Page:Legends of Rubezahl, and Other Tales (1845).djvu/172

 nickname: he’ll be angry, no doubt, and perhaps beat me black and blue; but no matter, so that he comes and receives the money. I’d rather be well cudgelled than he should think me dishonest.” And therewith he set to work, shouting with all his might: “Rubezahl! Rubezahl!” His alarmed wife implored him to be silent, and essayed to put her hand upon his mouth; but he did but bawl all the louder. By-and-bye the youngest of the children suddenly cried out, pressing close to his mother: “Ah, there’s the black man!” “Where?” said Veit, joyfully. “There, behind that tree,” replied the little one. And thereupon all the little things crowded together, screaming at the pitch of their lungs. The father ran towards the tree, but saw nobody there: fear, or a shadow, had deceived the child. It was clear Rubezahl would not make his appearance, so it was of no use to call him any more.

The party now turned their heads towards home, Veit walking slowly on, full of grief and disappointment, and fear for his character with the Gnome, All at once a gentle breeze arose; there was a rustling among the trees; the slender birches waved gently to and fro their graceful heads; the trembling aspen leaves quivered. The breeze still rose, and agitating the wide-spreading branches of the holm oak, scattered their dry leaves and stems abroad, sending them round and round in a gay whirl with