"See, there she is. I can see her at the bottom of the
cave. What right have you to meddle with our affairs? Don't you know that
we are here in the domains of Nideck, and that we administer justice and
execute our own decrees?"
The young man changed colour, and said coldly--
"I have no account to render to you."
"Beware," replied Sperver. "I am come with proposals of peace and
conciliation. I am here on behalf of the lord Yeri-Hans. I am in the
execution of my duty, and you are putting yourself in the wrong."
"Your duty!" cried the young man bitterly. "If you talk about your duty
you will oblige me to do mine!"
"Well, do it!" cried the huntsman, whose features were becoming disturbed
with anger.
"No," replied the baron, "I am not responsible to you, and you shall not
come here!"
"That's what we shall soon see!" said Sperver, drawing nearer to the
cave.
The young man drew his hunting-knife. Perceiving this menacing action, I
was about to dart between them, but happily the hound which I was holding
by his collar slipped from me with a violent shock and threw me on the
ground. I thought the baron would be lost, but at that instant a wild
shriek rose from the dark bottom of the cavern, and as I rose to my feet
I saw the old woman standing erect before the fire, her tattered garments
hanging loosely about her, her grey and tangled locks floating wildly in
the wind; she flung her bony arms in the air and uttered prolonged
piercing howls like the cry of agony of the hungry wolf in the long cold
nights of winter when famine is gnawing his entrails.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173