"Do you suppose there are any bears around?" whispered Bertha.

The trees looked very black. It seemed to the little girl as though
she kept seeing the shadow of some big animal hiding behind them.

"No, indeed," answered Hans, quite scornfully. "Too many people go
along this path for bears to be willing to stay around here. You
would have to go farther up into the forest to find them. But look
quickly, Bertha. Do you see that rabbit jumping along? Isn't he a
big fellow?"

"See! Hans, he has noticed us. There he goes as fast as his legs
can carry him."

By this time, the children had reached the top of a hill. The trees
grew very thick and close. On one side a torrent came rushing down
over the rocks and stones. It seemed to say:

"I cannot stop for any one. But come with me, come with me, and I
will take you to the beautiful Rhine. I will show you the way to
pretty bridges, and great stone castles, and rare old cities. Oh,
this is a wonderful world, and you children of the Black Forest have
a great deal to see yet."

"I love to listen to running water," said Bertha. "It always has a
story to tell us."

"Do you see that light over there, away off in the distance?" asked
Hans. "It comes from a charcoal-pit. I can hear the voices of the
men at their work."