Charlemagne at the time of the overthrow of the pagan Saxons, which has
already been recorded in the Song of the Saxons. Here Charlemagne
was led across the Rhine by deer, escaping with his army from certain
slaughter at the hands of the savage horde who sought to ambush him.
Other picturesque stories cluster round the city, the best of which are
the following.

The Poacher of Frankfort

In the city of Frankfort-on-the-Main stands a five-pointed tower, and in
the midst of one of these points is a vane containing nine round holes,
forming the figure 9. The origin of this figure is as follows:

A notorious poacher lay in the tower condemned to death for numerous
offences against the stringent game-laws of the country. He awaited his
end in silence, and sat moodily unobservant of the bright rays of the
sun which poured into his cell through the grated window. Others, he
pondered, were basking in the joyous light outside yonder in the verdant
summer fields, whilst he, who even now felt the noose tighten round
his neck, was plunged in semi-darkness. Well, as darkness was to be
his element, he might as well make present use of it for its special
purpose--to aid sleep; especially as sleep would remove him for the time
being from gloomy contemplation upon his approaching end.

As he slept a pleasant smile took the place of the sombre expression
natural to his waking moments. But on a sudden he started in his
slumber, grating his teeth, his face transformed with violent rage.

"Ha, villain, that was a trap," he muttered, but almost immediately his
countenance resumed the sad expression which had lately become habitual
to it. In the course of a few moments, however, this gave way to a look
of resolution and conscious strength, and even in sleep he appeared to
have made up his mind unalterably upon some matter of importance.

At this juncture the turnkey entered the cell, accompanied by two
officials, one of whom read to him a missive from those in authority
which stated that a petition for mercy which he had made could not be
entertained, and that he must suffer the extreme penalty of the law.

"I protest against such a sentence," cried the poacher, "for, after
all, I have only killed those animals which were given us by God for our
common use. Would you forfeit the life of a man because he has slain the
beasts of chase?"

"That is not the only charge against you," retorted one of the officials
harshly. "Your comrades, as