The weekly union record., 1865-06-24
The Black Brotherhood.
A LEGEND OF THIS RHINE.

ruined castles aud monasterleS that stud It's
banks, and each has lis history.
Our guide told Us OF an old monastery near
LiDgerfeld, which / thought worthy of place
in my note book. give it my own interpre
taiion and present il to the reader, hoping it
may meet with approval in the perusal.
Daring the Thirty Tears war which con
yulsed Germany, one fine Summer afternoon q
foot traveller came to the little hostelry Of the
Travellers Rest" which stood by the road
ride on the rivers bank. His garb proclaimed
the soldier His black boots were drawn half
way up his thighs, into which loose pair Of
breeches lost themselves. and rusty breast
plate covered bis buff leather jerkin A broad
leafed, low crowned hat from which a single
black feather depended, was pulled low upon
his forehead. He was armed with sword and
pistols.
There was something in bis martial bearing
ard 6rm tread that seemed to denote the officer
So at least thought the little sunny haired
maid of the hostery, who came forth TO serve
him, for she said:
What can l serve you with, noble Cap
tain"
A hagon of Rhenis, and of your best vim
tage, and bit of something TO eat, in the first
place" answered the soldier good naiuredly
chucking the girl uoder the chin, and then a
bed for the night"
' The first l can supply you with; but the
+ second, | am sorry 10 say cannot"
| Il was mans voice that spoke They had
been joined by the landlord Of the hos;elry,
short, pursey little man, with fat face and
red nose.
Aud wherefore not p asked the soldier
carelessly throwing himself upon the wooden
bench under the tree that shadowed the hostel.
/ ~ with its branches; while the girl went into
/ the house 10 get the refreshments be had be.
spoken.
Because every room is engaged, and have
not spare bed left. Tie young Baron of
Ravensburg, his sister, aud their attendants,
will arrive this evening. Their courier was
here this morning TO bespeak the rooms"
That's unfortunate. But | am not par.
tlcular-l am soldier. as you see-so give me
bundle of straw in one of the ou;hoases, and
that shall content me-"
"Impos5ible!' - cried the host with an alac.
riy which rather surprised The soldier even
as it is | shall be compelled to make some Of
the Barons servants sleep in tie open air. My
house is but small, as you perceive, and the
Baronis retinue is large Ten miles further on
there is an excellent inn. Ycu soldiers are
accustomed to marching" continued The hos
with an attempt at aceiiousDess, :" and the dis.
tance will be nothing to you.'
Excuse me-" said the soldier, tapping the
heel of his boot with heavy steel scabbard,
and all the while subjeciing the landlord to
scrutiny of which be was unconscious. g am
net foot soldier and in my long marches
have been accustomed to use four legs instead
of two. | did not come all the way here on
foot
Where is your horse ?' asked the landlord
quickly, and with some anxiety, the soldier
thought
Some two miles from here :" be answered
carelessly.
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 fur
ther, aud had not been in the habit OF car
rying him. He was dead
" Dead ~
" Yes; it happened very strangely. These
are troublesome times, know, but | thought
the war had not invaded this quiet providence
at least | was told so, and therefore | rode
along fearless Of danger. When | came to the
little glen with The rocks and woods crossing
II upon either SIDE, | thoug ght-a natural idea
for soldier-that it was capital place for
ambuscade and so it proved; for had scarce
ly entered II before q couple Of carbues were
discharged from q thicket. My horse neighed
with pain, reared up and then fell to the earth,
carrying NE along with him. | knew be was
badly hurt, for | had had horses shot under me
before so quickly snatched my pistols from
their holsters, extricated my feet from the stir
rups and went down quickly with him. For
tunately be fell stone dead and did not kick.
| lay motionless on his body aud waited for
further Developments. Two men with carbines
IN their HANDS emerged from the thicket and
came rapidly towards me. When they were
within ten feet | arose, q pistol in each hand,
ard called upon them TO surrender. as | was
anxious to learn the cause OF their unprovoked
attack there being nothing 10 my appearance,
l thought, TO suggest the idea OF booty. But
the rascals, who evidently thought me dead.
were so terrified that they beat hasty retreat
towards the woods, so was obliged to send
couple of bullets after them to stop them and
| being an Indifferent 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 ?" stammered tie
/ landlord. and his teeth chartered and be grew
pale, all but his nose which from contrast with
the rest of bis face, looked reder than ever.
What would you have had ME do ?" asked
the soldier, They might have fred at some
other poor devil of traveller, and he not got
of as easily as did,"
What could have possessed them to Ere
upon your exclaimed the landlord, and it al
most appeared that be was asking himself the
question as much as be did the soldier.
Precisely the question l asked myself" re
piled the soldier " and since you have men-
toned the expected arrival of the young Baron
of Rayeusburg, think have clue to the
whole affair. Some outlaws having heard of
the Baron's journey have formed plan to
waylay him. These two were sent forward as
scouts to apprise the others of the Barons ap
proach. Seeing solitary horseman they con-
cluded to pluDder little on their own account.
As l was not molested further on my way
hiiher, the rendezvous Of the band must be
beyond here, consequently the Baron viii reach
the house in safety. Now if you cannot ac-
lrOu1ulodsfe me- with a he'd | shall take m nv