Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/62

 door opened, and the old man stept in. He held a torch in his hand, and his features bore the same antipathy and gloomy indifference.

"What is it you, Don Carlos," said he; "I heard your horse, and suppose you are come to redeem your pledged word?"

"Yes, Sennor," answered I rising from the ground. "You probably did not wait for me; because your business"

"As for that," interrupted he, "it is my business to be obliged to wait.—But will you now come along with me?"

I replied in the affirmative; my horse was tied faster; he lighted another torch, which he gave me, and on we went, forcing our way through thickets, briars and thorny bushes. No path being to be seen, I had much ado to wind after him through the stubborn wilds; soon I lost my hat; my clothes got entangled among the thorns, and were almost torn to pieces before we reached a small lawn, where we rested ourselves for a few seconds.

Here our way led us into an abyss, whose rugged descent was full of half-sinking rocks, from whence several cascades rushed with a