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aim； allowing for the wind and calculating the parabola to a
nicety。 Whiz！ his arrow went off。
He took up the willow…twig again and began carving a head of Rudolf
at the other end； chatting and laughing； and singing a ballad the
while。
The archers； after standing a long time looking skywards with their
noses in the air； at last brought them down from the perpendicular
to the horizontal position； and said； 〃Pooh； this lad is a humbug！
The arrow's lost； let's go！〃
〃HEADS！〃 cried Otto； laughing。 A speck was seen rapidly descending
from the heavens； it grew to be as big as a crown…piece； then as a
partridge； then as a tea…kettle； and flop！ down fell a magnificent
heron to the ground； flooring poor Max in its fall。
〃Take the arrow out of his eye； Wolfgang；〃 said Otto； without
looking at the bird： 〃wipe it and put it back into my quiver。〃
The arrow indeed was there； having penetrated right through the
pupil。
〃Are you in league with Der Freischutz？〃 said Rudolf； quite amazed。
Otto laughingly whistled the 〃Huntsman's Chorus；〃 and said； 〃No； my
friend。 It was a lucky shot： only a lucky shot。 I was taught
shooting； look you； in the fashion of merry England； where the
archers are archers indeed。〃
And so he cut off the heron's wing for a plume for his hat； and the
archers walked on； much amazed； and saying； 〃What a wonderful
country that merry England must be！〃
Far from feeling any envy at their comrade's success； the jolly
archers recognized his superiority with pleasure； and Wolfgang and
Rudolf especially held out their hands to the younker； and besought
the honor of his friendship。 They continued their walk all day；
and when night fell made choice of a good hostel you may be sure；
where over beer； punch； champagne； and every luxury； they drank to
the health of the Duke of Cleves； and indeed each other's healths
all round。 Next day they resumed their march； and continued it
without interruption； except to take in a supply of victuals here
and there （and it was found on these occasions that Otto； young as
he was； could eat four times as much as the oldest archer present；
and drink to correspond）； and these continued refreshments having
given them more than ordinary strength； they determined on making
rather a long march of it； and did not halt till after nightfall at
the gates of the little town of Windeck。
What was to be done？ the town…gates were shut。 〃Is there no
hostel； no castle where we can sleep？〃 asked Otto of the sentinel
at the gate。 〃I am so hungry that in lack of better food I think I
could eat my grandmamma。〃
The sentinel laughed at this hyperbolical expression of hunger； and
said； 〃You had best go sleep at the Castle of Windeck yonder；〃
adding with a peculiarly knowing look； 〃Nobody will disturb you
there。〃
At that moment the moon broke out from a cloud； and showed on a
hill hard by a castle indeedbut the skeleton of a castle。 The
roof was gone； the windows were dismantled； the towers were
tumbling； and the cold moonlight pierced it through and through。
One end of the building was； however； still covered in； and stood
looking still more frowning； vast； and gloomy； even than the other
part of the edifice。
〃There is a lodging； certainly；〃 said Otto to the sentinel； who
pointed towards the castle with his bartizan； 〃but tell me； good
fellow； what are we to do for a supper？〃
〃Oh； the castellan of Windeck will entertain you；〃 said the man…at…
arms with a grin； and marched up the embrasure； the while the
archers； taking counsel among themselves； debated whether or not
they should take up their quarters in the gloomy and deserted
edifice。
〃We shall get nothing but an owl for supper there；〃 said young
Otto。 〃Marry； lads； let us storm the town； we are thirty gallant
fellows； and I have heard the garrison is not more than three
hundred。〃 But the rest of the party thought such a way of getting
supper was not a very cheap one； and； grovelling knaves； preferred
rather to sleep ignobly and without victuals； than dare the assault
with Otto； and die； or conquer something comfortable。
One and all then made their way towards the castle。 They entered
its vast and silent halls； frightening the owls and bats that fled
before them with hideous hootings and flappings of wings； and
passing by a multiplicity of mouldy stairs； dank reeking roofs； and
rickety corridors； at last came to an apartment which； dismal and
dismantled as it was； appeared to be in rather better condition
than the neighboring chambers； and they therefore selected it as
their place of rest for the night。 They then tossed up which
should mount guard。 The first two hours of watch fell to Otto； who
was to be succeeded by his young though humble friend Wolfgang；
and； accordingly； the Childe of Godesberg； drawing his dirk； began
to pace upon his weary round； while his comrades； by various
gradations of snoring； told how profoundly they slept； spite of
their lack of supper。
'Tis needless to say what were the thoughts of the noble Childe as
he performed his two hours' watch； what gushing memories poured
into his full soul； what 〃sweet and bitter〃 recollections of home
inspired his throbbing heart； and what manly aspirations after fame
buoyed him up。 〃Youth is ever confident；〃 says the bard。 Happy；
happy season！ The moonlit hours passed by on silver wings； the
twinkling stars looked friendly down upon him。 Confiding in their
youthful sentinel； sound slept the valorous toxophilites； as up and
down； and there and back again； marched on the noble Childe。 At
length his repeater told him； much to his satisfaction； that it was
half…past eleven； the hour when his watch was to cease； and so；
giving a playful kick to the slumbering Wolfgang； that good…humored
fellow sprung up from his lair； and； drawing his sword； proceeded
to relieve Otto。
The latter laid him down for warmth's sake on the very spot which
his comrade had left； and for some time could not sleep。 Realities
and visions then began to mingle in his mind； till he scarce knew
which was which。 He dozed for a minute； then he woke with a start；
then he went off again； then woke up again。 In one of these half…
sleeping moments he thought he saw a figure； as of a woman in
white； gliding into the room； and beckoning Wolfgang from it。 He
looked again。 Wolfgang was gone。 At that moment twelve o'clock
clanged from the town； and Otto started up。
CHAPTER IX。
THE LADY OF WINDECK。
As the bell with iron tongue called midnight； Wolfgang the Archer；
pacing on his watch； beheld before him a pale female figure。 He
did not know whence she came： but there suddenly she stood close to
him。 Her blue； clear； glassy eyes were fixed upon him。 Her form
was of faultless beauty； her face pale as the marble of the fairy
statue； ere yet the sculptor's love had given it life。 A smile
played upon her features； but it was no warmer than the reflection
of a moonbeam on a lake； and yet it was wondrous beautiful。 A
fascination stole over the senses of young Wolfgang。 He stared at
the lovely apparition with fixed eyes and distended jaws。 She
looked at him with ineffable archness。 She lifted one beautifully
rounded alabaster arm； and made a sign as if to beckon him towards
her。 Did Wolfgangthe young and lusty Wolfgangfollow？ Ask the
iron whether it follows the magnet？ask the pointer whether it
pursues the partridge through the stubble？ask the youth whether
the lollipop…shop does not attract him？ Wolfgang DID follow。 An
antique door opened； as if by magic。 There was no light； and yet
they saw quite plain； they passed through the innumerable ancient
chambers； and yet they did not wake any of the owls and bats
roosting there。 We know not through how many apartments the young
couple passed； but at last they came to one where a feast was
prepared： and on an antique table； covered with massive silver；
covers were laid for two。 The lady took her place at one end of
the table； and with her sweetest nod beckoned Wolfgang to the other
seat。 He took it。 The table was small； and their knees met。 He
felt as cold in his legs as if he were kneeling against an ice…well。
〃Gallant archer；〃 said she； 〃you must be hungry after your day's
march。 What supper will you have？ Shall it be a delicate lobster…
salad？ or a dish of elegant tripe and onions？ or a slice of boar's…
head and truffles？ or a Welsh rabbit a la cave au cidre？ or a
beefsteak and shallot？ or a couple of rognons a la brochette？
Speak； brave bowyer： you have but to order。〃
As there was nothing on the table but a covered silver dish；
Wolfgang thought that the lady who proposed such a multiplicity of
delicacies to him was only laughing at him； so he determined to try
her with something extremely rare。
〃Fair princess；〃 he said； 〃I should like very much a pork…chop and