greys, up with your feet! Hey, now together!--show your spirit!--
remember who you are!"

The knight bent over the side of the waggon, and saw that the horses
had stepped into the midst of a foaming stream, and were, indeed,
almost swimming, while the wheels of the waggon were rushing round
and flashing like mill-wheels; and the waggoner had got on before, to
avoid the swell of the flood.

"What sort of a road is this? It leads into the middle of the
stream!" cried Huldbrand to his guide.

"Not at all, sir," returned he, with a laugh; "it is just the
contrary. The stream is running in the middle of our road. Only
look about you, and see how all is overflowed!"

The whole valley, in fact, was in commotion, as the waters, suddenly
raised and visibly rising, swept over it.

"It is Kuhleborn, that evil water-spirit, who wishes to drown us!"
exclaimed the knight. "Have you no charm of protection against him,
friend?"

"I have one," answered the waggoner; "but I cannot and must not make
use of it before you know who I am."

"Is this a time for riddles?" cried the knight. "The flood is every
moment rising higher; and what does it concern ME to know who YOU
are?"