The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-06-08

IL :.
language was iudiscreet, maintained, neverthe-
less, that it was very dangefous to have the
slightest .commsnication with the demon, be-
cause he was wicked, capricious and powerful,
and all those who had any communication with
him always experienced misfortune from it,
Had he not given to the gallant Chcvaler Sy-
bert, the fahous black stced, with Which he
conquered all his competitors at the grand
tournament il! Bremen? Yes nut that courscr
| plunged with him down ffightful prccipicc,
from which man or horse has never coz G out.
Did he not impart to Dame Gertrude Troddcn
some curious secrets, which were soon after the
causc Of her being burned as sorcercss, BY
| the command Of the grand criminal judge of
Tie electorate?
/. But these proofs and many others, which
George and Max related of the evil consc-
Hucnccs attendant OH the gifts of the clfn.
made no impression on Martin Waldeck Mar
tin:was young, daring and rash, and smiled at
: the timidity of his brothers
Cease nc spid, ':all this folly; the demon
is good and kind one. Hclivcs among us as
simple peasant; he frcqucnts the rocks and
solituGcs Of the mountains, sometimes as a
hunter and other times as shepherd. But
how can this demon bc SD malicious us yousa, i?
What power can he have over nortals. who
make use Of his gifts without submitting them
selves to his will? Tie benefits and riffs of
the spirit of the IIartz CANNOT njurc us; it is
the bad use which We make of them, that
does"
Max replied, that riches, badly acquired,
could never profit their posscssor. Martin de-
elarcd positively. that the possession of all the
treasures in the Hartz Mountains would not be
capable of ellecting the least change in his
habit, manners or character.
4 This conversation lasted until the brothers
reached their lowly hut, which was situated on
a Height, in the ncighborood of Brockcnbcrc.
1 They then, according to custom. arranged the
watches for the night; for one of the brothers
! Kept GUARD while tllc two others slept. In
fact, the Burning iof 'thes charcoal required a
continual attention
Max Waldeck the eldest brother, had
watched about an hour. when he saw suddenly.
upon the bnrders Of the swamp opposite to the
door OF his cottage, an immense fire, around
! which numerous figures danced in the most
grotcsqnc attitudes. nIax':, first thought was
to call George; but be could not awaken him
without Martin hearing. SO upon reflection,
in spite of tho terror with which this singular
phantom filled him, he resolved to watch alone.
Besides, the strange fire was gradually disap-
pcaring, and he was then quite free from fear.
George did not delay in relieving Max, who
retired to bed without saying anything. The
vast fire again filled tic valley, and the same
phantoms surrounded and danced through the
tiamcs George was. more courageous than
Max, and resolved 20 cross the stream which
separated him from the marsh Climbing up
an cmincicc: lie approached near to where the
tirc was burning Among tho clGns that
hustled about the flames he recognized the
giant, covered with hair and armed with pine
tree; in word, it was the demon of tho Hartz,
p,.:"li as the old shcphcrdshad described to him.
! Trembling it'll fear he commenced rcciting
the p;aii,.. commencing with Lct al the angels
praise thee, 0 LORI" =" which las looked on, in
that country, as sovereign prest: vatlvc
against the Influence Of bad spirits. lie :.::rncd
his eyes again towards %hcrc the fire had been
burning, but all had disappeared. The valley
was no longer Illuminated; but by tho pale rays
of the neon, George, in great terror, directed
his course to the place Of this extraordinary
scene, but he found no trace of fire on the
heath; neither ;lc moss nor wild flowers were
seorchcd or fadcd-thc branches of the oak
which had appeared cnvelorcd in flames, were
wet with Tic night dew. George returned to
the hut, and reasoning the same way as Max,
resolved to say nothing of what ,.a had seen,
| as he feared to awaken the curiosity Of Mar
/ tin.
Tho night was far advanced when Martins
watch came on and when well awake. his first
care was to examine the furnace IIo saw. to
his great astonisl,mcnt, that George had not
attended to it, and that tho fire was out-:ye
know already why. Very much annoyed, he
set "bout lighting it, but it was useless. 1t
became serious, for the poor fellows rskrd the
loss Of their market next day. Mortified by
this accident, Martin had Just decided to a
| 1xx,l L., l,.Ast