appeared in person, followed by no less a personage than the Baron of
Zimmer-Bluderich, attended by his groom.

We rose from our seats. The young baron advanced to meet us with head
uncovered. It was a noble-looking head, pale and haughty, with a
surrounding of fine dark hair. He stopped before Sperver.

"Monsieur," said he in that pure Saxon accent which no other dialect can
approach, "I am come to ask you for information as to this locality.
Madame la Comtesse de Nideck tells me that no one knows these mountains
so well as yourself."

"That is quite true, monseigneur, and I am quite at your service."

"Circumstances of great urgency oblige me to start in the midst of the
storm," replied the baron, pointing to the window-panes thickly covered
with flakes of snow. "I must reach Wald Horn, six leagues from this
place!"

"That will be a hard matter, my lord, for all the roads are blocked up
with snow."

"I am aware of that, but necessity obliges."

"You must have a guide, then. I will go, if you will allow me, to Sébalt
Kraft, the head huntsman at Nideck. He knows the mountains almost as well
as I do."

"I am much obliged to you for your kind offers, and I am very grateful,
but still I cannot accept them. Your instructions will be quite