am with fresh grass on its banks, which invited them to repose.
Albert dismounted, whilst his provident guide produced the contents of
his wallet, and set before him a good dinner. After he had looked to
the horse, he placed himself at the feet of the young knight, and set
to eating, with a hearty appetite.

Albert having satisfied his hunger, surveyed the neighbourhood with an
attentive eye. He looked down upon a beautiful broad valley, at the
bottom of which flowed a small rapid rivulet; the surrounding fields,
with inclosed orchards here and there, appeared in high state of
cultivation, a cheerful village reared its head on a hill at the
further end of the valley, and the whole country was of a more pleasing
description than that over which they had passed on the crest of the
mountain.

"We have now quitted the district of the Alb, it seems," said the young
man, as he turned to his companion; "this valley and those hills greet
the eye with much more cheerful effect than the rugged rocks and
deserted meadows we traversed yesterday. The air also feels milder and
warmer here than higher up on the hills, where the wind was so
piercing."

"You have spoken rightly, sir," said Hans, as he carefully put the
remains of their meal into the wallet; "these vallies form part of the
lowland, and that rivulet which you see yonder flows into the Neckar."

"But how comes it that we have gone so much out of the way?" Albert
asked. "I noticed that circumstance when we were on the mountain, but
you would not listen to me then. As far as I know about the situation
of Lichtenstein, this road will take us much too far to the right."

"Well, now I'll tell you the reason," answered the countryman, "why we
have made this circuit. I did not wish to create an unnecessary anxiety
in your mind when we were on the Alb, but at present, with God's will,
we are in safety; for, let the worst come to the worst, we are scarcely
four hours distant from Hardt, where no harm can happen to us."

"In safety," Albert interrupted him in astonishment, "what have we to
fear?"

"The Leaguists, to be sure," replied the musician; "their cavalry
overrun the Alb, and some of them were not a thousand paces from us at
times. For my part, I would not like to fall into their hands, for, as
you well know, they bear me no good will; and perhaps it would not be
quite so pleasant for you to be brought prisoner before old Truchses."

"God defend me from Truchses!" cr