This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of thefile for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making anentire meal of them. D.W.]
By Georg Ebers
"The old owl! I will give him somewhat to remember me by till some oneelse can say 'Gone' over him!" This was what my Uncle Christian growleda little later, out near the stables, where Matthew was putting thebridle on my bay nag, while the other serving-men were saddling thehorses for the gentlemen. I had stolen hither, knowing full well thatthe old folks would not have suffered me to ride forth after Ann, and mygood godfather even now ceased not from railing, in his fears for hisdarling. "What else did we talk of yestereve, Master leech and I, allthe way we rode with the misguided maid, but of the wicked deeds done inthese last few weeks on the high roads, and here in this very wood? Withher own ears, she heard us say that the town constable required us totake seven mounted men as outriders, by reason that the day beforeyesterday the whole train of waggons of the Borchtels and the Schnods wasovertaken, and the convoy would of a certainty have been beaten if theyhad not had the aid, by good-hap, of the fellowship marching with theMaurers and the Derrers.—And it was pitch dark, owls were flitting,foxes barking; it was enough to make even an old scarred soldier's bloodrun cold. It is a sin and a shame how the rogues ply their trade, evenclose under the walls of the city! They cut off a bleacher's man's ears,and when I wished that young Eber of Wichsenstein, and all the rout thatfollows him might come to the gallows, Ann made bold to plead for them,by reason that he only craved to visit on the Nurembergers the crueldeath they brought upon his father the famous thief. As if she did notknow full well that, since Eppelein of Gailingen was cast into prison,our land has never been such a den of murder and robbery as at this day.If there is less dust to be seen on the high-ways, said the keeper, it isby reason that it is washed away in blood. And notwithstanding all thisthe crazy maid runs straight into the Devil's arms, with that old dolt."
Then, when I went into the stable to mount, Uncle Conrad turned onKubbeling in stormy ire for that he had suffered Uhlwurm to lead Anninto such peril; howbeit the Brunswicker knew how to hold his own, anddeclared at last that he could sooner have looked to see a falcon grow alion's tail in place of feathers, than that old death-watch make commoncause with a young maiden. "He had come forth," quoth he, "to counseltheir excellencies to take horse." But my uncle's question, whether he,Kubbeling, believed that they had come forth to the stables to hear mass,put an end to his discourse; the gentlemen called to the serving-men tomake speed, and I was already in the saddle. Then, when I had commandedEndres to open the great gate, I bowed my head low and rode out throughthe stable door, and bade the company a hearty good-day. To this theymade reply, while Uncle Conrad asked whether I had forgotten hiscounsels, and whither it was my intent to ride; whereupon I hastilyreplied: "Under safe guidance, that is to say yours, to follow Ann."
My uncle slashed his boot with his whip, and asked in wrath whether I hadconsidered that blood would perchance be shed, and ended by counsellingme kindly: "So stay at home, little Margery!"
"I am as obedient as ever," was my ready answer, "but whereas I am nowwell in the saddle, I will stay in the s