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102 And now a strange thing chanced. As with sickening dread he stooped still closer over her, a flash of lightning shot across the valley, and he saw before him a face distorted and hideous, while a hollow voice exclaimed, "Kiss me, thou love-sick fool!"

Huldbrand sprang up with a cry, and the hideous figure rose with him.

"Go home," it muttered, "unholy spirits are abroad. Go home, or I shall claim thee!" and it caught at him with its long white arms. Thereupon the knight recovered himself.

"Malicious Kühleborn," he cried, "thy tricks are vain, I know thy goblin arts. There, take thy kiss!" And he struck his sword madly against the figure. But it vanished like vapour, and a drenching spray left the knight in no manner of doubt as to who his enemy might be.

"He would fain scare me away from Bertalda," he said aloud. "Doubtless he thinks to frighten me with his foolish pranks, and to force me to abandon the helpless girl to his vengeance. But that he shall not do. Poor, weak spirit as he is, he is powerless to understand what a strong man's heart can dare, when once he is firmly resolved in purpose." He felt the truth of his words and they brought him fresh courage. Fortune herself, too, or so it seemed, was on his side, for no sooner did he reach his tethered horse than he heard, distinctly enough, Bertalda's moaning voice at