d the rapping of the woodpecker, a lively squirrel
bounded across the path which she had now reached, otherwise all that
was living in the wood had gone to rest. When the shadow of the
Heiligenberg confronted her, she shuddered. She ought to have clothed
herself more warmly, but she had not left the house to come here. She
began to feel afraid. Behind her a great gray bird sprang from out of
the bushes and flew in front of her with a screech. When she had gone
on but a little way, she saw him flying before her with rapid noiseless
flight, only to settle down a few yards ahead of her. She felt uneasy
for she knew, that the night-owl meant evil, but her cries and shooings
did not drive her ghostly companion away. She would willingly have
returned, but was now so close to the spot, and the town to which she
preferred returning escorted by Paul, was so distant. When she reached
the saddle between the Heiligenberg and the so-called Dachsbau and
rested near an old beech tree, she noticed that the sun had set. The
detour she had chosen, had been much longer than she intended. But
therefore the more certainly must Paul be already waiting, and as she
approached the ghostly shade of the oaks, whilst behind her still
gleamed the glow of a set sun, she earnestly wished for his protection.
On the brow of the hill leading to the edge of the forest she met some
wood-cutter, going towards the mills of the neighboring village, whose
sails might still be heard clattering in the distance. The men gazed at
the lonely pilgrim in surprise. She saw how they stopped and looked
after her for a while. Therefore did she hasten the more to escape them
by remaining among the bushes. At the end of a solitary pine forest she
found herself at last near to the haunted Holtermann. The road from the
valley of the Seven mills and Heidelberg intersected the roads leading
to the villages of the Odenwald. Many a traveller had here lost his
way, in troublesome times many a rich miller from below had here been
eased of his purse by footpads lying in wait, and children had seen
hobgoblins, will 'o' the wisps, moaning women, or heard the sounds of
mocking laughter in the dusky woods. Why had the heartless priest
chosen such a spot? In terror she walked along in the twilight. The
distant plain seemed like a blue sea, through which the red waves of
the Rhine glowed as a fiery streak, whilst the Neckar resembled a great
river of blood. Near the cross roads were ghost