortunes," he mused, "the 
 sooner shall I be able to make war on Count Hans."
 
 i6 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN, 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 FIGHTING THE ELEMENTS. 
 
 "The brook, 
 
 That with its silvery gleam comes leaping down 
 From the hillside, has, too, a tale to tell." 
 
 Mrs. Elliot. 
 
 Shortly after sunrise on a morning in early Spring, 
 that most beautiful of all the seasons in Germany, 
 Conrad started on his journey to Falkenstein. The 
 inn-keeper accompanied him across the Rhine as far 
 as a mountain path, familiar to him from early child- 
 hood. 
 
 "As you are likely to remember, Sir Knight," said 
 the man, "this path leads you, within two hours, to the 
 bank of a rivulet, and by following its course upward 
 a league or more, you will, near its source, reach a 
 mill. The miller will direct you to a peasant living 
 within two days' travel of the principality of Falken- 
 stein. The castle of the powerful and treacherous 
 Count von Waldhorst you will pass on your second 
 day's journey ; and its towers will be visible in the dis- 
 tance, through the trees on the opposite shore of the
 
 FIGHTING THE ELEMENTS. 17 
 
 river. The Count will not be likely to molest you, 
 Sir Knight, nor indeed any other wayfarer just now, 
 as it is hardly safe to cross the turbulent streams at 
 this season." 
 
 "Would that I could meet him single-handed," re- 
 plied the young Knight, "for I fear I shall have to bide 
 my time ere I can encounter him in any other way. 
 Take, to award thee, my friend, for thy care of me, 
 and to keep away the evil spirits from thee, this little 
 inlaid cross which I brought from the Holy Land, and 
 which has been blessed by our Holy Father, the Pope." 
 The inn-keeper departed; and ever after prized this 
 gift beyond anything he possessed. 
 
 It was a lovely morning. The blossoms were out, 
 diffusing their fragrance on the refreshing breeze. 
 Our traveler's spirits rose in spite of himself. Saladin 
 neighed. As Conrad patted his neck while unburden- 
 ing his heart to him, the noble steed pricked up his 
 ears and galloped on, seemingly proud of the load he 
 bore. At mid-day they arrived at the mill. The mil- 
 ler's daughter happened to be standing at a window. 
 Seeing the handsome cavalier approaching, she ran 
 down and told her father that a beautiful knight of 
 the Holy Cross was coming up the road. Glancing at 
 herself in a mirror, she hastened to meet him. Con- 
 rad saluted the pretty maiden right gallantly. Ere 
 long he was seated with father and daughter before a
 
 18 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 simple meal, which, after his long morning ride, 
 seemed a regal repast. His faithful Saladin enjoyed 
 his measure of oats under a shady oak. At the end of 
 a good hour's rest, he continued on his way. The mil- 
 ler's lass, making the excuse of pointing out the road, 
 accompanied him for a short distance before bidding 
 him a reluctant farewell. To the end of her days her 
 mind held the image of the gallant young warrior. 
 
 About dusk Conrad reached the rustic dwelling de- 
 scribed to him, situated near the banks of a turbulent 
 river. The owner of this habitation did everything in 
 his power to make the traveler comfortable; but he 
 seemed, all the while, to be in great distress. He in- 
 formed his noble guest that Count Hans von Wald- 
 horst had made a raid upon him, a week before, carry- 
 ing away one-half of his cattle and provision. "He 
 will come again," continued the peasant, "and that all 
 too soon. I thought that beyond bargaining with him 
 from time to time for supplies, though at a disadvan- 
 tage, I should be safe, for he dwells across the river; 
 but I see now that in order to save the little that re- 
 mains I shall be obliged to flee this part of the coun- 
 try. Oh, if the Baron von Rheinstein had been here, 
 these things would never have happened !" 
 
 Conrad interrupted the poor farmer to tell him that 
 he was the Baron's youngest son. "My father and my 
 brother both lie buried in the Holy Land," added he ;
 
 FIGHTING THE ELEMENTS. 19 
 
 "my home has been destroyed in my absence by this 
 same miscreant, and I have sworn vengeance against 
 him. I am but a penniless and wandering knight, but 
 I trust speedily to retrieve my fortunes, and to pun- 
 ish this robber as he deserves." 
 
 "May God and the Holy Virgin be with you!" an- 
 swered the simple peasant. 
 
 "Amen!" responded Conrad. 
 
 Saladin, to his utter disgust, spent that night in the 
 same stall with a small donkey; but as the latter was 
 not inclined to be sociable, the steed only silently pro- 
 tested. The next day the peasant took some pains to 
 describe the road to be pursued by Conrad. "You will 
 strike a mountain path in the afternoon, from which, 
 far in the distance across the river, you will be able to 
 descry the towers of Count Hans' castle. This path, 
 which will eventually lead you to the broad road, be- 
 comes very intricate as it enters the wild woods, so 
 it will require some care on your part not to lose it." 
 
 Conrad gave the last trinket he possessed to his 
 kind entertainer, and started on his second day's 
 journey. At noon he rested near a sparkling brook, 
 where he partook of refreshments brought with 
 him. Resuming his way, he soon struck the moun- 
 tain path. His mind was so preoccupied with the 
 part which he expected to take in the Falkenstein 
 tournaments and with other, as yet indistinct, plans
 
 20 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 for the future, that, for a time, he actually dismissed 
 Hans von Waldhorst from his thoughts. He carefully 
 followed the windings of the path before him, how- 
 ever. After an hour or two this became a more be- 
 wildering task than he had been led to anticipate, and 
 eventually it wound through a wildly wooded region. 
 The air had become sultry. He observed dark 
 clouds lowering above him. Gradually the heat be- 
 came so oppressive that he divested himself of his ar- 
 mor and laid it across the horn of his saddle. Suddenly 
 there came a great gust of wind, accompanied by thun- 
 der and lightning. A moment later, a furious storm 
 was upon him. It grew so dark he could scarcely dis- 
 tinguish the path in its windings among the trees and 
 and undergrowth. He was awestruck by the wild 
 grandeur of his surroundings ; but as the pelting rain 
 was coming down in torrents, he felt it behooved him 
 to find shelter. He decided to take refuge under the 
 protecting branches of a huge oak ; but just as he 
 reached it, the lightning struck the giant of the forest, 
 shivering it, and a fearful crash of thunder followed al- 
 most immediately. Both horse and rider felt the 
 shock, the former making a wild leap into an adjacent 
 thicket. Ere Conrad could control the plunging ani- 
 mal, his armor had been torn from the saddle, and they 
 had become deeply entangled amongst the branches 
 and undergrowth.
 
 FIGHTING THE ELEMENTS. 21 
 
 For a moment the Knight had been stunned ; but on 
 recovering himself he quickly looked about him. 
 Everywhere high trees and the wildest maze under- 
 neath confronted him. Bruised and scratched, he dis- 
 mounted, endeavoring to retrace his steps, but becom- 
 ing more and more bewildered. The storm, continu- 
 ing in all its fury, drenched him to the skin. After a 
 while he succeeded in partly extricating himself and 
 reaching a more sparsely wooded region. Here the 
 ground being slippery and full of rocky holes, prog- 
 ress was necessarily slow. For nearly two weary hours 
 did he vainly endeavor to find an outlet. At last, wet, 
 hungry, and completely exhausted, he came to a dead 
 halt. By this time night had set its seal in utter dark- 
 ness. The wind and rain continued, though the light- 
 ning seemed more distant. By its aid Conrad sud- 
 denly caught a gleam of something bright through 
 the trees, at the same moment he heard above the 
 sounding of the wind the noise as of rushing water. 
 Struggling on still farther, he reached the bank of a 
 roaring torrent, which only added to his discomfiture 
 and desolation. 
 
 For a few moments he stood irresolute. Below, 
 through the distance, on the opposite shore, he saw a 
 light. This seemed a beacon of hope. Hungry and 
 shivering with cold, and Saladin trembling at his side, 
 he felt there was but one course to pursue to cross 
 the raging torrent. Straining his eyes, a second time 
 he saw the light. Though a long distance off, it was
 
 22 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 the only sign of human habitation. He no longer 
 hesitated; but, buckling his great sword behind his 
 back, mounted Saladin and plunged into the foaming 
 current. Before the gallant steed had taken many 
 steps he lost his footing. Both horse and rider were 
 carried irresistibly down the stream. Conrad endeav- 
 ored to turn his horse's head toward the opposite 
 shore, made visible now and then by the lightning. 
 It seemed impossible. In persistently attempting this, 
 he completely lost his hold on Saladin. Horse and 
 rider were hopelessly separated. The current became 
 stronger, diverging from the main stream into a nar- 
 row side channel, down which Conrad was carried with 
 frightful velocity. An opportune flash revealed to him 
 a black hole, about a hundred yards below him, by 
 which the rushing waters were carried underground 
 with a hissing noise that appalled him. 
 
 Commending his soul to God, the young Knight 
 made one more desperate attempt to reach the shore. 
 At that moment a dark object appeared in the water 
 before him. It proved to be Saladin. Having se- 
 cured a foothold on the rocky bottom he was plunging 
 madly against the current. 
 
 With a final and well-nigh hopeless effort, Conrad 
 succeeded in laying hold of the animal's tail, to which 
 he clung with desperation. The noble beast seemed 
 to comprehend the situation. With a vigorous plunge, 
 he dragged his master out of the stream onto a slip- 
 pery bank. Conrad had nearly lost consciousness dur- 
 ing the last terrific struggle, but soon recovered.
 
 With a vigorous plunge, he dragged his master out of the stream.
 
 FIGHTING THE ELEMENTS. 23 
 
 Standing beside Saladin, he placed his arm around his 
 preserver's neck, speaking endearing words to him, 
 the noble steed shaking his dripping mane and nod- 
 ding his head in response. After a short rest, horse 
 and rider climbed up the bank, reaching a road with 
 a downward grade, at the end of which lights were 
 visible. 
 
 Leading his horse, he presently reached a draw- 
 bridge which had been lowered over a broad moat, as 
 if in readiness for some arrival. Of the sentinel sta- 
 tioned there, he asked refuge from the storm. The 
 man bade him follow; and crossing the bridge en- 
 tered a courtyard, above which a huge pile of irregu- 
 lar bricks and towers loomed in the darkness. The 
 sentinel stopped before a large iron door, giving three 
 loud knocks. He was answered in a few moments by 
 the appearance of a tall, handsome, but sinister look- 
 ing man, of apparently two score and five years, partly 
 clad in armor. After a searching look at Conrad this 
 man bade him welcome, and called upon his servants 
 to stable the young knight's horse. Saladin kicked 
 and plunged, and even tried to bite the attendant. It 
 required Conrad's own hand to lead him to the stall. 
 There he rubbed his nose against his master, and 
 neighed uneasily when left alone. 
 
 Conrad thought this exceedingly strange. On re- 
 calling the occurrence some time afterwards, he was 
 convinced that the sagacious beast had had an in- 
 stinctive foreboding of the evil that was to come.
 
 24 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 IN PRISON. 
 'A prison! heavens, I loathe the hated name. 
 
 Thou'rt every mischief crammed into one curse." 
 
 Tom Brown. 
 
 Conrad found himself seated at a well-provisioned 
 table in a large, low-ceilinged banquet hall. By the 
 warmth of a huge fire which burned in a broad, over- 
 hanging chimney, his wet clothing rapidly dried, while 
 a sense of comfort stole over his chilled frame. His 
 tall host opposite him, sat silent and abstemious, yet 
 he helped his guest plentifully to food and wine. 
 
 His voracious appetite appeased, Conrad felt phys- 
 ically revived, and under the potent influence of the 
 wine became quite talkative. He voluntarily told his 
 host his name, how he came to be on his way to the 
 tournament at Falkenstein and had missed his road in 
 the storm. 
 
 Before he had quite finished his recital, the reaction 
 consequent on his desperate fight with the elements set 
 in. He was soon overcome by a feeling of drowsiness.
 
 IN PRISON. 25 
 
 His thoughts became so clouded that he did not notice 
 the sudden change which spread over his host's dark 
 visage. 
 
 Though sullen before, the man's brow now con- 
 tracted into a portentous frown. He paced the room 
 to and fro in ominous silence. When Conrad asked 
 his name in return for his own, the dark knight made 
 answer, his brow assuming so threatening an expres- 
 sion withal, that the guest might have become alarmed 
 had not his dazed condition rendered him almost ob- 
 livious : 
 
 "I am an old knight, who knew well thy father, the 
 Baron von Rheinstein, for many years. We have 
 fought together in many a bout. I welcome thee, his 
 son, to my castle ; but I am somewhat whimsical and 
 will not tell thee my -name until tomorrow. Suffice it 
 for the night that thou art my guest, and that I shall 
 treat thee with true hospitality." 
 
 Conrad had become so drowsy that, sitting with 
 eyes half closed, he failed to appreciate the full import 
 of this speech. Making an incoherent reply, he re- 
 quested to be shown to his room. 
 
 The tall, sinister knight offered to escort his guest, 
 begging him at the same time to leave his sword that 
 it might be dried and polished. The young Knight 
 instinctively declined to do this, giving as a reason 
 that the weapon had not left his side day nor
 
 26 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 night since he had received it from the hands of his 
 dying father. The host made no answer. Biting his 
 lip, unnoticed by Conrad, he proceeded to lead him 
 to his chamber. They traversed a long passage, 
 climbed a flight of stairs and entered a small room 
 which contained a couch, chair and table. A dull 
 wood fire smoldered in the fireplace. Hanging the 
 lamp he had brought on a hook over the table, and 
 facing his guest irresolutely for a moment, the host 
 left suddenly, without a word. In spite of all his 
 drowsiness, this action struck Conrad as exceedingly 
 strange. He listened to the heavy retreating foot- 
 steps, and laying his sword on the table, sat down to 
 endeavor to collect his thoughts. Too sleepy to think 
 clearly, however, he would have thrown himself at 
 once on the couch, had not a vague sense of some 
 coming evil taken possession of him. Suddenly, and 
 for the first time that day, he thought of his enemy, 
 Count Hans. Almost at the same moment a convic- 
 tion flashed across his mind that his host, the very 
 man under whose roof he found himself, was none 
 other than his old, hereditary foe. Though he had 
 never before seen him, something in his conduct as he 
 now gradually recalled it made him sure that danger 
 was nigh at .hand. Instantly he became wide awake 
 and on the alert. "Fool that I was," he exclaimed 
 half aloud. "I must have been dazed indeed, thus to
 
 IN PRISON. 27 
 
 have placed myself in this man's power. In spite of 
 the peasant's warning, I find myself under the roof 
 and at the mercy of the one human being in all the 
 world against whom I have sworn deadly vengeance." 
 
 He sprang up instinctively and paced the floor. 
 Going to the door he found it locked from the outside. 
 From the window he looked out into the black night. 
 The rain had ceased, but right beneath him he heard, 
 for the second time that night, that strange hissing 
 sound which told him that the water of the moat was 
 there being carried underground as had been the case 
 with the raging torrent from which he had so narrowly 
 escaped with his life. He felt assured that should he 
 contrive to lower himself down from the window, he 
 would inevitably be drawn into that vortex. "I am 
 indeed a hopeless prisoner, and at the mercy of my 
 implacable enemy; but," he muttered between his 
 teeth, "I will fight to the last, and sell my life dearly !" 
 
 Presently he fancied he heard footsteps approaching. 
 In anticipation of some immediate danger, he grasped 
 his sword, planting himself in the center of the room 
 in an attitude of defense. As he thus stood, feeling the 
 beating of his heart midst the noise of the hissing 
 waters below, a faint knock startled him. He turned 
 quickly toward the point whence it seemed to come; 
 but only the bare wall confronted him. Another knock 
 sounded, somewhat louder than the first. Conrad in-
 
 28 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 voluntarily bade his unknown visitor enter. A secret 
 panel opened slowly. The form of a young girl, clad 
 in white flowing robes, met his astonished gaze. Her 
 face, framed in long, dark, wavy tresses, was inde- 
 scribably lovely. She was pale, and trembled visibly. 
 Conrad at first thought her a vision of his own ex- 
 cited brain; but when he beheld the beautiful dark 
 eyes and listened to the soft, musical words from those 
 sweet lips, he knew that a lovely being, half child, half 
 woman, stood before him. 
 
 "I have come to save thee, Sir Knight," said she. 
 "Thy life is in danger. Follow me, there is no time 
 to be lost." Motioning to Conrad to follow, the girl 
 turned back to the secret door. He detained her, say- 
 ing: I will not move until I know who thou art, 
 and why thou wishest to save me ?" Hesitating a mo- 
 ment, she answered, "I am Rosalie, daughter of Hans 
 von Waldhorst. On account of something thou didst 
 tell him tonight, he has worked himself into one of his 
 relentless fits of fury, during which he knows not what 
 he does. I overheard him giving orders to his men. 
 I fear that if thou essayest to defend thyself they may 
 kill thee." 
 
 "And what," asked Conrad, "will become of thee, 
 fair maiden, when he finds that thou hast helped me 
 to escape. Rather than that any harm should come to 
 thee, I would stay and brave my fate."
 
 I have come to save thee, Sir Knight," said she.
 
 IN PRISON. 29 
 
 "It would be useless," she replied, quickly ; "besides, 
 no one will know of my coming here, if thou wilt but 
 follow me now." 
 
 She stood in an attitude so beseeching, extending 
 her little white hand toward Conrad the while, that he 
 no longer resisted. Grasping his sword firmly, he 
 allowed her to lead him on. They entered a narrow 
 passage, through which the trembling girl, feeling her 
 way in the total darkness, silently guided her com- 
 panion. Descending cautiously a flight of narrow, 
 winding stairs, they halted at the head of another 
 passage, when Rosalie, releasing Conrad's hand, whis- 
 pered hurriedly: "I must leave thee here to proceed 
 alone. Feel thy way against the wall on thy left, until 
 thou reachest an open trap door through it thou wilt 
 gain the courtyard and the bridge beyond. Take the 
 road to the right; follow the river downward until 
 thou reachest a ferry opposite a Benedictine Monas- 
 tery ; there inquire thy way. Go at once. There is no 
 time to be lost. May God speed thee !" 
 
 Ere Conrad could reply she was gone, leaving him 
 alone in the darkness. He heard her light footsteps 
 swiftly and softly ascending the winding stairs. Care- 
 fully feeling his way toward the left, he moved for- 
 ward as rapidly as possible. A faint light showed him 
 that he was nearing the open trap door referred to by 
 his gentle guide. He had not yet reached it, when
 
 30 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 suddenly another door in the opposite wall was thrown 
 open, and a flood of light betrayed him to those within. 
 At the same time he recognized his whilom host and 
 inveterate enemy, Count Hans von Waldhorst, ad- 
 vancing upon him at the head of a body of armed 
 men. Realizing his danger, he ran swiftly to the trap 
 door, sprang through it, and closed it behind him. 
 Quickly crossing the courtyard, he gained the bridge. 
 There, to his great dismay, he found himself con- 
 fronted by a solid line of soldiery, belated retainers of 
 the Count, returning from some predatory expedi- 
 tion. Behind him the harsh voice of his enraged en- 
 emy, hounding on his men to the capture of the fugi- 
 tive, greeted his ears. Hemmed in on all sides, his 
 chances of escape seemed desperate. His first impulse 
 was to stand and, if need be, sell his life dearly. His 
 second thought was in favor of discretion, since es- 
 cape would be far preferable to death. This he es- 
 sayed to effect by throwing himself over one side of 
 the drawbridge, for the second time on that mem- 
 orable night trusting himself to the treacherous waters. 
 He felt himself tossed about by a whirlpool where 
 the water burst into the moat. Holding his sword 
 aloft in one strong hand, with the other he struck out 
 boldly and succeeded in reaching a smoother current. 
 It occurred to him that in case of pursuit the direction 
 he had just taken would most naturally be followed by
 
 IN PRISON. 31 
 
 his pursuers. Being veiled by the darkness, he turned 
 and swam beneath the bridge close to the castle wall, 
 where he gained a momentary foothold on a strong 
 ledge. Buckling his sword once more across his back, 
 he swam out, determined to continue on this altered 
 course. A most fortwnate move it proved; for on 
 looking backward, he plainly descried the followers of 
 Count Hans with torches, in the act of launching a 
 boat, and saw them set out in the direction that he had 
 first taken. With a vigorous stroke he rounded a turn 
 in the moat, which effectually hid him from sight. 
 Well-nigh exhausted by his efforts, he allowed him- 
 self to drift onward without knowing whither the cur- 
 rent was bearing him ; nor did he notice its increasing 
 rapidity, until he realized suddenly, with a feeling of 
 intensified alarm, that he was nearing the spot be- 
 neath the window of the room he had occupied in the 
 castle, where the waters of the moat disappeared un- 
 derground. He attempted to turn back and stem the 
 current, but found it impossible. Three desperate 
 strokes brought him against the perpendicular wall of 
 the castle. On making a grasp at random in the dark- 
 ness, his hand luckily fell upon a flat stone near the 
 water's edge, which had a short iron post imbedded in 
 it. His fingers tightened around this welcome hold, 
 thus partially supporting his body as it rested upon 
 the gliding water. After another struggle, he gained
 
 32 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 a precarious foothold on the stony ledge. Though 
 greatly exhausted he was safe for a moment and 
 thanked God for a second escape from a watery grave. 
 
 What should he do next? The boat in which his 
 enemies were pursuing him around the Castle, might 
 even now be upon him. While in this desperate strait, 
 with no apparent means of escape, an accident, or as he 
 afterwards believed, a providential interposition, re- 
 vealed to him a most unexpected place of concealment. 
 Something hard fell upon his head, followed quickly 
 by another piece. This he caught, and discovered it 
 was dry mortar. Looking up he saw a light faintly re- 
 flected in the moist atmosphere. Feeling sure that it 
 came from the window above him, he raised himself 
 up as far as possible on his toes, reached to and grasped 
 a ledge, drew himself upward and faced a narrow 
 opening in the solid wall, from which all the bars save 
 one had been removed. Here he was confronted by an 
 alarmed human face, looking from a prison cell within. 
 Seizing the remaining iron bar, he raised himself to 
 the level of the window, and forced his way, with 
 the greatest difficulty, into this unexpected hiding- 
 place. 
 
 Scarcely had his feet touched the floor, and ere he 
 had time to speak to the occupant of the gloomy re- 
 treat, his ear caught the voices of his pursuers as they 
 pulled their boat along this most dangerous part of
 
 IN PRISON. 33 
 
 the moat by means of the iron posts imbedded in the 
 flat stones, which were placed at intervals for a con- 
 siderable distance along the Castle wall. A moment 
 later he had been lost. Listening intently, he caught 
 the words of the following colloquy, uttered in gruff 
 tones of disappointment. Said one, "He must have 
 been swallowed up in yonder hole. It will hardly pay 
 us to look any further." Said another, "He may have 
 found a foothold on one of the stones farther on. We 
 had better explore the entire moat. I am grievously 
 thirsty though, for the smoke of these damned torches 
 has gotten into my throat ! Devil a bite or a sip will 
 we get from the mad Count if we return without our 
 game." The last words were scarcely audible; soon 
 they died away completely in the distance. 
 
 Conrad now turned to the prisoner on whose soli- 
 tude he had so unceremoniously intruded. In the dim 
 light of a miserable lamp, he saw, confronting him, a 
 middle-aged man of commanding presence and noble 
 features, who regarded him with mute astonishment. 
 The young Knight spoke first, inquiring the name of 
 his fellow prisoner. 
 
 "I am the Duke of Falkenstein," replied the latter, 
 "imprisoned here by the treacherous Baron Hans von 
 Waldhorst. And who art thou, young sir? How 
 earnest thou to enter by that window which I had pre- 
 pared for my escape this very night?" Conrad, as-
 
 34 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 tounded to find himself face to face with the Duke at 
 whose castle the tournaments to which he had been 
 hastening were to be held, rapidly told him every- 
 thing, adding that thanks to the timely removal of 
 those bars he had been able to elude his pursuers. 
 Duke Henry expressed himself as overjoyed, even 
 under such unfortunate circumstances, at meeting a 
 son of his old friend, the Baron von Rheinstein, and 
 the brother of the favorite young squire who had been 
 brought up and knighted at Falkenstein previous to 
 his ill-fated departure to the Holy Land. 
 
 "I had hoped," lie continued, "to have escaped this 
 very night, but I have partaken such meager fare since 
 my confinement, that after the exertion of breaking 
 out thos,e bars I am too weak to continue the attempt." 
 
 "Count Hans," the nobleman continued, "a former 
 friend of mine, met me at the chase, as he had done 
 before. This time he asked me for the hand of my 
 daughter, and on my refusal, fell into a violent rage, 
 which culminated in a mad paroxysm the like of which 
 I had never seen. The result was that, by taking me 
 unawares, he overcame my few attendants and my- 
 self, and imprisoned us. He hopes in this way to force 
 my consent. Meanwhile my daughter must be un- 
 dergoing the greatest anxiety on my account. About 
 four days from this time, as near as I can tell, having 
 but imperfectly kept the record during my confine-
 
 IN PRISON. 35 
 
 ment, the tournament in honor of her birthday is to 
 take place. I ought to have returned two weeks ago. 
 She has undoubtedly sent messengers after me in all 
 directions, including this place; but Count Hans has 
 assuredly denied all knowledge of me. He expects 
 my final answer tomorrow, and I know not what he 
 will do if I refuse his wish. For that reason I tried 
 to escape, breaking out those bars with the help of the 
 implements in yonder corner, smuggled in to me by 
 the Count's daughter, Rosalie, the same brave damsel 
 who released thee. My confinement, alas, has ren- 
 dered me unable to proceed. The Count knows of my 
 weak condition," continued the Duke, in a feeble voice, 
 "and he hopes to profit by it. If I give him a favorable 
 answer on the morrow, it is arranged that we proceed 
 to Falkenstein together, and the festivities can still 
 take place. But what of my promise to give her to 
 him in marriage? I feel sure that she would never 
 willingly consent, and I would never force her against 
 her will." The Duke ceased speaking, being quite ex- 
 hausted, and stretched himself at full length on his 
 bed of straw, which was spread upon the bare stone 
 floor. 
 
 Conrad reflected for a few moments on what he had 
 heard ; then he said, "We are both on our way to 
 Falkenstein, noble Duke, and I propose that we start 
 together this very night. Delay is dangerous. Should 
 the Count, who believes me to be drowned, find me
 
 36 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 with thee, my lord, here in the prison, no one can tell 
 what would be the consequence. We might fight ; but 
 what chance would we have, almost unarmed, against 
 this man and his band of hirelings? We must escape 
 this very night. I am strong enough to take thee with 
 me." 
 
 "Alas, young sir," answered the Duke, "thou wilt 
 never be able to take me. Go thyself and report to 
 my daughter, who will without delay take measures to 
 obtain my liberty." 
 
 "What," cried Conrad ; "go and leave thee, my lord, 
 here at his mercy? Never! Fear not, good sir! I 
 have faith in our success." 
 
 After a while the Duke yielded to the young man's 
 entreaties; but only on condition that, if he himself 
 on their way should feel unable to proceed, Conrad 
 should go alone. To this arrangement the latter 
 agreed; but with the inward reservation that, come 
 what might, he would never desert his father's old 
 friend. 
 
 Duke Henry showed him a double hook with a long 
 line attached, which Rosalie had smuggled in to him, 
 intended to enable him to reach the rocky wall which 
 surrounded the moat. 
 
 Conrad set to work at once, practicing the throwing 
 of the rope so as to fasten it to the window ledge above, 
 while the Duke, stretched at ease on his pallet, con- 
 tinued to talk about his treacherous friend, Count 
 Hans.
 
 IN PRISON. 37 
 
 "Hans von Waldhorst/' said he, "has, besides the 
 daughter thou hast seen, a son older than she, named 
 Hugo, and also an adopted child, who, in her way, is a 
 most remarkable girl. His wife, as fair and good a 
 woman as one might find, died some years ago. Since 
 then Count Hans has been a changed man. My 
 daughter knows him well, and though she has shown 
 no violent dislike toward him, has not favored his 
 suit. He has held his own in the lists until lately, 
 when he met more than his match in a gigantic Pom- 
 eranian prince, also an aspirant for the hand of the 
 Princess Ursula. She is as averse, however, to the 
 latter's suit as to that of the wily Count. Rosalie, the 
 Count's own daughter, is a lovely, brave little maid. 
 Hugo, her brother, a noble lad, and the only one able 
 to exercise any control over their father, remains, alas, 
 for weeks at a time, absent in the forest with Volga, 
 that wild child of the woods, in ignorance of his father's 
 doings. Would that Count Hans were dead, if only 
 for the sake of his children ! If we but succeed in our 
 escape, Conrad von Rheinstein, we will teach him a 
 lesson which he will never forget. One who has so 
 treacherously broken the laws of hospitality and so 
 cruelly detained me here, deserves the severest pun- 
 ishment ! What sayest thou ?" 
 
 "Yes," said Conrad; "and let me add one who 
 has destroyed my ancestral castle and killed my mother 
 shall have that punishment meted out to him !"
 
 38 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE ESCAPE. 
 
 "There's no impossibility to him 
 
 Who stands prepared to conquer every hazard." 
 
 Mrs. Hale. 
 
 Shortly before the hour of twelve on that dismal 
 night, while the howling wind was still chasing black 
 clouds over the towers of Waldhorst Castle, two fig- 
 ures emerged cautiously from the narrow prison win- 
 dow, the last bar of which had been removed. Low- 
 ering themselves down the massive wall, their feet 
 rested upon a flat stone projecting just above the 
 water's edge, which, as we have seen, adjoined others 
 extending for a considerable distance along the inner 
 wall of the moat. Stepping from one to the other they 
 reached the last, from which they lowered themselves 
 into the water. The cold shock gave the elder of the 
 two fugitives, Duke Henry von Falkenstein, a sud- 
 den chill, which rendered him incapable of action. 
 Conrad came to his assistance. Bidding him carry 
 his sword while placing one hand on his shoulder for
 
 THE ESCAPE. 39 
 
 support, he swam with him across the moat. There 
 he at once threw the hook, hoping to make it catch on 
 the top of the outer rocks, but failed. Again he threw 
 it, and again missed his aim. Suddenly the Duke re- 
 leased him, crying: "Conrad, I can hold on no longer ! 
 Take thy sword and save thyself!" Our hero was at 
 his side in a moment. Taking the weapon cross-wise 
 between his teeth, and supporting the Duke with his 
 left hand, he made ready for another throw. During 
 that time the current had been carrying them slowly 
 backward toward the threatening hole, and Conrad 
 fully realized their immediate danger. Gathering all 
 his strength for a supreme effort, he made the third 
 throw. Fortunately the hook caught; at the same 
 moment, he knew by the dead weight resting on his 
 arm that the Duke had lost consciousness. 
 
 He threw his sword ashore, and quickly grasping the 
 rope, fastened its end around the now helpless body of 
 his companion. Hand over hand he climbed to the 
 bank above. This was a difficult feat, but a still more 
 arduous task awaited him. Not a moment was to be 
 lost. He was obliged to stand close to the moat's 
 edge to lift the body of the Duke which, in its utter 
 helplessness, with the saturated clothing, seemed a 
 weight of lead. Great beads of perspiration stood on 
 Conrad's brow, as, leaning over far enough to let him 
 swing clear of the wall, he raised and landed his still
 
 40 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 unconscious friend safely on the bank beside him. 
 Hardly waiting to get his breath, he picked up his 
 sword, shouldered the Duke and started with him for 
 some trees near by. While staggering along, he saw a 
 light not far off, coming from some human habitation. 
 
 As he approached the spot it proved to be a mis- 
 erable wooden hut built against a rock. He perceived 
 the figure of a woman standing in the doorway. A 
 dog sprang at them, barking furiously; and as Con- 
 rad turned to drive him off, he nearly lost his balance ; 
 but recovering quickly, carried his burden uncere- 
 moniously into the hut. 
 
 To his astonishment, the woman welcomed him in 
 a most friendly manner, calling him by name, and ad- 
 ding that she had been expecting both him and the 
 Duke of Falkenstein. 
 
 Conrad placed his companion before the roaring 
 fire in the center of the hut, the smoke of which es- 
 caped through a hole in the roof directly above. A 
 kettle steamed over the flames, diffusing a most agree- 
 able odor throughout the room. Before he had re- 
 covered sufficient breath to speak, the woman, who 
 seemed prepared for everything, had filled an earthen 
 vessel from the contents of the kettle. Pouring out a 
 part of it, which she allowed to cool for a moment, 
 she succeeded in making the unconscious visitor swal- 
 low the draught. Its beneficial effect became appar-
 
 THE ESCAPE 41 
 
 ent at once. Soon after, under the additional influence 
 of the warmth from the fire, the Duke opened his eyes 
 and asked where he was. 
 
 "With a friend," replied the woman ; "the 'Witch of 
 Waldhorst' so-called, I know not why, unless it be 
 that I cure the sick and foretell some of the events 
 that happen in yonder castle. I knew that you, my 
 lord, and your noble companion would escape from 
 Count Hans tonight. I expected you here." 
 
 While she was speaking, Conrad looked about the 
 hut, discovering in it an old table, one chair besides 
 that in which the Duke sat, and a pile of rubbish in 
 one corner. He now observed the woman more close- 
 ly. Tall, though considerably shrunken by age, she 
 still retained traces of former beauty; but the wan 
 features, wild lustrous eyes, toothless mouth, and the 
 rags in which she was clad, made a most weird pic- 
 ture. The Duke asked her how she came to know 
 of their imprisonment and escape. 
 
 "I read the firmament," she answered. "I watch an 
 evil star which follows Count Hans von Waldhorst. 
 The time is nearing when he will suffer for his iniqui- 
 ties. He once professed to love me, then expelled me 
 from yonder castle and married me to one of his vas- 
 sals. My husband, and a son whom I loved, met their 
 death at his hand. I am sworn to avenge them. I was 
 not always what you see me now. I was beautiful
 
 42 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 once, and dwelt a lady in yonder castle. Now I am 
 old and ugly and have but a short time to live; but, 
 mark my words, before I die Count Hans will meet 
 his fate ! and I shall be there to see him suffer." 
 
 The woman had drawn herself up to her full height, 
 as with raised hands and flashing eyes she spoke these 
 words ; but suddenly her attitude changed into one of 
 listening. The dog barked. "Someone is coming," 
 she cried ; "quick, my Lord, and you, Sir Knight ; you 
 must not be found here !" 
 
 She assisted the Duke in rising, and pulled him and 
 Conrad into the corner, where, pushing aside a seem- 
 ingly solid mass, which, to their astonishment, proved 
 to be a number of articles cunningly secured together 
 so as to resemble an accidental accumulation of rub- 
 bish, she disclosed a niche in the rocky wall, large 
 enough to hold the two fugitives. Hurrying them into 
 this space, she replaced the barrier, effectually con- 
 cealing them. 
 
 A moment later, Rosalie, the Count's daughter, ran, 
 pale and trembling, into the hut, her figure thinly clad, 
 her dark hair floating at her back. The dog greeted 
 her with a bark of joyful recognition. 
 
 "Oh, save me!" she panted, beseechingly. "My 
 father is pursuing me he has discovered that I helped 
 his captives to escape, and is beside himself with rage. 
 I fear for my life!"
 
 THE ESCAPE. 43 
 
 Voices were heard at the door, which the old wo- 
 man, with great presence of mind, had locked while 
 Rosalie was yet speaking. She now pulled and pushed 
 the girl, in all haste, into the same small space behind 
 the barrier, where the Duke and Conrad were hidden. 
 
 We can imagine the girl's astonishment, when by 
 the flickering light, she recognized the young knight 
 whom she believed to have been drowned, and Duke 
 Henry. As the barrier closed behind her, she found 
 herself almost thrust into Conrad's arms. 
 
 Before either of them could speak, words were heard 
 within the hut. Rosalie, recognizing her father's voice, 
 listened with a terrified heart. 
 
 They heard Count Hans, in a voice of thunder, de- 
 mand his daughter of the witch. 
 
 "Tell me where she is," he cried, "or I will kill thee !" 
 
 "What know I of thy daughter, Count Hans?" 
 boldly replied the witch, the dog meanwhile, at her 
 bidding having retired growling into a corner. "Is 
 she fleeing from thee, her father? How can I protect 
 her from such as thou ? Guilty as thou art of so many 
 crimes, does thy wrath extend even to thine own 
 child? For shame, Count Hans! Beware! I tell 
 thee thy punishment is at hand !" 
 
 The Count, though shaken for a moment by the 
 woman's fearless manner, cried out with renewed fury : 
 "Hold thy tongue, old hag, or I will tear it out ! I will
 
 44 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 burn thee and thy old hut together. Here, ye rascals ! 
 bring the torches and fire this damned den." 
 
 They paused involuntarily, however, as the witch 
 with flashing eyes confronted them, exclaiming: 
 "Hold ! have a care, Count Hans ! If thou dare harm 
 me thou shalt be struck dead this very night. I tell 
 thee I have read it in the stars of heaven. Thou shalt 
 be struck dead at midnight, and my ghost shall be 
 present to see thee die!" 
 
 She concluded this startling address with an un- 
 earthly laugh, and perceiving its effect on the Count, 
 she added: "Thou art a coward! Thou darest not 
 destroy me !" And she laughed so hideously that the 
 Count and his followers shuddered. 
 
 In another moment, however, the enraged Knight 
 regained courage and struck the woman so violent a 
 blow with his clenched fist that she dropped to the 
 ground at his feet. Hurling a volley of oaths at her 
 prostrate form, he cried to his men : "I have no time 
 to listen to such accursed trash. Move on, ye rascals 
 search the forest." 
 
 He left the hut, closing the door after him with such 
 violence that it almost fell from its hinges. Raising 
 herself on one hand, the old woman listened to the 
 retreating footsteps; then, thanking God for having 
 been able to conceal the fugitives so effectually, reac- 
 tion followed and she sank back in a dead swoon.
 
 THE ESCAPE. 45 
 
 The three fugitives, caged in their narrow space, had 
 heard every word spoken in the hut. Conrad was 
 tempted several times to force back the frail barrier 
 and confront the Count, but Rosalie prevented him. 
 Now that everything was still, they wondered why 
 they were not released. They tried gently to push 
 back the screen, but found that it was secured on the 
 outside. 
 
 "Do not let us force our way out yet," said the 
 Duke ; "we might find ourselves in a worse place." 
 
 Conrad coincided mentally in this opinion ; for not- 
 withstanding the danger of their position, he could not 
 fail to appreciate the romantic situation of being in 
 such close neighborhood to the sweet child, who on 
 that night and at her own peril, had rescued him from 
 so great a danger. He took her soft little hand in his, 
 and she did not withdraw it. 
 
 The naturally damp and close atmosphere of their 
 narrow retreat was greatly relieved by an opening over 
 what seemed a wooden partition at their back, which 
 served as a ventilator, and through which they heard, 
 afar off, the roaring of water. 
 
 Duke Henry first called the attention of his fellow 
 fugitives to this distant noise, wondering the while 
 what lay beyond that wooden wall. He then asked 
 Rosalie how it happened that she also had to fly from 
 her father.
 
 46 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 In a voice still trembling with excitement she told 
 them that her father had first suspected her brother 
 Hugo, who had returned from the forest that night, 
 of having aided Conrad's escape. When her father ac- 
 cused the boy, he denied it so emphatically that the 
 Count, despite his fury, believed him. As Hugo, later 
 on, sat in his sister's chamber listening to her excited 
 recital of all that had occurred, the Count, who had 
 just discovered in the secret dust-covered passages 
 the footsteps of herself and Conrad, suddenly con- 
 fronted them, his face livid with rage. 
 
 Whether or not it was his intention to do bodily 
 harm to his daughter they were not at all sure ; but he 
 swore so horribly and advanced toward her in so 
 threatening a manner and with so wild a look that she 
 sprang from her couch in terror. As her father again 
 turned upon her, Hugo, now thoroughly alarmed, 
 threw himself between them. Being unable to appease 
 the madman by words, he seized hold of him, calling 
 to his sister to fly. Taking only time to put on her 
 shoes and throw a light mantle around her, she fled 
 out of the castle. 
 
 "You know the rest," said she ; "and you can imagine 
 how astonished and rejoiced I was to find you both 
 alive. I hope that no harm came to my brother. God 
 alone knows what will become of us," she added, 
 bursting into tears.
 
 THE ESCAPE. 47 
 
 Conrad yearned to kiss away her tears, and as Rosa- 
 lie with great difficulty raised her hand to dry them, 
 he sought to place his own strong arm around her by 
 way of consoling as well as protecting her. Her close 
 proximity to the barrier, however, rendered this im- 
 possible. He was forced to content himself with rais- 
 ing her little hand to his lips. 
 
 "Listen, dear Rosalie," sSid the Duke ; "should we 
 make good our escape and reach Falkenstein, I shall 
 desire to have thee remain with us. My daughter will 
 welcome thee as a sister, and my wife will cherish thee 
 as a daughter." The maiden expressed her gratitude 
 with an overflowing heart ; but added hesitatingly that 
 she thought it her duty to return to her father 'as soon 
 as his fit of madness passed away. 
 
 "No, my child," answered Duke Henry ; "not for the 
 present, at all events. Thou must tarry with us. What 
 sayest thou, Sir Knight ?" 
 
 "I will be a brother to Rosalie," answered Conrad ; 
 "she has saved my life and I shall devote mine to her 
 in return." 
 
 As he spoke he affectionately pressed the hand still 
 resting in his own. She, in return, pressed his to her 
 heart. She had thought him dead, this tall, splendid 
 young Knight; and in the joy of finding him alive, 
 displayed her feelings with the childlike directness 
 and innocence, which was not misunderstood by Con-
 
 48 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 rad's chivalric nature. For the time being, finding 
 herself so near him, a sense of belonging to him took 
 possession of Rosalie a feeling which she did not try 
 to explain to herself. 
 
 Everything remained quiet without. The Duke 
 now believed that it would be safe to at least partially 
 force back the light barrier, and look into the cabin. 
 
 At this moment the sound of a cough reached their 
 ears, which caused them to pause. It proceeded from 
 the old woman, who under the ceaseless efforts of her 
 dog in licking her hands and face, was recovering from 
 her swoon. In a few moments she fully revived, and her 
 thoughts reverted to the fugitives. Not knowing how 
 long she had been unconscious, nor what might have 
 happened meanwhile, she tottered across the room to 
 the hiding place, and after some difficulty in unfasten- 
 ing the barrier, pushed it back with her trembling 
 hands. 
 
 Rosalie would have fallen backward had not Con- 
 rad caught her in his arms. He would gladly have 
 kept her there ; but all their attention was instantly at- 
 tracted by the significant movements of the witch. 
 Entering the niche as they vacated it, she opened a 
 door in the rear, saying, "There lies your way of es- 
 cape. This is the entrance to an underground pas- 
 sage, which leads to a long cave through which the 
 waters from the moat are carried toward the river.
 
 THE ESCAPE. 49 
 
 The waterway, which is partly the work of nature, 
 my husband and son assisted in constructing. The 
 passage which leads to it was secretly built by my 
 boy. At the end of it you will find, fastened to a 
 stone in a small natural haven formed by protruding 
 rocks, two boats, also built by him, an4 meant for our 
 joint escape, had he lived. Take the first and larger 
 of these it will carry you safely through the cave to 
 the channel and down the main river. By letting 
 yourselves drift, as you must needs do, you will reach 
 the Benedictine Monastery an hour before noon. 
 There abandon the boat. It will have served a noble 
 cause. I shall no longer need it." 
 
 The Duke, who, with his companions, had listened 
 attentively to the old woman's directions, now took 
 her withered hand, saying: "We owe thee our lib- 
 erty, good woman. To repay thee for thy goodness 
 we will do all in our power for thy future comfort and 
 happiness. Come with us. I will gladly care for thee 
 to the end of thy days." 
 
 "You can do nothing for me, noble Duke," an- 
 swered the woman. "I am already paid if you but 
 succeed in making your escape. My days are num- 
 bered. I shall live long enough to see Count Hans 
 breathe his pitiful last. Forgive me, sweet Mistress 
 Rosalie," she added, "for speaking thus of thy father ; 
 but he and I have some accounts to settle. Fate has 
 
 4
 
 SO KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 decreed in what manner this shall be done. None of 
 his children shall suffer by it." 
 
 After delivering this mysterious speech she stepped 
 back into the cabin and poured out for each of her 
 guests a glass of the same liquid which had so wonder- 
 fully revived the Duke. She also placed two bottles of 
 it, and some food, in an old basket, which she handed, 
 together with a lighted lamp, to Conrad. To Rosalie 
 she gave, to protect her from the night air, a blanket 
 from her couch. The girl at first declined to take it, 
 but the old woman insisted, saying : "Thy life is more 
 precious than mine, dear child." Then, being anxious 
 that the fugitives should get beyond the reach of their 
 enemies under cover of the night, she bade them fare- 
 well, commending them to God's keeping. 
 
 The Duke reminding her that she would always 
 find a friend and protector in him, they entered the 
 passage, Conrad and Rosalie taking the lead. 
 
 As the door closed behind them, the old woman 
 stepped back into the cabin. Throwing herself upon 
 her cheerless couch, without a blanket to cover her, 
 she lay by the dying embers of the fire, shivering and 
 coughing for several hours. At length she fell into a 
 troubled sleep, calling loudly upon Count Hans and 
 her son in her dreams.
 
 DRIFTING. 51 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 DRIFTING. 
 
 "Oh! how impatience gains upon the soul, 
 When the long promised hour of joy draws near! 
 How slow the tardy moments seem to roll!" 
 
 Mrs. Tighe. 
 
 The fugitives descended with their flickering light, 
 amid the re-echoing thunders of the torrent that rushed 
 through the cave, and found the two boats fastened 
 securely among sheltering rocks. 
 
 Conrad, having selected the larger one, was in the 
 act of stepping into it, when a sudden gust of air ex- 
 tinguished their lamp, compelling him to grope in 
 utter darkness. On securing a firm foothold in the 
 stern of the boat, he reached out his hand first for the 
 Duke, whom he conducted to a seat in the bow, and 
 then for Rosalie, who, much frightened, crouched 
 down at his feet. Seating himself, he wrapped the 
 blanket around the young girl, and laying hold of the 
 rudder, pushed the boat off. 
 
 In a few seconds they were caught by the sweep-
 
 52 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 ing current, and tossed about in a fearful manner. 
 Conrad was obliged to release the rudder so as to hold 
 on to both sides of the creaking craft. Rosalie turning 
 half around, clung to his knee in terror, while the 
 Duke, warned by Conrad, laid down prone on the bot- 
 tom of the boat. 
 
 Through the tumult and appalling darkness the 
 craft flew on at a terrible rate. A long distance off 
 they descried the opening at the end of the cave, a 
 small glimmer as yet, but standing out brightly amid 
 the surrounding blackness. Gradually the current 
 became less violent. Rosalie released her hold and 
 turned to look at the opening. The nearer they ap- 
 proached the larger it grew ; and after a quarter of an 
 hour's rapid drifting, the boat shot through it, under 
 a sky from which all vestige of the late storm had dis- 
 appeared. Conrad suggested that a clear night was a 
 good omen, the first words spoken since they started, 
 save his warning to the Duke. Turning to the maiden, 
 he asked, "Thou art no longer afraid, art thou, fair 
 Rosalie?" 
 
 "I clung to thee because I was in terror in that fear- 
 ful cave ; but from that moment I knew no fear," she 
 answered. Lifting her dark eyes to his in the star- 
 light, she added : "I feel safe when near thee." 
 
 "I would shed my last drop of blood to protect thee 
 from danger!" warmly answered Conrad.
 
 DRIFTING. S3 
 
 "May the Holy Virgin bless thee, Sir Knight," re- 
 plied the girl with emotion. 
 
 In the swollen channel, along which they were now 
 drifting, the water became somewhat smoother, and 
 when they entered the river the boat became quite 
 steady, though still carried onward with considerable 
 speed. 
 
 Conrad suggested to his companions that they 
 should try to sleep. The girl, seated at his feet, acting 
 on the suggestion, turned and leaned back against him, 
 while he wrapped the blanket more closely around her. 
 As she slept, her head gradually sank until it rested on 
 the knee which previously supported her. 
 
 The Duke, still suffering from exhaustion, stretched 
 himself in the bow and was soon lost in dreams. Con- 
 rad alone sat erect, rudder in hand, steadying and 
 guiding the drifting craft in its course down the wind- 
 ing river. Feeling chilly from exposure to the night 
 air, he reached for a bottle out of the witch's basket 
 and took a long draught, which warmed his blood 
 through and through. He watched the shore on 
 either side with its dark masses of trees in the fore- 
 ground and dimly perceptible hills in the distance, 
 yet felt no inclination to sleep, though his limbs were 
 weary ; nor could he have even changed his position 
 without running the risk of awakening Rosalie. 
 
 As hour after hour passed in this quiet monotony,
 
 Si- KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 while his friends were still wrapped in deepest slum- 
 ber, he meditated over his past and wondered as to 
 the future. The boat was now drifting quite gently 
 though swiftly toward its destination ; but the young 
 pilot little dreamed that his bark of life also, guided by 
 a higher power, was drifting toward its ultimate fate. 
 
 Gradually a faint glow was seen in the east, dimly 
 unfolding to his eyes the surrounding landscape. 
 Presently, the first rays of the peeping sun shot across 
 space, masses of light followed, and soon the life 
 giving orb of day, in yet subdued splendor, stood 
 above the horizon, flooding everything with roseate 
 hues. 
 
 After watching for some time the birth and gradual 
 growth of a glorious day, Conrad looked down upon 
 Rosalie's face, with her beautiful hair glowing in the 
 sunlight, and he could not remove his gaze from the 
 enchanting vision. She had not changed her position, 
 still leaning heavily against him, with upturned face 
 and lips slightly parted. As he looked, he heard the 
 singing of birds, the sporting of fish, and the rush of 
 startled deer from their drinking places, but he heeded 
 them not ; his eyes were only for Rosalie. "A mere 
 child," murmured he, "but she is passing lovely." 
 
 The air became warmer and charged with delicious 
 fragrance of wild opening buds which fringed the river 
 banks. At last the young Knight looked up, drawing
 
 DRIFTING. SS 
 
 a long ecstatic breath as he marked the beautiful land- 
 scape with its ever varying changes at each turn of the 
 river. The sunlight was dancing on the water, but- . 
 terflies were hovering in air, and the tuneful lark high 
 on the wing greeted the new born day. All nature 
 seemed in its happiest mood. 
 
 Conrad was intoxicated by the scene. As he looked 
 down again at the lovely child nestled against him, 
 she stirred, disengaging her arms from the blanket. 
 He would have further relieved her, but in attempting 
 to do so, he became painfully aware that the leg which 
 for so many hours had supported the sleeper, had in 
 turn gone fast asleep. 
 
 Feeling that it was a pity she should still be obliv- 
 ious to all the beautiful scenes through which they 
 were passing, he thought of an experiment which 
 might arouse the slumberer and at the same time re- 
 lieve him from his painful position. Suiting the ac- 
 tion to the thought, he bent down and kissed her. 
 
 She slowly opened her eyes. Placing her arms 
 around her protector's neck, she kissed him in return 
 in so spontaneous and innocent a manner that his 
 heart went out to her as to a sweet appealing child. 
 As she looked up, her face seemed in full harmony 
 with the beauty of that spring morning. 
 
 By this time the Duke had awakened, much re- 
 freshed by his sound sleep, and suggested that some-
 
 56 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 thing in the way of a morning meal would be welcome ; 
 whereupon Conrad and Rosalie unpacked the old 
 witch's provision basket. The simple meal in the 
 balmy sunlight was enjoyed by them as only those can 
 enjoy, who have passed together through dangers such 
 as theirs, and are drifting toward happy days to come. 
 
 Rosalie as yet hardly realized that she had actually 
 deserted her home and cast her lot among compara- 
 tive strangers; but even at this early stage of their 
 acquaintance she felt toward Conrad as though she 
 had always known him. The novelty and beauty of 
 her surroundings filled her with an ecstasy of delight. 
 
 The sun rose higher and higher in the heavens. Soft 
 winds wafted toward them from the shore, which re- 
 ceded more and more as the boat floated down the 
 expanding river. 
 
 At last the Benedictine Monastery loomed up in 
 the distance. The Duke gave an exclamation of de- 
 light, and directed Conrad to steer for a little wharf 
 at the foot of the Monastery grounds.
 
 THE ABBOT. 57 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE ABBOT. 
 
 "Trust reposed in noble natures 
 Obliges them the more." 
 
 Dryden. 
 
 An hour before noon, the time predicted by the 
 Witch of Waldhorst, our friends landed. Crossing 
 the road they entered the gate to the Monastery 
 grounds, stretching along the side of a hill partly 
 covered by vineyards. On its summit, enclosed by an 
 inner stone wall, stood the extensive Monastery build- 
 ings. In the ascent, half-way to this renowned Bene- 
 dictine retreat, they rested at a small pavilion which 
 commanded a good view of the river and bordering 
 country. 
 
 The Duke pointed out, in the distance, the Convent 
 of St. Agnes, and nearer to the left, the ruins of a 
 castle still formidable in appearance. "Those," he 
 said, "are the remains of the former stronghold of the 
 Baron von Grunau, which was destroyed fifteen years 
 ago by Hans von Waldhorst, during a feud with its
 
 58 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 owner. The Abbot of the Monastery, a redoubtable 
 warrior in his day, and a still well-preserved and able- 
 bodied man, is a twin brother of the deceased Baron. 
 If I mistake not, he is coming down the hill to meet 
 us. He must have perceived our approach." 
 
 Several monks were seen coming toward them. As 
 they drew near, one of their number, a tall, heavily 
 built ecclesiastic, greeted the Duke with exclamations 
 of delight, who presented him as "His Holiness the 
 Abbot." Notwithstanding his red face and nose, there 
 was a certain distinguished air about this man, while 
 a humorous and good-natured expression shone out of 
 his small grey eyes. 
 
 After giving vent to his joy at seeing his friend, 
 Duke Henry, whom every one far and near had given 
 up as dead, alive and well, his reverence bestowed a 
 curious glance on the fugitives whose apparel showed 
 the severe usage it had been put to. Rosalie, how- 
 ever, in her hastily donned and somewhat scanty at- 
 tire, her glossy hair hanging in dishevelled masses 
 over her shoulders, looked so fresh and lovely withal 
 that the Abbot became enchanted, and his eyes dwelt 
 frequently on her beauty during the Duke's exciting 
 account of their late adventures. 
 
 Before he could make any comments on the narra- 
 tive, Duke Henry requested that a messenger be im- 
 mediately sent to Falkenstein Castle.
 
 THE ABBOT. 59 
 
 Accordingly, a lay brother left the Monastery, 
 mounted on a donkey which his reverence guaranteed 
 would out-travel any horse. By this timely messen- 
 ger the Duke sent divers instructions to his wife and 
 daughter, making known his desire that the tourna- 
 ment in honor of the Princess should, at all hazards, 
 take place at the appointed time. 
 
 Rosalie found shelter at the Convent of St. Agnes, 
 where the Duke's daughter had been educated. The 
 Abbot escorted the young girl, personally delivering 
 her into the hands of the Abbess. 
 
 As it was contrary to a law of the but recently re- 
 organized Benedictine order to receive anyone within - 
 the Monastery, save in cases of extreme illness or dis- 
 tress, two beds for the accommodation of Conrad and 
 the Duke were ordered to be placed in the old ban- 
 quet hall of the ruins of Grunau, the one room still 
 habitable. Of this the Abbot informed his guests, 
 suggesting that after refreshments they should go and 
 inspect their quarters for the night. 
 
 The mid-day meal was served at the pavilion over- 
 looking the river. The Abbot joined them, tasting 
 several bottles of the best wine, "to test its condition." 
 Savory dishes from the Monastery kitchen were set 
 before the guests, and soon their overtaxed energies 
 were fully restored. 
 
 Several times during the repast, the Abbot referred
 
 60 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 to "that detestable Count Hans' lastest doings," and 
 informed his friends that messengers had crossed and 
 recrossed the ferry to and from the Black Forest and 
 Waldhorst Castle without bringing any tidings what- 
 ever of their master, the Duke. "This miscreant," 
 continued the Monk, "will never pause in his mad 
 career. It was he, Sir Knight, who in sheer wanton- 
 ness, destroyed yonder castle, although Duke Henry 
 seems of the opinion that it was done in justifiable 
 warfare." 
 
 "I shall believe anything of this man hereafter," 
 put in Duke Henry ; "his latest outrage, against me 
 and this young Knight, deserves swift retribution. We 
 hope soon to deal it out to him. Rosalie, also a fugi- 
 tive from her father's wrath, I have resolved to adopt, 
 and shall take her with me to Falkenstein." 
 
 "She seems one of the sweetest of Nature's uncul- 
 tivated flowers," interposed the Abbot. 
 
 "As gallant as ever," answered the Duke. "If thou, 
 holy father, dost wish to make further study of this 
 interesting blossom, perhaps thou wilt go and beg the 
 Abbess to let her join us at our evening meal." 
 
 "With thy leave, holy father," remarked Conrad, 
 "I will accompany thee." 
 
 The smiling recluse gave a gracious assent to his 
 newly made friend's request, saying: "A handsome 
 young Knight's company will prove more acceptable
 
 THE ABBOT. 61 
 
 to this sweet young maiden than that of an ugly old 
 Monk like myself." 
 
 This man, who plays an important part in our story, 
 in the time of his early manhood, had been a famous 
 courtier and gallant until his flitting affections became 
 fixed upon one object, a noble lady, whose image he 
 yet cherished in fondest love ; but alas ! she had been 
 snatched from him by the redoubtable Count Hans, 
 who made her his wife. 
 
 Immediately after their marriage, the disappointed 
 lover renounced the world, entered the Benedictine 
 Order and rose rapidly to the position he then occu- 
 pied in one of the largest monasteries in Germany, con- 
 nected with the Convent of St. Agnes. But the Abbot 
 had never quite forgiven Hans von Waldhorst. 
 
 During the afternoon Conrad reminded his Rever- 
 ence of the proposed visit to the ruins of Grnnau. 
 When they arrived at the dilapidated stronghold they 
 
 
 
 found the banquet room a gloomy looking place. 
 High backed chairs, skeleton heads of deer, and two 
 wooden effigies, covered with suits of mail, looked 
 spectral in the dim light which struggled through the 
 begrimed casements. 
 
 On one of the panels of the wall, they noticed a mis- 
 erable painting of an old knight in armor, bearing 
 some resemblance in its crude features to the Abbot, 
 and looking even more disagreeably ghostlike than its
 
 62 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 wooden companions. The inspection of the couches, 
 however, proved them to be comfortable, and gave 
 promise of a good night's rest. 
 
 Duke Henry drew the attention of the Abbot to the 
 likeness existing between him and the picture on the 
 wall. 
 
 "That abominable caricature," his reverence said, 
 "is meant to be the portrait of my twin brother, the 
 former Lord of Grunau, who, as you know, fell defend- 
 ing his castle. The picture was painted partly from 
 memory and partly from my own ugly face, after his 
 death. We were much alike in our younger days, and 
 the Italian Monk who produced this thought that I 
 might answer for his model. The poor fellow has since 
 died, whether from shame at having executed so abom- 
 inable a piece of work or for want of anything to live 
 for, I know not. I am determined to have the panel 
 removed, however, and to use it for firewood some 
 day, although it is the only existing likeness of my 
 brother." 
 
 "I think," said the Duke, smiling, "that face much 
 uglier than yours, and your brother, the Baron, was 
 a fine looking man." 
 
 "Yes, although like me, better looking than I," re- 
 plied the Abbot with a humorous twinkle in his eyes ; 
 "but when we were young together, while he looked at
 
 THE ABBOT. 63 
 
 the fair dames I talked to them, and many a time did 
 I win them away from him." 
 
 "I remember that time well," said Duke Henry, 
 "and I could tell thee, Sir Knight, many stories about 
 those twins. My reverend friend here was a formida- 
 ble rival of his brother until he fell in love with the 
 beautiful girl who was carried off before his eyes by 
 our common enemy, Hans von Waldhorst. Up to 
 that time, he had eyes and words only for her. It was 
 a sad ending to your love dreams, holy father." 
 
 "I have not forgotten it, my lord," replied the Ben- 
 edictine, "but I have prayed that I might forgive the 
 man. He has, however, added a chapter of high- 
 handed outrages so much more cruel and wicked than 
 that which blighted my life, that I cannot feel the 
 charity toward him which I ought, in deep humility, 
 to exercise toward all men." 
 
 Meanwhile Rosalie had been received most kindly 
 by the Abbess at the Convent, and was so charmed by 
 everything there, that, after thinking long and deeply 
 over the ordeals in store for her in accompanying the 
 noble Duke and her newly found friend, Conrad, to 
 Falkenstein, she had resolved to ask the Duke's and 
 the Abbess' consent to enter the Convent as a pupil. 
 When Conrad called for her without the Abbot, the 
 lady superior of the Convent allowed Rosalie to accom-
 
 64 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 pany him, and during their walk back she informed 
 him of her resolution. 
 
 "At the end of a year, Sir Knight," she said, "I 
 shall be better fitted to take the place of a daughter to 
 the Duke and Duchess of Falkenstein, should they 
 stiil wish to adopt me. I should now feel strange, in- 
 deed, and ashamed to meet the Princess, for I know 
 but little of courtly ways." 
 
 "Rosalie!" replied our hero, who had not realized 
 until then what a wrench it would be to part from this 
 fair child, "thou little knowest how it grieveth me to 
 hear of this decision. We have been thrown together 
 by fate, and it seemeth to me that we should not be 
 separated at a time like this. Did I not promise to 
 remain near thee ?" 
 
 "Thou didst," replied the girl, turning her soft, 
 moist eyes up to his ; "and I would love to be with thee 
 always ; but," she added in a trembling voice, "it will 
 be best that I remain here. Thou art going to enlist 
 in the tournament in honor of the Princess Ursula, 
 who, they say, is not only a most spirited lady, but 
 more beautiful than words can express and as tender 
 hearted as she is bewitching. If thou art victorious 
 in the tilts, thou wilt have gained the right to her hand, 
 and in that case, what will I, an ignorant little girl, be 
 to thee?" 
 
 "Rosalie! dear Rosalie! do not speak thus," pro-
 
 THE ABBOT. 65 
 
 tested Conrad. "It doth not follow that I shall ask the 
 Princess for her hand, even should I gain the right, 
 which I doubt, or that, should I ask her she would 
 grant it. But whatever may chance, I will never for- 
 get thee." 
 
 "What thou sayest," replied the girl, "makes me 
 happy. Yet I cannot believe that I should be happy 
 at Falkenstein; certainly not if " here she stopped. 
 Conrad observed the quivering lip, then, after watch- 
 ing her face for a few moments, said : "It shall be as 
 thou wfehest, Rosalie. Perhaps it will be best for thee 
 to remain at the Convent, for the present, to study. I 
 will call for thee at the end of a year. And," he added 
 after another pause, during which the girl watched his 
 face eagerly, "I have a firm belief that thy life and mine 
 are to be woven together in the future. Whatever 
 we may go through for a time while separated, I will 
 surely return to thee." 
 
 He said this solemnly, a dim unaccountable presenti- 
 ment of future events flashing the while across his 
 mind. "My heart is thine already and will be always," 
 simply replied Rosalie. Conrad, much moved, with 
 great gallantry impressed a kiss on the fair forehead 
 of his young companion. They continued their way to 
 the pavilion in silence, sitting down, still hand in hand, 
 to await the Duke's arrival. 
 
 The sun hung low in the horizon. It was the hour
 
 66 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 when lovers need no language to commune with each 
 other. As yet Conrad's feelings for Rosalie were un- 
 defined, having been enlisted so suddenly during their 
 romantic adventure. Much more deeply stirred was 
 the heart of the young girl. All that was said and felt 
 in that hour was long remembered by her. The young 
 Knight forgot it much sooner, among new and varied 
 scenes of love and triumph. 
 
 During the repast which followed, Duke Henry 
 gave his approval to Rosalie's entrance into the con- 
 vent as one of its pupils. He wrote certain directions 
 to the Abbess, on parchment, which he requested the 
 Abbot to deliver the following day. The good pre- 
 late promised to do his friend's bidding and, moreover, 
 to make inquiry from time to time as to Rosalie's wel- 
 fare. "The daughter of my worst enemy," he mused ; 
 "and yet so good and lovely she continually reminds 
 me of what her mother was when I first knew her." 
 
 When the time came for Rosalie to bid them fare- 
 well and return, Conrad was again allowed to accom- 
 pany her back to the convent. Darkness had set in 
 when they reached the river bank. The air from over 
 the distant hills stole whispering through the trees. 
 It was a mysterious and solemn hour to the two young 
 beings whom fate had thus brought together. For 
 some time neither spoke ; but as they neared the con- 
 vent, Rosalie looked up, saying, in a subdued voice,
 
 THE ABBOT. 67 
 
 "A week before the end of my year's instruction, I 
 shall have to decide whether I shall rejoin the world or 
 remain within the convent walls forever." Conrad 
 again faithfully promised to call for her before that 
 time "come what might." 
 
 "God only knows," the girl replied, "whether thou 
 wilt be able to come for me or not. If thou dost come, 
 I will go with thee wherever thou wilt. If not, I will 
 remain at the convent and take the veil." She ceased 
 and the firm pressure of her lip told Conrad that she 
 would keep the resolve which her young heart had 
 prompted her to make. 
 
 They had reached the garden gate, through which 
 part of the convent buildings were visible. Rosalie 
 pulled the bell, faced her companion suddenly, and 
 throwing her arms around his neck, kissed him fare- 
 well. Conrad pressed the trembling girl to his heart. 
 Not another word was spoken. A nun appeared at 
 the gate. Rosalie entered and was lost to view. 
 
 Conrad turned back to the Monastery, meditating 
 deeply. Strange indeed was that fate which had 
 thrown in his path the daughter of the man he had 
 sworn to destroy, appealing to him for protection, 
 giving him her young heart unrestrainedly and awak- 
 ening feelings in his own, which he knew, whatever 
 their nature, would be lasting. 
 
 Duke Henry, seeing Conrad approach, met him and
 
 68 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 they proceeded without delay to the ruins of Grunau. 
 The Abbot followed, to make sure that nothing had 
 been neglected for their comfort before he bade them 
 "good-night." 
 
 A small oil-lamp, by whose dim light the banquet 
 hall looked ghostly enough, enabled them without 
 jostling each other to undress and creep into bed; a 
 few moments later they were both asleep. 
 
 What was Rosalie doing at that time? The sweet 
 child was kneeling at the bedside in her little cham- 
 ber, praying to the Holy Virgin that God might keep 
 Conrad from all harm, and in His own good time bring 
 him back to her.
 
 BARON VON GRUNAU'S GHOST. 69 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 BARON VON GRUNAU'S GHOST. 
 
 "A horrid spectre rises to my sight; 
 
 Close by my side, and plain, and palpable, 
 In all good seeming and close circumstance, 
 
 As man meets man." 
 
 Baillis' Ethewald. 
 
 Our two friends had slept many hours without even 
 changing their positions, when Conrad, half conscious 
 of someone walking about the room, awoke, just as 
 the Monastery bell struck the hour of midnight. At 
 the same time a peculiar smell pervaded his nostrils. 
 
 He sat up in bed, opening his eyes wide. By a 
 strong light diffused through a vaporous atmosphere, 
 every object in the room seemed to become clearly 
 visible. As he looked up he was somewhat astonished 
 to perceive that the eyes of the picture of the Knight 
 in armor were shining and winking at him. He was 
 further startled to see the two mail-clad wooden fig- 
 ures walking away from their central positions in front 
 of the curtain, and stopping like sentinels at each side. 
 Suddenly the curtain separated and, to Conrad's dis-
 
 70 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 may, the ghost of the master of Grunau, the very coun- 
 terpart of the picture overhead, with the exception of 
 a greater rotundity of figure, stood before him. It was 
 assuredly a genuine spectre, for through it the tapestry 
 behind was clearly visible. 
 
 It opened its ugly mouth, raised its hand as in the 
 picture, and in a hollow voice spoke these words: 
 "Conrad von Rheinstein, beware ! I have thee in my 
 power. I can send thee and thy snoring friend at thy 
 side to the unhappy land of shadows in the twinkling 
 of an eye even of those eyes in my abominable por- 
 trait yonder." 
 
 Conrad, fully believing the apparition to be super- 
 natural, felt his heart throb violently ; but as he listened 
 to what could not fail to strike him as ludicrous talk 
 from a being of another world his courage gradually 
 returned, although the eyes of that picture of the 
 Baron von Grunau were certainly twinkling and wink- 
 ing at him. "I will spare thee and thy friend," re- 
 sumed the ghost, in its sepulchral voice, "and even 
 will serve thee, if thou wilt promise to do what I re- 
 quire of thee." 
 
 "Who art thou ?" inquired the young Knight, gain- 
 ing courage at the sound of his own voice ; "and what 
 dost thou want of me, thou old fossil of a ghost ?" 
 
 "I am the Baron von Grunau, or rather, his ghost," 
 answered the spectre, hemming and coughing, as
 
 BARON VON GRUNAU'S GHOST. 71 
 
 though provoked at our hero's undaunted manner, 
 which to Conrad again seemed unghostlike. "I was 
 killed," continued the apparition, "together with my 
 wife and all my attendants, by that Robber- Knight 
 Hans von Waldhorst, who wantonly attacked and de- 
 stroyed my castle. He abducted my two-year-old 
 daughter and retains her in his den of iniquity to this 
 day. I want revenge. Fate has so willed it that I can 
 ask it of thee, Conrad von Rheinstein. That bold man 
 must be made to suffer ! he must die ! aye, die by thy 
 hand, thou unhappy mortal! so that my shade may 
 rest in peace, instead of walking about these deserted 
 ruins, stumbling over old furniture and knocking its 
 shins against the dilapidated battlements. I want 
 peace for the rest of my ghostly existence. I am but 
 a shadow of my former self a shadow worn to a 
 thinner shade; but I was not always so miserable a 
 specimen. Look at that picture of the handsome 
 young knight on thy right! It is I, as I was thirty 
 years ago." Conrad looked up and saw a portrait 
 which had not been there before, better painted than 
 the other, but whose eyes also were most certainly 
 winking at him. 
 
 "I see," said he, in a bantering tone ; "but I do not 
 think this picture resembles thee as does thy other 
 portrait, save perhaps about the eyes, which continue 
 to keep up their everlasting winking."
 
 72 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 The ghost, evidently out of temper with our 
 knight, coughed much louder than before; and in a 
 voice deeper and gruffer, said, "I was young and slen- 
 der then, nor did I change greatly in comparison un- 
 til I was murdered. Since that time, ghost though I 
 am, I have grown old, fat, flabby and ugly very fast, 
 but unless my death is avenged I shall soon become as 
 thou wert pleased to call me, an old fossil, indeed, and 
 an eyesore to all respectable ghosts. As soon, how- 
 ever, as thou takest an oath to avenge my death, I 
 shall disappear with that other hideous effigy yonder, 
 which is my portrait as a ghost, painted by a miserable 
 ghost of an artist. Then both the artist and I shall be 
 at peace. But shouldst thou fail to take or to keep the 
 oath, and if at the end of a year Count Hans should 
 yet live, then shall my spirit continue to haunt thee, 
 and I shall reappear upon this very scene, together 
 with a far more dreadful portrait of myself; and that 
 same pitiable shadow of the miserable Monk of an 
 artist, after painting this abomination also, will again 
 commit suicide, even in despair as he did at having pro- 
 duced that first one. Know thou, Conrad von Rhein- 
 stein, that when a ghost commits suicide it is the most 
 terrible thing that can happen in the world of shadows 
 one from which no end of complications may arise, 
 all which will react on thee if thou failest me !" 
 
 "I believe thee, old fossil." Conrad, strongly in-
 
 BARON VON GRUNAU'S GHOST. 73 
 
 clined to laugh outright, now interposed boldly: "A 
 ghost of a ghost of a miserable artist must indeed be a 
 bad specimen." 
 
 "Very well, then," roared the corpulent, though 
 transparent shade of von Grunau, "if thou believest 
 it swear to avenge my cruel fate ! Swear that 
 before another year shall have made itself felt in my 
 fleshless bones, thou wilt kill him ; swear !" 
 
 And "Swear!" "Swear!" was repeated by the two 
 wooden sentinels as well as the portrait on the wall. 
 Conrad noticed that they still glared and winked at 
 him. 
 
 "Swear, Conrad von Rheinstein," repeated the ghost 
 once more, and in so hollow a voice that it seemed 
 to come from its transparent boots of mail, and 
 "Swear!" "Swear!" was repeated from all sides by 
 ghostly voices. 
 
 "I swear," replied our hero, involuntarily, in a loud 
 voice, raising his right hand in imitation of the spectre. 
 
 Ere he had realized what he had done, the ghostly 
 image of the Baron von Grunau had vanished, the cur- 
 tain had closed and the suits of mail were walking back 
 to their places, and Conrad, looking up, saw that the 
 Baron's portrait in armor had disappeared ; while that 
 of the young knight, which had only recently made 
 its appearance as though by magic, remained, accord- 
 ing to the spectre's promise. The light faded away
 
 74 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 gradually. All at once a most diabolical laughter from 
 all around fell upon his ear, which made him shudder. 
 Presently he fancied he heard retreating footsteps. As 
 they died away, the laughter also ceased. Finally all 
 was still, not a sound, save the slight snoring of his 
 lordship, the Duke, who had slept soundly through- 
 out this ghostly visitation. 
 
 Conrad's shudders ceased. He lay back on his pil- 
 low, wondering whether or not all had been a dream. 
 The peculiar vapor, which still pervaded the room, as- 
 sured him, however, that something actual had oc- 
 curred, but what it all portended he knew not. Of one 
 thing only he was certain ; he had taken a solemn oath 
 that within a year Hans von Waldhorst should die 
 by his hand Count Hans, whose daughter had but 
 lately saved him from danger, and given him her inno- 
 cent heart. 
 
 "What will be the end of all this?" he again asked 
 himself. Pondering over this question, he fell asleep, 
 and did not awake until a late hour of the morning.
 
 THE FALCON'S ROCK. 75 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE FALCON'S ROCK. 
 
 "There is a wakening on the mighty hills, 
 A kindling with the spirit of the morn!" 
 
 Mrs. Hemans. 
 
 The Falcon's Rock, so-called, most appropriately, 
 by Duke Henry's warlike and aggressive ancestors, 
 was an extensive, imposing and strongly fortified 
 structure, situated on a broad, rocky promontory which 
 rose precipitously amidst a fertile, far extending val- 
 ley. 
 
 The castle and fortress of Falkenstein formed one 
 of the greatest strongholds in Germany, at the time. 
 The approach, through a lower well-fortified gate, led 
 up the steep ascent across a chasm to the drawbridge, 
 which on the summit of the rock, spanning the same 
 cleft, constituted the only access to the main battle- 
 ments and buildings. These were of vast extent, af- 
 fording ample accommodations for the Duke's numer- 
 ous followers, retainers and guests. Fronting the 
 approach, outside of its main buildings and extending
 
 76 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 their entire length, was the arena for tournaments, 
 outdoor festivities, and for exercising the horses. This 
 broad, well-fortified plateau afforded an excellent view 
 of the landscape. Through the fascinating scene a 
 narrow river wound its way midst rich pastures and 
 thriving villages, all belonging to the Principality of 
 Falkenstein, a favored land in the midst of which the 
 Goddess of Plenty sat enthroned. 
 
 Ursula, the Princess of Falkenstein, the Duke's only 
 daughter, was more highly cultivated than usual in 
 those days, even for a person of her rank. She lent a 
 luster to all that region by her beauty and brilliant 
 attainments, while her goodness made itself felt to the 
 remotest part of the domain. Not only were her face 
 and figure of exceeding beauty, and her heart brave 
 and unflinching in time of danger ; she was also the em- 
 bodiment of tenderness and sympathy, charity found 
 in her a perfect exponent of its divine nature. To see 
 her was to adore ; to know her was to love. Though 
 much above the average height, the matchless sym- 
 metry of her supple figure rendered it hardly percepti- 
 ble, save when closely comparing her with others of 
 her sex. The grace and poetry of her motion struck 
 the eye of the beholder, not only while noting her dar- 
 ing feats of horsemanship, but at all times. Her lux- 
 uriant auburn hair, which she wore partly coiled at the 
 back of her head, allowing its ends to hang down be-
 
 THE FALCON'S ROCK. 77 
 
 low the waist, was deeply tinged with gold. Her won- 
 derful face, almost regular in repose, was fascinatingly 
 irregular when animated ; and in suppressing a smile, 
 she drew down the point of Her slightly tip-tilted nose 
 with her short upper lip, giving that interesting fea- 
 ture, for the moment, the appearance of being arched. 
 Of her beautiful dark grey eyes, it is enough to say 
 that they reflected the pure soul within. 
 
 Her mother had been bred at the Court of the Em- 
 press. Though an invalid ever after the birth of her 
 only child, she had done much at Falkenstein Castle 
 to instill into those dwelling there the same refinement 
 of manner to which she had been accustomed, and to 
 cultivate the taste of her daughter, who was an apt 
 scholar, always amenable to her mother's slightest 
 wishes. 
 
 Being possessed of considerable administrative abil- 
 ity, Ursula had taken personal command of the for- 
 tress during her father's protracted absence, and had 
 sent out various expeditions in search of him. As each 
 returned without any tidings of the Duke, her anxiety 
 became very great. When her last search proved un- 
 successful, she announced to the already numerous 
 guests that the festivities would have to be postponed. 
 The many knights and dames who had assembled to 
 participate in these were reluctantly preparing to de- 
 part, when the lay brother who had been despatched
 
 78 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 by the Abbot, arrived with the tidings of the Duke's 
 safety. At once a new life and bustle awakened in the 
 castle. Radiant with happiness, Ursula became the 
 inspiring hostess once more, and the guests returned 
 to their enjoyments and luxurious comforts. With- 
 out delay, Ursula despatched a detachment of trusty 
 lances to the Monastery to escort her father back to 
 Falkenstein. 
 
 On the morning after the eventful night spent in the 
 banquet hall of the ruins of Grunau, the Duke was the 
 first to awake, feeling much refreshed. Looking out 
 of the window he perceived a small cavalcade ap- 
 proaching, which he recognized to his great joy as his 
 own followers. He at once woke his young friend to 
 impart the good news. 
 
 Conrad rubbed his eyes and instinctively looked for 
 the portrait overhead. It was gone; but on the op- 
 posite panel, where nothing had been visible the day 
 before, was the newly painted picture of a young 
 knight. 
 
 He felt sure that what he had seen in the night was 
 not a dream, but a vision which he could not explain, 
 though he said nothing of it to the Duke, and forgot 
 all about it during the excitement of the days follow- 
 ing. 
 
 The armed attendants were at the gate. They 
 brought horses and suits of mail for the Duke and
 
 Bending slightly forward in a listening attitude.
 
 THE FALCON'S ROCK. 79 
 
 Conrad, as well as suitable raiment and a horse for 
 Rosalie. 
 
 Princess Ursula, in her wild delight at the happy 
 state of affairs, sent word that everything would be 
 ready for the tournaments on the appointed day, and 
 that she would expect her father with his two guests 
 that very night. 
 
 In half an hour the Duke and Conrad dressed, 
 breakfasted and were in the saddle, the Abbot being 
 present to see them depart. To him the Duke en- 
 trusted the garments to be left at the convent for 
 Rosalie's future use. 
 
 On the evening of the day on which Duke Henry 
 and Conrad set forth from the Benedictine Monastery, 
 Ursula rode forth from Falkenstein to meet them. 
 On her arrival, at nightfall, at an adjacent vil- 
 lage, she halted. Bending slightly forward in a lis- 
 tening attitude, she sat on her steed, her noble face 
 and figure being outlined against the dark back- 
 ground by the flickering light from a neighboring inn. 
 Thus she waited, eagerly intent on catching the first 
 sound of approaching horses' feet. A group of peas- 
 ants drew near to learn the cause of her presence at 
 that hour. Reports of their beloved master's safety had 
 already reached them. One, a stalwart fellow, drew 
 near the fair rider, cap in hand. Making a low obei-
 
 80 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 sance, he enquired if her Highness had received any 
 additional information concerning her father. 
 
 "I am here to meet him this very night, my good 
 man," answered the Princess; "he may arrive at any 
 moment." 
 
 "Hurrah!" cried he to his comrades, "the Duke is 
 coming !" Lusty cheers for their master and his daugh- 
 ter went up from the bystanders. There were few 
 among them who had not received some kindness at 
 Ursula's hands ; and the Duke himself was personally 
 known and loved by most of his dependents. The 
 news of his expected arrival spread like wild-fire 
 throughout the little hamlet. Lights appeared in the 
 windows, and notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, 
 men, women and children arrayed themselves in holi- 
 day attire, standing in their doorways ready to wel- 
 come back their beloved ruler. 
 
 The sound of hoofs upon the village pavement be- 
 came audible ; first faintly, then more distinctly. The 
 lungs of young and old were taxed to the utmost. The 
 Duke checked his horse in the midst of his subjects, 
 with Conrad at his heels, an interested spectator of the 
 scene. Some of the villagers pressed forward and 
 grasped the Duke's hand to kiss it. One woman, a 
 tall, buxom young mother, held her babe aloft that it 
 might see its benefactor's face. He caught sight of her, 
 and reaching out his hand for the babe, kissed it and
 
 THE FALCON'S ROCK. 81 
 
 returned it to its proud mother. The shout that went 
 up from the delighted people after this spontaneous 
 act was deafening. 
 
 With her heart beating tumultuously, Ursula rode 
 forward to meet her father, the peasantry making way 
 for her. The Duke dismounted. She did likewise, 
 assisted by Conrad, who had suddenly appeared at her 
 side. A moment later father and daughter were in 
 each others' arms. 
 
 Conrad remained standing near. He had held the 
 Princess' hand. He had seen her face for a moment, 
 as she sprang lightly from the saddle, though in so 
 faint a light that he could form but little idea of her 
 beauty ; but the rich accents of the voice in which she 
 thanked him had sent a thrill to his heart. Ursula, 
 in accepting his proffered assistance in dismounting, 
 had conferred upon the young stranger what, in those 
 days of knighthood, was considered a great honor; 
 and when she permitted him to assist her to remount, 
 he felt elated at the distinction and sprang to the back 
 of his own horse in a proud and happy mood. 
 
 The Duke and Ursula continued their way, in ad- 
 vance of the rest, up the steep ascent to the castle, dis- 
 coursing of the late adventures. Her heart went out 
 with gratitude and sympathy to Conrad. When she 
 drew rein in the courtyard of Falkenstein, finding him 
 again at her side eager to assist her in alighting, she
 
 82 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 thanked him in a voice full of emotion for all he had 
 done for her father. He had not as yet seen her fea- 
 tures distinctly. When they entered the brightly il- 
 luminated hall, however, the young knight was dazzled 
 by the irresistible charm of her beauty, which now, for 
 the first time, beamed upon him. 
 
 The Duchess received him with grateful tears in her 
 eyes. Her fair face, and the gentleness and refinement 
 of her manners, greatly impressed him ; and he bowed 
 on his knee before her, and raised her thin, white hand 
 to his lips. 
 
 A goodly company of gallant knights, minstrels, 
 squires and their dames, gathered around the festive 
 board in the superb banquet hall. They regarded the 
 newcomer, Conrad von Rheinstein, with mingled 
 feelings of curiosity, admiration and envy. Among 
 them, a gigantic knight, of forbidding countenance 
 and awkward bearing no other, as Conrad learned 
 afterward, than the stupid but powerful Prince Steffel, 
 Landgraf of Pomerania, sat with frowning brow, which 
 impressed Conrad most unfavorably. This huge 
 Pomeranian boor had been victorious in the last two 
 tournaments held in honor of the eighteenth and nine- 
 teenth birthdays of the Princess. On each occasion 
 he had asked Ursula for her hand, and had been re- 
 pulsed. He had come to fight for her for the third 
 time, and if again victorious, by the rules of knight-
 
 THE FALCON'S ROCK. 83 
 
 hood, he would acquire the right to demand of the 
 Duke the much coveted prize. In such an event, a re- 
 fusal by Duke Henry would undoubtedly precipitate 
 hostilities between him and the powerful Pomeranian. 
 
 Ursula knew all this, and her heart misgave her as 
 she thought of the beautiful and prosperous Principal- 
 ity of Falkenstein being devastated by war, and the 
 unequal chances of her father in a struggle with that 
 formidable adversary. 
 
 Since seeing Conrad, the very flower of ideal knight- 
 hood, a faint hope had arisen in her heart that possibly 
 he might prove her deliverer from the threatened ca- 
 lamity by vanquishing this hitherto victorious but 
 most unwelcome aspirant to her favor. 
 
 Conrad was seated at one end of the table, on the 
 left of the Duchess, and next to the Princess. On 
 the other side of the noble invalid, directly opposite to 
 Conrad and Ursula, sat Prince Steffel, alone in his 
 sullenness, but on account of his great size taking 
 up room for two. Bernard von Wolfram, the Min- 
 strel, had his seat on the other side of the Princess, 
 the Queen of his songs, and inspiration of all his deeds 
 of valor. Being a Knight of the Holy Cross, he had 
 met Conrad in the Holy Land, and had returned but 
 a short time before him. They now greeted one an- 
 other as old friends. 
 
 Ursula had known Wolfram from early childhood,
 
 84 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 and always looked upon him as her faithful admirer 
 and good knight, and since his late return, as her pos- 
 sible champion against the great Pomeranian Prince. 
 
 Wolfram, however, was no longer young. More- 
 over, he had been wounded twice while fighting against 
 the Turks, and although as valiant as ever, was phys- 
 ically no match for her dreaded suitor. Conrad, on 
 the other hand, was young, supple and stalwart, with 
 an open and a fearless eye. He inspired Ursula with 
 a strange hope. As she conversed with him this feel- 
 ing, which had taken deep hold of her heart, found ex- 
 pression in her eyes. He understood their meaning. 
 
 There were other Crusaders present. Naturally, the 
 conversation turned for a time on their adventures in 
 the Holy Land. But the Duke found it necessary to 
 give a full account of his and Conrad's imprisonment 
 and their escape, in which narration Rosalie's name 
 was often mentioned. To this name Ursula listened 
 with lively interest and strange emotions. 
 
 Bernard von Wolfram, the Minstrel, was called on 
 for a song. Accompanying himself on the harp, he 
 sang a warlike ballad, introducing his inspiring lady- 
 love with tender effect. Ursula smiled her approval 
 on her faithful knight, while the assembled guests ap- 
 plauded him vigorously. Toasts to the health of the 
 Duke and Duchess, the Princess Ursula, Conrad von 
 Rheinstein, and Bernard, the Minstrel, were drunk
 
 THE FALCON'S ROCK. 85 
 
 in due succession. Prince Steffel's name, which was 
 not popular, was purposely omitted. The uncouth 
 giant drank his wine in silence, meanwhile nursing his 
 wrath and thirsting for the revenge he meant to take 
 in the lists. 
 
 The banquet ended, a dance in the adjoining hall 
 was next in order. Conrad, under the intoxicating 
 spell of the Princess' beauty, guided her vaguely 
 through the figures then in vogue. The Duchess 
 could not remove her eyes from the handsome couple. 
 Hopes, born of motherly solicitude, sprang up in her 
 heart that Ursula would find a welcome suitor in this 
 gallant young knight, who, she felt sure, must already 
 have lost his heart to her beautiful daughter. Prince 
 Steffel's face was green with jealousy; and when he 
 approached Ursula to ask for a later dance, and found 
 that engaged by Bernard von Wolfram and the one 
 still later by Conrad, he became furious, and left the 
 room in a fit of sullen anger. 
 
 Conrad retired to rest, with heart and mind in a 
 whirl of excitement. He lay awake the greater part of 
 the night. When at last nature claimed her due 
 and he slept, both the Princess and Rosalie appeared 
 to him in his dreams, standing with arms outstretched 
 toward him. As he stood undecided toward whom to 
 turn, Rosalie motioned him to Ursula. He advanced 
 toward her, but even as he felt the arms of the beautiful
 
 86 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 Princess around his neck, and pressed her to his heart, 
 her identity underwent a change ; the face and the form 
 were those of Rosalie. 
 
 On awakening he was much perplexed by his dream ; 
 but he soon forgot it among the eventful realities of 
 the scenes which followed.
 
 THE TOURNAMENT. 87 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE TOURNAMENT. 
 
 "The shout 
 
 Of battle now began, and rushing sound 
 Of onset ended soon each milder thought." 
 
 Milton. 
 
 The day following the Duke's return was a busy one 
 at Falkenstein. Conrad saw little of Ursula, but that 
 little was enough to increase his admiration and inspire 
 him with the utmost zeal in preparing for the events 
 of the morrow. 
 
 Owing to the threatened postponement of the fes- 
 tivities, the arranging of the elaborate accesso- 
 ries necessary to their success was much hurried. 
 For the last twenty-four hours the energies of the 
 Princess and her attendants had been taxed to the 
 utmost. In the short time which had intervened, how- 
 ever, so much had been accomplished that Ursula de- 
 cided to give her final orders, while resting in a small 
 room in the tower of the palace which overlooked the 
 arena.
 
 88 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 Conrad, at first regretting the absence of his good 
 horse, Saladin, had reason to be content with the fine 
 stallion presented to him by the Duke, a spirited 
 animal, much heavier than his own Arabian steed, and 
 therefore better suited to be pitted against the over- 
 grown bulk of his Pomeranian rival. 
 
 During the morning and afternoon of that day Con- 
 rad, clad in full armor, put his noble animal through 
 various maneuvers on the broad plateau, while the 
 preparations for the tournament were in progress. 
 
 He was little aware that besides those of the inter- 
 ested workmen, there were two beautiful eyes, con- 
 cealed behind curtained windows of the tower, which 
 sought him out, watching his every movement; and 
 that the heart of their owner beat high with enthu- 
 siasm as she observed the masterly horsemanship of 
 her newly chosen knight, who sat in his saddle as 
 though horse and rider were one. 
 
 As a contest in marksmanship was to form a part of 
 the expected entertainment, Conrad found time to 
 practice shooting with a cross-bow. To his great dis- 
 gust his bolts fell wide of the mark, which hardly 
 should have surprised him, as he had not handled a 
 bow since his boyhood. 
 
 In the center of the lists a temporary throne for the 
 Princess and her august parents was in process of 
 erection, with adjoining seats on either side for the
 
 THE TOURNAMENT. 89 
 
 nobility, as well as platforms for a large concourse 
 of people, extending the entire length along the rear 
 of the outbuildings. Wooden fences, shaped like cres- 
 cents, had been placed at each end of the grounds, 
 around which ran the course for both horse and foot 
 races. Fastened against one of these was a target 
 for the cross-bow contest. The rest of the space had 
 been left clear for the tilt between armed knights on 
 their mailed chargers, the all-important event of the 
 coming day. 
 
 Although our hero had gained considerable mas- 
 tery over his steed while exercising it, he nevertheless 
 looked forward with some doubt and even trepidation 
 to meeting his powerful rival, the Pomeranian Prince. 
 
 A glorious morning, promising a beautiful day for 
 the great festival, dawned over the Principality of 
 Falkenstein. The sparkling sunlight, tempered by 
 fleecy clouds and cooling breezes, greeted the large as- 
 sembly of people as they entored the grounds and 
 ranged themselves in expectation of the arrival of the 
 Queen of the Tourney, their beloved Princess. 
 
 A great shout of welcome rent the air as Ursula, at- 
 tired in white and gold, ascended the throne, followed 
 by the Duke and Duchess, the latter borne on a chair. 
 
 Seated under a canopy of blue, the Princess shed 
 the radiance of her beauty on all. In her anxiety as 
 to the result of the approaching contest, her heart
 
 90 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 fluttered unwontedly ; and, as she scanned with eager 
 eyes the knights entering the field at the central gate, 
 her countenance betrayed conflicting emotions by the 
 color which came and went. 
 
 Conrad, Bernard von Wolfram, Prince Steffel, and 
 nine other mounted knights in full armor, rode slowly 
 forward in line to the throne and dipped their lances to 
 the Princess. She arose, bowing gracefully in ac- 
 knowledgment of the salute; then motioning Con- 
 rad to approach, she fastened a white and gold scarf 
 around his arm, saying in an undertone, "I have faith 
 in thee, Sir Knight. May God and Our Lady protect 
 thee!" 
 
 Prince Steffel, seeing the movement of her lips, 
 gnashed his teeth, muttering a savage oath under his 
 closed visor. Conrad fell again into line, elated, but 
 striving to collect his thoughts, well knowing that on 
 his coolness and skill, rather than on his strength, de- 
 pended the fortunes <jf the day. 
 
 At a signal from the Duke, the Herald announced 
 in a loud voice the order of the combats. A bugle 
 sounded. All eyes became riveted upon the stalwart 
 knights, drawn up in opposing ranks. A second bugle- 
 note rang out the signal for battle. With lances firmly 
 couched, they rushed like a whirlwind to the charge. 
 The crash came in the center of the lists in front of the 
 throne. Stout lances were broken and splintered like
 
 THE TOURNAMENT. 91 
 
 reeds. Some of the knights were unhorsed. The more 
 fortunate galloped on, apparently unhurt by the shock, 
 and returned to finish the combat with the sword. 
 
 Ursula saw Prince Steffel, who towered above all 
 others, unhorse several of the opposing knights, 
 without apparent effort ; but Conrad, her champion, 
 to her great delight, had acquitted himself well. 
 His wonderful horsemanship and gallant bearing 
 called forth ringing plaudits from the admiring 
 multitude. Bernard von Wolfram unhorsed one 
 antagonist, and with his sword worsted another, but 
 was well nigh conquered by a third, a most pow- 
 erful knight, upon whom he inflicted as great pun- 
 ishment as he received. Being too much injured to 
 continue the contest, both were led from the field. 
 The Minstrel soon returned, to the delight of Ursula. 
 Though pale and halting, he was able to fill a seat 
 among the spectators, near the Queen of his soul and 
 his song. 
 
 By this time only two were left in the lists unhurt, 
 Prince Steffel and Conrad von Rheinstein, and they 
 were to face each other in what many feared would 
 be mortal combat. 
 
 Ursula's heart beat tumultuously, as, after a short 
 pause, she saw them confront each other. Inwardly 
 she murmured a prayer for the safety of her gallant 
 knight.
 
 92 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 Prince Steffel noticed her anxious look, and know- 
 ing well that it was not on his account, determined to 
 kill his rival. When they met in front of the throne, 
 Ursula saw the giant form of the Pomeranian, mounted 
 on an immense charger, bear down resistlessly, as it 
 seemed, on Conrad. Her heart stood still for one 
 moment only, however. In the next it leaped for 
 joy ; for after a fearful crash, in which her hero's lance 
 was shivered and his horse thrown backward on his 
 haunches, both combatants galloped away unhurt. 
 
 The younger knight, guiding his horse close to his 
 adversary, had dexterously evaded the point aimed at 
 his head, by an outward turn of his body, and had 
 broken his own lance into splinters against the shield 
 of the Pomeranian giant. Though somewhat shaken, 
 he felt that there was to be no breathing spell ; for 
 already Prince Steffel, according to rule, had thrown 
 away his lance, and muttering bitter oaths between 
 his teeth for having missed his aim, had returned to 
 the charge, sword in hand. 
 
 In his eagerness to reach his foe, the Prince gal- 
 loped past the throne, from which Ursula watched him 
 with loathing and breathless suspense. Conrad, on 
 the other hand, stood motionless, not far away, await- 
 ing his enemy's attack. As the Prince, -with lifted 
 sword, was on the point of delivering his blow, Con- 
 rad, driving the spur into his horse's flank, made him
 
 THE TOURNAMENT. 93 
 
 leap sidewise out of the giant's reach. Then wheel- 
 ing him quickly around he reached, from behind, his 
 surprised antagonist's left side. 
 
 Before the Prince could face him, the forefeet of 
 Conrad's horse grazed the neck of the Pomeranian's 
 steed ; while with a mighty and well-directed stroke in 
 passing, his sword cleft the steel cap, and inflicted a 
 deep gash on the Prince's head. Reining in his charger 
 a few strides beyond, he saw the Prince sway in his 
 saddle, and knew at once that he held his gigantic 
 rival's life at his mercy. His generous nature, however, 
 restrained Conrad from dealing a fatal blow. Facing 
 him again, he received the weak stroke of the wounded, 
 half-blinded Pomeranian, on his shield, and in turn, 
 
 .9 
 
 catching him with the point of his sword near the 
 right shoulder, thrust him off his rearing steed into 
 the dust. 
 
 Ursula, having watched the combat to its issue with 
 intense excitement and anxiety, gave a great gasp of 
 relief; her heart was almost bursting with thankful- 
 ness; her eyes, dim with happy tears, followed her 
 brave knight, as he galloped past, victorious. 
 
 Amid the blare of trumpets and loud plaudits to 
 the victor from the assembled multitude, Prince Stef- 
 fel, stunned by his fall, arose with the assistance of his 
 attendant squires. When they had removed his hel- 
 met, the blood meanwhile streaming down his face,
 
 94 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 he glared about in utter bewilderment for a space ; 
 then gathering himself together with an effort, a deep 
 scowl darkening his ugly visage, he shook his clenched 
 fist, first at Conrad, then at the occupants of the 
 throne, and suffered himself to be led from the lists. 
 Soon after, with deep-seated vengeance in his heart, 
 he left the castle, followed by his many retainers, much 
 to the relief of the Princess and her guests. 
 
 Conrad dismounted. Ascending the steps leading to 
 the throne, he knelt before Ursula, modestly await- 
 ing his reward. The beautiful woman smiled on her 
 victorious champion as only she could smile. Taking 
 from her fair neck a golden chain from which was sus- 
 pended a jeweled dagger, she hung it around the neck 
 of her deliverer, saying, "Wear this for my sake, 
 brave Conrad von Rheinstein ; thou hast earned 
 my everlasting gratitude !" 
 
 The young knight looked into her beautiful eyes 
 until he was entranced. Nevertheless he managed to 
 take her soft white hand and bring it to his lips, and 
 seemed disposed to hold it there longer than was 
 necessary. As she gently withdrew it, he found voice 
 to say : 
 
 "Noble Princess, to have earned thy friendship is a 
 first step toward heaven on earth ! What mortal would 
 not risk his life for such a boon ?" 
 
 Conrad felt abashed at having said so much ; but
 
 THE TOURNAMENT. 95 
 
 when he noted in his lady's face a readiness to forgive 
 the extravagant tribute, he became reassured. Joyful 
 beyond measure in her timely deliverance from a de- 
 tested suitor, she bade him rise and keep the scarf 
 around his arm in memory of that day. 
 
 The Duke and Duchess, whose delight well-nigh 
 equaled that of their daughter, warmly congratulated 
 the hero of the day on his victory. If, in this, the 
 happiest and proudest moment of his life, the young 
 Knight-Errant entirely forgot, for the time being, the 
 young girl who had saved his life, one must forgive 
 him. 
 
 Those of the knights who were not actually disabled 
 had remounted, and rode forth from the scene of their 
 conflict through the courtyard gate. Leaving their 
 horses with attendants, they doffed their armor, and 
 returned to the arena for the final contest with cross- 
 bows, clad, like Conrad, in festive hunting costume. 
 
 Ursula poured for each a goblet of wine. Conrad 
 she invited to a place at her feet, while Bernard von 
 Wolfram found his place on the steps lower down, yet 
 within speaking distance of his divinity. 
 
 3L. 
 
 The bugle sounded for the next contest, a horse- 
 race, without saddles, in which the peasantry partici- 
 pated. Lads over fifteen years of age being admitted, 
 several young squires took part in this, the most amus- 
 ing feature of the day's entertainment.
 
 % KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 Horses under a certain height were excluded ; never- 
 theless the differences in their sizes, and the contrast 
 between the stupid faces of the peasants and those of 
 the gay and shrewd retainers of the knights, proved a 
 most laughable spectacle. The course, which encir- 
 cled the entire arena, had its starting and finishing post 
 directly in front of the silken canopy beneath which 
 sat the Princess. Over a score took part in the race. 
 Among them Ursula and Conrad noticed two young 
 riders who remained close together amid all the con- 
 fusion attending the start. One of them, a handsome, 
 dark-eyed lad, was mounted on a spirited, well-bred 
 horse, which he sat firmly and gracefully. The other, 
 a pale-faced boy of the peasantry, on a tall, long- 
 limbed, thin animal, was himself so tall and thin that he 
 looked as if he might break in two at the least provoca- 
 tion. Though awkward in appearance, he, also, sat his 
 horse well. 
 
 "The face of that dark-eyed boy," said Ursula, 
 "seems familiar to me, yet I cannot at the moment re- 
 call where I have seen him." 
 
 "He is an excellent rider," Conrad rejoined, looking 
 up admiringly at her flushed and interested face. "That 
 tall, thin youth, with his long-legged steed, will scarce 
 be as close to his friend at the end of the race as he is 
 at present." 
 
 The signal for the start was now given. It was as
 
 THE TOURNAMENT. 97 
 
 much as the majority of the riders could do to keep on 
 their horses at all. Before they had fairly started 
 many were rolling in the dust, their horses galloping 
 off riderless. The other animals, excited by the loud 
 uproar of the spectators, kicked and plunged until the 
 flag fell, when those whose riders had managed to keep 
 their seats, actually got away. 
 
 "They are a motley crew," cried Bernard von Wol- 
 fram, his sore sides shaking with laughter. "I will lay 
 a wager that the dark lad just noticed by thee, noble 
 Princess, will win the race." 
 
 "I quite agree with thee, my faithful minstrel, and 
 therefore we cannot wager," replied the Princess, "but 
 who is he ?" 
 
 "He is in my service," answered Wolfram. "I will 
 tell thee more of him anon." 
 
 All eyes were now on the riders as they rounded the 
 first barrier, where two more unfortunates were thrown 
 at the turn. As they re-entered the open track, the 
 two youths, who had kept back at the start, were seen 
 in the front rank close alongside each other. From 
 that moment they forged steadily ahead, and before 
 rounding the second turn had outrun all competitors. 
 On the home stretch, as they still ran neck and neck 
 toward the winning post, an excited murmur ran 
 through the throng. Every eye was strained upon
 
 98 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 them. As they drew nearer, Ursula and Conrad arose, 
 involuntarily. To their great surprise they noticed 
 that the dark-eyed rider was lying back and holding 
 in his horse with all his might, while the tall, pale- 
 faced youth, bending forward, plied his whip vigorous- 
 ly on his foaming steed. The flag fell. The pale rider 
 had won by a neck. A neck only, it is true ; but by it 
 he had secured the first prize, a considerable sum of 
 money. Livid as death, he was helped from his horse 
 and hurried to a shady spot. There he lay for some 
 time, gasping for breath, while one of Ursula's at- 
 tendants brought to him the bag of coin which he had 
 won. His dark-eyed companion, on the other hand, 
 dismounting as nimbly as possible, knelt at the feet 
 of the Princess and received at the hands of a servitor 
 the second prize, a beautiful saddle and bridle, which 
 were destined to be used by him many times in the 
 service of the noble giver. The boy bore himself 
 throughout in a graceful and manly fashion. Ursula 
 inquired of the minstrel if he, too, had noticed him 
 pulling in his horse toward the end of the race. 
 
 "Indeed I did," replied Wolfram, "and I do not un- 
 derstand it. I shall question him about it by and by. 
 Kurt is a brave lad, and but sixteen years old. I was 
 fortunate enough to meet with him on my way home 
 from the Holy Land."
 
 THE TOURNAMENT. 99 
 
 "Oh, I remember now," said the Princess. "How 
 well he rides !" 
 
 "He does, indeed, noble lady," replied the Knight, 
 "and he rode an excellent horse. Surely, had he 
 wished it, he might have won the race." 
 
 A foot-race was next in order, in which many of 
 the bareback riders participated. The boy Kurt, with 
 his somewhat short legs, tried pluckily and honestly, 
 this time, to outrun his competitors to the end. The 
 victor of the horse-race lay in the shade meanwhile, 
 unable to take part in the contest as he had hoped 
 to do, and thereby win another money prize. It was 
 captured, instead, by a strong young fellow, who was 
 one of the Duke's retainers. Kurt, having again come 
 in second, his face all aglow with exertion, knelt once 
 mere before Ursula, and received a half-sword, a kind 
 of large dagger of the finest steel, which he buckled 
 to his waist as he strode proudly back to join his fellow 
 dependents. 
 
 Then followed the last, and next to the combat be- 
 tween the armed knights, the most important contest 
 of the tournament. It consisted of a trial of marks- 
 manship with the cross-bow, for which the list of com- 
 petitors was made up of visiting knights and foresters. 
 Though some of the former had acquired in the chase 
 a good command of this weapon, they were scarce a 
 match for their formidable opponents, fresh from their
 
 100 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 daily practice in forest and field. Conrad, lingering 
 near Ursula, was the last to enter the lists, feeling 
 doubtful, after 'his unsatisfactory trial of the day pre- 
 vious, of his ability to even hit the target at all. His 
 belief in a lucky star, that day, urged him on. 
 
 Again the bugle sounded. The competitors formed 
 in line in front of the throne, with the young Knight 
 of Rheinstein at the extreme end. The shooting be- 
 gan. Many admirable shots were made, the foresters 
 having the best of it, until the last marksman sent his 
 bolt. This was Conrad, who luckily, and entirely by 
 accident, hit the very center of the bull's-eye, in close 
 proximity to three others. How he managed to make 
 this fortunate shot, he never could imagine. It suf- 
 ficed, however, to make him the victor in this contest 
 also. Verily, his star was in the ascendant. 
 
 Once more a shout went up for the young knight- 
 errant. Ursula, with a look in which admiration and 
 affection were visibly blended, motioned him to ap- 
 proach and receive from her the last prize of the day. 
 
 Just at this moment, a sudden and unexpected bugle 
 blast heralded a newcomer. A young horseman clad 
 in russet and green galloped into the arena, followed 
 by a dozen mounted attendants. He halted before the 
 blue canopy, knelt at the feet of Ursula, and craved 
 permission, at this late hour, to enter the list of the 
 marksmen.
 
 THE TOURNAMENT. 101 
 
 The Princess saw before her a noble youth of grace- 
 ful bearing, dark complexion and wonderfully deep 
 black eyes, who regarded her with undisguised admira- 
 tion. She blushed deeply in spite of herself. With a 
 slight inclination of the head she referred him to her 
 father. The Duke, calling the newcomer "Hugo," 
 told him that he was free to take part in the contest; 
 but that he failed to see how he could possibly outdo 
 Knight Conrad, whose bolt still remained fastened in 
 the center of the target. 
 
 "With your leave, noble Duke," answered Hugo, 
 "I would fain examine its exact position and try to 
 put mine in its place." 
 
 Though this was said modestly enough, the words 
 seemed to convey a foolish boast to the minds of his 
 astonished listeners. The Duke, however, made no 
 further objection. The young forester went to the 
 target, finding by measurement that Conrad's bolt was 
 a trifle below the actual center. On returning he took 
 a finely wrought crossbow from the hands of one of 
 his attendants. Advancing to the line in front of the 
 throne, to the further astonishment of the spectators, 
 he deliberately stepped twenty paces backward, in or- 
 der to make a long-distance shot. As he stood there, 
 his dark-green, light-fitting suit setting off to perfec- 
 tion his graceful figure, his handsome face aglow with 
 excitement as his eye scanned the stock of his cross-
 
 102 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 bow, he made a picture which deeply impressed Ur- 
 sula. With lips slightly parted and for the time ob- 
 livious to everything around her, she watched him in- 
 tently. 
 
 With a well-calculated upward curve, his sharp- 
 pointed bolt whizzed through the air. In descending 
 it struck the bull's-eye directly upon the point of Con- 
 rad's shaft, driving the latter downward deeper into 
 the wood, and lodging immediately above it. 
 
 The wildest enthusiasm followed this extraordinary 
 shot, the foresters in particular being greatly elated, 
 some of them essaying to carry their young champion 
 on their shoulders. This distinction he modestly de- 
 clined. Walking to the blue canopy, crossbow in 
 hand, he again knelt at the feet of the Princess. 
 
 Their eyes met. Ursula became confused, so ar- 
 dent was the gaze of Hugo von Waldhorst. In a low 
 voice she bade him rise, and placed in his hand a 
 carved ivory image of herself, attached to a delicate 
 golden chain, which, but a few moments before, she 
 had taken from her bosom as a prize to be hung 
 around Conrad's neck. 
 
 The youth pressed his lips to her hand, which only 
 increased Ursula's confusion, while he said softly, "I 
 shall wear this image on my heart to my dying day, 
 in memory of thy gracious kindness to the son of one
 
 THE TOURNAMENT. 103 
 
 who has forfeited all claims to honorable knighthood 
 by betraying thy father's friendship." He arose and 
 turned toward his attendants. 
 
 Conrad had been a silent spectator of Ursula's emo- 
 tion, and wondered who this last comer might be. 
 
 The Duke descended into the lists, now astir with the 
 departing multitude. He spoke to the young hunts- 
 man within Conrad's hearing, inviting him to remain 
 and participate in the banquet and further festivities. 
 
 Hugo declared himself unable to do so, saying, "It 
 was to discover what had become of Rosalie that I 
 journeyed hither. At the Monastery I learned that 
 she was safe at the Convent of St. Agnes. Having 
 come so far, I could not resist a desire to reach Falk- 
 enstein in time for this trial with my crossbow." 
 
 "Thou didst right, Hugo," replied the Duke, "and 
 wilt always be welcome at my hearth, even though thy 
 father has betrayed me, his oldest and best friend. 
 Should he continue in his mad career, I will not suffer 
 Rosalie to return to his roof, but will adopt her my- 
 self when she leaves the convent." 
 
 "Indeed, it has come to this ; we are dependent on 
 thee,. gracious Duke, our kind and noble friend," said 
 Hugo; "but I must needs bid thee farewell, and I 
 crave forgiveness for having today, in a moment of 
 weakness, recalled the dishonored name of Waldhorst 
 to this noble gathering."
 
 104 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 "Thou hast, rather, redeemed that name," replied 
 the Duke, "and I regret to have thee depart so speed- 
 ily. Do not fail to acquaint me as to how matters go 
 between thee and thy father. God speed thee !" 
 
 He was gone, the handsome young forester, who 
 had played so unexpected, and unknowingly, an im- 
 portant part in the events of that memorable day. 
 
 "This is the second child of Hans von Waldhorst," 
 soliloquized Conrad, "who has thus crossed my path 
 in the most extraordinary manner. This youth, if I 
 mistake not, has made a deep impression on the Prin- 
 cess, whom I fancied to be already favorably inclined 
 toward me. In spite of it all I cannot help liking him ; 
 it must be because he reminded me of Rosalie." 
 
 It was thus that Hugo's sister was brought to the 
 mind of Conrad at the end of all the engrossing excite- 
 ment of the tournament and its victories. 
 
 It may well be mentioned, just here, that after a 
 severe struggle between Hugo and his father, the 
 Duke's horse and Conrad's, with the attendants of the 
 former, were set free from Waldhorst, and arrived at 
 the Castle of Falkenstein within one week after the 
 great festal day. 
 
 When Saladin caught sight of his master, he neighed 
 for joy; he kicked, and plunged, and pranced, and 
 finally drew near and laid his head on his shoulder to 
 be patted. Conrad stroked his neck and vaulted upon
 
 THE TOURNAMENT. 105 
 
 his back. After gamboling about for some minutes 
 to the entertainment of the bystanders, the happy 
 young knight saw his faithful steed safely ensconced 
 in the stall, and whispered in his ear of many canters 
 that were in store for him in company with the beauti- 
 ful Princess.
 
 106 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE BANQUET. 
 
 "The banquet waits our presence, festal joy 
 Laughs in the mantling goblet, and the night 
 Illumin'd by the taper's dazzling beam 
 Rivals departed day." 
 
 Barbarossa. 
 
 On the evening of the day of the tournaments just 
 described, there were seated around the richly laden 
 board in the decorated banquet hall of the Castle of 
 Falkenstein, a goodly company of knights and ladies, 
 foresters and dames. 
 
 At one end of the table, under a canopy of roses, 
 sat Ursula, flushed, excited, at times apparently some- 
 what absent-minded, but withal more beautiful than 
 ever. Conrad occupied the seat of honor on her right. 
 Bernard von Wolfram had his usual place upon her 
 left, his aged frame still sore from the severe encounter 
 in the lists, but not so much as to prevent his becom- 
 ing brilliant and entertaining as the quickening wine
 
 THE BANQUET. 107 
 
 mounted to his brain. The conversation naturally 
 turned upon the late tournament, and Conrad was ac- 
 corded most of the glory. 
 
 When the skillful young huntsman, who had so sud- 
 denly appeared and disappeared, was mentioned, and 
 inquiry made as to his name, the Duke informed his 
 guests that he was the son of his former friend, but 
 now his worst enemy, Hans von Waldhorst; adding 
 that he hoped no one present would bear ill-will against 
 the children of that miscreant. A murmur of surprise 
 followed this appeal. Conrad noted in Ursula's face 
 an expression of pain. Putting aside what little jeal- 
 ousy existed in his generous nature, and only anxious 
 to turn the conversation from a subject which seemed 
 to distress her, he stood up gallantly, announcing in 
 a clear, ringing voice the first toast of the evening, 
 "To the Queen of the Tournament ; the Queen of our 
 hearts ; Ursula, the fairest, the noblest, the loveliest of 
 her sex. God bless her !" 
 
 The guests applauded this sentiment vigorously, the 
 Duke and Duchess smiling happily the while at 
 the gallantry of their daughter's champion. Ursula in- 
 clined her head to our hero in acknowledgment, but 
 ere she could speak the minstrel arose. Without ac- 
 companiment, he sang in thrilling cadences a verse 
 descriptive of the influence of womanly beauty and 
 goodness such as hers on benighted mankind.
 
 108 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 As he sat down, Ursula turned to Conrad with a 
 fascinating smile, saying: "I fear that the words of 
 my devoted minstrel, as well as thine, my noble 
 Knight, are unmerited. The sentiments they express 
 are hardly applicable to me." 
 
 "My poor words," exclaimed Conrad, "and even 
 those of that beautiful song, fail in doing justice to 
 thy beauty, noble Princess, or to the goodness of thy 
 heart, both of which radiate far-reaching joy and hap- 
 piness." 
 
 "I thank thee, my noble Knight," answered Ursula ; 
 "and that thou thinkest well of me, thy brave deeds 
 of this day, which I shall ever remember, have proven." 
 
 She extended her hand to him. For the second 
 time that day he pressed it to his lips, yet she with- 
 drew it more quickly that she had done at the tourna- 
 ment, before the appearance of the young forester. 
 Bernard von Wolfram now arose, saying: "Let us 
 drink to the hero of the day, Conrad von Rheinstein ; 
 hoping that every unworthy aspirant to the hand of 
 our gracious Princess may be chastised by him, as was 
 that overgrown Pomeranian Prince." 
 
 Conrad received a perfect ovation. Ursula touched 
 goblets with him, and actually drained her own, the 
 first and only wine she tasted. After this her face
 
 THE BANQUET. 109 
 
 brightened, and she was herself again. The hostess 
 then reminded Wolfram of the promised information 
 concerning his young servant, Kurt. 
 
 "I met him in the strangest manner," replied the 
 minstrel ; "and should it please thee, noble Princess, 
 and thy honored guests, I will tell the story." As all 
 desired to hear the tale from so good and entertaining 
 a romancer, he began : 
 
 "One evening, on my return from the Holy Land, 
 after a long day's journey on horseback through Hun- 
 gary, I reached the spacious residence of a well-to-do 
 peasant, whom I asked for shelter. I was alone, my 
 only servant having died soon after leaving Palestine. 
 The owner and his buxom wife bade me wel- 
 come. In a very short time we sat down to a fine 
 repast. This was unexpected to me; though I did 
 justice to both food and wine, as did mine host and 
 comely hostess. The Hungarian wine caused me to 
 lose my head ; certainly to unloose my tongue. I told 
 them of innumerable deeds of valor in the Holy Land, 
 some of which were entirely creations of my imagina- 
 tion, and which I have since wholly forgotten. I also 
 sang warlike songs and played the fool in everything, 
 though my smiling hostess most graciously applauded 
 to the last. All the while I noticed a ragged boy sitting 
 by the fire, giving it his constant attention that he 
 might keep it alive that cold night. He stared at me
 
 110 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 with his big black eyes and listened eagerly to my 
 wonderful tales and ballads. This lad had attended to 
 my horse on my arrival, likewise performed several 
 menial offices about the house, which facts had not es- 
 caped my notice. I felt grieved for him. Not until 
 the advancing hours of the morning did mine host and 
 hostess retire. As the boy was still awake, I concluded 
 that in all probability his resting place would be before 
 the embers of the dying fire. When I had reached 
 my bedroom, I heard the woman, whose chamber was 
 next to mine, repeatedly call the poor fellow, Kurt. 
 Very soon after, becoming aware of a commotion in 
 the hall, and opening my door, I beheld the old man 
 in the act of pulling him by the hair, while his wife 
 was vigorously laying a stick across his back. After 
 this they jointly kicked him down the stairs. At the 
 moment I was very drowsy and felt too cold to 
 interfere with their proceedings, so got to bed as quick- 
 ly as possible. I must have slept heavily for some 
 hours, when, about daylight, I was aroused by a tre- 
 mendous clatter in my apartment. Sitting up, I dis- 
 cerned by the dim light of dawn, the boy Kurt standing 
 by the table in the middle of the room, holding my 
 heavy sword in his small kancl. He had picked it up, 
 apparently ignorant of its weight, and knocked it heav- 
 ily upon my armor, which I had placed on a stool. 
 This aroused me. The boy stood motionless, his eyes
 
 THE BANQUET. Ill 
 
 wide open and staring at me, his face as pale as death. 
 At first I was confounded, but after a moment's effort 
 in collecting my senses, I asked him what he 
 wanted. There was no answer. Very reluctantly I 
 got out of bed and approached him, placing my hand 
 on his shoulder and speaking to him again. Still there 
 was no response. He remained standing, his eyes 
 fixed upon me. Finally, I grasped his disengaged 
 hand. As I did so, a sudden tremor convulsed his 
 body. The sword fell from his hand once more, crash- 
 ing against the armor. He then sank moaning to the 
 floor. A moment later he looked at me with a more 
 natural expression and asked where he was. Raising 
 him up, I told him that he was in my room. 'How 
 did I come here ?" he anxiously inquired. 
 
 " That is more than I can tell,' I answered, 'save 
 that thou earnest unbidden through the door, which I 
 left unlocked.' The boy meditated a moment, then 
 suddenly cried : 'I know, I have been walking in my 
 sleep again. Oh, sir ; good Sir Knight, please do not 
 tell them anything about it they will beat me most 
 unmercifully.' 
 
 '"Who will beat thee?' I asked. 
 
 " 'My father and my stepmother,' he replied. 
 
 "Ere he had pronounced those words, he uttered a 
 cry of despair. His stepmother stood in the door- 
 way, looking furiously at him. Possibly the noise had
 
 112 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 attracted her to my room ; but before approaching, she 
 had taken care to attire herself most becomingly. She 
 had evidently overheard my conversation with Kurt, 
 for she did not question him, but boldly advanced and 
 proceeded to lead the trembling boy from the room by 
 the ear. 
 
 "Regardless of my personal appearance, though shak- 
 ing with the cold, I was at his side in a moment. Bow- 
 ing to the lady in her white frills and blue ribbons, I 
 begged her to leave the lad with me, as I wanted to 
 read him a lecture, after which I would deliver him to 
 her. Smiling sweetly, she agreed to my proposition 
 and left the room. I bolted the door after her and 
 quickly got back under the bed clothes. It was some 
 time before my chattering teeth allowed me to speak, 
 but when I did, I told the boy to take a seat near 
 me. In great trepidation the poor fellow seated him- 
 self. I soon reassured him and bade him tell me his 
 history. I learned that he had led a miserable life for 
 some years past. His mother had died and his father 
 had married again, ever since which event they had 
 grievously maltreated him. 'I must have walked in 
 my sleep, Sir Knight,' said he, 'because I was dream- 
 ing of those exciting stories you told. I remember 
 nothing else about it. For a long time I have not 
 been thus guilty of wandering about at night, my 
 father and mother having beaten it out of me.'
 
 THE BANQUET. 113 
 
 "I greatly pitied the poor lad, and suddenly be- 
 thought of taking him into my service. 
 
 "When I proposed it to him, he was beside himself 
 with joy, but told me that he felt sure that his father 
 would not consent to it. I agreed with the lad; and 
 sooner than make more trouble considered whether 
 there were not some way by which I might secretly ab- 
 duct him. During the recital of his woes he had stated, 
 that, every morning, before any one had arisen, he rode 
 on old horse to market, returning after breakfast. I 
 instructed him to take the best horse in his father's 
 stable, and to wait for me a mile down the road, con- 
 cealed in the bushes, and keeping a good lookout. Day 
 was dawning as we concluded our arrangements. Soon 
 after, on looking out of my window, I had the satisfac- 
 tion of seeing him start, riding a fine young horse. 
 Feeling somewhat chilly, I went back to bed, 
 and naturally enough fell asleep again ; so it was 
 late when I met my hostess at breakfast. She seemed 
 a little embarrassed, but as nothing was said about our 
 night's adventures, made herself very agreeable to me ; 
 while her husband sat opposite with eyes closed and 
 his head resting on his hand. 
 
 "As the hour for Kurt's return had long since past, 
 she expressed her wonder at his long absence. In- 
 wardly I chuckled : 'What will ye say, ye evil people, 
 
 8
 
 114 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 when ye find that your son is gone, and with him the 
 best horse from the stable?' 
 
 "At last, bidding my host and hostess farewell, I sad- 
 dled my own steed and departed. Half an hour's ride 
 brought me to where the patient boy lay in hiding. 
 He joined me, mounted on a beautiful horse of the 
 best Hungarian breed. He had been anxiously wait- 
 ing for me for many hours. Luckily I had brought 
 with me plenty of provisions for the day. The hungry 
 lad, who had had no breakfast, satisfied himself to his 
 heart's content, and realizing that he was leaving his 
 tormentors farther and farther behind, made his horse 
 caper and prance along the road, in his exhilaration. 
 That valuable little steed, fair ladies and kind sirs, is 
 now my property, and ridden by Kurt, who is my de- 
 voted page. This ends my story, and I hope no one 
 will blame me for abducting both lad and horse, 
 though I fear my merry host and hostess thought it an 
 ill return for their hospitality." 
 
 Laughing comments greeted this story. Goblets 
 were refilled, and a veteran knight, a near neighbor 
 and staunch friend of the Falkenstein household, arose 
 to propose the health of "the Duke and Duchess, ex- 
 emplary in all things, beloved and honored by all their 
 friends and subjects ; may they live to rule this goodly 
 land for many years to come."
 
 THE BANQUET. 115 
 
 The Duke made his acknowledgments in words 
 which went to every heart ; while the Duchess, before 
 touching her cup with her lips, smiled benignly across 
 the table at Ursula and Conrad. 
 
 Duke Henry then requested an old minstrel with 
 flowing white hair and silvery beard, who sat near 
 him, to sing. This hale and hearty bard of four score 
 years had been Wolfram's teacher. Though the pupil 
 had long since outdone the master, his song was list- 
 ened to with sympathetic attention, and roundly ap- 
 plauded. 
 
 Once more, upon request, he sang in a trembling, 
 yet still rich bass voice; this time it was a favorite 
 air of the Princess, in which at the last stanza, Wol- 
 fram joined with his thrilling tenor. The latter left 
 his seat, goblet in hand, and approached his old pre- 
 ceptor. Touching cups with him, he said: "Thou 
 didst teach me that song, old friend, for which I bless 
 thee ; and, should I survive, when thou art gone to the 
 land of eternal song beyond, I shall sing it, 
 aye, to my dying day, in honor of her whom we both 
 admire and love so well." 
 
 This delicate compliment of Wolfram's did not es- 
 cape Ursula, nor did the guests fail to catch its mean- 
 ing ; so with one accord they arose, shouting : "Long 
 live the Princess and her worthy minstrels, the famous 
 master and twice famous pupil !"
 
 116 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 To put an end to further toasting Wolfram quickly 
 resumed his seat and began one of his merriest songs, 
 creating general hilarity and well-nigh bringing a very 
 corpulent knight to an untimely end by causing him 
 to choke with laughter. 
 
 This being happily averted, the banquet ended with 
 an ancient Teutonic song, led by the old minstrel, in 
 the chorus of which everyone joined. 
 
 After nightfall they all assembled on the terrace in 
 the rear of the palace, from which broad steps led 
 down to the garden walks. 
 
 The Duchess was there on her invalid couch, the 
 Duke, Ursula, Conrad and Wolfram standing near, 
 watching the dark moonlight shadows on the velvety 
 grass. 
 
 All were in sympathy with the beauty of the hour. 
 They felt drawn to each other, these lovers, young and 
 old. 
 
 Wolfram had sent for Kurt and then immediately 
 dismissed him from his mind. Suddenly, however, 
 the boy appeared before him. 
 
 "Ah, here thou art," said Wolfram. "I sent for thee 
 to ask why thou, in today's race, didst pull back thy 
 horse, and allow that pale-faced lad to snatch the 
 prize from thee? This is not at all like my gallant 
 page Kurt. I feel ashamed of him."
 
 THE BANQUET. 117 
 
 "I am sorry to have displeased you, Sir Knight," 
 answered the boy, "but I had a good reason for doing 
 what I did, which, by your leave, I would rather not 
 give." 
 
 "I wish to know it," replied the minstrel. "Thou 
 needst not be afraid of anyone here ; the Princess and 
 Knight Conrad are well disposed toward thee. Thou 
 surely wert not afraid of thy horse's behavior ! I know 
 thee better than that." 
 
 "No, Sir Knight," answered the boy, blushing crim- 
 son ; "th'ere is another reason." 
 
 "Then tell it," said his master. "I insist." 
 
 "If I must, I will," said Kurt, after a momentary 
 pause. "My friend who won the race is but a sickly 
 youth ; his father is dead ; his mother is very poor and 
 entirely dependent upon him. The Princess knows 
 her and has frequently helped her in her many mis- 
 fortunes. The race was for a money stake. He need- 
 ed it, while I did not" here the boy hesitated. 
 
 "How now!" exclaimed his master; "hast thou so 
 much money then?" 
 
 "No, my lord," replied Kurt, "but you are good to 
 me, and I have no mother to care for me, or to de- 
 pend on me for support." 
 
 "Thou didst a good action, my boy," said Wolfram ; 
 "but if thou wouldst get along in the world, have not 
 too soft a heart. I can, however, but approve of what
 
 118 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 thou hast done in this case," he added, patting the 
 boy's head ; "and now, go and take good care of thy 
 brave little horse and also mine." 
 
 Conrad detained Kurt and drew Wolfram aside. 
 After a few minutes' conversation with the minstrel, 
 he asked the boy if he would be willing to leave his 
 benefactor's employ and enter his service. "Thy mas- 
 ter tells me that he needs a full-grown and stronger 
 man, and is willing to let thee go." 
 
 The surprised lad regarded first his master and then 
 Conrad. He had already learned to look upon our 
 hero as the noblest and bravest knight in all Christen- 
 dom ; yet he felt greatly attached to the minstrel. 
 
 He did not answer the young knight's question, but 
 looking rather pleased than otherwise, stood scratch- 
 ing his head in rustic perplexity. Wolfram, noticing 
 his quandary, and at the same time his beaming face, 
 said : "I am sorry to lose thee, Kurt ; but as my good 
 friend here is in need of an attendant, I cannot wish 
 him a better one. Do thou by him as thou hast done 
 by me." Kurt made no reply. He merely kissed the 
 minstrel's hand and withdrew. 
 
 Ursula, who had been a silent and interested wit- 
 ness, now turned to Conrad, saying: "I am glad, Sir 
 Knight, for thy sake, that thou hast secured this lad. 
 I have a great regard for him, and am sure thou hast 
 gained in him a devoted follower."
 
 THE BANQUET. , 119 
 
 She took his arm and led him down the terrace 
 steps into the garden. Thence they continued their 
 way across the drawbridge down a romantic path, 
 which soon brought them to a leaping rivulet, across 
 which the trees cast their shadows in the pale moon- 
 light. 
 
 Conrad looked at the beautiful woman walking by 
 his side. He felt his heart strongly drawn toward 
 her ; yet strange to say, at that very moment Rosalie's 
 sweet image arose before him, and he fell into a 
 thoughtful silence. 
 
 Ursula, imagining that her own abstraction and 
 want of sympathy were the cause of her companion's 
 moodiness, made an effort to rouse her faculties to 
 entertain and please him. 
 
 Hugo's fleeting appearance, his few murmured 
 words, had made a deeper impression than all her 
 champion's gallant words and deeds. The thought 
 that, as the son of their greatest enemy, he would prob- 
 ably never again cross her path, sent a pang of regret 
 to her heart. She remembered, however, what she 
 owed to the young knight at her side. He had freed 
 her father from imprisonment. He had released her 
 from the persecutions of an unwelcome suitor. She ad- 
 mired his courage and noble character. Furthermore, 
 she felt a partiality for him which she was not able to 
 account for, even to herself. So long as Hugo's image
 
 120 . KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 remained in her thoughts, however, she could not give 
 her heart outright. Yet so deeply did she sympathize 
 with Conrad in his homeless, kinless condition, that 
 she felt inwardly disposed, if possible, to banish Hugo, 
 the intruder, from her heart. 
 
 Having arrived at this disposition, she at once pro- 
 ceeded to use her wonderful gifts in pleasing her com- 
 panion, to which no one could remain long indifferent. 
 
 They wandered on to the valley, under the listening 
 willows, whose fantastic shapes grew more weird in the 
 deepening shades of night. 
 
 She had gathered some forget-me-nots and now 
 handed them to Conrad, asking him to keep them in 
 remembrance of their walk. As she did this, she 
 looked into his face with sucji affectionate gratitude 
 and sympathy that he would fain have thrown himself 
 at her feet and declared his love. That danger past, 
 their conversation turned on his brother, brought up at 
 Falkenstein, who, as she admitted, had been her favor- 
 ite of all her father's squires. She then questioned 
 him as to his past life and adventures. 
 
 To these questions Conrad gave graphic and enthu- 
 siastic answers, bringing some of the exciting past 
 vividly before the eyes of his deeply interested listener. 
 By the time they had retraced their steps to the draw- 
 bridge, she had so far worked herself into his heart that 
 the misgivings of Rosalie came well-nigh being justi-
 
 THE BANQUET. 121 
 
 fied ; but again that night, as the image of that sweet 
 child presented itself to him, he felt that his whole heart 
 had not yet gone out to Ursula; nor did he imagine 
 that the love which the noble, tender-hearted Princess 
 had shown for him was other than the affection of a 
 sympathizing and grateful friend. Musing thus he fell 
 peacefully asleep.
 
 122 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 TRUE LOVE. 
 
 "The mountain rill 
 
 Seeks with no surer flow the far, bright sea, 
 Than my unchanged affections flow to thee." 
 
 Benjamin. 
 
 On the day following the great festival, many of the 
 guests separated for their respective destinations. 
 Toward evening Conrad and Ursula went for another 
 stroll, a repetition of the last, with this difference, that 
 this time they avoided all romantic topics. Later, 
 they repaired to the hall, where they found the Duke 
 and Duchess and Wolfram, who sang to their great 
 delight. Presently Ursula sang to her own accompani- 
 ment, with a melodious but not powerful voice, yet 
 with so much feeling and expression that Conrad was 
 deeply stirred. Several days of serene enjoyment 
 passed swiftly by, the week ending, as we have already 
 seen, with the coming of Saladin from Waldhorst 
 Castle. 
 
 On the morning following Saladin's arrival the gal- 
 lant young knight presented the noble steed to Ursula.
 
 TRUE LOVE. 123 
 
 At first she hesitated to accept so valuable a gift, but 
 finally consented to do so, at the earnest and repeated 
 solicitations of her persistent and devoted champion. 
 He rode, instead, the fiery charger which had served 
 him so well in the tournament. Together they can- 
 tered over hill and dale, enjoying every passing mo- 
 ment. 
 
 At times they would go on some mission of charity ; 
 at others, on a visit to a neighboring castle. Kurt al- 
 ways accompanied them, astride of his own good Hun- 
 garian, presented to him by his former master at their 
 parting. Nothing could exceed the happiness of the 
 boy in his new service. He adored the Princess as 
 though she were a saint; while Conrad, as we well 
 know, was his ideal of knighthood. Wherever 
 they stopped, whether at the poor man's hut, or 
 at the castle of the rich Baron, he was at their horses' 
 heads as they dismounted. A month thus passed, 
 while the Princess' admiration for her companion 
 daily increased. He would surely have satisfied her 
 highest ideal of manhood, had it not been for those 
 fleeting glances exchanged with that dark-eyed youth. 
 
 Conrad seemed under an unconscious spell while 
 in her presence, the image of Rosalie growing fainter 
 day by day. 
 
 It was during their rides that Conrad learned the 
 goodness and tenderness of Ursula's heart, and he
 
 124 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 loved her for those qualities as much as for her beauty 
 and accomplishments. At one time she might be seen 
 on Saladin, performing deeds of fearless horseman- 
 ship ; at another, soothing the sick and dying with her 
 tender ministrations. 
 
 Although nearly two months had passed without a 
 word of love having been spoken by Conrad, he had 
 become in the eyes of the little world around the ac- 
 cepted lover of the Princess Ursula. He had on oc- 
 casions declared himself her devoted knight, was ever 
 at her side, ready at all times to do her bidding; and 
 Ursula, as little as she was aware of it herself, could 
 not have borne his absence for a day. 
 
 While Cupid was sowing the seeds of love deeply 
 in their hearts, memory planted little tares. The 
 young, dark-eyed hunter could not be entirely for- 
 gotten on the one hand ; on the other, Rosalie would 
 ever and anon assert herself most unexpectedly. 
 
 Had fate decreed to separate these two young beings 
 it is reasonable to suppose that their remembrance of 
 the other two would have died away and been replaced 
 by their mutual longing for ea^h other ; now, however, 
 they were somehow a constant menace. 
 
 Thus the summer sped away almost imperceptibly, 
 the dying leaves telling of its departure in their noise- 
 less descent, seeking rest on the peaceful lap of Mother 
 Earth ; significant to Ursula's mind of some of the worn
 
 TRUE LOVE. 125 
 
 and weary souls which, in that autumnal season, would 
 shed their withered bodies and rise to find eternal rest 
 with God. 
 
 As the days gradually shortened, there were fre- 
 quent intervals of rain and storm. These, however, 
 did not dampen the spirits of the indefatigable Wol- 
 fram. He came the oftener from his neighboring cas- 
 tle, ^enlivening the evenings with story and song. His 
 friendship for Conrad grew stronger each day, al- 
 though he could not fail to notice the apparent un- 
 derstanding existing between the beautiful woman he 
 adored and the gallant youth whom he had taken to 
 his heart as a brother. 
 
 At last, one evening, Conrad was sitting with Ursula 
 in the recess of a window in one of the lower rooms of 
 the palace. A flood of brilliant moonlight with its 
 soft radiance illumined the expressive countenance of 
 the Princess. Each seemed to feel that a beautiful and 
 sublime moment of life was at hand, the memory of 
 which would last forever. They had become aware 
 that they were essential to each other's happiness, 
 though the tares still grew in their Garden of Eden. 
 Then Conrad, on bended knee, told his love with all the 
 fervency and pathos which he could command. Ur- 
 sula gently bade him rise, sit beside her, and listen. 
 
 Placing her soft, white hand in his, and raising her 
 beautiful appealing eyes to his face, she said: "My
 
 126 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 own true friend ! my noble, valiant and gallant knight ! 
 need I tell thee that I love thee? Thou knowest it! 
 and yet, to love thee as I ought, in order to guard 
 forever thy happiness and mine is a matter of great 
 moment. It involves everything in this world; aye, 
 that our heaven shall begin here, on earth, to last 
 throughout eternity. Do I love thee sufficiently for 
 this? I have my misgivings. How is it with thee? 
 Dost thou not feel as I do ? Thou need'st not answer 
 me. I have read thy heart even as thou hast read mine. 
 Let us then, for each other's sake, wait a season longer. 
 If in another year, or sooner, we find that we can be all 
 in all to each other, be it so. I shall hail the day as the 
 happiest of my life ; because I shall know from that mo- 
 ment that thou canst trust thy happiness to my keep- 
 ing." 
 
 Conrad, imprinting a tender kiss upon the hand he 
 held, replied: "My adored one, what shall I say? 
 Rather would I die at this very moment than run any 
 risk of causing thee unhappiness or even one mo- 
 ment's regret! Let us wait then, and hope, trusting 
 in each other, and in God." He arose, still holding her 
 hand, and pressed his lips ever so gently to her burn- 
 ing cheek. They thus arrived at an understanding full 
 of mutual trust. 
 
 After that evening nothing unusual occurred at the 
 Castle of Falkenstein. Conrad daily exercised with his
 
 TRUE LOVE. 127 
 
 sword. Later on, as the season for the chase came 
 near, he practiced at target shooting with the cross- 
 bow. 
 
 One evening toward the end of September, Duke 
 Henry announced his purpose of starting within a few 
 days on his annual hunting expedition to the Black 
 Forest, and desired Conrad to hold himself in readi- 
 ness to accompany him. In subsequent discussions 
 of the matter they learned to their delight that Ursula 
 had determined to ride with them as far as the Bene- 
 dictine Monastery. Her object which, as yet, she kept 
 secret from Conrad, was to visit Rosalie at the Con- 
 vent of St. Agnes, not only that she might see and 
 know her, but for the sake of her own future peace 
 of mind. 
 
 A few days thereafter, on a bracing September morn- 
 ing, amid the blowing of horns and barking of hounds, 
 the Duchess from her window waved a farewell to 
 Ursula, mounted on Saladin, and the ever-faithful 
 Conrad at her side. 
 
 "God bless them," murmured the Duchess, as her 
 heart swelled with pride on noting their handsome 
 bearing. The Duke waved his hand to his wife in sa- 
 lute, as soon after he also crossed the drawbridge, fol- 
 lowed by some twenty well-equipped attendants and 
 the dogs.
 
 128 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 Conrad looked into his companion's face. He 
 marked her color heightening in the bracing wind, as 
 it blew back from her forehead the luxuriant hair. 
 With her nostrils slightly dilated, her eyes turned 
 heavenward, he could but compare her to one of the 
 goddesses, who were supposed to come to earth for 
 the sole purpose of bewitching mankind. 
 
 When, after eight hours riding, the spires of the 
 convent appeared in the distance, Rosalie once again 
 for a moment claimed our young knight's wandering 
 thoughts. 
 
 She, poor child, had been immured for more than 
 four months in a state of utter ignorance as to the out- 
 side world, until a few weeks before this stage of our 
 story. Then, in spite of all the vigilance of the Ab- 
 bess, the news of Conrad's victory at the tournaments 
 and his prolonged stay at Falkenstein had somehow 
 reached her ears. 
 
 It was nearly dark when the travelers halted at a 
 newly erected inn, not far from the ferry by which, on 
 the following day, they would cross the river to the 
 hunting grounds. The landlord was placed on his 
 mettle in making such distinguished guests comfort- 
 able. Ursula, being fatigued from her long ride, re- 
 tired early. 
 
 Seated before a blazing fire of logs, the Duke and 
 Conrad listened to the innkeeper's voluble talk.
 
 Conrad looked into his companion's face.
 
 TRUE LOVE. 129 
 
 Among other things they learned that some three 
 months before, while the peasants and mechanics were 
 at work building his inn, ghosts were frequently seen 
 at the ruins of Grunau Castle ; but that, of late, they 
 seemed to have disappeared. Nevertheless the peas- 
 antry still remained in mortal terror of the place, none 
 of them daring to enter it after dark. 
 
 "I went there myself one night, however," he con- 
 tinued, "and satisfied myself that the ghosts are living 
 flesh and bones, and the jolliest of their kind. I in- 
 formed the workmen of my discovery, but they did 
 not believe me, so I left them to their superstition." 
 
 "What saw you there?" asked Conrad, becoming 
 much interested. 
 
 "With your leave, good sirs, I will tell you all that 
 happened," replied the man. "On my arrival here, 
 before I was comfortably quartered in this house, I 
 used to wander about late wondering at the strange 
 apparitions. One night I walked up the hill as far as 
 the garden in the rear of the monastery. On arriving 
 there, I entered the open gate. There were lights mov- 
 ing about, and there was revelry in the rear Buildings. 
 Before I could account for this strange revelation, a 
 back door suddenly opened. Over a score of figures 
 in flowing white robes, carrying lights, stole forth into 
 the night. I quickly hid myself behind a tree to watch 
 
 them. They crossed the garden, halted before a wall 
 9
 
 130 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 very near the spot where I stood, and opening a trap- 
 door, disappeared underground, one by one. I was 
 utterly nonplussed. While revolving the matter in 
 my mind, I stepped out upon the hillside, overlook- 
 ing the landscape shrouded with night. Glancing aim- 
 lessly around, I discovered the usual lights in the ruins 
 of Grunau. It instantly occurred to me that they were 
 the same that I had just seen at the monastery. I ran 
 down the hill, and climbed up a breach in the rear of 
 the ruined battlements. Looking down into the ban- 
 quet room, I saw the same figures in white engaged in 
 various freaks, flaunting their lights in all directions. 
 This was indeed a revelation; but I deemed it expe- 
 dient to get away unperceived, and to keep my own 
 counsel as to what I had seen and heard. The Abbot 
 is certainly a holy man, but, as you may know, likes 
 his fun at times. I thought it would do no harm, kind 
 sirs, to relate my discovery to you." 
 
 Conrad was much amused at his narrative. He in 
 turn related his own experiences in the banquet hall 
 some four months previous. The Duke, expressing 
 his astonishment at having slept through all those 
 ghostly performances, determined, at the first oppor- 
 tunity, to take the Abbot to task for that night's 
 doings. The ghost stories being ended, they retired 
 to their comfortable quarters.
 
 TRUE LOVE. . 131 
 
 Early next morning the Duke and Conrad went to 
 examine the ruins. As soon as they were out of sight 
 Ursula wended her way to the Convent of St. Agnes. 
 
 At the dilapidated castle our friends found on inves- 
 tigation that through the closets in the banquet hall 
 a rear platform giving access to the panels could be 
 reached. On the back of the portraits they discovered 
 skillfully designed slides and incisions, by which their 
 features might be moved aside and human faces in- 
 serted instead. By means of larger slides the entire 
 older picture of the master of Grunau might be 
 brought back to view. The suits of mail, fitted on the 
 wooden figures, could easily be removed and donned 
 by anyone wishing to assume the guise of a spectre 
 sentinel. As for the appearance of the Abbot's image, 
 it was only left to them to conjecture that the old pre- 
 late, being versed in occult sciences, as were most of 
 the priests of that day, had produced the spectral il- 
 lusion. The causes of the apparitions and the unearth- 
 ly noises on that memorable night being thus account- 
 ed for, it was very clear to Conrad's mind that a clever 
 practical joke had been played upon him, under the 
 leadership of the Abbot ; and he expressed his willing- 
 ness to aid his friend, the Duke, in chastising his holi- 
 ness for his share of the spectacle. 
 
 They forthwith proceeded to the monastery, where 
 they were joyfully greeted by the reverend father,
 
 132 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 whose nose was, if anything, redder than ever. The 
 Duke immediately began to banter him about the 
 spectral manifestations at the ruins, inquiring of his 
 reverence if he had ever made the acquaintance of the 
 disreputable characters who infested the dilapidated 
 building at night. "Don't speak of them, my lord," 
 answered the Abbot, who had noted a quizzical ex- 
 pression in his friend's face, "they have kept me awake 
 many a night; and should they trouble me again, I 
 shall find means for banishing them forever. It is as- 
 tonishing," he added, his eyes twinkling mischievously 
 as he laid his. finger beside his jolly nose, "how fond 
 they are of my wine-cellar, which, to say the least, 
 shows shockingly unbecoming taste in residents of the 
 spirit world ; but of late I have kept my cellar locked, 
 and shall keep its contents for such excellent friends 
 as thou, noble Duke and valiant Knight. But," he re- 
 sumed, more seriously, specially addressing himself to 
 Conrad, "if those ghosts have ever appeared to thee, 
 Sir Knight, and informed thee concerning the destruc- 
 tion of yonder castle and the abduction of a little girl, 
 they have told the truth. I myself saw it all. My 
 brother died in my arms, and I trust his murderer may 
 be punished for his crimes, although," he added, cross- 
 ing himself, "it is not for me to judge." "I heard that 
 story, holy father," answered Conrad, laughing, "on 
 the night when the Duke and I slept in the banquet
 
 TRUE LOVE. 133 
 
 hall, I was there made to swear vengeance against 
 Count Hans for that particular deed of his, which does 
 not concern me in the least. Those goblin freaks 
 were evidently intended to impress me more than they 
 did ; yet I must confess I thought I saw the veritable 
 ghost of the Baron von Grunau, although, when it 
 threatened me, I called it 'an old fossil/ Nevertheless 
 I took the oath ; not that it matters, for it is but one of 
 the many vows I have made to punish Hans von Wald- 
 horst." 
 
 "We shall be sure to meet him in the Black Forest," 
 interposed the Duke ; "but thou must promise me to 
 leave him first to my tender mercies. I would teach 
 him a lesson which he shall never forget. Should I 
 fail in doing it effectually, then, Conrad, thou shalt see 
 that the madman be rendered incapable of further mis- 
 chief." To this Conrad assented. 
 
 "May God and the Holy Virgin be with you both," 
 said the Abbot, "and preserve you from harm. I trust 
 to hear good accounts from you through your mes- 
 sengers to Falkenstein, who shall be welcome at the 
 inn at our expense." 
 
 The Duke promised to keep the Abbot well informed 
 as to their movements. In bidding him farewell, he 
 added in a tone of mock foreboding that he hoped 
 those spectres would leave him in peace hereafter.
 
 134 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 "My own ghost is buried for good," replied the Ab- 
 bot, laughing heartily; "it has fulfilled its mission. 
 Farewell ! I shall pray at vespers and early mass for 
 your safe return." 
 
 As they repaired to the inn Conrad observed Ursula 
 approaching from another direction. Meeting her at 
 the door, he learned that she had been to 
 the convent and had seen Rosalie. This child, since 
 her entrance into the convent, had studied faithfully in 
 the hope that the day Conrad would see her again, 
 she might be as accomplished as the Princess of Falk- 
 enstein. 
 
 The Abbess had given her special instruction in sing- 
 ing. She had developed a beautiful voice. Loving 
 music with all her heart, as it seemed to bring her 
 nearer to her hero, she astonished her teacher by her 
 wonderful progress in the art, as yet little known in 
 Germany, where it was taught exclusively by minstrels 
 and highly educated nuns. 
 
 In telling Conrad where she had been, Ursula 
 seemed much agitated. She requested that she might 
 speak to him alone. 
 
 Passing into a sunny room overlooking the river, 
 she sat down by him, and placing a soft, cold hand on 
 his, she thus spoke, rapidly : 
 
 "I went, as I have said, to the convent to see Rosalie, 
 thy preserver, and as thou hast called her to me, thy
 
 TRUE LOVE. 135 
 
 adopted sister," looking intently, meanwhile, in Con- 
 rad's face. He met her gaze unflinchingly. "On en- 
 tering the convent garden," she resumed, "I heard 
 some one singing, not far off. Requesting the nun 
 who had admitted me to await me at the main en- 
 trance, I went in the direction from which the exquis- 
 ite voice seemed to proceed. Moving cautiously, I 
 perceived a lovely girl leaning upon the casement of 
 the open window, apparently addressing the birds in 
 answer to their warblings as they flitted about in the 
 trees. 
 
 "As I approached near enough to see her face dis- 
 tinctly, she changed her exhilarating notes to those 
 of sad appeal to her feathered friends, which affected 
 me greatly. Again her rich voice struck a more joyous 
 strain, ending with inspiriting words to the little song- 
 sters, and some brilliant imitations of their notes. 
 
 "It was a lovely sight and one which I shall never 
 forget. I believe I remember the words of her song. 
 I will write them down for thee before we part !" 
 
 Ursula's voice trembled as she said this. With 
 some effort she continued : "I was afterward admitted 
 into the convent. The Abbess received me most af- 
 fectionately. She asked me several questions concern- 
 ing myself and thee, my devoted knight, which I an- 
 swered as best I could. I then told her that I had 
 come to see Lady Rosalie. This was against the rule ;
 
 136 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 but when I informed her that it was for the sake of 
 one most dear to me, as well as for my own happi- 
 ness, she consented, and went herself to bring her to 
 me." 
 
 "When left alone, my dear Conrad," she resumed 
 with suppressed emotion, "I looked out into the gar- 
 den. Seeing the autumn leaves upon the ground, I 
 had a foreboding, though from no accountable cause, 
 that I, too, should lie withered before another year had 
 passed." Tears gathered in her eyes as she spoke. 
 Conrad took her hand tenderly within his own. She 
 did not withdraw it. Recovering her voice, she con- 
 tinued: "The door opened and Rosalie stood before 
 me, the same apparition I had seen at the open win- 
 dow, whose song had so deeply affected me. I have 
 never seen anyone half so lovely. Her raven hair, 
 only partially hidden by the novice's cap, burst its 
 bounds in luxuriant masses all around her head and 
 such a face. I cannot describe it. Conrad von Rhein- 
 stein! thou hast seen that face, and knowing her as 
 thou dost, how canst thou help loving her?" 
 
 Ursula, though smiling the while, asked this ques- 
 tion with excitement. She attempted gently to with- 
 draw her hand, but he retained his hold. Bringing it 
 to his lips, he said, "I might have loved this child but 
 for thee, Ursula. Thy beauty, together with the no- 
 bleness of thy spirit have driven all else from my heart.
 
 TRUE LOVE. 137 
 
 I am this day, more than ever, thy devoted knight, to 
 live for, and if need be, die for thee." He was about 
 to fall on his knees before her, when she restrained 
 him. With a trembling voice she besought him to be 
 seated and listen to what else she had to relate. 
 
 "Rosalie gazed at me for some time without speak- 
 ing," she continued, "nor could I utter a single word. 
 At last she spoke in a voice that was music itself, ask- 
 ing me if I had not come with a message from thee. 
 At the same time she extended both hands to me with 
 a smile which found its way straight to my heart. I 
 caught her in my arms. I kissed her, assuring her that 
 I had come unknown to thee, wishing to see and learn 
 to love one of whom I had heard so much. 
 
 " 'He is near then ?' she said, quickly placing her 
 little hand on her heart; 'I feel it here. Tell me he is 
 well and happy!' 
 
 " 'I think he is,' I answered. 
 
 " 'Then tell him,' she replied, looking straight into 
 my eyes, 'that I am well and happy, too, and that I 
 love him with all my heart and soul !' 
 
 "I promised her I would tell thee," Ursula added, 
 in as firm a voice as she could command, and sud- 
 denly paused. Conrad regarded her with feelings 
 difficult to describe. Presently she went on : "For a 
 time this wonderful girl scanned me so intently with
 
 138 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 her dark eyes, I could hardly meet her gaze, then 
 asked, abruptly : 'Hast thou, noble Princess, anything 
 to do with his happiness ?' 
 
 "Scarcely knowing how to reply, I hesitated ; seeing 
 my embarrassment, she said : 'If so, I shall bless thee, 
 because thou art more beautiful and nobler' her very 
 words, Conrad 'than any other woman in the world. 
 Thou canst not fail to make him happy.' 
 
 "It was impossible to longer restrain myself; so 
 placing both arms around this sweet, lovely, innocent 
 creature, so faithful and loving, I found relief in tears. 
 
 "Controlling myself, I bade her sit by me. I then 
 told this child, who loves thee, Conrad, so well, that 
 thou and I were very dear to each other, but that un- 
 til we were both satisfied that we loved each other ex- 
 clusively, we would never become betrothed. Did I 
 do right?" she asked, suddenly turning to him her 
 beautiful pale face. 
 
 "Yes," replied Conrad, pressing her hand to his 
 wildly beating heart, "but as I have told thee thou art 
 all the world to me, it now only needs thy decision 
 to seal our fate !" 
 
 She was silent for some time, looking at him with 
 conflicting emotions. "Conrad," she faltered, "since 
 this girl loves thee so fondly, ought I to try not to love 
 thee so much?" As she said this she blushed deeply 
 in spite of herself.
 
 TRUE LOVE. 139 
 
 Conrad gazed at her in mute astonishment. He had 
 listened to another woman's praise from the lips of her 
 whose every word was to him an oracle. She had 
 never appeared to him half so attractive as at that 
 moment. In pleading for another, she had spoken for 
 herself, unawares, better than she could have done 
 in any other way ; for she had revealed the inmost re- 
 cesses of her own heart. 
 
 Realizing this, she blushed, betraying for the first 
 time, in his presence, the deepest confusion. And Con- 
 rad ? He sank down at her feet. The next moment he 
 held her in his arms, kissing her again and again. She 
 submitted for a while ; then, gently extricating herself, 
 she said, roguishly, "I shall be more careful what I tell 
 thee in the future, my bold, my beloved knight, if the. 
 consequences be such as these ; though," with a loving, 
 lingering look at him, "1 shall never, never regret this 
 happy moment." She then quickly left the room. 
 
 The knight sat for some time in deep thought. The 
 certain knowledge of Ursula's passionate love thrilled 
 him intensely; and he well knew that he returned it 
 with all the ardor that this beautiful woman could 
 ask. As he mused on this subject Ursula re-entered, ar- 
 rayed in a riding habit, ready to return to her father's 
 castle. She held in her hand a parchment, which she 
 informed Conrad was Rosalie's song to the birds, tran- 
 scribed from memory. "This little paper," she added,
 
 140 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 "fills me with sadness, for I realize my happiness and 
 her sorrow, unless indeed she learns to forget, 
 or should be content, as she so sweetly told 
 me, to know thee happy with another. And now, fare- 
 well. Let us never forget this day, whatever may hap- 
 pen hereafter. It has brought us very near to each 
 other, and allowed me, at least, a glimpse of that 
 heaven on earth which is the gift of only true love." 
 
 For answer Conrad clasped her in his arms in one 
 long, last embrace. 
 
 Presently she freed herself, and with her face glow- 
 ing through happy tears, turned to go to Saladin. Con- 
 rad followed. Lifting her into the saddle, he said, 
 "God bless thee, darling, for all thy goodness to me. 
 From this time forth I shall live only for thee." 
 
 "Never could I be happy without thee, my gallant 
 Conrad," answered the Princess, "we shall continue to 
 live for each other. Think of me during our separa- 
 tion as fondly and as often as I shall think of thee." 
 
 Waving a final farewell, she galloped away, followed 
 by a small escort of the Duke's attendants. On reach- 
 ing home Ursula fell on her mother's breast and told 
 of her new-found happiness. 
 
 The Duchess caressed her daughter, at the same 
 time showing intense pleasure in her own happy eyes. 
 She told her that now the dearest wish of her heart 
 had been realized ; that she looked forward to her re-
 
 TRUE LOVE. 141 
 
 maining days on earth with a pleasure such as she 
 had thought herself no longer capable of feeling. Her 
 health soon visibly improved, and she astonished Ber- 
 nard von Wolfram, who came as usual in the evening 
 to play and sing, by rising to greet him. 
 
 But Ursula? How she missed Conrad as the days 
 went slowly by ; particularly in her daily rides. These 
 were now almost entirely for sweet charity's sake; 
 but in the huts of the poor she was constantly 
 reminded of him. To Saladin she told all her heart 
 secrets. She prayed for her knight's safety, and 
 counted the days and hours which must intervene ere 
 he returned. Sometimes thoughts of Rosalie would 
 flit through her mind. She remembered that her eyes 
 resembled those of her brother, the forester, but the 
 deep impression the forester himself had made, had en- 
 tirely faded from her thoughts. She frequently found 
 herself contrasting Rosalie's love for Conrad with her 
 own, but she battled with these moods and strove to 
 be happy, after a fashion, in the absence of her lover. 
 
 Left to himself at the inn, the young knight ruminat- 
 ed over the joys which the future had in store for him, 
 with much gratitude toward God, who had given to 
 him, so unworthy of it, the love of so glorious a 
 woman. Perceiving the parchment Ursula had 
 brought him lying on a chair, he opened it and read 
 the contents:
 
 142 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 ROSALIE'S SONG. 
 
 Oh, happy birds, though leaves are falling, 
 
 Ye sing the live-long morn; 
 While, yesterdays of love recalling, 
 
 I sit, a maid forlorn. 
 
 Ye know full well that on the morrow 
 
 Each one will find its mate; 
 While, desolate, I pine in sorrow, 
 
 And bear my cruel fate. 
 
 Upheld by his fond declaration: 
 
 "If death come not to me 
 Ere ends our time of separation, 
 
 I will return to thee!" 
 
 Then you and I will sing together, 
 
 Oh, birds so blithe and free; 
 We'll sing through fair or cloudy weather, 
 
 "Te-whit! te-whit! te-whee!" 
 
 Conrad pressed the parchment tenderly to his lips, 
 not, alas, for Rosalie, though it contained the record 
 of her loving heart; but because of the dear hand 
 which had transcribed the simple and touching song.
 
 IN THE BLACK FOREST. 143 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 IN THE BLACK FOREST. 
 
 "Wilt them hunt? 
 
 Thy hounds shall make the welkin answer them, 
 And fetch shrill echoes from the hollow earth." 
 
 Shaks. 
 
 A two days' ride brought the Duke and Conrad, 
 with their attendants, to the Black Forest. At its 
 entrance they obtained from a colony of charcoal burn- 
 ers a guide who was greeted by the Duke as his name- 
 sake, Henry. 
 
 This guide and hunter, a middle-aged, well-made, 
 weather-beaten fellow, knew all the intricacies of the 
 immense forest, 'through which he and his fellow 
 guides hunted at pleasure. He, at the same time, 
 served as general overseer for the powerful nobles and 
 barons, who were joint owners of that wild region. 
 
 Henry, the most desirable guide of all, was, with 
 the one exception of Hugo of Waldhorst, the 
 best marksman among the hunters who fre- 
 quented the forest. For a week past he had 
 been expecting the Duke, as usual, this season. Mean-
 
 144 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 while, he had learned that Count Hans had already 
 begun the chase, and that he had been seen at different 
 points of the forest in full pursuit of an immense stag, 
 the largest that had appeared therein in the recollec- 
 tion of the oldest hunters, and which, for two years 
 past, had eluded all pursuers. 
 
 The Duke, who had himself assisted in Count Hans' 
 former attempt to capture this noble quarry, had 
 named it the "King of the Black Forest." 
 
 The wild Count, since the shameful treatment he 
 had given his former friend, had been heard to declare, 
 with a volley of terrible oaths, that this season he 
 would, alone, ride down the stag, if it cost him every 
 horse in the stable. 
 
 Henry knew the locality where both the stag and its 
 pursuer had been last seen, and agreed to guide the 
 Duke's party in that direction, where they would most 
 probably come across their double game. 
 
 In the early morning they set forth with great eager- 
 ness to hunt the wild huntsman ; yet intending to make 
 the most of their time in the pursuit of other game. 
 The forest proved so dense that, until they reached * 
 the wide runways of the deer, it was, at times, most 
 difficult to penetrate on horseback. Once upon the 
 track of game, the chase began in earnest. No one 
 who had not experienced it can imagine the exhilara- 
 tion of such sport ; nor appreciate the deliciousness of
 
 IN THE BLACK FOREST. 145 
 
 the subsequent repast and the weary hunter's sleep. 
 
 On the second day out, they rode down two fine 
 stags, one of which they sent to Falkenstein with 
 news of their welfare. At the end of the third day, they 
 went into camp on a hillside, which protected them 
 from the already chilling autumn winds. Roaring 
 fires were lighted, and presently the smell of broiling 
 venison greeted their grateful nostrils. As they joined 
 in the repast, sitting near the cheerful flames, the Duke 
 and Henry, the guide, very naturally fell to recounting 
 some wonderful hunting stories, luckily new to Con- 
 rad. 
 
 They slept that night on a bed of forest leaves as 
 only hunters can sleep. On the morning following 
 the weather looked threatening. While still at break- 
 fast a thunder-storm broke loose. The guide went 
 outside to take a survey of the sky, when suddenly he 
 assumed a listening attitude, the Duke and Conrad 
 watching him with great interest. "I hear the distant 
 cry of hounds !" he cried. "It is more than likely that 
 we have come upon the mad Count somewhat sooner 
 than we expected. I'll wager he is in pursuit of the 
 King of the Forest. The fleeing stag will take one of 
 the two runways on either side of us. We shall soon 
 know. Listen !" 
 
 "We must capture this game from Count Hans, if 
 
 it be he," said the Duke "today, if possible. Never 
 10
 
 146 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 mind wind or weather," added he, as the guide pointed 
 doubtfully at the angry looking clouds. 
 
 "Then I advise that you make ready, my lord. You 
 will not need your horses ; we must proceed on foot, 
 and at once !" 
 
 All now heard the cry of the hounds, and as it came 
 nearer, the guide said: "They have entered the run- 
 way on our left ! Follow me, noble sirs !" 
 
 Leaving the dogs and attendants behind, they ran 
 down the thickly wooded hill, crossbows and hunting 
 blades in hand. Their path lay through dense under- 
 brush and over huge fallen tree trunks. In their ex- 
 citement they went rapidly over every obstacle, and 
 soon came to an open space, where they halted. "He 
 will be certain to cross this clearing," said the guide ; 
 "it is a part of the deer's runway. He may appear at 
 any moment ! Are you ready ?" 
 
 Conrad, his heart wildly thumping with expectation, 
 set his crossbow. He well knew that they were about 
 to do an act contrary to all the laws of the forest, and 
 one that would be sure to excite to the utmost the ire 
 of Count Hans; furthermore, he felt the time for his 
 revenge had come. 
 
 Again arose the cry of the pursuing hounds ; then for 
 a moment all was still. Suddenly, on their right, there 
 was a cracking of boughs and crashing of under- 
 growth. Conrad brought his crossbow to shoulder
 
 IN THE BLACK FOREST. 147 
 
 just as an immense stag, carrying a kingly crown of 
 antlers, burst with one tremendous bound into the 
 open space. He let fly the bolt too quickly 
 in his excitement, and it missed a vital part, 
 hitting the neck instead. The wounded animal leaped 
 high in air, causing the Duke to miss his aim, and 
 continued on its mad flight, bearing away Conrad's 
 bolt. 
 
 But Henry, the guide, having waited for the results 
 of both shots, now took quick aim. His deadly shaft 
 went through the heart of the monarch of the forest, 
 just as he was about to disappear in the opposite 
 thicket. 
 
 One more high leap and his conquered majesty 
 rolled over in the underbrush. Henry was instantly 
 at his side, and having bled him in true forester's 
 style, dragged the body into the clearing. At that 
 moment the hounds appeared on the scene, and be- 
 gan tearing the still quivering flesh. 
 
 The hunters gathered exultingly around their mag- 
 nificent game, but were again startled by a loud crash- 
 ing behind them. Without further warning, spear in 
 hand, Count Hans, his head bare, his hair disheveled 
 and saturated with rain, dashed upon them on his 
 foaming steed, looking, indeed, like the fabled Wild 
 Huntsman. Reining in his horse, his fiery eyes quick- 
 ly took in the situation.
 
 148 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 "Who has done this ?" he roared. "Who has dared 
 to violate my rights and cross my path in this damna- 
 ble manner?" 
 
 "I am the man," replied Duke Henry, "and I claim 
 the quarry." 
 
 "Curse thee, then," shouted Count Hans, his face 
 livid with rage. "Dost thou mean to steal the prize 
 which I have followed for many a day, and which, 
 having been startled by my dogs, by the laws of this 
 forest belongs to me? Dismounting as he made this 
 demand, he threw down his spear, and with his short 
 hunting sword, threateningly faced the Duke. Duke 
 Henry calmly replied : 
 
 "Precisely so. I know the laws of the forest as well 
 as thou ; but if thou wouldst take this stag away, thou 
 must fight for it." 
 
 "Come on then, thou cursed thief," cried Count 
 Hans, exasperated to madness by the coolness of 
 his adversary. "I will teach thee better manners." 
 His heavy hunting blade was already raised; but 
 it descended harmlessly on the still shorter weapon of 
 the Duke, who parried the stroke with consum- 
 mate skill. The infuriated Count dealt blow after blow 
 in quick succession. He was taller and more power- 
 fully built than the Duke ; but the latter, besides being 
 the cooler of the two, was by far the better swordsman.
 
 IN THE BLACK FOREST. 149 
 
 Conrad held his own weapon in readiness, watch- 
 ing what he deemed a most unequal combat by reason 
 of their disparity in size ; and prepared to spring to the 
 aid of his friend on the slightest show either of danger 
 to him, or of unfair dealing on the part of his adver- 
 sary. Henry, the guide, stood some distance off, on 
 the alert, crossbow in hand. 
 
 Soon Count Hans gave his calmer opponent an ad- 
 vantage, receiving a wound in his right side, which 
 so enraged him that, ignoring all fighting rules, he 
 fairly threw himself upon his smaller foe. The Duke 
 was compelled to retreat while parrying these furious 
 blows, yet he managed to wound his man a second 
 time. 
 
 Immediately thereafter, however, in stepping back- 
 ward he missed his footing and fell to the ground. In 
 an instant the Count was astride his prostrate body, 
 and aimed a deadly blow at his head ; but at the mo- 
 ment another sword parried the blow, which spent it- 
 self harmlessly on the sod beneath. 
 
 Conrad now stood face to face with the man whom 
 he had sworn to kill. The guide lowered his weapon, 
 which he had raised, charged with a bolt intended for 
 the Count. 
 
 "Oh, indeed ! thou too, thou cursed hireling!" hissed 
 the infuriated man through his set teeth; "we shall 
 see who further dares to balk me on this day."
 
 150 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 Conrad, fresh and more expert with the sword than 
 either of the two combatants, and nearly as tall as his 
 adversary, made .play with him for a time. Then sud- 
 denly catching him off his guard, by a dexterous move- 
 ment, he twisted the weapon out of his hand, tossing 
 it beyond his reach. 
 
 Hans von Waldhorst, thus disarmed, stood before 
 Conrad* von Rheinstein, at his mercy. The conquered 
 man's face at that moment was a study. He certainly 
 expected his antagonist to run him through; but the 
 latter hesitated, while strange visions seemed to float 
 before his mind's eye. "Why dost thou hesitate, man, 
 to put an end to my existence?" hoarsely muttered 
 the Count. "Have I not done enough to deserve thy 
 hate and merit death at thy hands ?" As he said this, 
 his face grew pale, yet he retained his defiant bearing. 
 
 "Thou hast, indeed, done all thou sayest," replied 
 Conrad, "but I cannot strike the blow. Thou art the 
 father of Rosalie, who saved my life. I spare thee 
 for her sake. Go, and repent thy ways !" He lowered 
 his hand and turned away. 
 
 Thus did our knight keep his oath of vengeance 
 when the opportunity which he had been seeking pre- 
 sented itself. Count Hans made no reply, but a grad- 
 ual change came over his hardened face. He grew 
 deathly pale, staggered a few steps backward, and 
 would have fallen, had not the Duke, who had regained
 
 IN THE BLACK FOREST. 151 
 
 his feet, sprung to his side and caught him in his 
 arms. He laid his enemy gently in the wet grass. He 
 examined his wounds, from which the blood was flow- 
 ing freely. He bandaged the injured side and arm as 
 well as he could with pieces of linen torn from his own 
 clothing ; then, with a blast from his bugle, summoned 
 his attendants. Conrad, too, came to his assistance. 
 Together they bent over their fallen enemy, who for 
 the time, seemed to have lost consciousness. Gradually 
 the stricken man opened his eyes and gazed at them 
 steadily for some moments. As he again closed them, 
 the friends noticed that large tears had gathered on his 
 lashes, and brimming over, ran down his palid cheeks. 
 
 "The mad spell is broken, and I trust effectually," 
 whispered the Duke to Conrad. "I cannot help feel- 
 ing pity for him now." 
 
 "Nor can I," softly answered Conrad. "How 
 strange that it should have come to this, after all that 
 has happened !" 
 
 "Not so strange, either, at least for thee and me," 
 feelingly replied the Duke, "who know and love Ur- 
 sula so well." 
 
 "Aye, irrvery truth," answered Conrad, "she is an 
 angel, whose influence, even at a time like this, has its 
 hold on our hearts." 
 
 The wounded man, who very possibly had heard
 
 152 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 some of this conversation, again opened his eyes, and 
 in a tremulous voice asked : 
 
 "Have ye, indeed, pity for so miserable a creature 
 as I?" 
 
 "We can both pity," replied the Duke, "and also 
 forgive all the past, if thou wilt but come to thy senses 
 and lead a different life." 
 
 The poor Count remained silent, looking with be- 
 dimmed eyes, first at Duke Henry, and then at Conrad, 
 who was brushing back the dripping hair from his fore- 
 head. 
 
 At last the wounded man spoke in a most pitiful, 
 heart-broken voice, "If ye are inclined in your hearts 
 to forgive me, I have a last boon to ask, should I die 
 here." 
 
 "What is it ?" inquired the Duke, with interest. 
 
 "It is that ye will see my body carried to my castle 
 for burial ; or, should I live to get there, that ye will 
 send for my son and Volga, that I may see them 
 once more before I am summoned away from this 
 world." He ceased. 
 
 "My men will presently be here," replied the Duke. 
 "With them I will accompany thee, and send messen- 
 gers after thy son and thy adopted daughter. We shall 
 start for Waldhorst within an hour." 
 
 "Henry, my old comrade," sobbed the Count, break- 
 ing down completely, "this is indeed too much ! May
 
 IN THE BLACK FOREST. 153 
 
 God forgive me my sins!" This was the first time 
 since the death of his wife, that Count Hans had used 
 the name of God, save to take it in vain. 
 
 The Duke's attendants now arrived on the scene 
 with horses, dogs, tents and other belongings. They 
 washed and redressed the Count's wounds, then gave 
 him a warming draught. Lifting him upon an im- 
 provised stretcher fastened across the backs of two 
 horses, they marched onward, taking the nearest route 
 to Waldhorst. 
 
 Henry, the guide, was sent to apprise Hugo and 
 Volga of their coming, who were hunting not far from 
 home.
 
 154 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE WITCH'S FATAL HAND. 
 
 "How stands the great account 'twixt me and vengeance? 
 Tho* much is paid, yet still it owes me much; 
 And I will not abate a single groan." 
 
 Young's Revenge. 
 
 On the evening of the day after that on which the 
 scenes described in the foregoing chapter took place, 
 a cavalcade of huntsmen appeared on the brow of a 
 hill overlooking Waldhorst Castle, whose towers were 
 illumined by the setting sun- 
 Borne on a stretcher lay the lord of that castle, 
 whom the hand of fate had at last laid low in the 
 midst of his mad career. He was unable even to raise 
 his head. The Duke of Falkenstein and Knight Con- 
 rad rode beside him, eager to attend to his slightest 
 behest. Count Hans stretched out his hand feebly to 
 the Duke, saying: "I feel as if the devil within me 
 were dead at last, and the spirit of my departed wife, 
 looking down from heaven, were sharing my repent- 
 ance. I must have been a madman indeed to have
 
 THE WITCH'S FATAL HAND. 155 
 
 erred as I have done ; and now my sins have found me 
 out, and I am dying when I fain would live to make 
 amends for my past trangressions." 
 
 "No, not dying," interposed the Duke ; "let us hope 
 for a better outcome of thy injuries." 
 
 That night Conrad slept under the roof beneath 
 which he had first seen Rosalie. Visions of her 
 haunted his dreams all night, but naturally, alter- 
 nating with the beautiful beloved image of Ursula. 
 
 Count Hans grew worse as the hours went on. It 
 seemed to the Duke, watching at his bedside, that the 
 end was drawing near. At the dawn of day an old 
 retainer, the only leech of the castle, administered 
 some new medicine. Almost immediately the pa- 
 tient rallied, and from that time forth continued to 
 improve. Henry, the guide, now arrived with Hugo 
 and Volga. We can imagine the young forester's joy 
 at finding Duke Henry and Knight Conrad guests of 
 his wounded father ; and in noting the complete change 
 which had come over that violent nature. The Count 
 continued to improve. When all danger seemed past 
 Conrad accompanied Hugo and Volga on short hunt- 
 ing expeditions in the woods of Waldhorst. Each 
 day he grew fonder of the boy and more interested in 
 the girl. The child of the woods had ridden through 
 those wild regions since her earliest youth. She 
 had just reached her seventeenth year, and was
 
 156 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 passionately devoted to her adopted brother. Only 
 once did Hugo mention Ursula's name to Conrad. He 
 then asked abruptly if it were true that they would 
 marry. Conrad replied that as yet no day had been 
 fixed for their nuptials, and, in the uncertainties of life, 
 there was no telling when it would be. It seemed pre- 
 posterous, he added, that any such ordinary mortal as 
 himself should anticipate a union with so beautiful and 
 glorious a woman. He was quite sincere in this modest 
 speech, and he had some vague presentiment that fate 
 might yet prevent his marriage with the Princess. 
 
 "She is, indeed, a glorious woman !" exclaimed 
 Hugo, looking straight into Conrad's face in a man- 
 ner which reminded him of Rosalie. "I have never 
 forgotten her since the first and only time I ever saw 
 her, when she gave me this little image of herself, 
 which I wear next to my heart. I have loved her ever 
 since with a hopeless, though none the less deep-seated 
 passion. I know not why I should tell thee this; 
 something impels me to do so. I feel that I can trust 
 thee with a secret which I am no longer able to shut 
 within my heart." 
 
 Conrad looked at the handsome youth at his side 
 in silence, and thought of the deep blush which had 
 mantled Ursula's cheek when he had stood before her 
 at the tournament. Reaching out his hand to him, he
 
 THE WITCH'S FATAL HAND. 157 
 
 said : "We are both admirers of this beautiful woman ; 
 let us be friends as well." 
 
 The youth took the proffered hand in silence. Hav- 
 ing thus pledged their friendship, they rode on side 
 by side. 
 
 Volga soon caught up with them, followed by an 
 attendant carrying a splendid roebuck which the 
 young girl had shot at long range while following its 
 trail alone. The young men complimented her on her 
 achievement, and for bringing home so splendid a 
 roast for the table. 
 
 In the evenings Conrad would sit at the Count's 
 bedside listening to the stories which he and the Duke 
 would recount of their younger day, "before," as 
 Hans von Waldhorst put it, "he had sold his soul to 
 the devil." Of the darker experiences of later years 
 he never spoke, save once, when the attack on Castle 
 Grunau was alluded to. According to his story, it 
 was the outcome of a personal quarrel between the 
 Baron and himself; and as the former had every 
 chance of defending himself, and he himself had lost a 
 great many men in assaulting the formidable strong- 
 hold, it seemed to be a mere chance of war that he 
 should have come off victor. The little girl, who was 
 one of the few creatures found alive when he finally en^ 
 tered the castle, he had adopted, naming her Volga. 
 Together with his wife, he, for some years at least, had
 
 158 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN 
 
 brought her up with a fair amount of care. Later on, 
 she had been allowed to accompany Hugo, roaming 
 at will through the hunting grounds. She had thus 
 become an excellent shot and fearless rider. 
 
 When Count Hans learned that his daughter, Rosa- 
 lie, was being educated at the Convent of St. Agnes, 
 he expressed not only great satisfaction, but the hope 
 that she might be permitted to return home at the 
 end of her trial year. The Duke and Conrad consid- 
 ered the request a reasonable one, inasmuch as so com- 
 plete a change had taken place in her father's heart. 
 
 Our hero promised to call for her at the convent and 
 bring her to Waldhorst in the spring. 
 
 At the end of two weeks, Count Hans, whose 
 wounds were fast healing, grew so much better that 
 he was able to sit up. Duke Henry and Knight Con- 
 rad decided to return to Falkenstein within the next 
 three days ; the former sent a messenger forthwith to 
 his daughter, informing her of their intended depar- 
 ture from Waldhorst, and of the great change which 
 had taken place in the Count. 
 
 Conrad became wild with joy in the anticipation of 
 soon clasping Ursula to his heart. 
 
 It was a touching sight to mark the old Count, now 
 convalescent, and utterly repentant, as he endeavored 
 to please his guests. The latent good in his nature, 
 which for so many years had been dormant, now be-
 
 THE WITCH'S FATAL HAND. 159 
 
 gan to crop out little by little. He begged his friends 
 to delay their departure, and exacted a promise from 
 them to repeat their visit in the following year. Hugo 
 and Volga also manifestly regretted the proposed de- 
 parture of our young knight. Suddenly, on the eve 
 of that very day, an unexpected and alarming change 
 took place in the Count's condition. His wounds had 
 healed, apparently; but in the night, after his usual 
 medicine had been administered, he was seized with 
 severe chills, which completely prostrated him. In 
 the morning symptoms for the worse were so plainly 
 visible in his face that his friends postponed their de- 
 parture, and as a relapse became certain, the Duke 
 sent a second messenger to Falkenstein announcing 
 the fact. 
 
 When all remedies failed to give the Count relief 
 it was decided, as a last resort, to consult the old witch 
 of Waldhorst, the efficacy of whose herbs and potions 
 were well known. Conrad was sent to interview her. 
 As he entered the hut, he was appalled at the change 
 which had come over its inmate. Coughing incessant- 
 ly, and fearfully emaciated, she stood before him. Her 
 eyes, more deeply sunken than ever, seemed literally 
 to burn in their sockets. 
 
 Fully aware of all that was going on at the castle,
 
 160 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 she refused to provide any of her remedies for Count 
 Hans, saying, it would be useless, as his hour was at 
 hand. 
 
 "In five days' time," she added, "on the anniversary 
 of my son's death, Count Hans will die in agony, and 
 I shall be there to see him suffer." 
 
 Conrad was horrified. Disheartened and oppressed 
 with evil forebodings which he could not put away 
 from him, he returned to the sick chamber. The un- 
 certainty of his return to Ursula only added to the 
 disquietude of his heart. He found the Duke with 
 the patient, who had just expressed the wish to see 
 his daughter Rosalie once more before he died, that 
 he might ask her forgiveness. 
 
 Conrad offered to bring her to him without delay, 
 and forthwith departed. Hugo accompanied him to a 
 secret ford in the river known, besides to himself, only 
 to his father, sister and some of his most trusted men. 
 This route shortened the distance to the Benedictine 
 Monastery by at least two leagues. Guiding their 
 horses successfully across they separated on the oppo- 
 site bank, Hugo returning to Waldhorst. Conrad 
 pursued his way alone, through the night, and arrived 
 at the monastery* at sunrise. There he soon roused 
 the Abbot. The holy man was astounded at his 
 report of the Count's changed mental condition and 
 his heart somewhat softened toward "that repent-
 
 THE WITCH'S FATAL HAND. 161 
 
 ant old sinner," as he called him. He went imme- 
 diately to the convent and succeeded, not without 
 trouble, however, in arranging for Rosalie's visit to 
 the bedside of her dying father. An hour later, the 
 young girl, closely veiled, mounted on a well-capar- 
 isoned mule, passed out of the convent gate, accom- 
 panied by two nuns. 
 
 Conrad, with two mounted monks, awaited this 
 novel procession at the inn. As the young girl passed 
 him, he thought he perceived a slight movement of her 
 hand as though in greeting. It was entirely involun- 
 tary on her part, her heart having almost leaped into 
 her throat at the sight of him ; but as it brought a re- 
 sponse, the girl's happiness was complete. No one 
 else noticed what would have been deemed a mutual 
 greeting. 
 
 Though on so mournful a mission, great was Rosa- 
 lie's joy in knowing that Conrad was near. When 
 the monks requested him to take the lead that he might 
 point out the way, she could hardly contain herself. 
 
 There, just before her, in his green hunting suit, 
 looking handsomer than ever, and mounted on a beau- 
 tiful steed, sat the man whom she loved with all her 
 heart. She continued feasting her eyes on him. 
 
 It was dark when they reached the secret ford. Con- 
 rad was on the point of attempting to cross it ahead of 
 
 Rosalie, when she called out to him not to try doing 
 11
 
 162 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 so at so late an hour. These were the only words she 
 had addressed to the young knight on their way ; and 
 he, in answer to the sweet, familiar voice, looking at 
 the veiled figure in silence gave up the attempt. Pur- 
 suing the longer way, he arrived with his party two 
 hours later at Waldhorst. 
 
 Rosalie went immediately to her father's bedside, 
 remaining with him all night. She kept him during that 
 time from again relapsing into delirium. When she 
 joined the nuns at daylight, she told them, with tears 
 in her eyes, that her father had just fallen into a deep 
 sleep encircled by her arms. 
 
 Conrad lay awake all night with an unaccountable 
 anxiety and an intense longing for Ursula. Early 
 next morning he accompanied Rosalie and her monas- 
 tic cortege from Waldhorst Castle as far as the secret 
 ford. That was more happiness for the girl, though 
 of short duration, and none the less enjoyable for com- 
 ing after a night of sorrow. 
 
 Not a word was spoken between them ; but in spite 
 of rules and watchful eyes fixed upon her, Rosalie 
 brought her hand close to her veiled lips at parting 
 and waved it to Conrad. The gallant young knight, 
 in spite of his anxious heart, kissed his to her in re- 
 turn. 
 
 Feeling assured that they had been seen, and being 
 repentant for that reason alone for having transgressed
 
 He accompanied Rosalie and her monastic cortege.
 
 THE WITCH'S FATAL HAND. 163 
 
 the rules, she begged the nuns to promise that they 
 would say nothing to the Abbess about the parting 
 salute. This they did, and moreover, kept their word. 
 
 That morning the Count seemed more quiet; and 
 later in the day conversed with his friends, expressing 
 his approval and pleasure at hearing the Duke's propo- 
 sition to adopt Rosalie as his daughter, on her leaving 
 the convent. Toward evening, however, reaction set 
 in, and as the night advanced the patient grew so 
 much worse than the combined strength of Conrad 
 and Henry, the guide, was necessary to hold him in 
 bed. 
 
 On the day following, the fifth since the relapse oc- 
 curred, the Count expressed himself as conscious that 
 the end was drawing near. Until the evening he was 
 perfectly calm, speaking gratefully to, and blessing 
 his friends for their goodness to him. Soon after tak- 
 ing his last draught of medicine he showed signs of 
 suffering acutely. As there was no delirium, the Duke 
 announced his intention of remaining all night with 
 the dying man, promising to call Conrad or the guide 
 in case of need. His suffering grew more intense as 
 the hours dragged by. Close upon midnight his agony 
 seemed to have reached a climax. Suddenly his eyes, 
 wild with horror, became fixed on some object before 
 him. "My God !" he cried, "look ! there she stands ! 
 take her away! she is mocking me!"
 
 164 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 Fearing the return of delirium, the Duke was about 
 to summon assistance, when turning his eyes in the 
 direction in which those of the Count were riveted, 
 he saw, to his, horror, the Witch of Waldhorst, with 
 wild, unearthly eyes, standing at the foot of the bed, 
 and pointing with her long, bony finger at her old 
 enemy. A mocking laugh broke appallingly from her 
 shriveled lips on the silence of the death chamber 
 as she cried : 
 
 "Thine hour has come at last, Count Hans von 
 Waldhorst, as I predicted. I am here to see thee 
 suffer ! Ha ! Ha ! Ha !' ? again came that terrible laugh 
 which nearly froze the Duke's blood. "Take her 
 away!" cried Count Hans, gasping for breath, "mer- 
 ciful God ! she is killing me !" That cry awoke Conrad, 
 who ran into the sick-room and saw the Count sitting 
 up in bed, staring wildly before him. He followed his 
 look but saw nothing, the witch having vanished. 
 
 The Duke told Conrad of the apparition. He im- 
 mediately ran into the hall, searching everywhere, but 
 no trace of the witch could he find. 
 
 Returning to the chamber, he saw the Duke bend- 
 ing over the dying man, watching his feeble gasps, as 
 that broken spirit took its gradual flight to the realms 
 beyond, there to await the judgment of an all-merciful 
 God. 
 
 That night the Witch of Waldhorst disappeared.
 
 THE WITCH'S FATAL HAND. 165 
 
 She was never seen or heard of again. Her old hut 
 remained standing, though utterly deserted. No one 
 dared to enter, nor cared to remove it. 
 
 The Duke sent a messenger to Ursula, informing 
 her of the Count's death, and stating that he and Con- 
 rad would return to Falkenstein on the day after the 
 funeral. Conrad's suspicions were aroused as to the 
 actual cause of the late sufferer's sudden relapse as well 
 as the manner of his death. Summoning the old serv- 
 ant, who had administered the medicine, he ques- 
 tioned him. The man at first denied all knowledge of 
 the witch ; but on being closely pressed, finally con- 
 fessed that he had obtained his remedies from her ; and 
 inasmuch as they had proved most efficacious in pre- 
 vious cases, he had no hesitation in administering 
 them to the Count. Conrad's suspicions were con- 
 firmed; and on further questioning, the servant ad- 
 mitted that the witch had been actually within the 
 servants' hall close upon the midnight hour. 
 
 Conrad thought it best not to mention his discov- 
 eries to anyone else at the castle. He nevertheless 
 instituted a private search for the wretched woman. 
 It, however, proved entirely fruitless. 
 
 On a cold, clear afternoon, two days thereafter, the 
 remains of Count Hans were laid beside those of his 
 fair wife, in the little graveyard on the hill, not far 
 from the castle.
 
 166 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 As they stood around the grave, Hugo's eyes wan- 
 dered over the distant landscape in deep thought. His 
 father's wild life, and at the end his happy reconcilia- 
 tion with the Duke and Conrad, as well as the latter's 
 betrothal to Ursula, all came surging into his mind. 
 He murmured to himself: "A strange world indeed, 
 this world of ours, and not so beautiful to me as I 
 once thought it." 
 
 Suddenly his keen eyes caught sight of something 
 in the distance. On looking more closely, he thought 
 he could distinguish mounted men in armor, bodies of 
 lanzknechts moving in the plain, and apparently to- 
 ward them. 
 
 Though considerably alarmed, he said nothing until 
 the sad obsequies were over. On returning to the 
 castle, he pointed in the direction, stating what he 
 had seen to his friends. They hurried within the walls, 
 and sent mounted messengers in different directions to 
 ascertain the meaning of this sudden appearance of 
 armed men. 
 
 The Duke felt fully convinced that Prince Steffel 
 of Pomerania was about to carry out the threat made 
 at the tournament, and invade the Principality of 
 Falkenstein. Learning by chance of their presence 
 at Waldhorst, he must have concluded to attack that 
 stronghold on the way. He was consequently greatly 
 alarmed ; the more so on his daughter's account than
 
 THE WITCH'S FATAL HAND. 167 
 
 his own. He knew Prince Steffel's force to be larger 
 than any which could be opposed to him, even with the 
 possible contingent of Waldhorst, and the friendly 
 castles in the neighborhood of Falkenstein combined. 
 He began to blame himself for not having kept a 
 watch on the vindictive Pomeranian. How far he was 
 right in his conjectures will be shown in our next 
 chapter.
 
 168 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 WAR. 
 
 "O that we now had here 
 
 But one ten thousand of those men in England, 
 That do not work today." 
 
 Shaks. Henry V. 
 
 Within the courtyard of Waldhorst stood Duke 
 Henry, Conrad and young Hugo, the new lord of the 
 castle, in anxious consultation. 
 
 Two messengers of those sent out half an hour be- 
 fore had just returned, their horses covered with 
 foam, and reported the woods and valley alive with 
 Pomeranian knights and hirelings, and that tents were 
 being pitched within a short distance of Waldhorst, 
 on the right bank of the river. The third messenger 
 did not return, having in all probability been cap- 
 tured and put to the sword by the ruthless invaders. 
 
 As our friends reviewed the situation, another bear- 
 er of evil tidings arrived, in the person of a monk from 
 the Benedictine Monastery, who had been sent by the 
 Abbot to inform the inmates of Waldhorst of the ap- 
 proach of Prince Steffel, in person, to within a stone's
 
 WAR. 169 
 
 throw of the ferry landing across the river, after hav- 
 ing destroyed everything on his way. The monk 
 also stated that another Benedictine brother had been 
 dispatched to warn Ursula to be on the lookout, and 
 prepare to assist those from Waldhorst Castle who 
 might attempt to reach her on the receipt of the alarm- 
 ing news. 
 
 Duke Henry instructed the young monk to return 
 with all haste to the monastery, and to dispatch an- 
 other messenger to the Princess with the information 
 that they would start from Waldhorst before day- 
 light, expecting to get as far as the ruins of Grunau 
 Castle the succeeding night, where he hoped his own 
 men from Falkenstein would join them. 
 
 Affairs were in such a condition at the castle that 
 they found it impossible to make an earlier start. 
 Moreover, they reasoned that the Pomeranian army, 
 while preparing to encamp for the night beside the 
 river, would in all likelihood not attempt to cross it 
 that day ; and the early morning hours seemed to them 
 devoid of danger. 
 
 They were, however, in fear of an attack on Wald- 
 horst at any moment ; so all hands were put to work in 
 strengthening the fortifications. With the aid of the 
 principal safeguard of the castle, its broad and deep 
 moat, Hugo thought he would be able to defend it 
 successfully against any ordinary attack, despite the
 
 170 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 reduced number of his retainers, so as to hold out until 
 aid should arrive from Falkenstein. 
 
 At daylight the Duke and Conrad started on their 
 march with their own small retinue and a contingent 
 from Waldhorst, in all about eighty foot and thirty 
 mounted retainers. On leaving they embraced Hugo 
 and Volga, the latter having insisted on remaining and 
 sharing whatever danger might be in store for them. 
 
 By this time the Abbot's first messenger had reached 
 the fortress of Falkenstein and his tidings produced the 
 greatest consternation. The high-spirited Princess, 
 instantly realizing the danger in which her father and 
 lover were placed, mounted Saladin, and accompanied 
 by Kurt, galloped to Bernard von Wolfram's castle to 
 seek from him assistance and advice. As she rode at 
 full speed on her noble steed, with eyes aflame and hair 
 streaming in the breeze, the beautiful woman stirred 
 the hearts and minds of the dull peasantry, who long 
 remembered the unusual sight. Later in the day she 
 returned with Wolfram at her side, followed by a small 
 detachment of well-disciplined men, the minstrel's con- 
 tribution to the select and noble little band which 
 marched that night to the relief of the lord of Falken- 
 stein. 
 
 Wolfram was appointed commander by Ursula. It 
 was as much as he could do to prevent that brave and 
 intrepid woman from personally joining the expedi-
 
 WAR. 171 
 
 tion. Only after explaining the necessity of someone 
 in authority remaining at the castle in the event of an 
 attack, did she relent, and agreed to take charge of 
 her small garrison of about a hundred men all told. 
 Wolfram had with him about three hundred men, in- 
 cluding many brave and devoted knights. 
 
 Just before they reached the ruins of Grunau next 
 morning they met the second Benedictine messenger. 
 From him they learned the purport of the Duke's 
 message to Ursula. It was, as we know, that they 
 would start from Waldhorst at the early dawn of that 
 very day. "In time for us to meet them half way," 
 said Knight Wolfram : "Go and deliver your mes- 
 sage, holy brother and tell the Princess that you left us 
 in good spirits and ready to annihilate any Pomeranian 
 dogs who may attempt to intercept the Duke." 
 
 But alas for the uncertainity of all human calcula- 
 tions! Before another day had passed Wolfram ap- 
 peared before the fortress of Falkenstein, his much 
 reduced little band disputing every foot of ground 
 with his enemies, who outnumbered them three to one. 
 Prince Steffel cursed his knights for not crushing the 
 little band outright. He himself had done immense ex- 
 ecution among the devoted few, and more than once 
 had tried to meet Wolfram face to face ; but that shrewd 
 though valiant captain knew better than to risk the
 
 172 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 fortunes of his men on the chances of a single and un- 
 equal combat. 
 
 Ursula saw the diminished, hard pressed line of her 
 faithful retainers, as they drew near the fortress. Sum- 
 moning her garrison, and placing herself at its head, 
 she made a sortie which took the enemy unawares, 
 causing them to waver. In vain did Prince Steffel, 
 cursing terribly, ride out in front of his knights and 
 urge them to follow him. The remnant of the little 
 band succeeded in reaching the lower castle gate and 
 was safe. The gallant Wolfram, however, with a few 
 followers, rallied to the side of the brave Princess, un- 
 til she and her men were also safe within the confines 
 of the fortress. The iron gate half way up the hill 
 was closed in the very face of the enraged Prince, 
 who had just ridden forward alone to secure his prey. 
 The disappointed warrior, having been thus foiled, de- 
 termined to lay siege to the great stronghold, which 
 was defended by the bold woman who had refused 
 him her hand ; so he encamped at its base in the beauti- 
 ful valley surrounding it. 
 
 The splendid fortress of Falkenstein, however, at 
 the time of our story, was considered impregnable. 
 Prince Steffel, after two ineffectual efforts to take it 
 by storm, gave up all idea of capturing it. He vented 
 his fury and disappointment, instead, on the sur- 
 rounding country, laying waste the lands, and ran-
 
 WAR. 173 
 
 sacking or destroying many of the minor strong- 
 holds. Among the latter was the beautiful little castle 
 of Bernard von Wolfram, which was easily taken dur- 
 ing the absence of its owner. 
 
 Having thus* left his evil mark on the beautiful 
 principality, Prince Steffel withdrew his forces, re- 
 turned to the river, and marched directly on Wald- 
 horst. 
 
 The enemy having disappeared, Ursula sent at once 
 to some distant barons who had been spared by 
 the Pomeranian Prince, imploring their assistance. 
 She applied also for succor to the still powerful 
 though blind, Markgraf of Luxemburg, whose daugh- 
 ter, a great friend of Ursula, had taken the reins of 
 government into her own hands, but was somewhat 
 unfortunately then engaged, with all her available 
 forces, in a strife with some powerful barons who had 
 refused to recognize her father's authority. 
 
 This brave ally could, therefore, only promise that 
 as soon as her own troubles were ended she would 
 send her retainers to Ursula's aid, and enter with all 
 her heart into the warfare with the Pomeranian in- 
 vader. 
 
 As the season was already far advanced, the proba- 
 bility of this assistance reaching her before the spring 
 were very slight. Ursula decided, therefore, to gather 
 together what she could, for another attempt to re-
 
 174 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 lieve those so dear to her. Two days after the re- 
 pulse of Captain Wolfram, she had learned that her 
 father and Conrad were besieged at Waldhorst Cas- 
 tle, though how they happened to remain there, or 
 to return thither after having left it, she could not 
 comprehend. 
 
 On that eventful morning when the Duke and Con- 
 rad set out from Waldhorst at early dawn with their 
 small bands of retainers, they crossed the secret ford in 
 safety, keeping to byways, in order to avoid the lurk- 
 ing foe ; nor did they encounter any of them until the 
 same hour that Prince Steffel first intercepted Wol- 
 fram. Half way to the monastery, they were suddenly 
 confronted by a detachment of two hundred Pomeran- 
 ian knights and followers, and another unequal and 
 desperate fight ensued. 
 
 The Duke's footmen with their lances presented 
 an impenetrable barrier; while Conrad protected the 
 flanks with his mounted lanzknechts, and did great 
 deeds of personal valor. 
 
 For a while the enemy was kept at bay and finally 
 thrown into confusion. Our friends might have taken 
 advantage of this by quickly advancing, and attacking 
 the rear of Prince Steffel's forces as they pursued 
 Wolfram, had not another, though smaller, detach- 
 ment come to the assistance of the enemy. This force, 
 having witnessed from the opposite bank of the river
 
 WAR. 175 
 
 the gallant resistance of Duke Henry and Conrad, and 
 subsequent discomfiture of their comrades, plunged 
 in, and swam their horses over, with the intention of 
 falling on their rear. The Duke's forces wheeled to 
 meet them as they emerged from the water, and made 
 considerable havoc amongst them. The first detach- 
 ment of Pomeranians, seeing this timely assistance at 
 hand, rallied and renewed the attack. Hemmed in on 
 both sides the brave little band were compelled to cut 
 their way back to Waldhorst, losing a great many 
 men in doing so. Conrad had been wounded twice. 
 The Duke felt sorely bruised, having had two horses 
 killed under him. The remnant of their forces finally 
 reached the secret ford. This they crossed in safety, 
 while the enemy, being unacquainted with it, lost their 
 footing in the attempt, many of them being swept 
 down the stream and drowned. They were thus 
 obliged to abandon further pursuit. 
 
 Leaving a strong guard to watch this crossing, 
 the Pomeranians marched with all haste to join the 
 forces besieging Waldhorst, hoping that before their 
 arrival the garrison would fall into the hands of the 
 besiegers. 
 
 The Duke and Conrad, after crossing the river with 
 but fifteen mounted and barely fifty footsore lanz- 
 knechts, all that remained of the gallant little band, 
 felt more than anxious to avoid any further meeting
 
 176 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHE^NSTEIN. 
 
 with the enemy. They therefore approached Wald- 
 horst stealthily, although still ignorant of the fact 
 that siege had actually been laid to the castle. No 
 sooner had they entered the woods, however, than 
 they saw tents and campfires, with soldiers sitting 
 round about them. Some of them were still engaged 
 in cooking their evening meal, and the savory smell 
 which arose reminded the poor fellows that they had 
 done an entire day's fighting without a morsel of food. 
 
 What was to be done now? With deliverance ap- 
 parently so near, would they, in their famished and ex- 
 hausted condition, again be compelled to fight against 
 tremendous odds? 
 
 They moved forward slowly and noiselessly until 
 they reached a point whence, through openings be- 
 tween the trees, the towers and raised drawbridge 
 of Waldhorst could be seen. Here they halted, while 
 Conrad wistfully surveyed the high, irregular forti- 
 fications of the castle. As his eyes roamed from one 
 point to another, he suddenly descried a young girl 
 seated at a window in one of the farthest towers and 
 busily engaged in some special work. She was at so 
 great a distance that the knight could scarcely dis- 
 tinguish her features, but on calling the Duke's at- 
 tention to her, they thought they recognized her as 
 Volga. It was then that an idea occurred to Duke 
 Henry, which being immediately acted upon, proved
 
 WAR. 177 
 
 the salvation of /the brave little band, by almost a mir- 
 acle. 
 
 He recalled a peculiar signal of distress, known 
 only to himself, the late Count Hans, Hugo and 
 Volga, which they had always used in the chase ; and 
 he felt sure that should it reach the ears of the young 
 girl, even from so great a distance, she would com- 
 prehend its meaning. Taking from his pocket a whis- 
 tle, he gave its loud, shrill note twice in quick succes- 
 sion. A sentinel, not thirty yards off, started, halted 
 and peered into the dense shadows of the woods. Dis- 
 covering nothing and thinking he had heard the shrill 
 note of some forest bird, he resumed his beat. 
 
 The form at the window, as they had rightly sur- 
 mised was Volga, who was making bandages for the 
 wounded by the fast waning light. 
 
 She sprang up at the familiar signal, and looked in- 
 quiringly toward the wood whence it seemed to come. 
 
 By the last rays of the disappearing sun, she per- 
 ceived in the shadow of the trees, someone waving his 
 mailed hand, and the truth flashed upon her. Mak- 
 ing a quick responsive motion, to the great joy and 
 relief of the anxious friends, she left the window, and 
 hurrying with all speed down tortuous stairways to 
 the courtyard, found Hugo. To him she communi- 
 cated what she had heard and seen. The young Count 
 
 of Waldhorst lost no time in deciding upon a strategic 
 12
 
 178 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 ruse which might secure to any of his friends in dis- 
 tress admittance into the castle. 
 
 On the lookout from their hiding-place for some 
 sign of coming assistance, Conrad and the Duke sud- 
 denly descried a figure, flag in hand, on the slowly 
 descending drawbridge. As it stopped half way in 
 its descent, they recognized Hugo, waving the red and 
 white ensign of Waldhorst toward their hiding-place. 
 
 The two sentinels stationed at the moat at first 
 imagined that the bearer of the flag desired an in- 
 terview with some knight in command in order to 
 make terms for the surrender of the castle. When, 
 however, the bridge stopped half way, and they saw it 
 was not the snow white flag of truce, they fiercely 
 shouted to Hugo to explain the purpose. Receiving 
 no answer, they were about to report to their chief the 
 singular actions of the flag-bearer, when a great shout 
 burst upon their ears and resounded throughout the 
 camp. 
 
 It came from the throats of some sixty, thirsty, 
 hungry and weary lanzknechts, who, headed by the 
 Duke, with Conrad bringing up the rear, were making 
 for the drawbridge on a full run. The wooden struc- 
 ture was quickly lowered by willing hands to meet 
 them. The Duke with his foremost men reached it 
 before the Pomeranians were sufficiently recovered 
 from their astonishment to make a move. The camp,
 
 WAR. 179 
 
 however, was in an uproar. A body of men armed 
 with pikes, succeeded in gaining the bridge just as 
 Conrad, with a chosen few, confronted them. The 
 stalwart knight cut down three of the foremost of the 
 enemy with his battle-axe, which, in the absence of 
 his father's trusty blade, he used that day. Keeping 
 the rest at bay until the last of his men had gained the 
 courtyard, he stepped backward, shouting the com- 
 mand to raise the bridge. 
 
 At that moment an immensely tall, unarmed Pom- 
 eranian sprang to his side, grappling with him at such 
 close quarters that it was impossible for Conrad to 
 use his weapon. As the bridge rose higher and high- 
 er the two antagonists fell backward, rolling over and 
 over each other until they reached the courtyard. 
 
 There Conrad, with the assistance of his friends, 
 would have made short work with the big fellow who 
 had taken him unawares ; but, to the great amazement 
 of the bystanders, who had watched this novel encoun- 
 ter with interest, just as Conrad raised his battle-axe 
 the long-legged miscreant fell on his knees, begging 
 for mercy. "I only grappled with you, Sir Knight," 
 he said, "because I wanted to get away from that 
 camp. I could think of no better way than boarding 
 the drawbridge while in motion, and taking hold of 
 you, noble sir, in order to prevent your splitting my 
 head and throwing me into the moat."
 
 180 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 "Didst thou then mean to desert Prince Steffel?" 
 asked Conrad, suppressing a strong inclination to 
 laugh. 
 
 "'I did, Sir Knight," replied the man. "That brute 
 compelled me, as he did many others, to enlist at the 
 point of the sword. They are all afraid of him, good 
 sir, and remain in his service from fear alone. He 
 gives them plenty of beer and promises them generous 
 wages after taking this castle." 
 
 "Thou art almost as large as he is," said Conrad, 
 much amused. "What is thy name?" 
 
 "My name is Peter Longshanks," replied the man. 
 "I am quite as large as the Prince, and some day I 
 hope to measure myself with him, as I did with your 
 lordship, begging your pardon." 
 
 "Wjell then, Peter," interposed Hugo, "thou may'st 
 remain with us ; but mind that thou dost not play us 
 false, else thy last hour, which but just now was close 
 at hand^ will most surely strike." 
 
 At his own request he was put to work, cleaning the 
 courtyard and stables. Though lie seemed to do his 
 task thoroughly and with a will, the young master of 
 Waldhorst put a watch on him most of the time, as 
 he feared to trust him too implicitly. 
 
 What was left of the small band was once more 
 safe within thewalls of the fortress; but at roll call 
 many were found to be wounded, and a still larger
 
 WAR. 181 
 
 number were missing. Volga's bandages came into 
 use sooner than she expected, Conrad being the first 
 one to need them. His wounds she dressed with her 
 own hands. He felt well enough to be present, when, 
 late in the evening, after all had been cared for, such 
 of them as were able to sat down in the banquet hall to 
 a well-earned repast. Of the missing faces many would 
 never again be seen at any gathering; the women of 
 the household mourned the loss of husbands, brothers 
 or sons. 
 
 It was a sad ending to the hopeful beginning of 
 that day. Great fears were expressed for the safety 
 of the small party which they felt assured the Princess 
 Ursula had sent to their aid. 
 
 No one could foretell the outcome of this savage 
 war, thus suddenly sprung upon them, and which 
 they must carry on against vastly superior numbers. 
 
 The Duke was deeply anxious on account of his be- 
 loved wife and daughter. Conrad's thoughts of his 
 betrothed were mingled with sad forebodings.
 
 182 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 KURT'S ADVENTURE. 
 
 "This work requires long time, dissembling looks, 
 
 Commixt with undermining actions, 
 
 Watching advantages to execute. 
 
 Our foes are mighty and their number great; 
 
 It therefore follows that our stratagems 
 
 Must branch forth into manifold deceits, 
 
 Endless devices, bottomless conclusions." 
 
 Chapman's Alphonsus. 
 
 At the Fortress of Falkenstein the days which fol- 
 lowed were sad ones, indeed, for the Princess, her 
 mother, and Wolfram. 
 
 As week succeeded week without tidings, save the 
 vague rumor that Duke Henry and Conrad, both dis- 
 abled and wounded, had been driven back within the 
 walls of Waldhorst, Ursula became almost frantic. 
 Knowing that it would be folly to risk another battle 
 in hope of relieving them with a force inferior to that 
 which had already sustained defeat, she finally de- 
 cided with what assistance she could obtain to make 
 an attempt to reach Waldhorst in secret.
 
 KURT'S ADVENTURE. 183 
 
 Kurt, at his own request, went on several expedi- 
 tions necessary to this end, his swift Hungarian horse 
 carrying him safely through all dangers. 
 
 By the end of six weeks, about the beginning of 
 winter, the knights and squires who had been gath- 
 ered together by the indefatigable Princess, amounting 
 in all to about five hundred men, were quartered in 
 and around Falkenstein. Determined to steal a march 
 on Prince Steffel, she planned to attack that part of 
 his army which was encamped about Waldhorst, be- 
 fore meeting him in open field ; thus avoiding another 
 battle without the co-operation of her father and Con- 
 rad. In this venture, she took command in person, 
 relying, however, on the advice of Wolfram, whom she 
 kept at her side. 
 
 Having expressed a desire to apprise the inmates of 
 Waldhorst of her intended move for their relief, Kurt 
 volunteered his services, saying that he believed he 
 could approach the fortress at dark, and, unperceived 
 by the enemy, drop into the moat, to be fished out by 
 his friends at the castle. 
 
 Ursula endeavored to dissuade the brave boy from 
 so perilous an undertaking, but he begged and per- 
 sisted, telling her that he felt sure of reaching the cas- 
 tle ; and protested that should he be captured, he would 
 not, even under penalty of death, impart the least in- 
 formation to her enemies.
 
 184 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 As the Princess knew the importance of keeping 
 Prince Steffel in ignorance of her intended move, and 
 felt sure that she could rely implicitly on her faith- 
 ful attendant, she finally agreed to let him go, sending 
 by him a verbal message to her father and Conrad, 
 which would inform them of her purpose to bring 
 them relief. She little knew that spies had already 
 apprised Prince Steffel of her intended movement. 
 
 To understand fully the nature of the events which 
 followed, it will be necessary for us to accompany the 
 brave boy on his adventures. 
 
 Starting on a cold wintery morn, Kurt, in passing 
 through the desolate country, laid waste by Prince 
 Steffel, noticed here and there newly ploughed 
 fields and farmhouses with smoking chimneys. He 
 rode rapidly until he entered the woods, which gave 
 him protection from the piercing wind. There he al- 
 lowed his horse to proceed at an easier gait. He rest- 
 ed that night under a blanket which covered both man 
 and beast, on a hillside not far from the dilapidated 
 ruins of Grunau. The buildings themselves he avoid- 
 ed, not on account of the prevailing superstition, but 
 from fear that some of the Pomeranians might be quar- 
 tered there. After feeding his horse with a large loaf 
 of bread, and breakfasting himself on a smaller one, he 
 proceeded on his way. The country grew so wild that, 
 for a time, he was obliged to keep to the open road.
 
 KURT'S ADVENTURE. 185 
 
 Dressed in his plain woolen suit, no one noticed 
 him, however. He re-entered the byways of the pro- 
 tecting woods, and after another rest and a frugal mid- 
 day meal, reached, late in the afternoon, a wide bridle 
 path diverging from the river, by which, from the de- 
 scription given him, he knew he could reach Waldhorst 
 Castle in about an hour by way of the public ford. 
 
 No one was in sight. As it was near dusk, the boy 
 imagined that, at so late an hour, the enemy would 
 most likely be in camp; or, in case he were to meet 
 any of them, he would again be allowed to pass un- 
 molested. Everything seemed clear as far as the eye 
 could reach. With an unwarranted sense of security, 
 he gave his little horse loose rein, putting him into a 
 gallop. But alas! at a sudden turn in the road he 
 came, full tilt, upon a detachment of horsemen on their 
 way to join Prince Steffel. 
 
 Kurt had been riding so rapidly and had come upon 
 this force so unexpectedly, he was almost unhorsed 
 by his sudden halt. His dismay may be imagined on 
 recognizing the enemy. Unable at so short notice to 
 invent some satisfactory account of himself, he was 
 suspected and made prisoner. 
 
 They tied his hands behind him, and led the poor, 
 faithful boy back the way be came. At the end of a 
 long, cold ride, they arrived at the Pomeranian camp 
 after midnight, just as the cheerless, waning moon
 
 186 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 rose behind the hills. He was forthwith brought be- 
 fore Prince Steffel. The drowsy giant hardly noticed 
 his young prisoner, but when he learned that he per- 
 sistently refused to give an account of himself, he 
 ordered him to be bound hand and foot and cast into 
 a neighboring pigsty to die. 
 
 Kurt's faithful steed was given to a young lanz- 
 knecht who had enlisted that day, and had his quarters 
 in a rickety shed adjoining the pen. 
 
 As he lay there perfectly helpless, the poor lad 
 begged his young guard for a drink of water from a 
 well near by, but received, instead, a kick, followed by 
 a brutal laugh, as the heartless fellow re-entered the 
 shed. 
 
 The ropes which bound our young courier were 
 drawn so tightly as to stop circulation. His hands and 
 feet became painfully swollen; moreover, his filthy 
 quarters had only been vacated that day by their un- 
 savory inmates, and were almost unbearable on ac- 
 count of their stench. 
 
 Kurt thought of his adored mistress. Tears came 
 into his eyes as he remembered how she had warned 
 him. As he became cold and dizzy he felt that there 
 was some consolation, however, in dying in her cause. 
 Believing that his last hour had come, he commended 
 his soul to God. The pale moon danced before his 
 eyes; he closed them and became unconscious.
 
 KURT'S ADVENTURE. 187 
 
 The tipsy hireling had meanwhile doffed his outer 
 clothing, and hanging his hilted knife, a half sword 
 then used by the common men-at-arms, on a nail near 
 the door, had thrown himself on the floor beside his 
 newly acquired and restless steed. As he fell into 
 a deep, drunken sleep, the intelligent animal nosed 
 him, and finding not his master, neighed impatiently. 
 The familiar sound fell upon Kurt's ear, partly restor- 
 ing him to consciousness. There being only a frail 
 partition between them, he heard the faithful beast 
 moving in his stall and the heavy breathing of the 
 sleeping recruit. His mind became clearer. A de- 
 sire to make a fight for life took possession of him. 
 Rolling over and over sideways and against the shed, 
 he secured a sitting position, and succeeded, by grad- 
 ually working his back upwards along the creaking 
 boards, in obtaining a standing one. In spite of his 
 still desperate condition he gained courage. Balanc- 
 ing himself on his fettered feet, he managed to shuffle 
 along, little by little, until he rounded the shed. 
 
 As he looked within he saw by the moonlight the 
 glittering blade suspended on the wall. This decided 
 him further. Eagerly groping his way to this much 
 coveted prize, and taking it firmly between his teeth, 
 he made his laborious way out again. The first object 
 that his eyes rested on was the well, quite near, but far 
 from him in his crippled condition.
 
 188 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 Moving painfully and slowly as before, he came 
 close enough to discover on its ledge a leaky bucket 
 from which drops of water were oozing. He was near- 
 ly frantic with thirst. In his anxiety to reach it, he 
 fell, knocking his head violently against the well. The 
 weapon dropped from between his teeth, with its point 
 sticking against the side of the wooden structure. In- 
 stantly a mode of freeing himself suggested itself to 
 the poor lad. While still on his knees he managed, 
 with his teeth, to secure the blade in a crevice in the 
 boards, its hilt wedged against a stone in the grass. 
 Then throwing himself down at full length, he lifted 
 his bound feet, and cautiously placing his heels down 
 on either side of it, he brought the rope in contact 
 with its sharp edge. After moving his swollen limbs 
 up and down for what seemed an interminable length 
 of time, he finally succeeded, to his great joy, in sev- 
 ering the cord. He managed, as the circulation of his 
 limbs returned, to stand upright for a few moments. 
 Almost immediately, however, he got down again and 
 with feverish haste endeavored to use the same de- 
 vice in extricating his hands. This proved a more 
 difficult task. Panting, and perspiring, notwithstand- 
 ing the cold night, and parched with thirst, his brain 
 seemed nearly on fire, as he kept on pressing his body 
 back against the blade. At length, he succeeded in 
 freeing his hands also, not, however, without having 
 cut them in several places.
 
 KURT'S ADVENTURE. 189 
 
 With wild joy he siezed the bucket. Filling it 
 with mad speed, he nearly spilled half its contents in 
 his eagerness before it reached his lips. He drew a 
 deep sigh of relief as he satisfied his thirst. His first 
 thought was thankfulness to God that he had been 
 enabled to extricate himself from so dreadful a plight. 
 The reaction then came. Sitting shivering in the cold 
 wind, he soon became aware that more was to be done, 
 and that speedily. Grasping the weapon he re-entered 
 the shed. There in the moonshine lay the sleeping 
 young lanzknecht. Kurt's heart misgave him for a 
 moment as he stood with that short blade poised at his 
 unconscious victim's side. His horse neighed. Fear- 
 ing that the sound might awake the sleeper, it decided 
 him. 
 
 Drawing it across the throat of the young soldier, 
 he unconsciously used so much nervous force as nearly 
 to sever the head from the body. The sight of, the 
 first blood he had ever spilt sickened him. He shud- 
 dered. Dropping the blade, which thus far had served 
 him so well, he rushed to the side of his little horse, 
 which gave another impatient neigh and turned his 
 head toward him. He placed his arm around him, 
 speaking to him aloud. The sound of his voice re- 
 assured him. As he looked upon the dawning day, 
 the thought of his beloved mistress, Ursula, whom he 
 might live to see again, fully restored his courage.
 
 190 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 He wiped the bloody weapon, pulled off his outer 
 garments, took down from the wall those of the dead 
 man and found to his joy that they fitted him exactly. 
 Noticing that the Pomeranian's face somewhat resem- 
 bled his own, Kurt hoped, thus attired, to pass for the 
 young soldier among his comrades, possibly as yet but 
 half recovered from the night's debauch. 
 
 Throwing the dead body, together with his own 
 cast-off clothing into the pigsty, he washed his blood- 
 stained hands at the well and returned to the shed. 
 Then disposing of the straw in such a manner that no 
 trace of blood might be visible, he saddled his horse. 
 
 Hardly had he done this when he was startled by 
 the sound of a bugle. Looking about, he noticed in 
 the distance a number of men seated before a roaring 
 fire, enjoying their breakfast. Hunger and cold de- 
 cided him to make a bold move. He approached the 
 Pomeranian hirelings and asked for a bite. They care- 
 lessly eyed the boy and made room for him good- 
 naturedly. One of them asked him if he were not the 
 young recruit who had enlisted the night before. 
 Trembling within, he answered in the affirmative ; and 
 in order to avoid further questioning, inquired if there 
 was to be any fighting that day. 
 
 "Indeed, yes, my boy," replied one of the men ; "we 
 are under orders to intercept the Princess of Falken- 
 stein on her way to Waldhorst Castle."
 
 KURT'S ADVENTURE. 191 
 
 Kurt, horror-struck, was unable to speak; and 
 thinking of his dear mistress, whose movements he 
 had believed to be secret, and for whose sake he had 
 come near sacrificing his life the night before, he grew 
 pale, and his eyes filled with tears. 
 
 The dull fellows looked at him half amazed and half 
 compassionately, thinking that he shrank from the 
 thought of his first battle. Presently they spoke to 
 him reassuringly, telling him that in all probability 
 he would be placed in the rear as an attendant to one 
 of the knights. 
 
 A few moments later the bugle sounded, To arms ! 
 fhe lanzknechts mounted and fell into line. As the 
 boy, elated with the success of his masquerade, in a 
 spirit of bravado rode boldly along their entire length, 
 the attention of everyone was attracted by his fine 
 horse, as well as by his graceful figure and splendid 
 horsemanship. Among those most interested was 
 Prince Steffel himself, who had just come upon the 
 scene, mounted on an immense white- charger. He 
 summoned the youthful rider to his side. 
 
 Poor Kurt's heart sank within him. He naturally 
 thought all was lost, and that fortune, which had so 
 far smiled upon his efforts to escape, was now about to 
 desert him. At the Prince's abrupt question : "Where 
 didst thou learn to ride so well ?" he was somewhat re- 
 assured, answering with readiness, though hardly
 
 192 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 knowing what he said : "I was brought up on horse- 
 back, please your Highness, and for that reason I 
 joined your mounted men." 
 
 "Oh, is that so?" said the Prince. "I thought thou 
 hadst been pulled in by force. Be that as it may," he 
 continued, much to the relief of the frightened boy, 
 "as thou bearest thyself so well on horseback, I will 
 make thee my sword-bearer, and also give my led 
 horse into thy charge during the coming fray. Mind 
 thou dost thy duty," he added. "Follow me!" 
 
 Kurt, whose fears were quieted by the manner of 
 the Prince, felt his blood grow hot with hatred toward 
 him, and he was seized with a desire to dispose of this 
 arch-enemy of his mistress by the same method he had 
 used with the young hireling whom he was now im- 
 personating. 
 
 His first taste of real warfare had engendered a 
 thirst for blood, far from natural to the youthful hench- 
 man of Ursula. Her danger but heightened this war- 
 like disposition, and he resolved that before the day 
 was over he would, indeed, "do his duty" toward 
 Prince Steffel, but in a manner little expected by that 
 valiant commander. 
 
 How far this resolution was carried out will be re- 
 vealed in the next chapter.
 
 HOW KURT SERVED PRINCE STEFFEL. 193 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 HOW KURT SERVED PRINCE STEFFEL. 
 
 "I follow him to serve my turn upon him; 
 We cannot be all masters, nor all masters 
 Cannot be truly followed." 
 
 Shaks. Othello. 
 
 As we are already aware, the Pomeranian Prince 
 had been informed of Ursula's projected movements. 
 He had thrown the main body of his forces to 
 the left bank of the river, while maintaining con- 
 stant communication with the besiegers of Wald- 
 horst. He was thus prepared to intercept and 
 give battle to the Princess at almost any point. As a 
 consequence, that brave woman, with her gallant 
 knights and followers, had hardly left the ruins of 
 Grunau in the early morning, and entered the back 
 road to Waldhofst, when she was confronted by the 
 enemy's advance guard, disputing the way. Not 
 knowing the extent of the force opposed to her, she 
 steadily advanced, driving them back toward the river, 
 
 13
 
 194 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 where, to her surprise and disappointment, she sud- 
 denly encountered the main body of the Pomeranian 
 knights. Nothing was left for her to do but to give 
 battle to this formidable array, which far outnumbered 
 her own force. For a long time it looked as though 
 the inspiring example of the Princess and Knight 
 Wolfram would gain the day, and that they would be 
 enabled to continue their march to Waldhorst. But 
 when Prince Steffel, rousing from one of his lazy fits, 
 came to the fr6nt and saw Ursula on her beautiful 
 Saladin, surrounded by a host of gallant knights, and 
 his own knights, squires and vassals wavering before 
 their impetuous onslaughts, he placed himself at the 
 head of his mounted lanzknechts, with Kurt close at 
 his heels, and made a furious attack on his oppo- 
 nent's flank. 
 
 A desperate hand to hand fight ensued, lasting fully 
 an hour. By that time Ursula had lost nearly one-half 
 of her little army, but she had inflicted a correspond- 
 ingly heavy loss on the superior force opposed to her, 
 and still held her ground. 
 
 Brave Knight Wolfram had slain with his own 
 hand many an adversary, and though wounded, re- 
 mained at the front, while keeping as usual out of 
 Prince Steffel's reach. The irate commander, how- 
 ever, was now seen cutting his way toward him. Ur- 
 sula saw his intention and prayed for her knight's de-
 
 HOW KURT SERVED PRINCE STEFFEL. 195 
 
 liverance. Wolfram, finding that he could no longer 
 evade him, prepared to meet the onset. Bracing him- 
 self in his saddle he raised his strong sword, together 
 with his shield, to ward off the expected blows, and to 
 retaliate upon his dangerous foe. The giant bore 
 down upon him on his immense charger, but, by some 
 subtle intervention, the blow which he had dealt with 
 tremendous force fell short, though splitting his op- 
 ponent's shield in its descent. The Prince's horse 
 reared violently as a knife thrust penetrated its vitals. 
 Pawing the air for a moment, he fell backward, crush- 
 ing to earth under its ponderous weight the massive 
 bulk of its burly rider. 
 
 Wolfram was saved. During the confusion subse- 
 quent upon the great leader's fall, he was enabled to 
 rally his scattered forces in order to resist any new 
 attack which might be made. 
 
 The Prince, half stunned and badly bruised, was ex- 
 tricated with great difficulty from beneath his dead 
 horse. Hardly able to stand, he called for his led 
 horse. 
 
 Neither the animal nor Kurt could be found, though 
 both had been seen a few minutes before close at 
 hand. Search being fruitless, the Prince, feeling woe- 
 fully shaken by his mishap, ordered his knights to con- 
 tinue the fight, and rode to the rear on the horse of one 
 of his retainers.
 
 196 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 The Princess and Wolfram, meanwhile, had held a 
 short conference, and concluded that it would be most 
 advisable, in their crippled condition, to begin an or- 
 derly retreat on Falkenstein. Though again foiled in 
 her attempt to relieve her friends at Waldhorst, Ursu- 
 la was none the less thankful when, two days later, she 
 reached her castle, bringing back with her her gallant 
 wounded commander and one-half of her brave fol- 
 lowers. After seeing the wounded cared for, with a 
 forced expression of cheerfulness she withdrew. 
 Finding her mother, she threw herself into her loving 
 arms, weeping bitterly. 
 
 "All seems lost, darling mother," she cried. "My 
 father and Conrad are still prisoners at Waldhorst, and 
 a large and victorious army, which has already re- 
 duced every stronghold in this and the adjoining val- 
 leys, threatens to destroy that fortress also. Winter is 
 at hand and it would be useless, now, to make any fur- 
 ther attempt at relief or rescue. We must wait till 
 spring, and then, God willing, the assistance promised 
 by our brave ally of Luxemburg will arrive. Will it 
 be possible for those we love to hold out till then ? I 
 doubt it ! All that we can do, dear mother, is to pray to 
 God that they may be preserved from harm and re- 
 stored to us." 
 
 "Thou hast found the true consolation in thy 
 troubles, my darling daughter," said the Duchess ; "let
 
 HOW KURT SERVED PRINCE STEFFEL. 197 
 
 us trust in God and in his own good time He may see 
 fit to reunite us." 
 
 After thus communing with each other, these two 
 noble women felt calmer and more resigned to fate, 
 though each succeeding day proved the more trying 
 to both mother and daughter. 
 
 Where was Kurt ? Not even had he returned. Not 
 only were they in suspense as to the fate of the be- 
 loved ones besieged at Waldhorst, but also on account 
 of the brave boy who had set out to join them, fearing 
 that he had met some untoward accident. 
 
 Wolfram's wounds required constant care, and as 
 his own castle had been rendered uninhabitable by 
 the Prince's marauders, he was quartered in one of the 
 most luxurious bedrooms at Falkenstein, where Ur- 
 sula was indefatigable in her attentions to his com- 
 fort. One can well imagine that her adoring knight 
 and minstrel could recover more rapidly than he would 
 have done under less agreeable circumstances. 
 
 The inmates of the fortress of Waldhorst were, how- 
 ever, not without tidings from the Princess. On the 
 night following the battle, Hugo, Volga and Conrad 
 were, as usual, exercising their horses in the court- 
 yard, when suddenly the latter, happening to be near 
 the moat, heard a splash and immediately afterward a 
 voice calling for help. 
 
 It was Kurt, whom his master, with wonder and de-
 
 198 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 light, recognized even in the darkness. The young 
 adventurer was speedily rescued from the icy water, 
 in a half frozen condition, and a few moments later 
 found himself in a snug bedroom, thawing between 
 warm blankets, with Conrad and Duke Henry stand- 
 ing at his bedside. Volga, who gave him a warm 
 drink, sat down near Hugo at the other end of the 
 room. 
 
 Kurt, poor fellow, was at first unable to articulate a 
 word between his chattering teeth, but he soon re- 
 covered sufficiently to deliver to his kind and anxious 
 friends the purport of the many messages he had 
 brought to them from Falkenstein. As soon, how- 
 ever, as he began to describe his capture, and the bat- 
 tle in which he had so singularly participated, he be- 
 came feverish and so much confused in his recital, 
 that the Duke, after having learned by a few direct 
 questions that Ursula and Wolfram had in all prob- 
 ability retreated safely to Falkenstein, advised the 
 boy to be quiet and sleep if possible, postponing the 
 details of his narrative to another day. 
 
 They were greatly distressed to learn of Ursula's 
 failure in her second attempt to aid them. But, as they 
 had gathered from Kurt's answers that assistance from 
 the Markgraf of Luxemburg would reach them in the 
 spring, they decided to defend Waldhorst to the last, 
 and took immediate measures to economize the pro-
 
 HOW KURT SERVED PRINCE STEFFEL. 199 
 
 visions to make it surely possible to hold out through 
 the winter. 
 
 On the day following, the poor boy was in a high 
 state of fever, bordering on delirium, and remained 
 so for nearly a week. At last one morning he regaled 
 his interested listeners with the story of his adventures, 
 concluding thus: "I accompanied the big Prince 
 to the battlefield as his sword-bearer, and led 
 his gigantic brown horse. We remained for a consid- 
 erable time in the rear, while the conflict was raging, 
 and I kept close to the side of my new master, revolv- 
 ing in my mind the while what I might do, even at 
 the risk of my life, to serve him as he deserved and 
 prevent his doing any further harm to anybody. 
 
 "A little later, as he rode forward and attacked the 
 Princess Ursula and her knights in the flank, I had 
 hard work even to keep up with him, impeded as I 
 was by the led horse. When at last I saw him deal- 
 ing death around, and cutting his way toward Knight 
 Wolfram, I abandoned the big steed, and on my Hun- 
 garian, managed to keep close at his heels. I was 
 desperately anxious to circumvent him before he could 
 reach our brave leader, but was unable to do so un- 
 til the last moment. Quickly dismounting, I threw 
 myself in front of his horse, and as the Prince raised 
 his powerful arm to deal the knight a death blow, I 
 ran my small sword into his poor steed's heart. The
 
 200 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 big animal reared and fell backward upon his master, 
 crushing him under his dead body. Brave Knight 
 Wolfram was safe ! I saw no more, but amid the con- 
 fusion which followed I succeeded in regaining my lit- 
 tle horse undiscovered. Remounting, I made my way 
 to the rear. There the Pomeranians sought to detain 
 me, doubtless deeming me a deserter ; but calling out 
 to them that the Prince had despatched me to Wald- 
 horst, I struck the road in that direction and gained 
 the woods before anyone could overtake me. From 
 a hill I saw in the distance the Princess retreating un- 
 pursued. At a small clearing, not far from the upper 
 ford, where a sparkling spring keeps the late grass 
 alive, I abandoned my poor horse. I wonder if he is 
 still there; or having wandered in search of me, has 
 been captured." Tears suffused the eyes of the boy 
 as he thus spoke of his faithful steed. "Later on," he 
 concluded, "I made my way on foot, unmolested, 
 through the enemy's camp, and dropped into the moat, 
 out of which, kind sirs, you fished me, half dead." 
 
 Our friends were highly delighted with the boy's re- 
 cital and greatly praised him for his courage and de- 
 votion to the Princess. Most particularly did they 
 laud him for his valiant deed at the last critical mo- 
 ment. 
 
 While they still conversed with the gratified lad, 
 they were startled by the sudden entrance of Peter
 
 THE SIEGE AND SURRENDER. 201 
 
 Longshanks, weil-nigh breathless, who announced 
 that the enemy led by Prince Steffel in person, 
 were preparing for an assault on the castle. The 
 Prince, having recovered from his fall, had just re- 
 turned to camp, and he had been heard to declare in 
 a loud voice his determination to destroy the castle 
 and all its inmates on that day. 
 
 Valiant Peter, the deserter, for his many brave deeds 
 in defending Waldhorst against former attacks, had 
 become, by that time, a trusted member of the gar- 
 rison, and that day was placed on the principal look- 
 out. 
 
 The castle, greatly strengthened since the last of 
 these onslaughts, now became a scene of commotion. 
 On came the Pomeranian knights backed by their 
 vassals, throwing immense logs across the moat, and 
 placing on top of them scaling ladders, which they 
 endeavored to raise against the solid walls of the ram- 
 parts. At each attempt they were hurled back, killed 
 or wounded, many of the latter finding watery graves 
 in the treacherous ditch. 
 
 At a point near the drawbridge, Prince Steffel un- 
 expectedly succeeded in throwing across the moat two 
 great logs alongside of each other, forming a tem- 
 porary solid bridge. As he and several knights ad- 
 vanced quickly upon this structure, it looked as 
 though they might gain the battlements around the
 
 202 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 outer courtyard. Just here, however, the brave Peter 
 happened for the moment to be stationed alone, with 
 instructions to give the alarm at the first approach of 
 danger. The uproar around the castle assured him 
 that a general assault was taking place. Fearing that 
 all might be lost should he leave his post for a moment, 
 he decided to confront the hated Prince alone, even 
 though his life might be sacrificed. 
 
 Quickly realizing, however, that he would have 
 more than that one detested adversary to encounter, 
 it occurred to him that the joint advance of the knights 
 might be checked by strategy, and their reaching the 
 courtyard be prevented. 
 
 Using his prodigious strength he sought to lift and 
 displace the larger log, but in vain. In a similar at- 
 tempt on the other he was more successful ; and throw- 
 ing its end over into the moat, he caused the occupants 
 of both to lose their footing, following the log into the 
 turbulent waters, with the exception of the Prince. 
 That giant, in advance of the others, with a tremen- 
 dous bound, gained the battlements. Before the brave 
 Peter had realized what had happened his helmet and 
 head were both cleft by a fearful blow from his arch 
 enemy. Feeling that it must be fatal, he sprang upon 
 his .adversary. Encircling his huge bulk in a death 
 struggle, he, by a dexterous move, threw him close 
 to the edge of the wall, falling over backward with him 
 into the deep water.
 
 HOW KURT SERVED PRINCE STEFFEL. 203 
 
 The one idea which nerved the dying Peter was to 
 drag under and drown his burly foe, but his strength 
 was too far spent ; so after one or two futile attempts, 
 he loosened his hold and the waters closed over his 
 lifeless body. Prince Steffel's vassals rushed to their 
 leader's rescue, and despite his heavy armor, succeed- 
 ed in drawing him, half drowned, from the moat. 
 
 Having been repulsed on all sides, the enemy aban- 
 doned all further attempts to capture the fortress by 
 storm. Conrad and Hugo, who had reached the outer 
 battlements round the courtyard in time to witness the 
 Prince's rescue, now threw over the remaining log. 
 The castle was once more, for the time being, secure 
 in its defense. 
 
 That evening our brave friends sat before a roaring 
 fire in the banquet room, listening to Volga's account 
 of the struggle between the wrestler and Prince Stef- 
 fel, which she witnessed from an inner window, while 
 with the women of the castle, preparing the scanty 
 meal which was then placed before the hungry garri- 
 son. The single glass of wine which was allowed to 
 each one that night was drunk in silence in memory 
 of the valiant Peter. 
 
 Kurt's condition prevented his active partici- 
 pation in the events of the day, and it was 
 fully a week before he was pronounced strong 
 enough to venture upon a return to Falkenstein. Dur-
 
 204 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 ing his late perilous expedition, he had become so 
 well acquainted with the woods and byways, that he 
 felt confident of reaching the Princess in safety. 
 
 On a dark night, under a threatening sky, he left 
 the castle, bearing with him some important instruc- 
 tions and many messages of love from the Duke and 
 Conrad. 
 
 Clad once more as a Pomeranian rider, Kurt noise- 
 lessly crossed the moat in a boat, landing just between 
 two sentinels. There he lay safe for a few moments 
 under cover of the darkness. Not daring to rise, he 
 rolled himself slowly over and over until his progress 
 was arrested by the trunk of a tree, near which, by the 
 dying embers of a campfire, a tent was faintly visible. 
 Here the real danger of discovery began. He had, 
 however, but a few weeks before, passed safely 
 through the camp, and he picked his way that night 
 more cautiously than ever. After passing many tents 
 and smoldering camp-fires, he found himself at a 
 wooden enclosure in which the horses were quartered. 
 Instantly his thoughts returned to his lost steed. He 
 wondered if it were possible that the little Hungarian 
 might be there. Without any especial reason for 
 thinking it, the idea took possession of him, and he re- 
 solved to act upon it. 
 
 Leaning upon the wooden fence to await the day- 
 light, well aware that it would bring with it new dan-
 
 HOW KURT SERVED PRINCE STEFFEL. 205 
 
 ger, he was willing to take the risk, believing that his 
 uniform would again shield him from identification. 
 
 A faint gleam of day soon enabled him to make out 
 the outline of the animals. As it fully broke, he dis- 
 covered, to his great joy, that, sure enough, his faith- 
 ful friend, given up by him for lost, was there amongst 
 them. With the hope of recapturing him Kurt at once 
 resolved to remain where he was and brave the conse- 
 quences. 
 
 While thinking over a plan to carry out his designs, 
 the morning bugle sounded. Immediately the whole 
 camp was astir. A moment later, two stalwart Pom- 
 eranians, one of them limping, emerged from a shed 
 near by and were about entering the enclosure, when 
 they perceived him. The lame one called out gruffly : 
 "What dost thou want here, thou fellow?" 
 
 "I came to help with the horses," replied the boy, 
 boldly. 
 
 "Who told thee to come?" was the rejoinder. 
 
 "Prince Steffel," answered Kurt. 
 
 "It is a lie !" retorted the man. "Prince Steffel left 
 the camp four days ago." 
 
 "I know it," said the young dissembler, still keeping 
 a bold front. "I did not say he had told me today. 
 Our Captain has kept me in his tent doing his dirty 
 work until this morning." 
 
 "We'll see about that," replied the trooper; "but
 
 206 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 now go to work and help my mate while I nurse my 
 sore leg. Mind now, and be quick about it." 
 
 Kurt needed no further admonition, but went to 
 work with a will, keeping, however, as far away from 
 his own horse as possible. 
 
 Hardly had he and the unsuspecting trooper en- 
 tered the enclosure than the little Hungarian, catch- 
 ing sight of his young master, neighed cheerily, at the 
 same time sending his heels in air in joyful play. This 
 startled the boy, but he kept a sober face, attending as- 
 siduously to the horses under his care. When they 
 reached the river, every one of the thirsty animals 
 proceeded to drink except the Hungarian, which, 
 standing foot deep in the water, turned his head wist- 
 fully to ward, his watchful master. 
 
 This was too much for the excited boy. No longer 
 able to contain himself, and thinking that perhaps this 
 was the most favorable opportunity he might have for 
 escape, he ran to his horse, vaulted on its bare back, 
 and with only a halter to guide, galloped off with all 
 speed. 
 
 The astonished Pomeranian followed the bold rider 
 with his eyes, failing in his stupidity to comprehend 
 the situation until it was too late, as the fugitive had 
 by this time disappeared among the trees. In half 
 an hour Kurt had crossed the upper ford. Fearing that 
 he might meet some of the enemy, even at that early
 
 HOW KURT SERVED PRINCE STEFFEL. 207 
 
 hour, he again sought the shelter of the woods. 
 Hardly had he done so when the first flakes of the 
 coming snowstorm fell at his feet. 
 
 When late at night he reached the vicinity of the 
 Benedictine Monastery, the ground was covered with 
 a heavy white blanket, against which every dark object 
 stood out in bold relief. 
 
 Tired and hungry, having eaten but little during 
 the day, he applied at the monastery gate for food and 
 shelter. 
 
 The layman who answered Kurt's bold summons, 
 on noticing his uniform, asked if he wished to see 
 Prince Steffel. 
 
 "Is he quartered here ?" asked the boy, in alarm. 
 
 "Most certainly he is," was the reply. "Thou 
 shouldst know it." 
 
 "I suppose I should," stammered Kurt, "but I am 
 not a Pomeranian soldier." 
 
 Then informing the layman as to his name and busi- 
 ness, he asked that he might speak to the Abbot in 
 private. In a few moments he was ushered into the 
 astonished prelate's presence, while his horse was being 
 cared for in company with the mules and donkeys be- 
 longing to the establishment. 
 
 One can imagine with what interest the sympathiz- 
 ing old Abbot listened to Kurt's rapid but graphic re- 
 cital of events. He sat before a rousing fire in the pri-
 
 208 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 vate audience room of the Monastery, enjoying a plen- 
 tiful supper, while his Reverence questioned him re- 
 garding the exciting scenes, of which, so far, only the 
 vaguest rumors had reached him. 
 
 "Since the forcible entry of the Godless Prince and 
 his impudent knights within these sacred walls," quoth 
 he, "I have been almost a prisoner myself. The bad 
 man keeps so watchful an eye on me, I have not dared 
 to make the attempt to communicate either with the 
 Princess Ursula at Falkenstein, or her father and 
 Knight Conrad at Waldhorst. It was lucky for thee, 
 my boy, that, probably owing to the snowstorm, there 
 happened to be no sentinel posted at the gate when 
 thou didst ask for admission. Thy presence here must 
 be kept a profound secret. Thou must sleep on 
 yonder couch. As this room adjoins my own, I shall 
 awake thee ere daylight, trusting that before any of 
 Prince Steffel's men are stirring, thou shalt have got- 
 ten beyond their reach. Tell the Princess how my 
 heart aches for her and those dear to her, and that we 
 pray daily at mass for the deliverance of the noble 
 Duke and Knight Conrad, as well as of Volga and the 
 young Count of Waldhorst, the noble son of that 
 wicked though repentant sire, whom I have found it 
 hard to forgive." 
 
 On the day following, just as the sun, after its work 
 of melting the snow, sank behind the dripping wooded
 
 HOW KURT SERVED PRINCE STEFFEL. 209 
 
 hills, our young servitor, besplashcd with mud, and 
 mounted on his forlorn, woe-begone looking steed, 
 presented himself at the castle of Falkenstein. 
 
 Ursula and the Duchess were seated in a cozy room 
 in the palace, talking as usual of the absent ones, and 
 listening to cheering words, from the now convalescent 
 minstrel. 
 
 When Kurt's arrival was announced, Ursula could 
 hardly believe her ears. Wild with joy, she ordered 
 him into her presence. The beaming boy entered the 
 room, fell on his knees and kissed again and again the 
 hand of his beloved mistress. His voice trembling with 
 emotion, he replied to the anxious inquiries after her 
 father and lover, and sitting at her feet, delivered their 
 messages in full, putting her in possession of all that 
 had happened to them as well as to himself. 
 
 Wolfram was exceedingly proud of his protege, com- 
 plimenting him in such unqualified terms on the cour- 
 age and manliness which he had evinced during all the 
 varied scenes of his trying imprisonment and escape, 
 and, in fact, was so generally pleased at his conduct, 
 that the boy was more than compensated for the perils 
 which he had so recently undergone. 
 
 "And now," said the minstrel, gallantly, "seeing that 
 thou hast really entered the service of the Princess, I 
 feel reconciled to my loss; and I trust that thy heart 
 will remain as true and faithful as ever." 
 
 14
 
 210 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 "We are, indeed, greatly beholden to thee, dear 
 boy," added Ursula, "but do not forget that it was the 
 hand of an all-ruling God that guided thee through 
 every peril. Let us all give thanks to him this night, 
 before we seek repose." 
 
 "Amen," softly responded the minstrel. 
 
 Kurt's cup of happiness was so full that it was im- 
 possible for him to close his eyes for many hours. As 
 he lay, his heart went up in thankfulness for his deliver- 
 ance ; but the praises which he had received from the 
 lovely Princess were dearer to him than life. 
 
 With the prayer that she and Conrad might be soon 
 reunited, and thinking alternately of her and of his 
 ideal knight, he at last fell asleep.
 
 THE SIEGE AND SURRENDER. 211 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE SIEGE AND SURRENDER. 
 
 " Tis not now who's stout and bold? 
 But, who bears hunger best, and cold? 
 And he's approved the most deserving 
 Who longest can hold out at starving." 
 
 Butler. 
 
 "Uncertainty! Fell demon of our fears! The human soul 
 That can support despair, supports not thee!" 
 
 Mallet. 
 
 A day after Kurt's departure from Waldhorst, our 
 friends once more held a council of war to determine 
 how long their provisions could hold out at the rate 
 they were using them. 
 
 Finding that there was barely enough left to keep 
 man and beast alive during the winter, they debated 
 whether or not it were the wiser plan to eat and 
 drink sufficiently each day to keep all in fair fighting 
 trim. They finally came to the decision that this 
 would be best, taking into consideration the chances 
 of some fortunate turn in affairs, such as Prince
 
 212 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 Steffel's possible abandonment of the siege, or the ar- 
 rival of the promised relief sooner than expected. 
 
 They consequently settled down to a strict military 
 routine, drilling the men, and exercising horses in 
 the courtyard at night, to avoid the bolts of the 
 enemy's sharpshooters, stationed on the cemetery hill 
 overlooking the castle. The besiegers closely en- 
 compassed the fortress, rendering any concerted at- 
 tempt at escape futile ; yet not one of that brave little 
 band ever dreamed of abandoning his comrades and 
 seeking personal safety in flight. 
 
 As the season advanced the moat became frozen 
 over. Though the ice increased in thickness, and 
 was covered by heavy and repeated falls of snow, the 
 water underneath still ran in a swift current, forcing 
 its way in and out through the subterranean passages. 
 With this wintry bridge thus formed across it, the 
 chances for escape increased; but the probability of 
 another attack became much more imminent. Not- 
 withstanding this danger, the heroic little band deter- 
 mined to stand at its post, and still further strength- 
 en the defenses of the castle. 
 
 Prince Steffel, however, seemed averse to renewing 
 the attack, as he remained absent from camp. 
 
 Day after day passed in suspense, each bringing 
 with it some new privation to the garrison. Volga, 
 Hugo, the Duke, Conrad and Henry the Guide kept
 
 THE SIEGE AND SURRENDER. 213 
 
 up their equestrian exercises by the light from the 
 castle windows, riding in circle, and attempting to out- 
 do each other in feats of horsemanship. 
 
 Volga soon distinguished herself in this way, though 
 frequently admonished by the Duke for her reckless- 
 ness. 
 
 One night she astonished all by standing on her 
 horse, stepping from him at a full gallop to the back 
 of another ridden by Hugo, and subsequently to Con- 
 rad's, behind whom she sat down in triumph. The 
 ability to perform this extraordinary feat proved her 
 salvation, as we shall see later on. 
 
 Each evening the besieged would sit talking over 
 the uneventful day, speculating on the doings of their 
 friends at Falkenstein. In this way two months of 
 monotonous life passed, when one morning, to the dis- 
 may of all, it was discovered that the ice in the moat 
 had given way during the night, settling down to its 
 bottom and choking up the outlet. 
 
 This sudden stoppage of their water supply they 
 were at a loss to account for, though suspectin;g 
 Prince Steffel's hand in it. That he had actually been 
 at work, during his absence, damming the river above 
 the castle and diverting its course into the valley, they 
 found out later on. This untoward circumstance 
 proved a dire calamity for man and beast. To add to 
 this, Prince Steffel appeared before the walls, demand-
 
 214 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 ing surrender, promising at the same time to treat the 
 inmates as honorable prisoners of war. Spring, how- 
 ever, was now so near with its promise of certain re- 
 lief, and a well-founded distrust in the promises of the 
 Prince as well induced the besieged to refuse com- 
 pliance with his demand ; so he departed and concocted 
 plans for further mischief. 
 
 But alas ! by the end of March affairs were becom- 
 ing desperate. They came to the conclusion that it 
 would be impossible to hold out longer. They re- 
 mained without tidings from Ursula. The still swollen 
 rivers were likely to longer retard the arrival of the 
 forces from Luxemburg. The last sack of flour had 
 been baked. The well in the courtyard had gone dry. 
 The supply of melted snow and rain which they had 
 caught had become undrinkable. It was thus that 
 famine stared them in their faces, on which privation 
 had already made its mark. This made the surrender 
 inevitable. They resolved that if in another day no 
 help appeared, they should make the best possible 
 terms with Prince Steffel. 
 
 The next morning Hugo climbed wearily up the 
 highest tower and strained his eyes in the vain hope of 
 discovering in the far distant valley some signs of com- 
 ing relief. Returning to his friends, his look of dis- 
 appointment rendered words superfluous. 
 
 Accordingly, he seized a white flag of truce, and
 
 THE SIEGE AND SURRENDER. 215 
 
 holding a short conference with the Duke and Conrad, 
 again mounted the drawbridge, which was then at once 
 lowered to its level. Requesting an interview with the 
 Pomeranian Prince, he was reported to be absent, but 
 expected to return on the day following. 
 
 As their condition was now so desperate, Hugo 
 decided, if possible, to make terms with those next 
 in command, as follows: First, that he should sur- 
 render the fortress. Second, that Volga, the Duke, 
 Conrad and himself should be allowed to keep their 
 arms and horses, awaiting the arrival of the Prince; 
 and third, that the rest of the garrison should be 
 treated as honorable prisoners ; finally, that all of them 
 should immediately be fed within the castle and be 
 allowed to remain under its roof overnight, or until 
 such time as Prince Steffel should return. 
 
 The knight in command at first seemed disinclined 
 to grant these conditions; but he finally agreed to 
 them with the exception of their remaining overnight, 
 for reasons best known to himself. 
 
 Hugo communicated this ultimatum to his friends. 
 Returning to the bridge, he accepted the terms. That 
 afternoon, after hunger had been satisfied by a sup- 
 ply of food and drink, the men, women and chil- 
 dren, mounted and dismounted, with Henry, the guide, 
 at their head, crossed the drawbridge, and were quar- 
 tered in a long shed, which until lately had served as
 
 216 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 a barracks for Prince Steffel's squires. Duke Henry, 
 Conrad and Hugo, fully armed, accompanied by Vol- 
 ga, who carried her crossbow defiantly, rode over the 
 bridge. A few minutes later, they were consigned to 
 the witch's cabin. Their horses, meanwhile, remained 
 saddled, tied to a tree across the road. 
 
 They found the interior of the hut greatly disturbed, 
 for in spite of the superstition connected with it, it 
 had been used to stable the Prince's horses. Pieces of 
 the broken furniture had been thrown, along with 
 straw, on the old rubbish pile in the corner. 
 
 When the door of the shed had closed upon them, 
 being much refreshed by their recent meal, they stood 
 close together in the darkness to commune with each 
 other over the situation. 
 
 They had every reason to fear that on the morrow 
 the terms of surrender would be greatly changed for 
 the worse, if not entirely cancelled by the brutal 
 Prince ; so they naturally concentrated their thoughts 
 on devising some possible means of escape. Conrad 
 was the first to suggest the subterranean passage of 
 the cave, by which he and the Duke successfully evad- 
 ed pursuit nearly a year before. He felt almost sure 
 that this exit from the hut remained open and undis- 
 covered by the enemy. But what chance had they of
 
 THE SIEGE AND SURRENDER. 217 
 
 escape without horses, even though they should suc- 
 ceed in reaching and passing through the now dry 
 cave. 
 
 While they were discussing this point, a bright light 
 suddenly flashed into the cabin, through its only open- 
 ing, the hole in the roof. At the same time a peculiar 
 crackling noise was heard. Just at that moment a 
 soldier entered the cabin with food and drink for their 
 supper, and as the unwonted glare still puzzled them, 
 Conrad asked of the man an explanation. "The castle 
 is ablaze," replied the soldier. "It has been fired by 
 orders from our august Prince ;" saying which, he 
 slammed the door, bolting it behind him. Hugo, be- 
 side himself with rage, shook his clenched fist at the 
 imaginary figure of the detested enemy who had or- 
 dered the destruction of his fine ancestral inheritance. 
 As he now understood the motive of the Pomeranians 
 in insisting on its evacuation, the young Count, with 
 vengeance at heart, exerted himself to work out the 
 problems of their escape. While eating his supper, the 
 increasing glare of the burning castle seemed to set his 
 brain on fire. 
 
 "I've hit upon a plan," he suddenly exclaimed, ris- 
 ing. "I will crawl out through that hole upon the roof, 
 climb over it in the shade of the overhanging rock, 
 get to the ground among the bushes, cross to where 
 the horses are tied, mount my own, and taking the
 
 218 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 others with me around the turn, enter the thicket be- 
 fore any alarm can be given. Once among the trees, 
 there will be no danger of pursuit, particularly as I will 
 make my way to a hidden path which leads to the 
 mouth of the cave. There I will wait for you while 
 you make your way through its clay bed. Thou, 
 Volga, knowest the path ?" 
 
 "Yes, dear Hugo," replied the girl, "I know it well ; 
 but what if we fail to reach thee through the cave ?" 
 
 "That must not be," answered Hugo. "What sayest 
 thou, Conrad, and thou, my lord Duke ?" 
 
 "I have more confidence in our getting through 
 that dark passage than in thy meeting us with the 
 horses," replied the Duke. 
 
 "So have I," said Conrad, "and I wish we could de- 
 vise a plan which would not involve so great a risk to 
 thee, Hugo." 
 
 "Listen !" interposed the brave youth, with decision. 
 "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Our position 
 here is a desperate one, and we can expect no mercy 
 from that merciless boor. If we fail in our attempt to 
 escape, we shall be no worse off. In either case, I 
 presume we shall be killed." 
 
 "That is true," said Volga, "and I have full faith in 
 the success of thy undertaking, Hugo ; meanwhile we 
 shall do our best to make our way through the cave's 
 dry, bed."
 
 THE SIEGE AND SURRENDER. 219 
 
 Without further parley Conrad went to the corner. 
 In order not to disturb the appearance of the refuse 
 heap, he pushed it carefully aside, disclosing the well- 
 known narrow opening. Beyond it, in the dark pas- 
 sage, instead of the rushing water which greeted his 
 ears the year before, silence reigned supreme. In a 
 corner of the rocky niche stood three well-corked stone 
 jars, which on examination, Duke Henry and Con- 
 rad pronounced to contain some of the mysterious 
 liquid whose invigorating properties they both had 
 tested during their first visit to the hut. Could it 
 be that the old witch had hidden these bottles for 
 them, knowing that they would again try to escape by 
 this path ? It almost seemed so. 
 
 "And who knows," said the Duke, "but that the poor 
 demented woman, after her imaginary mission on 
 earth had been fulfilled, may have thrown herself into 
 the dark current beyond to end her miserable exist- 
 ence?" 
 
 At Conrad's suggestion they all took a long draught 
 from one of the jars, which, stirring their blood, seemed 
 to infuse new strength into their bodies. The Duke no 
 longer attempted to dissuade Hugo from his hazardous 
 undertaking. 
 
 To facilitate his movements, the young Count re- 
 moved his armor, an example followed soon after by 
 his male companions. To prevent recognition by the
 
 220 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 enemy he kept only his short hunting sword which he 
 concealed beneath his doublet. The Duke, Volga and 
 Conrad bade him godspeed, the latter, with his strong 
 arms, lifting him up to climb upon the roof through the 
 hole above. Having reached it, Hugo crept down in 
 the shade close by the rocks and dropped noiselessly to 
 the ground. The creaking of the old structure being 
 lost in the crackling of the conflagration escaped the 
 ears of the two sentinels mechanically pacing up and 
 down before the hut, whose present occupants, as far as 
 the narrow brains of the soldiers were able to conceive, 
 had but one means of egress. 
 
 Hugo saw them from his hiding place pacing quite 
 near him and was puzzled for a moment what to do 
 next. Not far off he descried men sleeping on their 
 arms in open tents and the horses he longed to secure 
 still tied some distance back, across the road, to a tree 
 which was shaded from the fire's glare. 
 
 The brave youth crept along the rock until he came 
 nearly opposite the horses. There he lay down, feign- 
 ing to be sound asleep. For a short while, one of the 
 sentinels passed and repassed without noticing him. 
 Presently, as he approached, Hugo snored aloud, in 
 order to attract his attention. The ruse succeeded as 
 he knew by a kick in the ribs, and a gruff voice de- 
 manding what he was doing there. He pretended to 
 be very drunk, and waited for a second kick before he
 
 The Duke, Vol.^a. and Conrad bade him godspeed.
 
 THE SIEGE AND SURRENDER. 221 
 
 replied with a thickened utterance and assumed stu- 
 pidity, that he must have rolled there in his sleep. 
 
 "Get back to thy tent, thou pig !" growled the sen- 
 tinel, kicking him over and over again, across the road 
 to the trees. There he left the supposed drunkard, 
 paying no more attention to him. Hugo, however, 
 kept on rolling toward the horses, feeling assured that 
 by not having resented his hard usage, he had saved 
 his own life, and possibly, the lives of his friends as 
 well. 
 
 Once out of sight of the sentinels, he worked his 
 way quickly, though carefully, on all fours, toward 
 the coveted tree; but before reaching it, he nearly 
 stumbled over a recumbent body, seemingly that of a 
 Pomeranian lanzknecht. He drew his hunting sword ; 
 but as the prostrate form remained immovable, he 
 scanned the face closely and to his amazement recog- 
 nized Kurt, apparently unconscious, with his hands 
 and feet tied. Hugo called him by name close to his 
 ear, which caused him to open his eyes with wonder 
 and see the familiar features of the young Count, who 
 motioned him to keep quiet. Hugo quickly cut the 
 lad's bonds, asking in a whisper what had brought him 
 again to such a pass. 
 
 "I came from Falkenstein," softly answered the boy, 
 "with a message to you from the Princess that the 
 Luxemburg knights were crossing the Rhine and
 
 222 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 would probably reach the ferry at the Benedictine 
 Monastery within two days. When I arrived here 
 an hour ago," continued the boy, "I saw the castle on 
 fire, and my heart sank within me. I suppose I be- 
 came careless about being seen, for I was suspected, 
 questioned and taken before the commander of this 
 camp, who ordered me to be bound hand and foot 
 and thrown here until the coming of Prince Steffel. 
 He, I know, will recognize me. I had given up all 
 hope and lay here resigned to my fate." 
 
 Hugo, in a few low, hasty words, told the boy what 
 had transpired, then ordering him to take Volga's 
 horse from among those fastened nearby and to follow 
 him closely, he was about to get among them when 
 Kurt whispered: "Lady Volga's horse is not there. 
 I did not see him anywhere. My own good steed, 
 however, under yonder tree, is at her service, should I 
 succeed in reaching him." 
 
 "We will see," Hugo replied. "I may decide to take 
 Volga on behind me and despatch thee to Falkenstein. 
 Try to get thy horse : Only if thou failest to reach him, 
 will I start without thee." 
 
 The boy was off, creeping behind tents on his 
 hands and knees. In a short time Hugo saw him peep 
 over the back of his steed, watching his own move- 
 ments. He lost no time in getting between the horses 
 which were to carry him and his friends. With the
 
 THE SIEGE AND SURRENDER. 223 
 
 bridles of two of them in his hand, he mounted his 
 own, and proceeded to pick his way quickly between 
 the trees. Before he had reached the illuminated road, 
 however, the two sentinels perceived him. Running 
 toward him they shouted lustily. As the first one 
 neared the heels of the rear horse, he received a kick 
 which rolled him over, groaning. The other attempted 
 to seize Hugo's horse at the bridle bit, but fell back 
 with a loud cry, with his hand badly cut by a savage 
 blow from its rider's sword. 
 
 In a moment they were off at full gallop; but by 
 this time the whole camp was in an uproar, armed 
 soldiers running out of their tents, and a detachment 
 of fifty horsemen mounting in haste for the pursuit. 
 Just then another rider, a Pomeranian lanzknecht, was 
 seen making his way through the trees. The last to 
 gain the road, he seemed to pursue the fugitives. It 
 was well for Kurt that he urged his Hungarian to his 
 utmost ; for hardly had he rounded the turn, when he 
 caught sight of the gallant Hugo before him, on the 
 point of disappearing with his led horses into a thicket, 
 who were now closely followed by the boy. A moment 
 later, the horsemen rounded the corner, expecting to 
 see in the well lighted road the fugitives, whoever they 
 might be. One can imagine their astonishment and 
 chagrin when no traces of them were visible. 
 
 The knight in command halted his men, and gave
 
 224 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 vent to his disappointment in curses. In his search for 
 fresh impressions of horses' hoofs, he was unsuccess- 
 ful, as they had been entirely obliterated by those of 
 his own riders. After looking in vain among the in- 
 tricate bushes and trees for some sign, he returned 
 crestfallen to camp, still cursing his luck, which he 
 knew would bring down upon his head the wrath of 
 Prince Steffel. The sentinel with the lacerated hand 
 approached him and said that the fugitive with the led 
 horses looked like one of the prisoners confined in the 
 witch's hut, and the other, in the Pomeranian garb, 
 resembled the spy captured in camp a few hours be- 
 fore. 
 
 "What were you damned sentinels about then?" 
 roared the captain. 
 
 "We never left our posts," answered the one who 
 was still half doubled up by the kick he had received ; 
 "that witch's den, however, is no safe place to confine 
 anyone." 
 
 "Hold thy tongue, thou fool," cried the Knight in 
 command of the camp, just then approaching. "Open 
 the door and we shall see who is within." 
 
 The order was quickly obeyed. To their dismay, 
 they found the cabin empty. The soldiers crossed 
 themselves, looking at each other in blank wonder. 
 On the floor of the dirty hovel lay three suits of armor, 
 Hugo's battle-axe and Volga's cloak. 
 
 The commander was the first to recover from his
 
 THE SIEGE AND SURRENDER. 225 
 
 astonishment. Looking around, he saw the signs of 
 someone having escaped through the hole in the roof ; 
 and never dreaming of an opening behind the rubbish, 
 took it for granted that all the fugitives had escaped 
 through the same aperture. In a great rage, he ac- 
 cused the sentinels of treachery and had them put in 
 irons. An immediate search throughout the camp 
 was then ordered, and a body of riders sent to scour the 
 surrounding country. 
 
 The return of the Prince was awaited in fear and 
 trembling. When he arrived the next day, his vassals 
 soon learned that their fears were well founded. He 
 was in great glee over the capitulation and destruction 
 of the castle, and eager to take final vengeance on the 
 Duke and Conrad. 
 
 When he learned that they had escaped and two 
 others with them, his rage knew no bounds. He or- 
 dered the two sentinels to be summarily beheaded. 
 The captain he had flogged within an inch of his life 
 and dismissed from service. Then all the prisoners 
 were brought before the vindictive conquerer. With 
 the exception of Henry the guide, of whom we shall 
 hear later on, he then condemned them to death, re- 
 gardless of sex or age. 
 
 After these cruel orders were executed, he broke 
 camp, concentrating his forces on the right side of the 
 river, the better to intercept the army from Luxem- 
 burg, and prevent its junction with the Princess Ur- 
 sula. 
 
 16
 
 226 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE FLIGHT. 
 
 "For those that fly may fight again, 
 Which he can never do that's slain; 
 Hence timely cunning's no mean part 
 Of conduct in the martial art." 
 
 Hudibras. 
 
 To go back to our friends. With every sense on 
 the alert, they had heard the uproar in the camp. 
 Feeling almost certain that Hugo had succeeded in 
 securing the horses, they, without further delay, cast 
 off their armor, secured their battle-axes to their sides 
 and entered the subterranean passage, replacing the 
 refuse partition most carefully behind them. 
 
 Conrad took the advance, guiding Volga through 
 the darkness and deathlike stillness, broken only by 
 the faint echo of their footsteps. The Duke followed, 
 carrying the stone jars tied together by their necks. 
 
 On arriving at the river bed, they made out, simply 
 by touch, one of the witch's boats hanging by its 
 fastening in the cave; but it served to no purpose 
 save to steady them as they gained a foothold in the 
 soft mud which they now encountered.
 
 THE FLIGHT. 227 
 
 As they stood ankle-deep in the mire, holding on to 
 each other for support, they descried in the long dis- 
 tance before them the same opening, through which a 
 frail boat, carried by a roaring torrent, had so rapidly 
 taken two of their number the year before. Without 
 stopping to weigh the chances of reaching it in the 
 present condition of the cave, they started on 
 their difficult journey. It proved even a hard- 
 er task than they had anticipated; their path 
 being filled with large and small pieces of rock im- 
 bedded in it, rendering each step not only uncertain but 
 dangerous. Before they had proceeded far, Volga 
 slipped and wrenched her ankle so badly that she was 
 unable to walk. Conrad took her on his back, saying 
 with a laugh, "I must needs be thy donkey until we 
 reach the horses." The brave girl replied in the same 
 joking tones : "I like my donkey greatly ; I prefer him 
 to my horse ; but I fear the donkey will tire sooner of 
 his load." 
 
 "Perhaps so," answered our hero, "but not, I trow, 
 as soon as thou thinkest. Look out there! Steady, 
 Duke ! Here we go !" A slippery rock which lay in 
 their path, over which they stumbled, brought them all 
 to grief. They lay sprawling in the mud. 
 
 "What a lovely picture we would present," said 
 Volga, whom Conrad was helping to rise, "did the 
 light from that opening penetrate this far."
 
 228 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 "Yes," replied he, "and how will we look, mounted 
 on our steeds, when daylight appears ?" 
 
 "It seems to me," here interposed the Duke, "that 
 the water from the river has backed up into the cave 
 and that before we reach the opening, we may have 
 to swim." 
 
 "That will at least clean us, even at the risk of 
 drowning," said Conrad, laughingly. 
 
 As they hurried their steps, still stumbling and 
 sliding, the light on the water's surface became plainly 
 visible. They met with no further accidents, however, 
 and gradually the ground became harder, and the 
 walking less laborious. 
 
 As they reached the water they halted. Conrad, 
 placing Volga on her feet, wiped the perspiration from 
 his brow. 
 
 "The donkey is tired," said he ; "it wants rest and a 
 drink!" 
 
 "I think a drink from these jars will revive all of 
 us," said the Duke; "we must have started over an 
 hour ago." 
 
 "My foot is better," exclaimed Volga, pressing her 
 weight upon it, "I think I can now walk with thy h'elp, 
 Conrad, the clinging mud must have cured it." 
 
 "Good news for me, thy discharged donkey," was 
 the bantering answer. Thus joking they managed to 
 enliven their perilous journey.
 
 THE FLIGHT. 229 
 
 They drank in renewed courage from the old witch's 
 jars. The mouth of the cave had grown in 
 size. Pressing onward again, they gradually found 
 themselves knee deep in water, which made walking 
 difficult, particularly for Volga. A few steps'further on, 
 swimming was decided upon, which, with their heavy 
 weapons, proved no easy task. Volga placed her hand 
 on Conrad's shoulder, floating without effort, while he 
 struck out vigorously. The Duke, swimming man- 
 fully, kept close to his friend. Struggling onward, 
 without actually getting beyond their depth, they soon, 
 emerged from the cave. Landing on the shore, to 
 their great joy, they found Hugo with the horses 
 awaiting them. 
 
 One can imagine the young Count's delight, when, 
 after two hours' waiting in suspense he greeted his 
 friends unharmed. There they stood, dripping under 
 the star-studded sky, still slightly illuminated by the 
 glare of the now distant conflagration. As Volga, al- 
 most immediately, noticed that her horse was missing, 
 she turned to Hugo, in alarm, for the reason. He ex- 
 plained how he had found but three horses tied to the 
 tree, Kurt near them a prisoner, and that after the 
 boy had cleverly made his escape, he had despatched 
 him on horseback to Falkenstein to apprise the Prin- 
 cess of what had happened. 
 
 "You must be very tired, good friends," continued
 
 230 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 he, "but as you are wet to the skin and I feel chilly 
 after my two hours' waiting, perhaps we had better 
 be off and warm ourselves by exercise." 
 
 "It hardly seems possible," said Conrad, "that we 
 have been so long in the cave, now we are out of it. 
 Verily, the cold water and the witch's drink must have 
 in turn revived us. Hugo, try a taste of that inspir- 
 ing beverage." 
 
 "Indeed I will, for I need it," answered the young 
 Count, "and I think you will all be better for another 
 good draught after your wetting." 
 
 Accordingly, they refreshed themselves. A mo- 
 ment later they were in their saddles. Volga took her 
 seat, to start with, behind Hugo. In high spirits 
 they rode through the woods to the secret ford, which 
 they crossed in safety in spite of the still swollen condi- 
 tion of the river. On gaining the open road, they put 
 their horses to a full run, feeling reasonably sure that 
 none of the enemy would be prowling about during 
 the night, except possibly such as might have been 
 sent out in search of them by way of the upper ford. 
 From that possibility they were now rapidly gallop- 
 ing. Every stride of their powerful steeds brought 
 them nearer to their destination. Not until daylight 
 did they slacken their pace, or think of taking to the 
 byways to avoid danger. Their route passed through 
 thickly wooded regions. At sunrise they reached the
 
 THE FLIGHT. 231 
 
 fields and meadows in the lovely garb of spring. 
 Here they allowed their horses to walk: 
 
 At noon they arrived at a farmhouse whose inmates 
 were known to Hugo. They were at first greatly 
 alarmed, taking them for Pomeranian foragers, who 
 had already carried away most of their cattle and pro- 
 visions. When our friends made themselves known 
 the fears of the good peasants were quickly allayed. 
 With faces beaming with hospitality, they informed 
 their now welcome guests that some little had been 
 saved from the marauders, and that a repast would 
 soon be ready for them, and their horses meanwhile 
 well fed. The fugitives made a most excellent meal 
 and enjoyed a good rest before pursuing their jour- 
 ney. 
 
 In the afternoon they neared the river. As far as 
 the eye could reach no signs of the enemy were seen, 
 save a few far distant camps on the opposite shore. In 
 order to reach the ruins of Grunau that day, it was 
 necessary to keep the road for some time, being ready 
 at any moment to take to the woods at the first ap- 
 proach of danger. 
 
 As the highway continued clear of all traces of sol- 
 diery, they unconsciously passed the last copse of 
 woods which would have afforded them refuge in case 
 of surprise. Remembering this a little later, they gal- 
 loped on rather recklessly, trusting to fortune and
 
 232 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 their good horses to carry them to the ruins, which 
 Kurt had told Hugo were not occupied by the enemy. 
 As the towers of the Benedictine Monastery loomed up 
 in the distance, they became suddenly aware that they 
 had come upon a small Pomeranian camp, which, until 
 that moment, had been hidden among the trees. 
 Whether they had been seen or not they did not take 
 time to decide. 
 
 The ruined battlements of Grunau were already in 
 sight; so they pressed toward them with their horses 
 at full speed. Looking backward they saw that the 
 enemy were astir. A moment later a score or more 
 riders started in pursuit. In the exciting race which 
 followed, the fugitives managed to maintain for a time 
 the distance between them and their pursuers. This 
 they* would not have had the slightest chance of doing, 
 but for the superior breed of their horses, each of 
 which had in turn been carrying a double load. Volga, 
 just then, happened to be seated behind Conrad. Hugo 
 noticed that their steaming steed was beginning to 
 lag behind. Riding close up to her, he asked, hurried- 
 ly, if she thought she could change horses at the pace 
 they were going. Without a word, the brave girl 
 gained her feet, and the next moment leaped from be- 
 hind Conrad; but slipping, threw her arms around 
 Hugo's neck to save herself, nearly unhorsing him. 
 Recovering himself, the young Count drove his spurs
 
 THE FLIGHT. 233 
 
 into his powerful horse's flanks, and on they sped once 
 more at a terrific gait. The knight in command of the 
 pursuers had meanwhile gained considerably upon 
 them. The Duke, in advance of the others, passed by 
 the monastery gate just as the Abbot, hearing the 
 tramp of horses and the shouts of the pursuing riders, 
 looked hurriedly from his window and saw Conrad 
 with his battle-axe engaged in single combat with the 
 full mailed Pomeranian leader, who, the next moment, 
 fell wounded from his horse. 
 
 Our hero forged ahead, narrowly escaping some of 
 the foremost horsemen. The Duke gained the ruins, 
 entered the outer courtyard through its open gate, and 
 springing from his horse, picked up a large beam, 
 placing it upright beside the opening just as Hugo 
 with Volga dashed through. A moment later Conrad 
 entered, half a dozen Pomeranians af his heels. 
 
 The Duke slammed the heavy gate in their faces, 
 and with Conrad's aid placed the beam against the 
 solid barrier, fastening its end securely in the ground. 
 
 For a moment they were safe. The pursuers, 
 being deprived of their leader, were undecided what 
 to do. Some remained to guard the gate, while the 
 others returned to their wounded captain. 
 
 The Abbot no longer delayed. Hurriedly leaving 
 his post of observation, he despatched, by the way of 
 the underground passage, two trusty laymen with
 
 234 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 provisions to the ruins. Following soon after, 
 clad in full armor and carrying a battle-axe, he 
 confronted Conrad suddenly in the banquet hall, re- 
 minding him forcibly of the apparition of the year be- 
 fore, but the Abbot gave him no chance to speak. 
 
 "I have come," he cried, "to help you all here in 
 this doubtful stronghold. I saw you on the road. God 
 be praised that you escaped from the hirelings of that 
 godless Prince ! Just now he is away, but he -may re- 
 turn at any moment to attack you. I had this old 
 armor in my closet ; though too small for me now, I 
 managed to get into it. I also found my old battle- 
 axe and some shields, which my trusted monks will 
 bring to you. Some will remain to assist in defend- 
 ing these ruins. I trust that other assistance will soon 
 reach you. The boy Kurt passed through here some 
 hours ago, telling me of your flight. He expects to ar- 
 rive at Falkenstein tomorrow before daylight. 
 
 After this recital the breathless Abbot refreshed 
 himself with a glass of wine from the stores he had 
 himself spread before his guests, to whom, after their 
 recent privations, they seemed a godsend. 
 
 The Abbot expressed his particular delight at see- 
 ing Volga, whom he had not laid eyes on since, as a 
 little girl, she had been carried away by Hans von 
 Waldhorst. He reminded her that she was in her 
 native castle, which interested her greatly ; but being
 
 THE FLIGHT. 235 
 
 exhausted on account of the fatigue and excitement 
 of the trying day, she retired early and soon fell into 
 a deep sleep. 
 
 The Abbot, meanwhile, in helping to finish the last 
 bottle, continued his talk. "I had given up hoping to 
 see you all again," he said. "That Pomeranian Prince ! 
 Holy Virgin, how I hate him ! still has his quarters at 
 the monastery, and may return at any mo- 
 ment. I am here to fight against him by 
 your side, my brothers, whom I love, and for 
 the sake of our noble Princess Ursula, whom 
 we all love, and in whose cause, if need be, we 
 are ready to fight and die. I am a soldier now, no 
 longer a monk. I shall immediately send one of my 
 laymen to Falkenstein to inform the Princess of the 
 perilous position in which you are placed, as you can- 
 not tell what may happen. The forces- from Luxem- 
 burg may be retarded in their movements, and Prince 
 Steffel may find occasion to attack you. We must for- 
 tify this place ; so I shall at once set to work with my 
 monks, and continue throughout the night, if neces- 
 sary, while you lie down and rest after your late severe 
 trials." 
 
 It was wonderful to see the energy with which this 
 extraordinary man set about directing his assistants, 
 and putting his own hands to the work. Before day- 
 break he had finished barricading all accessible points,
 
 236 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 and had fortified the dilapidated main entrance to the 
 inner courtyard, by filling it up with heavy stones 
 from the fallen walls around, on the top of which only 
 a narrow passage was left, small enough to be defend- 
 ed by one man. 
 
 Other heavy stones were carried to the battlements, 
 ready to be hurled down upon the heads of the enemy. 
 A large break in the rear of the ruins, the wall of 
 which had fallen into a remnant of the moat, was so 
 very steep, that it seemed absolutely impossible for 
 any one to ascend it, so the Abbot feared no attack 
 from that quarter. Little did he dream that something 
 was to happen on the following day which would draw 
 the attention of Prince Steffel to that very breach, the 
 accessibility of which might otherwise have remained 
 undiscovered.
 
 THE SACRIFICE. 237 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE SACRIFICE. 
 
 "Alas! what stay is there in human state, 
 Or who can shun inevitable fate?" 
 
 Dry den. 
 
 "He hath fought today, 
 As if a god, in hate of mankind, had 
 Destroy'd in such a shape." 
 
 Shaks. Antony and Cleopatra. 
 
 The next morning, soon after sunrise, Conrad was 
 roused from a sound sleep by one of the monks who 
 had been on guard all night. This man informed him 
 that a young soldier in Pomeranian garb had climbed 
 up the steep back breach before daylight, that he had 
 stated he came from Falkenstein with a message to 
 the Duke and Knight Conrad. He gave his name as 
 Kurt, and was now asleep on the battlements with a 
 large sword in his arms. Our hero arose. Ascending 
 the winding steps he stood beside the sleeping boy, 
 in whose hands, to his great delight, he beheld his good 
 blade clasped tightly, as though he were fearful that 
 someone would take it from him.
 
 238 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 Kurt, stretching himself, awoke. Perceiving Con- 
 rad he jumped up and handed him the sword, saying 
 that it had been confided to him by the Princess Ur- 
 sula. 
 
 "I arrived at Falkenstein," he added, "late last night. 
 Within an hour I was again in the saddle on my way 
 to this place, where I learned from a monk sent by you, 
 to the Princess, and whom I met on the way, that you 
 had actually arrived and were fortifying yourselves. 
 This man went on. The Princess told me that she 
 would be ready to start to your assistance with a 
 goodly number of mounted knights at sunrise this 
 morning. She expected to reach the ferry before 
 nightfall, where she hoped her ally from Luxemburg 
 would join her. 
 
 "Thou bringest good news, my brave boy," said 
 Conrad; "and now that we may hope for relief, and 
 may defend ourselves to the last, my father's sword is 
 doubly welcome. But where is thy horse, Kurt ?" 
 
 "Among the trees yonder," replied the boy, "where 
 I hope he may not be discovered ; but look ! Sir 
 Knight; there he is at the foot of this huge pile of 
 stones, which I had hard work to climb, evidently 
 bent upon following my example." 
 
 Sure enough, the faithful animal was trying to gain 
 a foothold along the fallen ruins, and to trace his mas- 
 ter's steps up the steep ascent. He was already half
 
 THE SACRIFICE. 239 
 
 way up. Kurt hesitated no longer, but rushing down 
 the breach, reached the side of his pet. Together they 
 climbed the rest of the way, supporting each other, 
 and nearly coming to grief more than once before they 
 arrived at the battlements. They little knew that 
 Prince Steffel, who had just returned to the monas- 
 tery, had closely watched their movements from his 
 window for at least ten minutes. 
 
 He had returned that morning from the smoking 
 ruins of Waldhorst Castle in a surly humor, being still 
 at breakfast when it was reported to him that the es- 
 caped prisoners had entrenched themselves in the ruins 
 of Grunau. 
 
 Thinking that it would be an easy matter for a small 
 detachment of his troops to reduce the old dilapidated 
 place and recapture its inmates, he simply ordered an 
 attack, while he devoted his own energy to vanquish- 
 ing the monastery wines and enjoying his ease, as was 
 his wont to do before taking the field. 
 
 He was already informed that the army of Luxem- 
 burg had been delayed, and it would be impossible on 
 that day for it to encounter his forces then awaiting 
 it across the river. For once, however, he was un- 
 aware of the Princess Ursula's departure from Falk- 
 enstein that morning. 
 
 Meanwhile our friends and the Abbot were seated 
 around an improvised table partaking of a breakfast
 
 240 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 just sent from the monastery. They had hardly fin- 
 ished when a monk, on the lookout, reported a num- 
 ber of the enemy advancing with scaling ladders, evi- 
 dently intending an immediate assault. 
 
 They quickly prepared to defend the position. 
 The Duke and Hugo donned the two suits 
 of mail set up in the banquet hall, too small for 
 Conrad, who having no armor, was forced to content 
 himself with a shield and a steel cap which he had 
 found; but with his trusty sword and the Princess' 
 dagger, which he had won at the tournament, he felt 
 equal to any emergency. He took his position, single- 
 handed, on the narrow ledge above the inner entrance. 
 Kurt was stationed near him inside the walls. The 
 Abbot, with the heaviest battle-axe in hand, planted 
 himself on the front battlement, the Duke and the 
 two other monks being near, ready for those who 
 might attempt to mount the ladders, with stones to 
 be hurled on their heads. Hugo took his stand at an- 
 other weak point close to an old ruined tower, in which 
 the dauntless Volga had hidden with her crossbow. 
 From there the girl overlooked the outer courtyard, 
 toward which the attack was evidently directed. 
 
 On came the Pomeranians, entering the enclosure by 
 battering down the insecure gate, and advancing in 
 solid mass against the fortified ruins. Heavy stones 
 were rained down upon them. One of the knights
 
 THE SACRIFICE. 241 
 
 in command fell by a bolt from Volga's crossbow, 
 which pierced his armor at the neck. Those that tried 
 to scale the battlements were hurled back among their 
 fellows. When Conrad swung his immense sword, the 
 dead and wounded were piled upon each other ; yet on 
 they came, knights and soldiers taking the places of 
 their fallen comrades. Conrad was wounded and Kurt 
 left his post to inform the Abbot of the misfortune. 
 A few moments later the brave old Monastic Knight 
 stood in Conrad's place, wielding his ponderous bat- 
 tle-axe with telling effect, while our hero tried to stop 
 the flow of blood from a wound in his left shoulder. 
 
 Two knights with a large body of followers now ad- 
 vanced upon the Abbot, determined to carry the main 
 entrance to the fortress, and put an end to its valiant 
 defender. That intrepid warrior, however, utterly 
 reckless of his own personal safety, advanced boldly 
 against this force, and while their weapons glanced 
 harmlessly from shield and mail, his battle-axe dealt 
 such blows upon their heads that they rolled 
 on top of one another. One of these soldiers, thinking 
 the champion bore a charmed life, cried out in alarm : 
 "It is a fiend who has taken the shape of the late 
 Baron ! Ye cannot harm him ! Fly, comrades ! Fly !" 
 
 A knight struck down this coward ; but he himself 
 received a moment later a death wound from Volga's 
 
 shaft. Deeming this a bad omen, the superstitious 
 10
 
 242 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 soldiers fell back, and being pursued single-handed by 
 the Abbot, who grew more reckless still, they became 
 thoroughly alarmed and fled from the ruins, all save 
 one knight, who rallied two stout squires and with 
 them faced their charmed enemy. It was lucky for 
 him at this critical moment that Conrad was able to 
 come to his assistance; for with his timely aid, he 
 made short work of these heavily mailed Pomeranians, 
 two being left dead on the field, while the third joined 
 in the general flight. 
 
 "Many thanks, my friend," ejaculated the puffing 
 Abbot, "thou earnest to me in the nick of time." 
 
 "Thou art a perfect wonder, Sir Knight of St. Bene- 
 dictus," replied Conrad. "I never saw such bravery 
 and activity ! What a powerful arm thou dost wield !" 
 
 "Oh, that's nothing!" answered the Abbot, though 
 manifestly pleased at his young friend's praise. 
 
 Fastening the battered outer gate as well as they 
 could with the beam, they returned to the ruins rejoic- 
 ing in their victory, though well aware that they had 
 encountered but a comparatively small force, and were 
 by no means secure from further assault. 
 
 Prince Steffel, having watched the attack, became 
 furious when he saw his knights and vassals repulsed 
 by so small a number. 
 
 "What?" he cried. "A mere handful of men in- 
 trenched within those miserable ruins defy me? We
 
 THE SACRIFICE. 243 
 
 shall see ! By our lady, I'll go myself and show these 
 cowards how to take an old heap of stones !" 
 
 He had courage enough, this lazy Pomeranian, but 
 it needed rousing. The larger part of his army was in- 
 active across the river, and he might have attacked the 
 ruins in force and reduce them, instead of making a 
 personal assault with a small body, as was now his in- 
 tention. Pushing aside his still unfinished repast, he 
 summoned messengers before him, and despatched 
 them across the river with orders for a few chosen 
 knights to join his immediately. 
 
 Meanwhile at the ruins the Abbot was walking 
 around, the hero of the hour. To all the praises of his 
 friends, he replied, "I am a young man again; and 
 since I have tasted blood, long for more, and for a 
 chance to drive my battle-axe deep into that boor's 
 head. I would fain split open that block of iniquity." 
 
 "I believe thee, thou valiant knight," said the Duke, 
 "but perchance thy head might be the first one split, 
 which God forfend! Volga! those bolts which dis- 
 abled the two Pomeranians was it thy steady hand 
 which sent them?" 
 
 "Yes, my lord," modestly answered the girl. 
 "Standing within that tower, I was able, while unseen, 
 to take good aim, but I have only one bolt left." 
 
 "Thou didst well, brave girl!" said Duke Henry, 
 "and notwithstanding the valor and prowess of our
 
 244 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 Benedictine warrior here, I think it possible we might 
 have lost the fight but for those timely shots." 
 
 "Very likely," interposed the Abbot. "I do not re- 
 member much concerning these deeds of mine which 
 ye are pleased to call wonderful; but it does seem 
 passing strange that my niece here, the daughter of 
 the late Baron von Grunau, should have taken so 
 prominent a part in the defense of these walls within 
 which she first saw the light some seventeen years 
 ago." 
 
 Just at this moment the monk who had been sta- 
 tioned on the lookout entered excitedly, reporting an 
 unusual movement on the part of the enemy. The 
 whole party ascended the tower. From its height they 
 could plainly see Prince Steffel standing on Monastery 
 Hill surrounded by a throng of followers. From his 
 threatening gestures and the direction in which he 
 looked, they concluded that he was speaking of the 
 feasibility of an attack on the rear breach. 
 
 These conjectures proved to be correct. The Prince 
 was indeed calling the attention of his knights to the 
 possibility of crossing the deep ditch and scaling the 
 breach beyond. "Early this morning," he was saying, 
 "I myself saw a horse climbing the ascent, and where 
 a beast can go, we can follow. I shall at once set my 
 men at work clearing some sort of path over the fallen 
 walls, by which we can gain a firmer foothold in
 
 THE SACRIFICE. 245 
 
 climbing to the battlements. I shall scale them with 
 any of you young men. Before nightfall, every cursed 
 inmate of those dirty ruins shall either have been killed 
 or be a prisoner in my hands." 
 
 This address, out of hearing by the besieged, was 
 reported to them almost verbatim by the monk who 
 brought them their mid-day meal. He added, also, 
 that he had heard the Prince order a small contingent 
 of bowmen from across the river to join in the attack. 
 
 No time was to be lost. The wearied defenders of 
 Grunau once more made ready to fight to the last and 
 to sell their lives dearly. There was as yet no signs 
 of Ursula, nor was it time to expect her. The sun 
 was still high in the heavens, but already some of the 
 enemy, with picks and shovels, were seen approaching 
 the ditch. Our friends quickly began to hurl stones 
 upon them, and piled up others at the head of the 
 breach to fortify the position. 
 
 As the missiles hit the workmen, for every man dis- 
 abled three or four took his place. Yet it was a full 
 hour before the heights were made accessible for the 
 Prince and his followers. 
 
 All at once the flower of Pomeranian knighthood 
 moved forward. Crossing the ditch on a bridge of 
 piled up stones, they began to ascend the heights, some 
 few of the younger and favored knights in advance of 
 the Prince.
 
 246 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 They soon reached the stone barrier behind which 
 stood Hugo, Duke Henry and the Abbot, in full ar- 
 mor, with battle-axes raised. Conrad, without mail 
 to protect him, stood a little in the rear. Being weak 
 from his wound, he had to lean against the half fallen 
 tower for support. He was prepared, nevertheless, 
 to face anyone who might gain the battlements. Kurt, 
 sabre in hand, stood near him, ready, if need be, to 
 die either with or for his master; while Volga was 
 again at her point of vantage, crossbow and last bolt in 
 hand, thinking less of her own safety than of the lives 
 so dear to her. 
 
 The first of the knights who, out-climbing Prince 
 Steffel, showed themselves above the entrenchment, 
 were hurled backward with shields and heads split 
 open, their bodies serving as steps for those behind. 
 Some bowmen, successful in climbing the wall, 
 were perching on its broad surface ; but ere they could 
 get in their work, the Abbot, who seemed everywhere 
 at the same time, was upon them, and split the cross- 
 bow and head of each in turn with one blow of his 
 mighty axe. 
 
 Conrad still stood husbanding his strength for an 
 emergency, which very soon presented itself. 
 
 Two knights having managed to fight their way past 
 the brave defenders of the breach, reached the battle- 
 ments, and were about to attack them in the rear.
 
 THE SACRIFICE. 247 
 
 Conrad saw the danger. He quickly threw himself 
 between them and his comrades, felled one of them to 
 earth by his first deadly stroke, receiving a gash from 
 the other on his already wounded shoulder before 
 Kurt could prevent it. The boy's sword had fallen 
 harmless on the mailed knight, who now turned upon 
 him, and with a sweeping stroke hurled him backward 
 some distance. The diversion, however, gave Conrad 
 the opportunity he wanted. His sword quickly de- 
 scended on his second adversary, who fell dying at his 
 comrade's side. 
 
 But now Prince Steffel was seen impatiently break- 
 ing his way through the ranks of his knights. Kurt, 
 who had only been slightly hurt, called his master's 
 attention at that moment to a cloud of dust in the dis- 
 tance, through which could be seen, in the front of a 
 brilliant array of knights the figure of Ursula on her 
 matchless Saladin. 
 
 "God and all the saints be praised!" shouted Con- 
 rad. "There conies the Princess! Fight on, brave 
 comrades ! help is at hand !" 
 
 With the din of the fray none but Duke Henry 
 heard the shout. As he glanced for a moment off his 
 guard, in the direction of the coming help, he received 
 a thrust which pierced both shield and mail, slightly 
 wounding him. The Abbot paid his score by felling 
 the knight who had faced his friend. Prince Steffel
 
 248 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 just then appeared breast high before Hugo, whose axe 
 had just descended on another assailant. Before the 
 brave youth could again raise his weapon or use his 
 shield, the giant's sword had pierced his left side near 
 his heart and he staggered back, the blood gushing 
 from the wound. Volga would have avenged this 
 cruel act, had not the thick mail prevented her bolt, 
 which struck the Prince on the neck, from penetrating 
 any deeper than the skin. Dashing it aside, the giant 
 leaped over the battlements and making a step or two 
 forward was confronted by our young hero, pale and 
 bleeding, with only his sword and dagger for protec- 
 tion, having lost his headgear during his last en- 
 counter, and thrown away his shield to ease his 
 wounded shoulder. 
 
 A tremendous shout from Ursula's followers now 
 rent the air. The Prince paused and was about to turn 
 his head to learn the cause of the sudden uproar, when 
 his eyes met those of his hated rival. Forgetting 
 everything save revenge, he called out exultingly: "I 
 have thee at last, thou beggar ! Thou shalt die like a 
 dog!" With that he aimed a deadly blow at Con- 
 rad's head which, with failing strength, he dexterously 
 parried, though the force siruck the sword from his 
 grasp. He felt that his time had come. Yet one 
 chance for his life remained. Drawing his long, keen- 
 edged dagger, he sprang at his adversary. Getting in
 
 THE SACRIFICE. 249 
 
 between him and his shield, before he could strike 
 again, with the spasmodic strength of desperation, he 
 succeeded in planting his blade in the neck of his giant 
 foe, at the very place where Volga's missile had already 
 pierced the armor. With a stifled curse between his 
 lips, the big Pomeranian staggered backward. Fall- 
 ing, with a gurgling sound in his throat, he instantly 
 expired. 
 
 Faint and bewildered, scarce realizing what had 
 happened, Conrad stood leaning against the tower. 
 He saw dimly the tall figure of a knight in brilliant 
 armor, who resembled Wolfram, Cutting his way 
 through the panic-stricken Pomeranians. He saw also 
 at his feet the dead body of the Prince Commander, 
 whom he had just slain, but he saw no more. His 
 head swam, his eyes closed, his arms fell listlessly at 
 his side, one hand mechanically grasping the bloody 
 dagger, and he became well-nigh unconscious. 
 
 A familiar and beloved voice calling him by name 
 quickly revived him. Slowly opening his eyes, he saw 
 Ursula in the act of dismounting from Saladin, whom 
 she had forced up the breach in the wake of her vic- 
 torious knights. She hurried to the hero's side, her 
 beautiful face animated with anxiety and love. Tak- 
 ing his blood-stained hand in hers, she pressed it to 
 her Heart, saying: 
 
 "Conrad, my love ! thou art indeed sorely wounded,
 
 250 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 but I am not too late. No, no, my brave knight ; thou 
 wilt live, if only for my sake ! Let me support thee !" 
 She gently placed her arm around his bleeding 
 shoulder and pressed her warm, sweet lips to his, 
 which were cold and dry. 
 
 "My love!" she repeated with great emotion, as 
 Conrad, unable to speak, watched her with dim though 
 loving eyes, "I am proud of thee. I love thee with all 
 my soul. My worst enemy lies dead at thy feet, slain 
 by thy strong arm. If my devotion can repay thee for 
 what thou hast done and suffered, I shall be happy in- 
 deed. And now, sit thee down, my beloved. Let me 
 bind thy wounds ; or hast thou strength to go below 
 with my assistance ?" 
 
 "Ursula, my darling and my life," Conrad at last 
 found strength to say, "do not let us go below just yet. 
 Look around thee for a moment. There stands thy 
 father, safe, thank heaven! and the brave Abbot near 
 him talking to our good friend Wolfram. But who is 
 that yonder? It is Hugo, lying bleeding on the 
 ground, and Volga bending over him. Go, my dar- 
 ling, see if he yet lives. Brave lad ! I have learned to 
 love him as a brother." 
 
 The Princess took a few steps toward the group of 
 knights, near whom lay the young Count. Drawing 
 nearer she saw the handsome face of the forester 
 blanched with the pallor of death. On his bared
 
 THE SACRIFICE. 251 
 
 breast, next his heart, close to the wound, lay 
 the engraved image of herself which she had given 
 him at the tournament. Volga, regardless of every 
 one, was trying to stop the flow of his heart's blood, 
 calling out to him, in agonizing accents, to speak to 
 her. Receiving no answer to her despairing appeals, 
 she threw herself on his body and wept aloud. 
 
 Ursula, glancing first at the pale face and then at her 
 image so near his heart, realized in that instant how her 
 fleeting fancy for him had been more than repaid. 
 Turning to her father, she threw herself into 
 his arms in a flood of tears. Wolfram noted the beau- 
 tiful woman's sorrow in silence ; then, with a sigh, he 
 turned to the breach, ordering his men to search every 
 nook and bush for any lurking enemy, and to spare 
 none. 
 
 The Princess, regaining her composure, turned her 
 eyes to where Conrad stood, following her movements 
 with an intensely longing gaze. All other thoughts 
 but her great love for her own hero vanished ; she 
 hastened to his side. When within a step or two of 
 him, something startling arrested her eye. One of the 
 enemy's bowmen, having eluded all search, bent 
 on avenging the death of his Prince, had climbed the 
 wall and was in the act of leveling his crossbow at 
 Conrad. Ursula, horrified, instantly comprehended 
 her lover's danger. Throwing herself in the way, the
 
 252 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 bolt intended for him pierced her own devoted breast. 
 The next moment the daring marksman rolled over, 
 his head split open by the Abbot's battle-axe. 
 
 Ursula sank down at Conrad's feet, a happy smile 
 flitting over her face. 
 
 "Thank God, my own Conrad, I have saved thy life. 
 Thou must live and be happy," she faltered. "Remem- 
 ber Rosalie." 
 
 With every word her voice grew fainter. Conrad, 
 with a cry of agony, caught her in his arms. 
 
 "Kiss me farewell, my own," she murmured, tender- 
 ly. "We shall meet again in another a more beautiful 
 world." 
 
 He kissed her quivering lips, while the warm 
 torrent issuing from his wounds mingled with the 
 heart's blood of his dying love. A slight tremor shook 
 her frame. Looking into his eyes with an expression 
 of yearning her sweet spirit took its flight to that land 
 where life is life indeed, and everlasting, and where 
 perfect love rules supreme. 
 
 Conrad pressed the beloved eyelids with his ashen 
 lips and staggered to his feet. Looking down, he for 
 the first time noticed the Duke, who was kneeling at 
 the other side of his daughter, sobbing bitterly. If the 
 Princess had seen him, she had not turned to him, her 
 last words and looks being only for' her lover. But 
 Duke Henry had heard those words of tender love
 
 THE SACRIFICE. 253 
 
 and trust, and they had moved him greatly. Putting 
 aside all envious feelings, he gave himself up to un- 
 controllable grief at the loss of his darling daughter. 
 
 "She died for thee, my son!" he said, at last, in a 
 broken voice, looking at Conrad. "She loved thee 
 with all her soul. Untimely as is her death, it could 
 not have been more beautiful." He could say no more. 
 
 Conrad found it impossible to reply. Leaning back 
 against the wall of the tower, his mind grew confused. 
 The terrible scenes through which he had passed 
 seemed like an evil dream. He became completely 
 dazed. A feeling that he was about to die also 
 and follow his dear love took hold of him, sending a 
 thrill of peaceful joy through his weary and torn heart. 
 
 He was about to sink down by the side of the beau- 
 tiful, inanimate form at his feet when the voice of 
 Kurt brought him back to himself for a moment. 
 Opening his blurred eyes, he saw before him a goblet 
 brimming full of wine, which the heart-broken boy 
 was holding to him, trying to force it between his lips. 
 Conrad at first repelled it. He finally drained it me- 
 chanically. As the liquid stirred through his veins, 
 strength and consciousness partially revived. 
 
 Kurt offered to assist his master below, but he waved 
 him off, saying: "What is the matter with Saladin? 
 Look at him ! Either my eyes deceive me, or he is
 
 254 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 wounded and bleeding. Come hither, my faithful 
 steed!" 
 
 With Kurt's assistance the fast-failing animal stag- 
 gered to his master's side. "Poor old Saladin !" mut- 
 tered Conrad, patting his beautiful neck, "thou, too, 
 art going." 
 
 As he said these words, the noble beast rubbed his 
 head faintly against his master's, then trembling vio- 
 lently for a few moments, fell, and rolled gently over 
 so close to the body of Ursula that his head touched 
 hers. With one last tremor, he, too, expired. 
 
 "Poor old comrade," whispered Conrad, "faithful to 
 the last, dying for me as did thy mistress !" 
 
 He looked intently once more on the face of the 
 dead woman, even more gloriously beautiful, it then 
 seemed, than he had ever seen it in life. Kneeling 
 down, he kissed her cold lips ; then summoning all his 
 strength, he took her up bodily and carried her below. 
 There he laid her upon the same couch in the ghastly 
 banquet hall which a year before he had himself occu- 
 pied. Sinking down on the floor beside her, he, too, 
 was wrapped in merciful oblivion. 
 
 Thus, in the pride and power of her youth and love- 
 liness, nobly died Ursula, the brave, the beautiful and 
 the good.
 
 AT THE HOSPITAL. 255 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 AT THE HOSPITAL. 
 
 "I feel 
 
 Of this dull sickness at my heart afraid! 
 And in my eyes the death-sparks flash and fade; 
 And something seems to steal 
 Over my bosom like a frozen hand." 
 
 Willis. 
 
 The day after the dearly bought victory of Grunau 
 Castle, both the monastery and inn had been convert- 
 ed into hospitals. In the afternoon a bloody battle was 
 fought between the forces under Wolfram, combined 
 with those of Luxemberg, and the now demoralized 
 Pomeranians, in which the latter were nearly annihilat- 
 ed. This added many to the wounded and dying. In 
 the banquet hall at the ruins lay the still forms of Ur- 
 sula, Hugo and the unconscious Conrad ; while every 
 other available nook or shelter was filled with sufferers. 
 The Convent of St. Agnes, which like other convents in 
 Europe had contributed, since the Crusades, nurses 
 for the hospitals, even as far away as the Holy Land, 
 sent its full contingent of nuns to the heart-rending 
 scene.
 
 256 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 It was not until the dawn had begun to mingle with 
 the faint light of the solitary lamp in the banquet room, 
 that Conrad awoke to the consciousness of his cruel 
 fate, realizing that he was still alive. 
 
 Gradually opening his eyes he found Kurt at his 
 side anxiously watching him. The boy would have 
 shouted with delight at seeing his master show signs 
 of returning life, had he not been warned by the Monk 
 in attendance during the night to keep quiet. Placing 
 his finger against his lips, he whispered softly in Con- 
 rad's ear : "Brother Ignatius, the leech, who bound up 
 your lordship's wounds, left this potion to be taken 
 every hour. He told me under no circumstances to 
 allow you to talk. I will tell you of those about whom 
 you are anxious. The leech has been busy over the 
 body of Count Hugo all night. Methinks he said, be- 
 fore leaving, that a spark of life yet remained. Mistress 
 Volga has never left his side, calling his name to bring 
 him back to life. I also saw her try to get him to swal- 
 low the leech's medicine." 
 
 Conrad, where he lay, had a clear view of the room, 
 and in the increasing light saw everything as Kurt 
 had described it, while in the depths of his sad heart he 
 sympathized with Volga in the hopelessness of her ef- 
 forts. 
 
 The leech again entered the room. Stepping softly 
 to Conrad's side and examining him critically, he pro-
 
 AT THE HOSPITAL. 25? 
 
 nounced him to be out of immediate danger. Then 
 turning to Volga, who sat immovable, her eyes riveted 
 on the beloved features lying cold and still before her, 
 he said : "While there is but a little life, there's hope. 
 Hast thou succeeded in getting him to swallow ?" 
 
 "I have made ceaseless attempts," feebly answered 
 the girl, "all in vain !" 
 
 "Then let us take some of the witch's mixture, to 
 which I will add a few drops of my own elixir, and 
 make another trial," said the leech. "I will help thee !" 
 
 They had been working with the patient for more 
 than an hour with no apparent success, when a very 
 slight tremor seemed to pervade his entire frame. 
 
 Finally, and by almost a miracle, the stricken youth 
 actually swallowed a goodly quantity of the potion. 
 "Thanks be to our Good Lady," whispered the rever- 
 end leech, "there is more hope now ! Take courage !" 
 
 The reaction being too great for Volga, she burst 
 into an uncontrollable flood of tears. In a few mo- 
 ments she was herself a proper subject for the leech's 
 kindly attention. Begging her to lie down and rest, 
 he promised to call her as soon as her services were 
 required. 
 
 The Duke, who had been a silent witness of the 
 foregoing, now came up to Conrad. Extending his 
 hand, he said: "I am rejoiced to see thee gaining 
 
 strength. Thou, my Conrad, art all that is now left to 
 17
 
 258 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 me, and to her who gave life to the dear departed one. 
 If the shock does not kill her, thou must try to get 
 well for her sake as well as mine." 
 
 "I cannot say that I have any desire to live," an- 
 swered Conrad, faintly. "The wish of my heart is to 
 follow Ursula." 
 
 "Conrad," said the Duke, "Ursula died for thee that 
 thou mightest live. It is then only thy duty to wish to 
 remain with us until God calls thee in his own good 
 time to join her who, in loving thee and dying for thee, 
 gave thee a beautiful example of self-sacrifice. The 
 leech has just informed me that he will remove thee 
 and Hugo to better quarters in the monastery. Prom- 
 ise me to husband thy strength, and to use all means 
 toward thy recovery, that thou may'st supply the place 
 in her aging parents' hearts once filled by Ursula." 
 
 Conrad looked at the sad countenance of his noble 
 friend. Deeply moved, he gave him the desired prom- 
 ise. 
 
 The brave old Abbot now put in an appearance, clad 
 once more in the garb of his order. He seemed very 
 lame, while a shade of pallor overspread his rubicund 
 visage. On being asked if he, too, had been wound- 
 ed, he replied in the negative; but stated that he felt 
 somewhat sore and tired by reason of his unusual ex- 
 ercise the day before. Turning to Conrad, he said: 
 "I have come to see how thou and Hugo are this morn-
 
 AT THE HOSPITAL. 259 
 
 ing ; and to tell thee that thou art to be moved within 
 the next two hours to the best room in the monastery. 
 When I get thee there, good, brave Sir Knight, I shall 
 nurse thee with my own hands, and mind that thou 
 dost what I tell thee !" 
 
 Conrad smiled faintly, pressing the Abbot's hand 
 with trembling fingers. 
 
 The old prelate then hobbled over to the Duke. In 
 a few touching words he expressed his deep sympathy 
 at his sad loss. "I have sore limbs and sinews today, 
 my lord," he added, "but they don't count for any- 
 thing. May God forgive me for having slain so many 
 human beings yesterday ; but may He also accept my 
 thanks for permitting me, for one day, to be a soldier 
 again, and to do a soldier's duty. Today I am once 
 more a man of peace, ready to do deeds of peace, such 
 as tending the sick and wounded, before I attempt to 
 nurse my own aching limbs." The Duke could not 
 repress a sad smile at his old friend's quaint humor. 
 
 "I do not wonder, holy father," said he, "that thou 
 art lame and stiff after thy tremendous exertions of 
 yesterday ; but how such a bloodthirsty being as thou 
 didst prove thyself can fill the quiet and peaceful place 
 of a sick-nurse, puzzles me." 
 
 "That furious warrior, my lord," answered the pre- 
 late, with the old twinkle in his eyes, "was my other 
 self. What that other self does, my real self is not al-
 
 260 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 ways responsible for. This, our young wounded 
 knight here knows; but, seriously, my lord, tell me 
 how fares the young Count of Waldhorst. Is it true 
 that he has nearly come to life again ?" 
 
 "It would seem so," answered Duke Henry. "The 
 leech appears to have hope now. With such a faithful 
 nurse as Volga, he may yet recover." 
 
 "She is a brave, good girl, that niece of mine," said 
 his reverence. "I am proud of her; and hope for her 
 sake that the young man, who, I see plainly, holds the 
 place in her heart of both brother and lover, may live." 
 
 Toward evening Conrad was placed on a stretcher 
 for removal to the monastery. Before leaving he was 
 carried to Hugo's side. Glancing at him for a mo- 
 ment, he whispered into Volga's ear words of encour- 
 agement. He was then taken slowly to the couch on 
 which lay in all her regal stateliness the magnificent 
 form of his dead love. Gazing for a while at the beauti- 
 ful smile which still hovered about the sweet lips, he 
 cried in the agony of despair : "Never, never again in 
 this world, shall I see thee, Ursula, my love !" He hid 
 his convulsed face in his trembling hands, until the 
 kind voice of the Duke gently roused him. 
 
 "My poor son," said he, "even in the sorrow of my 
 own sore bereavement, my heart bleeds for thee. 
 Promise me that as soon as thou art well enough to 
 leave thy bed, thou wilt come to Falkenstein. My
 
 AT THE HOSPITAL. 261 
 
 home hereafter is thy home. All that is mine will be 
 thine some day. Fare thee well, my noble Conrad. I 
 shall give thy love to Ursula's mother, and tell her 
 that thou wilt be a son to her." 
 
 "Yes, a son," softly said our hero, "but without the 
 real right to the name of which cruel fate has deprived 
 me. I would live only in memory of Ursula. In doing 
 so, I shall find solace in the love and companionship 
 of her beloved father and mother." 
 
 The older knight pressed the hand of the younger 
 and turned away. 
 
 On his way to the monastery, Conrad was overtaken 
 by Volga, who whispered excitedly in his ear that 
 Hugo had just taken another potion, and for the first 
 time since he was wounded a faint color of life seemed 
 to have returned to his face. "We shall be with thee at 
 the monastery in a few days. I must tell thee, also," 
 she added, "that our kind and generous friend, the 
 Duke, wishes me to bring Hugo to Falkenstein as soon 
 as he is well enough to make the journey. So thou 
 seest, dear Conrad, that we shall be together again, 
 if if only Hugo recovers !" 
 
 "God grant that he may!" said Conrad, softly. 
 "Hugo is very dear to me, dearer than ever now, and 
 so art thou, my brave companion of many dangers ; 
 I pray thee, therefore, do not overtax thy strength. 
 Wilt thou promise me this ?"
 
 262 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 "I promise !" said Volga, smiling through her tears. 
 
 The saddest duty of all yet remained to the sorrow- 
 ing Duke. He departed for Falkenstein, taking with 
 him the body of Ursula. He arrived at the castle the 
 third day after the fatal battle, the Duchess mean- 
 while having been apprised of their irreparable loss. 
 That noble invalid seemed to bear her sorrow better 
 than he had anticipated, frequently asserting that she 
 had many a time feared that Ursula, with all her spirit, 
 was too pure and good to remain long in this world. 
 Now that she was gone, her example of heroic and 
 perfect womanhood had made her death more beauti- 
 ful than she could ever have imagined. The funeral 
 took place two weeks before the twenty-second anni- 
 versary of the Princess' birthday ; on which day, it had 
 been understood of late, she was to have wedded Con- 
 rad von Rheinstein. 
 
 From far and near, rich and poor, young and old, 
 came to pay their last tribute to the memory of one 
 who had been a benefactor to all and universally be- 
 loved. 
 
 A week later, Wolfram, the devoted minstrel, stood 
 alone for a long time in deep meditation at the grave 
 of the only woman he had ever loved. He there came 
 to the conclusion that he could now, better perhaps 
 than had she lived, make her truly his own, in thought 
 and in song.
 
 THE ACTS OF A REFRACTORY PATIENT. 263 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 THE ACTS OF A REFRACTORY PATIENT. 
 
 "You may as well 
 
 Forbid the sea for to obey the moon, 
 As, or by oath, remove or counsel, shake 
 The fabric of his folly." 
 
 Shaks. Winter's Tale. 
 
 At the monastery, in a bright, sunny chamber over- 
 looking the river, nursed alternately by the Abbot and 
 Kurt, lay Conrad. Kurt had grown very dear to him ; 
 while the boy, since the death of his mistress, also 
 clung to his master apparently with his very life. He 
 had adored Ursula, worshiping her after his boyish 
 fashion; but now that she had forever vanished, he 
 seemed to have aged, caring for no one save his ideal 
 knight, the nearest and dearest to her. He related 
 to him many details of her life at Falkenstein, speak- 
 ing particularly of her anxiety after her repeated fail- 
 ures to relieve her father and lover at Waldhorst. 
 
 Conrad listened with mournfully absorbing interest 
 to all that Kurt had to say; and learned to know by 
 little things which he alone understood how truly 
 Ursula had loved and missed him.
 
 264 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 One day he told Kurt of the forebodings which had 
 possessed her, on seeing from the convent window 
 the year before the ground covered with withered 
 leaves. Strange and unaccountable as this mood had 
 always seemed to Conrad, he now learned from Kurt 
 that frequently in his absence, on her return from mis- 
 sions of charity, she would stop Saladin, gazing dream- 
 ily and sadly into the far distance. At such times her 
 eyes would fill with tears. These melancholy fits 
 never lasted long, however, as she generally galloped 
 home, apparently in good spirits. 
 
 For a week, affairs at the monastic hospital were 
 uneventful. Conrad slowly but steadily improved ; 
 while Hugo, under the care of the indefatigable Volga, 
 still hovered between life and death. The leech divided 
 his time between them, wondering at the endurance of 
 the girl, who had all her life been accustomed to out- 
 door exercise. 
 
 During three days of watching and praying by the 
 bedside of the only one she had ever loved, Volga had 
 grown into womanhood. When she thought him dead, 
 she had then realized how dear Hugo was to her; 
 and now that her care and devotion had actually 
 brought him back to life, she fully understood the 
 power and depth of her love. 
 
 When at last, on the eighth day, he opened his eyes 
 with a kindly look of recognition, she fell on her knees
 
 THE ACTS OF A REFRACTORY PATIENT. 265 
 
 by his bedside, and hiding her face in her hands, re- 
 lieved her overburdened heart with joyous weeping. 
 That night she retired to rest for the first time since 
 her arrival at the monastery. 
 
 Conrad, too, was now rapidly recovering. The Abbot 
 often entertained him with anecdotes of his early ad- 
 ventures and battles in which he had been engaged, 
 years before, with the father of Prince Steffel. "No 
 better man," he said, "than his son." 
 
 Speaking of that time, one day, he added : "I then 
 wore the same armor and used the identical battle-axe 
 which did me such good service in the late defense of 
 Grunau. But thou hast no idea, my young friend, how 
 I suffered after that desperate fight. I did not 
 say much about it ; but the way my bones and muscles 
 ached after being squeezed for twenty-four hours for 
 the first time in twenty years, in that old suit of mail, 
 I will leave thee to imagine." 
 
 "Thou forgettest, reverend father," interposed Con- 
 rad, "that thou didst wear it on one occasion in that 
 ghastly banquet hall, as the spectre of thy twin 
 brother." 
 
 "As I told thee, young sir, what I or what my 
 spectre wore, does not count; I spoke of the time," 
 added he, with the same old mischievous smile, "even I 
 was as gay and as much alive, if not as handsome, a 
 young knight as thou art ; or rather, I should say, as
 
 266 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 thoti wert before being laid low in this abominable 
 manner." 
 
 "Thou wert as much alive as any on that fatal 
 though victorious day, with thy ponderous battle-axe," 
 suggested Conrad, "and it is a wonder to me that thou 
 wert not wounded, like Hugo and me. How is that 
 poor lad ? As bad as ever ?" 
 
 "No, I rejoice to tell thee he is better," said the 
 Abbot. "I forgot to mention it before. The crisis 
 seems to have passed. He opened his eyes this morn- 
 ing and recognized Volga." 
 
 Conrad was overjoyed. Feeling stronger than he 
 had yet done, he, with the help of his reverence, now 
 partly dressed himself and took a seat near the win- 
 dow. 
 
 As he drank in the exhilarating air on the balmy 
 spring day, noting, as he had done one short year be- 
 fore, the sunlight, "dancing on the river," the zest of 
 life, which had well-nigh left him, seemed partially 
 to return. Listening to the love songs of the birds, and 
 inhaling the fragrance ot the budding trees, a picture 
 of himself, drifting down that same river with Duke 
 Henry and Rosalie, rose vividly before him. He re- 
 called their landing at yonder bower and his walk to 
 and from the Convent of St. Agnes. Finally, the last 
 scene between Rosalie and himself, when he promised 
 faithfully to call for her at the end of her trial year, pre-
 
 THE ACTS OF A REFRACTORY PATIENT. 267 
 
 sented itself distinctly to his mind. He felt as though 
 he were awaking from a dream, yet the old scenes 
 failed to arouse any emotion within his lacerated 
 heart. 
 
 Having lost all reckoning as to time, he asked the 
 Benedictine the day of the month. The Abbot gave 
 him the desired information, and at the same time re- 
 minded him that it was time for him to return to bed. 
 
 Conrad obeyed ; but his thoughts were too busy for 
 him to sleep. The time to fulfill his promise to Rosalie 
 was near at hand. "Of course," murmured he, "it is 
 out of the question for me to think of leaving my sick- 
 room, therefore I will send word to Rosalie to await 
 my recovery at the convent ; or else, should it be neces- 
 sary for her to leave sooner, to proceed to Falkenstein 
 under proper escort. Meanwhile I shall confer with 
 the Duke." 
 
 Accordingly, when the Abbot paid his usual visit, 
 Conrad requested him to send a message forthwith to 
 the Duke to ascertain his pleasure regarding Rosalie ; 
 also to go himself to the Abbess that very afternoon 
 to arrange everything for the girl's departure. 
 
 The good prelate went immediately as desired, leav- 
 ing our hero to his thoughts. On his return, he found 
 him again seated at the open window. Scolding him 
 right sharply for his imprudence, he ordered him back 
 to bed.
 
 268 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 Seating himself in a comfortable chair, the Abbot 
 began as follows: "I am sorry to tell thee, good Sir 
 Knight, that I could make no arrangements whatever 
 to take Rosalie from the convent." 
 
 Looking up in -surprise, Conrad asked what his rev- 
 erence meant. 
 
 "I mean that we are too late." 
 
 "Too late?" echoed Conrad, sitting up in bed. 
 
 "Lie down, sir!" commanded the Abbot; "it is un- 
 wise for thee to sit up in that excited state. Yes, we 
 are too late ! The report that thou, the Princess, Hugo 
 and even I, had been killed at the ruins reached the 
 convent two weeks ago. That was within three days 
 of the time in which Rosalie, of her own free will, was 
 to decide whether or not she would take the veil. The 
 Abbess must have verified the sad tidings ; and this, 
 in all probability, hastened the poor girl's decision to 
 become a nun." 
 
 "Go on !" said Conrad, "let me hear all." 
 
 "Go on ?" repeated the Abbot, "there is nothing to 
 go on with, save that the young damsel has entered 
 her last week of probation before taking her vows, 
 during which she is allowed to speak to no one, ex- 
 cept the nuns having her in charge. She is completely 
 
 > 
 excluded from the world. In three days she will be 
 
 shut out from it forever." 
 
 "But," asked Conrad, greatly excited, "didst thou
 
 THE ACTS OF A REFRACTORY PATIENT. 269 
 
 not tell the Abbess that both Hugo and I were alive ? 
 and did she not see for herself that thou, as well, art 
 very much so?" 
 
 "She must have known it all," answered the Abbot, 
 "but kept it from Rosalie, in order not to prevent her 
 decision at the last moment." 
 
 Conrad, out of patience, again sat up in bed, ex- 
 claiming, "Am I to understand, holy father, that even 
 now, if Rosalie should hear of her brother's and my 
 convalescence, she would not retrace her step or 
 change her resolution?" 
 
 "That is precisely the situation," replied the Abbot ; 
 "or, more properly speaking, if she now should hear 
 of it, which is well-nigh impossible, and wish to 
 change, she could not. The laws of the convent are 
 very strict, and in accordance with the direct edicts of 
 His Holiness, the Pope." 
 
 "Nonsense !" exclaimed our hero. "Confound such 
 laws ! They are both arbitrary and unjustifiable. I 
 myself would like nothing better than to break them !" 
 
 "A very wicked thought, my young friend," replied 
 the Abbot. "Thou must not talk in this excited way 
 again. It can do no possible good, and may bring on a 
 relapse. Lie down and compose thyself." 
 
 Conrad threw himself back on his pillow, ponder- 
 ing over the matter in deep thought, the Abbot watch- 
 ing him curiously the while. At length Conrad re-
 
 270 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 sumed : "I have thought it over, holy father, and have 
 concluded that since it seems I must live, contrary to 
 my desire, the sooner I get well the better. Therefore 
 I shall try to sleep." 
 
 The good man, much relieved, heartily applauded 
 this resolution. As he had other duties to perform, he 
 left his patient with the parting injunction to keep 
 quiet. As soon, however, as he had closed the door be- 
 hind him, Conrad summoned Kurt. In a whisper, he 
 bade him find out from some source, possibly the Ab- 
 bot's servants, at what hour the nuns at the convent 
 went for their daily devotions in the chapel, which he 
 knew to be situated in the rear of the main buildings. 
 "Be careful," he added, "that not a word of this reaches 
 the Abbot's ears !" 
 
 The boy, as we know, had ere this time been fre- 
 quently entrusted with important errands ; so seeming 
 clearly to understand his master's object, he started 
 on his confidential mission without delay. 
 
 A moment later Conrad, hardly knowing what he 
 was doing, rose without assistance. In trying to stand, 
 he was compelled to lay hold on the chair beside his 
 bed for support. After a short pause, he made a step 
 forward, finally managing to walk the entire length of 
 the room; but in his efforts to return, dizziness at- 
 tacked him. He nearly fell to the floor before reaching 
 the bed. He was none too quick in scrambling be-
 
 THE ACTS OF A REFRACTORY PATIENT. 271 
 
 neath the covering, as the Abbot suddenly re-entered 
 bringing the patient's supper, remarking as he set it 
 down that he had seen Kurt go out, but he knew not 
 whither. 
 
 "The poor lad, tired of monastic life, has, I suppose, 
 gone for a little stroll," stammered Conrad, still short 
 of breath by reason of his unwonted exertion, while the 
 tell-tale flush in his face attracted the Abbot's scrutiny. 
 He forbore questioning him, however, in his astonish- 
 ment at the increased appetite of his patient, who ate 
 as he had not done since his illness began. 
 
 Luckily, Kurt did not return during the Abbot's 
 visit ; so that instead of being scolded as he might have 
 been, to avert suspicion, he was commended highly for 
 bringing the desired information. After a restless 
 night, Conrad rose early, and with Kurt's assistance, 
 completely dressed himself. Having disposed of his 
 breakfast, he crossed the room leaning on the boy's 
 shoulder. After that he took his seat at the open win- 
 dow. There the Abbot found him, and was so amazed 
 that he stared at him in perfect wonder, being, the 
 while, absolutely speechless. 
 
 "I slept so well," said our hero, with a reckless hand- 
 ling of the truth, "that I felt sufficiently strong this 
 morning to dress myself; and as I have just enjoyed a 
 good breakfast, thought a little fresh air would be ben- 
 eficial to me. If thou, reverend sir, wilt give me thy
 
 272 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 strong arm, I will try to take my first steps across the 
 room." 
 
 The good Benedictine, with many misgivings, re- 
 luctantly extended his arm to his refractory patient, 
 saying: "I am afraid, my young friend, that thou art 
 overdoing things; though I must confess that for a 
 first trial after having been so long in bed, thy step is 
 wondrous firm." 
 
 "Let me remind thee, holy father, of my resolution 
 to get well as soon as possible," answered Conrad. As 
 he said this smilingly, he looked so well with his 
 heightened color that the old monk's fears were al- 
 layed ; so he contented himself with once more admon- 
 ishing his patient to be careful and moderate as to his 
 exercises. That afternoon Conrad put a further test 
 upon his strength by strolling through his room with 
 Kurt walking by his side but without leaning upon 
 him. 
 
 When the leech called that evening he found his pa- 
 tient feverish; but as his wounds were well-nigh 
 healed and his appetite excellent, he felt no further 
 anxiety; so, with instructions to restrict him in his 
 walking for at least another fortnight, he left him to 
 the care of his two nurses. These injunctions were 
 as nothing to Conrad, whose plan of future action, 
 leech or no leech, had been clearly marked out in his 
 mind.
 
 THE ACTS OF A REFRACTORY PATIENT. 273 
 
 The morning following was the last before that on 
 which Rosalie was to take the veil. Dressing himself 
 carefully for the first time since his illness, Conrad 
 walked alone up and down for a few minutes before 
 breakfast. When the Abbot joined him, he pretended 
 to be too much fatigued to take his usual exercise. Not 
 without misgivings did the prelate leave the sick cham- 
 ber to officiate at early mass, making up his mind to 
 watch his patient more closely for a time. 
 
 Hardly had the sound of his reverence's footsteps 
 died away, when Conrad donned his warm jacket 
 and cloak, picked up a stout stick to support himself, 
 and with a doubtful smile on his pallid face, told Kurt 
 that he would go out for a short walk in the garden. 
 
 "Very well, Sir Knight," said the boy; "I shall tell 
 the Abbot when he comes," well knowing he was help- 
 ing to get his master into a scrape. 
 
 As Conrad stepped out he saw a Benedictine 
 brother. Hailing him, he requested him to lead 
 him through the underground passage to the ruins. 
 At first the monk remonstrated ; but after a while, on 
 a promise that it should not reach the Abbot's ears, 
 he was persuaded to support the invalid through the 
 long corridor to the well-remembered banquet hall. 
 
 On looking around him, Conrad discovered unmis- 
 takable signs of growing decay. The portrait of the 
 late master of Grunau was split in two right through 
 
 18
 
 274 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 the middle. The two couches on which the living and 
 the dead had respectively lain were still there, looking 
 neglected and desolate. Well might the young knight 
 linger, as memory conjured up the face of the Princess, 
 with all the stirring incidents of her last fatal day. Not 
 until her parting words came forcibly back to him, 
 among them, "Thou must live and be happy ; remem- 
 ber Rosalie," did he recollect that he had ventured out 
 that morning at the last moment, at the risk of health 
 and possibly life, to rescue this girl from a living tomb. 
 Hurriedly resuming his way out of the ruins, he 
 crossed the highway and entered the woods opposite ; 
 nor did he stop again until he found himself before 
 the wall of the convent grounds, not far from the 
 chapel whose towers were visible above the trees. 
 Firmly bracing his stick against the wall, he placed 
 one foot on the handle, made a spring, and grasping 
 the coping with both hands, drew himself up; then 
 quietly let himself down on the inside. 
 
 This feat, an easy one at ordinary times, proved al- 
 most too much for him, for a sharp pain in his shoul- 
 der, and a warm, trickling down his sleeve, told him 
 that one of his wounds had opened afresh. 
 
 Right before him, almost level with the ground, was 
 a long colonnade connecting the convent with the 
 chapel, through which he knew Rosalie must pass. 
 He gave no further thought to his wound, but crept
 
 THE ACTS OF A REFRACTORY PATIENT. 275 
 
 up behind the intervening bushes, close to this passage- 
 way. Hardly had he stopped when the silvery tones 
 of a bell startled him. His heart, weakened by his long 
 illness, began to beat excitedly in anticipation. Nor 
 did he have long to wait. In the silence following the 
 tolling of the bell, a procession of nuns, their hands 
 folded across their breasts, and eyes turned to the 
 ground, stepped out of the convent in double file, with 
 four single heavily veiled figures in their center. From 
 his hiding place Conrad thought he recognized in the 
 second novice the graceful form of young Rosalie; 
 but before he could make up his mind how to act, the 
 procession had passed him and entered the chapel. 
 
 Nearly an hour elapsed before the warning tones of 
 the bell notified him that they were about to reappear. 
 In the meanwhile, he had crossed the colonnade into 
 the, shade, choosing a position behind a large tree 
 against which he leaned for support. 
 
 As the bell's last vibrations died away, the nuns 
 emerged from the chapel, re-entering the passage in 
 the same order as before. Conrad had eyes only for 
 the four central figures. As they drew near, he was 
 convinced that the one he had thought Rosalie was 
 indeed she. Stepping boldly from behind the tree and 
 ascending two steps to the colonnade, he stretched out 
 his hand toward her, calling out, "Rosalie, come to thy
 
 276 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 comrade ! Didst think me dead or that I had forgotten 
 thee?" 
 
 The figure thus addressed staggered backward, sink- 
 ing into the arms of the nuns behind her, while the en- 
 tire procession seemed horror-stricken, as though 
 some wild beast had appeared amongst them, instead 
 of a pale, handsome young knight. 
 
 Rosalie, who had believed Conrad dead, for the mo- 
 ment actually thought him an apparition ; but when in 
 her half consciousness she heard the beloved voice, and 
 opening her eyes with a wild look, saw her hero stand- 
 ing before her, she quickly disengaged herself from 
 the nuns. Throwing aside her veil she rushed into his 
 outstretched arms. As she did so, the nun's cap fell 
 back, releasing her luxuriant hair, of which she would 
 have been shorn in the morning, which fell, not only 
 over her own shoulders, but partly covered those of 
 her beloved knight. The scandalized nuns rushed 
 screaming loudly into the convent. Rosalie found'her- 
 self alone with Conrad, who, in an almost fainting con- 
 dition, seated himself on the colonnade steps. 
 
 Absolutely beside herself with joy, the faithful girl 
 knelt before him. Raising her head, and gazing at him 
 with fond delight, she said: "It is, indeed, thou, my 
 beloved knight ! Hast thou come for thy little girl at 
 last; thou, whom I had thought dead and gone for- 
 ever?"
 
 Wilt thou take me to Falkenstein, Conrad, and may I always remain 
 near thee? "
 
 THE ACTS OF A REFRACTORY PATIENT. 277 
 
 Conrad, inexpressibly touched by such emotion, ten- 
 derly raised her and made her sit beside him. 
 
 Looking at her attentively, he marked the growth of 
 gentle refinement which education and intercourse 
 with the Abbess had imparted to her countenance, the 
 which, surrounded by her wealth of hair, made a vision 
 calculated to act as a soothing balm to any lacerated 
 heart. Taking her hand in his, he continued to gaze 
 on her loveliness. Rosalie, who met his glance with 
 frank, beaming eyes, asked suddenly: "Wilt thou 
 take me to Falkenstein, Conrad, and may I always 
 remain near thee?" 
 
 This appeal went straight to the young knight's 
 heart. "I shall take thee to thy new home as soon as 
 I can undertake the journey," he answered. 
 
 "I knew it," she exclaimed, excitedly. If thou wilt 
 but take me where thou art, I shall be happy; but," 
 she added, suddenly observing his pallor, "thou art 
 ill hast been sorely wounded ? Poor Conrad ! And 
 Hugo, my brother, is dead! Ursula, thy love, dead 
 also ! Alas ! Alas ! poor Conrad !" 
 
 "Hugo is not dead," replied our hero. ''Volga's ten- 
 der devotion and almost superhuman efforts have 
 
 brought him back to life. Ursula? Yes, she ." 
 
 Here Conrad, who had been talking and listening en- 
 tirely oblivious to everything else, came to a sudden 
 stop, interrupted by the unexpected approach of the
 
 278 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 Abbess, who confronted him with an angry glance, 
 followed by a compassionate look toward Rosalie. 
 
 "How darest thou, Sir Knight!" she said sternly, 
 "How darest thou outrage our holy order by trespass- 
 ing on these sacred grounds ? This makes thee liable 
 to dire punishment by the Church of Rome. How 
 canst thou answer before God for having drawn this in- 
 nocent girl, on the very threshold of a life of holy seclu- 
 sion from worldly temptation, back to this life of mis- 
 ery? Moreover thou art not worthy to step into her 
 life, plighted as thou wert in wedlock to the Princess 
 Ursuja, who, alas ! has been taken from us !" 
 
 Conrad, being too weak to rise, apologized to the 
 Abbess for the omission, saying : "I am sorry for hav- 
 ing intruded upon these sacred grounds, holy mother, 
 but the urgency of the case could bode no delay. I 
 knew and loved this child like my own sister before I 
 had ever seen the Princess. I have come as her pro- 
 tector to claim her according to an agreement. I know 
 full well that had not she believed both her brother and 
 me to 5 be dead, she would never have decided to take 
 the veil ; so I rose from my sick-bed to rescue her at the 
 last hour from the consequences of a step she would 
 have taken under a mistake. I have no other excuse 
 to offer." 
 
 "Thou sayest," retorted the Abbess, less sternly, 
 "that thou didst love this child before ever thou hadst
 
 THE ACTS OF A REFRACTORY PATIENT. 279 
 
 seen the Princess ? Thou didst not love Ursula then ?" 
 
 "I loved her with all my heart," replied the knight, 
 unabashed. "How could I help loving one so noble, 
 beautiful and good ? She was a veritable angel ! Had 
 she lived, my life had been devoted to her to the end, 
 notwithstanding the affection I felt for this sweet 
 child." 
 
 "I must say," replied the Abbess, looking doubtfully 
 at Conrad, "I do not understand such feelings. Dost 
 thou, Rosalie?" 
 
 "I do, holy mother," answered the girl, with one of 
 her tender smiles. "I saw the beautiful Princess once, 
 as thou knowest, and shall never forget her. I would 
 cheerfully have renounced ever seeing Knight Con- 
 rad for her sake, notwithstanding my great love for 
 him. Thou seest, dear, kind mother, I do understand 
 his feelings perfectly." 
 
 The stern brow of the Abbess relaxed. She had 
 loved Rosalie better than any of her pupils of that year. 
 Unsophisticated as she herself was in the ways of the 
 world, the good old lady could not help recalling the 
 time when in her youth she, too, had been disappointed 
 in love. She kissed Rosalie, saying : "I cannot be an- 
 gry with thee, my child. May God and the Blessed 
 Virgin forgive me if I do wrong in my lenience to thee ! 
 As thou and this daring young knight seem to under- 
 stand each other so well, perhaps it will be best for the
 
 280 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 happiness of both to remain together. Go to him, 
 Rosalie! Take her, Conrad von Rheinstein," she 
 added, in a trembling voice, "and make her happy!" 
 
 These words plainly implied more than our hero had 
 thought of. With all his gallantry, the idea of Rosa- 
 lie's assuming the place of the woman he had adored 
 had never once entered his head. He meant, how- 
 ever, to continue her affectionate friend and pro- 
 tector. So rising, with her assistance, he placed his 
 arms around her, and facing the Abbess, said : "I shall 
 devote my life to her happiness." 
 
 "I am inclined to believe thee," replied she, her 
 heart being completely softened on noticing the feeble 
 state in which the gallant youth had ventured forth; 
 "and I sincerely hope ye will be good to each other. 
 I forgive thee everything, Rosalie; but thy return to 
 the convent, even for one moment, is out of the ques- 
 tion. I shall have to consign thee at once to the 
 care of the young knight. Thy wearing apparel, which 
 came from Falkenstein a year ago, I shall send to the 
 Abbot this afternoon. And now I will accompany ye 
 both to the gate." 
 
 She kissed Rosalie farewell, blessed both her and 
 Conrad and returned to her living tomb. Her heart 
 had been unusually stirred, having heard and seen 
 more of the ways of the world in the last half hour than 
 during the twenty long years passed within its walls.
 
 THE ACTS OF A REFRACTORY PATIENT. 281 
 
 As soon as the garden gate was closed, to the girl's 
 great delight, Conrad felt obliged to lean on her for 
 support. They returned to the monastery by the river 
 path, along which they had walked together, for the 
 first time, on that day one year before. From afar off 
 they espied the Abbot, who, in turn, recognizing Con- 
 rad, the refractory patient he was in search of, and 
 Rosalie, in the girl at his side, stood still for a moment 
 in utter astonishment. Then running to meet them 
 as fast as his gouty legs would carry him, and 
 out of breath, he called out: "A nice business this! 
 What hast thou been about, young sir, sneaking out 
 of thy room when thou shouldst have been in bed? 
 This may be thy death," he added, puffing, blowing 
 and mopping his brow ; "and how darest thou abduct 
 this young girl from the convent?" 
 
 "I feel too weak, reverend sir, to answer," replied 
 Conrad; but I would thank thee to support me on 
 my other side. I am afraid I shall never get up that 
 hill." 
 
 "I should think not," answered the monk, some- 
 what softened by the appeal, giving his willing arm to 
 the almost fainting man. "Rosalie and I will sup- 
 port thee as far as the gate; and from there I shall 
 have thee carried back to bed, though thou dost not 
 deserve it!" 
 
 With assistance soon obtained, the now seemingly 
 penitent patient was carried the rest of the way.
 
 282 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 Rosalie, in her convent attire, her hair once more 
 pushed back underneath her cap, was allowed to re- 
 main with Volga to help nurse Hugo and Conrad. 
 The next morning the latter grew hourly worse. The 
 Abbot becoming alarmed, had a consultation with the 
 leech, which resulted in their leaving the principal care 
 of the patient to Rosalie's tender hands with Kurt's 
 assistance. For the next few days, however, it mat- 
 tered little whose hands administered to his wants, as 
 he recognized no one, not even the sweet nurse at his 
 side. 
 
 When Rosalie arrived at the monastery, she had 
 found her brother lying speechless, though conscious. 
 She felt cheered, however, by hopeful words from 
 Volga. Three days later she was called by the excited 
 girl to his bedside, he having spoken, making some in- 
 quiries regarding the Princess Ursula, which his de- 
 voted nurse dared not answer. As Conrad's fever had 
 left him that day and he had fallen asleep, she resigned 
 him to Kurt's care, and answered her sister's summons. 
 With a quiet, gentle voice she gradually detailed to 
 Hugo all the sad circumstances of Ursula's untimely 
 death, of which she had heard from Kurt since her ar- 
 rival at the monastery. She ended by telling him how 
 long he himself had been at death's door, and that only 
 Volga's devotion had brought him back to life. 
 
 Varied emotions played over his pale face as he lis- 
 tened to her recital. There was a long silence.
 
 THE ACTS OF A REFRACTORY PATIENT. 283 
 
 Presently he asked Rosalie to kiss him Volga 
 standing at the foot of the bed, noting every expression 
 in Hugo's face. Meeting his look, she blushed, and 
 turned to walk toward the window to hide the tears 
 which were fast welling up into her eyes. He waited 
 thoughtfully for a few moments, then called Volga to 
 his bedside. Quickly drying her tears, she came to 
 him. 
 
 "Wilt thou, too, kiss me?" he asked. 
 
 Without answering, she regarded him with com- 
 pressed lips. "Wilt thou kiss me," he repeated, "if I 
 tell thee how dear thou art to me ; dearer than I ever 
 thought thou wouldst be ?" 
 
 "No, Hugo!" she answered, "not until I know 
 more." 
 
 Stooping down she pressed her lips to his thin hand, 
 and returned to the window. 
 
 He did not try to detain her ; but turning to his sis- 
 ter, whispered that ere long all would be understood 
 between him and the dear girl who had nursed him so 
 devotedly. Rosalie pressed her brother's hand in an- 
 swer, returning to Conrad with a lighter heart.
 
 284 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 THE ORPHAN ASYLUM OF THE DUKE OF FALKENSTEIN. 
 
 "Here too dwells simple trust; plain innocence; 
 Unsullied beauty; sound unbroken youth." 
 
 Thompson. 
 
 A few days after the scene last described, Hugo 
 made a full confession to Volga of his infatuation for 
 Ursula, whom he had* seen but once in his life. He 
 acknowledged that in dying to save Conrad's life, she 
 proved that she could never have cared for him, nor 
 could she have been anything to him had she lived. 
 Yet it was even a more difficult task to convince Volga 
 than to assure himself of the love he felt for her whom, 
 from their earliest childhood, he had regarded as a 
 sister. When at last she listened to him, and he 
 learned fully to understand her loving heart how she 
 had nursed him with a devotion which could not be 
 equaled, in fact, bringing him back to life from well- 
 nigh actual death, he wondered that a thought of any 
 other woman, even Ursula, could ever have had a 
 place in his heart.
 
 THE ORPHAN ASYLUM. 285 
 
 If there was a happy girl in the world at this time, 
 it was Volga. 
 
 Three long months thus elapsed, which under differ- 
 ent circumstances would have been tedious indeed. 
 Hugo at last felt strong enough to undertake the jour- 
 ney to Falkenstein, in response to repeated messages 
 from its loving inmates. 
 
 But to go back to Conrad. 
 
 Two months before Hugo's departure, he and Ro- 
 salie left the monastery, accompanied by Kurt and an 
 escort, the brave old Abbot waving them a last fare- 
 well. As Conrad entered the well-remembered road 
 to Falkenstein, he pointed out to Rosalie the places of 
 interest to him in the past, and as toward night they 
 rode through the village, he told her of his first meet- 
 ing with Ursula. Soon after, they rode through the 
 lower gate of the fortress, ascended the hill, crossed 
 the drawbridge and reached the palace, where their 
 devoted friends, the Duke and Duchess, to the un- 
 speakable delight of the grateful girl, received them 
 with open arms. 
 
 Bernard von Wolfram, who had restored and was 
 occupying his ancestral castle, came early next morn- 
 ing to welcome Conrad and to have his first look at 
 Count Hans' daughter, the girl of whom Ursula had 
 spoken to him so fondly. The minstrel was imme- 
 diately attracted by her modest, childlike bearing.
 
 286 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 When he perceived her readiness to talk of the dead 
 Princess, now more than ever his life's idol and the 
 subject of his song, his heart went out to the fair-young 
 orphan, who soon became aware that she had made a 
 true friend in the minstrel knight. 
 
 The freedom of her new surroundings enabled Con- 
 rad to note with pleasure her improvement in culture 
 and understanding, as well as the other charms which 
 go to.make attractive womanhood. Among these, her 
 singing gave them all the greatest surprise. One even- 
 ing while all were seated together, she treated them 
 unexpectedly to one of Ursula's beautiful composi- 
 tions, which had been secretly obtained from the 
 Duchess, and in a short time thoroughly mastered by 
 the gifted songstress. 
 
 One can imagine the tender feelings awakened in 
 each breast as the voice of the beloved dead seemed 
 to be repeated and re-echoed in the living and thrill- 
 ing tones of Rosalie. As they fell upon his ears Wol- 
 fram sat entranced and spellbound. He listened with 
 forced composure to the end ; then, no longer able to 
 control his emotion, rose hurriedly, pressed his lips 
 to Rosalie's hand in silence, and withdrew. The 
 younger knight's face, also so visibly betrayed the tu- 
 multuous working of his heart, that the girl came to 
 him in alarm, saying:
 
 THE ORPHAN ASYLUM. 287 
 
 "What ails thee, Conrad, and why did our friend, the 
 minstrel, leave us so suddenly ?" 
 
 "I know not, dear Rosalie," answered the young 
 knight, "unless it be that thy beautiful song has 
 awakened the same recollections and emotions in his 
 heart as in mine; for thy exquisite voice indeed af- 
 fected me strangely. Wolfram, you must know, has 
 for years loved Ursula devotedly." 
 
 "If my songs sadden thee," said the girl, tenderly, 
 "I shall sing no more ;" at the same time placing her 
 soft hand on his. 
 
 "Such emotions as these," replied Conrad, "are the 
 greatest boon to a sorrowing heart. Sing to me, dear 
 one, her songs as well as thine own, and talk to me 
 of her if thou wilt, I shall only love thee the better for 
 so doing." 
 
 Rosalie, answering him with a gentle smile, observed 
 the Duchess holding out to her both her trembling and 
 transparent hands. Without hesitation she rushed into 
 her tender arms. The good lady p'ressed her to her 
 heart, which example was warmly followed by the 
 Duke, who then placed the delighted girl between 
 them. 
 
 Wolfram re-entered the room and advanced toward 
 Rosalie, exclaiming that he had never heard a more 
 beautiful and soul-stirring voice; and that, if. she 
 wished, he would gladly teach her other songs of Ur-
 
 288 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 sula's, as well as accompany her. Rosalie, in her be- 
 witching, unaffected way, expressed her grateful ap- 
 preciation of both his praise and offer, and furthermore 
 asked the favor that he would sing to her. The min- 
 strel complied with the request, remarking how sad 
 was the comparison between his worn tenor voice, and 
 the fresh and rich tones they had just heard. Rosalie, 
 who as yet knew but little of minstrelsy, grew intensely 
 interested in Wolfram's ballads. She sang with him 
 and made him accompany her from that day. With 
 double pleasure she looked forward to the arrival of 
 his white-haired teacher, Roland, who had been in- 
 vited by the Duke to visit Falkenstein. 
 
 It was touching to see the affection bestowed on 
 Conrad and Rosalie by the Duke and Duchess. The 
 former was so connected with the memory of their 
 daughter that he would naturally come in for his share. 
 Rosalie, however, took them by storm, not only on 
 account of her personal charms, but equally those of 
 mind and heart. As she so often alluded to Ursula, 
 she by degrees occupied the daughter's place in the 
 thoughts and affections of the bereaved couple. 
 
 When Hugo brought Volga to Falkenstein he 
 presented her to his benefactors as his affianced 
 wife. The sincere brotherly affection manifested to- 
 ward the young couple by Conrad, drew them 
 daily closer to that tender-hearted invalid, the Duchess.
 
 THE ORPHAN ASYLUM. 289 
 
 When later on our hero told her of the young forester's 
 unexpressed love for Ursula, she from that moment 
 gave the youth a permanent place in her motherly 
 heart. 
 
 As time wore on, Conrad was obliged to confess to 
 himself that Rosalie was becoming more and more 
 dear to him. Her heart, he well knew, was already 
 his, having been convinced of it by a thousand sweet, 
 natural signs. He loved her no less truly, and de- 
 lighted in her companionship. 
 
 The Ducal pair had perceived this growing affec- 
 tion, as had also Rosalie herself. Although Conrad 
 had not yet breathed a word of it, she read his heart 
 and was thrilled with joy. Her step was more elastic. 
 Her voice sang gaily through the halls of the castle. 
 Her exuberance of spirits was contagious. The long 
 winter nights had come, during which her cheering 
 presence shed its brightness on all. The Duke and 
 Duchess, suspecting the delicacy which, under the cir- 
 cumstances, kept Conrad silent, themselves opened the 
 subject one day, assuring him that nothing would make 
 them happier, now that their daughter was no more, 
 than to see him take for his wife one whose bright 
 presence had done so much to lighten their sorrow. 
 
 As he received this unexpected encouragement, 
 Conrad quietly bowed his head, kissed the Duchess' 
 hand, and stood awaiting the coming of Rosalie, who 
 
 19
 
 290 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 entered almost at the moment. He met her at the door 
 and clasped the astonished girl in his arms, impressing 
 one long and lingering kiss on her lips. She felt in- 
 stinctively the difference between this demonstration 
 of affection and the calm, brotherly embraces of for- 
 mer days. When he released her, she hesitated a mo- 
 ment in her surprise ; then throwing her arms around 
 his neck, returned his kiss with her whole heart and 
 soul. 
 
 From her hero she ran to her benefactors. Em- 
 bracing them both, she took her now accustomed seat 
 between them. The expression in her lovely face un- 
 der this new-found happiness was so charming as to 
 complete the fascination of the old couple. At their 
 words of open admiration and praise she blushed deep- 
 ly, and hurriedly rising, rushed out of the room, fol- 
 lowed by Conrad. 
 
 When they were alone the spell of silence which had 
 so far held them was effectually broken. How much 
 was to be told, and what important revelations made, 
 we leave our readers to imagine. Conrad did not for- 
 get Ursula, nor did Rosalie. They agreed to live to 
 her memory, and to devote themselves to the happiness 
 of her father and mother; "and also to each other's 
 happiness," added Rosalie, archly. 
 
 "Yes, thou little witch! and to each other's happi- 
 ness also," repeated Conrad, smiling as of old.
 
 THE ORPHAN ASYLUM. 291 
 
 During the stormy, wintry weather that followed, 
 Wolfram accompanied Hugo and Volga on nearly 
 every ride, while Conrad, knowing the location of the 
 poor through his former visits with Ursula, continued 
 at the side of his newly betrothed, to dispense the chari- 
 ties of the Duchess. Kurt, who never failed to be with 
 his master and his pretty little mistress, as he called 
 Rosalie, on all these expeditions, remained within the 
 castle a privileged page. 
 
 One evening as they all sat together enjoying the 
 warmth from the huge fire-place at Falkenstein, Con- 
 rad ventured the remark that it seemed to him as if 
 through the kindness of the Duke and Duchess the 
 castle had become a veritable place of refuge for the 
 fatherless and motherless. "We are all orphans here," 
 he said, "Hugo, Volga, Rosalie and I ; without a home 
 or castle other than that provided by you, our noble, 
 generous benefactors." 
 
 "What has been destroyed can be rebuilt," said 
 the Duke ; "but what those two damsels yonder, with 
 their heads close together, are talking about, I should 
 like to know." 
 
 "I think," said Wolfram, "they are discussing an- 
 other orphan, namely myself, who spends so much 
 time at this, thy asylum, noble Duke, that he might 
 be counted one of its inmates as well. I told these 
 young girls tonight that I am about making a tour,
 
 292 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 with my lyre, through the principal capitals of South- 
 ern Germany, to enlighten their inhabitants concern- 
 ing the glorious deeds of our departed Princess and 
 those of her two noble knights, Conrad and Hugo." 
 
 "Not leaving out thyself, I hope," interposed the 
 Duke. 
 
 "When I sing of my own prowess," replied the 
 minstrel, "I do so as a nameless knight, but when I 
 sing of the dead and lost I call her and those who 
 fought for her so nobly by their true names. One of 
 these, our young Count Hugo here, I have made my 
 heir. If I do not return all my estate will belong to 
 him and his future wife." 
 
 "Thou art indeed a true and generous friend!" ex-- 
 claimed Volga, rushing to embrace him. 
 
 "A friend to us all," said the Duke. "I trust that 
 we shall see thee back again before the end of the 
 year ; for without thee, we cannot count our home cir- 
 cle complete." 
 
 "I well know where my heart will long to be," re- 
 plied the minstrel. "I shall probably return next year 
 in time for the chase, which, in the comradeship of that 
 expert young huntress, Volga, I shall enjoy as never 
 before." 
 
 Two days later, mounted on a white charger, Knight 
 Wolfram, in the garb of a wandering minstrel, lyre in 
 hand, and without attendance, left his castle. As he
 
 I 
 
 ' \A 
 
 " - ffeS*
 
 THE ORPHAN ASYLUM. 293 
 
 wound around the hill, on which rose the proud 
 Castle of Falkenstein, he saluted its inmates, who were 
 watching his departure from one of the lookouts on the 
 battlements, surrounding the well-remembered arena. 
 
 One morning a great commotion was occasioned 
 among the inmates of Falkenstein by the arrival of an 
 old friend whom they had long thought dead ; no less 
 a person than Henry the guide, accompanied by a little 
 girl. In answer to their eager inquiries he told them 
 that Prince Steffel had spared his life when the other 
 prisoners at Waldhorst were put to the sword, recog- 
 nizing in him the famous guide and thinking he might 
 prove useful some future day. 
 
 After the Prince's defeat and death he had managed 
 to make his escape. Remaining on his charcoal settle- 
 ment until the death of his widowed sister, he had final- 
 ly decided to seek the Duke with his little orphan niece, 
 the only one left to him in the world. 
 
 "Another orphan !" whispered Conrad to Hugo, who 
 had just joined them. 
 
 "I am glad to see thee again, my companion in suf- 
 fering," said Duke Henry, "and if thou art willing to 
 remain with us, thou mayst enter my service from this 
 day." 
 
 The Guide was overjoyed at this offer, particularly 
 as the Duke allowed his little girl to remain with him. 
 
 At the request of the Duke, Hugo and Conrad vis-
 
 294 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 ited Waldhorst in the autumn. They found nought but 
 desolate ruins. The towers and battlements had fallen 
 into the courtyard, rilling up the dry moat. The draw- 
 bridge lay charred and broken. Hugo felt as Conrad 
 had done on visiting the ruins of his ancestral castle 
 on the Rhine. As the latter had sought his mother's 
 grave, so the young Count made his way to that of 
 both his father and mother. They found it surrounded 
 by many mounds, thrown over the remains of the mur- 
 dered prisoners of Waldhorst. While viewing these 
 monuments of man's dastardly cruelty, the young 
 men pressed each others' hands in melancholy silence. 
 Hugo, on rinding the underground passage, on 
 which the water supply of the moat depended, com- 
 pletely choked up, and the river branch itself dry, gave 
 up all hope of rebuilding his birthplace. He entered 
 into negotiations to sell the land and hunting grounds 
 to a neighboring Baron. As this business necessitated 
 several journeys to and fro, through the woods, our 
 two friends, armed with crossbows, indulged in a 
 week's hunting. Returning loaded with game, they 
 picked up the Abbot by the way, who added to their 
 trophies two barrels of the best wine for his old friend, 
 Duke Henry. The Benedictine proved so jolly a guest 
 that the Duke detained him from week to week. When 
 Conrad asked him one day if he also were not an or- 
 phan, and a fit subject for adoption, the merry monk
 
 THE ORPHAN ASYLUM. 295 
 
 replied: "Not only have I been, as I believe, an or- 
 phan all my life ; but I have always been partial to, and 
 loved every other orphan, particularly such as Rosalie 
 and Volga there." The girls received this sally with 
 shouts of laughter. 
 
 When at last, on the approach of winter, his visit 
 came to an end, his cheery presence was missed by all.
 
 296 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 AND THE LAST. 
 "All's well, that ends well." Shakespeare. 
 
 Time flew on with its simple duties and pleasures, 
 and in due season, nature again put on, bit by bit, her 
 beautiful garb of spring. With it came the tidings of 
 the speedy return of Bernard von Wolfram, which 
 gladdened the hearts of the inmates of the castle. 
 
 Once more the Abbot made the journey to Falken- 
 stein, this time to officiate at a double wedding, 
 to take place on the anniversary of the Princess' birth- 
 day, which, during her lifetime, had always been kept 
 as the most important festival of the year. 
 
 A very suggestive bustle was noticed at the castle, 
 in which the Duchess took an active part. Time, aided 
 by circumstances, had done much toward healing her 
 wounded heart. She was able once more to consider, 
 and take an interest in, the claims of the living. 
 
 When the day arrived on which Conrad and Rosalie, 
 and Hugo and Volga were to be united in matrimony, 
 sunlight reigned supreme, the shadows of the past
 
 AND THE LAST. 297 
 
 only enhancing the splendor of the present, which that 
 morning thrilled every heart. 
 
 The great festivities or tournaments usual on former 
 celebrations were omitted. But a comparatively small 
 number of guests had been bidden to the castle. The 
 Duke, however, had resolved to give them a surprise 
 by bringing about a friendly trial of skill with the 
 crossbow, for which Wolfram sent a beautiful Arabian 
 steed as a prize. The target was again placed at one 
 end of the vast arena in which Conrad and Hugo had 
 been the victors two years before. In the center of the 
 field of honor, where Ursula had sat on that eventful 
 day, an awning supported by posts entwined with roses 
 had been erected for Rosalie, the Queen of the Festival. 
 
 On the morning of that auspicious day the partici- 
 pants of the contest, including Volga in a picturesque 
 hunting costume, formed in line directly in front of the 
 stand where Rosalie, in her white bridal dress, sat en- 
 throned among a profusion of flowers, a blushing rose 
 herself, with her dark masses of hair for a background. 
 She made a picture so attractive that every eye was 
 turned upon her. 
 
 When all the male competitors had made their shots, 
 the bolts of Henry the guide and Hugo von Waldhorst, 
 who as usual had outdone everybody, were found 
 sticking in the center of the target so close alongside 
 of each other that there was apparently no room be-
 
 298 KNIGHT CONRAD OF RHEINSTEIN. 
 
 tween them. As it was now Volga's turn, the girl, 
 following the example of her lover two years before, 
 stepped back some distance and sent off her missile, 
 which on its downward course dropped directly upon 
 the two already there, its point sliding between them 
 to the plumb center of the bull's-eye. 
 
 Amidst the wildest enthusiasm Kurt brought for- 
 ward the spirited Arabian and Wolfram taking it from 
 him presented it to the proud and happy girl. 
 
 The chapel on the Falcon's Rock, which that af- 
 ternoon was to be the scene of the double bridal, was 
 garlanded with choicest flowers. The Abbot mar- 
 ried both couples at the same time, and gave each his 
 blessing, after which all repaired to the brilliantly il- 
 luminated banquet hall, where wine, wassail and festive 
 song by the two minstrels, young and old, cheered the 
 table round. The sorrows of the past were obscured 
 by the joys of the present. So we leave them to that 
 happiness to which honor, courage and noble self-sac- 
 rifice entitled them. 
 
 The ducal couple, looking tenderly at their new 
 son and his lovely wife, felt that though God had 
 taken away one great blessing, He had given in return 
 two others, at least, to love and cherish, until He 
 should call them to join her "whom they had loved 
 long since, and lost the while!" 
 
 THE END.
 
 000045218 5