leton, round which was twined a snake. Otto
stood sunk in contemplation, when an old man, with two water-buckets
suspended from a yoke on his shoulders, approached a near well.

The old man was very ready to commence a conversation. He told
of excavations, and of an underground passage which had not been
discovered, but which, according to his opinion, was certainly in
existence. So far they had only found a few walled-round spaces, which
had most probably been prisons. In one of these was an iron chain
fastened into the wall. But with regard to the underground passage, they
had only not yet discovered the right place, for it must exist. It led
from here, deep under the lake and forest, toward Soroee. There were
large iron gates below. At Christmas one could hear how they were swung
to and fro. "Whoever should have that which is concealed there," said
the old man, "would be a made man, and need not neither slip nor slide."

Otto looked at the solitary wing which rose up over the terrace. How
splendid it had been here in former times!

Close to the large wood, several miles in extent, which stretches itself
on the other side of Soroee, down to the shore of the King's Brook, lay
the rich convent where Hans Tausen spoke what the Spirit inspired him
with. Times changed; the convent vanished;

"Halls of state
Tower upon that spot elate;
Where the narrow cell once stood;"
[Author's Note: Anders-skov, by Oehlenschlaeger.]

where the monks sang psalms, knights and ladies danced to the sound of
beating drums: but these tone's ceased; the blooming cheeks became dust.
It was again quiet. Many a pleasant time did Holberg ride over from
Soroee, through the green wood, to visit the steward of Antvorskov. Otto
recollected what one of his daughters, when an old woman, had related
to a friend of his. She was a child, and lay in the cradle, when old
Holberg came riding there, with a little wheaten loaf and a small pot of
preserve in his pocket--his usual provision on such little excursions.
The steward's young wife sat at her spinning-wheel. Holberg paced up
and down the room with the husband; they were discussing politics. This
interested the wife, and she joined in the conversation. Holberg turned
round to her,--"I fancy the distaff speaks!" said he. This the wife
could never forget. [Translator's Note: Rokkehoved, distaff, means also
dunce in Danish.]

Otto smiled at this recollection of the wi