sh to travel.

One beautiful evening Huldbrand with his wife and Bertalda walked
along the banks of the river Danube. The knight, who had ofttimes
sailed down the river, told them tales of the wonderful countries
through which it flowed, and of the beautiful town of Vienna, which
rose so proudly on its banks.

'Ah!' said Bertalda, 'how I wish we might sail to this city of which
you tell.'

And Undine, ever anxious to give pleasure to her friend, said, 'Yes,
let us visit Vienna while the spring is still fair.' Huldbrand also
was pleased at the thought of the journey, only once he bent toward
Undine and whispered, 'Kuehleborn, will we not be in his power if we
sail down the river?'

His beautiful wife only laughed. She was too happy now to fear her
uncle's power.

They therefore got ready for the journey with much merriment and many
hopes.

When at length the three travellers, with their attendants, set out on
their voyage, it seemed as though all would be as joyful as they had
wished. As they sailed on, the river grew more broad, more green the
grasses too in the rich meadow-lands.

But erelong a shadow crept across their joy. The river, indeed, flowed
smooth as before, the country smiled only more graciously upon the
travellers, but Kuehleborn had already begun to show that on this part
of the river he could use his power.

Undine, it is true, reproved her uncle before he had done more than
play a few tricks upon them. Yet though he would cease his pranks when
she spoke, it was but a few moments before he was as troublesome as
ever.

Soon the crew began to crowd together, whispering fearfully and
glancing timidly at the knight and his fair ladies. Kuehleborn was
making them afraid.

Huldbrand saw their strange glances and he began to grow angry. He
even muttered crossly, 'This is Undine's mad uncle come to disturb us.
I would her strange kindred would leave us alone.'

Thinking thus, the knight looked with displeasure at his poor wife.
She knew but too well what his glance meant, and worn out with sorrow
and with her constant watch over Kuehleborn, she at length fell fast
asleep.

But no sooner were her eyes closed than her uncle again began his
tiresome tricks.

It seemed to the sailors, and indeed to all on board, that they were
bewitched, for look which way each one would, there before him,
peering out of the water, was the head of a very ugly man.

Each man turned, in his terror, to point out to