reins, and the impatient horses darted off; but, my stars!
they had taken the wrong road! Deeper grew the wood; the roughness of
the path momentarily increased; the trees became so thick that the
moonlight no longer penetrated them, and Max at length stopped his
horses once more, and gazed around him in bewilderment.

"Potstausend!" exclaimed the Burgomaster; "where has the boy taken us? I
tell you what, mein sonne, thou hadst best turn back, for we shall never
get to Ole's to-night."

"And thy sister will take her death of cold!" cried the Frau Von
Geirstein, while Walther looked anxiously at the fair Matilda, who only
smiled up at him, and drew her fur-lined hood more closely about her
face.

Just as they were about to turn back, they heard a sound of sleigh-bells
behind, and presently a small sleigh approached them, drawn by a
spirited horse.

Max, without more ado, hailed the stranger, and begged him to set them,
if he could, on the road to Ole's.

The new comer bowed courteously to the ladies, and replied, "I shall be
most happy to direct you thither, my respectable friends. In short,
then, you follow the road before you for a time, then turn to your
right; next, pursue your way in a southeast direction for a mile; next,
turn toward the northwest, and then----"

"What, sir!" interrupted Max, "do you suppose we can go to all points
of the compass at once? What do you mean by your northwest and
southeast?"

"Potstausend! is the fellow making fun of us?" exclaimed the
Burgomaster.

"Surely the Herr Von Geirstein cannot suppose I would be guilty of so
great an impertinence!" exclaimed the stranger. "It is true, the road is
somewhat obscure; may I not also have the pleasure of driving you to
Ole's?"

"We thank you--you are most kind," replied the mollified Burgomaster,
who never doubted for a moment that his vast importance caused him to be
known to all the world; "but what will become of your sledge?"

"Oh, I don't fear for the sledge--that can remain here among the
underwood; and my horse can be attached in front of yours."

This arrangement was soon effected, and the stranger, who was so muffled
up in fur cap and coat, that scarcely a feature could be distinguished,
mounted beside Max, and seized the reins.

Donnerwetter! how he shouted at the horses! cracking his whip, and
calling them all manner of strange names. "Now, then, pig with a wooden
head! Get along with you, toad of serpents! To the mischi