Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1868-06-04

led him by clrcuitous route to til
summit; this peril surmounted, hi
was now to strive for his life Will
the fierce enemy whose realm ht
had invaded. The condor sal
Iperched on the nest, whetting hei
beak for the encounter, her large,
keen eyes glaring defiance. 10 as.
cend the tree would have been de.
struction, and nc cross bow, a bolt
from which would have stood him
much need, had he. A thought
struck him to kindle a fire beneath
! the tree. With speed he gathered
together a few dried houghs and
brushwood, and fastened them to
the end of long pole, which be
had cut down with his Ak. Then
striking fire, he kindlcd it, and
placed it as high as he could reach
in the branches Of the tree.
The half,decayed boughs were
instantly on fire. The violence Of
the wind swept it upward, and the
nest itself vas soon wrapped in
flames. The condor had taken
fight at the first gnsh Of smoke !;
but recalled by the cries of her
young, wheeled round and round
the blazing tree, uttering a hoarse,
short cry at intervals, and tapping
her huge,wingsa as if maddened with
rage and despair. Anon she dash
ed furiously at Sclafhold, who,
nothing daunted, struck at her with
his ak, his only weapon of defense.
The bird wheeled round lin and
then plunged madly into the flames
to the rescue Of its young. Long
and fruitIess were its efforts; It
mingled its horrid shrieks in the
blast of the storm till the country
around was aroused; but all in vain
were its struggles the fire had so
weakened it that, overcome the
huge creature fell at full length, ex-
hausted. at the feet Of the youth,
who with one mighty stroke of his
ak, severed the head from thepros-
trate enemy, which should now no
longer be the terror of the husband
men, and which, if the Duke were
but rightly minded toward the hon
est and deserving, should lead him
to his fortune. Dragging the car
cass ofhis PROSTATE foe to the edge
of the precipice, he precipitated it
over the side, and at length man.
aged to make a safe descent with
it into the valley. Here, to his sur
prise, the whole POI ulation, as well
as the stately followers of the court, |
we're assembled, attracted by the {
ire ana the wailing cries of the con-
ler, and had been the witnesses of
lis prowess.
The Duke listened to his account
If his adventure, and demanded his |.
lame. h -aa
"Schaffhold, the son of Wolf /
gang, the herdsman, was the reply; |
md the youth saw with pain the
smile which passed round the no.
Die circle. a9aaTGv as i8s
"Bring forth my daughter!"
Several of the knights ventured
% demonstrate. But the Duke I
'nce more bade them do his bid
ling. nsaB
There was a pause, and presently
2ubeta appeared leaning ON her
arm, pale and trembling.
Again there was murmur, but the,
Duke exclaimed: g nt
IL pledged my royal word that
whoever should slay the condor
hould receive my daughters hand,
is true; | did not think that one
owly- born would attempt, or if at
empt, succeed, against such noble
nights; but, as success has attendl
d his efforts, he has shown him
elf more worthy than you all, and
will not break my word. Young
nan, take my daughter; thou art
S comely as thou art brave, and !
1t no knight here murmur at my !
Dyal right to do justice to desert"
Schaffhold advanced to the
luke, and kneeling down, exclaim- :
/: h1a aaH
II would risk life thousand r
mes for so fair a prize, but / will 7
OF take the hand that the lady doth .
OF willingly bestow0 @
'Now, by the rood, thy spirit is h
nightly enough" exclaimed Duke i
enry; "but tits our willthat thou !
1st wed tue lady. Rhbeta, what :,
vest thoup' J g
al will obey thee my father, = said
e maiden, on whose cheek the
lsh Of Joy had chased away its i.
leness. SfF :
The Duke then Joined their hands. y
And that thou msyest have home !
ately enough for princely bride" : :
continued, 81 will give thee as ! !,
ueh land as thou eanst encifcle in Y
days journey. On therock thou :
DIST climb-the condor's eyrie-I
N build a stately castle for thee
d thine, which shall be called Z
riefenstein, in remembrance of the ?
I'd which has brought thee for =
ne.'' 197'f I I
The same day was the betrothal I
the princess and herdsman sol .
lnly celebrated. On the follow
g morning Sehaffhold commenced :
E circuit Of the land which formed Y
E domains of Greifenstein. The {
IKE confirmed the gift, and, in the y
essence of the whole court, created ..
e young man a knight and noble, q
th the title Of Baron Schaaf-
.ttsrsI,