The mountain Democrat., 1865-09-09
A Legend OF the rhine.

tnaL Stanu on ltS OAnkS, ana eacn has Its
history.
Our guide told US Of one, IN old mon
astery near Linger6eld, which thought
worthy Of place in my note book.
give it my own Interpretation and present
it to the reader, hoping itmay meet with
approval in its perusal.
During the Thirty Years War which
convulsed Germany, one fine summer s
afternoon foot traveller came to the little
hOslelry Of the Travellers Rest which
stood by the roadside on the rivers bank.
His arb proclaimed him a soldier. High
black boots we're drawn half way up his
thighs, in which, > loose pair Of breeches
lost themselves, and q rusty breAstplate
covered his buff leathern. .jerkin. A broad
leaf low crowned hat, fiOm which ain.
gle black feather depended, was pulled
low upon his forehead. He was armed
with sword and pistols.
There was something in his martial
bearing and firm tread that seemed to de.
note the cfficer So at least thought the
little sunny.hRired maid Of the hoStelry
who came forth to serve him; for she said
at once:
What can serve yOS with, noble Cap.
tain?'
a Ragon of Rhenish, and Of your best
vintage, mind, and bit Of something to
cot, in the first place. answered the sol.
der, good naturedly chucking the girl
under the chin, like one ACCUSTOMED to
that familiarity; and then Il bed for the
night
'The first can supply you with bat
the second, am sorry to say, | cannot.
1t was mans voice that spoke. They
had be n joined by the landlord Of the
hos'clry, n short pussy little man, with
= fat face ard red nose.
And wherefore nut?' asked the soldier.
car"les>ly throwing himself on the wood
en- bench Hnder the tree that shadowed
the hostelry with its branches whilst the
girl went into the bouse to procure the
refreshments he had bespo&en.
Because every room is engaged, and I
have not . spare bed left The young
Baron RavenSburg, his sister, and their
attendants. will arrive this evening. -
Their c"irier was here this morning to
bespeak the rooms
That unfortunate. But am not par
ticular-i am a soldier as you see - so
give me bundle Of straw in one Of the
outhOuSes, and that will content me.
'lmpoSsihr' cried the host with alac-
rity, which rather surprised the soldier :;
even as II Is shall be compelled to make
some of the Baron's servants sleep in
the open air. NV house is but small, as
you perceive, and the baron'S retinuc is
large. Ten miles further on there is an
excellent inn. You are used to march
ing, said the host with an attempt at ia
seriousness, and the distance will be no.
thing to you
Excuse me. answered the soldier, tap.
ping the heel of his boot with his heavy
| steel scabhard. and all the while subject
ing his host 10 scrutiny OF which he
was unconscious; i am not a foot soldier;
and in my long marches have been &C
cust"med To use four legs instead of two.
| did not come all the way on foot
'Wherr is your horse ~ asked the land
lord, quickly, and with some anxiety the
soldier thought.
Some two miles from here, he answer.
ed, carcle>Sly, .''>~"
Two miles from here! echoed the land
lord; there is no house there. Why did
you leave him.
Simply because he could carry me no
further, and had not been in the habit
of carrying him. He was dead
Dead 2
Yes. 1t happened very strangely.
These are troubous times, | know. but
thought the war had not invaded this
quiet province, at least was told so, and
therefore rode along fearless Of danger.
When came to that little glen with rocks
and woods crestng it upon either side,
thought-a natural idea for soldier
that it Was capital place for an aInbuS
cade, and 80 it proved; for | had Scarcel,
entered it when two carbineS were fired
from the thicket MY horse nrighed with
pain, reared up, and then fell to the earth
carrying mr along with him. Iknew that
he was badly hurt, for have had horses
shot under me before; so quickly snatch.
ed my pistols from their holsters, extri,
Gated my feet from the strrups, and weEt
down quietly with him. Fortunately y he
lay stone dead and did not kick. lay
motion!ess on his body aud waited fo'
further developments. Two men with
carbines in their hands emerged from the
thicket and came rapidly towards me-
When they were within ten feet Of me
arose and called upon them to surrender,
as was anxious to learn the cause Of
this unprovOked attack, there being no.
thing in my appearance, | thought, to
suggest the idea of booty. But the raS
Gals, who evidently thought me dead,
were so terrified that thy beat hasty
retreat towards the woods, so was oblig.
ell to send a couple of bullets after them
tn stop them; and being an inditfer NJ
good shot they did stop, and unless some
good Christian gives them burial, they
are likely to stop there for some time.
You shot them both p stammered the
landlord; and his teeth chartered, and he
grew very pale, all hut the tip Of his nose,
which, from contrast witr the rest of his
face, looked rrdder than ever.
What would you have me do?' asked
the soldier. in his usual careless tone -
They might have fred with better sue.
cess at some other poor devil Of traveller,
who might not have got off SO easily as
| did
What could have possessed them to
have fired upon you p exclaimed the land
lord, and it almost appeared that he was
asking himself the question as much as
he did the soldier.
Precisely the question asked myself
returned the soldier; and since you have
mentioned the expected arrival of the
young Baron of Ravensburg, I think |
have a clue to the whole affair. Some
outlaws, having heard Of the Baron's jour
ney, have formed a plan to waylay him.
TheQe fwn mon were sent forward as