the covetous Bremberger had dragged them into his castle postern to exact
a great ransom--nor was this the worst that might befall. If Abersfeld
the wildest freebooter of all the plundering nobles far or near were to
seize her? My blood ran cold as I conceived of this chance. Ann was so
fair; what lord who might carry her off could she fail to inflame? And
then I minded me of what I had read of the Roman Lucretia, and if I had
been possessed of any magic art, I would have given the first raven by
the way a sharp bodkin that he should carry it to her.

In my soul's anguish, while I held my bridle and whip together in my left
hand, with the right I lifted the gold cross on my breast to my lips and
in a silent heartfelt prayer I besought the Blessed Virgin, and my own
dear mother in Heaven to have her in keeping.

And so we rode on and on till we came to the pools by Pillenreuth. Hard
by the larger of these, known as the King's pool, was a sign-post, and
not far away was the spot where they had found Eppelein, stripped and
plundered; and in truth it was the very place for highwaymen and
freebooters, lying within the wood and aside from the highway; albeit, if
it came to their taking flight, they might find it again by Reichelstorf.
Nor was there any castle nor stronghold anywhere nigh; the great building
with walls and moats which stood on the south side of the King's pool was
but the peaceful cloister of the Augustine Sisters of Pillenreuth. All
about the water lay marsh-ground overgrown with leafless bushes, rushes,
tall grasses, and reeds. It was verily a right dismal and ill-boding
spot.

The boggy tract across which our path lay was white with fresh hoar-
frost, and the thicket away to the south was a haunt for crows such as I
never have seen again since; the black birds flew round and about it in