on him most
unmercifully--flattened his nose (or rather my own), and laid him
sprawling on the earth without ceremony. While engaged in this business,
I heard a sneeze, and looking to the quarter from which it proceeded,
whom did I see emerging from the wood, but my old acquaintance with the
snuff-coloured surtout, the scarlet waistcoat, and wooden leg. He
saluted me as usual with a smile, and was beginning to regret the length
of time which had elapsed since he last had the pleasure of seeing me,
when I interrupted him. "Come," said I, "this is not a time for
ridiculous grimace; you know all about it, so help me to get my body
back from this scoundrel here."

"Certainly, my dear friend. Heaven forbid that you should be robbed of
so unalienable a property. Wolstang, you must give it up. 'Tis the
height of injustice to deprive him of it."

"Shall I surrender it, then?" said Wolstang with a pitiable voice.

"By all means: let Mr Stadt have his body."

In an instant I felt great pains shoot through me, and I lay on the
ground, breathless and exhausted as if from some dreadful punishment. I
also saw the little gentleman, and the tall stout figure of Wolstang,
walk away arm in arm, and enter the wood. I was now myself again, but
had at first little cause of congratulation on the change, for I was
one heap of bruises, while the unprincipled author of my calamities was
moving off in his own body without a single scratch. If my frame was in
bad case, however, my mind felt relieved beyond conception. A load was
taken from it, and it felt the consciousness of being encased in that
earthly tenement destined by Heaven for its habitation.

CHAPTER IV.

Alas, how transient is human happiness! Scarcely had an hour elapsed
when a shudder came over me, precisely similar to that which occurred
some weeks before on entering the College of Gottingen. I also perceived
that I was stronger, taller, and more vigorous, and, as if by magic,
totally free of pain. At this change a horrid sentiment came across me,
and, on looking at my shadow in a well, I observed that I was no longer
myself, but Wolstang; the diabolical miscreant had again effected a
metempsychosis. Full of distracting ideas, I wandered about the fields
till nightfall, when I returned into the city, and threw myself into
bed, overpowered with fatigue and grief.

Next day I made a point of calling at my own house, and inquiring for
myself. The servant said that I could no