The priest looked tenderly at him, and would have spoken his holy
thoughts, when Sintram suddenly sprang off the bed and asked after
his father. As soon as he heard of the knight's departure, he would
not remain another hour in the castle; and put aside the fears of the
chaplain and the old esquire, lest a rapid journey should injure his
hardly restored health, by saying to them, "Believe me, reverend sir,
and dear old Rolf, if I were not subject to these hideous dreams,
there would not be a bolder youth in the whole world; and even as it
is, I am not so far behind the very best. Besides, till another year
has passed, my dreams are at an end."

On his somewhat imperious sign Rolf brought out the horses. The boy
threw himself boldly into the saddle, and taking a courteous leave of
the chaplain, he dashed along the frozen valley that lay between the
snow-clad mountains. He had not ridden far, in company with his old
attendant, when he heard a strange indistinct sound proceeding from a
neighbouring cleft in the rock; it was partly like the clapper of a
small mill, but mingled with that were hollow groans and other tones
of distress. Thither they turned their horses, and a wonderful sight
showed itself to them.

A tall man, deadly pale, in a pilgrim's garb, was striving with
violent though unsuccessful efforts, to work his way out of the snow
and to climb up the mountain; and thereby a quantity of bones, which
were hanging loosely all about his garments, rattled one against the
other, and caused the mysterious sound already mentioned. Rolf, much
terrified, crossed himself, while the bold Sintram called out to the
stranger, "What art thou doing there? Give an account of thy
solitary labours."