posed countess into the best of these huts, and told her that this was exclusively intended for her use; he also granted, on Felix's request, that the courier and the student might be allowed to see him.

The hut was carpeted throughout with deer-skins and mats, which served at the same time for a floor and seat. Some jugs and dishes carved out of wood, an old fowlingpiece, and in the furthest corner a couch put together with some boards and covered with woollen rugs, which did not deserve the name of a bed, were the only furniture of this lordly palace. Now only, left alone in this wretched hut, had the three prisoners time to meditate on their peculiar situation. Felix, who did not regret for one moment his noble action, but yet was afraid of his future in case of being discovered, was about to give vent to his feelings, when the courier quickly approached him, and whispered, "For heaven's sake keep quiet, dear fellow; do you not think that people may be eavesdropping?"_" Every single word, the tone of your voice might excite suspicion," added the student." Nothing remained to poor Felix but to weep silently.

"Believe me, Mr. Courier," said he, "I do not cry from fear of these robbers, or horror of this wretched hut; no, it is quite a different sorrow that affects me! how easily the Countess might forget what I told her just before I left, and then people will consider me the thief, and I shall be wretched for ever!"

"But what is it which frightens you so?" asked the courier, astonished at the behaviour of the young man, who hitherto had shown himself to be so courageous and firm.

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“Listen, and you will agree with me," replied Felix. My father was a skilful goldsmith in Nüremberg, and my mother had formerly been maid to a lady of title, and when she married my father she was well rewarded by the Countess in whose service she had been. The Countess was always kind to my parents, and when I was born she became my god-mother, and made me many presents. But when my parents died one after the other of a plague, and I was left in the world quite alone and deserted, and about to be taken to an orphanage, it was then that the lady, my godmother, heard of our misfor

tunes, interested herself on my behalf, and put me to a boarding-school; and when I was old enough, she wrote to me asking whether I would not like to learn my father's trade. I agreed to it joyfully, and she at once obtained a place for me at a goldsmith's in Würzburg as an apprentice. I showed much skill in my work, and made such progress that I received a certificate of having served my apprenticeship, and so I could prepare myself for my travels. I wrote this to my god-mother, who immediately answered that she would give me the money for my travels. At the same time she sent me some magnificent jewels, and asked me to furnish them with a handsome setting, and take them as proofs of my skill to her, and receive money for my travels. I have never seen my god-mother in my life, and you can imagine how much I looked forward to seeing her. Day and night I looked at the jewels, and they looked so beautiful and elegant, that my master himself was surprised. When it was finished I packed everything carefully in the bottom of my knapsack, took leave of my master, and went on my journey towards my god-mother's castle. Then came," he continued, bursting into tears, "these villainous men and destroyed all my hopes. For if your mistress the Countess loses or forgets the jewels, and what I told her, and throws away the worthless knapsack, how should I then appear before my gracious god-mother? how should I prove my identity? how replace the stones? The travelling money is also lost then, and I appear as an ungrateful man, who has given away thoughtlessly goods entrusted to his care. And in the end-will people believe me, if I relate this wonderful event?"

"About the latter be at your ease!" replied the courier. "I do not believe that your jewels will be lost by the Countess, and if she should she would assuredly make good their loss to her deliverer, and give her testimony as to these events. We now leave you for a few hours, for indeed we need sleep, and after the exertions of this night you too stand in need of it. Afterwards let us forget our misfortune for a while in conversation; or better still, think of our escape.'

They went away; Felix alone remained, and endeavoured to follow the courier's advice. When after

some hours the courier returned with the student, he found his young friend more refreshed and cheerful than before. He told the goldsmith that the captain had ordered him to pay the greatest attention to the lady, and in a few minutes one of the women, whom they had seen amongst the huts, would bring the gracious Countess some coffee, and offer her services to wait upon her. They resolved, in order not to be disturbed, to refuse this offer, and when the old, ugly gipsy came, putting the breakfast before her, and asking with a friendly leer whether she could be of any other service, Felix beckoned her to go away, but as she still hesitated, the courier turned her out of the hut. The student then continued to relate what else they had seen of the robbers' camp.

"The hut in which you live, most handsome Countess," said he, " appears originally to have been intended for the captain. It is not so spacious, but finer than the others. Besides this, there are also six others in which the women and children live, for there are seldom more than six of the robbers at home. One of them stands guard not far from this hut, another below on the road up the hill, and a third is on the look-out at the entrance of the ravine; every two hours they are relieved by the three others. Besides this, every one of them has a couple of big dogs lying near him, and they are all so watchful that is impossible to stir outside the hut without their barking. I entertain no hope of our making our escape."

"Do not make me so sad, for I have become somewhat more cheerful after my slumber," replied Felix; "do not give up all hope, and if you fear being betrayed, let us rather talk about something else, and not distress ourselves beforehand. Mr. Student, you commenced to tell us a story in the inn, you may continue now, for we have time for talking."

"I can scarcely remember what it was all about," replied the young man.

"You were telling the story about the cold heart, and left off where the landlord and the other gambler threw Charcoal-burner Peter out of doors."

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Yes, I now recollect," he said. "Well, if you like to listen further, I will continue."

THE COLD HEART.

PART II.

WHEN Peter went to his glass factory on Monday morning, not only his workmen were there, but other people also, whom one does not care to see, namely the magistrate and three legal officials.

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The magistrate wished Peter good morning, asked how he had slept, and then pulled out a long register, in which Peter's creditors were written down. Can you pay or not?" asked the magistrate with a stern look. "And make haste about it, for I have not much time to lose, and it is a good three hours' walk to the prison." Peter thereupon became dismayed, and confessed that he was unable to pay, and left it to the magistrate to value his house and yard, factory and stables, carriages and horses; and whilst the legal officials and the magistrate were going round examining and valuing he thought, "It is not far from here to the pine wood, and as the little man has not assisted me, I will for once try the great man." He ran towards the pine wood, as quickly as if the court officials were pursuing him; he fancied on running past the place where he had at first spoken to the Little Glass-man, that an invisible hand was keeping him back; but he tore himself away, and ran on further as far as the boundary, which he had noted so well before, and, scarcely had he called, almost out of breath, "Dutch Michael! Mr. Dutch Michael!" than the gigantic raftsman was already standing before him with his pole in his hand.

"Did

"Have you come?" said the latter, laughing. they want to flay you, and sell you to your creditors? Well, be calm—all your unhappiness proceeds, as I have told you, from the Little Glass-man-from that apostate and hypocrite. If one gives away anything, it must be done heartily, and not like this miser. But come," he continued, turning towards the forest, "follow me to my house, and there we shall see whether we can strike a bargain."

"Strike a bargain!" thought Peter. "What can he desire of me-whatever can I sell to him? Does he want me to enter his service, or what does he want? They first went up a steep wood path, and then suddenly stood close to a deep, dark, steep ravine. Dutch Michael jumped down the rock, as if it were a smooth marble staircase: Peter, however, had almost fainted, for when the other had reached the bottom, he made himself as tall as a church tower, and held out an arm to him as long as a weaver's beam, and from it a hand as large as the table at the tavern, and exclaimed in a voice that resounded up the rock like a funeral bell: "Sit down on my hand, and lay hold of my fingers, and you will not fall.” Peter, trembling, did as he was told, took his seat upon the hand, and held on by the giant's thumb.

He went down far and deep; notwithstanding, to Peter's surprise, it grew no darker; on the contrary, the daylight seemed to become even brighter in the ravine, and his eyes could hardly stand the glare. Dutch Michael had made himself smaller again the lower Peter descended, and was now standing in his former figure, in front of a house as neat and good as those of the rich peasants of the Black Forest. The room into which Peter was conducted was just the same as those of other people, except that it was a little more lonesome.

The wooden cased clock, the immense stove, and broad benches, and ornaments on the shelves were the same here as elsewhere. Michael gave him a seat at the large table, went out and soon returned with a flask of wine and some glasses; he filled them, and now they began to talk, Dutch Michael telling about the pleasures of the world, of foreign countries, beautiful towns, and rivers, so that Peter at last conceived a great longing for them, which he told the very Dutchman plainly.

"If your whole body were full of courage to undertake anything, yet a few palpitations of your silly heart would make you tremble; and then the annoyances caused by feelings of honour, and misfortune; why should a sensible fellow trouble himself about these things? Did you take offence when you were lately called a cheat and a rascally fellow? Did you suffer much when the magistrate came