Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-10-24

less than halfthat distance, mein Herr,
said another.
At length one fellow being less i'm
practicable than the rest, consented to
drive us as far as a certain point where
four roads met, on condition that we
shared bis vehicle with two other
travellers, and that the two other
travellers consented to let us do so.
'And even So" he added, II shall
have to take them two miles out Of
their way-but, perhaps, being fair
time, they won't mind that
As it happened, they were not in n
condition to mind that or anything
very much, being a couple Of free
shooters from the Black Forest, wild
with fun and frolic, and somewhat the
worse for many potations of lager
bier. One of them, it seemed, had
won a prize at some sbooting-matcb
that same morning, and they had
been celebrating this triumph all day.
Leaving us waiting, with the horses
in. for at least thrce-quarters Of an
hour, they came, escorted by a troop
of their comrades, all laughing, talk
inc, and wound up to the highest
pitch Of excitement Then followed
a scene of last health drinkings, last
hand-shakings, last endorsements.
Finally, we drove off just as 1t was
getting dusk, followed by many huz-
zas, and much waving Of grey and
green caps.
For the first quarter Of an hour
they were both very noisy, eXchang-
ing boisterous greetings with every
passer-by, singing snatches of songs,
and laughing necessarily. Then, as
the dusk decpcned and we left the last
stragglers behind, they sank into a
tipsy stupor, aud ended by falling fast
asleep.
Meanwhile, the driver lit his pipe,
and let his tired horses choose their
own pace: and the stars came out one
bv one over head and the road, leav-
inc the dead level of the plain, wound
upwards through district that became
more hilly with every mile.
Then | also fell asleep cannot
tell for how long to be walked by and
by the stopping of the charetto, and
the voice Of the driver, saying:-
This is the nearest point to which
can take these IIcrcn, VIII they
be pleased to alight?"
sat up and rubbed my eyes. 1t
was bright starlight. Berghem was
already leaning out, and opening the
door Our fellow travellers were still
sound asleep We were in the midst
Of a wild, lilly country, black with
bristling pine-woods; ; and mad drawn
up at an elevated point where four
roads meet. -,
"Which of these are we to take p
asked Bergheim, a he pulled out his
purse, and counted the stipulated num-
Der Of horins into the palm Of the
driver.
The man pointed with his whip in
direction at right angles to the road
by which he was himself driving.
"And how far shall we have to
walk 2
"To Rotheckirche.'
"Yes-to Rotleckirche."
He grunted doubtfully. Ugh!
he said, 81 cant be certain to mile
or so. 1t may be twelve or fourteen
{" A good road?'
"Yes-a good road; but hiIIy.
These Heren have only to keep
straight forward. They cannot mss
the way"
And so he drives offleayingu It's stand
ing in the road.
The moon is now raising behind a
sloop of dark trees-the air IS chIll-an
owl close by utters its tremulous. me-
Ilancholy cry. Place and hour con-
sidered, the prospect Of twelve or
fourteen miles of a strangs road i'll a
strange country, is anything but eX-
hilarting. We push on, however,
briskly; and Bergheim, whose good
spirits are inyincible, whistles and
chatters, and laughs away as gaily as
if we were just starting on brilliant
May morning :.
IL wonder if you were ever tired IN
YOUR life" | exclaim by and by, half
peevishly
Tired" he echoes. "Why, am
as tired at this moment as a dog; and
would gladly lie down by the road
side, curl myself up under tree, and
sleep till morning wonder, by the
way, what o'clock it is. "
/ pulled out my fusee box, struck
light. and looked at my watch, 1t
was only ten o'clock.
"We have been walking" said
Bercheim, "about half an hour, and
don't believe we have done two miles
in the time. Well, it can't go on up
hill like this all the way!"
"Impossible," l replied. "Rothe-
skirche is on the level Of the river.
We must sooner or later begin de-
scending towards the vally of the
Neckar.' -.
81 wish it might be sooner, than,'
laughed my companion, ''for l bad
done a good twenty miles to-day be-
fore you overlook me"
"Wel, perhaps we may come upon
some place half way. If so, | vote
that we put up for the night, and leave
Rotheskirche till the morning"
"Bye, that would be capital y said