out to fetch the bough, which
had now become a withered stick in his hand. Stepping over the stones,
he went down the path; the journey seemed wearisome, he was obliged to
support himself on the stick, his head hung down on his breast, and he
heard his breath, as it struggled forth with difficulty. On a slippery
part of the pathway his foot slid, and he was obliged to cling to the
hedge. In this act his hand came close to his eye, and appeared gray
and wrinkled. 'Good God!' cried he, seized with horror, 'have I then
so long----?' He did not dare to utter his own thoughts. 'No,' said
he, forcibly calming himself, 'it is the cold wood-breeze that so
freezes me; the exertion has made me weak, and the broken greenish
light, which falls through the hedges, gives my hands this singular
colour.' He stepped farther, and saw, lying on the stones, the wild
flowers and leaves, which he had thrown, on his ascent, to mark the
way. They were as fresh as if they had been but just placed there.
This was a new riddle for him. A charcoal-burner was chopping away the
trees by the wayside, and cutting off branches; so he asked him what
day it was. 'Eh, father,' said the man, 'are you such a bad Christian,
that you do not know the Apostles' days? This is Peter and Paul's day,
when the stag leaves the wood for the corn. I am cutting out a toy for
my young one, out of the veiny bough. For any other purpose, I do not
work on this day; but that is all for pleasure and pastime, and is
allowed, says the chaplain.'

"'I pray you, my good fellow,' said the student, who felt a sensation
of horror, more and more painful, pervading him, 'tell in what year of
our Lord we are!' The charcoal-burner, whom even the holiday's wash
had not quite freed from soot, raised up his strong-limbed black figure
from among the green bushes, and, after some hesitation, told the year.

"'Oh, my Redeemer!' shrieked the student, and, no longer supported by
his stick, he fell upon the stones. He then cast the stick away, and
crawled trembling down the stony path.

The black charcoal-burner, amazed, came out of the hedge upon the
stones, with the branch in his hand, saw the stick lying before him,
crossed himself, and said: 'That is off the yew-tree, which grows
yonder on the Eulenstein, where the owl has his nest. They say that it
will enchant, and free that which is enchanted already. God help us!
the old man has uttered wicked things.' He then returne