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〃Law； Baron！〃 said the lady。
〃I will； though；〃 replied the Baron； drawing an immense sword； and
glaring round at Otto： but though at the sight of that sword and
that scowl a less valorous youth would have taken to his heels； the
undaunted Childe advanced at once into the apartment。 He wore
round his neck a relic of St。 Buffo （the tip of the saint's ear；
which had been cut off at Constantinople）。 〃Fiends！ I command you
to retreat！〃 said he； holding up this sacred charm； which his mamma
had fastened on him； and at the sight of it； with an unearthly yell
the ghosts of the Baron and the Baroness sprung back into their
picture…frames； as clowns go through a clock in a pantomime。
He rushed through the open door by which the unlucky Wolfgang had
passed with his demoniacal bride； and went on and on through the
vast gloomy chambers lighted by the ghastly moonshine： the noise of
the organ in the chapel； the lights in the kaleidoscopic windows；
directed him towards that edifice。 He rushed to the door： 'twas
barred！ He knocked： the beadles were deaf。 He applied his
inestimable relic to the lock； andwhiz！ crash！ clang！ bang！
whang！the gate flew open！ the organ went off in a fuguethe
lights quivered over the tapers； and then went off towards the
ceilingthe ghosts assembled rushed away with a skurry and a
screamthe bride howled； and vanishedthe fat bishop waddled back
under his brass platethe dean flounced down into his family
vaultand the canon Schidnischmidt； who was making a joke； as
usual； on the bishop； was obliged to stop at the very point of his
epigram； and to disappear into the void whence he came。
Otto fell fainting at the porch； while Wolfgang tumbled lifeless
down at the altar…steps； and in this situation the archers； when
they arrived； found the two youths。 They were resuscitated； as we
scarce need say； but when； in incoherent accents； they came to tell
their wondrous tale； some sceptics among the archers said〃Pooh！
they were intoxicated！〃 while others； nodding their older heads；
exclaimed〃THEY HAVE SEEN THE LADY OF WINDECK！〃 and recalled the
stories of many other young men； who； inveigled by her devilish
arts； had not been so lucky as Wolfgang； and had disappearedfor
ever！
This adventure bound Wolfgang heart and soul to his gallant
preserver； and the archersit being now morning； and the cocks
crowing lustily round aboutpursued their way without further
delay to the castle of the noble patron of toxophilites； the
gallant Duke of Cleves。
CHAPTER X。
THE BATTLE OF THE BOWMEN。
Although there lay an immense number of castles and abbeys between
Windeck and Cleves； for every one of which the guide…books have a
legend and a ghost； who might； with the commonest stretch of
ingenuity； be made to waylay our adventurers on the road； yet； as
the journey would be thus almost interminable； let us cut it short
by saying that the travellers reached Cleves without any further
accident； and found the place thronged with visitors for the
meeting next day。
And here it would be easy to describe the company which arrived；
and make display of antiquarian lore。 Now we would represent a
cavalcade of knights arriving； with their pages carrying their
shining helms of gold； and the stout esquires； bearers of lance and
banner。 Anon would arrive a fat abbot on his ambling pad；
surrounded by the white…robed companions of his convent。 Here
should come the gleemen and jonglers； the minstrels； the
mountebanks； the party…colored gipsies； the dark…eyed； nut…brown
Zigeunerinnen； then a troop of peasants chanting Rhine…songs； and
leading in their ox…drawn carts the peach…cheeked girls from the
vine…lands。 Next we would depict the litters blazoned with
armorial bearings； from between the broidered curtains of which
peeped out the swan…like necks and the haughty faces of the blond
ladies of the castles。 But for these descriptions we have not
space； and the reader is referred to the account of the tournament
in the ingenious novel of 〃Ivanhoe；〃 where the above phenomena are
described at length。 Suffice it to say； that Otto and his
companions arrived at the town of Cleves； and； hastening to a
hostel； reposed themselves after the day's march； and prepared them
for the encounter of the morrow。
That morrow came： and as the sports were to begin early； Otto and
his comrades hastened to the field； armed with their best bows and
arrows； you may be sure； and eager to distinguish themselves； as
were the multitude of other archers assembled。 They were from all
neighboring countriescrowds of English； as you may fancy； armed
with Murray's guide…books； troops of chattering Frenchmen；
Frankfort Jews with roulette…tables； and Tyrolese； with gloves and
trinketsall hied towards the field where the butts were set up；
and the archery practice was to be held。 The Childe and his
brother archers were； it need not be said； early on the ground。
But what words of mine can describe the young gentleman's emotion
when； preceded by a band of trumpets； bagpipes； ophicleides； and
other wind instruments； the Prince of Cleves appeared with the
Princess Helen； his daughter？ And ah！ what expressions of my
humble pen can do justice to the beauty of that young lady？ Fancy
every charm which decorates the person； every virtue which
ornaments the mind； every accomplishment which renders charming
mind and charming person doubly charming； and then you will have
but a faint and feeble idea of the beauties of her Highness the
Princess Helen。 Fancy a complexion such as they say （I know not
with what justice） Rowland's Kalydor imparts to the users of that
cosmetic； fancy teeth to which orient pearls are like Wallsend
coals； eyes； which were so blue； tender； and bright； that while
they run you through with their lustre； they healed you with their
kindness； a neck and waist； so ravishingly slender and graceful；
that the least that is said about them the better； a foot which
fell upon the flowers no heavier than a dew…dropand this charming
person set off by the most elegant toilet that ever milliner
devised！ The lovely Helen's hair （which was as black as the finest
varnish for boots） was so long； that it was borne on a cushion
several yards behind her by the maidens of her train； and a hat；
set off with moss…roses； sunflowers； bugles； birds…of…paradise；
gold lace； and pink ribbon； gave her a distingue air； which would
have set the editor of the Morning Post mad with love。
It had exactly the same effect upon the noble Childe of Godesberg；
as leaning on his ivory bow； with his legs crossed； he stood and
gazed on her； as Cupid gazed on Psyche。 Their eyes met： it was all
over with both of them。 A blush came at one and the same minute
budding to the cheek of either。 A simultaneous throb beat in those
young hearts！ They loved each other for ever from that instant。
Otto still stood； cross…legged； enraptured； leaning on his ivory
bow； but Helen； calling to a maiden for her pocket…handkerchief；
blew her beautiful Grecian nose in order to hide her agitation。
Bless ye； bless ye； pretty ones！ I am old now； but not so old but
that I kindle at the tale of love。 Theresa MacWhirter too has
lived and loved。 Heigho！
Who is yon chief that stands behind the truck whereon are seated
the Princess and the stout old lord； her father？ Who is he whose
hair is of the carroty hue？ whose eyes； across a snubby bunch of a
nose； are perpetually scowling at each other； who has a hump…back
and a hideous mouth； surrounded with bristles； and crammed full of
jutting yellow odious teeth。 Although he wears a sky…blue doublet
laced with silver； it only serves to render his vulgar punchy
figure doubly ridiculous； although his nether garment is of salmon…
colored velvet； it only draws the more attention to his legs； which
are disgustingly crooked and bandy。 A rose…colored hat； with
towering pea…green ostrich…plumes； looks absurd on his bull…head；
and though it is time of peace； the wretch is armed with a
multiplicity of daggers； knives； yataghans； dirks； sabres； and
scimitars； which testify his truculent and bloody disposition。 'Tis
the terrible Rowski de Donnerblitz； Margrave of Eulenschreckenstein。
Report says he is a suitor for the hand of the lovely Helen。 He
addresses various speeches of gallantry to her； and grins hideously
as he thrusts his disgusting head over her lily shoulder。 But she
turns away from him！ turns and shuddersay； as she would at a
black dose！
Otto stands gazing still； and leaning on his bow。 〃What is the
prize？〃 asks one archer of another。 There are two prizesa velvet
cap； embroidered by the hand of the Princess； and a chain of
massive gold； of enormous value。 Both lie on cushions before her。
〃I know which I shall choose； when I win the first prize；〃 says a
swarthy； savage； and bandy…legged archer； who bears the owl gules
on a bla