When Kühleborn saw that Undine really wished him to leave her, he was
angry. He made faces and shook his fist at his niece, until at length
she screamed, 'Huldbrand, Huldbrand, save me, I entreat you!'

The knight at once drew his sword and would have struck at the rude
stranger. But as he thrust in the direction of Kühleborn he felt a
waterfall come rushing down from a rock above him. He drew his wife
back, that she might not be drenched, but as he did so a white spray
was flung after them which wet them both to the skin. At that moment
they heard, as they thought, a low mocking laugh.

'It is strange,' said the priest, 'that the ripple of the stream
should sound almost as the voice of a man.'

To Huldbrand the stream still seemed to be speaking, and these were
the words he thought he heard. 'You were foolish, Sir Knight, to draw
your sword, yet will I not be angry with you, nor will I quarrel with
you so long as you guard well your beautiful wife. Yet be not again
thus hasty, Sir Knight.'

As the voice faded away into silence the travellers reached the end of
the wood. Before them was the city, glowing red in the rays of the
setting sun.




CHAPTER IX