away in a gallop, scattering the spectators to right and left,
and flying like the wind along the river-bank.

"To horse, to horse!" cried Kurt and the Lord of Rheinstein, and
speedily as many mounted, the bridegroom, for all his age, was first
in the saddle. With the clattering of a hundred hoofs the wedding party
galloped madly along Rhineside, Kurt leading on a fleet and powerful
charger.

"Halt!" he cried. "Draw rein--draw rein!" But notwithstanding their
shouts, cries, and entreaties, Gerda spurred on the already maddened
Limousin, which thundered along the familiar road to Kuno's castle of
Reichenstein. The noble steed's direction was quickly espied by Kuno,
who hastened to the principal entrance of his stronghold.

"Throw open the gates," he shouted. "Down with the drawbridge. Bravo,
gallant steed!"

But Kurt was close behind. Gerda could feel the breath of his charger
on the hands which held her rein. Close he rode by her, but might never
snatch her from the saddle. Like the wind they sped. Now she was a pace
in front, now they careered onward neck and neck.

Suddenly he leaned over to seize her rein, but at that instant his horse
stumbled, fell, and threw the ancient gallant heavily. Down he came on a
great boulder and lay motionless.

Another moment, and the hoof-beat of the breathless steed sounded on the
drawbridge of Reichenstein. The vassals of Kuno hastened to the gate to
resist the expected attack, but there was none. For the wretched Kurt
lay dead, killed by the fall, and his vassals were now eager to acclaim
Kuno as their lord, while the Lord of Rheinstein, shrewdly observing the
direction of affairs, took advantage of the tumultuous moment to
make his peace with Kuno. The lovers were wedded next day amid the
acclamations of their friends and retainers, and Kuno and Gerda dwelt in
Rheinstein for many a year, loving and beloved.

CHAPTER V--FALKENBURG TO AUERBACH

The Legend of Falkenburg

In the imperial fortress of Falkenburg dwelt the beautiful Liba, the
most charming and accomplished of maidens, with her widowed mother. Many
were the suitors who climbed the hill to Falkenburg to seek the hand
of Liba, for besides being beautiful she was gentle and virtuous, and
withal possessed of a modest fortune left her by her father. But to all
their pleadings she turned a deaf ear, for she was already betrothed
to a young knight named Guntram whom she had known since childhood, and
they only