ould not be done to
the castle. The only weak side is that nearest the mountain, upon which
the drawbridge is placed. Let but an enemy attempt to plant guns there,
and he would soon see old Lichtenstein's battery hurl them down in the
abyss below, before they had even touched a pane of glass in his
windows. But the great difficulty would be to get guns up this
declivity, and transport them over these cavities, without exposing men
to more danger than that nest is worth."

"You are right," Albert answered; "I should like to know who ever
thought of building a castle upon that rock."

"I'll tell you," replied Hans, who was well acquainted with all the
legends of his country: "once upon a time there lived a fair lady, who
suffered much persecution from her suitors, and did not know how to
escape them. She came to this rock, and saw a large eagle with its
family perched upon the top of it, secure from all interruption. Having
determined to expel the eagle, she built the castle on its nest; and
when everything was complete, drew up the drawbridge, and from the
summit of the tower proclaimed aloud, 'I henceforth devote myself to
God, and forswear the world.' From that day forth no one was able to
annoy her;--but we are arrived. Farewell; perhaps I may see you again
tonight. I am now going about the country, to endeavour to ascertain
what is going on, and will return to the exile in the cavern with what
news I can gather as to the state of the Duke's affairs. Don't forget,
when you come on the bridge, to send the ring and letter to the lord of
the castle; and take care you do not break the seal yourself."

"Don't fear! I thank you for your conduct; salute my kind host of the
cavern for me," said Albert; and, pushing his horse forward, in a few
minutes stood before the fortress of Lichtenstein.

A guard at the gate demanded his business, and called a servant to
deliver the letter and ring to his master. Albert had in the meantime
an opportunity to examine minutely the castle and its environs. Having
only seen it the night before by the dim light of the moon, and too
much occupied with other important subjects to fix his exclusive
attention to its structure, he had not been able to imagine even what
he now viewed with rapture. A perpendicular isolated rock, like the
colossal tower of a cathedral, rising from the valley of the Alb, stood
before him in bold independence. Its position impressed him with the
idea, that it might