Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 1.djvu/21

 the banks of the Elbe, and enclosed with an antient forest, which made it the most pleasant abode to Kellfried, who was passionately fond of hunting. Every morning they were rambling through the woods, and the two robust aged friends pursued the fleet game with juvenile ardour, 'till the dinner bell summoned them to a substantial meal, and a bottle of old Rhenish wine; when the cloth was removed the goblet went cheerfully round, and the two happy friends were drinking and talking 'till night came on, and the chimney fire illuminated the dusky room; the pipes were filled with aromatic canaster, the chairs put nearer to the fire, blazing briskly aloft, and they began to relate the atchievements of their juvenile days, and whatever had happened during their separation. Thus the days rolled on like hours, and Hellfried did not yet think of parting.

The hurricane was howling (as I said before) and the hail stones beating against the windows in so uncivil a manner, that the two