ry that they should separate, and Sintram offered himself as
companion to Folko, who, touched by the humble manner of the youth, and
his devotion to him, forgot all that had latterly seemed mysterious
in the pale altered being before him, and agreed heartily. As now they
continued to climb higher and higher up the mountain, and saw from
many a giddy height the rocks and crags below them looking like a vast
expanse of sea suddenly turned into ice whilst tossed by a violent
tempest, the noble Montfaucon drew his breath more freely. He poured
forth war-songs and love-longs in the clear mountain air, and the
startled echoes repeated from rock to rock the lays of his Frankish
home. He sprang lightly from one precipice to another, using strongly
and safely his staff for support, and turning now to the right, now to
the left, as the fancy seized him; so that Sintram was fain to exchange
his former anxiety for a wondering admiration, and the hunters, whose
eyes had never been taken off the baron, burst forth with loud applause,
proclaiming far and wide fresh glory of their guest.

The good fortune which usually accompanied Folko's deeds of arms seemed
still unwilling to leave him. After a short search, he and Sintram
found distinct traces of the savage animal, and with beating hearts they
followed the track so swiftly that even a winged enemy would have been
unable to escape from them. But the creature whom they sought did not
attempt a flight--he lay sulkily in a cavern near the top of a steep
precipitous rock, infuriated by the shouts of the hunters, and only
waiting in his lazy fury for some one to be bold enough to climb up to
his retreat, that he might tear him to pieces. Folko and Sintram had now
reached the foot of this rock, the rest of the hunters being dispersed
over the far-extending plain. The track led the two companions up the
rock, and they set about climbing on the opposite sides of it, that
they might be the more sure of not missing their prey. Folko reached the
lonely topmost point first, and cast his eyes around. A wide, boundless
tract of country, covered with untrodden snow, was spread before him,
melting in the distance into the lowering clouds of the gloomy evening
sky. He almost thought that he must have missed the traces of the
fearful beast; when close beside him from a cleft in the rock issued a
long growl, and a huge black bear appeared on the snow, standing on its
hind legs, and with glaring eyes it