the maiden
where his own castle was situated. The beauty of the landscape beneath
them made its appeal to their souls, their hands touched and clasped,
and their hearts throbbed with the passion felt by both. A few days
later Kuno climbed the steep path, resolved to declare his love to the
damsel's father. Fatigued with the ascent, he rested for a brief space
at the entrance to the castle ere mounting to the tower.

The Lord of Falkenstein and his daughter had beheld Kuno's journey up
the rugged path from the windows of the tower, and the father demanded
for what purpose he had come thither. With a passionate glance at the
blushing maid, the knight of Sayn declared that he had come to ask the
noble lord for his daughter's hand in marriage. After meditating on the
knight's proposal for some time, the Lord of Falkenstein pretended to
be willing to give his consent--but he attached a condition. "I desire
a carriage-drive to be made from the lowland beneath to the gate of my
castle, and if you can accomplish this my daughter's hand is yours--but
the feat must be achieved by to-morrow morning!"

The knight protested that such a task was utterly impossible for anyone
to perform, even in a month, but all to no purpose. He then resolved to
seek some way whereby he could outwit the stubborn lord, for he would
not willingly resign his lady-love. He left the tower, vowing to do his
utmost to perform the seemingly impossible task, and as he descended the
rocky declivity his beloved waved her handkerchief to encourage him.

Now Kuno of Sayn possessed both copper and silver mines, and arriving at
his castle he summoned his overseer. The knight explained the nature of
the task which he desired to be undertaken, but the overseer declared
that all his miners, working day and night, could not make the roadway
within many months.

Dismayed, Kuno left his castle and wandered into a dense forest, driven
thither by his perturbed condition. Night cast dusky shadows over
the foliage, and the perplexed lover cursed the obstinate Lord of
Falkenstein as he forced his way through the undergrowth.

Suddenly an old man of strange and wild appearance stood in his path.
Kuno at once knew him for an earth-spirit, one of those mysterious
guardians of the treasures of the soil who are jealous of the incursion
of mankind into their domain.

"Kuno of Sayn," he said, "do you desire to outwit the Lord of
Falkenstein and win his beauteous daughter?"