Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-08-08


whole squad a few horses' lengths 10
the rear.
For some time. until I became ac-
customed 10 my mount. my attention
was fully occpied with keeping my
seat. and conversation was difficult.
but as I gained some confidence | said
10 Smith: who are these chaps with
the hop poles that are following u.s.
Hop poles cried my host with in
dignation in his voice. Those are
lanees. Each lanre is over three hun
dred years old. and I got them out ~
the cellars Of my castle I venture 70
say that no modern weapon would have
lasted half that time. for they are as
sound as ever they were"
The road led mp through a beautiful
valley. On either hillside vines grew
nearly to tie top. Although the road
rose slightly all the way from the
Rhine. being rather steep In places. we
did not get view Of the castle until
we had trOtted something like three
miles. Then Smith pointed il out IT,
me'on hill top. as we came In sight
Of it round corner Ii stood to the
right Of the valley. completely com
handing II. and ! was amazed to see
its size and perfect state Of preseTya-
tion. A tall square tower. like cam
panile. rose from one corner. and at
the other was stouter round tower.
much lower than the square campanile
at the other corner. while between the
flowers was the long maehieolated front
Of the main body of the castle. The
unturreted body OF the building seem
to be in three varying heights and
looked as II the walls had been erected
at different periods. | mentioned this
10 Smith and he said my suppostion
was partly correct.
MY ancestors" he remarked made
things lively for number Of centuries
in this district. The castle was burned
once by the people Of Cologne; three
times. think. by the stout burghers
Of Mayence, and the justly iBeensed
populace Of the neighborhood used 10
rise in their might every now and then
and massacre every member Of the
family who had not taken to the woods.
Put they never succeeded In completely
anniliilating my ancestors; always one
or two escaped and they returned and
rebuilt the stronghold. generally try
ing to make it more secure than II had
been before. This gives variegated
effect TO the edifice that strikes me as
wonderfully picturesque"
We presently came to q spot where
by-road left the main thoroughfare
and took directly to the bills. The
main road went on up the valley. while
the by-road zig-zagged up through the
forest. Sometimes at the elbows Of
this road we caught glinpses of tho
castle, looming greater and greater
above us, until we came at last to an
arched gateway I'm the stone wall
guarded by two men with lances III
. their hands Riding under the ston,
Z arch we came into large courtyard
q somewhat roughly paved. and here at
!. tendants sprang forward TO take on
y horses. Smith and /. having dismOunt
s ed, walked into the great castle.
! Smith led me into large room whicl
I was evidently the dining hall Of tn,
J. castle. At one end was a large fire
d place, constructed on such giganti,
d scale that II formed practically room
Il In itself; In fact, there were stools aD'
It benches beneath its ample canopy. ant
n at the back there burned great fir
4, of logs
h Dinner was served az soon as we M
n rived. Smith took the head az the IN
e Bile and motloned me to a place at hi
lr right hand. The table was plain OaI
"a one without covering Of any sort
81 Smith sat on three.legged stool at tn
e. head, and another had been provide,
for me, while a third stood at his lef
70 hand. All down the two lengths Of tn
e table from these stools were lon
q, benches and when dinner was m
N nounced the men at arms came CHATTER
y ing In, as we'll as numerous retainer
"a whom l had not seen. The last one /