Sabina's cousin, terrified by Conrad's martial appearance, turned pale, and turned pale, and did not venture on any reply. On his departure, the young soldier kissed the tears from the beautiful eyes of his bride, and hastening with her to a neighbouring priest, to plight before him their mutual troth, and appoint their wedding-day.

Within a few weeks after this, Conrad and Sabina were married, and began to arrange their small household. The young man had spent almost all his gold and silver in the purchase of two fine oxen, a plough, seed-corn, and household furniture. The remainder was just sufficient to guard, with prudence and frugality, against the privations of poverty, until the next harvest season. However, when Conrad first went out with his plough and oxen to labour he looked back laughing to Sabina, and promised her that the gold which he was now to trust in the ground would not prove deceitful, and that by another year they would be far richer. Sabina looked after him anxiously, and wished only to see him safely returned from the Field of Terror.

He

Conrad, indeed, returned earlier than she had expected, but in a mood of mind by no means so tranquil as that in which he had set out. dragged behind him his plough, broken in pieces, and laboriously goaded along one of his oxen, severely wounded, while he himself also was bleeding in the shoulder and head. Yet, after all, he strove to look cheerful and unconcerned; and, with the unconquerable spirit of a brave soldier, tried to console the weeping Sabina. "Now," said he, "you will have enough to do! Salting, pickling, and cookery! The goblins on the Field of Terror have provided us with beef enough for a whole season. This poor animal has, in his madness, hurt himself so much as to be quite useless, and (at least as long as he lives) incurable. His comrade has run furiously down the 'mountain. I saw him fall into the torrent

below, from whence he will never be recovered."

"My cousins! Oh, my wicked cousins!" cried Sabina: "Now has their perfidious gift robbed us of all your hard-worn earnings; and above all, dear Conrad, you are yourself dange rously wounded."

"As to my wounds, they are nothing," replied her husband; "the pair of oxen, no doubt, got me once between them when their fury was at its full height, and I was resolved not to let them go. But all this, heaven be praised! I have got well over ; and to-morrow morning, I shall make an other attempt on the Field of Terror."

Sabina now tried, by every method in her power, to dissuade him from this resolve; but he said firmly, that the field, so long as he lived, should not be suffered to remain unprofitable; where a man could not plough, he must dig; and the goblin would now no longer have to deal with timid irrational animals, but with a steady and experienced soldier, who scorned to run, even from the devil himself. In the course of that day, he had a butcher to kill and cut up the poor wounded beast; and next morning, while Sabina had betaken herself to her new employment of pickling and salting, Conrad had proceeded again upon his way, scarcely less contented now when he had but a pick-axe and spade, than on the preceding day when he set out in style with a plough and team of oxen.

On this occasion it was somewhat late in the evening before he returned: he was fatigued, and even looked pale; yet he was more cheerful, and soon tranquilized his timid and anxious wife. "This kind of husbandry," said he, "is rather tiresome, no doubt; besides, there is a strange ghostly-looking figure, that starts up now on one side, and now on another, mocks at my labour, and interrupts me both by gestures and words. However, he seems even himself to wonder that I take so little notice of him; and upon this I

gain always new courage, which, indeed, never can be wanting to an honest man, who is only desirous peaceably to follow out his own proper avocations."

In this manner many days and weeks were spent. The resolute Conrad persevered undauntedly in the labour of levelling the ground and rooting out the weeds, digging and sowing in the most favourable situations. It is true, indeed, that with the spade alone he was able to cultivate but a very small part of the field; however, he redoubled on this account his care and attention; and at length had the satisfaction to see a harvest spring up, which, if not very rich, yet promised, and made good, a profit fully equal to his expectations. He was obliged, however, to get through the toil of reaping and leading home as well as he could, without the assistance of any friend or ser

vant.

No day-labourers would, for any temptation of wages, venture on the Field of Terror; and as to Sabina, her husband would not suffer her to go thither, more especially as he had reason to think that he would soon become a father. The child accordingly was born, and in the third year after their marriage, was followed by another, while, in other respects, no material change had yet taken place in Conrad's situation. By courage and exertion, he knew how to gain harvest upon harvest from the field; and thus fulfilled his assurance to Sabina, that in their married state they would honourably brave the world.

One autumnal evening, when the deep shades of darkness had already fallen around him, Conrad as usual (his harvest having been reaped and cleared away) plied industriously his labour with the spade. Suddenly there arose opposite to him the figure of a tall muscular man, black and swarthy like a collier, with a long iron bar or poker in his hand, who said to him" Is there not then one pair of oxen to be had in this country, that you labour

with both hands in this manner? Yet to judge the extent of your grounds, you should be a rich farmer!"-Conrad knew very well who it was that spoke to him, and persevered in his usual way-that is, he kept silence, turned his eyes and thoughts as much as possible from the goblin, and plied at his task more assiduously than before. But the collier did not in his usual manner vanish away, in order to return in a form more hideous and distracting; but, on the contrary, stood still, and said, in a friendly tone-" Conrad, you do great injustice not only to me, but to yourself. Answer me with truth and confidence. Perhaps I could point out a remedy for all your evils," "Well, in God's name," said Conrad, "if by your words you deceive me, the guilt is yours, and not mine !"-Then he began, without farther hesitation, to relate accurately and truly all that had befallen him since his possession of that field; nor did he in the least conceal his indignation at the hobgoblin, who, by his perpetual interruptions, had rendered it so difficult for him, with the assistance of only a pick-axe and spade, to raise a sufficient harvest for the bare maintenance of himself and his family.

The collier listened to him seriously and attentively; then, after some reflection, replied as follows: "I think, friend, that you already know very well who I am; and it argues no little courage on your part, not to have abated one jot of your honour as a soldier, but truly and openly to have expressed how much you are dissatisfied with me. To tell the truth, you have had reason enough to be angry; but as I have proved you to be a brave fellow, I shall now make a proposal which may do you no little service. Now listen. There are times when after I have, in wood, field, and mountain, played the fool, and terrified the people to my heart's content, there has risen within me a sincere and ardent desire of entering into the family of some honest. householder, and living there regularly

and peaceably for one half year. Now then, what if you should hire me for this half year as your servant ?”—“ It is base and wicked in thee," said Conrad,“ thus to mock at an honest man, who has, at thine own request, given thee his confidence."-" Nay, nay," said the other, "there is no mockeryI am quite serious. You shall find an honest labourer in me; and so long as I remain in your service, not one phantom will appear in the Field of Terror, so that you may bring a whole herd of oxen thither without apprehension.". That, indeed, would be something," said Conrad, meditating; "if I only knew that thou wouldst keep thy promise; and especially, whether I, as a Christian, may venture to deal with thee!"-"As for the last point, you must judge for yourself," said the goblin; "but my promise I have never yet broken, and never shall, as long as the Giant Mountain stands; neither am I by nature very wicked-somewhat wild and sportive, it is true-but this is all." -"I believe indeed," said Conrad, "that thou art the well-known Rubezahl."—"Listen," said the stranger. somewhat angrily: "If you believe this, know also that the powerful genius of this land cannot endure to be called by that pitiful name, but chooses to be styled the Lord of the Mountain !” "He would have a goodly menial, forsooth, whom I must learn to style the Lord of the Mountain !" said Conrad. "You may call me Waldmann, then," said the collier. Conrad looked stedfastly at him for some time, and at last answered-" Good! It shall be so Methinks I shall do no wrong in accepting thine offer. I have often seen that people take dogs for turnspits, and use other irrational animals about a household-why not then a goblin ?"At this the collier laughed heartily, and said" Well! this is certainly the first time that such conditions were ever made with one of my rank; but even for this very reason, and for the sake of variety, I like it the better. So then,

dear master, your hand on the bargain! Conrad, however, insisted on some special conditions; first, that his new servant should never make it known to Sabina, or the children, that he had any connection with the Field of Terror, and still less, that he had come from the hideous gloomy caverns of the Giant Mountain; secondly, that within the limits of his master's house and garden, no sort of diablerie should ever be exhibited; and as Waldmann very readily agreed to all this, the bargain was forthwith concluded, and they went home amicably together.

Sabina was not a little surprised at this addition to her household, and entertained considerable feelings of terror at the gigantic swarthy figure of the new servant. The children also would not for some time venture out of doors, if he were at work in the garden or farmyard. However, by his quiet, regular, and industrious conduct, Waldmann soon gained the good opinion of every one; or if at any time, in a fit of foolish merriment, he began to hunt about with the dogs, or play tricks on the poultry, it was found to be more in jest than really mischievous. Even then, a single look from his master was sufficient to bring him again within his accustomed and prudential limits.

Confiding in the promise of the mountain spirit, Conrad had again boldly ventured on the purchase of a yoke of oxen; and with his plough newly re paired, went once more merrily to the field. Sabina looked after him apprehensively, and yet more anxiously waited in the evening for his return, fearing that he would at last come home, not only with disappointed hopes, but more dangerously wounded than before. Singing, however, and driving his tractable fine oxen before him, Conrad marched (while the first evening bell was ringing) through the village. In high glee he kissed his wife and children, and even shook his black servant heartily by the hand.

Many times also did Waldmann lead

out and bring home the work oxen in this manner, while Conrad in his turn staid at home and laboured in the farmyard or garden. A large portion of the Field of Terror was ere long ploughed up, and all went on prosperously, to the astonishment of the villagers, and envious displeasure of Sabina's avaricious cousins. Conrad, however, often thought to himself," This is all but for a short time; and how the harvest is to be reaped and brought home heaven knows! Long before that season Waldmann's servitude will be at an end, and the goblins on the Field of Terror may be more troublesome than ever. Yet a labour of this kind," added he, "will of itself strengthen both heart and hand, and perhaps Waldmann, as he has indeed frequently in his mirthful moments hinted, will, for the sake of old friendship, restrain himself till the field is cleared of this one harvest at least."

The winter now had arrived; the labour on the Field of Terror was ended; and Conrad industriously plied with his oxen at the necessary task of bringing home wood for the stove and kitchen hearth. About this time, it happened one day that Sabina was called to a poor widow in the village who had fallen sick of a fever, and whom she was in the habit of assisting sedulously, in so far as her newly amended circumstances would allow. Only she was now puzzled, in her husband's absence, how to dispose of the children; Waldmann, however, entreated that she would give them in charge to him; and as the little ones were accustomed to his stories, and were willing to remain with him, Sabina at last agreed, and without further hesitation, cheerfully went on her charitable errand.

About an hour afterwards, Conrad returned from the forest. He drew the wood-cart into the shed, put his oxen into the stable, and then went merrily home, to warm his stiffened limbs at the comfortable kitchen-fire. Suddenly he

heard the voices of his children painfully weeping-instantly he started up, burst open the door of the parlour, and found them crouching together, under the stove, screaming with terror, and Waldmann jumping meanwhile, making hideous grimaces, with a coronet of living fire on his dishevelled and staring hair.

"What the devil is all this?" said Conrad in great indignation, when, in a moment, the portentous ornament on Waldmann's head was extinguished; he stood humbly and in silence, till at last he tried to excuse himself, by saying that he had only made game for the children. The little ones, however, came still crouching and complaining to their father, and told him how Waldmann had first terrified them with wild stories, and afterwards appeared to them wearing a sheep's head at one time and a dog's head at another. "Enough -enough!" interrupted Conrad, "get thee gone, fellow! We don't remain another hour under the same roof together!" With these words he seized Waldmann, thrust him out of doors, even as far as the outer garden gate. Meanwhile he commanded the children to remain quiet in the parlour;-their father was now returned, and they felt secure against every danger.

The mysterious servant at first bore all this without a word; however, when he stood alone with Conrad, amid the wintry landscape, he said, laughing, "Listen, Master! methinks we must again be reconciled to one another; I have indeed played a foolish trick, but shall never be guilty in like manner again. It was only one offence--you must overlook it." "Even in this way," said Conrad," the same humour might seize thee again, and thou wouldst easily terrify my children to madness. Our contract, therefore, is

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at an end." My half year is not at an end," said Waldmann, in defiance, "therefore I shall return unto thy house," "Not a step,-not even to the threshold," said Conrad," thou hast

irrevocably broken our bargain by thy cursed hobgoblinry. All that I can do for thee is to pay thy full wages. There it is, and get thee gone."" Full wages!" said the spirit, laughing in scorn,

knowest thou not my inexhaustible treasures in the caverns of the mountain ?" "It is not for thy sake, but for my own, that I pay thee," said Conrad; for I am resolved not to remain in debt neither to man nor devil." With these words, he thrust the money with violence into Waldmann's pocket. "What shall now become of the Field of Terror?" said the demon, half angrily," whatever God pleases!" said Conrad, "Sixteen Fields of Terror were to me nothing when weighed against one hair on the head of either of my children. Therefore be gone, I say, unless you first wish to receive a hearty beating that you will remember!" "Softly!" said the spirit, "When a being of my class assumes the form of a man, he never fails to choose a stout one. In the beating that you design for me, you might chance to meet with the worst, and then God be merciful to you!""That he has ever been," said Conrad," and his providence has endowed me with a stout frame also. To thy mountains, therefore, begone, thou hateful monster-I warn thee for the last time !"

Then, Waldmann being at these last words violently provoked, fell upon Conrad, and a tough and obstinate battle raged between them. They struggled They struggled backwards and forwards, and twined their arms round each other, victory remaining for a long while uncertain, till at last Conrad, by a master-stroke in wrestling, brought his opponent to the ground, kneeled upon his breast, and, continuing to pommel him heartily as he lay, cried aloud: "Now shalt thou learn what it is to lift thine arm against thy liege master, thou treacherous fiend of the mountains!"

The prostrate Waldmann, however, laughed so heartily at all this, that Conrad, believing that he made game of

him, redoubled his blows with greater violence, till at last his victim called aloud, "Let alone! Let alone! I do not laugh at thee, but at myself, and I now humbly beg pardon !" "That is another affair," said the generous Conrad, who now immediately rose up, and assisted his conquered adversary to get upon his legs. "I have tried this way of life long enough, in all conscience," said Rubezahl, still laughing, "I dare swear it never happened to any one of my rank before to carry his education so far! But, listen, friend, you must at least confess that I have dealt honourably by you, for you well know that I could have, in one moment, brought a whole troop of mountain spirits to my assistance. However, to say the truth, I could not have called on them for laughing.'

Conrad looked thoughtfully at Rubezahl, who continued his mirth, and at last said, "I must acknowledge that thou hast reason now to bear me a grudge, and of this I shall probably feel the consequences, not only on the Field of Terror, but elsewhere. But, Sir, I cannot repent of what I have done. I used only the right of an honest householder, and all for the sake of my beloved children. Truly, if it were yet to do, I should act heartily in the very same manner.”

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"No, no!" said the laughing Rubezahl, give yourself no trouble. I have for one time had quite enough. But for this much, however, be assured -henceforward, from year to year, you may labour on the Field of Terror, and not one spectre, while the Giant Mountain stands, shall be visible there. Now, farewell, mine honourable yet severe

master."

With these words, and with a familiar and confidential nod, he vanished, nor did Conrad ever behold him again. Rubezahl, however, failed not to remember his promise, which, indeed, was much more than fulfilled. An extraordinary blessing attended all the labours of Conrad, and he was in a