 CHAPTER X I of Anne of Geyerstein by Sir Walter Scott. We know not when we sleep nor when we wake, visions distinct and perfect cross our eye, which to the slumberer seem realities, and while they waked, some men have seen such sights as set at naught, the evidence of sense, and left them well persuaded they were dreaming—anonymous. The apparition of Anne of Geyerstein crossed her lover, her admirer, at least we must call him, within shorter time, than we can tell the story, but it was distinct, perfect, and undoubted. In the very instant when the young Englishman, shaking off his fond despondency, raised his head to look out upon this scene of his watch, she came from the nearer end of the bridge, passing the path of the sentinel upon whom she did not even cast a look, and passed with a rapid yet steady pace towards the verge of the woodland. It would have been natural, though Arthur had been directed not to challenge persons who left the castle, but only such as might approach it, that he should nevertheless had it only been in mere civility have held some communication, however slight, with the maiden as she crossed his post. But the suddenness of her appearance took from him, for the instant, both speech and motion. It seemed as if his own imagination had raised up a phantom, presenting to his outward senses the form and features which engrossed his mind, and he was silent, partly at least from the idea that what he gazed upon was immaterial and not of this world. It would have been no less natural that Anne of Geierstein should have in some manner acknowledged the person who had spent a considerable time under the same roof with her, had been often her partner in the dance and her companion in the field, but she did not event the slightest token of recognition, nor even look towards him as she passed. Her eye was on the wood, to which she advanced swiftly and steadily, and she was hidden by its bows ere Arthur had recollected himself sufficiently to determine what to do. His first feeling was anger at himself for suffering her to pass unquestioned when it might well chance that upon any errand which called her forth at so extraordinary a time and place he might have been enabled to afford her assistance, or at least advice. This sentiment was for a short time so predominant that he ran towards the place where he had seen the skirt of her dress disappear, and whispering her name as loud as the fear of alarming the castle permitted, conjured her to return and hear him but for a brief few moments. No answer however was returned, and when the branches of the trees began to darken over his head and to intercept the moonlight, he recollected that he was leaving his post and exposing his fellow travelers who were trusting in his vigilance to the danger of surprise. He hastened therefore back to the castle gate with matter for deeper and more inextricable doubt and anxiety than had occupied him during the commencement of his watch. He asked himself in vain with what purpose that modest young maiden whose manners were frank but whose conduct had always seemed so delicate and reserved could sell a forth at midnight like a damsel errant in romance when she was in a strange country and suspicious neighborhood, yet he rejected as he would have shrunk from blasphemy any interpretation which could have thrown censure upon Anne of Geierstein. No nothing was she capable of doing for which a friend could have to blush but connecting her previous agitation with the extraordinary fact of her leaving the castle alone and defenseless at such an hour Arthur necessarily concluded it must argue some cogent reason and as was most likely of an unpleasant nature. I will watch her return he internally uttered and if she will give me an opportunity I will convey to her the assurance that there is one faithful bosom in her neighborhood which is bound in honor and gratitude to pour out every drop of its blood if by doing so it can protect her from the slightest inconvenience this is no silly flight of romance for which common sense has a right to reproach me it is only what I ought to do what I must do or forego every claim to be termed a man of honesty or honor yet scarce it did the young man think himself anchored on a resolution which seemed unobjectionable then his thoughts were again adrift he reflected that Anne might have a desire to visit the neighboring town of Bale to which she had been invited the day before and where her uncle had friends it was indeed an uncommon hour to select for such a purpose but Arthur was aware that the Swiss maidens feared neither solitary walks nor late hours and that Anne would have walked among her own hills by moonlight much farther than the distance betwixt their place of encampment and bail to see a sick friend or for any similar purpose to press himself on her confidence then might be impertinent not kindness and as she had passed him without taking the slightest notice of his presence it was evident she did not mean voluntarily to make him her confident and probably she was involved in no difficulties where his aid could be useful in that case the duty of a gentleman was to permit her to return as she had gone forth unnoticed and unquestioned leaving it with herself to hold communication with him or not as she should choose another idea belonging to the age also passed through his mind though it made no strong impression upon it this form so perfectly resembling Anne of Geyerstein might be a deception of the sight or it might be one of those fantastic apparitions concerning which there were so many tales told in all countries and of which Switzerland and Germany had as Arthur well knew their full share the internal and undefinable feelings which restrained him from accosting the maiden as might have been natural for him to have done are easily explained on this opposition that his mortal frame shrank from an encounter with a being of a different nature there had also been some expressions of the magistrate of bail which might apply to the castles being liable to be haunted by beings from another world but though the general belief in such ghostly apparitions prevented the Englishman from being positively incredulous on the subject yet the instructions of his father a man of great intrepidity and distinguished good sense had taught him to be extremely unwilling to refer anything to supernatural interferences which was capable of explanation by ordinary rules and he therefore shook off without difficulty any feelings of superstitious fear which for an instant connected itself with his nocturnal adventure he resolved finally to suppress all disquieting conjecture on the subject and to await firmly if not patiently the return of the fair vision which if it should not fully explain the mystery seemed at least to afford the only chance of throwing light upon it fixed therefore in purpose he traversed the walk which his duty permitted with his eyes fixed on the part of the forest where he had seen the beloved form disappear and forgetful for the moment that his watch had any other purpose than to observe her return but from this abstraction of mind he was roused by a distant sound in the forest which seemed the clash of armor recalled at once to a sense of his duty and its importance to his father and his fellow travelers arthur planted himself on the temporary bridge where a stand could best be made and turned both eyes and ears to watch for approaching danger the sound of arms and footsteps came nearer spears and helmets advanced from the greenwood glade and twinkled in the moonlight but the stately form of rudolf donner hugel marching in front was easily recognized and announced to our sentinel the return of the patrol upon their approach to the bridge the challenge and interchange of sign and counter sign which is usual on such occasions took place in due form and as rudolf's party filed off one after another into the castle he commanded them to wake their companions with whom he intended to renew the patrol and at the same time to send a relief to arthur philipson whose watch on the bridge was now ended this last fact was confirmed by the deep and distant toll of the minster clock from the town of bale which prolonging its sullen sound over field and forest announced that midnight was passed and now comrade continued rudolf to the englishman have the cold air and long watch determined thee to retire to food and rest or does thou still hold the intention of partaking our rounds in very truth it would have been arthur's choice to have remained in the place where he was for the purpose of watching and of geierstein's return from her mysterious excursion he could not easily have found an excuse for this however and he was unwilling to give the hotty donner hugel the least suspicion that he was inferior in hardy hood or in the power of enduring fatigue to any of the tall mountaineers whose companion he chance to be for the present he did not therefore indulge even a moment's hesitation but while he restored the borrowed partisan to the sluggish sigisman who came from the castle yawning and stretching himself like one whose slumbers have been broken by no welcome summons when they were deepest and sweetest he acquainted rudolf that he retained his purpose of partaking in his reconnoitering duty they were speedily joined by the rest of the patrolling party amongst whom was rudiger the eldest son of the landmen of entrewaldan and when led by the bernese champion they had reached the skirts of the forest rudolf commanded three of them to attend rudiger beaterman thou will make thy round to the left side said the bernese i will draw off to the right see thou keepest a good lookout and we will meet merrily at the place appointed take one of the hounds with you i will keep wolf fanger who will open on a burgundian as readily as on a bear rudiger moved off with his party to the left according to the directions received and rudolf having sent forward one of his number in front and stationed another in the rear commanded the third to follow himself and arthur philipson who thus constituted the main body of the patrol having intimated to their immediate attendant to keep at such distance as to allow them freedom of conversation rudolf addressed the englishman with the familiarity which their recent friendship had created and now king arthur what thinks the majesty of england of our helvetian youth could they win garden in tilt or turni think as thou noble prince or would they rank but amongst the coward knights of cornewells for tilt and turni i cannot answer said arthur summoning up his spirits to reply because i never beheld one of you mounted on a steed or having spear in rest but if strong limbs and stout hearts are to be considered i would match you swiss gallants with those of any country in the universe where manhood is to be looked for whether it be in heart or hand thou speakest as fair and young englishman said rudolf know that we think as highly of thee of which i will presently afford thee a proof thou talkest but now of horses i know but little of them yet i judge thou what's not by a steed which thou hast only seen covered with trappings or encumbered with saddle and bridle but woods desire to look at him went stripped and in his natural state of freedom i marry would i said arthur thou hast spoken on that as if thou had been born in a district called yorkshire which men call the merriest part of mary england then i tell thee said rudolf donner hugel that thou hast seen our swiss youth but half since thou hast observed them as yet only in their submissive attendance upon the elders of their cantons or at most in their mountain sports which though they may show men's outward strength and activity can throw no light on the spirit and disposition by which that strength and activity are to be guided and directed in matters of high enterprise this was probably designed that these remarks should excite the curiosity of the stranger but the englishman had the image look and form of an of geierstein as she had passed him in the silent hours of his watch to constantly before him to enter willingly upon a subject of conversation totally foreign to what agitated his mind he therefore only compelled himself to reply in civility that he had no doubt his esteem for the swiss both aged and young would increase in proportion with his more intimate knowledge of the nation he was then silent and donner hugel disappointed perhaps at having failed to excite his curiosity walked also in silence by his side arthur meanwhile was considering with himself whether he should mention to his companion the circumstance which occupied his own mind in the hope that the kinsmen of an of geierstein and ancient friend of her house might be able to throw some light on the subject but he felt within his mind an insurmountable objection to converse with the swiss on a subject in which an was concerned that rudolf made pretensions to her favor could hardly be doubted and though arthur had the question been put to him must in common consistency have resigned all competition on the subject still he could not bear to think on the possibility of his rival success and would not willingly have endured to hear him pronounce her name perhaps it was owing to this secret irritability that arthur though he made every effort to conceal and to overcome the sensation still felt a secret dislike to rudolf donner hugel whose frank but somewhat course familiarity was mingled with a certain air of protection and patronage which the englishman thought was by no means called for he met the openness of the bernie's indeed with equal frankness but he was ever and a non tempted to reject or repel the tone of superiority by which it was accompanied the circumstances of their duel had given the swiss no ground for such triumph nor did arthur feel himself included in that role of the swiss youth over whom rudolf exercised domination by general consent so little did philips and relish this affectation of superiority that the poor jest that termed him king arthur although quite indifferent to him when applied by any of the beatermans was rather offensive when rudolf took the same liberty so that he often found himself in the awkward condition of one who is internally irritated without having any outward manner of testifying it with propriety undoubtedly the root of all this tacit dislike to the young bernie's was a feeling of rivalry but it was a feeling which arthur dared not avow even to himself it was sufficiently powerful however to suppress the slight inclination he had felt to speak with rudolf on the passage of the night which had most interested him and as the topic of conversation introduced by his companion had been suffered to drop they walked on side by side in silence with the beard on the shoulder as the spaniard says looking round that is on all hands and thus performing the duty of a vigilant watch at length after they had walked nearly a mile through forest and field making a circuit around the ruins of graft's lust of such an extent as to leave no room for an ambush betwixt them and the place the old hound led by the vedette who was foremost stopped and uttered a low growl how now will finger said rudolf advancing what old fellow does thou not know friends from foes come what sayeth thou on better thoughts thou must not lose character in thy old age try it again the dog raised his head snuffed the air all around as if he understood what his master had said then shook his head and tail as if answering to his voice why there it is now said donner hugel padding the animals shaggy back second thoughts are worth gold thou seest it is a friend after all the dog again shook his tail and moved forward with the same unconcern as before rudolf fell back into his place and his companion said to him we are about to meet rudiger and our companions I suppose and the dog hears their footsteps though we cannot it can scarcely yet be rudiger said the bernese his walk around the castle is of a wider circumference than ours someone approaches however for wolffinger is again dissatisfied look sharply out on all sides as rudolf gave his party the word to be on the alert they reached an open glade in which were scattered at considerable distance from each other some old pine trees of gigantic size which seemed yet huger and blacker than ordinary from their broad sable tops and shattered branches being displayed against the clear and white moonlight we shall hear at least said the swiss have the advantage of seeing clearly whatever approaches but i judge said he after looking around for a minute it is but some wolf or deer that has crossed our path and the scent disturbs the hound hold stop yes it must be so he goes on the dog accordingly proceeded after having given some signs of doubt uncertainty and even anxiety apparently however he became reconciled to what had disturbed him and proceeded once more in the ordinary manner this is singular said arthur philipson and to my thinking i saw an object close by yonder patch of thicket where as well as i can guess a few thorn and hazel bushes around the stems of four or five large trees my eye has been on that very thicket for these five minutes past and i saw nothing said rudolf nay but answered the young englishman i saw the object whatever it was while you were engaged in attending to the dog and by your permission i will forward and examine the spot were you strictly speaking under my command said donner hugel i would command you to keep your place if they be foes it is essential that we should remain together but you are a volunteer in our watch and therefore may use your freedom i thank you answered arthur and spring quickly forward he felt indeed at the moment that he was not acting courteously as an individual nor perhaps correctly as a soldier and that he ought to have rendered obedience for the time to the captain of the party in which he had enlisted himself but on the other hand the object which he had seen though at a distance and imperfectly seemed to bear a resemblance to the retiring form of an of geierstein as she had vanished from his eyes an hour or two before under the cover of the forest and his ungovernable curiosity to ascertain whether it might not be the maiden in person allowed him to listen to no other consideration air rudolf had spoken out his few words of reply arthur was halfway to the thicket it was as it had seemed at a distance of small extent and not fitted to hide any person who did not actually couch down amongst the dwarf bushes and underwood anything white also which bore the human size and form must he thought have been discovered among the dark red stems and swarthy colored bushes which were before him these observations were mingled with other thoughts if it was an of geierstein whom he had a second time seen she must have left the more open path desirous probably of avoiding notice and what right or title had he to direct upon her the observation of the patrol he had he thought observed that in general the maiden rather repelled than encouraged the attentions of rudolf donner hugel or where it would have been discourteous to have rejected them entirely that she endured without encouraging them what then could be the propriety of his intruding upon her private walk singular indeed from time and place but which on that account she might be more desirous to keep secret from the observation of one who was disagreeable to her nay was it not possible that rudolf might derive advantage to his otherwise unacceptable suit by possessing the knowledge of something which the maiden desired to be concealed as these thoughts pressed upon him arthur made a pause with his eyes fixed on the thicket from which he was now scarce thirty yards distant and although scrutinizing it with all the keen accuracy which his uncertainty and anxiety dictated he was actuated by a strong feeling that it would be wisest to turn back to his companions and report to rudolf that his eyes had deceived him but while he was yet undecided whether to advance or return the object which he had seen became again visible on the verge of the thicket and advanced straight towards him bearing as on the former occasion the exact dress and figure of an of geierstein this vision for the time place and suddenness of the appearance made it seem rather an illusion than a reality struck arthur with surprise which amounted to terror the figure passed within a spear's length unchallenged by him and giving not the slightest sign of recognition and directing its course to the right hand of rudolf and the two or three who were with him was again lost among the broken ground and bushes once more the young man was reduced to a state of the most inextricable doubt nor was he roused from the stupor into which he was thrown till the voice of the bernese sounded in his ear why how now king arthur art thou asleep or art thou wounded neither said phillipson collecting himself only much surprised surprised and at what most royal forbear foolery said arthur somewhat sternly and answer as thou art a man did she not meet thee didst thou not see her see her see whom said donner hugel i saw no one and i could have sworn you had seen no one either for i had you in my eye the whole time of your absence accepting two or three moments if you saw odd why gave you not the alarm because it was only a woman answered arthur faintly only a woman repeated rudolf in a tone of contempt by my honest word king arthur if i had not seen pretty flashes of valor fly from thee at times i should be apt to think that thou has only a woman's courage thyself strange that a shadow by night or a precipice in the day should quell so bold a spirit as thou hast often shown and as i will ever show when occasion demands it interrupted the englishman with recovered spirit but i swear to you that if i be now daunted it is by no mere earthly fears that my mind have been for a moment subdued let us proceed on our walk said rudolf we must not neglect the safety of our friends this appearance of which thou speakest may be but a trick to interrupt our duty they moved on through the moonlight glades a minute's reflection restored young phillipson to his full recollection and with that to the painful consciousness that he had played a ridiculous and unworthy part in the presence of the person whom of the male sex at least he would the very last have chosen as a witness of his weakness he ran hastily over the relations which stood betwixt himself donner hugel the landman his niece and the rest of that family and contrary to the opinion which he had entertained but a short while before settled in his own mind that it was his duty to mention to the immediate leader under whom he had placed himself the appearance which he had twice observed in the course of that night's duty there might be family circumstances the payment of a vow perhaps or some such reason which might render intelligible to her connections the behavior of this young lady besides he was for the present a soldier on duty and these mysteries might be fraught with evils to be anticipated or guarded against in either case his companions were entitled to be made aware of what he had seen it must be supposed that this resolution was adopted when the sense of duty and of shame for the weakness which he had exhibited had for the moment subdued arthur's personal feelings towards an of geierstein feelings also liable to be chilled by the mysterious uncertainty which the events of that evening had cast like a thick mist around the object of them while the englishman's reflections were taking this turn his captain or companion after a silence of several minutes at length addressed him i believe he said my dear comrade that as being at present your officer i have some title to hear from you the report of what you have just now seen since it must be something of importance which could so strongly agitate a mind so firm as yours but if in your own opinion it consists with the general safety to delay your report of what you have seen until we return to the castle and then deliver it to the private ear of the landman you have only to intimate your purpose and far from urging you to place confidence in me personally though i hope i am not undeserving of it i will authorize your leaving us and returning instantly to the castle this proposal touched him to whom it was made exactly in the right place an absolute demand of his confidence might perhaps have been declined the tone of moderate request and conciliation fell presently in with the englishman's own reflections i am sensible he said hopman that i ought to mention to you that which i have seen tonight but on the first occasion it did not fall within my duty to do so and now that i have a second time witness the same appearance i have felt for these few seconds so much surprised at what i have seen that even yet i can scarce find words to express it as i cannot guess what you may have to say replied the bernese i must beseech you to be explicit we are but poor readers of riddles we thick-headed sweatsers yet it is but a riddle which i have to place before you rudolf donner hugel answered the englishman and a riddle which is far beyond my own guessing at he then proceeded though not without hesitation while you were performing your first patrol amongst the ruins a female crossed the bridge from within the castle walked by my post without saying a single word and vanished under the shadows of the forest ha exclaimed donner hugel and made no further answer arthur proceeded within these five minutes the same female form passed me a second time issuing from the little thicket and clump of furs and disappeared without exchanging a word no further this apparition bore the form face gate and dress of your kinswoman and of geierstein singular enough said rudolf in a tone of incredulity i must not i suppose dispute your word for you would received out on my part as a mortal injury such is your northern chivalry yet let me say i have eyes as well as you and i scarce think they quitted you for a minute we were not fifty yards from the place where i found you standing in amazement how therefore should not we also have seen that which you say and think you saw to that i can give no answer said arthur perhaps your eyes were not exactly turned upon me during the short space in which i saw this form perhaps it might be visible as they say fantastic appearances sometimes are to only one person at a time you suppose then that the appearance was imaginary or fantastic said the bernie's can i tell you replied the englishman the church gives its warrant that there are such things and surely it is more natural to believe this apparition to be an illusion than to suppose that an of geierstein a gentle and well nurtured maiden should be traversing the woods at this wild hour when safety and propriety so strongly recommend her being within doors there is much in what you say said rudolf and yet there are stories afloat though few care to mention them which seem to allege that an of geierstein is not altogether such as other maidens and that she has been met with in body and spirit where she could hardly have come by her own unassisted efforts ha said arthur so young so beautiful and already in league with the destroyer of mankind it is impossible i said not so replied the bernie's nor have i leisure at present to explain my meaning more fully as we return to the castle of graft's lust i may have an opportunity to tell you more but i chiefly brought you on this patrol to introduce you to some friends whom you will be pleased to know and who desire your acquaintance and it is here i expect to meet them end of chapter 10 part one chapter 10 part two of an of geierstein by sir walter scott this libra vox recording is in the public domain recording by dion johns celic city utah so saying he turned around the projecting corner of a rock and an unexpected scene was presented to the eyes of the young englishmen in a sort of nook or corner screened by the rocky projection there burned a large fire of wood and around it sat reclined or lay 12 or 15 young men in the swiss garb but decorated with ornaments and embroidery which reflected back the light of the fire the same red gleam was returned by silver wine cups which circulated from hand to hand with the flasks which filled them arthur could also observe the relics of a banquet to which due honor seemed to have been lately rendered the revelers started joyfully up at the site of donner hugel and his companions and saluted him easily distinguished as he was by his stature by the title of captain warmly and exultingly uttered while at the same time every tendency to noisy acclamation was cautiously suppressed the zeal indicated that rudolf came most welcome the caution that he came in secret and was to be received with mystery to the general greeting he answered i thank you my brave comrades has rudiger yet reached you thou seest he has not said one of the party had it been so we would have detained him here till you're coming brave captain he has loitered on his patrol said the bernese we too were delayed yet we are here before him i bring with me comrades the brave englishman whom i mentioned to you as a desirable associate in our daring purpose he is welcome most welcome to us said a young man whose richly embroidered dress of azure blue gave him an air of authority most welcome is he if he brings with him a heart and a hand to serve our noble task for both i will be responsible said rudolf past the wine cup then to the success of our glorious enterprise and the health of this our new associate while they were replenishing the cups with wine of a quality far superior to any which arthur had yet tasted in these regions he thought it right before engaging himself in the pledge to learn the secret object of the association which seemed desirous of adopting him before i engage my poor services to you fair sirs since it pleases you to desire them permit me he said to ask the purpose and character of the undertaking in which they are to be employed should thou have brought him hither said the cavalier in blue to rudolf without satisfying him and thyself on that point care not thou about it laurence replied the bernese i know my man be it known then to you my good friend he continued addressing the englishman that my comrades and i are determined at once to declare the freedom of the swiss commerce and to resist to the death if it be necessary all unlawful and extortionate demands on the part of our neighbors i understand so much said the young englishman and that the present deputation proceeds to the duke of burgundy with remonstrances to that effect hear me replied rudolf the question is like to be brought to a bloody determination long air we see the duke of burgundy's most august and most gracious countenance that his influence should be used to exclude us from bail a neutral town and pertaining to the empire gives us cause to expect the worst reception when we enter his own dominions we have even reason to think that we might have suffered from his hatred already but for the vigilance of the ward which we have kept horsemen from the direction of la ferrette have this night reconnoitered our posts and had they not found us prepared we had without question been attacked in our quarters but since we have escaped tonight we must take care for tomorrow for this purpose a number of the bravest youth of the city of bail incensed at the pucillanimity of their magistrates are determined to join us in order to wipe away the disgrace which the cowardly inhospitality of their magistrate has brought on their native place that we will do air the sun that will rise two hours hence shall sink into the western sky said the cavalier in blue and those around joined him in stern ascent gentle sirs replied arthur when there was a pause let me remind you that the embassy which you attend is a peaceful one and that those who act as its escort ought to avoid anything which can augment the differences which it comes to reconcile you cannot expect to receive offense in the dukes dominions the privileges of envoys being respected in all civilized countries and you will i am sure desire to offer none we may be subjected to insult however replied the bernie's and that through your concerns arthur philipson and those of thy father i understand you not replied philipson your father answered donner hugel is a merchant and bears with him wares of small bulk but high value he does so answered arthur and what of that mary answered rudolf that if it be not better looked to the bandog of burgundy is like to fall air to a large proportion of your silks satins and jewelry work silk satins and jewels exclaimed another of the revelers such wares will not pass tow free where archibald of hagenbach hath authority fair sirs resumed arthur after a moment's consideration these wares are my father's property not mine and it is for him not me to pronounce how much of them he might be content to part with in the way of toll rather than give occasion to a fray in which his companions who have received him into their society must be exposed to injury as well as himself i can only say that he has weighty affairs at the court of burgundy which must render him desirous of reaching it in peace with all men and it is my private belief that rather than incur the loss and danger of a broil with the garrison of la ferrette he would be contented to sacrifice all the property which he has at present with him therefore i must request of you gentlemen a space to consult his pleasure on this occasion assuring you that if it be his will to resist the payment of these duties to burgundy you shall find in me one who is fully determined to fight to the last drop of his blood good king arthur said rudolf thou art a dutiful observer of the fifth commandment and thy days shall belong in the land do not suppose us neglectful of this same duty although for the present we conceive ourselves bound in the first place to attend to the wheel of our country the common parent of our fathers and ourselves but as you know our profound respect for the landman you need not fear that we shall willingly offer him a fence by rashly engaging in hostilities or without some weighty reason and an attempt to plunder his guest would have been met on his part with resistance to the death i had hoped to find both you and your father prompt enough to resent such a gross injury nevertheless if your father inclines to present his fleece to be shorn by archibald of haugenbach whose scissors he will find clip pretty closely it would be unnecessary and uncivil in us to interpose meantime you have the advantage of knowing that in case the governor of la ferrette should be disposed to strip you of skin as well as fleece there are more men close at hand than you looked for whom you will find both able and willing to render you prompt assistance on these terms said the englishman i make my acknowledgments to these gentlemen of bail or whatever other country have sent them forth and pledge them in a brotherly cup to our further and more intimate acquaintance health and prosperity to the united cantons and their friends answered the blue cavalier and death and confusion to all besides the cups were replenished and instead of a shout of applause the young man around testified their devoted determination to the cause which was thus announced by grasping each other's hands and then brandishing their weapons with a fierce yet noiseless gesture thus said rudolf donner hugel our illustrious ancestors the fathers of swiss independence met in the immortal field of rutley between urie and underwelden thus they swore to each other under the blue firmament of heaven that they would restore the liberty of their oppressed country and history can tell how well they kept their word and she shall record said the blue cavalier how well the present switzers can preserve the freedom which their fathers won proceed in your rounds good rudolf and be assured that at the signal of the hopman the soldiers will not be far absent all is arranged as formerly unless you have new orders to give us hark the hither laurence said rudolf to the blue cavalier and arthur could hear him say beware my friend that the rine wine be not abused if there is too much provision of it manage to destroy the flasks a mule may stumble thou knowest or so give not way to rutiger in this he is grown a wine bibber since he joined us we must bring both heart and hand to what may be done tomorrow they then whispered so low that arthur could hear nothing of their further conference and bid each other adieu after clasping hands as if they were renewing some solemn pledge of union rudolf and his party then moved forward and were scarce out of sight of their new associates when the vedette or for most of their patrol gave the signal of alarm arthur's heart leaped to his lips it is an of geierstein he said internally the dogs are silent said the bernese those who approach must be the companions of our watch they proved accordingly to be rutiger and his party who halting on the appearance of their comrades made and underwent a formal challenge such advance had the swiss already made in military discipline which was but little and rudely studied by the infantry in other parts of europe arthur could hear rudolf take his friend rutiger to task for not meeting him at the halting place appointed it leads to new revelry on your arrival he said and tomorrow must find us cool and determined cool as an icicle noble hopton answered the son of the landman and determined as the rock it hangs upon rudolf again recommended temperance and the young beaterman promised compliance the two parties passed each other with friendly those silent greeting and there was soon a considerable distance between them the country was more open on the side of the castle around which their duty now led them then where it lay opposite to the principal gate the glades were broad the trees thinly scattered over pasture land and there were no thickets ravines or similar places of ambush so that the eye might in the clear moonlight well command the country here said rudolf we may judge ourselves secure enough for some conference and therefore may i ask thee arthur of england now thou hast seen us more closely what thinkest thou of the switzer youth if thou hast learned less than i could have wished thank thine own uncommunicative temper which retired in some degree from our confidence only in so far as i could not have answered and therefore ought not to have received it said arthur the judgment i have been enabled to form amounts in few words to this your purposes are lofty and noble as your mountains but the stranger from the low country is not accustomed to tread the circuitous path by which you ascend them my foot has always been accustomed to move straightforward upon the greensward you speak in riddles answered the bernie's not so returned the englishman i think you ought plainly to mention to your seniors the nominal leaders of young men who seem well disposed to take their own road that you expect an attack in the neighborhood of la ferrette and hope for assistance from some of the townsmen of bail i truly answered donner hugel and the landman would stop his journey till he dispatched a messenger for a safe conduct to the duke of burgundy and should he grant it there would be an end of all hope of war true replied arthur but the landman would thereby obtain his own principal object and the sole purpose of the mission that is the establishment of peace peace peace answered the bernie's hastily where my wishes alone to be opposed to those of arnold bederman i know so much of his honor and faith i respect so highly his valor and patriotism that at his voice i would sheath my sword even if my most mortal enemy stood before me but mine is not the single wish of a single man the whole of my canton and that of solour are determined on war it was by war noble war that our fathers came forth from the house of their captivity it was by war successful and glorious war that a race who had been held scarce so much worth thinking on as the oxen which they goaded emerged at once into liberty and consequence and were honored because they were feared as much as they had been formerly despised because they were unresisting this may be all very true said the young englishman but in my opinion the object of your mission has been determined by your diet or house of commons they have resolved to send you with others as messengers of peace but you are secretly blowing the coals of war and while all or most of your senior colleagues are setting out tomorrow in expectation of a peaceful journey you stand prepared for a combat and look for the means of giving cause for it and is it not well that i do stand so prepared answered rudolf if our reception in burgundy's dependencies be peaceful as you say the rest of the deputation expect my precautions will be needless but at least they can do no harm if it prove otherwise i shall be the means of averting a great misfortune from my colleagues my kinsman arnold bederman my fair cousin an your father yourself from all of us in short who are joyously traveling together arthur shook his head there is something in all this he said which i understand not and will not seek to understand i only pray that you will not make my father's concerns the subject of breaking truths it may as you hint involve the landman in a quarrel which he might otherwise have avoided i am sure my father will never forgive it i have pledged my word said rudolf already to that effect but if he should like the usage of the band dog of burgundy less than you seem to apprehend he will there is no harm in your knowing that in time of need he may be well and actively supported i am greatly obliged by the assurance replied the englishman and thou mayest thyself my friend continued rudolf take a warning from what thou hast heard men go not to a bridal in armor nor to a brawl in silken doublet i will be clad to meet the worst said arthur and for that purpose i will don a light hobber of well-tempered steel proof against spear or arrow and i thank you for your kindly council nay thank me not said rudolf i were ill deserving to be a leader did i not make those who are to follow me more especially so trusty a follower at thou art aware of the time when they should buckle on their armor and prepare for hard blows here at the conversation paused for a moment or two neither of the speakers being entirely contented with his companion although neither pressed any further remark the bernese judging from the feelings which he had seen predominate among the traders of his own country had entertained little doubt that the englishman finding himself powerfully supported in point of force would have caught at the opportunity to resist paying the exorbitant impulse with which he was threatened at the next town which would probably without any effort on rudolf's part have led to breaking off the truce on the part of arnold bederman himself and to an instant declaration of hostilities on the other hand young philipson could not understand or approve of donner hugel's conduct who himself a member of a peaceful deputation seemed to be animated with the purpose of seizing an opportunity to kindle the flames of war occupied by these various reflections they walked side by side for some time without speaking together until rudolf broke silence your curiosity is then ended sir englishman said he respecting the apparition of an of geierstein far from it replied philipson but i would unwillingly intrude any questions on you while you are busy with the duties of your patrol that may be considered as over said the bernese for there is not a bush near us to cover a burgundian nave and a glance around us from time to time is all that is now needful to prevent surprise and so listen while i tell a tale never sung or harped in hall or bower and which i begin to think deserves as much credit at least as is due to the tales of the round table which ancient troubadours and mine singers dole out to us as the authentic chronicles of your renowned namesake of and's ancestors on the male side of the house continued rudolf i dare say you have heard enough and are well aware how they dwelt in the old walls at geierstein beside the cascade grinding their vassals devouring the substance of their less powerful neighbors and plundering the goods of the travelers whom ill luck sent within ken of the vultures airy the one year and in the next wearing the shrines for mercy for their trespasses overwhelming the priests with the wealth which they showered upon them and finally vowing vows and making pilgrimages sometimes as polymers sometimes as crusaders as far as jerusalem itself to atone for the iniquities which they had committed without hesitation or struggle of conscience such i have understood replied the young englishman was the history of the house of geierstein till arnold or his immediate ancestors exchanged the lance for the sheep hook but it is said replied the bernese that the powerful and wealthy barons of arneheim of swabia whose only female descendant became the wife to count albert of geierstein and the mother of this young person whom swiss called simply an and germans countess an of geierstein were nobles of a different caste they did not restrict their lives within the limits of sinning and repenting of plundering harmless peasants and pampering fat monks but were distinguished for something more than building castles with dungeons and fulter cameras or torture chambers and founding monasteries with galleries and refractories these same barons of arneheim were men who strove to enlarge the boundaries of human knowledge and converted their castle into a species of college where there were more ancient volumes than the monks have piled together in the library of saint gall nor were there studies in books alone deep buried in their private laboratories they attained secrets which were afterwards transmitted through the race from father to son and were supposed to have approached nearly to the deepest recesses of alchemy the report of their wisdom and their wealth was often brought to the imperial footstool and in the frequent disputes which the emperors maintained with the popes of old it is said they were encouraged if not instigated by the councils of the barons of arneheim and supported by their treasures it was perhaps such a course of politics joined to the unusual and mysterious studies which the family of arneheim so long pursued which excited against them the generally received opinion that they were assisted in their superhuman researches by supernatural influences the priests were active in forwarding this cry against men who perhaps had no other fault than that of being wiser than themselves look what guests they said are received in the halls of arneheim let a christian night crippled in war with the seresons present himself on the drawbridge he is gardened with a crust and a cup of wine and required to pass on his way if a palmer redolent of the sanctity acquired by his recent visits to the most holy shrines and by the sacred relics which attest and reward his toil approach the unhallowed walls the water bends his crossbow and the porter shuts the gate as if the wandering saint brought the plague with him from palestine but comes there a gray bearded glib tonged greek with his parchment scrolls the very letters of which are painful to christian eyes comes there a jewish raban with his talmud and cabala comes there a swarthy sunburnt moor who can boast of having read the language of the stars in kaldia the cradle of astrological science lo the wandering imposter or sorcerer occupies the highest seat at the barren of arneheim's board shares with him the labors of the alembic and the furnace learns from him mystic knowledge like that of which our first parents participated to the overthrow of their race and requites it with lessons more dreadful than he receives till the profane host has added to his horde of unholy wisdom all that the pagan visitor can communicate and these things are done in almane which is called the holy roman empire of which so many priests are princes they are done and neither ban nor munition is issued against a race of sorcerers who from age to age go on triumphing in their necromancy such arguments which were echoed from mitered abbots to the cell of anchorites seems nevertheless to have made little impression on the imperial council but they served to excite the zeal of many a barren and free count of the empire who were taught by them to esteem a war or feud with the barrens of arneheim as partaking of the nature and entitled to the immunities of a crusade against the enemies of the faith and to regard an attack upon these obnoxious potentates as a mode of clearing off their deep scores with the christian church but the lords of arneheim though not seeking for quarrel were by no means unwarlike or averse to maintaining their own defense some on the contrary belonging to this obnoxious race were not the less distinguished as gallant knights and good men at arms they were besides wealthy secured and strengthened by great alliances and in an eminent degree wise and provident this the parties who has sailed them learned to their cost the confederacies formed against the lords of arneheim were broken up the attacks which their enemies meditated were anticipated and disconcerted and those who employed actual violence were repelled with signal loss to the assailants until at length an impression was produced in their neighborhood that by their accurate information concerning meditated violence and their extraordinary powers of resisting and defeating it the obnoxious barons must have brought to their defense means which merely human force was incapable of overthrowing so that becoming as much feared as hated they were suffered for the last generation to remain unmolested and this was the rather the case that the numerous vessels of this great house were perfectly satisfied with their feudal superiors abundantly ready to rise in their defense and disposed to believe that whether their lords were sorcerers or no their own condition would not be mended by exchanging their government either for the rule of the crusaders in this holy warfare or that of the churchmen by whom it was instigated the race of these barons ended in herman von arneheim the maternal grandfather of an of geierstein he was buried with his helmet sword and shield as is the german custom with the last male of a noble family but he left an only daughter sabilla of arneheim to inherit a considerable portion of his estate and i never heard that the strong imputation of sorcery which attached to her house prevented numerous applications from persons of the highest distinction in the empire to her legal guardian the emperor for the rich eras's hand in marriage albert of geierstein however though an exile obtained the preference he was gallant and handsome which recommended him to sabilla and the emperor bent at the time on the vain idea of recovering his authority in the swiss mountains was desirous to show himself generous to albert whom he considered as a fugitive from his country for espousing the imperial cause you may thus see most noble king arthur that an of geierstein the only child of their marriage descends from no ordinary stock and that circumstances in which she may be concerned are not to be explained or judged of so easily or upon the same grounds of reasoning as in the case of ordinary persons by my honest word sir rudolf of donner hugel said arthur studiously laboring to keep a command upon his feelings i can see nothing in your narrative and understand nothing from it unless it be that because in germany as in other countries there have been fools who have annexed the idea of witchcraft and sorcery to the possession of knowledge and wisdom you are therefore disposed to stigmatize a young maiden who has always been respected and beloved by those around her as a disciple of arts which i trust are as uncommon as unlawful rudolf paused error he replied i could have wished he said that you had been satisfied with the general character of an of geierstein's maternal family as offering some circumstances which may account for what you have according to your own report this night witnessed and i am really unwilling to go into more particular details to no one can an of geierstein's fame be so dear as to me i am after her uncle's family her nearest relative and had she remained in switzerland or should she as is most probable return thither after the present visit to her father perhaps our connection might be drawn yet closer this has indeed only been prevented by certain prejudices of her uncle's respecting her father's authority and the nearness of our relationship which however comes within reach of a license very frequently obtained but i only mentioned these things to show you how much more tender i must necessarily hold an of geierstein's reputation then it is possible for you to do being a stranger known to her but a short while since and soon to part with her as i understand your purpose forever the turn taken in this kind of apology irritated arthur so highly that it required all the reasons which recommended coolness to enable him to answer with assumed composure i can have no ground sir hopman he said to challenge any opinion which you may entertain of a young person with whom you are so closely connected as you appear to be with an of geierstein i only wonder that with such regard for her as your relationship implies you should be disposed to receive unpopular and trivial traditions a belief which must injuriously affect your kinswoman more especially one with whom you intimate a wish to form a still more close connection be thank you sir that in all christian lands the imputation of sorcery is the most foul which can be thrown on christian man or woman and i am so far from intimating such an imputation said rudolf somewhat fiercely that by the good sword i wear he that dared give breath to such a thought against an of geierstein must undergo my challenge and take my life or lose his own but the question is not whether the maiden herself practices sorcery which he who affairs had better get ready his tomb and provide for his soul safety the doubt lies here whether as the descendant of a family whose relations with the unseen world are reported to have been of the closest degree elfish and fantastical beings may not have power to imitate her form and to present her appearance where she is not personally present in fine whether they have permission to play at her expense fantastical tricks which they cannot exercise over other mortals whose forefathers have ever regulated their lives by the rules of the church and died in regular communion with it and as i sincerely desire to retain your esteem i have no objection to communicate to you more particular circumstances respecting her genealogy confirming the idea i have now expressed but you will understand they are of the most private nature and that i expect secrecy under the strictest personal penalty i shall be silent sir replied the young englishman still struggling with suppressed passion on everything respecting the character of a maiden whom i am bound to respect so highly but the fear of no man's displeasure can add a feather's weight to the guarantee of my own honor be it so said rudolf it is not my wish to awake angry feelings but i am desirous both for the sake of your good opinion which i value and also for the plainer explanation of what i have darkly intimated to communicate to you what otherwise i would much rather have left untold you must be guided by your own sense of what is necessary and proper in the case answered phillipsen but remember i press not on your confidence for the communication of anything that ought to remain secret far less where that young lady is the subject rudolf answered after a minute's pause thou hast seen and heard too much arthur not to learn the whole or at least all that i know or apprehend on the mysterious subject it is impossible but the circumstances must at times recur to your recollection and i am desirous that you should possess all the information necessary to understand them as clearly as the nature of the facts will permit we have yet keeping leftward to view the bog upwards of a mile to make air the circuit of the castle is accomplished it will afford leisure enough for the tale i have to tell speak on i listen answered the englishman divided between his desire to know all that it was possible to learn concerning and of geierstein and his dislike to hear her name pronounced with such pretensions as those of donner hugel together with the revival of his original prejudices against the gigantic swiss whose manners always blunt nearly to coarseness seemed now marked by assumed superiority and presumption arthur listened however to his wild tale and the interest which he took in it soon overpowered all other sensations end of chapter 10 part 2